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

Chapter 176 You're pretending to be busy, but you really don't want to help me tailor clothes, right?
"Don't go to Xianfu Palace unless it's absolutely necessary. You may leave now," Empress Dowager Chen ordered.

She was worried that Lou Suyue had ulterior motives. After all, the Lou family and Suyi were not on good terms. What if Lou Suyue wanted to harm Chen'er?
Lou Suyue, seeing that Empress Dowager Chen had given the order to leave, had no choice but to bow and withdraw.

Just as Lou Suyue was about to leave, Empress Dowager Chen said again, "Lord Lou, from now on, unless it's something important, don't come to Xianfu Palace. This is my imperial decree!"

Lou Suyue has clearly severed ties with the Lou family, so why is she still coming to Xianfu Palace? She's probably plotting something.

Su Yi had no rank and was not qualified to expel these concubines, but as the Empress Dowager, she had the right to control their actions.

Lou Suyue's expression changed slightly; she hadn't expected Empress Dowager Chen to issue such an imperial edict.

"Get out of here," Empress Dowager Chen said impatiently, issuing another order to dismiss them.

"Yes." Lou Suyue left Xianfu Palace with a pale face and reluctance.

As soon as she stepped out of Xianfu Palace, Lou Suyue clenched her fists in anger: "How hateful!"

Has Empress Dowager Chen gone too far?
She saw that Lou Suying had no official rank and couldn't control whether she came to Xianfu Palace or not. Who knew that when Empress Dowager Chen, that old pious woman, arrived, she ordered that Lou Suying be forbidden from coming to Xianfu Palace again.

Lou Suyue was furious and left in a huff. Lou Suyi, on the other hand, felt refreshed when she learned that Empress Dowager Chen had issued an imperial edict forbidding Lou Suyue from easily entering or leaving Xianfu Palace.

Empress Dowager Chen greeted the child with "my dear grandson" and beamed with joy.

Lou Suyi watched Empress Dowager Chen play with the children from the side, her gaze gentle.

After playing with the child for a while, Empress Dowager Chen gave some instructions to Granny Fan.

Granny Fan understood and went to the small kitchen to get busy.

Lou Suyi didn't know what Empress Dowager Chen and Granny Fan were whispering about, but she had a feeling it wasn't anything good.

When Granny Fan brought out the prepared stew and placed it in front of her, she assumed it was for her and said very politely, "This is the soup Granny Fan made for the Empress Dowager..."

Upon hearing this, Granny Fan laughed, and Empress Dowager Chen couldn't help but chuckle as well: "Isn't she quite clever? Why doesn't she know how to take the initiative?"

Lou Suyi was completely confused, not knowing what they were laughing about.

"This is a nourishing soup that I specially ordered the nanny to prepare. You can go and deliver it to the Qianqing Palace for me. You can stay there for as long as you like. I will take care of your child for you. You can rest assured and cultivate your relationship with the Emperor." Empress Dowager Chen looked at Lou Suyi with affection.

Lou Suyi was at a loss for words.

She had no desire to deliver the tonic soup; how was this any different from Aunt Ke vying for favor in the Lou family?
She has her child and that's enough; she doesn't want to compete with other women for a man.

After speaking to Lou Suyi, Empress Dowager Chen continued playing with the children.

A short while later, she looked up again and saw Lou Suying still standing there motionless: "Why are you still here?"

Lou Suying opened her mouth as if to refuse, but Jinshu saw through what Lou Suying was about to say and quickly said, "This servant will accompany you, Miss."

She didn't forget to give Lou Suyi a meaningful look.

Lou Suyi's words of refusal were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back down.

After leaving Xianfu Palace, Jinshu whispered, "The Empress Dowager is very kind, and you must not disappoint her. The Empress Dowager is your only support now, so you must obey her no matter what."

Lou Suying sighed softly, "I know. Then tell me, can I drink this soup?"

"If the Empress Dowager asks, can you keep it a secret, Miss?" Jinshu laughed at her young lady's naivety.

Lou Suyi gave a dry laugh: "If you don't tell, and I don't tell, no third party will know, right?"

Jinshu fell silent, simply staring at Lou Suyi. Lou Suyi touched her nose, realizing how naive her thoughts had been. If she hadn't gone to Qianqing Palace, and Fang Ruo had found out, she truly wouldn't have been able to explain herself to Empress Dowager Chen.

In the end, she decided to make the trip anyway. At worst, she could go to the Qianqing Palace and simply say that Empress Dowager Chen had sent her to deliver the soup.

It would be even easier if she were kept out of the Qianqing Palace.

Before long, Lou Suyi arrived outside the Qianqing Palace.

No one stopped her, and she made it to the outside of the Imperial Study without any trouble.

When Ji Qing saw Lou Suyi, he also felt that she was a rare guest. Then, seeing the stewed soup in Lou Suyi's hands, he immediately realized that the Fourth Miss had come to compete for favor.

"His Majesty is in the Imperial Study, Fourth Miss, please come in quickly." Ji Qing warmly welcomed Lou Suyi inside.

Lou Suying carried the stewed soup inside. Murong heard the noise, looked up, and stared intently as Lou Suying walked towards him.

"How did you find the time to come to Qianqing Palace?" Murong asked as Lou Suyi approached him.

Lou Suyi felt that there was something wrong with the word "have free time".

Was it just her imagination? Why did she feel that Murong's question sounded a bit sarcastic?

"The Empress Dowager helped take care of Chen'er, and when I saw that Granny Fan had made stewed soup, I specially brought it over to His Majesty." Lou Suying changed her story at the last minute.

She didn't want to appear as if she had been forced into this situation by Empress Dowager Chen, lest she displease the petty-minded emperor.

"Since giving birth to Chen'er, you seem busier than I am." Murong glanced at the stewing soup. "Did the Empress Dowager send this soup over?"

Lou Suyi just wanted to give Murong a thumbs up; he was incredibly insightful, and it was indeed Empress Dowager Chen who had sent it over.

But if she were to reply like that, the emperor certainly wouldn't be too pleased.

"No, I was worried that His Majesty was busy with state affairs, so I specially brought the soup over. It's my fault for being so inconsiderate; did I disturb His Majesty?" Lou Suyi said softly.

Murong took the soup, and after one bite, she could tell it was made by Granny Fan.

"The soup is good. Oh, right, you said you'd help me tailor new clothes, it's been almost half a year, are the new clothes finished yet?" Murong asked casually.

Lou Suyi was stunned, having completely forgotten about this matter.

She had already put the matter aside, and when she heard that Murong wanted to entrust the child to Liang Wanying to raise, she was even less likely to help Murong tailor clothes.

Besides, she threw away all that fabric, so how could she possibly make clothes for him?
“Oh, that? I’ve been too busy since Chen’er was born, I haven’t had time to make it. Besides, my handiwork isn’t very good, so please let the palace embroiderers make His Majesty’s clothes.” Lou Suyi replied without batting an eye.

Murong Shen glanced at her: "You're pretending to be busy, but the real reason you don't want to help me tailor clothes is probably..."

"How could that be? I'm really too busy, I don't have any free time." Lou Suyi almost couldn't laugh.

Murong Liaoran chimed in, "Yes, you're busier than I am, the emperor of a nation."

Lou Suyi realized that Murong was clearly being sarcastic.

Feeling unsafe about the topic, she quickly feigned concern and said, "Your Majesty, even if you're busy, you must take care of your health and eat on time. The soup is getting cold; Your Majesty should drink it while it's hot."

Murong said slowly, "You must keep your word. You promised to make new clothes for me, and you can't go back on your word. I believe you don't want Chen'er to know that his mother is untrustworthy. Suyi, don't you agree?"

Happy New Year! May all my precious children enjoy good health, smooth sailing, academic progress, and great wealth in the new year!