On the other side, outside the palace, in the Dongfang Mansion.
Prime Minister Dongfang had also heard that his daughter was going to organize the Mid - Autumn Festival banquet. He immediately told his wife the news. The old couple were as happy as children. They thought to themselves that their daughter was finally not being bullied and pushed around in the palace.
He still remembered clearly how Nangong Liuyun had acted arrogantly in the palace in the past. Now, finally, they could hold their heads high.
Madam Dongfang also felt like crying for a moment. Although organizing the banquet was not a huge event, when the noble ladies in the capital got together and complained about how useless their daughters were, she had to hold back all her grievances because her daughter had indeed made no progress in the palace.
However, this small matter proved that her daughter was finally taking her role as the queen seriously and knew how to defend her own and the Dongfang family's dignity.
Thinking of this, the old couple both showed contented smiles.
About half a month later, Dongfang Yi had arranged everything related to the Mid - Autumn Festival banquet.
Concubine Shun had come to see her once. She was still as respectful as ever, seemingly unaffected by the emperor's sudden change of mind.
If she really didn't care, she would be like a saint. But if she hated Dongfang Yi but could act so calmly, then she was truly a scheming woman, Dongfang Yi thought.
But there were no saints in this world. So Dongfang Yi became suspicious of Concubine Shun.
However, Concubine Shun was no longer the same as before. She used to be as kind as a saint. But now, her dignity had been violated, and the fortress she had built for Helian Qi in her heart had collapsed.
Maybe it was jealousy, or maybe she had overestimated her own tolerance. She just couldn't bear to see the man she loved indulging another woman. So she no longer wanted to be magnanimous for the emperor and tolerate the people he cherished.
Now, she just wanted to prove that only she was the most suitable woman to stand by that man's side.
Dongfang Yi briefly told Concubine Shun about her plan for the Mid - Autumn Festival banquet and assigned some tasks to her.
When Concubine Shun heard these novel ideas, she was involuntarily surprised for a moment, but this surprise was soon overshadowed by other thoughts in her mind.
Then she told Dongfang Yi some details that could make up for the deficiencies in her plan.
Dongfang Yi was very happy after hearing this. She had always felt that some parts of the plan were not reasonable. After Concubine Shun's suggestions, everything became clear to her, and her mind was much brighter.
For a moment, her impression of Concubine Shun improved a lot. After all, Concubine Shun had always been very respectful, and it was she who had told Dongfang Yi about the Mid - Autumn Festival banquet in the first place.
Thinking of this, Dongfang Yi suddenly felt a twinge of guilt, as if she had done something wrong. She suddenly felt that Concubine Shun was actually not at fault in all this. It was Helian Qi who had interfered and made her think of Concubine Shun as an enemy.
But Concubine Shun was just a concubine. It was Helian Qi who had doted on her. They were all just like fish in the pond raised by this king. Even if they were occasionally favored by the pond owner, they could never become human.
This was the characteristic of this era, but Dongfang Yi would never yield to these. Since she couldn't get the love she wanted, she would choose to let go. Since she was the queen in the harem, she would be a good queen and be magnanimous to all kind - hearted women.
Thinking of this, she looked up at Concubine Shun in front of her and then said with an apologetic tone, "Sister Concubine Shun, I have no intention of targeting you. I just did what I had to do for the dignity of the queen."
After saying this, she saw Concubine Shun looking completely stunned, as if she couldn't believe that the person in front of her would suddenly apologize. Surprise welled up in her heart uncontrollably.
But soon, other emotions took over. She thought that Dongfang Yi had snatched this opportunity in such a way and yet had the audacity to say it was for the queen's dignity. What about her own dignity?
She remembered that she had gone to tell Dongfang Yi about this banquet personally just to see her attitude. But Dongfang Yi had just flown into a rage and told her to leave. Later, she had gone to the empress dowager to snatch the honor that should have been hers.
Thinking of this, the little bit of mercy that Concubine Shun had just felt was completely washed away. Looking at the apologetic woman in front of her, all she felt was hatred.
The sudden surge of hatred made Dongfang Yi feel something was wrong. She immediately asked, "Sister Concubine Shun, what's wrong with you?"
Concubine Shun was pulled back to her senses by this question. She realized that she had almost done something disrespectful just now. She was immediately frightened, but then she bowed slightly and stroked her forehead, saying, "Your servant has a headache, so I was distracted. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Dongfang Yi looked at her, frowned suspiciously, but didn't think much else. Then she smiled at the woman in front of her and said, "Since you're not feeling well, go back to your palace and rest quickly. I'll send someone to tell you if there's anything."
After saying this, she patted Concubine Shun's shoulder comfortingly. Then she saw Concubine Shun bow slightly and say, "Your servant takes her leave." Then she walked out of the queen's palace in small steps.
Dongfang Yi, who was still standing there, watched Concubine Shun's figure disappear completely from her sight. She couldn't help frowning again. She had seen Concubine Shun's expression just now. It must not have been because of physical discomfort. It was more like...
Dongfang Yi couldn't figure out what it was for a moment, but she subconsciously felt that Concubine Shun must be an extraordinary person, so she must not let her guard down.
Thinking of this, she heard Donghua calling from behind, "Your Majesty, it's time for lunch!"
As soon as she heard about lunch, her stomach growled uncontrollably. Then she turned around and trotted into the inner chamber.
"Your Majesty, today's lunch was cooked by me personally," Donghua said beside the dining table.
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi stopped the chopsticks she was about to put into the dishes. The corner of her mouth twitched. She knew Donghua's cooking skills well.
When she was researching dishes in the small kitchen, Donghua was also cooking beside her. Her cooking skills were on a par with hers - extremely... unpalatable.
Thinking of this, she put the chopsticks on the bowl and was just about to ask why she had cooked personally.
Then she heard Donghua say in a teasing tone, "Your Majesty, I'm just kidding you!"
Oh no! Donghua has really gone bad!