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

Chapter 23 A Beautiful Young Nun Arrives at the Palace
Xie Zhijie was the first to react and quickly asked, "Suyi, what are you doing in the palace?"

Lou Suyi thought to herself that she was going to exorcise evil spirits, but these words did not shock Xie and Qi.

Just as she was pondering how to answer, Jiqing chimed in: "The Fourth Miss saved His Majesty's life, and His Majesty, being a man who cherishes old friendships, specially invited the Fourth Miss to stay in the palace for a while."

Lou Suyi listened and nodded, thinking that Ji Qing's words were quite convincing.

Qi Yan's brow twitched slightly: "So, how long exactly will you be staying?"

Lou Suyi replied calmly, "How long this humble nun stays is none of the Marquis's business."

If she weren't currently a nun, she would have loved to kick one of them away.

Xie Zhijie still felt it was inappropriate.

He knew a thing or two about the new emperor. Even if it was to repay Su Yi for saving his life, there was no reason for him to bring her into the palace for a short stay. Wouldn't it have been simpler to reward Su Yi with some gold and silver jewelry or bestow houses and fields upon her?
He always felt there was something strange about the whole thing.

"Suyi, the interpersonal relationships in the palace are complicated. You'd better not go to the palace. I'm worried that once you go, it won't be easy for you to get out," Xie Zhijie advised softly.

In short, he wasn't feeling well.

He tried twice to ask His Majesty for plain clothes, but His Majesty refused both times.

Su Yi was exceptionally beautiful, and he worried that His Majesty might suddenly take a liking to her—what would happen then?

He knew his thoughts were too unconventional, but he feared the possibility that His Majesty might actually take a liking to Su Yi. Although she had already become a nun, he and Qi Yan still couldn't let her go. And if it were the new emperor, it didn't seem impossible…

Little did he know that his words had made Lou Suyi's heart skip a beat.

Lou Suyi only wanted to get rid of Qi and Xie, so hiding in the palace was the safest option.

But Xie Zhijie's words reminded her of when Murong had asked her if she wanted to enter the palace. She had refused then, and Murong hadn't made things difficult for her. Besides, she had already shaved her head and become a nun; surely Murong wouldn't harm a nun like her?
No, no, Murong isn't Xie Zhijie or Qi Yan. He's never been interested in her and even looks down on her. He must have just mentioned her casually last time.

But what if something unexpected happens...?

Seeing Lou Suyi hesitate, Ji Qing thought to himself that Lord Xie was a bad thing.

He coughed twice and said, "Fourth Miss, it's getting late. I need to return to His Majesty's side to serve him. His Majesty is busy with state affairs, and there are so many ladies in the harem who need His Majesty's favor. I need to serve them as close as possible. Please forgive me for not having enough time to waste..."

Lou Suyi thought Ji Qing's words made sense.

With so many beauties in the Murong harem, she needed to be favored equally. If she hadn't shaved her head, it would have been a bit dangerous. But now that she's a nun, what normal man would be interested in her bald head?

"Let's go, let's go, getting to the palace is the priority!" Lou Suyi didn't think any further and quickly got into the sedan chair.

Qi Yan and Xie Zhijie both frowned, feeling that Su Yi's future was uncertain after entering the palace.

Qi Yan stepped forward to stop him: "Lord Xie is right, the palace is a dangerous place, and it will be difficult for you to come out if you go in..."

This time, Lou Suying didn't hesitate at all. If she stayed, wouldn't she fall into their hands?

They bullied her because she had no powerful backing. Even if she entered the palace and could never leave, it was better than her becoming their concubine.

"No need for you to trouble yourself, Your Excellency!" She sat in the sedan chair and said to Ji Qing, "Let's go."

Ji Qing breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, Fourth Miss."

And so, under the watchful eyes of Qi Yan and Xie Zhijie, Lou Suyi's sedan chair headed down the mountain.

Only after the sedan chair disappeared from their sight did Xie Zhijie break the silence: "Does Your Majesty think it was just a coincidence that His Majesty brought Su Yi into the palace? Will His Majesty have feelings for Su Yi...?"

Qi Yan was startled by this and said coldly, "His Majesty can have any woman he wants, how could he possibly have feelings for Su Yi? Why is Lord Xie making such alarmist claims?" Xie Zhijie frowned slightly, "Nothing is absolute in this world, I hope I'm just overthinking it."

Now that Su Yi has entered the palace, it won't be so easy for us to meet again. We can only hope that she can return to Lotus Temple as soon as possible.

After descending the mountain, Su Yi boarded the carriage.

She had been busy learning exorcism techniques all night and hadn't slept a wink, so she couldn't take it anymore. Plus, the chairs in the carriage were comfortable, so she lay down and quickly fell asleep.

The carriage did not stop along the way, and she only woke up suddenly when they entered the palace.

Ji Qing was greeting the gatekeeper when she curiously lifted the carriage curtain. The gatekeeper happened to look over and was dumbfounded when he saw that it was a beautiful young nun.

Lou Suying saw the gatekeeper staring at her blankly, so she bowed and said, "This humble nun, Master Kongchen, has come to the palace to exorcise evil spirits."

The gatekeeper, dressed in plain clothes, heard that the man in the tower had called himself a master. The guard was filled with respect and quickly returned the greeting.

He was startled. He had thought His Majesty had rather unusual tastes and didn't like the ladies of the palace, but was interested in the beautiful young nun instead. It turned out she was a nun of master rank.

Ji Qing's expression was a little strange when he heard Lou Suyi call herself a master.

Perhaps after this incident, the entire palace knows that Master Kongchen has come to the palace?

As he expected, after he settled Lou Suyi in, news spread from the palace that he had personally received a virtuous nun into the palace.

Lou Suying followed Jiqing through the glazed doors of Xianfu Palace and asked nervously, "Is it appropriate for this humble nun to stay here?"

Xianfu Palace was the residence of imperial concubines, wasn't it? Won't it cause gossip if a nun moves in?

"Fourth Miss, there's no need to be so formal. His Majesty has only recently ascended the throne, and many palaces in the harem are currently vacant. Xianfu Palace is one of them. You can settle in here with peace of mind." Ji Qing gave Lou Suyi a reassuring smile.

"You should still call me Kongchen. I've become a nun, it's not appropriate to call me by my maiden name anymore," Lou Suyi reminded her.

"This servant still has to report to the Emperor. Miss, you can rest assured and stay here." Ji Qing pretended not to hear Lou Suyi's words, smiled and left.

Lou Suying looked at the vast palace, which was completely deserted, and realized that the palace was not as free as the outside world. If she hadn't wanted to avoid Xie and Qi, she wouldn't have come to this unfamiliar place.

Ji Qing left Xianfu Palace to report back to Murong.

Murong didn't say anything after hearing this. Jiqing saw that his master didn't seem to care about Lou Suyi. He was wondering whether to continue the topic of Lou Suyi when he heard His Majesty say, "Send Yan Hui, Jin Shu and Ji Li to serve her."

Ji Qing's brow twitched.

Good heavens, the people His Majesty sent to serve Lou Si are all his trusted advisors.

"The slaves obey the order."

Just as Ji Qing was about to leave, he heard his master say, "I will have dinner at Xianfu Palace tonight."

Upon hearing this, Ji Qing was so moved that she almost burst into tears: "Alright, this servant will go and make the arrangements right away..."

Murong looked over, and Ji Qing almost bit off his tongue: "This servant has instructed the Imperial Kitchen to prepare vegetarian food."

"Prepare her vegetarian meals; I do not eat vegetarian food," Murong said calmly.

Ji Qing was taken aback. Wouldn't that mean Lou Si would have to watch His Majesty live a life of luxury?

Plain-robed: Please address this humble nun as Master Kongchen!
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(End of this chapter)