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

Chapter 357 Establishing a Crown Prince!
“I asked the question without any malice, but you are different. Your words are full of malice. Otherwise, would Her Majesty the Empress punish you?” Consort De retorted coldly, not to be outdone.

Seeing the two arguing, Consort Ning tried to smooth things over, saying, "We're all sisters, let's talk it out..."

"Come on, the most hypocritical person in the entire harem is Consort Ning. You appear kind on the surface, but who knows what kind of person you are underneath?" Consort De didn't want to listen to Consort Ning's lecture and curled her lips sarcastically.

Seeing that Consort Ning had been implicated by her, Consort Tao angrily rebuked her, "What does it mean to drag Consort Ning into your feud with me?"

"Fool, do you think your Consort Ning is a saint? I'm just reminding you that there's no sincerity in this harem!" Consort De was too lazy to argue with Consort Tao anymore, so she got into her palanquin and left.

Consort Tao originally wanted to compete with Consort De, but Consort De's words, "There is no true love in the harem," awakened her.

When did she actually develop genuine feelings for Consort Ning?
Regardless of whether Consort Ning is truly good or not, it is a fact that she has been getting too close to Consort Ning lately.

Consort De said that Consort Ning was hypocritical. Could it be that an outsider has a clearer perspective?
Just as Consort Tao was lost in thought, Consort Ning said calmly, "Sister, you should go back early. Don't take Consort De to heart. When you were in the Prince's residence, Consort De wasn't as sharp as she is now. People change. Don't let Consort De affect your mood."

Tao Zhaoyi forced a smile: "I think everyone will change, but my sister will not. My sister is the only person I trust in this harem."

Consort Ning softened her expression: "I also consider my sister a friend and confidante. Even so, I still have to say something to my sister. She was too impulsive today, going against Her Majesty the Empress. She won't get away with it."

Tao Zhaoyi nodded: "I acted impulsively this time. I'll head back now, sister, you should go back early too."

Consort Ning nodded and watched Consort Tao walk away. After a long while, she sighed softly, "Sister Tao is good in every way, but she is too impulsive. I hope she can learn from her mistake today."

Linglong helped Consort Ning onto the palanquin: "Consort Tao is secondary, but Consort De bites everyone she sees. Why doesn't Your Majesty teach Consort De a lesson and teach her a lesson?"

Just now, Consort De publicly insulted her mistress, which is why her mistress was good-natured and did not punish Consort De.

Consort Ning said calmly, "Consort De was punished by Her Majesty the Empress today, so she must be in a bad mood. Why should I lower myself to her level?"

Granny Lu chimed in, "That's right. Consort De is a pitiful person. Our mistress has a kind heart. There's no need to hold a grudge against Consort De. Just consider it an act of kindness and good deeds."

Linglong thought that there was some truth to that.

Does that mean if a master is bitten by a dog, he can bite back?

Consort De is nothing but a shrew; arguing with her would only lower your own status.

The Xianfu Palace returned to tranquility. Lou Suying, supported by Jinshu, went to the corridor: "It feels really good to be the Empress. If I can't stand someone, I can just give them a good beating."

"This servant has long felt that Your Highness is too kind, which is why those noble ladies don't take you seriously. From now on, Your Highness should deal with them in this way, so that they will remember that Your Highness is the Empress. If they are disobedient, you can punish them by confining them to their rooms to reflect on their mistakes, so that they won't bother Your Highness," Yan Hui replied enthusiastically.

It's always great to have a mistress like the Empress; it makes the maids feel more assertive.

She felt that the Empress was like a protagonist with cheat codes, living the life of a wish-fulfillment novel.

Lou Suyi chuckled: "I actually feel quite sorry for them. Because I'm pregnant, I definitely can't go hunting. But if I were them, I would be very disappointed if I had a chance to leave the palace and had been looking forward to it for so long, only to have the plan fall through."

However, she understood the other concubines in the harem, and they couldn't pin the blame on her.

Last time, she asked Murong a question about the concubines accompanying the emperor, and Murong disliked her for it. She was clearly asking on their behalf, but instead, she was being questioned; she couldn't bear such humiliation. Lou Suyi enjoyed a few peaceful days. This day happened to be the day the concubines paid their respects to her. Just as everyone was chatting and laughing, Ji Qing's voice came from afar: "Imperial decree has arrived!"

Lou Suyi was somewhat surprised. Jiqing had never made such a grand display before. Today, he even went out to shout, "What imperial edict is this?"
Shortly after, Ji Qing entered.

Lou Suyi was about to kneel to receive the imperial decree when Jiqing quickly stopped her, saying, "His Majesty said that Your Highness is pregnant with the imperial heir, so you do not need to kneel to receive the decree."

Lou Suyi also disliked kneeling, and the next moment, Jiqing handed the imperial edict to Lou Suyi.

Lou Suyi was taken aback. Didn't he need to read the imperial edict aloud?
She opened the imperial edict with a puzzled look, and her pupils constricted the moment she saw its contents.

Although Murong had mentioned it briefly before, she was still surprised when she saw the contents.

This was actually an imperial edict appointing Xiao Muchen as the Crown Prince.

The concubines were curious about the contents of the imperial edict, which gave Lou Suyi this expression.

Just as they were eavesdropping, Ji Qing said, "His Majesty read out the imperial edict appointing the young prince as Crown Prince during court today. The young prince is now the Crown Prince of Great Xia."

Everyone heard it clearly and didn't know how to control their expressions.

Although they were mentally prepared when the little prince was chosen for his first birthday celebration, hearing the news with their own ears still brought a mix of emotions to their hearts, an indescribable sadness.

After her initial shock, Lou Suyi had someone bring Xiao Muchen over and had her son receive the imperial edict.

The child is still young, and recently, because Lou Suyi is pregnant, he feels that his mother doesn't like to hold him as much, which makes him feel wronged.

He tossed aside the imperial edict in his arms, wanting only for Lou Suyi to hug him.

"Your Highness, no! Her Majesty is pregnant and cannot hold the young prince." Ji Qing was so frightened that he snatched Xiao Muchen into his arms.

Jinshu was busy picking up the imperial edict.

Xiao Muchen didn't want Jiqing, so he pulled Jiqing's face hard, but Jiqing just smiled like Maitreya Buddha.

Lou Suyi then remembered that the concubines were still there, and hurriedly said to them, "If there is nothing else important, you ladies may go back first."

Everyone silently stood up, and this time, no matter how jealous they were, they didn't dare to gossip in front of Lou Suyi.

Considering Ji Qing's familiar reaction to Lou Suyi, a favorite of the emperor, it's clear that Ji Qing already considers Lou Suyi one of his own.

And what about them?

When everyone left Xianfu Palace, they were all somewhat disheartened.

Consort De saw that she wasn't the only one feeling disheartened; everyone else was too. Even Consort Ning, who usually appeared calm and composed, had a somewhat gloomy expression, which inexplicably made Consort De feel a little better.

"Don't be discouraged, sisters. We are all still young and will have plenty of opportunities to rise in the future," Consort De joked with a smile. "Sister Ning is different. She doesn't care about gains or losses, nor does she care about His Majesty's favor. Among us, only Sister Ning is unaffected. Sister Ning is without desires and ambitions, and she is not far from ascending to immortality."