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

Chapter 271 His Majesty has fallen in love with someone else...

Consort Ning smiled kindly: "We are all sisters, we should support each other, please don't be so polite with me, sister."

Consort De didn't know if Consort Ning was sincere, but she desperately needed someone to talk to.

"Sister, aren't you jealous of the Empress?" she asked in a hoarse voice. "We are both veterans from the time when he was a prince. We are the only two who have been with His Majesty the longest, but neither of us has had the opportunity to serve him in bed. I am truly unwilling to accept this."

Consort Ning remained silent for a moment before slowly opening her lips: "It would be a lie to say I'm not jealous, but I envy the Empress more than anything, but that doesn't change anything. It's normal for His Majesty to favor the Empress. The Empress once saved His Majesty and gave birth to a little prince. To be honest, it's only natural that the Empress has won His Majesty's heart."

Consort De looked at Consort Ning upon hearing this: "Sister, do you also think His Majesty likes the Empress?"

Consort Ning shook her head: "Whether His Majesty likes the Empress, I don't know, but I do know that the Empress's starting point is different from all of ours. I think everyone has their own destiny. As the Empress said, the reason why we are not valued by His Majesty is our own fault. Before the Empress entered the palace, His Majesty had never favored us, that is a fact."

Speaking of this, she gave a bitter smile: "I can understand it myself, after all, my appearance isn't outstanding enough. Even a beauty like my sister hasn't been chosen by the emperor, which is something I just can't understand. Back when we were still in the prince's residence, His Majesty would send all the good things to my sister's room, but now she's being neglected by His Majesty..."

She stopped talking, realizing she had said too much.

Consort De also shared the same confusion: "I remember that His Majesty treated me very well when we were still in the Prince's residence, so well that I felt that His Majesty liked me. Whenever I fell ill, His Majesty would immediately summon the imperial physicians to treat me. Whenever there was anything good, he would send it to me. But why did he change later?"

If she had never received Murong Manman's affection, she wouldn't have misinterpreted his feelings and thought he liked her.

Or perhaps Murong did like her at first, but after becoming emperor and seeing many beautiful women, that affection faded.

Or perhaps her resistance to him was too obvious, hurting his pride, and he stopped liking her afterward?

"Is it possible that His Majesty has fallen in love with someone else?" Consort Ning murmured silently.

Consort De was taken aback, and suddenly felt that Consort Ning's words were very likely true.

Murong used to like her, but after Lou Suyi entered the palace, he neglected her. Yes, Murong fell in love with someone else; he liked Lou Suyi and no longer liked her.

"That must be it! His Majesty used to like me, but ever since Lou Suyi entered the palace, His Majesty has started to distance himself from me. Lou Suyi stole His Majesty's love for me!" Consort De clenched her fists.

Seeing that Consort De's expression was somewhat ferocious, Consort Ning hurriedly said, "I was just saying it casually, sister, don't take it too seriously."

"It's all Lou Suyi's fault. If she hadn't entered the palace, I wouldn't have been disliked by His Majesty." Consort De was agitated, and her voice rose.

Yunmei looked around warily, afraid that someone might overhear her words and that they might reach the ears of the Empress.

The situation is currently unfavorable to Your Majesty; Your Majesty should now bide your time and conceal your abilities.

Seeing this, Consort Ning said to Yunmei and Lanmei, "Consort De is emotionally unstable. You two should take her back first. Consort De will be confined to her quarters for a while. Please take good care of her."

Yunmei readily agreed and took Consort De back to Changqiu Palace.

However, Consort De was still anxious and uneasy after returning to Changqiu Palace. Whenever she thought that Lou Suyi had taken away the imperial favor that should have belonged to her, a fire burned in her heart.

Unable to find an outlet for her emotions, she couldn't eat or sleep, and soon fell ill.

Because Consort De was under house arrest, Yunmei went to fetch the imperial physician, while Lanmei went to fetch Murong.

Murong was busy and didn't even look at Lanmei directly: "If Consort De is ill, she should be seen by the imperial physician. I am not a doctor." Lanmei's eyes reddened: "Your Majesty used to be most concerned about Consort De. Whenever Consort De was unwell, Your Majesty would visit her immediately. That's why I came to ask Your Majesty to see Consort De. When Consort De had a fever and was delirious, she kept calling out Your Majesty's name. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and go see Consort De."

Their mistress has a mental illness, which is why she can't understand things and torments herself.

Murong was taken aback upon hearing this, and after a long while, he said, "I will go and see her."

Blueberry quickly wiped away her tears and kowtowed several times: "Your Majesty will be happy to know that His Majesty has come to visit her."

Murong did not say anything more.

When they arrived at Changqiu Palace, Imperial Physician Zhao had already arrived and was examining Consort De, who was still unconscious.

"How is Consort De?" Murong glanced at Consort De and saw that her face was flushed, her face was small, and she had lost weight since the last time he saw her.

He had initially thought it was just another trick by the concubines vying for the emperor's favor, but now it seems he is genuinely ill.

Consort De was delirious with illness, yet she kept calling out his name.

"Consort De's illness is caused by a heart ailment. I've heard that Consort De has been unable to eat or sleep for the past two days; even a body of iron can't withstand such strain. Even if the physical ailment is cured this time, if the heart ailment isn't addressed, Consort De's health will only continue to decline," Imperial Physician Zhao reported truthfully.

Consort De's current illness is treatable and not a major problem, but we still need to address her emotional distress; otherwise, this is just the beginning.

"A heart ache?" Murong looked at Yunmei. "What happened?"

Cloudberry didn't dare to answer and just lowered her head.

"What exactly happened?" Murong sensed something was wrong.

Yunmei subconsciously looked at Physician Zhao, who understood and tactfully said, "This humble subject will go out first to write a prescription for Consort De."

After Physician Zhao left, Yunmei knelt down in front of Murong: "It was Consort De who got stuck in a rut, this servant cannot say."

She feared that if she spoke out, His Majesty would take her life.

"Speak, and I will pardon you." Murong could see Yunmei's concerns.

Yunmei was still worried, but since His Majesty had given the order, she could only tell the truth: "Consort De used to be favored by His Majesty, but now she is neglected by him. That's why Her Majesty can't bear this change. Her Majesty can't think straight and thinks... thinks His Majesty has fallen in love with someone else..."

Her voice grew softer and softer; she didn't dare look at Murong at all.

Ji Qing was dumbfounded, never expecting that Consort De had this hidden worry.

He carefully observed the Emperor's expression, unsure if he would be angered. But Consort De, in her current state, was ultimately a pitiful person.

But clearly, he was overthinking it. His Majesty remained calm and simply stood up, saying, "Let Consort De rest and recover properly, and don't let your mind wander."

Yunmei boldly asked, "Since Consort De is so ill, could Your Majesty please grant her the Empress's stay-at-home order?"

"Consort De has been confined to her quarters by the Empress?" Murong was genuinely surprised this time, not expecting this turn of events.