Taking advantage of her inattentiveness, Helian Qi suddenly picked Dongfang Yi up. Dongfang Yi was startled and instinctively wrapped her arms around Helian Qi. "Helian Qi, what are you doing? Put me down quickly!" she exclaimed.
"My lady," Helian Qi said with a charming smile, "the night is short. It's time for us to rest."
Dongfang Yi was immediately overwhelmed by his charm. Blushing, she buried her head in Helian Qi's arms and let him carry her closer and closer to the bed.
It was a night of passion.
Back in her palace, Concubine Chu was in high spirits. She knew that Concubine Dong, even if reluctant, would not be able to refuse her this time. Looking at the flower arrangement on the windowsill, Concubine Chu's eyes gradually turned venomous. "Dongfang Yi, let's see how you can escape this time," she hissed.
When Dongfang Yi woke up the next day, the sun was already high in the sky. The place beside her was cold. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Dongfang Yi called out, "Donghua?"
Hearing her call, Donghua pushed the door open and entered, smiling. "Your Majesty is awake?" she asked.
Dongfang Yi stretched and then asked, "What time is it?"
Looking at Dongfang Yi, who showed no air of a queen in bed, Donghua smiled. She prepared the water for Dongfang Yi to wash up and replied, "It's almost lunchtime."
"Ah?" Dongfang Yi was a bit embarrassed. She didn't expect to have slept so long. She got up and began to wash. "No wonder I'm so hungry," she said.
"His Majesty said not to disturb Your Majesty's rest," Donghua pointed at her own neck, hinting at Dongfang Yi.
Dongfang Yi looked at Donghua in confusion. Then she saw her own neck in the bronze mirror and realized what was going on. She quickly pulled up her undergarment and said shyly to Donghua, "Quickly prepare some clothes, with high collars."
Donghua smiled and withdrew. Dongfang Yi looked at herself in the mirror with regret. This Helian Qi really knew how to cause trouble for her.
In the Qianqing Palace, Helian Qi, who was dealing with official affairs, heard that Dongfang Yi had woken up. He immediately ordered Liancheng to come.
"Your Majesty, what do you want me to do?" Liancheng had been having lunch at noon when he was summoned by Helian Qi.
"Today, the Queen and I have decided to leave the palace for an inspection. Go and prepare the carriage," Helian Qi said without looking up, assigning the task to Liancheng while looking at the memorials.
"Yes," Liancheng replied and withdrew.
After reading the memorials, Helian Qi rubbed his temples and said to the people beside him, "Let's go. Go to the Queen's palace."
Dongfang Yi, who had just finished washing up and was having lunch, heard that Helian Qi was coming. She got up to greet him and walked up to him. "You're here," she said.
Looking at the little woman running towards him with food still in her mouth, Helian Qi always felt she was like a certain animal.
Xiaoweiba saw Dongfang Yi running and ran along with her. It squatted at Helian Qi's feet and wagged its tail.
Both of them looked at Xiaoweiba squatting on the ground. Xiaoweiba didn't know why they were looking at it. It barked, stuck out its tongue, and continued to wag its tail.
Helian Qi and Dongfang Yi were amused by Xiaoweiba's actions. They held hands and entered the palace.
"Have you eaten?" Dongfang Yi sat down and immediately turned to ask Helian Qi.
Helian Qi shook his head. "I've been dealing with miscellaneous affairs all morning and haven't had a meal yet," he said.
Feeling a bit sorry for him, Dongfang Yi quickly asked Donghua beside her to set an extra pair of chopsticks and bowls. "You should eat well. Otherwise, your body won't be able to take it," she said to Helian Qi.
Helian Qi liked to hear his little woman caring about him. He nodded contentedly and accompanied Dongfang Yi to have lunch.
Since there was one more person, the meal took a bit longer. After they finished eating, Donghua ordered the servants to remove the food.
After the meal, Dongfang Yi was in high spirits. She called Xiaoweiba over and picked it up.
Helian Qi, who was beside her, smiled and said, "Take a rest and then let's go. We can leave the palace."
Hearing the words "leave the palace", Dongfang Yi quickly turned her head. Her eyes widened roundly, and she was so excited that she almost couldn't speak. "Really? Now?" she asked.
Helian Qi nodded with a smile. "We just finished eating. After a rest, we can go. Liancheng has already prepared the carriage," he said.
"Yeah!" Dongfang Yi held Xiaoweiba and spun around. Then she held Xiaoweiba in front of Helian Qi. "Can I take Xiaoweiba with me?" she asked, blinking her eyes cutely at Helian Qi.
Helian Qi, who couldn't resist his little woman's cuteness, gave in and agreed. He said to Donghua, "Go and pack some clothes."
Donghua bowed and then left the room.
"I've agreed to you. So shouldn't you show your appreciation?" Helian Qi kept getting closer to Dongfang Yi.
Dongfang Yi blushed a bit. She looked around and saw there was no one else. She quickly kissed Helian Qi on the face. "Is that okay?" she asked.
Helian Qi smiled and blew a breath into Dongfang Yi's ear. "No. Make it up to me tonight," he said.
Dongfang Yi became even more embarrassed. Her face turned red. She hugged Xiaoweiba and ignored Helian Qi. She walked out.
After Donghua finished packing, Helian Qi and the others set off. They didn't expect that someone would be secretly watching them when they were leaving the palace gate.
Seeing Helian Qi and his entourage leave the palace gate, Concubine Chu curled her lips. "Just wait. You're so happy now, but whether you can come back later is another matter," she sneered.
On her way back to the palace, Concubine Chu deliberately passed by Concubine Dong's door. Seeing willows hanging in front of Concubine Dong's palace, she smiled and then returned to her own palace.
After leaving the palace gate, Dongfang Yi was in a state of excitement. She hugged Xiaoweiba and kept giggling.
Helian Qi beside her stroked Dongfang Yi's head and asked, "Dong'er, what makes you so happy?"
Dongfang Yi didn't feel shy. She lay in Helian Qi's arms and said, "Helian Qi, you're so good. You prepare surprises for me according to my wishes."
Helian Qi didn't understand modern Chinese words like "surprise". He put his arm around Dongfang Yi's shoulder and asked, "What is a surprise?"
Thinking that these ancient people didn't know the words of the 21st century, Dongfang Yi patiently explained, "A surprise is when a person wants to give something to another person but doesn't want that person to know. So they secretly buy it and suddenly show it to the other person when they want to."
Helian Qi nodded in understanding. "Then I'll prepare more surprises for Dong'er. Let you have surprises all the time," he said.
Dongfang Yi was amused by his words. She rubbed against Helian Qi's arms. To keep a low profile, the carriage they prepared was relatively small. Dongfang Yi could easily reach the curtain beside her.
She lifted the curtain and looked at the situation under the feet of the Son of Heaven.
The common people lived and worked in peace and contentment. There were all kinds of people and businesses in the market. The coming and going people and carriages made Dongfang Yi feel warm inside. The man she married cared about the common people all over the world. He did a great job in his position and also had her in his heart. What on earth did she do to deserve coming to this time and space and meeting this man?
"Helian Qi," Dongfang Yi lying in his arms said with emotion, "If one day I become the way I used to be again, what will you do?"