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

Chapter 388 The Emperor's Favoritism
On the day when all the concubines in the harem paid their respects to Lou Suyi, everyone noticed that there was another person beside Lou Suyi.

Consort De has been keeping a low profile lately, mainly because Lady Tao has been banished to the Cold Palace, and she doesn't dare to be too ostentatious. When paying her respects to Lou Suyi, she tries to avoid causing trouble.

Seeing this unfamiliar face in the clouds, I couldn't help but feel curious.

"This palace maid looks unfamiliar; I've never seen her before. I wonder what her background is?"

Not only was Consort De curious, but others also glanced at Yunzhong from time to time.

This palace maid was truly unremarkable, with no special characteristics; she would easily blend into a crowd and disappear. But the fact that she could serve Lou Suyi and sit on equal footing with Jinshu and Yanhui showed that she was capable.

"Her name is Yunzhong, and she is a palace maid sent by His Majesty," Lou Suyi said succinctly.

Upon hearing the name "Yunzhong," everyone immediately understood that this was a palace maid of equal status to Jinshu and Yanhui.

If nothing unexpected happens, even the name Yunzhong was bestowed upon him by Murong.

If we're talking about Jinshu and Yanhui, their looks are top-notch among the palace maids. But Yunzhong's appearance is so ordinary, how did she catch Murong's eye and get given to Lou Suyi?

Consort Ning also looked at Yun Zhong several times and expressed the confusion in everyone's hearts: "We have never seen Yun Zhong before in Qianqing Palace. How did he suddenly appear and even come to serve in Xianfu Palace?"

Lou Suyi thought to herself, “Yun Zhong is a man who does great things. He is a secret guard, a master of martial arts. He is not someone you can easily meet.”
"I only know that the people His Majesty sent must be good, so I can use them with peace of mind. Speaking of which, I never knew Consort Ning was so curious." Lou Suyi smiled, a half-smile playing on her lips.

Consort Ning replied calmly, "Everyone has curiosity, and I am no exception. I hope Your Majesty will forgive my curiosity."

Yunzhong showed no fear in front of so many noble people, and the more Consort De looked at her, the more she felt that this palace maid named Yunzhong must have something special about her.

It can only be said that Murong was too biased. He sent all the good things and delicious food to Xianfu Palace, and he gave the best servants to Lou Suyi first. He only had eyes for Lou Suyi.

No wonder Lou Suying was impeached by the censor. Unfortunately, with that censor's imprisonment, the impeachment was dropped.

After the greetings were finished, everyone left Xianfu Palace. Consort De sighed, "After Tao was banished to the Cold Palace, it feels like there are fewer and fewer sisters in the harem with whom I can speak."

Before she and Consort Ning had a falling out, she could still pretend to be on friendly terms with Consort Ning, calling her "sister." Now, however, they ignore each other.

As for the other so-called sisters, she couldn't even remember their names.

Consort Ling was closest to Consort De. She tried to pretend she hadn't heard Consort De, but Consort De said, "Are you hard of hearing? I'm talking to you."

Consort Ling had no choice but to reply, "What Consort De says is true."

Consort De looked at Consort Ling and remembered who she was. Back when Consort Ling was reprimanded by Liang Wanying, it was Lou Suyi who came to Consort Ling's rescue, and Consort Ling sided with Lou Suyi.

"Sister Ling, would you like to accompany me for a stroll in the Imperial Garden?" Consort De ordered in a calm voice.

Consort Ling did not want to offend Consort De, so she had no choice but to agree.

Consort Ning watched the departing figures of Consort De and Consort Ling with a detached expression.

Linglong helped Consort Ning into the palanquin and whispered, "Everyone is unwilling to speak to Consort De, which means everyone thinks Consort De is arrogant and domineering. All the nobles are unwilling to associate with Consort De, and this is Consort De's just deserts."

Consort Ning glanced at Linglong and said calmly, "Don't gossip about others behind their backs."

Linglong muttered under her breath, "This servant is just indignant about what happened to Your Highness last time. Why is it that Your Highness was punished for Consort De's mistake?"

Seeing that she was still bringing up the matter, Consort Ning said helplessly, "Let's not talk about it anymore. I'm not angry, so why are you holding onto these things?" Linglong knew that her mistress was magnanimous, but she still felt that her mistress had been wronged.

In her eyes, Consort Ning was far superior to the Empress. But the Emperor's favoritism towards the Empress was something she couldn't understand.

"It's still early, Your Majesty. Would you like to go to Qianqing Palace?" Linglong suddenly lowered her voice as she said this. "If Your Majesty can seize the opportunity to serve the Empress while she is pregnant, it will be a great chance for you to surpass her."

Consort Ning's eyes darkened slightly, and after a long while she shook her head: "You're oversimplifying things. His Majesty doesn't fancy me and won't summon me to his bedchamber."

Even if the Empress is pregnant, Murong would never choose her.

"How will Your Highness know it won't work if you don't try?" Linglong was extremely anxious.

“I know His Majesty better than you do. He is not the kind of man who is easily swayed by lust. How could His Majesty so easily summon someone he doesn’t fancy?” Consort Ning looked at Linglong. “This matter must not be mentioned again.”

Seeing that her master had made up her mind, Linglong knew it was best not to try to persuade her any further.

If she could, she would love to send His Majesty to her master's bed, but His Majesty's status was so noble, how could a servant like her be allowed to get close to him?
Even if she could fulfill her master's wishes, she couldn't.

Meanwhile, Consort Ling accompanied Consort De for a stroll in the garden, then made an excuse to leave the Imperial Garden.

Consort De found the harem incredibly boring and was about to return to Changqiu Palace when she remembered Yunmei telling her about Consort Ning visiting Tao Shi in the Cold Palace.

Yes, if Consort Ning goes to the Cold Palace, she can go there too.

Driven by her own desires, she turned back and went to the Cold Palace.

Lady Tao truly hadn't expected Consort De to come to the Cold Palace. She was sitting in the corridor, lost in thought, feeling like these days would never end.

After being sent to the Cold Palace, she regretted countless times why she had harmed Lou Suyi. Otherwise, she could still be living a life of luxury.

Ultimately, it's all due to greed and desire.

When Consort De entered the Cold Palace, she saw Lady Tao sitting in a dilapidated corridor, lost in thought.

She used to dislike Tao Shi, but seeing Tao Shi's fate now, all the grudges suddenly vanished in an instant.

Tao Shi sensed Consort De's gaze and looked over in surprise.

Upon seeing that it was Consort De, she said in a calm voice, "Is Consort De here to laugh at me?"

Consort De waved her hand: "That was true at first, but now I feel that I'm not much better than you, except that I live a better life than you."

Tao Shi clearly did not expect that Consort De was not there to kick someone when they were down.

She used to hate Consort De, especially because Consort De and Consort Ning had caused Consort Ning to suffer injustice. At that time, she wished Consort De would die.

"Although I am not in the Cold Palace, I am still not favored by His Majesty, so it is not much different from being relegated to the Cold Palace." Consort De smiled and chose a relatively clean spot to sit down.

Tao felt that this Consort De was very unfamiliar, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

After sitting down, Consort De laughed and said, "Now that you're in the Cold Palace, I can't even find anyone to argue with. After all, Consort Ning and I don't get along, so I can't argue with her."

"So you came to the Cold Palace because you couldn't find anyone to argue with?" Tao Shi was both amused and exasperated.