After Concubine Chu came to the Queen's palace to cause trouble the other day and was instead taught a lesson by Dongfang Yi, the harem had enjoyed several days of peace. It was said that after receiving the lesson, Concubine Chu had started to chant scriptures and abstain from meat, paying no heed to other matters in the palace.
Dongfang Yi naturally didn't believe such nonsense. She didn't think that the sinister and venomous Concubine Chu would reform herself just because of a few slaps. She was sure that the woman was up to no good.
Sure enough, before long, rumors began to spread like wildfire in the palace. The gist was that the Queen was immoral, making trouble in the harem and bullying the concubines at will. The concubine in question, of course, was Concubine Chu.
When Dongfang Yi heard these rumors, she just snorted. Her maid Donghua beside her kept comforting her, "Your Majesty, you don't need to bother with these. They're just rumors."
She thought Dongfang Yi would be angry about the rumors, but unexpectedly, Dongfang Yi just laughed a few times and started eating the snacks at hand. Looking relaxed, she said, "No, why should I be angry?"
Dongfang Yi had never cared about rumors. After all, she was the one with the highest status in the harem. As long as those spreading the rumors didn't dare to come in front of her, she could simply pretend nothing had happened.
But if anyone dared to show up in front of her... the result would be far more than just a verbal warning.
Just as Dongfang Yi was thinking about this, she heard noises outside the palace. She couldn't help but rub her forehead and thought helplessly, What's going on recently? Why do people keep coming to the palace? But she still led Donghua out of the palace.
This time was different from before. Standing outside the palace gate were three women dressed as concubines, chattering away. All three of them looked unfamiliar.
"What are you doing here?" Dongfang Yi frowned and asked.
As soon as the three concubines saw her, they quickly curtsied and said in unison, "Greetings to Your Majesty the Queen."
Dongfang Yi squinted her eyes and asked in confusion, "Who are you?"
Then the three concubines began to introduce themselves one by one.
"Your Majesty, I'm Concubine Dong. My father is Dong Xianxu, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Works. Our family owes everything to your father, Prime Minister Dongfang, for his support in the court," said a woman in a dark green robe. Although not extremely beautiful, she looked gentle.
"Your Majesty, I'm Concubine Shu. My father is the minister of the Imperial Garden. It's all thanks to your father that our family has this status!" said another brightly dressed and lively woman.
The tall woman in a light purple dress on the far side was Concubine Jia. As Dongfang Yi had expected, her father also received favors from her father in the court.
Dongfang Yi nodded as she looked at the three of them, but still didn't understand their purpose for coming to her palace. Seeing them constantly craning their necks to look into the palace, she had no choice but to rub her forehead and say helplessly, "Come in and talk then."
Hearing this, the concubines replied excitedly, "Thank you, Your Majesty!" and then scurried into the bedroom.
After everyone sat down in the palace, Dongfang Yi asked, "What brings you here to see me?"
Concubine Shu angrily put down the tea in her hand and said, "Your Majesty, have you heard the recent rumors in the palace? It's so outrageous. They dare to slander Your Majesty behind your back. I think they've had enough of living. Your Majesty, you must find out the mastermind and teach them a lesson!"
She blurted out everything in a hurry.
Concubine Dong sitting beside her kept nudging her to indicate that she shouldn't talk like this, but Concubine Shu was really an impatient and straightforward person. Before long, she had said everything she wanted to say.
Concubine Dong was a bit embarrassed and said to Dongfang Yi, "Your Majesty, please forgive her. Concubine Shu just can't keep things to herself."
Dongfang Yi waved her hand and said it was okay. Compared with people who kept their words to themselves, she hated those who had something to say but hid it more. Moreover, looking at Concubine Shu, she could tell that the girl had been spoiled since childhood and was innocent. She couldn't help but like her a bit more.
"It's okay. I like Concubine Shu's personality," Dongfang Yi replied with a smile.
Hearing this, Concubine Shu straightened her chest even more and said, "I knew Your Majesty the Queen is the most reasonable one. You're not like what the rumors say."
"Hahaha, Concubine Shu, you're so interesting. You must come and play with me more often in the future," Dongfang Yi said.
Concubine Jia, seeing that the Queen in front of her didn't seem to care about the outside rumors at all, asked, "Your Majesty, don't you care about the outside rumors?"
Dongfang Yi just laughed and replied, "Why should I care? The truth will always come out to those with discerning eyes. Do you think I should go and silence them? They're not worth it!"
The three women sitting beside her were all shocked. They thought that as the Queen, she wouldn't tolerate even a bit of slander, but unexpectedly, someone in such a high position could have such an insight. They immediately felt a deep respect for the Queen in front of them.
It was okay for Concubine Shu and Concubine Jia. After all, they had only been sent into the palace not long ago and didn't know much about the past in the palace.
But Concubine Dong was different. She was an old-timer in the palace and had seen the timid side of the Queen. At that time, the Queen was weak and incompetent. She never would have thought that the Queen could become like this now.
Thinking of this, Concubine Dong felt a strange feeling in her heart, but it was soon dispelled by Concubine Shu's words.
"Your Majesty, have you heard? There's a new favorite recently who has won the Emperor's great favor," Concubine Shu said. Then she told the whole story of Concubine Shun since she entered the palace. There was a hint of jealousy in her tone that she didn't even notice. After all, they had entered the palace together, but she was just a low-ranking concubine who wasn't favored much.
Hearing her words, Dongfang Yi felt a nameless bitterness well up in her heart. According to Concubine Shu, Concubine Shun was sent into the palace during the days when she was out of the palace. It seemed that Helian Qi had found a new love so soon.
Ah, indeed, emperors are the most fickle people in the world...
While Concubine Shu was talking, she noticed that Dongfang Yi was a bit distracted and began to call out, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?"
Hearing the call, Dongfang Yi came back to her senses. Embarrassedly, she rubbed her head and said, "Ah - I have a bit of a headache and want to rest."
The other three women understood what she meant. So they all stood up, curtsied, and said in unison, "Your Majesty the Queen, we'll take our leave."
Dongfang Yi nodded at them with a smile. Then, watching them disappear completely behind the palace gate, she let out a long sigh and relaxed completely in the armchair. Looking up, she murmured, "Concubine Shun... huh?"