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

Chapter 159 He felt pity for her.
Consort De was speechless.

Murong's words were flawless; even if it was only because of this life-saving grace, Lou Suying was different from the concubines in the harem.

She felt uneasy, but didn't show it on her face. She joked, "So Your Majesty is going to repay Master Kongchen's life-saving grace with your own body?"

Murong slightly curled her lips, agreeing with Consort De's point of view.

Consort De felt that Murong had answered all her questions, perhaps because her questions were too roundabout and Murong's answers were not what she wanted.

She just wanted to know if he loved Lou Suyi, but she didn't dare to ask directly.

Empress Dowager Chen had been keeping a close eye on Liang Wanying's movements. When she learned that Consort De had indeed ruined Liang Wanying's plans, she was overjoyed.

When Fangruo learned that Consort De was staying at Qianqing Palace that night, she was overjoyed: "The Emperor has allowed Consort De to stay at Qianqing Palace, he must be going to favor her, right?"

There's no reason why the emperor wouldn't enjoy a beautiful woman offered to him.

When the late emperor was alive, he was still indulging in sensual pleasures even in his old age. It is unreasonable that the current emperor, as the late emperor's own son, is not interested in women.

The fact that the Emperor allowed Consort De to spend the night in Qianqing Palace today shows that the Emperor is interested in Consort De.

She thought that Consort De's night with the Emperor was a natural progression, but the next morning, when Empress Dowager Chen asked whether Consort De had served the Emperor the previous night, Fang Ru shook her head and said, "There has been no news of Consort De serving the Emperor."

Empress Dowager Chen's face darkened: "How is that possible? What is the Emperor thinking? The women are right under his nose, and he just won't touch them. Does he mean he'll never favor his concubines in his entire life?"

"This... Your Majesty, please don't worry. Perhaps His Majesty just hasn't figured it out yet. Isn't Miss Lou already pregnant? At least His Majesty already has an heir," Fang Ruo reassured Empress Dowager Chen.

"I think the Emperor has taken those words to heart. He has indeed been visiting the inner palace more often lately, but what's the use of doing so? His ministers send their carefully selected daughters into the inner palace. Do they want to see them live like widows? Isn't the Emperor afraid that his ministers will develop disloyal thoughts because of this?" Empress Dowager Chen was furious.

Fang Ruo dared not utter a sound at this point. After Empress Dowager Chen had been scolding Murong for half an hour, she finally said, "Your Majesty is capable of handling state affairs well and can also make all the officials submit. As for these noble families sending people into the harem, it is only for the benefit of their families. It is their honor if Your Majesty accepts them. As for whether or not they are favored, it depends on their own abilities. If they cannot gain Your Majesty's favor, it only means that they have failed to move Your Majesty's heart, and this cannot be blamed on Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager Chen scoffed upon hearing this: "You're just protecting the emperor."

"This servant is protecting Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. His Majesty is the apple of Your Majesty's eye, how could this servant not know Your Majesty's good intentions? His Majesty must also know, but it's not good for Your Majesty to interfere too much in matters of men and women, for fear of affecting the mother-son relationship between Your Majesty and His Majesty. His Majesty is wise and powerful, he must know this in his heart..."

Fang Ruo's words eased some of the anxiety in Empress Dowager Chen's heart.

"Summon Consort De to see me."

Fangruo quickly brought Consort De to Empress Dowager Chen.

Empress Dowager Chen looked Consort De up and down with a sharp gaze.

Under Empress Dowager Chen's scrutiny, Consort De appeared calm and composed.

After examining Consort De, Empress Dowager Chen determined that Consort De had not yet served the emperor.

Unlike Consort De, the women who had served the emperor were not like her. Her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally died, and she could not hide her disappointment: "Since you stayed overnight in Qianqing Palace last night, why didn't the emperor summon you to serve him?"

Consort De slowly shook her head and slowly recounted what happened in Qianqing Palace last night.

She asked Murong if she could stay overnight in Qianqing Palace, and Murong agreed. She thought she had a chance to be summoned to the emperor's bedchamber, but after she bathed, she didn't even get to see Murong's face, let alone be summoned to the emperor's bedchamber.

But as long as she stayed in the Qianqing Palace, she would eventually have the opportunity to serve the emperor. Thinking this way, she was no longer in a hurry. "If the emperor doesn't come to you, won't you take the initiative to throw yourself into his arms? Do you expect a man like the emperor to take the initiative to you? Do you think you're a commoner?" Empress Dowager Chen made no attempt to hide her contempt for Consort De.

Consort De was surprised that Empress Dowager Chen would compare her to Lou Suyi, that wretched nun, and she felt only humiliation.

Murong said that Lou Suyi was different from everyone else, and even Empress Dowager Chen said that she was not as good as Lou Suyi.

Judging from Lou Suyi's words, Murong only takes the initiative with Lou Suyi, and he is unwilling to accept these people who come to his door.

Back when she looked down on Murong, he doted on her. Now, she's right under his nose, yet he still treats her with disdain.

Just as she was feeling aggrieved, she heard Empress Dowager Chen say coldly, "You're hopeless! If you can't be promoted, I won't waste any more time on you."

Consort De lowered her head and replied in humiliation, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is right."

"Think for yourself how you can successfully win the Emperor's favor. There are so many new women in the harem, all vying for a chance to get close to the Emperor. If you are useless, someone else will naturally stand out. You may leave!" Empress Dowager Chen issued an order to dismiss her.

Consort De withdrew as instructed, and as she stepped out of Shou'an Palace, she let out a long sigh of relief.

Although Empress Dowager Chen's words were unpleasant to hear, she knew that Empress Dowager Chen's words made sense.

If she doesn't seize the opportunity to serve the emperor, she won't be able to see Murong every day like she does now.

She is now the same Lou Suyi as before, and being able to see Murong every day is the perfect opportunity for her to climb into his bed.

Afterwards, she returned to serve the emperor, helping to grind ink.

Murong, however, was very busy, preoccupied with official business, and had no time to even glance at her.

After a long and busy day, Murong still had to visit the palaces in the inner palace. In the end, he went to Jingren Palace, where Consort Ning lived.

The moment Consort Ning saw Murong, her eyes reddened.

She was originally the daughter of a military family, but since following Murong, she became a virtuous woman and no longer wielded weapons. Even so, between Consort De and her, Murong still valued Consort De more.

Since she was confined to her quarters before the New Year, Murong has never spoken to her alone again, nor has he ever visited Jingren Palace.

He came today, does that mean he doesn't blame her anymore?
Murong noticed Ning Fei's slightly red eyes and fixed his gaze: "My beloved concubine, have you been wronged?"

Consort Ning quickly wiped away her tears and said apologetically, "I was just too happy to see His Majesty."

When Consort De saw Consort Ning's appearance and then looked into Murong Wenrou's eyes, an alarm bell immediately rang in her heart.

She had never taken Consort Ning seriously before, but Murong Ruo's growing pity for Consort Ning was not a good sign.

"I will have dinner here with my beloved consort." Murong had originally intended to take one last look at Consort Ning before leaving, but he suddenly changed his mind.

Consort Ning was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately ordered a meal to be prepared.

Consort De, standing to the side, said with a sour expression, "His Majesty just said that he would return to Qianqing Palace after visiting Consort Ning. How come he changed his mind so quickly?"

Murong chuckled: "My dear consort and Consort Ning have a deep friendship. Wouldn't you like to have a private chat with Consort Ning?"