Nangong Yi helped Cai Wei up, oblivious to the Empress's astonished expression, and calmly bent down to smooth out her skirt. After he arranged it perfectly, he then stood up, his demeanor composed and serene.
This behavior, indicative of a husband utterly devoted to his wife, quickly sparked a strong reaction among the high concubines present, especially Consort Li. Having been in the palace for half her life, aside from the two nights the Emperor had spent in her chambers when she first entered, she had been alone for the remaining twenty-odd years, lonely and solitary.
As a woman, she naturally craved that kind of marital affection and mutual respect. Though she held the title of a consort and enjoyed wealth and honor, facing the lonely nights by herself, she struggled through the decades. This life of solitude and loneliness was a cruel brilliance to her psyche and physiology, causing severe distortions in her heart.
She could not bear to see others flaunting their love!
