CH 15

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. 

-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.

–梁贵妃(liáng guìfēi)- Noble Consort Liang

–临华宫(lín huá gōng)- Linhua Palace, the place where Noble Consort Liang resides.

–谢子行(xiè zǐ xíng)- Xie Zi Xing, a courtesy name of Xie manor’s third son, also known as General Xie and Xie Yi. He was the person Liao Qing Qing went on a blind date with. 

–谢绎(xiè yì)- Xie Yi, a given name of Xie manor’s third son, also known as General Xie and Xie Zi Xing. He was the person Liao Qing Qing went on a blind date with. 

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

What gazes?

And even ‘so many’?

Liao Qing Qing thought for a moment. She didn’t seem to be looking at anything during the palace banquet today, except for the food and the beautiful women, right?

She glanced at Emperor Jing Li with a puzzled expression.

Emperor Jing Li’s brows were puckered.

She doesn’t understand.

She really doesn’t understand!

He asked directly, “Do you know General Xie?”

“Which General Xie?” Liao Qing Qing couldn’t react for a moment.

“Xie Yi, Xie Zi Xing.”

“Ah, that General Xie.” Liao Qing Qing replied truthfully, “This imperial concubine[1] knows.”

As expected, they know each other!

Emperor Jing Li’s face involuntarily turned tense and asked, “When did you know each other?”

“Four or five years ago.”

“How did you get to know him?”

???

Somehow, it feels like he is interrogating a prisoner.

But Liao Qing Qing still had to answer him honestly, “Before General Xie went to the northwest to fight in the war, he was a guest at the Liao manor.”

“He went there often?”

“???”

Liao Qing Qing was perplexed.

What kind of comprehension ability does this Emperor have?

Which word in her sentence reflected that General Xie “often went”? It’s really so weird. She could not lose her temper with Emperor Jing Li, so she could only say respectfully, “He didn’t go there often.”

“Do you harbor a secret affection for him?”

“!!!”

Liao Qing Qing was flabbergasted and looked at Emperor Jing Li.

What’s all this about?

She had absolutely no idea where Emperor Jing Li came to such a conclusion.

Deny. Deny. She must deny it!

Who dares to give the Emperor’s head a racecourse?[2]

To seek death?!

She hurriedly replied, “No.”

“No?” Emperor Jing Li sat still. His eyes slightly narrowed and appeared a bit dangerous. It felt that he could say “drag her out and behead her” in the next second.

Liao Qing Qing immediately said adamantly, “No! Absolutely not!”

“If you didn’t, why did you look at him many times at the banquet?”

“Just… Just looked at him twice.”

“Twice?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you look at him twice?”

“… At first glance, this imperial concubine felt that he was somewhat familiar. It was only at the second glance that I was sure he was General Xie Zi Xing.”

“…” Emperor Jing Li stared straight at Liao Qing Qing and questioned again, “Why did he keep looking at you?”

Liao Qing Qing subconsciously replied, “You’ll have to ask him about that, right?”

“Hm-mm?” Emperor Jing Li’s tone picked up at the end.

Sensing a hint of dissatisfaction from the ruler of the country, Liao Qing Qing replied very cooperatively, “This imperial concubine thinks he wants to wish each other well.”

“Wish each other well with what?”

“He probably wished this imperial concubine well for entering into the palace. This imperial concubine wished him well for his success and fame.”

“And you say you don’t have a good relationship with him?”

“There’s really no relationship.”

“None?”

Liao Qing Qing remained silent for a moment and said, “If one has to say there is, there is indeed a little.”

“What kind of relationship?”

“This relationship between the imperial concubine and General Xie went on a blind date before.”

Emperor Jing Li’s face, which was indifferent, finally changed. He looked at Liao Qing Qing with consternation and asked, “You also had a blind date with General Xie?”

“Mm.”

“Just how many people have you gone on a blind date with?” Emperor Jing Li asked as he tried to restrain himself.

When Liao Qing Qing finally sensed the huge change in Emperor Jing Li’s emotions, she answered, “Just… Just a blind date with General Xie.”

“So the one you were talking about was General Xie?”

“Mm.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Liao Qing Qing replied softly, “Your Majesty didn’t ask me either.”

“If I[3] didn’t ask you, you wouldn’t say anything?”

“That wasn’t what this imperial concubine meant.” Liao Qing Qing looked at Emperor Jing Li with a sincere gaze and said, “This imperial concubine was ready to confess to Your Majesty. Otherwise when Pure Concubine Liao and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony tell Your Majesty, then the meaning of this matter will change. If that happens, this imperial concubine will probably be culpable.”

“Pure Concubine Liao and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony are aware?”

“Mm.” Liao Qing Qing nodded her head.

“So only I was unaware.”

“???” Why does it feel like Emperor Jing Li is irrational and being childish on top of being temperamental?

“Isn’t that so?” Emperor Jing Li asked again.

Liao Qing Qing said, “Noble Consort Liang and the others don’t know either.”

“What are you talking about?!” Emperor Jing Li’s voice was slightly raised.

“???” I don’t know what kind of abnormal temper Emperor Jing Li is throwing. I can’t afford to mess with it. Liao Qing Qing hurriedly hung her head and straightened her back.

Emperor Jing Li also didn’t know what was going on with himself. He felt extremely upset. He could not understand what he was unhappy about. His entire mind was filled with Liao Qing Qing smiling gently to Xie Yi.

Fresh and lively.

She had never smiled at him like this before. Presently, he was looking at the obedient Liao Qing Qing. Not only did his anger not dissipate, but it flared up instead.

He suddenly stood up.

Liao Qing Qing thus looked up at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li glanced displeasingy at Liao Qing Qing, and then raised his feet and walked away.

“Your Majesty,” Liao Qing Qing immediately turned around and shouted.

“I am going back to imperial study to review the memorials.”

Emperor Jing Li’s steps didn’t stop and he walked away naturally and confidently.

Liao Qing Qing wanted to say, ‘M’dear Your Majesty, you forgot to take your jade pendant.’

But the Emperor had taken Fu Sheng and left Lisheng Pavilion. It was not good for her to pester him incessantly and chase him.

So she turned back, walked to the yoke back chair, and sat down to rest.

“Mistress,” He Xiang walked over and asked, “His Majesty seems to be angry.”

“Seems like it.” Liao Qing Qing nodded. In fact, she was also uncertain.

“Mistress shouldn’t make His Majesty angry.”

“His Majesty is often angry, don’t you know?”

One sentence made He Xiang speechless. They originally didn’t know what  Emperor Jing Li’s character was like. Actually, they didn’t know at this moment either.

However, Emperor Jing Li had come to Lisheng Pavilion almost every day recently.

She and the other palace maids have been serving for a long time and found that Emperor Jing Li was even more difficult to understand than rumoured.

In terms of anger, it was really hard to tell.

He Xiang became worried again.

Seeing that He Xiang was frowning, Liao Qing Qing didn’t want to say anything. She felt really sleepy and asked, “Is the hot water ready?”

“Replying to the Mistress, it’s ready.”

“Attend to me in taking a bath.”

“Then about His Majesty—”

“I will go tomorrow to make amends.”

“Yes.” He Xiang felt that as long as her mistress was willing to lower herself, His Majesty would definitely favour her mistress again.

Liao Qing Qing felt the same way.

She bathed at ease and lay down on the bed. She felt that life was beautiful, and fell asleep within a short time. When she woke up, it was already dawn and she asked He Xiang about Emperor Jing Li.

He Xiang said, “His Majesty didn’t come.”

Recently, Emperor Jing Li had been busy with court affairs and did not come over every day.

She nodded and said nothing. She got up and started to freshen up. After she was done, she went to Linhua Palace to pay her respects to Noble Consort Liang.

Once she arrived at Linhua Palace, she found that the atmosphere was heavier than previously. She didn’t know what was going on. But she was used to being silent and listened to Noble Consort Liang talk about everyday life.

This time, she said to let these sisters serve Emperor Jing Li with all their hearts. Otherwise, they would have been punished and no one else would be blamed.

???

Is this hinting that she was not serving Emperor Jing Li diligently?

Liao Qing Qing felt a little guilty and became even more silent at Linhua Palace.

After the ceremony of paying respects was over, she expected that Pure Concubine Liao and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony would find an opportunity to scorn her.

In the end, Pure Concubine Liao and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony did not show up.

She couldn’t help but look around.

Only now did she find out that Pure Concubine Liao and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony were not present. She asked curiously, “He Xiang, have you seen Pure Concubine Liao and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony?”

“This maidservant[4] has also never seen them.”

“Where are they?”

“This maidservant will go and inquire.”

Liao Qing Qing nodded and took the other maidservants back to Lisheng Pavilion. Not long after, He Xiang ran back and said with a slight gasp, “Mistress, something happened to Pure Concubine Liao and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony.”

Liao Qing Qing asked in surprise, “What happened?”

“They have been demoted again.”

“Who demoted them?”

[1] 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.

[2] This refers to the usage of chinese word “green” (绿(lǜ)-one cheats on one spouse or romantic partner) as a slang. Here, it would mean Liao Qing Qing doesn’t dare to cheat on Emperor Jing Li. This can be seen from the use of the word “racecourse” and racecourse is technically a huge patch of green land.

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

[4] 奴婢[núbì]- I; your humble servant (term of self-address used by servants, maid-servants and eunuchs when addressing the emperor, minister, concubines, etc.)