CH 17

Translated by: Jellylynn

If you enjoy my translations, please support me by  , recommending this novel to friends, and/or leaving a comment! Thank you.

This novel is to be only hosted on Foxaholic; copies found elsewhere are stolen or worse, plagiarised. 

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.

-正乾宫(zhēng qián gōng)- Zhengqian Palace, the place the male lead resides. 

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

–李婉仪(lǐ wǎn yí)- Lady Li of Graceful Deportment (mentioned in Chapter 7 part 2 and Chapter 16)

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

Emperor Jing Li’s face was undisturbed, expressionless and stony.

Fu Sheng had never been able to guess Emperor Jing Li’s thoughts. It was even more difficult to guess his thoughts regarding today’s situation. Apprehension lingered in his heart.

Emperor Jing Li suddenly said, “Serve the meal!”

Fu Sheng immediately replied, “Yes!”

Fu Sheng hurriedly went to serve the meal.

Emperor Jing Li had his lunch in the imperial study.

After he had his meal, he didn’t go to Lisheng Pavilion, but took a rest in a small adjacent room.

When he woke up, he continued to work in the imperial study.

Before the palace banquet, he was afraid that he would get a heachache during the banquet and would hold Liao Qing Qing’s hand to sleep the entire night. Later during the banquet, Liao Qing Qing sat behind him. According to the extrapolated headache pattern he came up with, he would not have a headache at least for the next two days.

He also did not think about Liao Qing Qing.

In a blink of an eye, the sky turned dark.

There was still no word from Lisheng Pavilion.

He also had no plan to go to Lisheng Pavilion.

When dinner time was around the corner, Noble Consort Liang brought the mixed soup that she personally prepared and showered him with concerns.

Even Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony brought food over without feeling afraid of being rebuked.

While there was no slightest movement at Liao Qing Qing’s side.

He ate his dinner in displeasure and did not inquire about the matters of Lisheng Pavilion.

After finishing his dinner, he went to the imperial garden to relax and met many imperial concubines, who were also there to pass the time. He thought it was likely that Liao Qing Qing was amongst them.

He strode forward and his eyes darted around twice, but Liao Qing Qing’s figure was not in sight.

This Imperial Concubine Xi is really lazy!

She doesn’t even know how to stroll around after a meal.

He felt bored and abandoned the imperial concubines.

Once he returned to Zhengqian Palace, he was unusually irritable. He tried to adjust himself for a quarter of an hour before focusing on the book and reading it until he was exhausted.

Then, he went to bed alone in Zhengqian Palace.

The next morning, he went to the imperial court as usual. He directly went to the imperial study after it ended.

In his heart, he thought that Liao Qing Qing would definitely come today.

Who knew that there was no sign of Liao Qing Qing even when night fell.

His face became increasingly ugly.

This woman!

He used great restraint not to think about it.

He focused on going through the memorials and went to sleep on time.

He is in very good shape.

What is Liao Qing Qing?

He doesn’t need to care about it.

After a night’s rest, he went to attend morning court full of energy. He thought. What is Liao Qing Qing? She is merely a somewhat unique woman only.

He can’t live without her?

At this time, his head started to hurt.

!!!

Emperor Jing Li rubbed his forehead, gritted his teeth and shouted, “Fu Sheng!”

Recently, Emperor Jing Li is in a terrible mood. It is as if he has gone back to the old days. No, he is even scarier than before. So Fu Sheng was also extraordinarily afraid and answered with trepidation, “This servant[1] is here.”

Emperor Jing Li spoke between gritted teeth, “Go to Lisheng Pavilion.”

Fu Sheng risked his life to remind him, “Your Majesty, Mistress, Imperial Concubine Xi, is presently in Linhua Palace to pay her respects to Her Highness, Noble Consort.”

Emperor Jing Li said unhappily, “Who said I[2] want to see her?”

“???” Isn’t Lisheng Pavilion Master Imperial Concubine Xi’s residence? Fu Sheng was puzzled.

Then, he heard Emperor Jing Li say, “Make for Linhua Palace!”

“… Yes.”

Fu Sheng did not dare to consider Emperor Jing Li’s self-contradiction and hurriedly arranged for the imperial carriage.

They arrived at Linhua Palace.

With an announcement of “His Majesty has arrived—”, the imperial concubines in Linhua Palace got up and paid their respects. The pain in Emperor Jing Li’s forehead disappeared the moment he entered Linhua Palace while using his right hand to press his forehead.

He knew that Liao Qing Qing was here.

He could even perceive where Liao Qing Qing was.

But he approached Noble Consort Liang without sparing a glance at Liao Qing Qing.

“Beloved Concubine, please rise.” He pulled Noble Consort Liang up.

Noble Consort Liang said softly, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“All of you can rise too,” Emperor Jing Li said coldly to the imperial concubines.

Liao Qing Qing also got up and sat on the stool. She glanced at Emperor Jing Li. Only two days had passed since she had last seen him, she felt that Emperor Jing Li’s face became even more terrible.

With this face—

It seems that she has to wait for two more days before going to see Emperor Jing Li.

If not, she will end up like Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony.

Very miserable!

As she thought of this, she lowered her eyes and listened to Emperor Jing Li and Noble Consort Liang discuss the bountifulness of this year’s harvest of the Great Wei Dynasty. Soon, it would be the Mid-Autumn Festival and there would be a celebration.

In addition, the pomegranates in the pomegranate garden were ripe.

Emperor Jing Li asked, “Are the pomegranates ripe?”

Noble Consort Liang replied, “Yes.”

“Pomegranate means prosperity and flourishing. Beloved Consorts, come with me and let’s enjoy it to gain some luck.” Emperor Jing Li said.

It was rare that Emperor Jing Li was interested.

Noble Consort Liang said happily, “It is this concubine’s[3] blessing.”

“Let’s go.”

Emperor Jing Li got up and stepped away.

Noble Consort Liang took the lead and followed him.

Liao Qing Qing, as one of the imperial concubines, had no choice but to follow. They went to the pomegranate garden together. Originally, she had little interest.

However, once she raised her eyes, she saw that the not-so-small garden was planted with various fruit trees.

Among them, pomegranate trees were the majority.

It was as if the pomegranate trees did not have a main trunk; there were multiple trunks extending in all directions from the root of the tree. Each trunk was covered with lush green leaves in an orderly fashion. Large and red pomegranates were protected in the middle of the green leaves.

It was big and red!

Pomegranates!

There must be big, sour and sweet pomegranate seeds inside it.

Liao Qing Qing instantly had a craving for it.

I want to eat!

But she still had to suppress her desire and followed Emperor Jing Li and the others around the pomegranate trees in a dignified manner.

It was a bountiful harvest!

Emperor Jing Li was very satisfied.

All of a sudden, he saw a big pomegranate, bigger than the rest. Emperor Jing Li turned around and reached for it. Just like that, he walked towards Liao Qing Qing. Liao Qing Qing reflexively backed away and gave way to Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li suddenly turned his head and gave her a discontented look.

“???” What is the meaning of this?

Emperor Jing Li ignored Liao Qing Qing.

He picked a big pomegranate and walked away together with Noble Consort Liang.

Liao Qing Qing also followed and went back to Linhua Palace.

After listening to the conversation between Noble Consort Liang and Emperor Jing Li about the affairs of the harem, the ceremony of paying respects was finally over.

Liao Qing Qing finally returned to Lisheng Pavilion.

Usually, as a formality, she would pay her respect to Noble Consort Liang without eating breakfast and return. But today, once Emperor Jing Li came, she walked for half a shichen[4] (an hour) and was very hungry.

She quickly ordered He Xiang to serve breakfast.

When the breakfast was just served on the table and she picked up her chopsticks, Fu Sheng’s voice rang in the courtyard, “His Majesty has arrived—”

Emperor Jing Li is here!

He Xiang was overjoyed.

Liao Qing Qing had no choice but to put down her chopsticks and went to receive him. “This imperial concubine greets Your Majesty. Wishing Your Majesty to be in good health.”

“You may rise.”

Emperor Jing Li walked into the hall with big steps and sat down on the main seat.

Liao Qing Qing got up and turned to look at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li’s face was still handsome, still impatient as before.

Liao Qing Qing, “???”

Emperor Jing Li, “???”

Neither of them said anything.

After much deliberation, Liao Qing Qing felt that she should speak up first. Who let the person in front of her to be a Son of Heaven? She couldn’t afford to mess with him. She couldn’t afford to mess with him. Just when her mouth opened, she heard Emperor Jing Li questioning in displeasure, “Why did Imperial Concubine Xi bump into me?”

Liao Qing Qing, “??? When did this imperial concubine[5] bump into Your Majesty?”

Emperor Jing Li replied indifferently, “When we were in the pomegranate garden.”

“???”

The path I’ve given way to you was the size of a galaxy. How can I even bump into you, ah?!

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

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

[3] 臣妾(chénqiè)- this concubine/I, your servant (self-appellation of a lower-rank female). The literal meaning is ‘this subject and this concubine’.It is a self-appellation used by the ranks including and above Consorts. They are used by Consorts, Noble Consorts and Empress, etc. in front of the Emperor, Empress Dowager and Consorts, Noble Consorts that have a higher rank.

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

[5] 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.

Translator’s Note: I will be updating this novel on every Sunday instead of every Monday. See you next Sunday!