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

Chapter 239 Appeasing His Majesty
Lou Suyi was busy going to see her son and no longer paid attention to Yan Hui.

Yan Hui still couldn't understand: "Then how could news spread that the Empress was punished by kneeling?"

Jinshu was also puzzled: "You just need to know that the Empress was not punished. His Majesty loves the Empress so much, how could he bear to punish her? There's no need to take those rumors to heart."

Yan Hui said, "You have no idea how exaggerated the rumors are. There are even rumors that our master knelt all night and, unable to bear the punishment in the morning, the Empress fainted."

Jinshu looked at the Empress who was playing with the little prince and pondered, "Could it be that Consort Hui is spreading rumors behind the scenes, trying to turn the tables in this way?"

Yan Hui thought Jin Shu's guess made sense: "If that's the case, should we clarify this matter?"

"That depends on Your Highness's opinion. I'll go ask," Jinshu said, and went to Lou Suyi's side.

Lou Suyi felt that clarifying such matters was troublesome, and besides, people might not believe her even if she did clarify.

She even thought it was fine this way. If everyone knew that she had been slept with by Murong in Qianqing Palace all night, it would only reignite everyone's jealousy of her.

"No need, it doesn't matter what everyone thinks. If anyone asks, just say it's true." Lou Suyi looked tired and handed the little prince to Jinshu. "You guys play with him, I'm going to catch up on some sleep."

Jinshu took the little prince in her arms and readily agreed.

After watching Lou Suyi go inside to rest, Yan Hui came over and said, "Why doesn't Your Majesty clarify things? The rumors outside are awful."

“I understand why Your Highness doesn’t clarify. If everyone knew that Your Highness stayed overnight in Qianqing Palace last night and even served the Emperor, it would only make all the noble ladies jealous of Your Highness. This would save a lot of trouble and make Consort Hui complacent. Why not do it?” Jinshu looked at Yan Hui. “You also heard Her Highness’s instructions just now. If anyone asks, just say it’s true.”

Yan Hui's eyes lit up, and she suddenly realized something: "That's right. Judging from how tired Your Highness looks, you can tell how hard it was for you to serve His Majesty last night. It also shows how much His Majesty loves you. All the noble ladies in the harem are living like widows, and only Your Highness has the opportunity to serve His Majesty. So it's better to keep a low profile."

Jinshu gently tapped her forehead: "It's a good thing you've finally come to your senses."

Superficial glory is far less important than actual favor, and it is indeed a good thing that the Empress can live a peaceful life.

Two palace maids were playing with the chubby little prince when Consort Wu arrived, followed by Lou Suyue.

Wu Meiren whispered to Jinshu, "I ran into Lou Cairen outside."

The implication was that she and Lou Suyue had not come to Xianfu Palace together at the invitation of the other party.

Jinshu understood and simply replied truthfully, "Her Majesty is catching up on sleep. Your arrival is ill-timed. Perhaps Your Majesty should return first?"

Consort Wu recalled the rumors circulating in the palace and couldn't help but feel sorry for her: "His Majesty is really something. Even if he dotes on Consort Hui, how could he be so cruel to his sister, the Empress?"

In the past, Yan Hui would have clarified the matter.

But now that she's figured it out, she replied, "That's right. Even a night of marriage is worth a hundred days of kindness. His Majesty has been too cruel to our Empress. That's why the Empress didn't sleep a wink all night and went to catch up on her sleep as soon as she got back. What I fear most is that His Majesty will hurt the Empress's feelings and affect the relationship between them."

Lou Suyue, who was listening nearby, gloated and thought Lou Suyi deserved it.

If it really damages the relationship between the Emperor and Empress, then if Lou Suying further angers His Majesty, he might just banish her to the Cold Palace. Consort Wu, however, was somewhat surprised: "His Majesty really made the Empress kneel all night?"

"You'll have to ask Jinshu about that," Yan Hui said, posing the question to Jinshu.

Jinshu said, seemingly telling the truth but not quite, "To be honest, I didn't witness it myself, but I did hear the arguing. It's true that Her Majesty the Empress looked very haggard today. She also said that she should go to Qianqing Palace more often in the future to maintain the relationship between His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress."

This is actually His Majesty's intention. His Majesty wants the Empress to take better care of him. With such rumors circulating, it is only natural that the Empress would frequently visit the Qianqing Palace.

Consort Wu looked sympathetic: "I'm still worried about the Empress, so I plan to see Her Majesty before I go back. You don't need to worry about me, I'll just sit here for a while."

As she spoke, she looked at the fair-skinned little prince and said, "Your Highness is so adorable. Your Majesty the Empress is really good at having children."

Lou Suyue was eager to ask, "May I hold His Highness?" when the topic of the young prince was finally brought up.

No matter what, she is related to Lou Suyi by blood, and the young prince still has to call her aunt.

"The young prince is shy around strangers, so there's no need to trouble you, Your Excellency," Jinshu replied calmly.

Ultimately, it's simply because they don't trust Lou Suyue that they dare not entrust the young prince to her.

In the past, Lou Suyue would not have given up so easily. Now she knows that the most powerful person in the harem is Lou Suyi, so she needs to act according to Lou Suyi's mood and dare not provoke Lou Suyi.

In addition, her mother and elder sister were both divorced, and it was said that their lives in the Suning Marquis's mansion were even worse than those of Madam Ke and Lou Suyi before.

If Lou Suyi suddenly decides to get rid of her, she will probably end up in the cold palace, so she should keep a low profile.

Lou Suyue and Wu Meiren waited for two whole hours before they finally saw Lou Suyi.

Lou Suying felt much better after her nap. After carefully observing her, Wu Meiren cautiously asked, "Are you alright, sister? I heard that His Majesty punished you by making you kneel all night last night. Don't be too sad, sister..."

Lou Suying interrupted her before she could finish, saying, "Those rumors shouldn't be believed entirely. Although His Majesty and I had a little argument, His Majesty isn't a tyrant, and he wouldn't punish me by making me kneel all night. It's just a small matter, and I'll appease His Majesty."

Lou Suyue secretly scoffed upon hearing this, becoming even more convinced that the rumors were true, simply because Lou Suyi had answered too hastily.

Moreover, Lou Suyi's words were full of loopholes. If she hadn't angered His Majesty, why would she have tried to appease him?

Although kneeling all night as punishment is a bit of an exaggeration, Lou Suyi must have been punished last night, otherwise she wouldn't have gone to catch up on sleep.

Wu Meiren smiled and said, "Sister is right. There is no couple in this world that doesn't quarrel. The more they quarrel, the better their relationship becomes."

“It’s not exactly a quarrel between His Majesty and me, we just couldn’t agree on anything. I’ll go to Qianqing Palace in a couple of days and try to appease His Majesty. If all else fails, I can bring Chen’er with me to see His Majesty.” Lou Suyi said, gently poking the child’s rosy cheek.

Lou Suyue disagreed.

She knew Lou Suying was showing off her ability to bear children, which was how she gained status through her son. Even if it angered His Majesty, out of respect for the young prince, His Majesty wouldn't hold a grudge against Lou Suying for too long.