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

Chapter 29 Kong Chen, kneel down!

Inside Xianfu Palace, Lou Suyi was waiting for Jinshu's contraceptive soup when Consort Li and Consort Wu suddenly arrived.

Consort Wu was fine; she greeted her warmly with jokes and laughter as soon as she saw her, but Consort Li's expression was unfriendly.

In the past, Lou Suyi would not have paid any attention to Consort Li or the other concubines, but after last night, she didn't even dare to look Consort Li in the eye, feeling very guilty.

Consort Li looked coldly at Lou Suyi: "Has Abbess Kongchen done something wrong?"

Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt that the nun in front of her looked alluring, with eyes that seemed to hold a pool of water, so charming that she could bewitch one's soul.

If a man saw this, wouldn't he be seduced by this widow?

Upon hearing this, Lou Suying immediately straightened her back: "Your Highness, Consort Li, is truly joking. This humble nun has done nothing wrong and has nothing to be ashamed of."

Even if we take a step back and say that Murong forcibly took her virginity last night, she is still the victim, isn't she?

She never intended to compete with these concubines for Murong's favor. It's the dog emperor's fault, not hers!

"His Majesty stayed at Xianfu Palace for two hours last night. What was His Majesty doing there?" Consort Li asked in an accusatory tone.

Lou Suying was about to speak when Consort Li suddenly looked at Yan Hui, her eyes cold and sharp: "Yan Hui, you speak!"

Yan Hui thought to herself that Consort Li had quite the airs. She lowered her head and replied respectfully, "What His Majesty does and where he goes is not something a servant should observe, ask, or say. Besides, I am currently on duty at Xianfu Palace, and Jiqing serves His Majesty. If Consort Li wants to know what His Majesty has been doing, perhaps she can ask Jiqing."

Lou Suyi sighed inwardly, for Yan Hui had once served in the imperial court and was a master of Tai Chi.

Consort Li was speechless with anger after Yan Hui's words, and then asked Lou Suyi, "Master Kongchen must know what His Majesty has done, right?"

The more she looked at the nun, the more she felt that she was not a docile person. Who knows, she might be blinded by lust when she saw a handsome man like His Majesty and end up in His Majesty's bed.

Lou Suyi looked completely innocent: "This humble nun is only temporarily residing in the palace. I dare not inquire about what His Majesty has done. After all, I am merely a guest in someone else's house, how could I dare to ask about His Majesty's whereabouts?"

If she said that Murong had killed her, I wonder if Consort Li would be so angry that she would strangle her.

Wu Meiren felt that Lou Suyi looked quite pitiful, so she tried to smooth things over by saying, "Yes, yes, Master is a hermit, how could he dare to inquire about His Majesty's affairs? Why don't you sit down and talk, Consort Li?"

Consort Li looked at Consort Wu upon hearing this and shouted sternly, "What are you doing interrupting me?!"

Wu Meiren lowered her head in grievance and dared not utter another word.

Lou Suyi remained silent upon witnessing this scene.

This was a quarrel between the concubines in the harem. If she took sides, it would only make Consort Li angrier. Consort Li's confidence stemmed solely from the fact that she had Empress Dowager Chen backing her up.

Seeing that Consort Wu had shut up, Consort Li felt a little relieved, but when she saw Lou Suyi's charming face again, a surge of anger rose in her heart: "Kong Chen, kneel down!"

Lou Suyi was surprised that Consort Li had gone even further, so she stared directly at Consort Li.

Consort Li curled her lips into a cold smile: "What, I told you to kneel, and you dare not kneel?"

Yan Hui had by then recovered from her astonishment.

His Majesty favored Miss Lou just last night and is still very fond of her. How could he let Miss Lou suffer any injustice?
She quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Master Kongchen is a master invited to the palace by His Majesty. Consort Li has made the master kneel down for no reason—"

"Shut up. When did it become your place to interrupt me, you little servant?!" Consort Li scolded Yan Hui.

Yan Hui subconsciously looked at Lou Suyi. Upon seeing this, Lou Suyi sat down and said, "This humble nun is His Majesty's savior. His Majesty only invited this humble nun to the palace to exorcise evil spirits. Why is Consort Li so angry? Consort Li should be careful. Excessive anger can cause five strains and seven injuries, and emotional distress. At best, it can lead to depression and frustration, and at worst, it can damage the five internal organs..." "Shut up!" Consort Li interrupted Lou Suyi's incessant chatter.

“If Consort Li’s liver fire isn’t excessive, then she might be possessed by an evil spirit. Would you like me to take a look at Consort Li?” Lou Suyi said with a half-smile.

Consort Li opened her mouth, as if to say something, but suddenly choked on her words.

She had investigated Lou Suyi's past and heard that this woman had perished in a fire five years ago, so she should have died long ago.

But Lou Suyi suddenly returned, and she looked sixteen years old. Even though this woman was already twenty-one, her appearance seemed to have been frozen at the age of sixteen.

Therefore, Lou Suyi is a very strange woman; she might even be an evil spirit herself.

"I've come today to warn you that a monk should act like one. If you dare to seduce His Majesty, I will not forgive you!" Consort Li said threateningly before hurriedly leaving.

After Consort Li walked away, Consort Wu breathed a sigh of relief: "Master, don't be afraid. Consort Li is just short-tempered, but she's actually quite easy to get along with."

Lou Suyi replied calmly, "How dare this humble nun argue with Consort Li?"

Fearing that Lou Suying would be unhappy, Consort Wu changed the subject, mentioning the rumors circulating in the palace that Murong had stayed at Xianfu Palace for too long last night, which had caused much discussion among the concubines.

Lou Suyi was also very upset.

She knew this would happen, but what could she do? She probably wouldn't be able to leave the palace anytime soon. If Murong came to Xianfu Palace again tonight, she would definitely be put in a very difficult position.

Before long, even Consort Ning arrived at Xianfu Palace, accompanied by several concubines of lower rank.

They came here simply to find out what Murong was doing at Xianfu Palace, just like Consort Li did. Lou Suying dismissed them with her original explanation.

At noon, just as Lou Suyi was trying to get rid of everyone, Jinshu brought in a bowl of medicine.

She hadn't expected so many distinguished guests in the hall. After paying her respects, she was about to leave when Consort Ning called out to her, "Jinshu, what medicine are you carrying?"

Lou Suyi was afraid that her secret would be exposed, so she stepped forward and drank the bowl of medicine.

Seeing this, Consort Ning's face darkened, and Jinshu then replied to her, "Your Majesty, this is a tonic that I got from the Imperial Medical Academy."

Consort Ning was skeptical, but she didn't press the matter further.

As soon as she left Xianfu Palace, she ordered Granny Lu to check whether Jinshu had been to the Imperial Hospital.

Granny Lu quickly returned to her and reported: "Jinshu did indeed go to the Imperial Hospital and got a dose of qi-tonifying medicine."

"Why do I feel that Abbess Kongchen seems guilty? Are you sure Jinshu grabbed some tonic?" Consort Ning asked anxiously.

"This old servant has brought out the prescription and even consulted other imperial physicians. It is indeed effective in replenishing qi," said Granny Lu, handing the prescription to Consort Ning.

Consort Ning was finally relieved.

That night, Murong went to Consort Li's residence for dinner. Before the meal was finished, a eunuch from Changqiu Palace came to see the Emperor, saying that Consort De had suffered a relapse of her old ailment and had fainted.

There's one more chapter to finish. I'll update it as soon as it's done.

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(End of this chapter)