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

Chapter 348 Already planned
Murong was surprised that Consort Ning fainted as soon as he returned to Qianqing Palace.

He felt that Consort Ning brought this upon herself and did not deserve any sympathy.

Since you're sick, just focus on getting better. Thinking so much can complicate even simple problems; otherwise, you might have recovered long ago.

If it weren't for the fact that it was Consort Ning's birthday today, he wouldn't want to pay any attention to it.

In the end, he returned to Jingren Palace out of consideration for Consort Ning's years of service to him.

At this time, Imperial Physician Liu had finished administering acupuncture to Consort Ning, and Consort Ning had already woken up.

Upon seeing Murong arrive, Consort Ning was filled with trepidation and tried to struggle to her feet to pay her respects.

Seeing this, Murong stopped her, saying, "You should lie down properly, there's no need for such formalities."

Consort Ning's eyes dimmed: "It is I who have caused trouble for Your Majesty."

Murong declined to comment, and instead looked at Imperial Physician Liu and asked, "How is Consort Ning? She had a severe cough earlier; is there any effective way to stop it?"

"Your Majesty, I have already prescribed a remedy, but Consort Ning is overthinking things, and it will be difficult for her to recover completely," Imperial Physician Liu reported to Murong.

Murong understood that Consort Ning's condition wasn't that serious, but her excessive worry was affecting her health.

After Imperial Physician Liu went to write the prescription, he said to Consort Ning, "I thought you were a broad-minded person, but I didn't expect you to have so many worries. Some knots in your heart you have to untie yourself; no one else can help you."

Consort Ning smiled wryly: "It is my fault for disturbing Your Majesty."

Murong didn't want to say more: "As long as you recover, I'll head back now."

Seeing that Murong was about to leave so soon, Linglong boldly stepped forward and said, "Today is Her Majesty's birthday. Can't Your Majesty spend a little more time with Her Majesty?"

Seeing this, Ji Qing said, "Your Majesty's health is precious. What if Consort Ning were to transfer her illness to Your Majesty?"

Upon hearing this, Linglong fell silent and retreated to the side, looking rather sullen.

Consort Ning hurriedly said to Murong, "Linglong is ignorant of etiquette, please forgive her, Your Majesty. I can only blame my poor health for causing Your Majesty trouble."

"Take good care of yourself and don't overthink things," Murong said before leaving Consort Ning's palace.

He didn't like to stay in Consort Ning's room for too long; the place was too oppressive, just like the oppressive feeling Consort Ning gave him.

The Consort Ning of the past was not like this. Although he rarely had the chance to meet her, she was not like she is now.

"Jiqing, do you think Consort Ning has changed?" Murong asked casually.

This stumped Ji Qing, as he couldn't remember what Consort Ning was like before, and therefore couldn't sense any changes in her.

Murong felt that she shouldn't have had too high expectations for Jiqing, and immediately put Ningfei out of her mind.

Inside the bedroom of Jingren Palace, Consort Ning watched Murong's departing figure, tears quickly welling up in her eyes.

This startled Linglong, who quickly comforted her, "His Majesty told Your Highness to take good care of yourself and not to overthink things. Why are you crying, Your Highness?"

Consort Ning shook her head: "His Majesty seems to dislike me."

“How could that be? Your Highness is the most low-key and least troublesome of all the ladies in the harem. How could His Majesty dislike Your Highness? His Majesty is just busy with state affairs…” “You may all leave. I want to be alone for a while.” Consort Ning interrupted Linglong’s attempt to comfort her.

Linglong knew that Consort Ning wouldn't listen, so she led everyone out of the bedroom, turning back every three steps.

Recalling His Majesty's cold and indifferent demeanor before, she couldn't help but sigh that he was the most heartless person she had ever met. Anyone with empathy would surely feel pity for the Empress upon seeing her like this, but His Majesty did the exact opposite, completely ignoring her.

Today is not only Her Majesty's birthday, but she is also ill. Why does His Majesty show her no pity whatsoever?

Linglong couldn't understand it no matter how hard she tried. Hearing her mistress sobbing from inside the room, her heart ached as if it were being torn apart...

After Consort De returned to Changqiu Palace, she heard that Murong had gone to Jingren Palace again. However, she did not stay for long and left soon after.

"Do you think it's a coincidence that Consort Ning fell ill today?" Consort De asked the palace maid beside her.

Yunmei immediately understood what Consort De meant: "Does Your Highness think Consort Ning is faking illness and using a self-inflicted injury as a ruse?"

"It's unlikely she'd be faking illness. If she were, she wouldn't be able to fool Imperial Physician Liu. But I think if Consort Ning wanted to make herself sick, she would definitely find a way." Consort De had always thought Consort Ning was a cunning and scheming woman.

What may seem like ordinary coincidences could all be part of Consort Ning's elaborate scheme.

It's just that the result was not as satisfactory as expected.

Didn't she decide to seduce Murong on her birthday? But Murong didn't fall for it, and her plan ultimately failed.

She was taking things one step at a time and was certainly not as well-prepared as Consort Ning.

If Consort Ning's illness was a staged performance, then she was actually laying the groundwork on her birthday.

"If Consort Ning is feigning illness, what benefit will she gain?" Consort De muttered to herself.

“This servant thinks Your Highness’s guess is not without merit. If Consort Ning is feigning illness, there are too many benefits. Today is Consort Ning’s birthday, and His Majesty will definitely go to Jingren Palace. If His Majesty then learns that Consort Ning has been ill for quite some time, and if His Majesty remembers our past relationship and stays at Jingren Palace to keep Consort Ning company because of her birthday, he might even stay overnight.” After thinking it over, Blueberry felt that her mistress’s idea made a lot of sense.

"Right, right, I knew it. Consort Ning may seem harmless on the surface, but she's incredibly cunning and shrewd. It's a pity, a real pity, all of Consort Ning's schemes ultimately failed because she encountered His Majesty, a man who doesn't know how to cherish women." After Blueberry's analysis, Consort De instantly felt that she had guessed correctly.

Consort Ning's feigned illness was nothing more than a way to keep Murong and climb into the emperor's bed. Doesn't this coincide with her own thoughts?

However, she wasn't as good at pretending as Consort Ning; she made everything too obvious.

Consort Ning's every step was carefully considered, leaving no trace of her intentions. Only someone like her, who harbored prejudice against Consort Ning, would think so deeply.

Of all those who attended Consort Ning's birthday banquet today, only she suspected Consort Ning. No one else, including Consort Tao, suspected that Consort Ning's illness was premeditated.

Of course, Murong certainly didn't know this either.

Consort Ning's schemes were flawless, but unfortunately, she encountered the cold-blooded Murong. Her self-inflicted injury was useless against him, which was probably something Consort Ning had not anticipated.

"If Consort Ning is indeed using illness to attract His Majesty's attention, then Your Highness should be wary of Consort Ning," Yunmei reminded Consort De.

Consort De chuckled softly, "Why should I be wary of her? I have nothing. I have neither an heir nor His Majesty's favor. Consort Ning wouldn't bother with a worthless opponent. On the other hand, the Empress is different. She lacks nothing. She holds the position of Empress, has a prince, and is pregnant with another. If you were Consort Ning, a master of palace intrigue, would you just stand by and watch Lou Suying enjoy endless glory?"

Just wait, the best is yet to come.