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

Chapter 441 Falling apart
Consort Ning felt embarrassed when she saw the strange looks from the other concubines.

Her carefully cultivated public image was exposed by Lou Suyi in public because of a small mistake. How could she feel good about that? She was used to being admired, and this sudden drop in status made her uncomfortable.

After her initial surprise, Consort De exclaimed in a startled tone, "No way, no way? It's not what I thought, is it? Consort Ning is the most serene and unassuming person in the entire harem, without any desires. How could she possibly do something like vying for favor? What happened to her promise of being without desires and not fighting for anything?"

Her blunt words made Consort Ning's face turn very ugly.

In the past, other concubines who were close to Consort Ning would naturally speak up for her. But this time the situation is completely different, because everyone has discovered that the Consort Ning they know is not quite the same as the real Consort Ning.

For so long, they have been deceived by Consort Ning.

The feeling of being deceived was unpleasant, and everyone had mixed feelings. No one was willing to speak up for Consort Ning.
Consort Ning was actually very concerned about her image and enjoyed being surrounded by admirers. However, now everyone looked at her as if she were a fly, and Consort De's merciless criticism made her feel utterly ashamed.

Previously, she could stand up to Consort De with righteous indignation, which everyone saw as her acting in self-defense. Now, the way everyone looks at her shows that these people have abandoned her as their so-called ally and share the same thoughts as Consort De.

She felt as if she had been abandoned by everyone in that instant.

"Consort Ning used to be so eloquent. Every time I argued with her, she would always argue back, making herself seem very right and me seem very malicious. Why is Consort Ning not saying a word now?" Consort De said leisurely.

Consort Ning said coldly, "Consort De, don't push your luck!"

"I'm going too far? Consort Ning, are you out of your mind? I'm just tearing down the last thin veil covering your true face, letting everyone see your real side, and you think that's going too far?! Why don't you say that you've been deceiving all the sisters in the harem all these years with the mask of being indifferent to desires?" Consort De retorted sarcastically.

At this point, she looked at the others present and asked, "What do you sisters think?"

As soon as she finished speaking, several concubines echoed her sentiments.

Of course, some remained silent, such as Wang Cairen and Chen Xing.

Liang Wanying smiled and echoed Consort De, saying, "I used to think that Consort De was the most troublesome one in the harem, but now I understand that appearances can be deceiving. Consort Ning has broadened my horizons."

Lou Suyue sat to the side watching the commotion, not daring to say a word.

She was a marginal figure in the harem. She had previously frequented Consort Ning's Jingren Palace, but she was Lou Suyi's enemy. If she offended Consort Ning again, she feared she might be silently killed without even knowing it.

She wasn't like Consort De, who held a very high rank and could rival Consort Ning. Someone like her, a nobody, could only behave herself and avoid conflict.

Lou Suyi was also watching the show.

Seeing that Consort Wang hadn't spoken up for Consort Ning this time, she decided to add fuel to the fire: "I'll now announce the list of those who will accompany the hunters, so everyone will be aware of the situation."

Seeing that Lou Suying was finally about to announce the list of accompanying officials, all the concubines perked up. Lou Suying quickly finished reading the list, then looked apologetically at Consort Wang and said, "Sister Wang, the list only has twenty people. If Consort Ning is not going to the Mulan Hunting Grounds..."

At this point, she paused, then added, "In short, this matter is settled and cannot be changed."

I believe Lady Wang understood what she hadn't finished saying.

Consort Wang was in a good mood because she thought she was on the list of those accompanying the emperor, so she didn't say anything bad about Consort Ning. But she never expected that she would become cannon fodder.

What Lou Suying didn't finish saying was unclear: it was Consort Ning who stole her list. Last year, Consort Ning clearly didn't want to participate in the hunt, but this year she insisted on competing with her, which caused her to be left out.

Consort Wang clenched her fists and looked at Consort Ning, saying, "Consort Ning has always been a woman who doesn't compete or fight. Why do you insist on fighting with us this time? All the sisters here look up to Consort Ning and consider her a good sister. And this is how you betray all of us?"

Lou Suyi's eyes flickered slightly when she heard Consort Wang say, "We should follow Consort Ning's lead."

These people used to form cliques, which must have given Consort Ning the illusion that she was the true ruler of the harem. Now is the time for Consort Ning to see clearly and expose her true colors. At this moment, the clique has already fallen apart.

"I have always treated Princess Wang well, so why are you speaking so harshly? Besides, it's perfectly normal for me to accompany the Emperor, so what is there for you to complain about?" Consort Ning suppressed her displeasure and said in a deep voice.

She usually spoils these people, which is why they act so disrespectfully. Why should she give up the list of those accompanying her? Does she, a mere concubine, have to act according to their whims?
Consort Wang was already heartbroken over losing her chance to participate in the hunt, and upon hearing Consort Ning's words, she was furious. She exclaimed, "No wonder Consort De said Consort Ning was hypocritical! Now I know Consort De was right. There is no one more hypocritical than Consort Ning! We have all been deceived by Consort Ning!!"

There was a moment of silence after she said that.

This is what everyone is thinking, but no one dares to say it directly. After all, Consort Ning is a concubine, and their ranks are lower than hers. Offending Consort Ning wouldn't necessarily bring them any benefits.

Wang Cairen's furious roar, fueled by the shock, truly resonated with everyone's feelings.

Consort De glanced at the Empress, who sat firmly on the phoenix throne, only to see that the Empress was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. The Empress was truly shrewd; she hadn't even needed to lift a finger to put Consort Ning in such a precarious position.

No wonder Murong likes Lou Suyi. Lou Suyi is indeed a thousand times better than Consort Ning, isn't she? This is the choice a normal man should make.

"It's not too late for Sister Wang to see through Consort Ning's true colors now. Back when I said Consort Ning was hypocritical, you all thought I was a bad person. Now you finally understand that what I said back then was true, right?" Consort De replied with a faint smile.

Consort Ning gripped the armrests of her seat tightly, her chest heaving violently. How dare these people disrespect her?
"How dare you, your inferiors, defy your superiors?!" she shouted in a deep voice, adopting the demeanor of a ruler.

"Your Highness, please don't be angry. We were just speaking the truth. How can you say we're being disrespectful? Is this palace your personal fiefdom, and no one else can say a bad word about you?" Consort De replied with a smile.

Consort Ning ignored Consort De and instead looked at Lou Suyi: "Is this the Empress's purpose? To have everyone humiliate me?!"