Soon, the day of Tomb - Sweeping Festival arrived. Dongfang Yi was woken up early in the morning to wash up. In previous dynasties, the queens had to accompany the emperor to pay homage to the imperial ancestors in the imperial mausoleum. Usually, they were supposed to wear luxurious and magnificent costumes, but Helian Qi knew that she couldn't stand these red - tape rituals, so he issued an order that she could be exempted from it.
Now, she only needed to wear plain clothes and comb a more dignified hair bun.
Donghua combed a coiled - cloud hair bun for her. Paired with the white robe embroidered with gold, she looked just like a grand and majestic queen, full of dignity.
Just as they were about to leave the Queen's Palace, there was a commotion outside. Then, an old woman rushed in. It was Nanny Li from the Cining Palace.
At the sight of her, Dongfang Yi frowned instinctively, because usually when she showed up, it meant that the empress dowager was coming to pick a fight.
"What's the matter, Nanny Li?" she asked.
The old woman took out something from her bosom. When she unfolded the brocade cloth, a golden phoenix hairpin was revealed.
"Your Majesty, the empress dowager sent me to give this to you. I heard that there will be a sacrifice to the ancestors today. The former empress dowager wore this hairpin when she paid homage to the Helian ancestors," she said and handed the item over.
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi immediately took it. Her heart skipped a beat. The phoenix carved on the golden hairpin seemed to come alive. It was truly a treasure.
"Why did the empress dowager send this hairpin to me?" she couldn't help but frown and ask, because in her impression, the empress dowager had never done such a thing to her.
Hearing this, Nanny Li chuckled twice and then replied, "The empress dowager said that since you are the queen, she should teach you. When going out, you must not disgrace the dignity of our royal family."
At first glance, her words didn't seem to be kind, but Dongfang Yi understood the underlying meaning.
It seemed that the empress dowager finally recognized her status as the queen. That was why she was willing to teach her and give her the hairpin. This was something she would only do when she regarded Dongfang Yi as one of her own.
Thinking of this, she smiled and then said to the old woman in front of her, "Nanny Li, please tell the empress dowager that I've understood her good intentions. In the future, I will surely be a good queen and uphold the dignity of our royal family!"
After saying that, she led the maids behind her and left the Queen's Palace.
At this time, Helian Qi was already ready. Suddenly, Ru Yi knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, Ru Yi has a request!"
He raised his head, his eyes filled with determination.
Hearing this, Helian Qi raised his eyebrows and asked, "Oh? Tell me."
Ru Yi lowered his head and said word by word, "Ru Yi wants to marry Donghua, the maid beside the queen. I hope that after this important event is accomplished, Your Majesty can..."
His words were interrupted because there were footsteps outside. Then, Dongfang Yi walked in. At this time, the golden phoenix hairpin sent by the empress dowager was pinned on her head.
Helian Qi stared at her intently. He felt that the woman in front of him was like a celestial being slowly walking down from the sky. She was so beautiful and charming.
Thinking of this, he whispered to Ru Yi beside him, "Get up first. I've known your intention for a long time. I will surely discuss it with the queen."
But his words were heard by Dongfang Yi, who had sharp ears. Then, she trotted over and asked curiously, "Discuss what? Know what?"
Then, looking at Ru Yi beside her, she seemed to understand something immediately. She turned around and glanced at Donghua behind her, then let out two lecherous laughs.
Donghua was so creeped out by her expression that she couldn't help taking a few steps back, afraid that she would come up with some bad ideas for her again.
After everyone was ready, a group of people were escorted out of the palace and headed towards the imperial mausoleum on the outskirts of the capital. At their speed, they would arrive at the imperial mausoleum at dusk. It was the best time for the sacrifice. Then, they would stay around the imperial mausoleum for a night, just like inspecting the people's livelihood. They could return to the court at dusk the next day.
Along the way, the carriage was traveling on the official road, so it wasn't very bumpy. Dongfang Yi had gotten up early in the morning and now she felt sleepy. She leaned on her knees and dozed off.
Helian Qi was always worried that she might fall under the carriage wheel while dozing. Thinking of this, he sat over and let her upper body lean on his shoulder. He stroked her hair on the forehead and said, "If you're sleepy, take a nap. I'll wake you up when we arrive."
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi fell asleep peacefully, because as long as this man was by her side, she didn't have to worry about any unexpected things.
At this time, Helian Qi was deep in thought. He knew that this trip would not be just a simple sacrifice to the ancestors. When he sent Nangong Liuyun to this place, he already knew his ambition. Indulging him like this was just to dig out all his party members. In this way, it could also be regarded as a major purge of the court, leaving only loyal ministers.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help looking at the woman beside him, and his eyebrows frowned involuntarily. He didn't want her to come, because this trip was not simple. There would surely be casualties if the situation was serious.
He had already thought about it. Even though he could say that the queen's presence was essential for the sacrifice in the imperial mausoleum, he could just say that the queen was ill and it would be disrespectful to the gods if she went to the sacrifice, and thus solve the problem. But this woman just insisted on coming. She said that she wanted to accompany him no matter how dangerous it was so that she could feel at ease. So he had to agree.
But anyway, he would never allow anyone to hurt her in the slightest.
At this time, at the imperial mausoleum on the outskirts of the capital.
Nangong Liuyun was arranging troops in his tent. Since last night, he had sent people to the roads that the emperor must pass. As long as someone stepped in, he would get the news immediately. In this way, the next plan would be much easier.
Their main purpose was to assassinate the emperor. It would be best to arrange a death like a punishment from the gods when he was off - guard, saying that he had angered the gods and the gods said that he was unworthy of being the emperor anymore. In this way, Nangong Liuyun could also claim to be the legitimate successor.
Thinking of this, he shouted, "Yun Ze?!"
Then, a man rushed in from outside the tent. It was Nangong Yunze.
"Father, what are your orders?" he said, his eyes full of admiration.
"How's the preparation going? Have the gunpowder been buried properly at the imperial mausoleum?" Nangong Liuyun asked again.