CH 16

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.

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

–廖贵人(Liào guìrén)- Noble Lady Liao

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

–蒋贵人(Jiǎng guìrén)- Noble Lady Jiang

–李婉仪(lǐ wǎn yí)- Lady Li of Graceful Deportment (mentioned in Chapter 7 part 2)

Current Ranking: Noble Consort Liang → Worthy Consort + Virtuous Consort → Imperial Concubine Xi → Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony+ Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony → Pure Concubine Liao → Noble Lady Liao + Noble Lady Jiang

He Xiang replied, “It was His Majesty who demoted them.”

“When did they get demoted?” Liao Qing Qing didn’t hear about this matter. Aren’t the two of them, Liao and Jiang, quite obedient lately?

He Xiang responded, “It was last night.”

“Why?” Liao Qing Qing asked in confusion, “What did they do wrong?”

“This maidservant[1] heard that they acted discourteously in front of His Majesty again.”

“Acted without decorum in front of His Majesty again?”

Pure Concubine Liao and Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony had already been punished twice for stepping out of line

Why did they act without decorum in front of the Emperor again?

Didn’t they learn their lesson?

He Xiang nodded and said, “It’s because they were disrespectful in front of His Majesty again. So His Majesty demoted both of their positions to Noble Lady.”

“They were demoted to Noble Lady? Demoted to that extent?”

He Xiang nodded. “Mm.”

Liao Qing Qing asked somewhat anxiously, “What exactly is the reason?”

Only then did He Xiang say, “This maidservant heard that after His Majesty left Lisheng Pavilion last night, he did not return to the imperial study. For some unknown reason, he went directly to Pure Concubine Liao’s place. Nobody would have predicted that Lady Jiang of Fragrant Ceremony was also at Pure Concubine Liao’s residence. Mistress, guess what they were doing?”

Liao Qing Qing asked curiously, “What were they doing?”

“They were talking about the imperial concubines in the harem.” Ever since Liao Qing Qing entered the palace, she had always treated He Xiang well. This was especially the case recently, when Liao Qing Qing treated He Xiang even better. As time passed, the mistress and servant relationship went beyond the general intimacy. They could leisurely engage in some non-stressful topics.

Liao Qing Qing asked again, “What matters?”

“This maidservant wasn’t privy. This maidservant heard that they were planning to falsify. In any case, His Majesty was furious when he heard.” This information was from Noble Lady Liao’s palace maid at the expense of He Xiang’s silver, so they were extremely reliable.

“And then they were demoted?”

“That wasn’t all. I heard they weren’t expecting to see His Majesty. They were horrified to the point of forgetting to pay their respects and did not even utter a word. His Majesty felt that they, as an imperial harem concubine, acted without decorum and demoted their position to Noble Lady.”

“That’s it?”

“There’s more.”

“There’s more?”

He Xiang continued, “His Majesty punished them with six months of road closure[2] and grounded them for three months. If they dared to babble nonsense again, the Liao and Jiang manors would also have to study the rules with them.”

“Make the Liao and Jiang manor study the rules with them?”

He Xiang nodded and said, “Precisely, their family members would also be punished with them.”

Liao Qing Qing couldn’t help but sigh with emotion and said, “This time, the punishment is really grave!”

“Isn’t that so? Noble Lady Liao and Noble Lady Jiang were so scared that they fell ill.”

“Are they really sick or faking sickness?” It feels like Noble Lady Liao and Noble Lady Jiang are quite good at acting.

“Really sick. They have a fever and invited the imperial physician.”

“Ay!” Liao Qing Qing let out a sigh.

He Xiang asked, “Mistress, are you sympathizing with them?”

“No.”

“Then what is Mistress sighing for?”

“Just regretting that I haven’t made a move yet.”

“Make what move?”

Liao Qing Qing muddled through He Xiang with one sentence, “Ah, it’s okay.”

She couldn’t help but sigh again.

Ay!

She thought of how to deal with Noble Lady Liao and Noble Lady Jiang to show off the tricks she learnt in imperial harem intrigue dramas.

In the end, Emperor Jing Li struck first.

That’s fine!

Save her energy.

Furthermore, Emperor Jing Li struck first this time so Noble Lady Liao and Noble Lady Jiang did not dare to make crazy claims anymore. It seems to be more effective than her.

For the time being, those two people will not cause any more trouble.

As for what happens later on…

She will certainly pay more attention to it in the future.

Right now she’d better go and have her meal. She’s hungry. She turned around to wash her hands; then started eating a rich breakfast.

After breakfast, she did not go to read the book, but went to tidy her vegetable garden.

Since she talked to Emperor Jing Li about planting vegetables, she fell increasingly in love with the feeling of growing vegetables. While she was idle, she would pick all kinds of vegetables and flowers, go to high places with advantages and lay down her foundation.

It was fun!

But He Xiang on the side could not stand to see it any longer and said softly, “Master, didn’t you say you were going to make amends with His Majesty today?”

Only then did Liao Qing Qing remembered. “Oh yes, I did say that last night.”

He Xiang responded, “Mm.”

Liao Qing Qing turned her head and asked, “Where is His Majesty right now?”

“He should be in imperial study.”

“Well then, I’ll turn this soil over and go to see His Majesty.”

“Mm. This maidservant will go and prepare some snacks for His Majesty.”

“Go on.”

After half a shichen (one hour),[3] Liao Qing Qing took the pastry and headed to the imperial study.

Before she reached the imperial study room, she saw Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony coming out from the direction of the imperial study room. She was also carrying the food box in her hand with red eyes.

She probably doesn’t want anyone to see her like this, right?

Liao Qing Qing hurriedly pulled He Xiang and hid behind a nearby tree. She watched Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony leave with the palace maid and saw two eunuchs walking by.

From what the eunuch said, she heard that Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony brought food for Emperor Jing Li.

It was unknown what nerve went wrong for Emperor Jing Li. He suddenly reprimanded Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony.

Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony was driven out.

Presently, the atmosphere in the imperial study room was very downcast.

Extremely serious.

Liao Qing Qing looked at the food box in her hand. Then, she looked at He Xiang and said softly, “He Xiang, let’s not go.”

He Xiang was afraid and immediately nodded her head.

Then, the mistress and servant went back to Lisheng Pavilion.

In the imperial study, Emperor Jing Li was reading a book. He was already in a bad mood. Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony came over with the food box and she kept talking even after she put the food box down.

She couldn’t be like Imperial Concubine Xi, who was quiet and pleasant.

Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony took a bowl of something and brought it to him. He shot a glare at her.

Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony’s hand shook in fear and the bowl of pastries spilled on his table.

Can he not be angry?

At this time, he was still angry. He didn’t turn a single page of the book in his hand.

Upon seeing this, Fu Sheng beside him said, “Your Majesty, it’s already noon. Should we go to Lisheng Pavilion for lunch?”

Emperor Jing Li unhappily glanced at Fu Sheng.

Fu Sheng hurriedly lowered his head.

“When did I say to go to Lisheng Pavilion to eat?”

“Seeking Your Majesty forgiveness. This servant has spoken out of turn.”

Emperor Jing Li’s face relaxed and asked, “What is Imperial Concubine Xi doing?”

Fu Sheng said with good sense, “This servant will go and see.”

Emperor Jing Li didn’t say anything.

Fu Sheng hurriedly ran out.

In a short while, he came back panting and said, “Responding to Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine Xi is having her meal.”

Emperor Jing Li asked without raising his head, “Is she eating a lot?”

“???” What kind of question is this? Fu Sheng didn’t know whether he should answer “a lot” or “less”, so he simply said, “From this servant’s[4] observation, Imperial Concubine Xi is eating the usual amount.”

Emperor Jing Li made a sound, “Heh~”

Heh?

What does ‘heh’ mean?

Fu Sheng secretly raised his eyes to look at Emperor Jing Li.

[1] 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.)

[2] I’m honestly not too sure of this but I believe this refers to the literal meaning. I think this road refers to the road to their palace. Hence, it probably meant that no one is allowed to walk towards their residences or leave their residences.

[3] 时辰(shí chén)- Shi Chen is used in ancient china instead of hours. One Shi chen is equal to 2 hours.

[4] 奴才 (núcái) – self appellation of bondservant when addressing the royalty or one’s master/your humble servant.