In the Queen's Palace within the imperial palace.
Dongfang Yi had already decided to go to the Ci Ning Palace to see the Empress Dowager. Although the Empress Dowager didn't like her, she was extremely incisive and rational on other matters.
The Empress Dowager had targeted her before because Helian Qi favored her too much. Now she was just a fallen - out - of - favor woman, while Concubine Shun was thriving. Everyone said that the Emperor doted on her exclusively.
Thinking of this, she shouted towards the outside of the bedroom, "Donghua, come and do my hair."
Before long, a woman in a peach - red maid's uniform rushed in carrying a basin. Although dressed in the simplest clothes, her charm couldn't be concealed. It was undoubtedly Donghua.
"Your Majesty, why are you dressing up so early? Where are you going?" Donghua asked. In her impression, the Queen was on bad terms with the people in the palace. She didn't often leave the Queen's Palace. Besides, due to her injury, she went out even less.
"I'm going to visit the Empress Dowager in the Ci Ning Palace today. After you finish my hair, tell the honor guard to come here."
Dongfang Yi said so. Since she injured her foot, Doctor Li had said that within a year after the foot healed, she should try to walk as little as possible, which would be beneficial for her future mobility.
The Queen's Palace and the Ci Ning Palace were located at the farthest distance from each other. One was in the southeast corner and the other was in the northwest corner. It was such a long distance that Dongfang Yi wouldn't treat herself badly.
After hearing her words, Donghua didn't ask why. She just told Xiao Qian about it and then started to do the hair of the woman in front of her.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I'm going to the Ci Ning Palace to see the Empress Dowager?" Dongfang Yi looked at the woman behind her through the mirror with a bit of suspicion.
Donghua didn't stop her movements, but with a faint smile on her lips, she replied, "This servant knows that Your Majesty is going for the Mid - Autumn Festival banquet."
In the half - year that Donghua had served Dongfang Yi, she had deeply understood her character. She knew that Dongfang Yi was not a woman who would give up easily. Even though Concubine Shun had been so confident that day, she would still take another chance.
After hearing her reply, Dongfang Yi's surprised look only lasted for a second and then she calmed down. She had always known that Donghua was very smart and that she had understood her character.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help sneering in her heart. That man still didn't understand her. He thought she was the kind of person who wouldn't fight back.
"Your Majesty, I haven't told the Emperor about this." Donghua suddenly said after finishing doing Dongfang Yi's hair.
After hearing this, Dongfang Yi was really surprised. She had always thought that Donghua was absolutely loyal to Helian Qi and would tell him every word and deed of hers.
But now that she had made such a decision, Donghua knew about it but didn't tell Helian Qi. Dongfang Yi couldn't help feeling a warm current in her heart. Then she curled her lips and said to Donghua, "Thank you, Donghua."
Donghua nodded with a smile. Over such a long time, she had seen everything about Dongfang Yi. Although she understood that there were many misunderstandings between them and that the Emperor also had many helplessness, their feelings for each other were sincere.
But now, she didn't understand why the Emperor suddenly agreed to let Concubine Shun organize the Mid - Autumn Festival banquet. She also knew that the woman in front of her just wanted to gain dignity through her own efforts...
Before long, the honor guard outside the palace was ready. Dongfang Yi was supported by Donghua and left the palace.
It took about the time to burn an incense stick to reach the front of the Ci Ning Palace. It was Nanny Li who was guarding the gate.
She watched as this group of people came in a grand manner. When she saw that the one sitting on the highest sedan chair was the Queen, whom her master disliked the most, she asked suspiciously, "May I ask what Your Majesty the Queen wants? The Empress Dowager is meditating. It's really inconvenient for her to receive guests."
There was an obvious hint of expelling guests in her tone.
Dongfang Yi was supported off the sedan chair and walked up to Nanny Li. She said very respectfully, "Nanny, please go and announce my arrival. There is a big matter in the palace now that the Empress Dowager doesn't know about. I'm afraid she'll get hurt if she hears about it later."
Hearing this, Nanny Li's expression became a bit tense. But she still doubted whether the words of the woman in front of her were true or false. Just as she was thinking, she heard a voice from inside the palace, "Let them in."
It was the voice of the Empress Dowager's personal nanny. After hearing this, Nanny Li bowed slightly and let Dongfang Yi and her entourage into the palace.
As soon as she entered the Ci Ning Palace, the strong smell of incense hit her face. At a glance, she saw the old Empress Dowager surrounded by incense.
Dongfang Yi almost burst out laughing when she saw this scene. She thought that the old lady was really superstitious. The way she was sitting in the smoke really looked like she was about to ascend to heaven.
But she only dared to think about it. She didn't dare to laugh out loud. She just bowed slightly to the old woman and said, "Your servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager live a long life."
The old woman snorted but didn't turn around. She continued to play with the prayer beads in her hand.
Seeing that the old woman didn't seem to want to pay attention to her, Dongfang Yi casually found a place to sit down. Then she said, "Empress Dowager, I know you dislike me. Once I had a bit of the Emperor's favor, but now I have nothing. I just want to maintain the harem well."
She said these words rather sadly. Sure enough, she saw the Empress Dowager finally put down the prayer beads in her hand, got up, and walked over slowly.
When Dongfang Yi saw the Empress Dowager walking over, she knew that her plan might succeed. She then continued, "Empress Dowager, I have something to say. I don't know if I should..."
After saying that, she paused and looked up at the old woman in front of her.
"If you want to say it, just say it quickly. Don't beat around the bush with me." The Empress Dowager rolled her eyes at her and said in a strong voice.
After getting this approval, Dongfang Yi still looked worried and continued, "Empress Dowager, do you know about the Mid - Autumn Festival banquet? The Emperor has assigned Concubine Shun to organize it. Concubine Shun is very smart. I'm naturally not worried about her. But I'm afraid that outsiders will laugh at our royal family for having no hierarchy and no dignity. A mere concubine can organize such a grand banquet."
After saying that, she even wiped the corners of her eyes, looking as if she was really extremely worried about the reputation of the royal family being damaged.
She didn't want to move the Empress Dowager by saying that Concubine Shun had a low status. Instead, she wanted to bet on the dignity of the royal family. After all, Helian Qi doted on Concubine Shun so much now. If Concubine Shun was allowed to organize the banquet, outsiders would surely spread the rumor that the Emperor was blinded by beauty.
Such rumors were what the Empress Dowager least wanted to hear. So Dongfang Yi grasped this weakness of the Empress Dowager and was sure that she would regard the dignity of the royal family as the most important thing.