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

Chapter 304: Get her out!

Seeing Liang Wanying covered in wounds and still kneeling on the ground, Consort Ning asked, "Has the assassination attempt last night been investigated? Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and Consort Hui is still injured. If she has nothing to do with this, shouldn't she be pardoned to show the Emperor's boundless grace?"

Upon hearing this, Consort De glanced at Consort Ning and thought that this woman bringing up this matter at this critical juncture did not seem to be a wise person.

Isn't this tantamount to handing yourself over to Murong's gun?
Lan Lan is Liang Wanying's servant, and Lan Lan committed the crime in public. Even if Liang Wanying was not the mastermind, how could Liang Wanying, as the master, escape responsibility?
Consort Ning, however, insisted on pleading for Liang Wanying, which was utterly foolish!

Murong's expression darkened upon hearing Ningfei's words, but Lou Suyi smiled and asked, "Then tell me, Ningfei, how do you intend to pardon Huifei? It was a servant from Quanfu Palace who assassinated the Empress Dowager, and I, the Empress, was the one who was injured. As Lanlan's mistress, shouldn't Huifei bear the responsibility?"

Consort Ning was rendered speechless by Lou Suyi's words.

After a moment of silence, she said, "I thought Her Majesty the Empress was kind-hearted and wouldn't hold this against her..."

"That's right, why don't we have one of Consort Hui's servants stab you? I think you're kind-hearted and won't hold it against you." Lou Suyi's words were soft and gentle, but they made everyone look at Consort Ning with disdain.

Consort De also felt that Consort Ning was too saintly. Since the incident hadn't happened to Consort Ning, she was able to speak so calmly.

Murong's gaze fell on Consort Ning, and it was the first time he had seriously examined this concubine.

When Consort Ning saw Murong scrutinizing her, her heart suddenly raced. Just as she was feeling nervous, she heard Murong say, "Consort Ning, please leave. On such an important day as the first day of the Lunar New Year, don't get in the way of the Empress."

In an instant, everyone's sympathetic gaze fell on Consort Ning's face.

Consort Ning was extremely embarrassed. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she simply agreed in a low voice and left the hall.

After leaving Xianfu Palace, Linglong, worried that her mistress would be upset, said indignantly, "His Majesty is really something, embarrassing the Empress in front of so many people, without even considering that the Empress is the one who has been by His Majesty's side the longest!"

“What’s the use of staying by His Majesty’s side the longest? His Majesty can’t even see me. I suppose only a beauty like the Empress, with her captivating charm, could catch His Majesty’s eye.” Consort Ning smiled bitterly. “Never mind, there’s nothing to be sad about. I’m going back.”

Linglong dared not utter another word, fearing it would make her master even more upset.

Because he had to receive the homage of the officials, Murong did not stay in Xianfu Palace for too long before expelling Consort Ning from the palace and leaving as well.

With Murong gone, everyone felt both disappointed and relieved, as Murong's dark and gloomy expression had been quite frightening before.

Everyone chatted and laughed, but no one mentioned Liang Wanying again, lest Lou Suyi take the opportunity to kick her out of Xianfu Palace and make her a laughing stock.

Just as the commotion was starting, Empress Dowager Chen arrived at Xianfu Palace.

Lou Suyi immediately stood up to greet her: "I was just thinking of going to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager later."

"Is your injury any better? It's the same for me when I come here," Empress Dowager Chen asked with concern.

The other concubines had already visited Shou'an Palace to offer New Year's greetings before coming to Lou Suyi, so this time they simply paid their respects and that was it.

Empress Dowager Chen glanced at Liang Wanying, who was kneeling on the ground and swaying precariously, and her eyes showed undisguised disgust.

Because of the large number of people, she couldn't ask in public whether yesterday's case had been investigated. She could only wait until the concubines left before asking them for clarification.

The concubines sat for another half an hour before taking their leave.

Once everyone had left, Empress Dowager Chen inquired about the progress of the case.

Lou Suyi looked at Lanlan: "Lanlan confessed that Consort Hui wanted to get rid of the Empress Dowager, so she took the risk, but I think this explanation is too far-fetched." "What's so far-fetched about it? Lanlan was eager to show off, so she wanted to get rid of me and curry favor with the Liang family. Isn't that a reason for the murder?" Empress Dowager Chen wished she could immediately give Liang Wanying a cup of poisoned wine so that she would never have to face Liang Wanying's face again.

Lou Suyi chuckled: "Mother, don't be impatient, let me explain in detail..."

She then explained the contradictions in the case, and Empress Dowager Chen listened carefully, seemingly thoughtful: "That seems to make sense. So, should we re-examine Lan Lan?"

Lou Suyi was somewhat surprised to see that Empress Dowager Chen had listened to her words.

She knew how much Empress Dowager Chen disliked Liang Wanying, and this incident was a perfect opportunity to get rid of Liang Wanying. She thought Empress Dowager Chen would not let it go.

“We used severe torture on Lanlan yesterday, but she insisted on her previous statement. I don’t think a retrial will be able to get her to talk.” Lou Suyi felt that she shouldn’t have too high hopes.

Empress Dowager Chen frowned: "Are you saying this is yet another unsolved case?"

Lou Suying looked at the dying Lanlan: "It's most likely..."

Lanlan did not faint. She raised her eyelids slightly, and a strange light flashed in her eyes.

She was then taken to the dungeon, where the executioner subjected her to further torture.

Lou Suyi watched the execution from a short distance away. Such severe torture was too much for even a man to endure, let alone a delicate palace maid like Lanlan.
Lanlan gritted her teeth and endured it. If it was out of loyalty to Liang Wanying that she gritted her teeth, she didn't see that quality in this palace maid.

Therefore, there is only one possibility: Lanlan is a spy planted in Quanfu Palace by other palaces.

In this battle, Leung Wan-ying was simply being used, and that person's real purpose was probably to deal with her.

Last night, if she hadn't stood in front of Empress Dowager Chen, Empress Dowager Chen might not have been in mortal danger. But since it was her first time hosting a New Year's Eve banquet, and Empress Dowager Chen's life was threatened, even if Murong didn't punish her, Empress Dowager Chen would still be unhappy, wouldn't she?

If Empress Dowager Chen were to die, would a thorn remain in Murong's heart?

With Liang Wanying as a scapegoat, Murong, in a fit of rage, massacred the entire Fu Palace, leaving the real culprit free. Wouldn't that be exactly what the mastermind had planned?

"Find someone to investigate Lanlan's background, and most importantly, find out who she cares about," Lou Suying whispered to Granny Qiao. "As soon as possible!"

Granny Qiao accepted the order and left. Lou Suyi then said to Granny Shen, "Keep a close eye on this area and don't let anyone have a chance to silence us."

Having received the order, Granny Shen, Lou Suying, also did not want to stay in the dungeon, this unlucky place, for too long.

When she returned to Xianfu Palace, she saw Murong playing with little Muchen.

Murong knew she had gone to supervise the execution and asked, "How did the interrogation go?"

“Lan Lan is no simple character; she’s a tough nut to crack…” Lou Suyi said, expressing her guess.

After hearing this, Murong calmly said, "If what you say is true, the other party's purpose is to deal with you, then that person would not have been able to succeed in their evil scheme, and I will not blame you for this."

Lou Suyi disagreed.

He spoke kindly only because Empress Dowager Chen was safe and sound. He was a filial son; if anything happened to her, he would surely blame her.