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

Chapter 222 Can the Empress really send the Emperor to your bed?
Ling Jieyu was rendered speechless by Tao Zhaoyi's rebuttal.

She did try, but she had no chance of getting close to His Majesty, let alone gaining his favor.

She opened her mouth, but ultimately did not respond to Tao Zhaoyi's words.

"Since no one is better than anyone else, what right do you have to laugh at others?!" Tao Zhaoyi sneered.

Ling Jieyu stammered, "I was just saying it casually, why is Sister Tao making such a fuss about it?"

"I just can't stand people who have foul mouths. If you can't speak properly, then shut up!" Consort Tao glanced at Consort Ling with an unfriendly look in her eyes.

Seeing that she couldn't win the argument with Consort Tao, Consort Ling wisely shut her mouth.

Consort De found this scene quite novel: "When did Sister Tao become so righteous?"

Consort De's question is also Lou Suyi's confusion. Consort Tao is no kind person either. Why did she suddenly speak up for Consort Ning? Could it be that she has recently become acquainted with Consort Ning?

“We are all sisters. If Consort De is ridiculed, I will help her.” Consort Tao smiled back at Consort De, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

Consort De remained noncommittal. She wouldn't ask Lou Suyi for help, but she suddenly thought of Empress Dowager Chen.

Empress Dowager Chen hopes that Murong can move around in the inner palace. It would be better to ask Empress Dowager Chen for help. Perhaps she will help.

So much time has passed since the last time Empress Dowager Chen was used; surely she wouldn't hold a grudge for so long?
Having made her decision, Consort De went straight to Shou'an Palace after leaving Xianfu Palace.

Empress Dowager Chen knew that Consort De must have something to ask for as soon as she saw Consort De's bright smile.

As expected, Consort De knelt before her and went straight to the point: "This concubine wishes to serve the Emperor. I wonder if Your Majesty the Empress Dowager could help this concubine and give her the opportunity to serve you in bed?"

Empress Dowager Chen recalled how Murong treated Su Yi differently from his other concubines, and knew that she couldn't help Consort De in this matter. Moreover, she couldn't possibly help.

"Get up. It's no use begging me. I can't force the emperor to do anything. Especially something like choosing a concubine. Do you think I can force him to choose you?" Empress Dowager Chen said calmly.

Consort De panicked upon hearing this: "No, His Majesty respects the Empress Dowager. He listens to whatever the Empress Dowager says. Now that the Empress has His Majesty all to herself, and today she even refused to arrange for the other concubines to serve him in bed, it's clear that the Empress is jealous. If this continues, won't the other concubines never have the chance to serve him in bed?"

Empress Dowager Chen thought to herself that this meant Su Yi was still somewhat sane. What woman would want her husband to be intimate with another woman? Especially since it was her own arrangement?
Does that mean Su Yi is jealous? She thinks that jealousy is a normal reaction that a normal woman should have.

Moreover, given the emperor's temperament, if he's unwilling, no amount of persuasion will change his mind.

If he likes someone, a little suggestion from her will have an effect, provided that the person is dressed in plain clothes.

"You should look for the reasons within yourselves instead of blaming the Empress for not being able to serve the Emperor in bed. Do you think the Empress would send the Emperor to your bed?" Empress Dowager Chen said calmly.

Consort De was speechless.

After a long while, she said with a wronged expression, "But I rarely even have the chance to see His Majesty."

"I once arranged for you to serve the Emperor, but you couldn't handle it yourself. Who can you blame? Don't come to me about this again. I can't help you with this." Empress Dowager Chen said, and then told Fang Ruo to see the guest out.

After seeing Consort De off, Empress Dowager Chen said to Fang Ruo, "Su Yi hasn't seen the Emperor for a long time, nor has she come to me to complain, let alone ask me for help in securing his favor. Consort De, on the other hand, has repeatedly begged me and even dared to take advantage of me. Does she really think I'm someone who has no temper?" Fang Ruo also realized that the Empress clearly knew that the Empress Dowager favored her, yet she never used the Empress Dowager to compete for the Emperor's favor. This must be the fundamental reason why the Empress wins the Empress Dowager's favor.
“Her Majesty the Empress is indeed different from others; no wonder His Majesty and His Highness like her,” Fang Ruo echoed.

"Su Yi is too passive. Even if the emperor is cold-hearted, he is still a man and not someone who takes the initiative. With Su Yi's passive nature, if the emperor meets a scheming woman in the future, I'm afraid she won't be able to hold onto her position as empress." Empress Dowager Chen began to worry about things that hadn't even happened yet.

If another woman like Liang Wanying were to cause chaos in the harem and be chosen by the emperor, Su Yi would be no match for her.

Fangruo found it amusing: "Your Majesty need not worry about things that have not yet happened. In my opinion, His Majesty's heart is hard, and not just any woman can catch His Majesty's eye."

She always felt that His Majesty treated the Empress differently from others; even Consort Hui was no match for the Empress.

His Majesty's thoughts are deeply hidden, seemingly real yet unfathomable, which gives people the illusion that His Majesty often neglects the Empress.

"The late emperor was too sentimental, while the current emperor is too cold-hearted. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the two could balance out their personalities?"

Fangruo comforted Empress Dowager Chen with a few words, thus bringing the topic to a close.

Consort De's pleas to Empress Dowager Chen went unanswered, and she felt she could only rely on herself to devise a plan.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was fast approaching, and she hoped to have the opportunity to serve the emperor that night. She also knew that it was better to rely on herself than others. If she could snatch Murong from Lou Suyi on Mid-Autumn Festival, she could give Lou Suyi, the empress, a good slap in the face.

This year's Mid-Autumn Festival was co-organized by Lou Suyi.

The daytime event was a chrysanthemum appreciation gathering, and all the noblewomen of the capital were invited, including Lady Yin, the wife of the Earl of Suning, and of course, Lou Suya, Xie Zhijie's first wife.

Lou Suyi would not make a fuss about this matter because of her past grudge with the Suning Marquis's family. As the Empress, she had to keep public and private matters separate, even though she did not want to see any of the Lou family's female relatives.

Madam Yin knew that the entire capital was watching the movements of the Marquis of Suning's residence.

If the women of the Lou family were not among those invited, it would mean that the Suning Marquis's residence was being targeted by Lou Suying. Times have changed; Lou Suying is now the Empress, and her every word and action carries significant influence.

If Lou Suyi targets the Suning Marquis's Mansion on this trip, then the Suning Marquis's Mansion will become an object that all nobles will avoid at all costs.

After all, no one wanted to easily offend the newly appointed empress, and Lou Suyi's attitude spoke volumes.

This was Lou Suying's first time co-organizing a flower festival, and she personally selected the entire list of invitees, a task entrusted to her by Empress Dowager Chen. Empress Dowager Chen also wanted to test Lou Suying's social skills, so she specially donned a magnificent palace gown, her headdress and accessories conforming to empress standards—splendid and extravagant.

She was a striking beauty to begin with, and with heavy makeup, her beauty appeared even more aggressive and imposing!

When Murong appeared in the Chrysanthemum Garden, he immediately saw Lou Suyi surrounded by a large group of women.

Today, Lou Suying was more radiant and poised than he had ever seen before, and her confident demeanor as she spoke was a completely unfamiliar side of her.

He found it intriguing and stopped to take a closer look, until Lou Suyi looked over.

Holidays are almost here! (Spinning around)