CH 26.3

Names mentioned in this chapter (which can also be found in the glossary):

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

-曦修容(xī xiū róng)-Lady Xi of Refined Countenance, Liao Qing Qing’s current designation

-景礼帝(jǐng lǐ ​​dì)- Emperor Jing Li, the male lead.

–梁贵妃(liáng guìfēi)- Noble Consort Liang

-荷香(Hé ​​xiāng)- He Xiang, the female lead’s maidservant

-廖贵人(Liào guìrén)- Noble Lady Liao, the female lead’s paternal elder cousin. 

–蒋贵人(Jiǎng guìrén)- Noble Lady Jiang, the female lead’s “best friend”

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

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

Because Emperor Jing Li had something to deal with, he went to the imperial study after he got off the carriage.

Liao Qing Qing and Noble Consort Liang remained at the same spot. Noble Consort Liang gave Liao Qing Qing a glance.

Liao Qing Qing didn’t know what thoughts were running through Noble Consort Liang’s mind, so she stood in a perfect posture.

Noble Consort Liang congratulated her, “Congratulations, Lady Xi of Refined Countenance. You have been promoted again.”

Liao Qing Qing slowly bowed and replied, “Thank you, Your Highness Noble Consort.”

Noble Consort Liang looked at Liao Qing Qing from top to bottom. Currently, Liao Qing Qing had a strong advantage, she was sacredly favored. She did not dare to use any tactics in front of her. She said, “Lady Xi of Refined Countenance is injured, let’s quickly return to Lisheng Pavilion to recuperate. His Majesty has also said that there is no need to go to Linhua Palace to pay respects.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

Noble Consort Liang got into the carriage first and headed to Linhua Palace.

Only then did Liao Qing Qing sat in the carriage and returned to Lisheng Pavilion. Once she reached Lisheng Pavilion, she immediately showed her true colors. She collapsed on the couch and repeatedly screamed in pain. She suppressed it when she was in front of Emperor Jing Li and Noble Consort Liang.

Looking at her foot that was starting to swell, she really felt sorry for herself.

Agony.

She hurriedly asked He Xiang to soak a hand towel in cold water. She would apply the cold compress for a while to shrink the blood vessels, so as not to cause it to be swollen again.

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Perhaps she was too tired today, combined with her ordeal from jumping into the ravine, Liao Qing Qing leaned on the couch and fell asleep.

When she woke up, night had fallen.

“Mistress, you are awake.” He Xiang approached her with a smile. “Mistress, the swelling on your foot has been reduced significantly.”

Upon hearing that, Liao Qing Qing smiled and looked at her right foot. The swelling had indeed reduced. However, it would take at least two to three months for it to be fully recovered. However, it was fortunate that nothing happened to Emperor Jing Li. She didn’t need to go to Linhua Palace every day to pay her respects to Noble Consort Liang.

It was good to stay at Lisheng Pavilion.

Liao Qing Qing said, “Mm. The swelling has really gone down a lot.”

“Just now, Imperial Physician Fan sent more medicine. This maidservant[1] has already boiled it. Mistress, drink it while it is hot.” He Xiang said.

Liao Qing Qing nodded her head.

He Xiang immediately went to bring the medicine.

Liao Qing Qing gingerly sat up. She took the medicine handed over by He Xiang and said, “I slept long enough this time.”

“Mm. Mistress has been too tired after going to Wansui Mountain. Besides, Imperial Physician Fan said that this medicine has ingredients that cause drowsiness, so Mistress has slept a little longer.”

“So that’s how it is. Oh, right, did His Majesty visit?”

“No, but—”

Liao Qing Qing knew the medicine was bitter. She could never be like those people taking their medicine like those in martial arts dramas or palace fighting dramas. She gulped it in one go, put down the medicine bowl, and hurriedly stuffed a candied fruit in her mouth and asked, “But what?”

“But His Majesty went to Noble Consort Liang’s place.”

“When did he go?” Liao Qing Qing asked.

“In the afternoon.”

“In the afternoon? Not just now?”

“No. After His Majesty went to Noble Consort Liang’s place, Noble Lady Liao and Noble Lady Jiang went to visit the garden.”

“Visit the garden?” Liao Qing Qing looked at He Xiang in shock. She remembered that He Xiang had mentioned that garden before. The existence of the place was equivalent to the cold palace.

“Mm.” He Xiang nodded.

“Why?” Later on, Liao Qing Qing investigated and realized how coincidental the matters were. There were no human traces that could be found at all, which meant that there was no evidence to prove that the three of them had acted unfavorably towards her.

“This maidservant heard that it was Noble Lady Liao and Noble Lady Jiang who bolted the door to the backyard of the Half Mountain Temple, causing the Half Mountain Temple’s lunch to be made untimely and His Majesty to be hungry. So His Majesty condemned them.”

“???” Alright, this seemed like a reason that Emperor Jing Li would come up with.

“Noble Consort Liang was also reprimanded,” He Xiang added.

“And why is that?”

“It was said that Noble Consort Liang did not manage the imperial harem well. Noble Consort Liang was punished by copying scriptures.”

Mm. This statement was true.

“Then where is His Majesty at this moment?” Liao Qing Qing asked.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Fu Sheng’s announcement sounded outside the door, “His Majesty has arrived!”

Liao Qing Qing was just about to get out of bed when Emperor Jing Li walked in, stretched his hand out to hold Liao Qing Qing’s shoulders. He said, “Beloved Concubine, you don’t need to move.”

“Greetings, Your Majesty.” Liao Qing Qing could not physically pay her respects, but her mouth had to say something.

“There is no need for any salutation for three months,” Emperor Jing Li said.

Liao Qing Qing sat upright.

Emperor Jing Li looked at Liao Qing Qing’s foot.

Liao Qing Qing was looking at her feet just now and hadn’t had the time to put on her socks. Although she had a soul from the twenty-first century and her feet were petite and fair, she still felt embarrassed when she was stared at by a man.

She immediately retracted her feet.

Emperor Jing Li’s big hand reached out and held her calf.

Liao Qing Qing, “…”

“Let me[2] see it,” Emperor Jing Li said.

Liao Qing Qing couldn’t break free from his grip.

Emperor Jing Li looked at Liao Qing Qing’s foot. Originally, he wanted to see Liao Qing Qing’s injuries. But after his eyes landed on that blue-and-black spot, he realized that not only was Liao Qing Qing beautiful, but her feet were also equally beautiful.

It was fair and well-proportioned with rounded and small toes.

He immediately understood why women’s feet were described as “jaded feet” in texts.

He instantly felt that Liao Qing Qing’s calf which he was holding onto was unusually smooth.

His heart also began to heat up.

He couldn’t help but raise his eyes to look at Liao Qing Qing.

Liao Qing Qing also happened to look over.

Their eyes met. Liao Qing Qing’s heart started to race. There was even bashfulness spreading in her heart. Just then, a pain surged through her foot, dispersing all the warm thoughts in her head. She recovered her senses and painfully cried, “It hurts.”

Emperor Jing Li also returned to his senses and realized that he was still holding Liao Qing Qing’s calf. Hence, he slowly put it down and coughed lightly. He said, “Ahem. Beloved Consort, you haven’t had your dinner yet, right?”

Liao Qing Qing was a little embarrassed, carefully put her socks on and said, “Not yet.”

“Then serve the meal.”

“Mm.”

The dinner was served on the dining table. Liao Qing Qing still had to get up, which was very inconvenient. When Emperor Jing Li saw that, he said, “Serve it on the couch, save yourself the trouble.”

He Xiang answered, “Yes.”

Liao Qing Qing secretly glanced at Emperor Jing Li and a strange feeling brushed through her heart. Suddenly, she felt a place deep down her heart, which had been dry, suddenly came to life. She didn’t know what it was yet.

But she felt this was very beautiful.

She looked down at the meal on the small table and did not move.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

Liao Qing Qing raised her eyes to look at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li asked, “What’s wrong?”

Liao Qing Qing suddenly smiled ‒ vibrant and pure.

Emperor Jing Li drifted off for a moment and then said, “Looks so foolish.”

“??? Your Majesty!” Liao Qing Qing called out angrily.

Emperor Jing Li raised his eyebrows and asked, “What?”

“This imperial concubine[3] thinks that I am quite smart.” Liao Qing Qing defended herself.

There was a faint smile on Emperor Jing Li’s face. He said, “Yeah.”

Liao Qing Qing didn’t expect Emperor Jing Li to admit it so quickly and was quite surprised.

Emperor Jing Li said, “Sometimes you are a bit foolish.”

“….”

“Come, have a piece of meat to replenish your brain.”

“….” To eat meat to replenish the brain? Mental person!

Once they started to eat, the two of them basically stopped talking.

After they had their meal, Liao Qing Qing also did not bring up the matter about the three ‒ Noble Consort Liang, Noble Lady Liao and Noble Lady Jiang; lest Emperor Jing Li thought that she was aware of the situation and held ill-feelings for her.

Who knew that Emperor Jing Li mentioned this matter. He said, “I ordered Noble Lady Liao and Noble Lady Jiang to oversee the garden.”

Liao Qing QIng was surprised. “Why?”

“They have such big ambitions, lacking brains, they want me to destroy the general and Qing Qing. They are too confident.”

“…” It felt like the Emperor was fighting in the front line of harem intrigue, while she stood at the back picking up the equipment for nothing.

“Rather, Noble Consort Liang… is the same as her father. They can easily cast their blame on anything.” Emperor Jing Li coldly snorted, looking disgusted.

“….” Does His Majesty also want to battle and kill the boss of the game?

Then, Emperor Jing Li looked towards Liao Qing Qing. He said, “You should be more careful in the future.”

“Ah?” Liao Qing Qing asked blankly.

“What are you ‘ah’ for? I told you to be careful.”

“To be careful of what?”

“Without me, how are you going to survive in the imperial harem?”

“How can Your Majesty be not around? Your Majesty will live forever!”

Emperor Jing Li looked at Liao Qing Qing like he was looking at a fool.

“May Your Majesty live and reign for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand of ten thousand years!” Liao Qing Qing sincerely said this sentence.

“Pfft,” Emperor Jing Li could not contain his laughter and burst out laughing.

“???”

Emperor Jing Li’s shoulders trembled as he laughed.

Liao Qing Qing really did not know what Emperor Jing Li was laughing at. Baffled, she furrowed her brows and showed an expression of disdain to Emperor Jing Li.

In the end, the more Emperor Jing Li looked at Liao Qing Qing the more he laughed.

Liao Qing Qing, “…”

It took a while before Emperor Jing Li stopped laughing and started going through the memorials with a good mood.

Liao Qing Qing didn’t have anything to do. She sat reading a book on agriculture in the Great Wei Dynasty under the lamp. She thought back on Emperor Jing Li’s words, telling her to be careful of Noble Consort Liang. So he was teaching her harem intrigue?

To be careful of Noble Consort Liang?

Mm. Then, she should be careful.

Fortunately, her foot was sprained, so she didn’t need to pay respects to Noble Consort Liang, which saved her some unnecessary trouble. Finally, she could stay in Lisheng Pavilion without a care.

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

[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.