As soon as they rushed to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, in the main courtyard, they could see the old lady sitting on the stone steps. There were four or five elderly head maids standing beside her.
The Empress Dowager was sitting on a purple - gold armchair at the moment, twirling a string of Buddhist beads in her hand, and looking down the hall with a piercing look.
And kneeling in the hall was Concubine Shu. She must have been forced to come here before she had time to dress and do her hair in the early morning.
Her hair was in a mess, and her face no longer had the delicate look of the past. Her eyes were as red as a rabbit's, and tears were still streaming down.
When Dongfang Yi saw this, a hint of pity welled up in her eyes. In this vast harem, Concubine Shu was the one she liked most, but now she was tortured to such a state.
Thinking of this, she bowed to the woman sitting at the highest position and said, "Your humble servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager!"
The Empress Dowager let out a cold snort, which seemed to come from the bottom of her throat, full of contemptuous disdain.
She simply ignored Dongfang Yi and continued to roar at Concubine Shu.
"Concubine Shu, do you know your crime!"
"Your humble servant knows her crime..." Concubine Shu prostrated herself on the ground and said in a humble tone.
Her shoulders were still trembling uncontrollably. One could imagine how terrified she was at the moment.
Dongfang Yi couldn't bear to watch any longer and began to shout loudly, "Empress Dowager! Why do you have to make things difficult for Concubine Shu? This matter was all done by your humble servant alone!"
She said each word firmly. Dongfang Yi had always hated dragging others into trouble in her life, and she didn't want others to lose their lives for her.
The woman sitting on high let out another cold snort. "Is the Empress trying to take all the blame on herself? Heh! Does the Empress think that the Dowager needs your advice when disciplining a concubine!"
Her tone was filled with uncontrollable anger and she didn't take Dongfang Yi's words to heart at all.
"The Dowager is just disciplining this insolent Concubine Shu to let her know what kind of end she will come to if she associates with the wrong people casually!"
After saying that, she raised her hand and waved, signaling Nanny Li beside her to go down.
Nanny Li was holding a whip in her hand. It was a torture tool used to punish servants in the palace.
Moreover, these old nannies had been working in the palace for a long time and had very strong hands.
She raised her hand and whipped down. Concubine Shu immediately let out a shrill scream in pain.
When Dongfang Yi saw this, she immediately lost her composure. She took a big step forward and hugged the woman who was being whipped.
This scene shocked everyone present. No one expected the Empress to rush forward suddenly.
Donghua couldn't help but let out an exclamation, "Your Majesty!" Then, as if thinking of something, she sidestepped and ran out of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
Nanny Li's next whip landed on Dongfang Yi.
Dongfang Yi took the whip, but turned her head and looked at the woman sitting on high with hatred in her eyes. Then she shouted, "Empress Dowager!"
Then she gritted her teeth to stop herself from making any sound, but cold sweat oozed out from her forehead.
When Concubine Shu saw this, with her red - bloodshot eyes wide open, she exclaimed, "Your Majesty, please get out of the way. Let your humble servant bear it!"
She never expected that the Empress would rush forward to shield her from harm. She didn't deserve such kindness.
Seeing the Empress rushing forward, Nanny Li stopped her hand and looked at the old woman behind her with a hesitant expression.
The Empress Dowager sneered a few times. Looking coldly at the two people hugging each other in the hall, she said,
"The Empress is really acting out a good show of sisterly love for the Dowager! Don't forget that you are also a sinner who has made the royal family lose its dignity. Beat them hard for the Dowager!"
After hearing the order, Nanny Li showed a relieved expression on her face and then raised her hand and whipped down heavily again.
Because Dongfang Yi was protecting Concubine Shu, all the whips landed on her.
The clothes on the places whipped by the whip were all torn, revealing the flesh inside, and blood was seeping out little by little.
Concubine Shu was still crying and shouting, "Your Majesty, please go!"
When her fingers touched the blood, she cried even louder.
But Dongfang Yi was still gently patting the person under her, telling her not to be afraid, while her own body was trembling constantly because of the whips.
In a short while, her back was covered in blood and flesh.
When Nanny Li saw this, there was a hint of pity on her face, and she was also a little afraid. So she stopped her hand.
At this time, Dongfang Yi had lost some of her consciousness. As soon as the whipping stopped, she tilted to one side and fell down. Concubine Shu under her quickly crawled out and began to cry beside her non - stop.
When Helian Qi arrived, this was the scene he saw. Dongfang Yi, covered in blood, was lying on her side on the ground with her eyes closed. It seemed that she had passed out.
Her face was so pale that it was hard to believe, and even her lips had lost their color.
His face immediately turned cold, and his eyes were filled with killing intent. He walked over with heavy steps.
With a backhand, he knocked Nanny Li, who was still standing beside, to the ground.
She immediately spat out a large mouthful of blood and couldn't get up on the ground.
The Empress Dowager was a little afraid when she saw the angry Emperor. After all, her son had always been cold and not good at showing emotions, but now he was so angry.
Thinking of this, she hesitated a little and softly called out,
"Your Majesty!"
But Helian Qi just gave her a cold look. The killing intent in his eyes made her tremble, and she immediately stopped talking.
He immediately squatted on the ground and picked up the injured woman in his arms. His chest was filled with unbearable pain.
He had taken every precaution, but he didn't expect that she would be beaten like this by the Empress Dowager.
Dongfang Yi weakly opened her eyes. After seeing the man in front of her, she finally smiled reassuringly and said in a murmur, "You're here..."
"I'm here!" he said in a deep voice.
There seemed to be emotions on the verge of bursting out in his voice.
After saying that, Dongfang Yi fell into a coma. Her once - lively eyelashes were now still, and her face was deathly pale.
Helian Qi immediately rushed out of the palace gate with her in his arms and roared at Ru Yi beside him, "Summon the imperial physician!"
Ru Yi always felt that Helian Qi at this moment was familiar. He was like a wild beast out of control.
When Dongfang Yi took a knife for him outside the palace that time, he was also like this. The whole person was filled with anger, which made people afraid.
Helian Qi rushed towards the Empress's Palace, feeling a pang of pain and guilt in his heart.
Looking at the woman in his arms who was as light as a bird, now full of lifelessness.
He felt that it was all his fault. He shouldn't have agreed to her plan at the beginning, and he shouldn't have pushed all the blame on her.
Then Dongfang Yi wouldn't have to bear so many misunderstandings and be hurt like this.
He hated himself for letting her be hurt again.
When they arrived at the Empress's Palace, Imperial Physician Li was already waiting in front of the palace gate.
Helian Qi quickly put the woman in his arms on the bed for diagnosis and treatment.