Dongfang Yi originally speculated that Little Laizi had colluded with someone in Concubine Shun's palace to steal the night pearl together, aiming to put her in a dilemma.
However, the current situation was that Zhizhi had jumped into the well, and before her death, she had spread the news of the missing night pearl. Now all the rumors in the palace were pointing at Dongfang Yi, and she had completely become a sinner who attempted to undermine the peace between the country and the southern neighboring state.
Thinking of this, her eyebrows furrowed even tighter, and she sighed incessantly in her heart.
It seemed that the person manipulating behind the scenes this time had prepared everything in advance, which was why her plan had gone so smoothly.
But who on earth wanted to kill her?
Dongfang Yi was calculating in her mind the people who might secretly harm her. First of all, it was Concubine Chu. She had a long - standing grudge against Dongfang Yi, so it was very likely that she would use a scheme to frame her.
If she finally managed to find out the mastermind behind all this, she would surely tear her to pieces.
On the night of the Night Pearl Banquet, Dongfang Yi had verbally taunted Concubine Chu, and she had left early. Thinking about it, her motive for the crime was quite strong.
There was also Concubine Shun. Although the matter of Little Laizi could mostly rule out her suspicion, it couldn't be denied that Little Laizi might just be her pawn, so she was also a possible suspect.
Thinking of this, she felt a wave of exhaustion in her heart. After all, in this deep palace, nothing was certain. Those who seemed harmless on the surface might have the blood of many people on their hands behind their backs.
However, even if she had her suspicions now, it was of no use because the truth required evidence.
"Your Highness, what should we do now?" Donghua, who was standing beside her, asked.
Looking at the worried look on the woman in front of her, she felt a pang of heartache and helplessness.
She had never expected that the situation would suddenly turn out like this.
"Let's just wait and see for now," Dongfang Yi said in a deep voice.
She knew that given the current situation, the most taboo thing was to act too rashly.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the palace gate. Then Xiao Qian ran in. Her face was panicked as she reported, "Your Highness! Concubine Chu is coming..."
Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by a woman who rushed in from outside the palace.
"Oh, the servants in the Queen's palace are really obedient!"
Obviously, her words were aimed at Xiao Qian who had come to report.
Dongfang Yi squinted at the person coming in, feeling quite annoyed in her heart.
Concubine Chu was always the first one to come and mock her. This time was no exception. As soon as she heard the news, Concubine Chu had rushed over to show off her power.
"What are you doing here in my palace?!" Dongfang Yi asked with a fierce look in her eyes.
The woman standing opposite her threw her head back and laughed a few times, looking extremely arrogant.
"The Queen is still showing off her power here. Don't you know what's going on in the palace?" She squinted at Dongfang Yi.
"The Queen truly lives up to her status. She doesn't even care about such a major event as the loss of the tribute night pearl..."
She still covered her mouth and laughed in a gloating manner, sneering at the woman opposite her.
"Presumptuous!" Donghua roared.
Although Dongfang Yi hadn't said anything yet, she couldn't stand the hateful look of the woman in front of her. It was really disgusting.
Dongfang Yi waved her hand, signaling Donghua to stop talking. Then she stood up and walked up to Concubine Chu.
Seeing her actions, Concubine Chu felt a bit resistant in her heart because she had been punished by Dongfang Yi several times.
But then she thought that this time it was Dongfang Yi who was in the wrong. Since she had lost the night pearl, how could she still be so arrogant?
After thinking this, she confidently puffed out her chest at the woman in front of her, indicating that she wasn't afraid at all.
Dongfang Yi lowered her head and sneered, then she raised her head and, with a speed that no one could expect, raised her hand.
"Slap—!"
A slap landed on Concubine Chu's face.
Concubine Chu's face was turned to the side by the slap. Her eyes were wide open as if she couldn't believe it.
It took her a long time to come to her senses. She covered her cheek with one hand and stared at the woman in front of her with a resentful look in her eyes and said, "You dare to hit me?!"
She never expected that Dongfang Yi would slap her without the slightest hesitation.
"So what?" Dongfang Yi replied coldly.
She was the Queen, and she would never allow anyone to sneer at her at any time. As long as someone dared to cross her bottom line, she would fight back.
So she just slapped this ungrateful thing.
After hearing this, Concubine Chu's expression became even more ferocious. Her self - esteem didn't allow herself to be trampled on again and again by the woman in front of her.
"Dongfang Yi! Who do you think you are?" She roared.
"Oh?" Dongfang Yi squinted at her.
Seeing that she was still talking rudely, Dongfang Yi's anger grew even stronger. So she didn't hesitate to raise her hand and was about to slap again.
But suddenly there was a shout from outside the palace.
"His Majesty the Emperor is coming—!"
Hearing this shout, everyone on the scene was shocked.
But Concubine Chu took the opportunity to lie on the ground.
Looking at her like this, Dongfang Yi felt quite speechless. She thought to herself how long this woman was going to use this trick and when she would stop acting so pitiful.
Then she saw Helian Qi walking in wearing a black robe. The black and gold crown on his head tied up all his hair, making him look very neat.
His cold eyes scanned the inside of the palace. It was only when he saw Dongfang Yi in front of him that his eyes softened a bit.
As soon as he heard about the theft of the night pearl, he started to rush over. On the way, he also heard that Concubine Chu had come.
Although he knew in his heart that the woman would never let herself be wronged in the slightest, he still subconsciously felt nervous.
Because in the current situation, all the malicious remarks were pointing at her.
"Your Majesty, you've finally come. If you hadn't come, the Queen might have beaten me to death," Concubine Chu cried on the ground.
Tears were still streaming down her face.
Dongfang Yi thought that it was really a pity that she didn't become an actress with her acting skills.
"Concubine Chu, aren't you disgusted with yourself for acting like this every day?!" She asked word by word, with disgust clearly showing on her face.
Helian Qi didn't pay any attention to Concubine Chu at all. Instead, he stared at Dongfang Yi intently, as if he was asking something.
But Dongfang Yi just shrugged her shoulders, as if to say: I did slap her, but it was she who came to pick a fight first.
Looking at her like this, Helian Qi couldn't help but find it quite interesting. He thought to himself that this woman still had the mood to act like this at this time.
But he still turned his head, helped the woman who was pretending to have fallen on the ground up, and casually asked, "My love, are you okay?"
There was a hint of gentleness in his tone. If someone didn't know, they might think that he was really concerned.
Seeing this, Concubine Chu took the opportunity to snuggle into his arms and said coquettishly, "The Queen is so angry～"
Helian Qi looked at the woman in his arms. His eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly, and his eyes were filled with obvious disgust.
And all this disgust came from the woman in his arms.