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

Chapter 284: Solid Favor
"I have never had any dealings with Consort An, so it's not appropriate for me to make any hasty judgments. Besides, we are all sisters, and we should support each other, not harbor any hostility," Consort Ning replied calmly.

Consort De was not at all surprised by Consort Ning's answer; in fact, it was nothing to be surprised about.

“I think Consort An is much more likable than Consort Hui,” Consort De said with a smile.

Consort Ning was somewhat surprised, because Consort De disliked many people in the harem, so it was truly unexpected that Chen Xing could catch Consort De's eye.

"Sister is good in every way, except that she is too mediocre." Consort De's sudden remark silenced Consort Ning.

Consort De didn't care whether Consort Ning liked it or not, and continued, "A woman should have her own personality, otherwise how can she attract His Majesty's attention? Take the Empress for example. Although I dislike her, she is witty, beautiful, and most importantly, has a good temperament. Being with the Empress should be very happy, right? I think it's perfectly normal for His Majesty to fall in love with the Empress."

She wanted to test Consort Ning's reaction, but seeing that Consort Ning's expression did not change, she was not surprised.

Whether Consort Ning's lack of anger stemmed from her magnanimity or her deep cunning remains unknown.

If someone told her she was ordinary, she certainly wouldn't be able to remain indifferent.

"Her Majesty the Empress is indeed pleasing to the eye, and I like her too. It's only natural that His Majesty would like her as well. This is my nature, and I can't change it at this age," Consort Ning said with a wry smile.

Consort De then seemed to realize that she had said something wrong, and hurriedly said, "It was my fault for not speaking well. I didn't mean to say anything bad about you, sister. Please don't be offended."

Consort Ning smiled and said, "What you say is the truth, how could I blame you?"

Consort De chatted with Consort Ning for a few more minutes before leading her entourage away.

After watching Consort De walk away, Consort Ning also prepared to leave.

Linglong was furious and said, "How dare Consort De say that Your Majesty is mediocre? How good is she herself? How dare she speak of Your Majesty like that!"

Consort Ning said calmly, "What's there to be angry about? Consort De is right. I don't care, so why are you upset? Besides, Consort De is known for being unforgiving when she's right, and this isn't the first time she's been so mean."

Linglong was still angry: "Consort De is really annoying. Your Highness should not associate with her anymore!"

Consort Ning looked at the sulking Yunmei and couldn't help but smile: "We are all sisters in the harem, it's a good thing to visit each other often."

Seeing this, Linglong knew she couldn't persuade him any further, so she could only continue to sulk.

Inside the Quanfu Palace, Liang Wanying threw a tantrum after everyone had left.

Madam Liang and Liang Xiaoying stood at a distance, not daring to utter a sound. Only after Liang Wanying calmed down did Madam Liang earnestly advise, "Your Majesty should restrain your temper somewhat. Fortunately, there are no outsiders present at the moment. If His Majesty were to see this side of Your Majesty, it would certainly leave a bad impression. Your Majesty must understand that His Majesty is not the late Emperor and will not indulge you..."

"Shut up!" Liang Wanying snapped angrily, not wanting to listen to Madam Liang's lecture.

Madam Liang looked worried as she saw that Liang Wanying was not listening to her.

Her daughter, accustomed to being a favored concubine, still hasn't grasped the reality. She's heard a bit about the situation in the harem: His Majesty dislikes entering it, making the entire harem a mere formality. Aside from staying overnight at Xianfu Palace on the first and fifteenth of each month, the other noblewomen are living like widows, without exception.

Before entering the palace today, she still held a sliver of hope, but now...

"If Your Highness doesn't have anyone who can speak up for you in the palace, why don't we let Xiaoying come into the palace to keep you company for a while?" Madam Liang finally made up her mind.

Liang Wanying didn't understand what it meant at first, but Mo Lan questioned Madam Liang: "What does Madam mean by this?"

Madam Liang's expression stiffened slightly: "I'm doing this for Your Highness's own good. Your Highness is isolated and helpless in the harem. With Xiaoying by your side, I can rest assured."

Liang Wanying finally realized what was going on. She looked coldly at the young and beautiful Liang Xiaoying, and instead of being angry, she laughed: "Mother wants my younger sister to help me secure the Emperor's favor?!" Liang Xiaoying thought to herself, what kind of favor is this? What favor does my sister have? His Majesty doesn't value my sister at all.

If she enters the harem, it will naturally be to compete for the emperor's favor.

"This is your grandfather's intention. Since entering the palace, Your Highness has yet to receive the Emperor's favor. With Xiaoying's help, perhaps the outcome will be different," Madam Liang said solemnly. "Since your grandfather retired, the Liang family has gradually declined. If the Liang family cannot produce another favored concubine, it will only continue to fall. Even if Your Highness is acting in the best interests of the Liang family, you should consider the bigger picture..."

Liang Wanying looked at Liang Xiaoying, a cold smile playing on her lips: "Is that what you think too, little sister?"

Liang Xiaoying lowered her head and replied softly, "Sister will follow Mother's arrangements."

Liang Wanying never expected that the Chen family's tricks would one day fall on her head; she was so angry she almost laughed.

She used to laugh at Consort Li, but now she is the one being abandoned by her own family.

"I will not allow it!" Liang Wanying stood up and ordered, "Guards, show them out!"

Seeing that Liang Wanying was showing no mercy, Liang Xiaoying stepped forward and advised, "Sister..."

"If you utter another word, I'll rip out your tongue!" Liang Wanying glared at Liang Xiaoying with a sharp look.

Liang Xiaoying was frightened and dared not utter another word.

And so, Madam Liang was expelled from Quanfu Palace. Although she had anticipated that things wouldn't go smoothly, Madam Liang was still disappointed that Liang Wanying was immature and didn't understand the bigger picture.

How could she explain this to her husband when she returned to the Liang family?

After driving Madam Liang away, Liang Wanying smashed a lot of antiques in anger.

Neither Mo Lan nor Yu Lan dared to offer any advice, because the Liang family's behavior was truly disheartening.

How much benefit did the Liang family receive from the Empress during the reign of the late Emperor? Now that the Empress is out of favor, the Grand Tutor is imitating the Chen family's actions, trying to make the Empress a bride for another Liang family girl. Isn't this treating the Empress as a pawn to be discarded?

How could someone as proud as the Empress possibly tolerate this?
Afterwards, Liang Wanying calmed down. She was eager to embarrass the Liang family, so she hoped even more that Murong had prepared a surprise for her.

Unfortunately, she waited until it got dark, but the surprise she expected never came.

She sat in the hall, her face ashen, like a petrified Buddha statue.

"The Liang family abandoned me because His Majesty doesn't value me at all, right?" After a long while, she murmured to herself.

She always thought she was special in Murong's heart. Even though she hadn't been able to serve him in bed yet, she told herself it didn't matter. It was just that the time hadn't come yet, and that Murong was just clueless.

One day she will be able to serve the emperor, after all, she is not the only one living a life of widowhood in the harem.

But at this moment she realized that she had been deceiving herself.

The Liang family saw through this, as did the other concubines in the harem. This was the reason why the grandfather planned to send another girl from the Liang family into the palace.

She knew that her grandfather's decision would not change. Even if she didn't want to, her grandfather might have other ways to send Liang Xiaoying into Murong's harem.

Hooray, what a wonderful Monday!!!