CH 11

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

-曦嫔(xī pín)-Imperial Concubine Xi, Liao Qing Qing’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

-福生(fú shēng)- Fu Sheng, the emperor’s chief eunuch. 

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

–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 → Imperial Concubine Xi → Lady Liao of Lovely Countenance → Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony + Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony → Pure Concubine Liao

“This servant also thinks that Your Majesty is the best!” Fu Sheng immediately followed in flattering the Emperor. After these few days together, he finally discovered that it didn’t hurt to copy whatever the Imperial Concubine Xi had to say.

“Isn’t that so!” Liao Qing Qing agreed with him.

When she raised her eyes, she saw Emperor Jing Li at the entrance of the courtyard.

She suddenly realized that Emperor Jing Li was especially fond of eavesdropping. This was not the first time but already the second time. He really has a strange fetish.

Luckily, what she said just now were positive words.

She generously paid her respect to Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li walked over to her and glanced at Fu Sheng.

Fu Sheng’s heart tightened.

Emperor Jing Li didn’t say anything, but the corners of his mouth rose slightly.

The big stone in Fu Sheng’s heart fell. As expected, there was nothing wrong with following Imperial Concubine Xi.

Next time, he just has to do what Her Highness, Imperial Concubine Xi, does.

“Your Majesty, have you had dinner?” Liao Qing Qing asked warmly.

Emperor Jing Li replied, “Not yet.”

Liao Qing Qing immediately turned to He Xiang and ordered, “He Xiang, go get a pair of bowls and chopsticks for His Majesty.”

“Yes.” He Xiang hurriedly went to retrieve the bowls and chopsticks.

Liao Qing Qing invited Emperor Jing Li to sit down.

He Xiang brought the bowl and chopsticks over when Emperor Jing Li took his seat.

Recently, Emperor Jing Li treated Liao Qing Qing extremely well. He promoted her rank, rewarded her with jewels and bestowed her good food.

She had never felt this fond of Emperor Jing Li before. She enthusiastically gave him a piece of wine drunk duck liver and said, “Your Majesty, try this drunken duck liver. It has the refreshing taste of wine, and the soft and chewiness of duck liver.”

Emperor Jing Li picked it up with the chopsticks, placed it in his mouth and chewed it slowly.

Liao Qing Qing fixed her eyes on Emperor Jing Li and asked expectantly, “How is it?”

“It doesn’t taste bad,” Emperor Jing Li responded.

“This imperial concubine(2) also thinks it’s good. Your Majesty, eat more.” Liao Qing Qing kept on smiling.

Emperor Jing Li nodded and chewed slowly.

They didn’t speak while eating. After finishing their meal, Emperor Jing Li said, “You seem to be in a good mood today.”

“Mm. Not bad.” Liao Qing Qing nodded her head.

“Why?”

“Because Your Majesty has rewarded this imperial concubine with food, but also with many fabrics.” Although she was bent on being a salted fish, she loved food and new clothes just like any other girl.

“Do you like fabrics?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

“Like!”

Emperor Jing Li was infected by Liao Qing Qing’s  smile that was as comfortable as the morning sun. For a moment, the arduous state of affairs disappeared. He felt a deep sense of relaxation and said, “Then let the Momo(3) from the Royal Clothing Department come over to tailor your clothes.”

“Mm.” Liao Qing Qing nodded her head. “Thank you, Your Majesty. This imperial concubine will definitely get along with the generals’ families and not disgrace Your Majesty.”

Emperor Jing Li nodded. He wanted to pet Liao Qing Qing’s head when he saw such a well-behaved side of her.

However, Liao Qing Qing didn’t give him a chance; she got up and went to look at the fabric again. He happily let Liao Qing Qing go. She was beautiful so she must look good in new clothes.

And so the whole night passed in anticipation.

The next day, she went to pay her respects to Noble Consort Liang.

Noble Consort Liang took Virtuous Consort and Worthy Consort to prepare for the palace banquet. The ceremony of paying respects was soon over. Not long after Liao Qing Qing returned to Lisheng Pavilion, the Momos from the Royal Clothing Department came over to measure Liao Qing Qing and tailor her dresses.

“Your Highness, Imperial Concubine Xi, has such a good figure.” Momo sincerely praised her, “This maidservant has never seen such a curvaceous figure like Your Highness, Imperial Concubine Xi.”

“Is that so?” Liao Qing Qing was happy in her heart.

“Yes. No wonder His Majesty likes Your Highness, Imperial Concubine Xi, so much.”

“???” Liao Qing Qing was tempted to say that Emperor Jing Li was impotent and wasn’t interested in her body. But it was a secret that she couldn’t leak.

“Alright,” Momo said, “This maidservant will send the clothes over to Your Highness, Imperial Concubine Xi to take a look at in three days.”

“So soon?” Liao Qing Qing thought it would take ten days to half a month to make a garment.

“Your Highness, Imperial Concubine Xi’s, dresses naturally need to be made faster.”

Liao Qing Qing knew that, in the eyes of others, she was Emperor Jing Li’s favourite. She said with a smile, “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Momo.”

“You are too polite, Your Highness. This maidservant will take her leave.”

Liao Qing Qing bopped her head.

The Momo from the Royal Clothing Department left.

Liao Qing Qing felt extremely hot; definitely because it was noon. The weather was scorching hot. Even with the ice, her body was already sweating after the long chat about clothing and having her measurements taken with the Momo from the Royal Clothing Department.

She said, “He Xiang, go prepare hot water for me. I want to take a bath.”

“Yes.”

He Xiang quickly went to prepare hot water.

Liao Qing Qing immediately washed off the icky feeling on her body. She changed into a muslin robe that was as thin as cicada wings. Then she ordered He Xiang to use a fan to cool her down first before she got dressed.

Just then sounds of a familiar footstep was heard, Emperor Jing Li was already standing in front of her before she could react.

She froze.

Emperor Jing Li also froze. He was very busy today. He might not have the time to come over here at noon and had to receive the generals who returned to the imperial court in the afternoon. He was afraid that it would not be good if he had a headache.

So he came over early to hold hands with Liao Qing Qing or whatnot; then he would take his leave. However, he didn’t expect to see this scene as soon as he came in.

Liao Qing Qing’s soft hair was scattered loosely behind her, revealing her slender white neck and distinct collarbone; below that was her delicate body could be faintly discernible under the thin muslin.

Everything was so breathtaking.

Emperor Jing Li suddenly felt his mouth going dry, and a strong reaction three inches below the navel.

“Your Majesty,” Liao Qing Qing called out. Feeling slightly nervous, she reached out and draped the outer garment on her body. However, she instantly became more at ease once she thought of Emperor Jing Li’s impotency. She said, “Your Majesty, this imperial concubine acted without propriety. May Your Majesty please forgive me.”

“It’s fine. Put on your clothes.”

After saying that, Emperor Jing Li turned around and left the bedroom.

Liao Qing Qing was bewildered.

By the time she came out, Emperor Jing Li had already left; he came and left without rhyme or reason.

What’s the meaning of this?

Liao Qing Qing couldn’t figure it out, so she stopped thinking about it. Due to the hot weather, she stayed inside Lisheng Pavilion. The atmosphere cooled down when the sun went down.

She wanted to go out for a walk, so she took He Xiang for a stroll in the garden. Coincidentally, she ran into Pure Concubine Liao and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony.

The two of them didn’t expect to run into Liao Qing Qing either. There was a flash of surprise in their eyes. They were a little unresigned. However, due to their position, they had to salute to Liao Qing Qing.

The two of them said, “Greetings, Imperial Concubine Xi.”

“These two elder sisters don’t have to be polite,” Liao Qing Qing said with a smile.

The two of them, Liao and Jiang, looked at each other and neither of them said anything.

Liao Qing Qing also didn’t say anything and was about to walk away.

Pure Concubine Liao opened her mouth and said, “Imperial Concubine Xi, I heard the generals went to the palace to have an audience with His Majesty today because of the recent victory in the northwest, which the whole country is celebrating.”

Liao QIng Qing said, “Indeed.”

“General Xie would probably be there, right?” After saying that Pure Concubine Liao turned her eyes to look at Liao Qing Qing. Her eyes were filled with provocation.

She had the look of watching a good show as she stared at Liao Qing Qing’s face. She believed that Liao Qing Qing would lose her temper because of Xie Yi.

But Liao Qing Qing asked with a confused expression, “Who is General Xie?”

Pure Concubine Liao was speechless for a moment and answered, “General Xie is Xie Yi.”

“Who is Xie Yi again?”

Pretend!

Keep pretending!

Pure Concubine Liao felt that Liao Qing Qing was just pretending. She appeared to be unaffected but who knows she might be panicking in her heart? She continued, “Your Highness, Imperial Concubine Xi, do you remember Xie manor’s third son, Xie Yi?”

“Oh, now that you speak of this, I remembered.” Liao Qing Qing remembered.

“You remembered?”

“But isn’t he called Xie Zi Xing?”(4)

“???” Is that the main point?

2. 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.

3. 嬷嬷(mómo)- In ancient times, Momo is a title, which refers to palace maids that are of a certain age and position. It usually refers to elderly palace maids of seniority.

4. In ancient times, there were many types of names such as courtesy name and given/register name. Usually, one would call another person by their courtesy name. Xie Zi Xing is a courtesy name while Xie Yi is his personal/register/given name. Hence, Liao Qing Qing is referring to his courtesy name.