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

Chapter 319 One Heart, One Mind for a Lifetime
After Jinli's analysis, Jiqing suddenly understood.

After thinking for a moment, he felt it was inappropriate: "If His Majesty has truly fallen in love with the Empress, it may not be a good thing."

The koi carp, puzzled, asked, "Why?"

Why is it wrong for His Majesty to develop feelings for the Empress? Even an emperor should have someone he likes and be subject to human emotions and desires, just like a normal person.

"His Majesty is already unwilling to choose other concubines, so if he really falls in love with the Empress, he will be even less likely to choose other concubines. This is not a good sign," Ji Qing said solemnly.

If Your Majesty were a man from an ordinary family, it would be understandable to have only one wife, but throughout history, which emperor has only had one wife?

Even if it's just to balance the power among the various factions in the court, His Majesty should still show favor to all the concubines in the harem.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. If you look at it from another angle, His Majesty is not interested in women and doesn’t want to move around in the harem. If it weren’t for the Empress, His Majesty would not know when he would have an heir. Although His Majesty is a monarch, he is still a mortal. If there is someone who truly loves him and cares for him, shouldn’t we be happy for His Majesty?” Jinli thought that Jiqing’s thinking was too one-sided, but she felt that it was a rare and precious thing to see true feelings between the Emperor and Empress.

Ji Qing thought about the changes in his master over the past two years and felt that the koi's words might not be without reason.

His Majesty in the past was aloof and seemed devoid of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness. Even though he was filial to the Empress Dowager, he was extremely cold towards her.

Even His Majesty now experiences joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. When he is happy, it shows on his face, though not very obviously, but one can still sense the changes in His Majesty's emotions.

"Ultimately, our job as servants is to serve our masters well and act in accordance with their wishes. As for our masters' love affairs, it's best if we don't interfere," Jinli said softly.

Inside Shou'an Palace, Lou Suyi saw Chen Xing as soon as she entered.

"Sister Anpin is here too." Lou Suyi said with a cheerful smile.

Empress Dowager Chen laughed and said, "Do you think everyone is like you, sleeping until the sun is high in the sky before getting up?"

Lou Suyi looked pale: "Does Mother know I overslept today?"

"If you come early to pay your respects to me, you must have gotten up early; if you come late, you must have gone to bed late. This is the natural order."

As soon as Empress Dowager Chen finished speaking, Murong walked in: "Your Majesty understands the Empress. It was I who told her to sleep in a little later, which is why you are late today."

Empress Dowager Chen looked Murong and Lou Suyi up and down with a half-smile: "So you came together."

Chen Xing then stood up and greeted Murong and Lou Suyi.

Murong dismissed Chen Xing's formalities before replying, "The Empress has something to discuss with Mother Empress, and I also have some free time, so we came together to pay our respects to Mother Empress."

Empress Dowager Chen felt rather complicated when she saw that Murong did not look directly at Chen Xing.

She liked Chen Xing's personality, and since Chen Xing was a member of the Chen family, she could tell that Chen Xing's visit to pay his respects was purely out of goodwill, and not to use her to get close to the emperor.

Judging from the emperor's demeanor, he clearly did not regard Chen Xing as one of the women in his harem.

"What does Su Yi want to discuss with me?" Empress Dowager Chen stepped forward and took little Muchen in her arms.

As soon as Xiao Muchen was in her arms, he kissed her on the cheek and called out "Grandmother" in his childish voice.

Empress Dowager Chen was both surprised and delighted: "Chen'er can greet people now?"

Murong recalled how long Lou Suyi had taught little Mu Chen to call her "Grandmother" last night, and laughed, "It's also because the Empress taught her well." Little Mu Chen hugged Empress Dowager Chen's neck and kissed her passionately, making Empress Dowager Chen very happy.

"It seems that Chen'er is particularly fond of Mother. Chen'er has never kissed me so enthusiastically before."

As soon as Lou Suyi finished speaking, Xiao Muchen pounced into her arms and gave her a good smear on the face.

The little prince's antics amused all the adults in the room.

After the laughter subsided, Lou Suying explained her purpose: "I'm looking for someone to assist in managing the affairs of the inner palace. After much thought, I think Consort An is the most suitable, so I came to ask the Empress Dowager's opinion. Consort An happens to be here as well, so I'll also take this opportunity to ask if she's interested."

Empress Dowager Chen was somewhat surprised, but she quickly realized that Su Yi clearly wanted to slack off, which was why she found someone to help her with the affairs of the inner palace so quickly.

"I have no objection; it depends on whether Consort An is willing," Empress Dowager Chen said, looking at Chen Xing.

Chen Xing was flattered and overwhelmed: "I...I know nothing, I'm afraid I can't help Your Majesty the Empress."

She would be willing to assist Lou Suyi in managing the affairs of the harem. Life in the harem was boring when there was nothing to do; time passed quickly when there was something to keep her occupied. Why wouldn't she be willing?

She entered the palace late, and she thought that such an important matter would never be her turn, after all, there were several high-ranking concubines ahead of her. Who knew that Lou Suying would extend an olive branch to her.

“I didn’t know anything at first either, but I learned from Mother for a while and got the hang of it. At worst, I’ll teach you. If I can’t teach you well, Mother can help teach you.” Lou Suyi was in a great mood. “Then it’s settled. Sister, come to Xianfu Palace to find me when you have time, or you can come to Shou’an Palace to ask Mother for advice.”

Chen Xing was also overjoyed: "Your Majesty the Empress has given me this opportunity, and I will definitely make the most of it."

She had learned how to manage the inner quarters while she was in the Duke's mansion, but the affairs of the inner palace are complicated and not like those in the Duke's mansion, so it must be more difficult.

"Mother, please have someone prepare lunch. I'm hungry." Murong remembered that Lou Suying hadn't had breakfast yet.

Jinli, however, knew the truth. She looked at Jiqing, and Jiqing looked at her; they understood each other without saying a word. His Majesty, who had never known what gentleness and consideration were, had suddenly become enlightened and knew how to be considerate of the Empress.

When Empress Dowager Chen heard that the emperor was hungry, she immediately ordered people to speed up the preparation of the meal.

At this point, Murong added, "Make more of the dishes that the Empress likes to eat."

Empress Dowager Chen laughed upon hearing this: "So it was because Su Yi was hungry that the Emperor was in such a hurry to prepare lunch?"

Murong did not deny it. He looked at Lou Suyi, a touch of tenderness appearing in his cold eyes: "She was eager to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager and did not have breakfast. She only ate some snacks to fill her stomach. I am worried that she is hungry, so it would be better for her to have lunch earlier."

There was nothing wrong with those words, but Lou Suyi felt uncomfortable when she saw the Empress Dowager Chen's ambiguous gaze.

She quickly explained, "Actually, His Majesty was hungry himself, so he used me as an excuse."

"I understand, I know, you don't need to explain." Empress Dowager Chen seemed to be saying that explaining would be tantamount to covering up.

Lou Suyi felt that saying more would only make more mistakes, so she simply kept quiet.

Chen Xing sat to the side, and seeing the good relationship between Murong and Lou Suyi, it would be a lie to say he wasn't envious.

Now she thinks that if Murong and Lou Suyi could support each other for a lifetime, without any third party in between, it would be a beautiful relationship.

With so many beauties in the harem, I wonder if His Majesty can resist the temptations of other beauties and remain devoted to Lou Suyi for life.