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

Chapter 358 The Battle Has Begun!
Consort Ning had no idea when she had offended Consort De, or why Consort De always made sarcastic remarks about her.

She only thought of Consort De as a mad dog that would bite anyone it saw, and she couldn't be bothered to argue with her.

Just as she was about to leave, Consort De wouldn't let her go, mocking her: "Sister Ningfei has no interest in vying for the emperor's favor anyway, so there's no point in her staying in the harem. Why don't you volunteer to go to the temple to pray for the people of Great Xia? That would be a good deed."

Consort Tao found Consort De to be a disgusting person, and Consort Ning remained silent. Unable to bear it any longer, she said in a deep voice, "Consort De, don't push your luck!"

Consort De looked at Consort Tao with disdain in her eyes: "When did Sister Tao become Consort Ning's dog? The master hasn't even called, but the dog is barking so loudly!"

Consort Ning's expression changed upon hearing this: "Consort De, watch your mouth!"

Seeing that Consort Ning had finally lost her temper, Consort De smiled and said, "Oh, finally you've stopped pretending? That's more like it. You're always pretending to be virtuous and gentle. Aren't you tired of pretending? I, the audience, am tired of it."

Consort Ning's face darkened, and she ordered Granny Lu, "Consort De has committed insubordination; slap her in the face!"

Consort De was shocked by Consort Ning's sudden change of attitude and angrily retorted, "How dare you?!"

The next moment, Granny Lu rushed to Consort De's side and slapped her face from both sides, and soon Consort De's face was swollen.

Just a few days ago, Consort De was slapped and had only just recovered today. Unexpectedly, she was beaten again today by a dog servant of Consort Ning. In a fit of anger, she slapped Granny Lu across the face.

Taking advantage of Ning Fei's unpreparedness, he tackled her to the ground and slapped her face hard several times.

Seeing this, Consort Ning's servants were naturally busy protecting their mistress. Yunmei and Lanmei, who had been dumbfounded, finally reacted and stepped forward to help their mistress fight.

The two groups clashed, creating a chaotic scene.

Lou Suying came out to see what was going on, but fearing it was a scheme by Consort De and Consort Ning, she deliberately kept her distance and called out, "Peace brings wealth. Let's talk things out. Fighting is very unseemly, and it wouldn't be good if His Majesty saw this."

Consort De, who had been throwing a tantrum, regained her senses upon hearing the word "Your Majesty." She looked at Consort Ning, who was pinned beneath her with a bruised and swollen face, and all the resentment in her heart vanished instantly.

Isn't Consort Ning good at pretending? Even after being beaten like this today, she'll keep pretending.

She got off Consort Ning feeling refreshed and explained to Lou Suyi, "I was just having a heart-to-heart talk with Consort Ning. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Lou Suyi glanced at Consort De, then at Consort Ning who had been badly beaten, and her smile widened: "The way you two sisters communicate is quite unique."

Consort De looked at Consort Ning and shamelessly said, "Spare the rod and spoil the child. Since we're sisters, we can beat each other and scold each other. Consort Ning, you've always been more insightful than others, haven't you?"

No one had gone far before, but even if they had, they all turned back when they heard there was something interesting to see, and just then they saw Consort De and Consort Ning fighting.

This time, Consort Ning refused to cooperate with Consort De and coldly said, "Your Majesty the Empress has arrived at the right time. Consort De has been disrespectful to her superiors. I only wanted to teach her some manners, but she acted like a madwoman and knocked me to the ground. I hope Your Majesty the Empress will uphold justice for me!"

Consort De sneered inwardly.

Wasn't Consort Ning usually the most tolerant and magnanimous? Why isn't she pretending now?
“But…but I was just reacting instinctively. It was Consort Ning who ordered her men to beat me without a word, and I was so frightened that I accidentally tripped her. Why is she being so unreasonable?” Consort De said, looking at Lou Suyi. “Please, Your Majesty, judge for yourself. I…I really didn’t mean to…”

Lou Suyi found this performance amusing.

Seeing Consort Ning, usually so composed, turn pale with anger, she thought Consort De, that scheming woman, was quite capable. Even a blind person could see that Consort De had deliberately hit Consort Ning, yet she could still lie to her. But, she loved watching dogs fight.

“I wasn’t there either, so I don’t know what happened. Could you ladies tell me what happened?” Lou Suyi said, then rubbed her lower back. “Let’s go back first. I’m pregnant, and standing for too long is tiring.”

When it comes to being infuriating, Lou Suying is the best; with just one sentence, she broke everyone's composure.

However, because of her status, no one dared to go against her.

Lou Suyi's words brought everyone back to Xianfu Palace.

As soon as Lou Suyi sat down, Consort Tao said impatiently, "I saw with my own eyes that Consort De deliberately attacked Consort Ning. I hope Your Majesty the Empress will uphold justice and severely punish Consort De!"

Upon hearing this, Consort De retorted sarcastically, "Those who know Consort Tao are fine, but those who don't might think she's Consort Ning's pet dog."

Consort Tao trembled with rage: "Your Majesty, did you hear that? This is how Consort De humiliated me! Consort Ning was also humiliated by Consort De just for speaking up for me! Consort Ning had no choice but to step in and teach Consort De a lesson..."

“You’re in cahoots with Consort Ning, your testimony isn’t convincing,” Consort De interrupted Consort Tao’s incessant chatter.

As she spoke, she looked at the assembled concubines and said, "Is there anyone else who witnessed the misunderstanding between Consort Ning and me? Please step forward, and I will certainly thank her properly!"

She deliberately emphasized the word "thank you," which was clearly a veiled threat.

Tao Zhaoyi looked around at everyone present and found that not a single person was willing to stand up for Consort Ning, which made her feel disheartened.

These people are usually close to Consort Ning, but when it comes to crucial moments, not one of them is willing to stand up. They are all ungrateful wretches.

She quickly spotted Chen Xing standing to the side and raised her voice, "Sister Anpin is also here. Why don't you tell us everything you saw and let Her Majesty the Empress judge?"

Chen Xing was hesitating whether to step forward, but when Tao Zhaoyi called her name, she told her everything she had seen.

As soon as she finished speaking, Consort De said, "Everything I said is true. At the time, I only said that Sister Tao was Consort Ning's dog. How did that become me being disrespectful? When did Consort Tao become a higher-ranking concubine than me? What kind of noble person is Consort Tao that I am not allowed to say a word?"

Consort Tao was speechless for a moment, and Consort Ning could not answer either.

"Just because I said a couple of words to Consort Tao, Consort Ning slapped me for 'insubordination.' May I ask Your Majesty, isn't Consort Ning using her higher rank to take advantage of me and resort to private torture?" Consort De straightened her back as she spoke.

Lou Suyi listened with great interest.

She was just feeling bored when some fun came to her, and she thoroughly enjoyed it.

“It is indeed wrong for Consort Ning to punish Consort De because of this matter, and I stand with Consort De on this point,” Lou Suyi said with a smile.

Consort Tao felt that Lou Suying was favoring Consort De, and angrily questioned, "Consort De suddenly hit Consort Ning, isn't that insubordination?"

Roar