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

Chapter 378 He found the Empress pleasing to the eye, so he favored her…

Looking at Lou Suyi's magnanimous attitude, Murong suddenly felt displeased.

If she cared about him, she would feel somewhat uncomfortable when Tao Zhaoyi said he didn't like her. She was also the kind of person who wouldn't wrong herself; if she was unhappy, the person who made her unhappy wouldn't be happy either.

But she still smiled brightly, proving that he had no place in her heart.

That must be it; he knew that was the case.

He figured it was because she was his wife, and it was perfectly normal for him to be unhappy knowing that she didn't love him.

Murong originally intended to execute Consort Tao, but at that moment, he suddenly changed his mind and spared her life for the time being.

Finally, he issued an imperial edict, demoting Consort Tao to a commoner and banishing her to the Cold Palace.

Consort Tao… no, she's a commoner now, no longer a consort. Having escaped death, she breathed a sigh of relief.

She thought she was doomed, but she was surprised to be spared.

Although she was supposed to live in the Cold Palace, she was the second concubine to be banished to the Cold Palace after Murong ascended the throne, but it's better to live a miserable life than to die.

She knelt on the ground and respectfully kowtowed to Murong to express her gratitude.

After Tao was taken away, Princess Guangyi looked at Lou Suyi with deep regret and apologized to her again.

Lou Suyi was a person who clearly distinguished between gratitude and resentment, so she would not hold a grudge.

Princess Guangyi breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Murong.

She believed that Murong had spared Tao's life out of consideration for her, and she was grateful. After all, she was the girl she had raised, and it would be a great pity if she died like this.

Fortunately, her life was spared.

Seeing that Princess Guangyi and Murong were still talking, Lou Suyi stood up and said, "Your Majesty, shall I return to Xianfu Palace now?"

Anyway, it's none of her business; she's just here to listen in.

Murong looked at Lou Suyi with a deep gaze.

Lou Suyi felt uneasy under Murong's gaze, and after a while, she heard him say, "Be careful."

Lou Suyi breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave Qianqing Palace.

Princess Guangyi watched Lou Suying's departing figure, and seeing Murong still staring at the Empress's back, she smiled and said, "Does His Majesty not like the Empress?"

Who hasn't experienced the first stirrings of love? But her younger brother was different. He seemed completely uninterested in any woman, and she once thought that Murong preferred men.

However, many people, including herself, noticed the difference between Murong and Lou Suyi.

Murong met Princess Guangyi's teasing gaze and slightly parted his thin lips: "Imperial sister, are you making fun of me?"

Princess Guangyi shook her head: "I shouldn't interfere in His Majesty's love affairs, but has His Majesty clearly understood what kind of feelings he has for the Empress?"

Murong had certainly thought about it, but he still couldn't figure it out.

It is said that when you like someone, there will be a moment when your heart flutters. Many people think that he likes the Empress, but he doesn't have that so-called feeling of being moved when he sees the Empress. If that's the case, can it still be considered love between a man and a woman?
Seeing that Murong looked somewhat bewildered, Princess Guangyi said, "Your Majesty and the Empress are husband and wife, and they have a lifetime ahead of them. This matter can be considered slowly and there is no rush."

Murong's kindness to the Empress was obvious to all. Many people felt that Murong must have liked the Empress very much, otherwise he would not have protected her so much and even refused to favor other concubines in the harem.

Even she thought so, believing that Murong was a lovesick fool. Now it seems that the person involved had no idea what kind of feelings he had for the Empress.

"I've heard that His Majesty paints a portrait for the Empress every day?" Princess Guangyi's curiosity was completely piqued.

"Who told you this, Your Majesty?" Murong thought to herself. Could it be some gossip from Qianqing Palace again? "Many people have seen His Majesty send a painting, so it's not surprising that it reached my ears. Let me put it this way: I've been married to my husband for many years, and everyone says that we have a deep and loving relationship, but he has never painted a single portrait of me." Princess Guangyi didn't hesitate to expose her own shortcomings.

Murong was speechless.

He found it very enjoyable to paint portraits of the Empress, and no matter how busy he was with official duties, he could not neglect this task, considering it a trivial matter.

But judging from what my elder sister said, it was unusual to paint a portrait of the Empress.

Princess Guangyi, seeing that the young and wise emperor was unusually speechless, chuckled and shook her head: "It was I who overstepped my bounds."

Murong exchanged pleasantries and then saw Princess Guangyi out of the Qianqing Palace.

That night, Murong suffered from insomnia once again.

He never used to worry about relationships because he knew he wouldn't fall for any woman; love was a distant concept to him.

Why did he bring Lou Suyi into the palace in the first place?
She had already become a nun at that time, and she had such a complicated past. Why did he choose her? At that time, he felt that he was helping her. With him there, no one could force her to become a concubine.

Why did he later favor her again?

Murong suffered from insomnia for two consecutive nights. Before the emperor himself could even give up, Jiqing could not.

That evening, Ji Qing suggested, "Why doesn't Your Majesty go to Xianfu Palace?"

As long as the Empress is around, His Majesty's insomnia will be cured without medication.

This time, Murong replied without hesitation, "I'm not going!"

He did not want to see the Empress.

Ji Qing was almost in tears: "Your Majesty, if you don't sleep tonight, your body won't be able to take it. Or, should I go and invite the Empress over?"

Whether it's the Empress or His Majesty, it's all the same as long as the Empress comes or the Emperor goes.

"The Empress is pregnant, so don't bother her with everything. Let her have a peaceful pregnancy!" Murong glanced coldly at Ji Qing.

Ji Qing immediately fell silent. Yes, Her Majesty the Empress was pregnant with the imperial heir and had just gone through the incident with the appetite-stimulating powder; it was best not to let Her Majesty worry at this time.

Murong gently turned the ring on his finger and suddenly asked, "Jiqing, do you think my feelings for the Empress are romantic love?"

Ji Qing was taken aback, and suddenly realized that His Majesty was troubled by love.

Is there even a question? Of course His Majesty likes the Empress, but he hopes His Majesty will never know, so that His Majesty might be a little more normal.

If His Majesty finds out, it might not be a good thing.

"This servant is dull-witted and cannot see it." Ji Qing lowered his head, cold sweat pouring down his face.

Murong scoffed: "Can't you tell, or are you unwilling to say?"

"This servant truly cannot see it. This servant only knows that His Majesty and the Empress have a good relationship and are a model for all couples in the Great Xia. There is no woman more suitable for His Majesty than the Empress!" Ji Qing lowered his head even further.

Murong nodded upon hearing this: "Back then, I also found the Empress pleasing to the eye, so I favored her..."

Ji Qing complained bitterly.

That might not be considered pleasing to the eye, or it could be lust at first sight. In any case, His Majesty has now fallen into the hands of the Empress.

His Majesty is clearly troubled by love, yet he still doesn't understand his feelings for the Empress.

Haha