Shen Fu would only come to the Queen's Palace in the afternoon every day and leave before evening so as not to disturb Dongfang Yi's rest.
Based on his observations of the Queen in the past two days, he had already noticed that she was a person who wouldn't get up until late in the morning. That's why he made such a decision.
On this afternoon, he was sitting in the yard, thinking about what patterns to carve on the fireplace when Dongfang Yi suddenly walked over.
"What are you thinking about, Mr. Shen?" she asked.
Shen Fu stood up, bowed to her and replied, "Your Majesty, I'm considering what patterns to carve on this fireplace."
After hearing this, Dongfang Yi immediately clapped her hands.
How could she forget that the fireplace couldn't be bare? It must be carved with some patterns.
Thinking of this, she sat down, picked up the brush on the table and started scribbling on the rice paper.
Seeing her suddenly serious expression, Shen Fu also silently observed her painting from the side.
But as expected, what Dongfang Yi painted was still confusing.
"Um... I painted it a bit ugly, but it's actually very cute in its original form!" she said awkwardly, scratching her head.
Shen Fu then took the rice paper from her hand and carefully studied it for a while.
"Is this... a mouse?"
"No no no! It's called Pikachu! It's yellow and can generate electricity." Dongfang Yi explained excitedly, gesturing with her hands.
"Pikachu? Electricity? What are those?" Shen Fu was completely puzzled.
He had never heard of an animal called Pikachu in the world.
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi lowered her head dejectedly.
She thought to herself that there was indeed a generation gap with people from ancient times. She couldn't explain such a cute Pikachu clearly to him.
Thinking of this, she continued, "Pikachu doesn't exist in reality. It's like... the dragon. It's a character in legends."
As she said this, she had no choice but to say that Pikachu only existed in legends. Otherwise, if the words she just said spread out, the people in the palace might think the Queen had gone crazy.
After hearing this, Shen Fu finally understood a bit and nodded, saying, "I see."
Then he picked up the brush and redrew on the rice paper.
After a while, Dongfang Yi noticed something amazing. The thing that originally looked like a mishmash on the paper, after being modified by the man in front of her, actually looked a bit like Pikachu.
"Your Majesty, do you think this is okay?" he held up the rice paper and asked.
Dongfang Yi immediately clapped her hands in amazement: "It's perfect! Mr. Shen is really amazing!"
After all, he had never seen what Pikachu looked like before. He just painted based on her incomplete work, but he could paint it eight or nine out of ten similar. It was really incredible.
"Then shall we carve this on Your Majesty's fireplace?" he then asked.
"Excellent!" Dongfang Yi replied happily.
Then she watched contentedly as the man in front of her went back into her bedroom.
The wall hole for the fireplace had already been dug, and the opening for the chimney on the roof had also been prepared. Everything was ready.
Dongfang Yi had another important thing to do today, which was to visit Concubine Luo. She hadn't seen her for a long time.
It seemed that since she returned to the harem, every day she was either busy or scheming against Concubine Chu, or preparing for the state banquet. She rarely met this woman who used to be her friend, and she hadn't come to see her for a long time either.
In her impression, Concubine Luo never fought for the emperor's favor. She was like a transparent person in the harem, lingering in the Cining Palace of the Empress Dowager every day and was deeply loved by the Empress Dowager.
Since she had the idea of visiting Concubine Luo yesterday, she sent Xiao Qian there early this morning to inform her.
Now that the affairs in her own palace had been properly arranged, she was supported by Donghua and went to Concubine Luo's palace.
She found that Donghua looked absent - minded all the way. It seemed that it was the first time she had shown such an expression since they met.
So she asked worriedly, "Donghua, what's wrong with you?"
It seemed that Donghua didn't hear her question.
She frowned, stopped walking and patted Donghua on the shoulder.
After seeing Donghua come to her senses, she continued to ask, "What on earth is wrong with you?!"
Of course, Donghua wouldn't tell her that she was so absent - minded because of Ru Yi. She remembered how angrily she went to him yesterday, thinking that he had changed her clothes, but unexpectedly, the truth was that it was Xiao Qian!
Thinking of this, her head was buzzing. She couldn't sleep last night because of this matter, so she couldn't muster up any energy today.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. I'm fine!" she said.
Dongfang Yi naturally wouldn't believe her words. Seeing the dark circles under her eyes that were almost reaching her cheeks, it was obvious that she hadn't slept all night last night, but she still dared to lie here.
Thinking of this, her eyes narrowed slightly. Could this girl be... in love?!
"Donghua, have you been getting close to that man recently?" she asked.
She stared at the woman in front of her without blinking.
As expected, she saw Donghua's ears starting to turn red.
It seemed that she had guessed right. Was this girl really in love?
At this moment, what Donghua was thinking about was the matter of wrongly thinking that Ru Yi had changed her clothes. Her ears were red purely because of shame.
But Dongfang Yi wouldn't think so. So she continued to ask, "Which man's heart have you lost, girl?!"
As soon as she heard the word "lost", Donghua immediately thought of the way Ru Yi asked her what she had lost. Her face immediately blushed.
"No, I didn't lose it. It's not Ru Yi! It was Xiao Qian who took off my clothes!" she said in a flurry.
Dongfang Yi was completely speechless after hearing her words.
What? Ru Yi? And taking off clothes! This was too much information!
"Donghua, you and Ru Yi are developing quite fast... haha!" she said, almost out of breath from laughing.
After hearing this, Donghua only then realized what nonsense she had said. She immediately wanted to find a hole to hide in, but she still kept defending herself, saying, "No, Your Majesty. Please listen to my explanation. There's nothing going on between Ru Yi and me!"
Dongfang Yi had a teasing smile on her face. Although she looked like she was listening seriously on the surface, she was actually thinking in her heart.
I don't want to listen, I don't want to listen... explanation is just a cover - up!
Looking at the woman in front of her, Donghua could probably guess what she was thinking. She knew that no matter how much she explained, it would only make the situation worse. So she stamped her foot angrily and walked forward.
Dongfang Yi also followed with a smile and kept teasing her.