However, Dongfang Yi ignored Donghua in front of her and walked absent - mindedly towards her own palace.
Outside the window, the night was boundless, but the people inside the house couldn't sleep all night.
When she woke up the next day, it was already noon.
Seeing her absent - minded look last night, Donghua didn't wake her up early.
Dongfang Yi felt much better today. Sure enough, sleeping could solve many problems that seemed insoluble.
After all, no matter how much she pondered or worried, things wouldn't change. So she might as well live in the moment.
Having thought this, she smiled, dressed herself, and got out of bed.
As soon as she stepped out of the palace, she saw Shen Fu standing with Donghua outside the palace. They were whispering to each other, and she couldn't tell what they were talking about.
When they saw Dongfang Yi wake up, they both bowed respectfully.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"Your Highness, I was just telling Miss Donghua about the Pikachu you drew a few days ago," Shen Fu replied.
Donghua beside him also asked curiously, "Your Highness, what on earth is Pikachu? I think it's quite cute."
No wonder Donghua was so surprised. People in ancient times had never seen such a thing!
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi looked towards the main palace. Sure enough, the shape of Pikachu had already been carved on the fireplace.
Without answering Donghua's question, she rushed into her own palace in one stride and stroked the patterns on the fireplace with her hand.
She couldn't help but praise in her heart: Mr. Shen is really skillful! Even the carved thing is so vivid.
After a while, Shen Fu and the others also came into the main palace.
"Your Highness, this fireplace will be completed soon. We just need to pour iron juice into it," Shen Fu said.
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi was overjoyed. She didn't expect that in just half a month, the thing that would be her life - saver in winter had been made. It was really wonderful!
"Mr. Shen, you are so skillful! I really have to thank you very much," she said to the man in front of her.
Shen Fu quickly bowed and replied, "This is what I should do. Your Highness's words really flatter me!"
"Hahaha, Mr. Shen is really not a person who seeks fame," Dongfang Yi laughed twice and praised him.
Just as she was about to say something else, suddenly a voice came from outside the palace.
Looking out, she saw Eunuch Li running over.
"Your Highness, the Emperor invites you to the Qianqing Palace," he said in a shrill voice.
Dongfang Yi frowned and hesitated for a moment, but still replied, "I see. I'll go there right away."
After Eunuch Li left the Queen's Palace, she asked Donghua beside her, "Do you know what it's about?"
Donghua also shook her head with a puzzled look on her face.
Then she simply dressed up and walked towards the Qianqing Palace.
It took less than half the time it takes to burn a stick of incense to reach the Qianqing Palace.
Ru Yi was still guarding in front of the palace. When his eyes fell on Donghua, his expression paused for a moment. Then he said to Dongfang Yi, "Your humble servant pays respects to the Queen. The Emperor is waiting for you inside."
Dongfang Yi immediately stepped over the threshold of the Qianqing Palace.
As soon as she entered the palace, she saw Helian Qi sitting in front of a desk full of official documents, with his head down, approving the documents.
She suddenly realized that no matter when she came here, he was always approving official documents without exception.
"Your humble servant pays respects to the Emperor," she said, bowing slightly.
Hearing her voice, Helian Qi looked up. His eyes seemed to be filled with exhaustion.
"Come here," he said in a deep voice.
Dongfang Yi obediently walked over. Although she didn't know why this man in front of her had called her here, she knew that she must not go against his will.
Then she walked up to him.
"Sit down," he continued.
Dongfang Yi waved her sleeves and sat on the chair farthest from him.
Helian Qi frowned when he saw her deliberately distant manner, but said nothing. Instead, he brought up another matter.
"Tomorrow, envoys from the southern neighboring country will come to pay tribute. You should accompany me to the court to show our dynasty's sincerity," he said.
Only then did Dongfang Yi remember that he had mentioned this matter to her not long ago.
Although she was not interested in such things, she knew that as the queen, it was an inescapable duty. So she nodded and said, "Your humble servant understands."
Helian Qi waved his hand and called out Ru Yi outside the palace.
Then Ru Yi walked in, followed by several maids. Judging from their costumes, they should be from the palace's Clothing Bureau.
"I've prepared the clothes and jewelry you need for tomorrow's court," he said.
Immediately afterwards, the maids opened the dressing boxes.
Inside was a complete set of gold and pearl phoenix crowns, which looked extremely luxurious.
It was beautiful, but in Dongfang Yi's eyes, it was just a heavy burden on her head. Wearing it to court tomorrow would surely break her neck.
But on the surface, she still pretended to be honored and said, "Okay ~ Your humble servant likes it very much."
Even Helian Qi didn't notice her inner struggle and continued, "And this gold and jade phoenix robe."
The maid below added, "This gold and jade phoenix robe is entirely made of gold thread and inlaid with 108 pieces of the rarest Hetian jade. It's extremely precious."
After hearing about the 108 pieces of jade, Dongfang Yi almost fainted. This was not a robe at all. It was clearly a heavy weight!
Wearing this robe and that crown, could she even walk?
Thinking of this, she looked hesitant and asked Helian Qi beside her, "Your Majesty, do I really have to dress like this?"
He raised his eyebrows slightly, gave a grunt, and said nothing more.
Dongfang Yi had no choice but to take a long breath and thought to herself that it was only for one day. What was there to be afraid of? She could just find an excuse to return to the palace early.
Thinking of this, she forced a smile and said, "Your humble servant obeys. If there's nothing else, your humble servant will take her leave first."
Having said that, she stood up and was about to walk out of the palace.
But Helian Qi suddenly called her back.
"I heard that there's some renovation going on in the Queen's Palace recently, and a Mr. Shen has also come?" he said.
He didn't even realize that there was a strange hint of jealousy in his tone.
Dongfang Yi also sensed the sarcasm in his words, so she replied, "Your humble servant is just renovating a stove. Mr. Shen is very skillful."
Then she continued to walk out of the palace.
Helian Qi said nothing more. He just looked at Dongfang Yi's figure gradually walking out of the palace gate with a complicated look in his eyes until her back disappeared from his sight.
When he was the only one left in the palace, he let out a long sigh and lowered his eyes. No one could tell what his expression was.
Why were there always men around her for various legitimate reasons?
He still remembered what had happened in the imperial kitchen last night, but that woman seemed to have no feeling at all, as if nothing had happened.
Had her heart already been given to someone outside the palace, so she was completely unmoved by him?
Thinking of this, a look of hurt appeared on his face, and he couldn't help but let out a silent bitter laugh.