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

Chapter 389 Taking a bite at the drop of a hat

"Pretty much. The other concubines are boring; arguing with you is much better for honing my verbal skills." Consort De said, glancing around to make sure no one was watching before whispering, "Luckily you weren't executed, otherwise, dying so young would have been such a waste! Why were you so reckless? His Majesty loves Lou Suyi so much, and you actually went against her and her child. If you don't go to the Cold Palace, who will?!"

Looking at the culprit before her, Tao sneered, "Speaking of which, it's all Consort De's fault. If Consort De hadn't bullied Consort Ning that day, and if the Empress hadn't protected Consort De, how could this wicked woman have acted so irrationally in a fit of anger?"

Consort De was dumbfounded upon hearing this: "Then weren't you used as a pawn by Consort Ning?!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Tao frowned slightly: "Consort Ning is not that kind of person. It was my own decision to deal with the Empress..."

"Yes, Consort Ning was simply playing the victim in front of you. You felt she was being bullied by me, so in order to help her get justice, you turned around and attacked the Empress. Consort Ning is very hypocritical and scheming. You are clearly a well-bred young lady raised in a family like the Tao family, yet you were used and even helped her count silver." Consort De interrupted Tao Shi.

Tao's lips moved as if she wanted to say no, but Zi Yan had the same thought as Consort De.

Ziyan was her closest confidante, willing to accompany her to a place like the Cold Palace. Consort De, on the other hand, was her enemy; both her closest confidante and the person she hated most said that Consort Ning harbored treacherous intentions.

"When it comes to manipulating people, Consort Ning is undoubtedly a master. She puts on an air of indifference to worldly affairs, yet her Jingren Palace is bustling with activity. If she were truly without desires, she wouldn't be so eager to win people over. She's just a concubine; even the Empress's Xianfu Palace isn't as lively as hers. Doesn't she know her actions will invite criticism? People who don't know better would think she's the Empress herself, forming cliques and factions. Only you are so foolish as to be used by her without realizing it, and you're still speaking up for her even after you've been banished to the Cold Palace!" Consort De said disdainfully.

Tao wanted to say that wasn't the case, but a voice in her heart said that Consort De's words actually made sense.

If Consort Ning were truly prudent, how could she not know that the gathering of people at Jingren Palace was disrespectful to Lou Suyi?

As a mere concubine, she entertained her friends and acquaintances, making Jingren Palace far more lively than Xianfu Palace. Those who didn't know better might have thought she was the Empress...

Consort De thought that Lady Tao wasn't stupid. Who would have thought that even after being sent to the Cold Palace, she would still treat Consort Ning as a good friend?

Regardless, Tao is now relegated to obscurity and has been abandoned.

"Fine, whether you believe it or not, it doesn't change the fact that you're already in the Cold Palace." Consort De said, getting up, not wanting to stay any longer. "I'll send you some food and daily necessities another day. Even though you're in the Cold Palace, you should live well. After all, being outside the Cold Palace isn't much different from being inside. Anyway, there's no chance of serving the emperor, so you don't need to be too dejected." Consort De said, trying to leave.

Tao watched Consort De's retreating figure and silently followed behind her. Before leaving, she whispered, "Thank you."

Whatever grudges they may have had in the past, after she entered the Cold Palace, her feud with Consort De was considered settled.

"Remember this: if Consort Ning comes to the Cold Palace to see you again in the future, she will definitely have ulterior motives." Consort De said before leaving.

Tao stood there stunned for a long time before silently returning to the dimly lit room.

Ziyan followed her in, and knowing that she was in a bad mood, she didn't say anything.

"Perhaps you are right. Consort Ning came to the Cold Palace not because she was worried about me, but simply to find out why His Majesty came to the Cold Palace," Tao said with a bitter smile.

After entering the palace, she was wary of everyone, even Consort Ning, whom she always remained vigilant towards.

But later she completely trusted Consort Ning and treated her as a friend.

But if Consort De and Zi Yan are both right, then her sincere feelings wouldn't have been worth it...

Inside Xianfu Palace, everyone was chatting and laughing with Lou Suyi when Murong Da, who hadn't shown his face for several days, arrived.

Lou Suyi was initially worried that Murong would harm her, but seeing that Murong seemed normal and didn't seem to be about to unleash his beastly desires on her, she relaxed her guard.

"Let's go, I'll take you for a walk in the Imperial Garden," Murong suddenly said. "Why does Your Majesty want to go to the Imperial Garden?" Lou Suying didn't react for a moment.

That place was nothing special, nothing new.

"Didn't you make a fuss a few days ago, insisting that I accompany you to the Imperial Garden?" Murong retorted.

Lou Suyi remembered that there was such a thing, but she didn't expect that Murong, such a busy person, would remember such a small matter.

She replied sheepishly, "I did want to go there for a stroll back then, but I'm not in the mood today."

"Where do you want to go? I'll accompany you," Murong asked good-naturedly.

Lou Suyi thought to herself that his words made it sound like she could go wherever she wanted.

Could it be that if she wanted to leave the palace, he would accompany her?

As if guessing what she was thinking, Murong added, "If you want to leave the palace, it's not appropriate. You are pregnant now. After you give birth and finish your postpartum confinement, I can accompany you out of the palace for a stroll."

"Really?!" Lou Suyi's eyes lit up, and she looked intently at Murong.

Looking into Lou Suyi's fiery eyes, Murong thought to himself that the Empress's eyes were beautiful.

He leaned in and kissed her on the eyes.

The servants standing nearby turned around in unison, sensing that His Majesty had been acting strangely lately, frequently making unwanted advances towards the Empress.

Lou Suyi also felt that something was wrong with Murong. Why did he kiss her without hesitation?

He wasn't like this before.

"Of course it's true." Murong also realized his loss of composure and moved away from Lou Suying.

Seeing that Murong's expression suddenly turned cold, Lou Suying thought that accompanying him out of the palace would make things difficult for him, so she immediately changed her words and said, "Your Majesty should be busy with important matters. Even if we go out of the palace for fun, I can do it by myself."

"I will be with you after you give birth," Murong said solemnly.

Lou Suyi thought to herself that he said this with a cold face and seemed very reluctant, so how could she dare to ask him to accompany her?
In addition, she will have two children at that time, and she will be worried about them if she leaves the palace. Perhaps the time for her to leave the palace will be indefinitely delayed?

Before, she was all alone, without any ties, and could go wherever she wanted. Now she is the Empress and a mother, no longer as free as she was before she was married.

"We'll see." Lou Suying's smile faded.

In the past, everyone acted according to Murong's mood, but now that Murong saw Lou Suyi's indifferent expression, she assumed that she was unhappy.

"If you wish to leave the palace, it's not impossible, but you must proceed with caution. How about this, I'll have Jiqing make arrangements, and if the weather is fine tomorrow, I'll take you out of the palace for a stroll." Murong finally conceded a step.

Lou Suyi didn't expect Murong to be so agreeable. She looked at her bulging belly and still reluctantly refused: "No, the child is the most important thing. I don't necessarily have to leave the palace."