Thinking of this, Helian Qi put down the sweet potato in his hand. His eyes fixed on the woman in front of him without a blink, and then he said, "You're the first person who has ever said such things about me."
He had noticed the specialness of the woman in front of him a long time ago. She always said something extraordinary and did things that others didn't even dare to think about. Everything about her was so novel.
Over the past year, he had forgotten what the original queen was like. His heart was completely captured by this lively, lovely woman.
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi was also stunned for a moment. There was a hint of pity in her heart. She knew that the man in front of her must have suffered a great deal of grievances, which was why he was so mature and steady, rarely showing his innocent side.
"Because I like you," she said, deeply moved.
Helian Qi could almost see his own reflection in her eyes. However, this beautiful sight could not dispel the doubts in his heart.
Then he asked, "What on earth happened to you? Why have you changed so much all of a sudden?"
He finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for a whole year.
Hearing this, the smile on Dongfang Yi's face froze. Her heart was pounding.
She couldn't possibly tell him that she was from another era and had time - traveled here. Not to mention whether he would believe it, she would probably be regarded as having a mental disorder. She thought to herself.
Nervously, she stammered in reply, "I can't tell you for the time being..."
Then she raised her head, and with a very determined look in her eyes, she continued, "One day, I will tell you everything in detail!"
She couldn't tell him all the things at present, but she also couldn't lie to him. So she could only say such words.
After saying that, she lowered her head guiltily.
Hearing this, Helian Qi frowned even more tightly. He couldn't accept the fact that she was hiding something from him. If he hadn't asked, how long would she have continued to pretend as if nothing had happened? Did she really think he couldn't notice her changes?
Anger welled up in his heart, but he couldn't bear to direct it at the woman in front of him. So he could only hold back his anger. Then he stood up, stared deeply at her for a moment, and left the imperial palace without saying a word.
Dongfang Yi sat there, watching the man's back gradually disappear from her sight. The wide - open door was still letting in the cold wind, which made her more and more sober.
She didn't want to close the door. She just wanted the cold wind to blow on her. It seemed that if her body was cold, her heart wouldn't be so cold.
Sorry, Helian Qi. I can't tell you all the truth for now, but one day I will tell you all my secrets.
When Donghua rushed over, she saw such a scene. Dongfang Yi was sitting in the draught, being blown by the cold wind. The whole room was almost freezing cold. She didn't know how long Dongfang Yi had been sitting there.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" She rushed over and shouted. She quickly closed the wide - open door, put a cloak on the sitting woman, and added some new coal to the fireplace.
"Your Majesty..." She wanted to say something else, but when she saw the woman's pale face, she couldn't say a word. She could only guess that all this must have something to do with the emperor, because this woman was always so at a loss only when facing him.
Dongfang Yi sat there blankly for a while and then walked towards the bed. She sneezed violently, feeling cold from the inside out.
Donghua felt heart - ache for her, but there was nothing she could do. She could only keep adding coal to the fireplace, hoping that the room could warm up quickly.
On the other hand, Helian Qi, who had already left the queen's palace, was walking on the palace avenue. The crunching sound of his feet stepping on the snow was especially clear in the silent night. However, his heart was entangled with mixed emotions.
He knew that the woman must have some secrets, but when he really heard it with his own ears, he still felt so sad. This woman was the one he loved most in his heart. He was willing to do anything for her, but now he was confused.
Did it mean that her heart was not really with him? Did it mean that she still missed that remaining follower of the previous dynasty outside the palace?
He had never been so suspicious of a woman before. Dongfang Yi was the first. Those other women, whether beautiful or talented, were all the same in his heart. But now Dongfang Yi was so special that he valued her so much that he was afraid of losing her and afraid that her heart didn't belong to him.
Thinking of this, an unknown fire welled up in his heart. It seemed to be mocking himself for becoming so embarrassed for a woman. Where was there any trace of the Emperor of the Dongsheng Dynasty?
So, he quickened his pace and returned to the Qianqing Palace.
As the night grew deeper, everyone was preoccupied and couldn't fall asleep.
When Dongfang Yi woke up the next day, she felt dizzy. Her eyes were so heavy that she could hardly open them. Her throat was sticky, and when she tried to speak, she found her voice was hoarse.
Oh no, she had caught a cold. She thought to herself.
When Donghua came in, she saw the pale - faced woman lying in bed. Dongfang Yi said hoarsely, "Quickly prepare a bowl of ginger soup for me!"
Dongfang Yi was not afraid of serious illnesses, but she was especially afraid of this minor cold. It couldn't take her life, but it could make her uncomfortable for half a month. It was hard to recover from it even in modern times, not to mention in this era with under - developed medicine.
Thinking of this, she felt like crying. She began to blame herself for being so indulgent last night. This body was so frail, yet she had built a snowman and let the cold wind blow on her. It would be strange if she didn't catch a cold in this cold winter.
She gulped down two bowls of ginger soup, wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, and broke out in a sweat. Only then did she feel a little better, and her head was not so dizzy.
Then she couldn't help thinking of the way the man had left angrily and silently last night. Her heart was filled with a sense of loss. But what could she do now?
Thinking of this, she sighed deeply. Then she heard a commotion outside the palace, but it didn't seem like someone was coming to visit. So she asked, "What's all the noise about outside the palace?"
Donghua smiled and said with a twinkle in her eyes, "That snowman is really something new. Xiaoqian and the others are still marveling at it. They've stopped sweeping the snow and are all building snowmen. Your Majesty, you must go out and have a look when you're feeling better!"
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi was also very happy. She didn't expect them to be so curious. It seemed that she had provided some fun for the palace.