Five years after her death, she awoke on the dragon bed.

Chapter 148 The Virtuous and Kind Little Nun

Murong was busy in the study, and Lou Suying was also forced to accompany him in the study.

She originally wanted to go about her own business with Murong, but Murong insisted that she stay under his watchful eye. She had to find something to do, so she helped Murong tailor clothes in the study, so that the emperor could see her virtuous and gentle side.

Murong watched the little nun bustling around like a bee, glancing at her smugly every now and then, as if afraid he wouldn't know she was making clothes for him.

Lou Suyi saw the young emperor staring straight at her and thought he had finally realized that she was a virtuous woman, but then she heard him say, "Your belly is big, there's no rush to make clothes. It's better to wait until you give birth. Everything is for the sake of the imperial heir in your womb."

Lou Suyi's smile vanished instantly.

Fine, her display of virtue and gentleness is pointless; it's all for nothing.

“Your Majesty is right. I’m going to take a nap and won’t disturb Your Majesty’s handling of state affairs.” Lou Suyi turned her back and rolled her eyes.

Murong glanced at the little nun, vaguely sensing that the little nun seemed rather unhappy.

He did not stop her and watched her leave the study.

With the young nun gone, the room became eerily quiet. When she was there, even without speaking, she seemed to be busy attending to him, creating a lively atmosphere.

After she left, the study instantly became deserted.

"Jiqing, if you find any clues about this matter today, report to me immediately," Murong instructed.

"I understand," Ji Qing quickly replied.

I fear it will be another unsolved case.

After Wan Xuan's death last month, no further clues have been found. The person behind it all acted with practiced skill, leaving no trace whatsoever.

I wonder if today's events were orchestrated by that person.

To Ji Qing's surprise, he managed to uncover some information in the evening and immediately reported it to Murong.

“It’s recorded that Consort De sent someone to buy several bottles of mutton fat outside the palace a month ago,” Ji Qing said to Murong.

Upon hearing Consort De's name, Murong paused for a moment before asking, "The only thing we found was that Consort De bought mutton fat?"

"Currently, we've only found that Lady De purchased it; no one else has the habit of using mutton fat," Ji Qing replied, lowering his eyes.

Murong looked out the window at the gloomy sky and said, "I'm going to Changqiu Palace."

Ji Qing wanted to say that it was almost time for dinner, but there were priorities, so he didn't dare to say anything more.

Not long after, Murong arrived at Changqiu Palace.

Consort De clearly hadn't expected Murong to arrive at this hour, especially while she was under house arrest. Her face lit up with joy as she stepped forward to greet him: "Your Majesty, this concubine respectfully welcomes your presence."

Murong stepped past her and took his seat first: "No need for formalities."

Consort De was in a moment of joy when Murong asked, "Was it you who framed Su Yi today?!"

Consort De was stunned: "What?"

Murong carefully examined Consort De's expression and felt that her surprise did not seem feigned.

"Was it you who planned to frame Su Yi on her way back to Xianfu Palace today?!" Murong asked again. Consort De was so angry she almost laughed.

She did want to kill Lou Suyi's unborn child, but wasn't she under house arrest? How could she escape and frame Lou Suyi?

"Your Majesty must have forgotten that I am still under house arrest and have not been able to leave Changqiu Palace. In that case, how can I frame Abbess Kongchen? I do not know how to fly or disappear!" Consort De replied coldly.

She wondered why Murong had suddenly come to Changqiu Palace to visit her; it turned out he had come to confront Lou Suyi.

"If you intend to harm Su Yi, you will naturally have ways to create an alibi. Your confinement is actually a good opportunity for you to strike," Murong said calmly.

Consort De clenched her fists: "I did not lay a hand on her, Your Majesty, please see the truth."

Murong and Consort De looked at each other. Consort De did not flinch or avoid the gaze, her expression open and honest.

After a moment, Murong said, "You are the only one in the harem who bought mutton fat outside the palace, and it was mutton fat that was spilled on the palace road. Consort De, what is your explanation?"

Consort De's expression changed slightly: "I did buy three bottles of mutton fat outside the palace, but that was for my own use, not to frame Abbess Kongchen. Moreover, I only used half a bottle of the three bottles of mutton fat, and there are still two and a half bottles left."

At this point, she asked Cloudberry to fetch some mutton fat.

Cloudberry accepted the order and left.

The place where the mutton fat was kept was the small kitchen, where Consort De sometimes used it for her own consumption; it was convenient to take food from the small kitchen.

When Yunmei returned, she didn't look too good.

She knelt before the Emperor and reported to Murong: "Just now, when I went to fetch the mutton fat, I found that one bottle was missing. But I am certain that it was not Consort De who used the mutton fat to frame Abbess Kongchen. Consort De has not stepped out of the palace gates even once, and the maids and eunuchs serving Consort De have not left Changqiu Palace either. It is impossible for Consort De to harm Abbess Kongchen. Please, Your Majesty, see the truth."

Blueberry also knelt down and said, "If Consort De wanted to frame Abbess Kongchen, why would she use such a distinctive oil instead of ordinary cooking oil? Your Majesty, someone must be trying to frame Consort De. If Abbess Kongchen is harmed today, Your Majesty can trace it back to Consort De and kill two birds with one stone. I beg Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this matter and give Consort De justice!"

Murong looked at Consort De, whose expression was frank: "I have a clear conscience. I beg Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this matter and catch the real culprit. This will not only avenge Abbess Kongchen, but also clear my name!"

"Where do you usually keep the mutton fat?" Murong asked.

He also felt that mutton fat was a very special thing. Only Consort De used it in the entire harem. If Consort De had any sense, she wouldn't have spilled mutton fat on the palace road and then been investigated.

It seems that someone set up a trap, and not only was Su Yi involved, but Consort De was too.

Little did he know that his concubines were all so cunning and adept at scheming against others.

"I've heard that mutton fat is beneficial for those with weak spleens and stomachs, and I often consume it. For convenience, I keep the mutton fat in the small kitchen." After a pause, Consort De added, "I will take Your Majesty to the small kitchen to have a look."

Murong followed Consort De to the small kitchen, which was in a rather secluded location. It seemed easy for someone to steal the mutton fat when no one was around.

"Investigate who has entered and exited Changqiu Palace in the past month." Murong's gaze fell on Consort De's face. "I'm entrusting this matter to you. Since you claim to be innocent, you will prove your innocence!"

Consort De panicked upon hearing this: "What if I can't find out?"

He can't possibly punish her knowing she's innocent, can he?
"If you cannot find out the truth, I will have no choice but to make you take responsibility, and I will punish you by confining you to your quarters for six months. If you can find any useful clues, I will reward you." After saying this, Murong turned and left Changqiu Palace.

Only Consort De remained, her face ashen, standing there.

If she were to be confined for six months and then reappear in public, Murong's children would probably be old enough to run errands by now.
Murong knew perfectly well that she hadn't done it, yet he dragged her into it; that's truly unethical.

Haha