CH 22

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. 

–梁贵妃(liáng guìfēi)- Noble Consort Liang

–德妃(dé fēi

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

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

Noble Consort Liang took the lead to pay her respect, “Greetings, Your Majesty. Wishing Your Majesty to be in good health.”

“All of you may be at ease,” Emperor Jing Li said.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Noble Consort Liang and the others got up.

Emperor Jing Li strode towards the seat of honour, turned his body around and sat down.

His eyes surveyed the room.

It rested for a moment on Liao Qing Qing.

Then, it landed on Noble Consort Liang and asked “Beloved concubine, what are you talking about? I[1] thought there was no one else in your palace.”

“Responding to Your Majesty, it was about time for the morning ceremony of paying respect to be dismissed.” Noble Consort Liang smiled and sat on the chair next to Emperor Jing Li. She said softly, “It’s just that the sisters were talking to their heart’s content and forgot the time. So it was later than usual. Now that it’s been decided. Then, let’s disperse.” These words were said to the imperial concubines.

Emperor Jing Li spoke first, “There is no hurry.”

Noble Consort Liang looked at Emperor Jing Li in astonishment.

Emperor Jing Li said, “I think I heard you mentioned the ‘Double Ninth Festival’[2] just now.”

Noble Consort Liang said firmly, “Replying to Your Majesty, yes.”

Emperor Jing Li asked, “Did you talk about praying for Queen Mother?”

“Yes.”

“Have you made all the arrangements?”

“They have been arranged.”

Emperor Jing Li asked casually, “What are the arrangements?”

Upon hearing that, Noble Consort Liang froze.

Usually, Emperor Jing Li had never asked about the prayers and showing filial piety to the Empress Dowager, so why did he suddenly ask today?

She had no choice but to tell the truth.

After hearing this, Emperor Jing Li’s face did not have the slightest change. His eyes turned to look at Liao Qing Qing, who happened to be looking at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li rolled his eyes to Liao Qing Qing.

Liao Qing Qing: ??? What do you mean?

Emperor Jing Li looked at Noble Consort Liang again and said, “Beloved Concubine’s arrangement is not bad.”

Noble Consort Liang smiled.

Emperor Jing Li’s words changed, “But—”

Noble Consort Liang looked towards Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li said, “There are only some flaws.”

Noble Consort Liang said politely and modestly, “Please enlighten me, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Jing Li said, “Doing filial piety is something that every person of the younger generation should do. Noble Consort Liang shouldn’t limit embroidery, writing blessings and scriptures to the hands of several imperial concubines. Instead, it should be distributed to all the imperial concubines.”

“Your Majesty is not informed.”

“What am I unaware of?”

“Your Majesty does not know that this imperial concubine[3] divided it according to the personal strength of the sisters. For example, this concubine’s[4] needlework may be alright to look at. But if it is about calligraphy, it is barely satisfactory.”

“Beloved concubine, you don’t have to undervalue yourself. The Buddha won’t mind your ugliness.”

Noble Consort Liang, “???” What kind of words is that? Calling her ugly?

Emperor Jing Li added, “Hold onto your faith and things will go your way. Don’t adhere rigidly to the physical appearance.”

“???”

“Redistribute it to each concubine.”

“…”

Emperor Jing Li picked up the celadon teacup next to him. He gracefully lifted the lid and slowly skimmed off the tea leaves with the rim of the lid, revealing the clear tea.

He leisurely sipped with a “I’ll watch how you perform” look.

Noble Consort Liang secretly gritted her teeth. She had no choice but to redistribute the embroidery, writing blessings and scriptures right in front of Emperor Jing Li’s watchful gaze.

The tasks assigned to Liao Qing Qing were no longer the general “scriptures”.

Instead, it was made specific ‒ a certain sutra and a certain volume.

There was really something fishy about it.

Liao Qing Qing subconsciously looked at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li did not look at Liao Qing Qing. He nodded in satisfaction to Noble Consort Liang.

Noble Consort Liang specifically asked, “Your Majesty, how about this distribution?”

“Not bad. I feel assured when Noble Consort Liang is performing her task.”

“….” Since you are not worried, why do you want to redistribute?

Emperor Jing Li put down the teacup and said, “All right. I just came to see you. Since you are busy, I will leave.”

“…”

Emperor Jing Li got up.

Amidst the sounds of the imperial concubines respectfully seeing him off, he turned his head to look at Liao Qing Qing.

Liao Qing Qing felt compelled to raise her head

She just so happened to catch sight of Emperor Jing Li’s eyes. His good-looking lips moved twice and he left with big and steady steps.

???

Looks like he’s mouthing words again?

What did he say?

So stupid?

So stupid!

Yes!

That man is calling her stupid!

F*ck!

So baffling!

She suppressed her anger and got up. She looked towards Noble Consort Liang. Noble Consort Liang seemed to be angrier than her. She said, “If there’s nothing, dismissed.”

Then she left with the support of her personal Momo.[5]

She turned her head to look at Virtuous Consort.

Virtuous Consort left with her head lowered.

She also followed suit and left.

As soon as she entered the courtyard of Lisheng Pavilion, she saw Fu Sheng standing at the door.

He Xiang said, “Mistress, Your Majesty is here.”

“Mm.”

Liao Qing Qing walked straight to the door and heard Fu Sheng say that Emperor Jing Li was in her bedroom. She headed to the bedroom and saw Emperor Jing Li sitting on the soft couch while reading memorials. She slowly approached him, “This imperial concubine greets Your Majesty.”

Emperor Jing Li said without raising his head, “Pour water.”

“Yes.”

After pouring the water, Liao Qing Qing stood in front of the couch and didn’t move.

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

The look in his eyes was so penetrating and imposing that Liao Qing Qing froze in place.

She slowly took a seat in front of Emperor Jing Li and asked, “Your Majesty, did you say something to this imperial concubine in Linhua Palace?”

“Mm.” Emperor Jing Li responded softly.

“Your Majesty, what did you say?”

“So stupid.”

“???” For real! This Emperor is really one of a kind. He acts like he cares about his land and people but he turns out to be so childish. She held in her resentment in her heart and asked, “Your Majesty, why did you call this imperial concubine stupid?”

Emperor Jing Li asked in response, “Are you smart?”

“This imperial concubine thinks she is quite smart.”

“I quite admire this blind confidence of yours.” Emperor Jing Li snorted.

“???” What kind of man is this!

Emperor Jing Li asked, “Noble Consort Liang is making things difficult for you, do you know that?”

“I’m slightly aware,” Liao Qing Qing said.

“Then what are you going to do?” Emperor Jing Li casually looked at Liao Qing Qing.

“To use reason with Noble Consort Liang,” Liao Qing Qing said.

Emperor Jing Li asked, “Can you win over reasoning with Noble Consort Liang?”

Liao Qing Qing thought about it. Noble Consort Liang may appear to be very gentle. Actually, she was a ruthless character. She really can’t beat her.

She answered honestly, “No, I can’t.”

“So stupid.” Emperor Jing Li said, “She gives you scriptures to copy. Once you start copying, she can manipulate so much midway. The simplest is that she can give you a mountain of scriptures, so you can’t complete the task. When you aren’t attentively doing it, a random label name will hang over your head saying you are lazy and unfilial to the Empress Dowager. She can justify it, but you can’t defend even with a hundred mouths. You will suffer for no reason. Your reputation will also be affected. By that time, within and outside the palace, they will know that you are lazy, stupid and unfilial.”

“…” The Emperor’s harem intrigue skills are so strong.

“What would you do?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

Liao Qing Qing asked in response, “Your Majesty, what do you think this imperial concubine should do?”

“At that time, you can just ask directly to Noble Consort Liang to clarify which scripture to copy, which volume and which title. If you can’t finish copying, just say it.”

“Just say it?”

“Just say it.” Emperor Jing Li picked up the teacup, brushed away the floating tea leaves and said, “You are a favoured concubine, who are you afraid of? You have to act like a favoured concubine, be a bit more arrogant. Noble Consort Liang will also be afraid of you and I will support you.”

“???” This Emperor Jing Li is not the same as the Emperors in those dramas. At the same time, Liao Qing Qing thought of another question and asked, “Your Majesty, is this imperial concubine a favoured concubine?”

“Of course,” Emperor Jing Li said without hesitation.

Liao Qing Qing said truthfully, “This imperial concubine doesn’t think she is.”

“How are you not?” Emperor Jing Li asked with a smile. He was amused by Liao Qing Qing’s sudden foolishness. He lowered his head to drink tea.

After much thought, Liao Qing Qing answered, “You didn’t even copulate with this imperial concubine. An imperial concubine that has not been copulated isn’t a favoured concubine.”

“Cough—” Emperor Jing Li, who was drinking, instantly choked.

The author has something to say: —

Emperor Jing Li: Cough, cough, cough!

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

[2] 九九重阳节(Jiǔjiǔchóngyáng jié)- Double Ninth Festival is observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar. It is a traditional Chinese holiday. According to the I Ching, nine is a yang number; the ninth day of the ninth lunar month has too much yang (a traditional Chinese spiritual concept) and is thus a potentially very auspicious date. Hence, the day is also called “Double Yang Festival”. It is customary to climb a high mountain, drink chrysanthemum liquor, and wear the zhuyu plant, Cornus officinalis. (Both chrysanthemum and zhuyu are considered to have cleansing qualities and are used on other occasions to air out houses and cure illnesses.) On this holiday, some Chinese also visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects.

[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.

[4] 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.

[5] 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.