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

Chapter 288 The Emperor Apologizes to the Empress
Liang Wanying didn't take Empress Lou Suying seriously at all: "Consort An doesn't know the proper order of things. I'm teaching her palace rules. That's my business. What does it have to do with the Empress?"

"So, according to you, anyone who disagrees with you is ignorant of hierarchy?" Lou Suying sneered. "If that's the case, then you who disagree with me are also ignorant of hierarchy. Consort Hui, you've committed insubordination; slap yourself!"

Liang Wanying was speechless for a moment, unable to respond after being confronted by Lou Suyi.

Everyone looked at Liang Wanying, wondering who would win this confrontation between Consort Hui and the Empress.

Liang Wanying remained silent for a long while.

Tragically, Lou Suyi was the Empress, and no matter how much she resented Lou Suyi, she had to be subservient to this woman.

"I was just joking, Your Majesty, why take it so seriously?" After weighing the options, she conceded.

"Consort Hui, I advise you to see the situation clearly. This is not the time when the late Emperor was still alive. Anyone who does not meet your expectations can be humiliated by you. If you dare to make things difficult for other concubines over trivial matters, I will be the first to not let you off!" Lou Suyi said in a deep voice, her voice imposing without anger.

She is usually cheerful and amiable, but when she gets angry, she exudes a dignified aura.

Liang Wanying clenched her fists, forcing herself to breathe, and replied, "Your Majesty the Empress is right."

When Consort De saw Liang Wanying lower her proud head in front of Lou Suyi, she thought to herself that being the Empress really made a difference; Lou Suyi was actually able to tame this spoiled woman, Liang Wanying.

After everyone had left, Chen Xing deliberately lagged behind and gratefully said to Lou Suyi, "Thank you, Your Highness, for speaking up for me."

"You were targeted by Consort Hui because you spoke up for me. In addition, you are from the Empress Dowager's family, and Consort Hui is at odds with the Empress Dowager. You should be more careful in the future. Consort Hui is always spoiled and willful, so you must be wary of her," Lou Suyi said seriously.

Chen Xing replied solemnly, "Yes, thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty."

Lou Suying smiled slightly: "You should go back early too. Don't get too close to me in the future. I'm a thorn in everyone's side. Try to stay away from me. I don't want to involve you."

Chen Xing was taken aback, not expecting Lou Suyi to think so far ahead.

She thought the Empress was a very good person, and even thought that His Majesty might only choose the Empress because he liked her.

Even she, a woman, liked the Empress very much, so how much more so His Majesty?

After leaving Xianfu Palace, Chen Xing sighed softly, "The Empress is a very kind person. It's comfortable and easy to be with her. No wonder His Majesty likes her."

Yuexue originally had a prejudice against Lou Suyi, but since Lou Suyi helped her mistress today, she couldn't go against her conscience and say that the Empress was bad.

"No matter how good Her Majesty the Empress is, she is still Her Majesty's rival in love," Yuexue said in a muffled voice.

"How could I be worthy of being the Empress's rival? To His Majesty, I am probably just a member of the Empress Dowager's family." Chen Xing smiled bitterly.

However, she did not regret entering the palace, even if she never saw His Majesty once in her life.

At least she's entered the palace. As long as she doesn't become an enemy of the Empress, she'll have a place in the harem, which will allow her to survive longer. Perhaps she can even become an asset to the Duke of Fuguo's mansion.

Because it was the end of the year, Lou Suying was busy, and she also asked Jinshu to check who might be visiting that deserted palace, but unfortunately they found nothing.

Lou Suyi still trusted her intuition and felt that Xie Zhijie was the one who instructed Yi Cui, because Xie Zhijie had this motive.

If Murong believed her, Xie Zhijie would think she was restless and unfaithful, making her position as Empress unstable. If Murong believed the letter, she might even banish her to the Cold Palace or force her to become a nun again, thus giving Xie Zhijie the opportunity to take her away.

Unfortunately, it was all just her speculation; she had no evidence to prove that Xie Zhijie had done this despicable thing.

The 26th day of the twelfth lunar month was the day the emperor bestowed the imperial seal, and Emperor Murong began his holiday. When he arrived at Xianfu Palace, he saw his son sitting on the ground playing, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, all of whom were laughing heartily.

No one expected Murong to arrive so quietly. Some people were busy helping the little prince, who was playing on the ground, up, while others were busy bowing to Murong.

Murong frowned slightly as she looked at the dirty little Mu Chen: "Chen'er is playing on the ground, and none of you stop him?"

Yan Hui replied weakly, "Did Her Majesty say to let the young prince do as he pleases, or is it just his nature to like playing with mud..."

"Where is the Empress?" Murong held the little prince tightly in her hands.

Upon seeing this, Ji Qing hurriedly stepped forward and took the dirty little prince in her arms, saying, "This servant will hold Your Highness."

"Her Majesty the Empress is busy in her study," came the reply from Yan Hui.

Murong did not argue with Ji Qing, but went to the study on his own, where he found his empress busy at her desk.

He leaned closer and saw that she was checking the New Year's Eve celebration schedule, probably afraid that something might have been missed.

Yes, she became empress, and her mother entrusted her with managing many palace affairs. The end of the year is the busiest time, so it's no wonder she wasn't as relaxed as she was last year.

Lou Suying was unaware that Murong had arrived, and Jinshu, despite Murong's prompting, dared not remind her. It wasn't until she turned her head and discovered that the person beside her had changed to Murong that she was extremely surprised: "When did Your Majesty arrive?"

"I've been here for a while," Murong suddenly asked. "Is being the Empress tiring?"

"It's alright, it's definitely not as hard as His Majesty's work." At this moment, Lou Suyi had long forgotten that she was still angry with Murong.

Murong had prepared a speech before he arrived, but seeing Lou Suyi's appearance, he knew that his empress had forgotten the unpleasant incident from before.

She didn't hold it against him, but he was indeed wrong: "What happened last time was my fault, and I have come here today specifically to apologize to the Empress."

Lou Suyi looked at Murong in surprise, only to meet his warm gaze.

“You are my wife, and we are one. Even if I doubt you for a moment, it would be my fault,” Murong Su Rong said again.

Seeing his serious expression, Lou Suying felt a little uncomfortable: "That's all in the past."

"Then have you forgiven me?" Murong asked.

Lou Suyi found the emperor really annoying.

She's forgotten about this, so why is she talking about forgiving or not?
Seeing Murong's serious expression, she could only say, "Forgive me, forgive me."

Murong was very satisfied with Lou Suyi's answer: "To atone for my sins, I will assist the Empress."

Lou Suyi didn't want Murong to stay in the study at all, but she couldn't send the emperor away either.

Because Murong's presence was too strong, Lou Suying couldn't calm down. Murong noticed this, so he simply pulled Lou Suying up and asked her to give him some pointers, and he would help her with her tasks.

Lou Suyi looked at the attentive emperor and fell into deep thought.

The emperor, who had been busy all year, only officially conferred the imperial seal today, yet he went to Xianfu Palace to help her with her work. It must be said, the emperor is destined for a life of hard work; he can't seem to find a moment's rest…