She fixed her eyes on the painting and couldn't put it down for a long time. The pent - up emotions in her heart were constantly tugging at her.
This painting. So he still kept it. But why?
So engrossed was Dongfang Yi in looking at the painting that she didn't realize she had been in the same position for a long time.
Helian Qi beside her sensed her strangeness. So he peeked over her shoulder.
At a glance, he saw that messy painting. It was the one Dongfang Yi had painted here back then, and he had never been willing to throw it away.
Seeing the painting, he remembered the past days of them. Although they couldn't be said to be as affectionate as lovebirds, he never thought they would become so estranged as they were now.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh. A sense of desolation welled up in his heart.
Dongfang Yi, who had been in a daze, was also pulled back to reality by this long sigh. She suddenly turned her head nervously and unexpectedly met Helian Qi's eyes, who was also staring at her.
Seeing him staring blankly at the painting in her hand, she suddenly felt a bit guilty. Like a person who had done something wrong, she rolled up the painting and hid it behind her back.
After doing all these actions, she realized how inappropriate they were. Then she put the painting into the painting basket behind her. Bowing slightly to the man in front of her, she said, "Your Majesty, it's time for this concubine to go back. This concubine takes her leave."
Having said that, she turned around in a hurry and fled the Qianqing Palace in a flurry.
Helian Qi behind her didn't even have time to say anything when he saw the woman who had just been in front of him suddenly disappear like a puff of smoke. In a short while, she was out of his sight.
Suddenly, a sense of loss welled up in his heart. His eyebrows frowned involuntarily, as if he was facing something extremely unpleasant.
At this time, Donghua, who was chatting with Ruyi outside the palace, suddenly saw a figure running out of the palace. The speed was so fast that she didn't even see the person's face clearly at first.
When the person stopped, Donghua recognized that it was the empress. Frowning in confusion, she walked towards her and asked, "Your Majesty, why did you run out in such a panic? Did His Majesty disagree with the plan for the Mid - Autumn Banquet?"
Dongfang Yi, still out of breath, said, "No, no..."
After she had completely caught her breath, she continued, "Helian Qi agreed to let me organize the Mid - Autumn State Banquet."
Donghua frowned even more tightly. She thought that since the emperor had agreed, why did the empress still run out in such a panic? Thinking so, she asked, "Then why are you still so panicked, Your Majesty?"
Dongfang Yi was a bit embarrassed by the question. She couldn't very well say that she had run away because her ex - lover still kept her painting and some indescribable emotions had welled up in her heart.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but let out a long sigh. Then she made up an excuse and replied, "I slept too little last night. I'm so sleepy now that I must go back to the palace to sleep quickly."
Having said that, without waiting for Donghua to ask anything else, she quickened her pace and walked towards her palace.
Donghua behind her couldn't help but scratch her head blankly. She thought to herself that there was no way the empress was sleepy. She looked so full of energy. But the woman in front of her had already walked fifty meters away.
So she just waved to Ruyi behind her to indicate that they would meet next time, then trotted to catch up with Dongfang Yi.
When they arrived at the Empress's Palace, Dongfang Yi did as she had said. As soon as she entered the bedroom, she threw herself onto the bed and wrapped herself in the quilt.
Donghua looked at her and really couldn't understand what she was up to. So she left the bedroom and closed the door for her.
At this moment, Dongfang Yi, lying in bed, had an empty head and a fuzzy mind. She had no idea what she was thinking, but subconsciously felt a little bit of happiness deep in her heart.
What on earth was she happy about? It seemed to start when she saw her own painting among those paintings. This happy emotion was completely out of her control.
On the other side, in the Qianqing Palace, after Dongfang Yi left, Helian Qi took out the wrinkled painting from the painting basket and unfolded it.
A big Mickey Mouse immediately came into his view. Although it looked ugly and out of shape, because he knew it was painted by that woman, he thought it was extremely cute.
Looking at the painting, Helian Qi couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth. Thinking of the woman's panicked look, he thought to himself: She is still that shy woman. This has never changed.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but decide that it was time to take back those lost things one by one.
...
On the other side, outside the palace, in the Nangong Mansion.
Nangong Liuyun only heard the news this morning that this year's Mid - Autumn State Banquet would be organized by the empress, and his niece, Concubine Shun, would only be an assistant.
But the news he had heard before was not like this. It was said that Concubine Shun would be in full charge. Now that things had changed like this, it was really hard to imagine what had happened.
But after thinking for a while, he thought that this matter was only related to reputation and would have no impact on their great cause. However, the letter sent by Concubine Chu yesterday really needed his careful consideration.
But as soon as Madam Nangong heard this news, she flew into a rage. After all, women cared most about these superficial things, especially since the noble ladies in the capital had just held a banquet the other day.
Madam Nangong had ridiculed Madam Dongfang at the banquet, saying that it was useless for her to send her daughter into the palace to become the empress. She was still out of favor and had no influence. And now the news that had spread was like a heavy slap in her face.
She said to the man beside her unhappily, "My lord, you can't just sit back and do nothing. You have to think of a way. Shun'er must be the one to host this Mid - Autumn Banquet!"
Her words sounded extremely noisy in Nangong Liuyun's ears. He looked at the chattering woman in front of him irritably and thought that this woman was really unreasonable.
"Shut up!" he roared. He didn't want to listen to those boring words anymore.
If it weren't for the fact that his wife was the daughter of the most powerful civil official in the court, he would have never tolerated her unreasonableness.
Thinking of this, he said nothing more. He just snorted and left with a flick of his sleeve.