"Who?!" Donghua asked warily from the side. After all, in this harem, the appearance of a man was already something to be cautious about.
Then a man in black clothes walked out. It was none other than the Prince of Nanping, Helian Rong.
"So it's His Highness the Prince of Nanping," Dongfang Yi said with a smile.
Since they saved each other's lives last time, she always felt that they had grown much closer. Perhaps this was what was called friendship in adversity.
Seeing this, Donghua also bowed slightly.
"I didn't expect the imperial sister - in - law to be able to compose such elegant verses," he continued to praise without reservation, with a hint of admiration in his eyes.
He had just finished discussing state affairs with his elder brother. Hearing from the palace servants that the plum blossoms in the imperial garden were in full bloom, he came here out of curiosity. Unexpectedly, he saw this woman here, reciting a poem with a sad look on her face. She was as beautiful as a painting.
"The Prince of Nanping is overpraising. I just recited a few lines casually," Dongfang Yi replied somewhat sheepishly.
She couldn't say that she was showing off by borrowing the verses of the ancients. After all, she was the so - called ancient person now. Thinking of this, the corner of her mouth couldn't help but curl up. She deeply felt that having knowledge really made a difference.
"The imperial sister - in - law is really modest. I admire you," the man opposite said, and then slowly walked over.
"I heard that the imperial sister - in - law has been unwell these days?" he then asked.
Thinking of the rumor in the palace that the empress had caught a cold recently, he couldn't help but ask.
Dongfang Yi nodded but replied calmly, "It's just a minor illness. The Prince of Nanping need not worry."
Then there was silence between them. There was inevitably a bit of awkwardness in the air. Finally, Helian Rong coughed lightly and said, "Then I won't disturb the empress from enjoying the plum blossoms. I'll take my leave."
After saying that, he left the Red Plum Garden without looking back. The smile on his face faded, replaced by a bitter smile.
Love only brings regret. Why bother with such troubles?
Dongfang Yi watched the man in front of her gradually disappear from her sight, then let out a long sigh of relief. For some reason, whenever she faced him, she couldn't help but think of Helian Qi, perhaps because they looked so similar.
This would make her think of Helian Qi uncontrollably, and then a pain would well up in her heart. The pain spread to her internal organs, making it hard for her to breathe.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?!" Donghua frowned and asked, obviously noticing the abnormality of the woman beside her.
Dongfang Yi just shook her head and said, "It's okay." Then she had no more interest in enjoying the plum blossoms and walked towards the outside of the imperial garden.
"It's too cold outside. Let's go back to the palace," she then said, and without looking back, she left the imperial garden.
Seeing this, Donghua didn't say anything. Watching the woman in front of her being carefree one moment and then sad and sentimental the next, she could only follow her lead.
The two walked silently on the imperial avenue. A procession was coming towards them head - on. It was the procession carrying the emperor.
Meeting face - to - face, Dongfang Yi couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. But she knew that she couldn't avoid this encounter, so she could only watch them approaching.
"Your Majesty..." Donghua called out softly.
But her eyes never left the man sitting on the highest seat.
Helian Qi naturally noticed the woman in the distance. Even Ru Yi beside him whispered a reminder, "Your Majesty, the one in front is the empress."
He wasn't blind. Of course he knew it was the empress. But for some reason, he just didn't want to get off, didn't want to smile at her or give her a good look, just because she had hidden something from him that night.
Although his heart was screaming for him to hold that weak woman, his body just couldn't move an inch.
Dongfang Yi watched helplessly as the man sitting on the high seat passed by her coldly without any sign of emotion. For a moment, her heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cave.
"Heh..." she let out a bitter laugh.
So it was really like this. He still couldn't forgive her for hiding things from him, couldn't forgive her for keeping secrets from him.
Thinking of this, she lifted her foot to continue walking forward, but suddenly felt dizzy and her body began to tilt uncontrollably.
"Your Majesty the Empress!!!"
Vaguely, she could only hear Donghua's heart - rending roar. Then she seemed to see the man rushing in front of her and holding her body.
Why did she faint again? She mocked herself in her heart. She had lost count of how many times this had happened. How could her body be so weak that she fainted at the slightest provocation.
After that, she completely fell into a deep coma.
Originally, Helian Qi didn't want to turn back, but in an instant, he heard Donghua's roar. When he turned back, he saw the woman about to fall as lightly as a feather. Almost without thinking, he jumped off the procession and ran to her side to hold her.
"Dong'er!" he roared loudly.
But the woman in front of him had fallen into a coma and wouldn't wake up no matter how he called her.
"Call the imperial physician!!!"
After saying that, he picked her up and ran towards the empress's palace.
It was another dream, Dongfang Yi's dream.
This dream was different from the previous ones. As soon as she entered the dream, it was a colorful world. It was spring in the dream, and she was standing among the flowers with butterflies fluttering around her.
"Dongfang Yi!"
Suddenly, an old voice emerged. The figure made her feel extremely familiar.
Later, she remembered that this was the voice she had heard in a dream before.
"Who on earth are you?!" She opened her mouth to shout, but found that she seemed to have lost her voice. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make a sound.
This situation made her lose control, so she squatted on the ground and grabbed her own neck, forcing herself to make a sound.
"Don't waste your effort. You can't speak here," the old voice rang out again.
Dongfang Yi then stood up and gestured with her hands, asking, "Who are you?"
She only heard the old voice laugh twice and then say, "You don't need to know who I am. Just know that this is just a dream!"
Then in an instant, she fell into darkness, as if there was a strong gravitational force forcing her to fly towards a certain place.
Then she took a deep breath and woke up. In front of her was Helian Qi. He was looking at her with a worried face. After seeing her wake up, he immediately bent down and hugged her, whispering softly, "You're finally awake. It's good that you're okay."
Dongfang Yi was a bit dazed and let him hold her. Suddenly, a feeling of grievance welled up in her heart. Then her nose twitched and she said, "I really didn't mean to hide things from you!"