She was supposed to be the ultimate winner. However, after facing a woman she had never defeated before, all she could do was lose control.
At this moment, Dongfang Yi was imprisoned in the dungeon. After staying there for so long, she felt as if she were losing all her senses.
The foul smell constantly assailed her nostrils. Everywhere her fingers touched was icy cold. She could sense the change in the surrounding air. It must be night outside, which was why it was getting even colder.
Having neither eaten nor drunk for a long time, her stomach was empty, and her lips were extremely dry.
Just as she was lost in thought, the rattling of chains sounded in her ear. Then a jailer walked in and placed a plate of food in front of her. She could almost smell the stench from afar.
She used to think that the scenes of ancient prisons she saw on TV were all fabricated. As a noble, even if in the dungeon, one surely wouldn't be in such a miserable state. But now she had seen it with her own eyes. Once inside this dungeon, regardless of one's status, they would end up in such a sorry plight.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
Hearing her laughter, the jailer said in a rough voice, "Empress Dowager, since you're in this dungeon, don't be so particular. This is all the food we have in the dungeon. You'd better make do with it!"
After saying that, he left her cell without looking back.
Dongfang Yi, still sitting there, knew she had to eat. If she didn't, she would surely die here. She tried to get closer to the food, but before she even took a bite, she couldn't help retching.
After being a noble for so many days, her taste buds had become so delicate that she could hardly swallow such food. It was almost an instinctive reaction.
Realizing this, Dongfang Yi didn't want to force herself anymore. Instead, she walked to a corner and sat down. She must conserve her strength now. She couldn't let this mere dungeon take her life.
At this time, an unexpected visitor came to the dungeon. It was Concubine Shu.
After hearing that the empress had been imprisoned in the dungeon, she couldn't help worrying. She racked her brains in her bedroom, trying to come up with a way to save the empress.
But unfortunately, she was just a low - ranked concubine. How could she compete with the empress dowager? After much thought, she decided to come to the dungeon to have a look. At least she could make the empress's stay in the dungeon more comfortable.
She had heard that the dungeon was extremely damp, and since it was not yet spring, it must be terribly cold inside.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help shedding tears. She ordered Xiao Xiang to fetch the thickest quilt and took some gold and silver valuables from her dressing case. Then she rushed to the dungeon.
In less than the time it took to burn a stick of incense, she arrived at the dungeon entrance. Just as she was about to go in, she was stopped by the guard.
"What do you think you're doing?! Can't you tell this is a dungeon? You can't just go in!" the guard said with a scowl on his face, looking extremely fierce.
"Do you know who this is? This is a noble from the harem!" Xiao Xiang retorted loudly.
But the guard remained unmoved. Instead, he continued, "Not even a noble can go in!"
Xiao Xiang was about to say something else, but Concubine Shu stopped her. She took out a gold bracelet from her bosom and handed it to the guard. Then, with a pleading look, she said, "Sir guard, please. I just want to go in and see an old acquaintance to check on how she's doing. I'll come out soon!"
The guard was a bit tempted when he saw the gold bracelet. Then he looked around and said, "You can only stay for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. You're not allowed to enter the cell. You must come out immediately after the incense burns out!"
Seeing that he was willing to make an exception, Concubine Shu's face immediately lit up with joy. She quickly thanked him several times and then walked in with Xiao Xiang.
As soon as she entered the dungeon, the putrid smell hit her nose immediately, and there was even the squeaking sound of mice scurrying around.
Seeing this situation, she felt even more heart - broken. Thinking that the noble empress had to stay in such a place, she couldn't help but wonder how much suffering she must be going through.
But she didn't have time to think too much. After all, she only had the time it took to burn a stick of incense. So she quickly wiped away her tears and rushed to the cell where the empress was imprisoned.
Since it was extremely dim in the dungeon, it took her a long time to see the empress. When she finally saw the woman sitting in the corner, her nose couldn't help but feel sour. Then she choked with sobs and called out, "Empress Dowager!"
Hearing someone call her, Dongfang Yi immediately looked up. When she saw that it was Concubine Shu, her face showed a bit of joy. So she asked, "Sister, why did you come?"
"Empress Dowager, as soon as I heard the news that you were imprisoned, I've been worried. I didn't expect the empress dowager to be so heartless. She really imprisoned you in such a place. Doesn't the emperor care at all?!" Concubine Shu said with a sob, and the tears couldn't stop flowing down her face.
Dongfang Yi was touched to find that there was still someone who genuinely cared about her. But when she heard her mention the emperor, she couldn't help lowering her eyes.
She wondered how Helian Qi was doing now...
Concubine Shu looked around the cell and saw the plate of stinky food on one side. She felt even more heart - broken. She immediately took out the snack box she had brought and said, "Your Majesty, I came out in a hurry. There were only these snacks in the palace. Please eat some!"
Looking at these exquisitely made snacks, Dongfang Yi felt as if her previous life was just a dream. Then she curled up her lips, reached out her hand and gently tapped the nose of the woman outside the cell, saying, "You still remember that I like snacks the most!"
After hearing this, Concubine Shu's tears completely flowed down uncontrollably. Soon it turned into a howl, accompanied by her sobs, "I'm sorry, Empress Dowager. It's all my fault that I'm incompetent. I can't save you from here!"
Dongfang Yi picked up a snack and put it into her mouth. The soft, glutinous and sweet taste immediately spread in her mouth, followed by a mouthful of sweetness.
"Don't cry. I'm fine," she couldn't help comforting the woman in front of her.
Concubine Shu then told Xiao Xiang to stuff the quilt in her hand through the gap of the cell and said, "It's really too cold in this dungeon, Empress Dowager. You mustn't catch a cold. Keep warm with this quilt."
Just after she said this, the jailer walked in from outside and shouted at her, "The time it takes to burn a stick of incense is up. You should leave quickly!"
"No! Please let me stay a little longer. I'll give you a tael of silver!" Concubine Shu shouted hoarsely at the man in front of her and took out a tael of silver from her bosom.
But the jailer didn't dare to take it. Letting her in was already a greedy act that violated the rules. If he continued like this, it would be too risky to lose his life.