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

Chapter 354 Disliked by His Majesty

Tao Zhaoyi was stumped by the question.

She received the news from a letter sent to the palace by the Tao family, which was a month ago.

March was approaching, but the date for going to Mulan Hunting Ground was still undecided, leaving her completely confused.

“This matter should be asked of Her Majesty the Empress. After all, Her Majesty the Empress can see His Majesty at any time and can receive accurate information immediately. I only heard it secondhand and cannot give my sister an answer.” As Tao Zhaoyi spoke, she looked at Lou Suyi, who was sitting in the main seat and drinking goat milk.

Lou Suying is pregnant with the emperor's child, so she's not in a hurry to go to the Mulan Hunting Grounds, right? Perhaps this woman would rather the spring hunt be cut short.

"Your Majesty, could you please ask His Majesty when the spring hunt will be held? This would allow all the younger sisters to prepare accordingly," Consort Ning said, seeing everyone looking at Lou Suyi, and asked on their behalf.

Earlier, Consort Ning had stated that there was no need to consider her accompanying the emperor. At this moment, she was still concerned for all the concubines, which made all the concubines present extremely fond of her.

"I haven't seen His Majesty for some time and haven't had a chance to ask. I'll ask His Majesty's opinion when I see him. It's just a pity that I'm pregnant. Imperial Physician Liu told me to rest and recuperate and not to overexert myself. Otherwise, I could make a special trip to Qianqing Palace to ask. Oh, right, Consort Ning has been with His Majesty for many years and has always been influential in his eyes. Consort Ning is also very kind-hearted. Why don't we entrust this important task to Consort Ning and have her go to Xianfu Palace to ask His Majesty when the spring hunt is scheduled?" Lou Suyi said with a smile.

In an instant, everyone's eager gaze fell upon Consort Ning.

Consort De further fueled the flames: "Yes, Consort Ning is the highest-ranking concubine besides the Empress, and is usually favored by His Majesty. It would be most appropriate for Consort Ning to handle this matter."

Consort Ning coughed a few times and said in a hoarse voice, "It's not that I'm unwilling to make this trip, but I'm still recovering from a cold. If I were to pass on my illness to His Majesty, it would be a great sin."

Consort De nodded upon hearing this: "Consort Ning has been ill for some time now, and her birthday celebration caused quite a stir, drawing His Majesty to Jingren Palace more than once. Why didn't Consort Ning say that she was afraid of passing on her illness to His Majesty and simply cancel the birthday banquet?"

They told her to go to the Qianqing Palace to find out the truth, and also said they were afraid of passing on their illness to Murong.

Upon hearing this, everyone felt that Consort De's words made sense.

Consort Ning kept saying she was afraid of passing on her illness to His Majesty. In fact, Consort Ning had already spent quite some time with His Majesty on her birthday, so it seemed a bit like she was making excuses for not taking responsibility.

At this moment, everyone's gaze towards Consort Ning suddenly turned hostile.

Everyone present had their own selfish motives; since it concerned their own interests, they naturally couldn't tolerate any wrongdoing.

Consort Xiao smiled and echoed Consort De's words: "Consort De's words make sense. Speaking of which, none of us sisters have ever seen Consort Ning, and none of us have ever felt Consort Ning's illness. Consort Ning's worries are just overthinking. Why don't you make a trip to Qianqing Palace for all of us sisters? What do you think, Consort Ning?"

Lou Suyi found the scene amusing.

Consort Ning's good reputation was just like that; because of a single sentence from Consort De, Consort Ning became the target of everyone's harassment.

If Consort Ning does not agree now, she may find it difficult to remain everyone's confidante in the future.

Lou Suying, always eager for drama, chimed in, "Consort Ning, so many people are counting on you to meet the Emperor. You mustn't disappoint your sisters. Besides, this is a rare opportunity to meet the Emperor; the other sisters can only dream of it."

Not just anyone can freely enter and exit the Qianqing Palace. Given Consort Ning's rank, it would be most appropriate for her to go and ask Murong for clarification. If Consort Ning keeps making excuses, it would seem very suspicious.

After hesitating, Consort Ning agreed after Lou Suying spoke: "Alright, I will go. If I find out any news, I will inform the sisters."

Lou Suyi smiled with satisfaction: "That's right. It's just a small favor. If you keep refusing, people will think you're unwilling to help with this little thing."

Consort Ning replied humbly, "Your Majesty the Empress is right." Lou Suyi said a few more polite words and then gestured for everyone to go home.

As soon as Consort Ning stepped out of Xianfu Palace, Consort De followed her, saying, "I'll accompany you to Qianqing Palace, sister, to give you some courage."

Anyway, letting Consort Ning take the lead and having her accompany her can prevent Consort Ning from secretly seducing Murong, killing two birds with one stone.

Consort Ning had no objection and, accompanied by Consort De, went to the Qianqing Palace.

When Murong heard that Consort Ning and Consort De had come to see him, he invited them in to meet the Emperor.

After paying his respects, Murong looked Ning Fei over and asked, "Is your illness any better, my beloved concubine?"

Consort Ning replied respectfully, "I am much better now, thanks to the excellent medical skills of Imperial Physician Liu."

Murong Shen agreed and stopped discussing the matter, instead chatting with Consort Ning.

Consort De felt a little annoyed that Murong hadn't spoken to her at all. She wondered why Murong was ignoring her now, since she had clearly been more favored than Consort Ning in the past.

Although she harbored resentment, she dared not challenge Murong's authority and stood quietly to the side, waiting for Consort Ning to ask Murong about the Spring Collection.

"What brings my beloved consort to see me?" Murong asked calmly.

Consort Ning then explained her purpose: "The ladies of the harem heard that we are going hunting at the Mulan Hunting Grounds next month, so they asked me to come and ask if the date has been set."

Murong hadn't expected that Consort Ning had come for this matter, which reminded him of the day Lou Suyi asked him about the Spring Hunt, and the scene where he and Lou Suyi had a cold war.

At that moment, Consort Ning and Consort De sensed that Murong was not as warm as before.

Consort De stood silently to the side, only glad that she hadn't taken on the task.

Seeing that Murong remained silent, Consort Ning hurriedly said, "I was only asked to inquire..."

“Since my beloved consort is ill, she should rest and recuperate properly. She should not concern herself with matters that are not her concern!” Murong interrupted Consort Ning without any politeness.

Consort Ning's expression froze for a moment before she finally found her voice: "It was I who overstepped my bounds. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

"Leave." Murong didn't want to say more and gave the order to leave.

Consort De was only glad that she hadn't spoken up, otherwise she would have been the one disliked.

She quietly followed Consort Ning out of the palace. Once outside, she looked at the overly quiet Consort Ning and said, "Consort Ning, don't be discouraged. It's just that His Majesty is in a bad mood, not that he dislikes you."

Linglong got angry when she saw Consort De's silly appearance.

If it weren't for Consort De stirring things up, how could Her Majesty have come to Qianqing Palace and ended up being disliked by His Majesty?

Now Consort De is pretending to be a good person again, it's really despicable!

"This is not something a concubine like me should interfere with, but my sister insisted that I come here. Are you satisfied now?" After saying this, Consort Ning did not say another word to Consort De, and rode away in her palanquin.