Looking at Concubine Chu's appearance, Concubine Dong felt a bit uneasy. She opened her mouth nervously and asked, "What instructions does Your Highness have?"
"Your father, Minister Dong, has taken refuge with someone. I'm sure you're aware of that," Concubine Chu said casually as she picked up the teapot to pour herself a cup of tea. She brought the cup to her nose, smelled it, and then put it down with a look of disdain.
"Of course it can't compare to the fine tea in Your Highness's palace, but it can still quench one's thirst," Concubine Dong said. Watching Concubine Chu's series of actions, she felt a bit annoyed. However, due to the difference in their power, she had to flatter her.
Hearing this, Concubine Chu glanced at Concubine Dong standing there and said softly, "Don't stand. We're both concubines. It's not right for you to stand while I sit."
As she said this, she pointed to the seat beside her.
Concubine Dong bowed again and then sat down on the seat pointed out by Concubine Chu. She was waiting for Concubine Chu to continue, but unexpectedly, Concubine Chu started sipping the tea slowly and didn't say another word.
"I wonder if my father has offended Your Highness's family or...?" Concubine Dong asked cautiously.
Seeing that Concubine Chu still showed no intention of speaking, Concubine Dong didn't dare to say anything either, fearing that one extra word might harm her father.
Neither of them said a word. Concubine Dong's palace was extremely quiet. Occasionally, the rustling sound of the wind could be heard.
After drinking enough tea, Concubine Chu casually put down the cup, wiped the corner of her mouth gently with a silk handkerchief, turned to look at Concubine Dong, and asked, "Do you know who your father is serving now?"
Concubine Dong subconsciously wanted to shake her head, but seeing Concubine Chu's attitude, she guessed that Concubine Chu probably already knew about her father's affairs. So she had no choice but to bite the bullet and tell the truth, "My father is now working for Uncle Nangong."
Seeing that she had told the truth, Concubine Chu nodded in satisfaction. Then she pointed at herself with her jade finger and asked, "Do you know what relationship I have with Uncle Nangong you mentioned?"
"Your Highness is naturally Uncle Nangong's adopted daughter. Although you're an adopted daughter, he loves you as if you were his own," Concubine Dong flattered with her head down.
Knowing the dangers in the palace, Concubine Dong thought that Concubine Chu's visit this time was probably to win her over and make her do things for her. She didn't want to get involved in the struggles in the harem and the undercurrents in the court, and was thinking about how to decline.
With just a glance, Concubine Chu could tell what Concubine Dong was thinking.
Concubine Chu poured a cup of tea for Concubine Dong and said, "My adoptive father has returned to the imperial mausoleum. I'm in charge of all the affairs here. Since we're on the same side, if there's something, I naturally need to discuss it with you."
Just as she had thought, Concubine Chu's purpose this time was to make her work for her. Concubine Dong stood up, bowed apologetically, and said, "I understand what Your Highness means, but my health has always relied on medicine. I'm afraid I'll only mess up Your Highness's affairs."
Concubine Chu snorted coldly and looked at Concubine Dong disdainfully. She said, "Then I can't protect your father, Minister Dong."
Concubine Dong, with her head down, didn't understand what Concubine Chu meant. She looked up at Concubine Chu in confusion.
Then Concubine Chu took out a memorial from her bosom and handed it over.
"This..." Concubine Dong looked at the content in the memorial and said nervously, "This is a great crime that could lead to the execution of the whole family. Your Highness, don't talk nonsense."
"Whether I can keep my mouth shut depends on your choice. It's getting late. I'll leave first. If you've made up your mind, hang a willow branch at the door," Concubine Chu said and then left Concubine Dong's palace.
Concubine Dong finally understood what her father meant by "fend for yourself". She slumped to the ground and said, "I'm afraid my days are numbered."
In contrast to the desolation here, the Queen's palace was extremely lively.
Dongfang Yi opened her big eyes and stared at the small cage on the table. Helian Qi looked at Dongfang Yi lovingly as she stared at the cute little creature in the cage.
Afraid that Dongfang Yi would strain her eyes, Helian Qi stood up, picked up the cage on the table, and said, "Okay, Dong'er. Do you like the gift I gave you?"
"Like it. Of course I like it."
Seeing the little creature being picked up by Helian Qi, Dongfang Yi reached out to grab it. But there was a certain height difference between her and Helian Qi, so she had no choice but to say, "Since you've given it to me, it's naturally mine. What do you mean by holding it and not giving it to me now?"
Seeing that the little woman seemed a bit "angry", Helian Qi smiled and put the small cage back on the table.
Seeing the little creature back on the solid ground, Dongfang Yi quickly opened the small cage, took out the little puppy, sat down carefully and seriously, and kept teasing the little thing.
The little puppy also liked Dongfang Yi very much. Seeing Dongfang Yi keep teasing it, it stuck out its little tongue and licked her, and its little tail kept wagging.
Helian Qi, who was watching from the side, saw the big one and the small one having a great time. He smiled and said, "It seems that it has taken a fancy to you."
Dongfang Yi, holding the little puppy, looked at Helian Qi proudly, and her tone was extremely overbearing: "That's right. It's not just this little guy who has taken a fancy to me. There's also this big guy beside me."
Helian Qi nodded in agreement.
"By the way, what's its name?" Dongfang Yi suddenly remembered that the little guy in her arms didn't have a name yet, so she asked Helian Qi.
"No name. Since it's for you, it's up to you to name it," Helian Qi said as he was doing his great "career" - looking at his wife.
"Um..." Dongfang Yi held the two front paws of the little puppy and lifted it in front of her eyes. The little puppy was looking at Dongfang Yi eye to eye, and its tail kept wagging. "Since it likes to wag its tail so much, let's call it Tail, Helian Tail."
Not only was the name given casually, but it also had the same surname as his. Helian Qi was a bit dissatisfied and said, "Nonsense. If others know that this little guy has the same surname as me, you'll have one more crime."
Dongfang Yi nodded seriously, then looked at Little Tail and deliberately said aggrievedly, "Son, your father doesn't want you to have his surname. You take your mother's surname. Just pretend you don't have this father. Dongfang Tail. It sounds nice."
Seeing that the little woman beside him was going to recognize this little guy as her son, Helian Qi shook his head helplessly, sighed, and said, "Of course you have this father. You'll have your father's surname. Your father will prepare some delicious food for you tomorrow."
Seeing that Helian Qi had agreed, Dongfang Yi immediately smiled happily and said, "Helian Qi, you're so nice."
Helian Qi was also very helpless. What could he do? He could only spoil his beloved woman like this.
After playing with Little Tail for a while, Helian Qi finally said, "We can set off tomorrow. Where do you want to go this time?"
Hearing that they could set off tomorrow, Dongfang Yi was a bit excited. She tilted her head and thought about where she wanted to go. After thinking for a while, she looked at Helian Qi. There were still a lot of things in the palace that hadn't been dealt with. If she chose a place too far away, she would be too disobedient. So she said, "Let's just stay in the city. We can just take a look at the lives of the common people under the feet of the Son of Heaven."
Helian Qi knew that Dongfang Yi was considering him. He stood up, walked forward, and pulled Dongfang Yi up.
Dongfang Yi put Little Tail on the ground in confusion and then stood up to look at Helian Qi.