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

Chapter 474 Only Sending Them to a Temple
"I'm asking you a question." Lou Suyi was probably getting impatient with Consort De's silence.

"It is said that His Majesty suddenly announced the abolition of the harem during court today, which was met with opposition from the officials. That's all I know, but since this news has spread, it must be true." Consort De did not dare to embellish the story.

But she felt that Murong's decision would not change.

Murong is a very determined person. Once he starts something, he will not stop until he achieves his goal.

Liang Wanying's visit to Lou Suyi was actually unnecessary. Murong hadn't informed Lou Suyi at all. Judging from Lou Suyi's clueless state, it was clear that Murong didn't want Lou Suyi to feel guilty.

Sometimes I really envy Lou Suyi, being loved by a man like Murong.

"Did Her Majesty the Empress instigate His Majesty to do this?!" Liang Wanying questioned angrily.

Lou Suyi thought to herself that she did want to be an ordinary couple with Murong, but she didn't have the guts to make such a request to him.

So, it really wasn't her who instigated this.

It must be said that when she heard the news, she was not only surprised, but also secretly delighted.

Whether this matter succeeds or not, it shows that Murong loves her terribly, otherwise he wouldn't have gone to such lengths for her.

However, she still had to maintain appearances; she didn't want to be known as a wicked empress again.

"I was unaware of this matter beforehand; I only learned about it after you arrived. Actually, if we look at it from another perspective, this is also beneficial for you. If the harem is truly to be disbanded, I will suggest to His Majesty that you be released from the palace and allowed to establish your own households. In the future, perhaps you can still get married. After all, you are still innocent and virgins, which is better than staying in the harem and living a life of widowhood," Lou Suyi said kindly.

Everyone was taken aback, and suddenly realized that Lou Suyi's words made sense.

They were essentially living like widows in the palace. If they could leave the palace and establish their own households, they would have enough freedom even if they never remarried.

Isn't this a good thing?

For a time, quite a few people were tempted.

Judging from the fact that Lou Suyi is favored by the emperor, leaving the palace and regaining their freedom might be a good way out for them.

Seeing that the situation was not right, Liang Wanying's expression changed: "Don't let the Empress bewitch you! Everyone here is His Majesty's woman. Tell me, which man in the world would dare to take His Majesty's woman?"

"As I said, if we let you all leave the palace, we will arrange your escape routes. Since His Majesty has not touched you, you naturally still have the right to marry. Even if your families do not tolerate it, you can start your own households or change your names. In any case, whether you marry or go out to see the vast world, it is better than being a widow in the harem for the rest of your lives." Lou Suyi said solemnly, "Since I have made this promise, I can guarantee that I will arrange your escape routes."

Liang Wanying didn't believe Lou Suying's story.

The others are innocent, but she served the late emperor and was once a favored concubine. How could she possibly remarry?

She could not leave the palace; even if it meant death, she would remain there.

"Sisters, don't believe the Empress's words! In which dynasty or era have any concubines left the palace ever had a good end? If you all believe the Empress's nonsense, you'll be falling into her trap. In the end, you might all end up in a nunnery!" Liang Wanying shouted.

Consort De, who had been silent until now, stepped forward and spoke: "I believe in Her Majesty the Empress. As long as Her Majesty speaks up, His Majesty will surely take good care of all of us. Her Majesty the Empress is right; we are all just living like widows in the harem, destined to spend the rest of our lives confined to this small space. But if we leave the palace, we can see the outside world. We can also establish our own households outside the palace. We are not short of money, and if we are lucky enough, we might even meet a good husband and marry into a good family. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Initially, everyone was somewhat frightened by Liang Wanying's words, but Consort De's words also stirred their interest. They were all still very young, in the prime of their youth.

Although the longest they had been in the palace was only three years, it felt like they had spent half their lives there. The days without the Emperor's favor were truly unbearable; the only place they could move around was within the palace walls.

If the rest of my life is going to be like this, living a stagnant existence, I'd rather change my way of life, even if it's risky, it's still better than living in the harem.

Upon hearing this, Liang Wanying became anxious and shouted, "Don't listen to Consort De's nonsense! We absolutely cannot leave the palace..."

Consort De interrupted Liang Wanying, saying, "Since His Majesty has proposed dissolving the harem, I'm afraid it's not up to you or me to decide. To be honest, I think this is a good thing. Now I just hope that Her Majesty the Empress can put in a good word for us with His Majesty and give us more money as compensation. I think that would be more practical."

Liang Wanying is an old hand who has been in the harem for many years. How can she still be so naive as to think that the emperor's will can be influenced by others?

For a time, everyone agreed with Consort De's statement.

His Majesty is a cold-hearted and ruthless man. He never treated them as his women at all, otherwise he would not have proposed to dissolve the harem.

They should be thankful that His Majesty hasn't touched them all these years; it's a good thing that way, they aren't considered His Majesty's women in the true sense, and they will still have the opportunity to remarry in the future.

"I just learned about this news myself. I need to see His Majesty to know the specifics. Everyone should go home today. I'll come back and let you know after I've asked His Majesty's opinion." What Lou Suyi didn't say was that everything was just what everyone had heard, and they didn't even know if this matter actually existed.

However, Murong hasn't come to Xianfu Palace recently. Could it be that he's busy with the matter of disbanding the harem?

The more she thought about it, the more likely it was.

Everyone agreed, except for Leung Wan-ying, who refused to acknowledge the truth.

After everyone else left, Liang Wanying stubbornly waited at Xianfu Palace, saying she would only leave if she saw Murong.

Lou Suyi herself hadn't seen Murong for half a month, and she didn't understand why Liang Wanying wanted to stay and waste her time.

Unexpectedly, Murong arrived as evening approached.

As soon as Liang Wanying saw Murong, she revealed a resentful look in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, is the rumor about abolishing the harem true?" Liang Wanying asked, her eyes brimming with tears.

Murong glanced at Lou Suyi and saw the curiosity in the Empress's eyes.

He took Lou Suyi's hand and replied calmly, "It's true. I have made my own decision on this matter, and I will not change it. As for where you will go, I will make proper arrangements and will not make you suffer."

Liang Wanying could no longer hold back her tears. She knelt down and choked out, "I am His Majesty's woman for a day, and I will be His Majesty's woman for a lifetime. I will never leave the palace."

“If there are good places for you to go but you won’t go, then the only option is to send you to a temple for quiet cultivation.” Murong didn’t look directly at Liang Wanying, but instead looked at Ji Qing, signaling him to send the person away.

This story will end tomorrow. Are there any side stories you'd like to see? If not, I'm too lazy to write them.