After Concubine Dong left Ruyi Palace, she kept crying.
She did not go to Zhuoyao Palace to see the scene after the fire, nor did she return to Longqin Palace. She guarded the road that Murong Kai had to take after retiring from court.
Every time she was wronged, she would stay here and let Murong Zheng know as soon as possible.
Of course, humiliation like today's hasn't happened for many years.
The more she thought about it, the more scared she became. It seemed that everything had changed since Murong Kai came back. Nanny Li died, Zhuoyao Palace burned down, and although the Emperor was very good to her, there seemed to be a distance between them. Even the Empress, who had always kept her at a distance, was now openly her enemy.
She was now eager to know the emperor's position. She hoped that the emperor would still stand on her side as before, but she also had a vague feeling that the emperor's choice would not be what she thought.
There was nothing major happening in today's morning court session, but Murong Zheng was upset because of the affairs in the harem. He got angry over a trivial matter and was very angry until the court session was adjourned.
However, after his anger subsided, his heart calmed down a lot. He was thinking about going to Ruyi Palace to see Concubine Jin and Murong Kai after retiring from court, but he didn't expect that just after retiring from court, he saw Concubine Dong standing with a sad face on his way back to the palace.
She was wearing a water-red dress today, and in the morning light, it looked like a burning fire. Watching from afar, Murong Zheng couldn't help but think of the flamboyant and bright girl in Ruyi Palace yesterday, but when he got closer, he saw Concubine Dong's well-maintained but no longer young face, especially the aggrieved look, which ruined the beautiful scene before.
Murong Zheng couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Even though he had spoiled her for so many years, deep down, he still didn't like her.
"Don't wear this color in the future." Murong Zheng walked closer to Concubine Dong and took the handkerchief she was using to wipe her tears. She was crying so hard that her tears didn't even wet the handkerchief.
"Your Majesty, you said that this color looks best on me and suits my skin tone best." Concubine Dong was a little confused. When the emperor saw that she was aggrieved, shouldn't he ask her the reason first? What did her grievance have to do with this dress
"More than ten years ago, you were in your prime, and you looked really good in such a bright red. But now, you and I are both old, and this color can no longer match us."
Murong Zheng couldn't help but sigh. Deep down, he was thinking of another woman in aqua red clothes more than ten years ago. Back then, she was also as flamboyant as the scorching sun, but in just a dozen years, she became as quiet as the moon.
"I have worn this aqua red for ten years, and I want to try another red, but..." Concubine Dong saw that the emperor was acting out of character, and she was already thinking about how to let the emperor know her grievances, so she followed the aqua red and said, "The Queen will not allow it. The person she hates the most right now is me. Your Majesty, I really love you, but the Queen can't even tolerate someone who is sincere to you, she..."
Murong Zheng watched Concubine Dong accuse the Queen of grievance, and could not help but stop and look at her scrutinizingly for a long time before asking, "Did you go to Ruyi Palace?"
The Queen paid her respects to Concubine Dong every morning and evening. More than ten years ago, Murong Zheng had issued an edict to dismiss Concubine Dong. The Queen had always kept her distance from Concubine Dong. Therefore, when Concubine Dong met the Queen and was bullied by her, there was only one possibility: she went to Ruyi Palace.
Concubine Dong lowered her head and dared not answer, because she could not figure out Murong Zheng's thoughts.
Murong Zheng felt more and more depressed. She could even guess what Concubine Dong did when she went to Ruyi Palace.
"Your Majesty, if I hadn't gone to Ruyi Palace to fight, I wouldn't have known that the Empress really couldn't tolerate me anymore. She would have killed me."
As Concubine Dong was speaking, she tried to get closer to Murong Zheng, but she didn't expect that Murong Zheng had already moved away and kept a distance from her when she approached.
"I know the Queen's character best. Don't mess with her in the future." Murong Zheng left after he finished speaking. Concubine Dong followed him with staggering steps, looking more flustered than ever before.
(End of this chapter)