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

Chapter 381 Is she looking down on me?
"Anyway, I always feel that Consort Ning is very scheming. When Master dealt with the Empress, it was because of Consort Ning's influence. Who knows, Master's actions against the Empress might have been a result of Consort Ning's subtle influence." Zi Yan stubbornly insisted that Consort Ning was not a good person.

“But Consort Ning didn’t say anything. It was my own decision to take action against the Empress,” Tao said in a hoarse voice.

Undeniably, she was indeed influenced by Consort Ning, and the conflict between Consort Ning and Consort De was the trigger, but she cannot blame Consort Ning for it.

Everyone wants to distance themselves from her now, but Consort Ning still comes to visit her and brings her gifts, unafraid of offending Lou Suyi.

This demonstrates that Consort Ning was not a snobbish person, given that she had no value to them.

Seeing that Tao still trusted Consort Ning so much, Zi Yan didn't continue the topic.

Time will tell. Now that her mistress is no longer of any use, Consort Ning will certainly never set foot in the Cold Palace again.

Yesterday, Consort Ning came over, presumably to inquire why His Majesty had entered the Cold Palace overnight.

Several more days passed, and because Murong couldn't sleep well at night, she visibly became haggard. What Jiqing couldn't understand the most was that even after His Majesty's visit to the Cold Palace, he still didn't seem to think that he liked the Empress.

Because he didn't know what the emperor was thinking, he didn't dare to ask. So he repeatedly advised the emperor to go to Xianfu Palace, but the emperor would give him a cold look as soon as he heard the name Xianfu Palace.

Jinli also advised him not to cause any more trouble, saying that His Majesty should figure this out himself.

Ji Qing was at a loss for what to do.

He wanted to go to see the Empress, but His Majesty had said that she must not be disturbed. His Majesty's health is precious; what would happen if anything were to happen to him?
That night, Murong was still anxious and couldn't fall asleep.

Ji Qing couldn't care less about anything else at the moment: "Your Majesty, please go to Xianfu Palace. Since the Empress is a knot in Your Majesty's heart, a heart ailment needs a heart remedy. If Your Majesty can't figure it out, then don't dwell on it. After all, the Empress is Your Majesty's wife, and she can't escape Your Majesty's grasp!"

He had witnessed His Majesty's stubbornness firsthand; His Majesty refused to admit that he liked the Empress, yet he tormented himself every night.

Murong got up from the dragon bed and felt that Ji Qing's words made sense.

Whether he likes the Empress or not, she is his person and cannot escape his grasp. Why should he create trouble for himself?

"You've finally spoken a sensible word." Murong said, getting off the dragon bed and walking away quickly.

Ji Qing stood up with a wry smile.

When did he stop speaking human language? It's clearly His Majesty who is too stubborn.

Why is His Majesty unwilling to admit that he likes the Empress? Could it be that the Empress doesn't like His Majesty, and His Majesty is too proud to admit that he likes her?
Ji Qing thought about it more and more and felt that this possibility was very high.

Murong entered Xianfu Palace silently. No one expected Murong to come so late, and most people had already gone to sleep.

When the servants on night duty saw Murong, they hurriedly tried to pay their respects, but Murong bypassed them and went directly to Lou Suyi's bedroom.

Lou Suying was already fast asleep, completely unaware that Murong had arrived. He stood by her bedside, watching her sleeping face for a long while.

Perhaps it was Lou Suyi's sleeping face that made Murong sleepy, but Murong also felt sleepy.

He got into bed, lay down next to Lou Suyi, and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

When Ji Qing heard no movement from inside, he knew he had come to the right place. The Empress was even more capable than the imperial physicians.

Perhaps because he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time, Murong slept very well that night.

It just so happened that there was no morning court session the next day. Seeing that his master had not gotten up, Ji Qing did not dare to disturb him, so he told everyone not to wake the emperor and empress.

Lou Suying didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky. The moment she opened her eyes, she was met with Murong's sleeping face.

Looking at the sky outside, the sun was already high in the sky. This diligent and benevolent emperor was still sleeping so late? And what time did he arrive last night? She was fast asleep, completely unaware.

Just as she was hesitating whether to wake Murong, Murong opened his eyes, frowned for a long while after seeing her.

Lou Suyi didn't know what kind of look he was giving her. Could it be that her face was swollen?
"When did Your Majesty arrive? Why did you sleep in so late today?" Lou Suyi asked curiously.

Murong sat up: "Should I explain everything to the Empress?"

Lou Suying hadn't expected Murong to be so sarcastic. She wasn't about to tolerate him, so she replied with a forced smile, "I was just asking casually."

She got up and got out of bed, refusing to look Murong in the eye again.

Murong looked at Lou Suying's retreating figure, finding it utterly displeasing. He hadn't slept well for so many days, and she, on the other hand, hadn't even offered a single word of concern.

She's still giving him attitude right now; anyone who doesn't know better would think she's the emperor.

Ji Qing and Jin Shu both overheard their masters' conversation, and they dared not utter a sound, for fear of angering His Majesty.

The Empress is truly remarkable. She is not intimidated by His Majesty at all, and even dares to give him attitude. She is truly formidable!

Lou Suying was washing her face when she caught a glimpse of Murong approaching out of the corner of her eye. She hastily wiped her face, threw away the towel, and left the dormitory.

Seeing Lou Suyi's retreating figure, Murong laughed in a fit of anger. He said to Jiqing, "Look at the Empress's attitude. Does she look down on me?"

Ji Qing quickly put on a smiling face: "Your Majesty, please be lenient with the Empress. The Empress is pregnant with the imperial heir and has just gotten up, so it's normal for her to be grumpy in the morning."

Murong felt that Ji Qing's words made sense. The Empress was pregnant with the imperial heir, so he should give in to her.

"Perhaps it's because His Majesty hasn't sent the Empress a portrait for several days, and the Empress might be resentful towards His Majesty." Ji Qing looked at his master's radiant face and thought to himself that the Empress was truly amazing, easily curing His Majesty's insomnia.

"I'm busy with state affairs all day long, how can I have so much time to paint?" Murong replied calmly.

Ji Qing dared not utter another word.

After washing up, Murong sat down next to Lou Suyi.

Lou Suying buried her head in her food, pretending not to see Murong arrive.

Seeing her like this, Murong understood perfectly well that the Empress was deliberately ignoring him.

Well, Jiqing is right. The Empress is pregnant, so he should be more accommodating to her. Why bother arguing with a mere woman?

He wanted to make peace, so he specially served her food, but she put the breakfast he picked out aside and wouldn't touch it.

The servants standing nearby tacitly stepped back upon witnessing this scene; it was not something they were allowed to watch. To show such disrespect to His Majesty—only the Empress dared to do such a thing throughout the entire land.

When Murong saw Lou Suying's sleeping face last night, he thought the Empress was very beautiful. Now, with the Empress's effeminate face, he still thinks... she's beautiful.

"Is the Empress taking advantage of the Emperor's favor?" Murong asked in a deep voice.

Lou Suying sat up upon hearing this: "I wouldn't dare. I'm full, Your Majesty, please continue your meal."

After saying that, she left without looking back. She had no interest in serving such a strange emperor.