Early the next morning, Concubine Shun prepared to go to the Queen's Palace.
She was dressing up in front of the dressing table. The old maid who was coiling her hair behind her said, "Your Ladyship, why do you have to go and see that woman? Whether she is in favor or out of favor, it should have nothing to do with you."
This maid had been in the palace for nearly thirty years. She knew all the human relationships and worldly wisdom in the palace well. She was an eyeliner placed in the palace by the Nangong family. She was sent to accompany Concubine Shun as soon as she entered the palace and taught her many palace rules.
"It doesn't matter, Maid. I'm just a bit curious. I'll go and come back soon," Concubine Shun said. She showed respect to this maid.
"Alas..." The maid just sighed softly and said no more.
Everyone knew that curiosity could kill a cat, especially in this bottomless harem.
After dressing up and having breakfast, Concubine Shun took her personal maid, Xiaofei, and rushed to the Queen's Palace.
On the way, she still heard many maids and eunuchs whispering to each other in private. She couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust in her heart. She deeply felt that in this imperial palace, everyone liked to watch others' jokes and use others' affairs as entertainment.
"Your Ladyship, why do you want to visit the Queen? She has already fallen out of favor and lost her power," Xiaofei, who was following behind, suddenly asked.
Concubine Shun frowned imperceptibly, then stopped in her tracks, turned around, and said, "Who told you to say such things?!"
The fierce look in her eyes made Xiaofei quickly lower her head and dare not say another word.
Since Concubine Shun was always amiable in the palace and rarely got angry with her servants, Xiaofei had easily asked such a question.
"The servants of this Palace had better watch their tongues and stop gossiping. Otherwise, I'll pull out your tongues," Concubine Shun continued coldly.
Xiaofei quickly bowed and said fearfully, "I'm sorry, Your Ladyship. This servant was wrong. This servant will never dare again."
Concubine Shun saw her like this and then turned around and walked forward. Xiaofei behind her quickly followed up.
It didn't take long for them to arrive at the Queen's Palace.
Xiaoqian looked a bit on guard at these two unexpected guests. Since she still remembered the scene when Concubine Chu came to cause trouble before, she asked, "What are you doing here?!"
Xiaofei wanted to retort angrily when she saw an ordinary maid talking to them like this.
But Concubine Shun gave her a look that stopped her from speaking. Concubine Shun just said in a humble and polite tone, "Concubine Shun has come to pay respects to the Queen. Please go and announce my arrival."
Seeing that the visitor looked so humble, Xiaoqian couldn't speak harshly either. After all, one shouldn't hit a smiling face. So she just said, "I'll go and announce," and then entered the inner chamber.
After a while, Xiaoqian walked out of the palace gate, bowed slightly, and said, "Concubine Shun, the Queen invites you in."
As soon as she entered the inner - chamber door, Concubine Shun saw Dongfang Yi lying on the bed.
"What brings you here?" Dongfang Yi stared intently at the woman walking into the palace gate.
"Greetings to the Queen," Concubine Shun bowed slightly, then reached out to lift the beaded curtain in the inner chamber and walked to the bedside. She then continued,
"Sister Queen, didn't I say in the imperial garden that I would come to visit you often in the future? I just had some free time today, so I came."
Dongfang Yi nodded with a kind smile on her face, but snorted coldly in her heart: You didn't come earlier or later, but you come to visit on this day after such a big event happened last night. If you say you have no other motives, who would believe it.
"Sister Queen, you don't look very well. Are you ill?" Concubine Shun asked with a worried look.
She was really curious in her heart why the Queen looked so weak.
Dongfang Yi stroked her forehead and said uncomfortably, "I've been feeling a bit unwell recently. I caught a cold last night, so I've been confined to bed."
Naturally, she wouldn't tell her that her feet were seriously injured. If she did, who knew what uncontrollable rumors would spread in the palace tomorrow.
"Sister Queen, you've suffered. Come, Xiaofei..."
Concubine Shun waved her hand, signaling her personal maid, Xiaofei, to come forward.
Xiaofei was holding a tray with a blue - and - white jar on it.
"Sister Queen, this is the Jiangnan bird's nest sent by my mother's family. It's especially good for nourishing the complexion and good for the body," Concubine Shun said with a bright smile. Her slightly baby - faced face was very likable.
"Thank you, Sister," Dongfang Yi replied with a smile as well, then waved her hand to signal Donghua beside her to take the bird's nest away.
Dongfang Yi was not a person who would judge a person's good or bad just by their appearance, nor would she dislike someone at first sight.
But Concubine Shun was an exception. Although Dongfang Yi didn't want to admit it, she had extremely disliked this person since she heard of her.
Later, when they met in the imperial garden, although Concubine Shun had a likable baby face, Dongfang Yi just couldn't help but feel disgusted with her, even though she didn't say anything offensive.
As for today's meeting, the other person came with a gift and was very respectful when entering the door. But Dongfang Yi still couldn't like the woman in front of her.
She didn't want to admit that all this originated from Helian Qi. Because Helian Qi doted on Concubine Shun very much, because Helian Qi would gently accompany her to stroll in the imperial garden, because Helian Qi... After all, they were both women, and it was impossible to be kind to a rival in love.
Concubine Shun saw the woman in front of her suddenly lost in thought. She knew what she was thinking. From her appearance, she seemed to be sad.
Was she thinking about the Emperor? Concubine Shun thought. Thinking of her beloved Emperor, who would also often show such a sad look in his eyes, she thought he must also be missing someone in his heart.
"Sister Queen, if you have anything to do in the future, just tell me. I will definitely do my best to assist you," Concubine Shun said.
She was not a person who liked to fight for things. She just couldn't learn those things taught by Uncle Nangong. She only knew that she loved the Emperor and was willing to give everything for him. So she was also willing to protect the people he wanted to protect.
"Thank you, Sister," Dongfang Yi finally showed a heartfelt smile. She realized what she had been thinking just now. How could she casually dislike someone because of Helian Qi.
Looking at Concubine Shun's innocent look, how could she just judge her in her heart. She had promised not to let men affect her mood.
"Sister Queen, then this concubine will take her leave," Concubine Shun said.
"Then take your time, Sister," Dongfang Yi replied with a faint smile.
Concubine Shun saw Dongfang Yi nod her head and then turned around and walked out of the Queen's Palace.
Only Dongfang Yi was left on the couch. Her eyes slowly drooped, and her eyes were flickering, making it hard to tell what she was thinking.