CH 8

Translated by: Jellylynn

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Names mentioned in this chapter (which can also be found in the glossary):

-廖青青(Liào qīngqīng)- Liao Qing Qing, the female lead. 

-廖容华(Liào róng Huà)- Lady Liao of Lovely Countenance, the female lead’s current designation.

-景礼帝(jǐng lǐ ​​dì)- Emperor Jing Li, the male lead.

-荷香(Hé ​​xiāng)- He Xiang, the female lead’s maidservant

-梨声阁(lí shēng gé)-Lisheng Pavillion, the place where the female lead resides.

–梁贵妃(liáng guìfēi)- Noble Consort Liang

–廖婕妤(Liào jié yú)- Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness, the female lead’s paternal elder cousin. 

–廖淑姬(Liào shū jī)- Pure Concubine Liao

–蒋芳仪(Jiǎng fāng yí)- Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony, the female lead’s “best friend”

Current ranking: Noble Consort Liang → Worthy Consort + Virtuous Consort → Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness → Lady Liao of Lovely Countenance → Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony → Pure Concubine Liao

Liao Qing Qing and the others turned their heads to see Emperor Jing Li, who was dressed in a dazzling robe, striding in with big steps.

Liao Qing Qing was taken aback.

He Xiang was overjoyed. It is His Majesty!

Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness’ and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony’s faces instantly changed.

Why did Emperor Jing Li come to Lisheng Pavilion again?

It’s currently not noon nor is it in the evening.

He Xiang and the other Lisheng Pavilion’s palace maids hastily paid their respects to Emperor Jing Li, “Greetings, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live and reign for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand of ten thousand years!”

Liao Qing Qing, Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony also followed suit.

“You may rise, Lady Liao of Lovely Countenance.” Emperor Jing Li walked over with big steps. He directly reached out and took Liao Qing Qing’s hand.

Liao Qing Qing was slightly stunned. His warm and strong hand engulfing her petite hand gave a peculiar sense of security.

She didn’t fight it this time, but lifted her eyes to gaze straight at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li’s brows wrinkled. His handsome face revealed a hint of impatience. However, it was not directed at Liao Qing Qing, but Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony. He asked in a heavy voice, “Did I[1] tell you to get up?”

Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony immediately froze. They once again touched their heads to the floor to pay their respects[2] to Emperor Jing Li. They really did not expect Emperor Jing Li to appear.

They thought about the dressing-down they received last time and his current cold voice; they became too afraid to even raise their heads.

Emperor Jing Li didn’t let them off as he continued to question, “Who asked Lady Liao of Lovely Countenance to kneel?”

Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony did not dare to speak.

Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness stuttered in trepidation, “It was… It was this imperial concubine.”[3]

“You are?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness, “???”

Liao Qing Qing blushed with embarrassment. She seriously suspected that Emperor Jing Li had facial blindness.

Disregarding the fact that Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness was so recognisable, Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness was performing her sisterly love here a few days ago and Emperor Jing Li had personally reproached her to ‘get lost’.

It’s only been a few days, and Emperor Jing Li doesn’t remember?

He seriously has turned his heart against her. 

At that time, Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness went through a lot of trouble to introduce herself. But in the end, Emperor Jing Li still didn’t recognise her, so she said with shame, annoyance and fear, “Your Majesty, this imperial concubine is Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness.”

Emperor Jing Li responded, “Oh, from now on, you are not Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness. You are Pure Concubine Liao.”

Pure Concubine Liao?

From Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness to Pure Concubine Liao was a demotion of three ranks. She was befuddled. Next to her, Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony and Liao Qing Qing, were also surprised.

For a moment, Pure Concubine Liao was unable to accept this sudden change. She asked in confusion, “Your Majesty, what has this imperial concubine done wrong?”

Upon hearing that, Emperor Jing Li raised his eyes to look at Pure Concubine Liao. His cold gaze did not contain a trace of emotion. He asked, “What did Lady Liao of Lovely Countenance do wrong then?”

Pure Concubine Liao was at a loss for words.

Then, she said with an aggrieved expression, “Your Majesty isn’t aware; this imperial concubine is Lady Liao of Handsome Fairness’ eldest sister. An eldest sister is like a mother. Lady Liao of Lovely Countenance should respect this imperial concubine. Yet, she doesn’t know her propriety. This imperial concubine only wanted to discipline her, so that she won’t act without propriety in front of Your Majesty.”

Emperor Jing Li said, “Lady Liao of Lovely Countenance has a mother. Why should she be disciplined by you, this mother?”

Once again, Pure Concubine Liao was at a loss for words.

Liao Qing Qing also flushed with embarrassment. Emperor Jing Li’s words could really render one to be speechless.

Emperor Jing Li looked at Pure Concubine Liao and said, “You kept saying that Lady Liao of Lovely Countenance doesn’t know her propriety. So do you, Pure Concubine Liao, know your propriety?”

Pure Concubine Liao was taken aback by this question.

Emperor Jing Li’s imposing manner abruptly intensified and said, “All people under Heaven belong to and are subjects of the Emperor. I am the king of the country. I demoted your rank. You don’t even reflect on your own behaviour and instead you are asking me? Isn’t this acting without propriety in front of the Emperor?”

Acting without propriety in front of the Emperor!

This statement was very serious!

Pure Concubine Liao also realised the impropriety of her behaviour. She instantly became frightened and started to tremble. She did not dare to utter another word;she hurriedly kowtowed and begged for forgiveness. Emperor Jing Li ordered, “Someone come. Send Pure Concubine Liao and this person together to Noble Consort Liao to learn their rules.”

“Yes.”

Pure Concubine Liao kept begging for forgiveness.

Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony, who was referred to “this person”, did not dare to say a word; she hurriedly bowed after seeing Pure Concubine Liao being demoted.

Then, without a moment of delay, they left Lisheng Pavilion.

Silence once again fell upon Lisheng Pavilion.

Liao Qing Qing looked at Emperor Jing Li again.

The displeasure on Emperor Jing Li’s face slowly dissipated and his gaze fell on Liao Qing Qing.

In fact, he was not busy these two days.

After he held Liao Qing Qing’s hands that night of the fourteenth, his head was unusually clear. It was as if he would no longer be suffering from headaches anymore.

Therefore, on the fifteenth, he rested at Noble Consort Liang’s place for one night according to the rules of the palace.

He was a little worried about his head hurting. After the night passed, he was happy that he didn’t feel any pain.

This was the first time in recent years that he did not have a headache in two consecutive days.

He really wanted to share this happiness with Liao Qing Qing.

But he also wanted to know how long it would not hurt after holding Liao Qing Qing’s hands. Hence, he did not immediately seek out Liao Qing Qing; nor did he go to Lisheng Pavilion at noon to take his meals.

In the afternoon, his head suddenly started to hurt. Perhaps, it was the result of Liao Qing Qing putting his mind at ease that he couldn’t bear the slightest headache now.

When he noticed his headache, he immediately put down the vermilion brush and walked towards this place, leaving Fu Sheng far behind.

Who knew that as soon as he stepped into Lisheng Pavilion, he would see an audacious and impetuous woman ordering his Qing Qing to kneel.

How dare she do this to someone he of his choosing?!

Is she tired of living?!

Is this how all the women in the harem bully Qing Qing when he is not around?

Even though he had already dealt with Pure Concubine Liao, he was still extremely dissatisfied. When he looked at Liao Qing Qing, his heart ached for her. He said in a never before gentle voice, “Qing Qing, are you living well while I was away?”

Liao Qing Qing was stunned.

In her previous life, she lived alone when she was young; she ate alone, slept alone, went to school alone… spent all her time studying and earning money to support herself.

Occasionally, when she worked late into the night and encountered a fierce storm, she would run home with her bag on her head. She had fantasized how nice it would be if there was someone who could be her shelter from the storm.

But there was no one.

She still placed “making money to support herself” as top priority; and slowly raised herself to become thick-skinned.

She did not care about herself. She did not mind being single. She worked hard to earn money and just went along with her fate. She was still alone when her life abruptly ended.

But she did not expect to transmigrate to ancient times to hear such a sentence ‒ “Are you living well while I was away?”

It was a very ordinary question.

But it made a splash and created ripples within her heart. She exerted great effort to steady herself. Then, she said to Emperor Jing Li with a smile, “I… This imperial concubine is doing very well.”

“Very well?” Emperor Jing Li suddenly appeared unhappy. He let go of Liao Qing Qing’s hand and sat in front of the table.

Why is he angry again?

Liao Qing Qing hurriedly turned around, raised her hand and picked up the teapot to pour water for Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li picked up the teacup and drank it all in one go.

Liao Qing Qing picked up the teapot once again.

Emperor Jing Li immediately asked, “What are you doing?”

“Pouring tea for Your Majesty,” Liao Qing Qing replied.

“Did I say I want to drink it?” Emperor Jing Li asked in response.

“Doesn’t Your Majesty usually particularly love to drink tea?” He always drank many cups every time.

“I don’t want to drink it today.” Actually, he didn’t want to drink it previously either. But he was forced to drink it because of that situation.

Liao Qing Qing had no choice but to put down the teacup.

Emperor Jing Li suddenly said, “You are not doing well.”

Liao Qing Qing was perplexed, then she suddenly understood what Emperor Jing Li meant was ‘when I am not here, you are not well’. She answered truthfully, “This imperial concubine is doing quite well.”

“Is that so? Why did Pure Concubine Liao bully you? Are the other imperial concubines also like this?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

“Replying to Your Majesty, the sisters in the imperial harem are quite good to this imperial concubine.” Regarding this point, Liao Qing Qing was not lying. She had thought that she would accidentally become cannon fodder by these imperial harem women.

Recently, the imperial harem women were quite calm.

The ones who bounced about most happily were Pure Concubine Liao and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony. These two were the original owner’s enemies. From her memory, these two, Liao and Jiang, always bullied the original owner. And the original owner was able to live a relatively smooth life by keeping her peace.

Now that she had Emperor Jing Li’s attention, these two people, Liao and Jiang, kept showing their presence more than what she remembered.

She explained to Emperor Jing Li, “Pure Concubine Liao is indeed this imperial concubine paternal elder cousin. Her father is the son that my paternal grandmother is most proud of, and she is the favourite granddaughter. So she habitually educates those of us younger sisters.”

“Before you entered the palace, she taught you the same way?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

Liao Qing Qing thought carefully.

Emperor Jing Li thought she was acquiescing and silently pulled her hand.

He held her hand again.

Liao Qing Qing lifted her dewy and shimmering eyes to look at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li said, “Don’t worry. In the future, you have me. I won’t let you feel aggrieved again.”

???

What’s wrong with this Emperor?

Either his behaviour is strange, or his speech is weird.

They aren’t anything still, yet he has to say, “In the future, you have me around. I won’t let you be aggrieved again.”.

But he is the Emperor, the king of this country. Since he has said so, then it means that he would protect her.

When she thought about how he appeared in front of her when Pure Concubine Liao was causing her trouble, like a ferocious man descended from heaven. She was not able to use her skills to anger someone, but she was still happy.

Liao Qing Qing’s eyes looked sincerely at Emperor Jing Li. She suddenly smiled and nodded, “Mm!”

This was her first sincere smile. It was like a thousand pear trees blooming in spring. It was immersed in vitality, dazzling and eye-catching.

Emperor Jing Li’s heart felt like it had been hit by something. Then, a warm current spread throughout his heart; the current surged powerfully downward.

He suddenly felt warm three inches below his navel. A particular indescribable place had a strong reaction!

His face instantly changed.

Liao Qing Qing noticed Emperor Jing Li’s strange behaviour. She hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong, Your Majesty?”

The author has something to say: ——

Liao Qing Qing: What’s wrong, Your Majesty?

Emperor Jing Li: I have a reaction!

Liao Qing Qing: What reaction?

Emperor Jing Li: You know what I mean!

Liao Qing Qing: ???

[1] 朕(zhèn)- I (imperial) or we (imperial use).

[2] 宫礼(gōng Lǐ)- touching one’s head to the floor to pay their respects. The literal translation of this would be palace salutations. In ancient China, there were nine salutes or nine kowtows. From my understanding, 宫礼 would refer to 稽首(qǐ shǒu)- grand kowtow. This is the highest form of respect wherein one prostrates themselves on the ground, their left hand over their right hand place before their knees, forehead slowly lowering till it touches the back of their hands and pausing briefly there. It is used when a subject/son is greeting the ruler/father. Credits: leilyue & Baidu

[3] 嫔妾(pín qiè)- This imperial concubine. It is a self-appellation that can only be used by Lady of Talents (才人), Noble Lady (贵人), etc to the Emperor and Empress Dowager.