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

Chapter 276 The Emperor Can Turn His Face Anytime
Empress Dowager Chen couldn't bear to be harsh on Lou Suyi, but she still reminded her, "From now on, you and Chen'er will still have to rely on the Emperor to make a living. If you really push the Emperor further and further away, you and the child will suffer. You must know that the Emperor is an emperor. If you want him to coax you, it seems impossible."

Given the emperor's inability to cherish women, it was even more impossible.

Lou Suyi was slightly taken aback; she knew that Empress Dowager Chen was right.

Although she was the Empress and the Emperor's wife, she still relied on Murong to make a living in the palace. Even if not for herself, she had to think about her son, right?
When did she start to feel that she and Murong could be on equal footing?
But in terms of status, she and Murong were not equal, so her pride was nothing.

"What Mother says is true, I know what to do." Lou Suyi understood immediately.

Empress Dowager Chen nodded with satisfaction when she saw that she had taken her advice to heart: "That's right. Don't let small conflicts affect the relationship between husband and wife."

Lou Suyi knew, of course, that Empress Dowager Chen was doing it for her own good, and readily agreed.

She and Empress Dowager Chen were having a private conversation when Murong arrived with his entourage.

She immediately stepped forward to greet Murong.

Perhaps it was because of her serious manner of bowing that Murong glanced at her a few more times.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is waiting for you. Please take a seat, Your Majesty," Lou Suying said in a formal tone.

Murong took a seat as instructed, and then looked at Lou Suyi.

Seeing this, Empress Dowager Chen said in a low voice, "The Emperor is really something, can't he just talk things out properly..."

Lou Suyi didn't want to bring up the past, so she quickly interjected, "Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday, so let's put other matters aside for now."

If Empress Dowager Chen had reprimanded Murong because of her, Murong might have held a grudge.

Empress Dowager Chen then stopped talking and began chatting with Murong about everyday matters.

Soon, the concubines arrived one after another, each one dressed up meticulously, each more beautiful than the last.

Unfortunately, no matter how beautiful they were, Murong didn't show any extra expression.

Afterwards, ladies from both the inner and outer courts came to Shou'an Palace to offer their birthday wishes to Empress Dowager Chen. The birthday gifts were very rare and dazzling.

Lou Suyi couldn't help but think of the gifts these people gave her on her birthday. They were obviously not as thoughtful as the gifts they gave to Empress Dowager Chen. These people were just giving gifts based on what she was interested in.

Consort De was the first to notice that the atmosphere between Lou Suyi and Murong was a bit off. She jokingly asked, "Did His Majesty and the Empress have a falling out?"

Speaking of which, Murong hasn't been to Xianfu Palace for some time. How long can the bond between husband and wife, maintained by gratitude and loyalty, last?

Once Murong meets a woman he truly loves, why would he care about Lou Suyi? Lou Suyi might not even be able to hold onto the Empress's position securely.

She couldn't wait to see Lou Suyi make a fool of herself.

Lou Suying was about to reply when Murong suddenly grabbed her hand: "Why are your hands so cold?"

Lou Suyi was taken aback and looked at Murong, only to meet his tender gaze.

She twitched her fingers slightly and replied, "I'm always like this."

Seeing this, Murong asked Jiqing to find a cloak, and then personally helped Lou Suyi put it on.

Everyone present who witnessed this scene felt that Murong was slapping Consort De in the face in this way.

Consort De almost couldn't maintain her smile, and after a while she said softly, "Your Majesty and the Empress are truly a loving couple."

If she hadn't known that Murong had said he only owed Lou Suyi a debt of gratitude for saving her life, this scene might have truly deceived her. Murong ignored Consort De and simply held Lou Suyi's hand again.

Seeing this, Empress Dowager Chen looked at Lou Suyi with a half-smile: "The Emperor and Empress are husband and wife, and they should indeed set a good example for all couples in the world. A husband and wife are meant to spend their whole lives together, and the Emperor should be more considerate of the Empress in the future."

Murong gripped Lou Suyi's hand even tighter and replied, "Mother is right. I was busy with state affairs these past few days and neglected the Empress. It was my fault. Please do not blame me, Empress."

Lou Suyi thought to herself that Murong was really good at acting, and she quickly replied, "Your Majesty is joking."

How could she dare to blame Murong? If she really had such a rebellious thought, she would be torn to shreds by all the concubines in the harem present.

Furthermore, when Murong drove her away that day, he wasn't as kind and gentle as he is now.

After that, Murong held her hand tightly. She felt uncomfortable and tried to pull her hand away from his, but he held it even tighter.

To outsiders, the Emperor and Empress seemed to have a good relationship, which was why they were showing off their affection. Only Lou Suyi thought that Murong was acting crazy and didn't know what he was up to.

After that, she stopped wasting her time and stopped struggling.

Liang Wanying's expression was not good when she saw this scene. It was fine if she didn't see it normally, but seeing Murong holding Lou Suyi's hand tightly and not letting go, this scene deeply hurt her heart.

She suddenly realized that since she entered Murong's harem, she had never even had the chance to hold Murong's hand, let alone serve him in bed.

Lou Suyi is the Empress, and she is also Consort Hui, his woman. Why didn't he have any intention of touching her?

She came dressed to the nines today, but Murong didn't even glance at her. It was like casting a flirtatious glance at a blind man.

Intending to let everyone see Lou Suyi's true colors, she raised her voice and said, "It's one thing for His Majesty to be busy with state affairs, but as the head of the harem, shouldn't Your Majesty consider the feelings of all your sisters?"

As soon as she opened her mouth, everyone's eyes fell on Liang Wanying's face.

"The Empress has ascended to the position of Empress and monopolized His Majesty, but His Majesty is the husband of all of us sisters. Even if the Empress has selfish motives, she cannot keep His Majesty by her side." Liang Wanying curled her lips sarcastically.

Even Lou Suyi didn't expect Liang Wanying to bring up such a thing on an occasion like today.

Empress Dowager Chen's expression darkened slightly, feeling that Liang Wanying was ill-mannered.

Doesn't Mrs. Liang feel ashamed to mention such a thing in public?
"Consort Hui has suddenly suffered a stroke. Guards, take Consort Hui back to Quanfu Palace!"

Before Lou Suyi could speak, Murong had already issued an imperial edict.

Liang Wanying's face turned pale; she hadn't expected Murong to be so ruthless.

Yes, this man has always been cold-blooded and ruthless; she hadn't just realized it today. But this was the Emperor's birthday, and so many noblewomen from both the inner and outer courts were present. If Murong drove her away, she would become the laughingstock of the capital.

Lou Suyi thought back to the time when Murong kicked her out of Qianqing Palace, and suddenly felt that Murong had been relatively lenient with her. At least he hadn't humiliated her in public.

He dismissed Consort Hui, his favored concubine, without hesitation, once again demonstrating to her the ruthless nature of this man's change of heart.

Ji Qing stepped forward and personally "invited" Liang Wanying, the troublemaker, away, and the scene quickly returned to its lively state.

Everyone was chatting and laughing, eating and drinking as they pleased—it was a lively and prosperous scene.

By the time the Christmas celebrations ended, it was already evening.

Since Empress Dowager Chen did not want another banquet that evening, everyone went home. Empress Dowager Chen also intended to matchmake Lou Suyi and Murong, and asked Murong to escort Lou Suyi back to Xianfu Palace.