CH 31.1

Chapter 31 Part 1- A Strong Person Doesn’t Need to Explain

In such a manner, Emperor Jing Li laughed all the way to Zhengqian Palace.

Fu Sheng pondered.

He felt that this matter must be related to Lady Xi of Refined Countenance.

Only Lady Xi of Refined Countenance can influence His Majesty’s emotions in this imperial harem.

That’s good!

When His Majesty is happy, they, as servants, will be more relaxed.

They should be more thankful to Lady Xi of Refined Countenance just because of this.

However, at this moment, Lady Xi of Refined Countenance, Liao Qing Qing, did not know that someone was thankful to her.

She was about to die from embarrassment.

If she had known that the Emperor would return, she would not have rolled on the bed, let alone squeal.

“Argh!” She screamed in annoyance from under the covers.

“Mistress.”

He Xiang’s voice sounded. With a startle, she pulled down the covers. Liao Qing Qing looked at He Xiang and then behind He Xiang, lest Emperor Jing Li return again.

“Mistress, what’s wrong?” He Xiang asked with concern.

“Nothing.”

“This maidservant heard the noise Mistress is making. Are you feeling uncomfortable, Mistress?”

“No, I’m not feeling uncomfortable.”

“Then does Mistress wish to continue sleeping?”

‘No.” I’m sure I can’t sleep anymore.

“Then this maidservant would serve the Mistress in getting out of bed.”

“Mm.” Liao Qing Qing answered.

Seeing that her mistress was not in high spirits, He Xiang thought of the vegetable test field in the yard while dressing Liao Qing Qing. She said, “Mistress, do you know that the vegetables we usually tended are blooming?”

“Blooming?” Liao Qing Qing’s attention was immediately drawn to it.

“Mm.”

“When did it bloom?”

“Just today.”

“Hurry, we can’t let it continue blooming.”

He Xiang asked in confusion, “Why? The flowers are so beautiful and they are given as a tribute to His Majesty from the northwest because of its blooming flowers. His Majesty had only sent it to Lisheng Pavilion.”

“The flowers will absorb the nutrients and no vegetables will grow.”

“What should we do then?”

“Remove the flowers.”

Remove the flowers?

They are such beautiful flowers.

What a pity!

But He Xiang always obeyed Liao Qing Qing’s words. Thus, she quickly dressed Liao Qing Qing and followed her to the vegetable field. Liao Qing Qing didn’t pity the flowers at all. She plucked the flowers that had just bloomed and ordered He Xiang to pluck the flowers and the buds.

He Xiang did as she was told.

Liao Qing Qing was in the experimental stage, so she didn’t let the other Momos[1] and palace maids in the courtyard touch it. She and He Xiang carefully worked for a shichen (two hours) and then sat in the courtyard to drink tea, eat snacks and read the “Great Wei Dynasty Regions.”

This time, she read it more carefully.

When she saw something she was interested in, she totally forgot about the tea and snacks.

Unknowingly, the sky became dark.

“Mistress, we need to light a lamp. Let’s go inside and read it.” He Xiang came over to remind.

Liao Qing Qing closed the book.

As soon as she raised her eyes, she saw a flash of shimmering colour walking in.

It was Emperor Jing Li.

He Xiang also saw Emperor Jing Li and hurriedly paid her respects, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Liao Qing Qing also paid her respects.

Emperor Jing Li took Liao Qing Qing’s hand. “Beloved concubine, be at ease.”

Liao Qing Qing got up. When she recalled the embarrassment this morning, her face was warm again. She was embarrassed to look up, so she lowered her head and said, “Your Majesty came over early today.”

“Yeah. Is Qing Qing happy?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

“This imperial concubine[2] is naturally happy.”

“Then why doesn’t Qing Qing look up to face me?”[3]

“….” Liao Qing Qing felt utterly embarrassed.

“I’m still thinking about Qing Qing’s actions at noon——”

Liao Qing Qing immediately raised her head to look at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li’s eyes were filled with happiness.

Liao Qing Qing could tell that she had made a fool of herself. The first one to laugh until she lost her breath would be Emperor Jing Li, and then it would be Noble Consort Liang.

She turned around and walked towards the bedroom.

Emperor Jing Li walked in after her.

She placed the book titled “Great Wei Region” on the table.

Emperor Jing Li said, “Qing Qing was very adorable.”

Liao Qing Qing was slightly stunned and turned to look at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li gazed at Liao Qing Qing seriously and said, “I said that Qing Qing was very adorable at noon.”

“???” Liao Qing Qing asked in surprise, “Not embarrassing?”

“No, it is very cute.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Then why are you laughing at this imperial concubine?”

“I am happy.”

“Happy about what?”

“I’m happy that Qing Qing is happy because of my kiss.”

“…. “

Emperor Jing Li held Liao Qing Qing’s hand again.

Liao Qing Qing didn’t know how many times she had held hands with Emperor Jing Li.

But this time, there was a feeling of limpness and numbness in her body and mind.

She tried to restrain herself so that it didn’t show.

But the following words made her heart happy.

What’s going on?

When night arrived, she lay on the bed with her eyes closed.

Suddenly, Emperor Jing Li turned around and brought her into his arms.

She smelled the faint scent on Emperor Jing Li’s body.

She recalled that when she was first transported into this place, she wanted to follow the known path of the original owner’s life and live it out leisurely.

Who knew that Emperor Jing Li suddenly barged in and disrupted everything.

She was like a duck driven onto a perch,[4] step by step till today.

On this day, she suddenly felt that the beauty of living in the unknown was beyond words.

She didn’t seem to be repulsed with her life at the moment.

The best and only thing one could do in life was — to live for today.

She moved her body slightly and leaned towards Emperor Jing Li.

Very quickly, she fell asleep. The next day, she noticed a soft and warm sensation on her cheek. She did not mind it and quickly fell back to sleep.

When she woke up again, she paid respects to Noble Consort Liang.

Noble Consort Liang and the others were still genial on the surface.

Like they were sisters with a good relationship.

Liao Qing Qing still felt that something was amiss.

In just one night, what happened to these people?

Liao Qing Qing quietly observed and found that Worthy Consort, Lady Ye of Bright Deportment, Lady Wu of Satisfying Deportment occasionally spoke with thorns to her and curried favour on Noble Consort Liang a few times.

???

What is this?

Is this the beginning of them huddling together?

She pretended not to know and waited to see what would happen.

She didn’t respond no matter what the concubines said about her. Hence, Noble Consort Liang, Lady Ye of Bright Deportment, Lady Wu of Satisfying Deportment and the others were hitting their fists on cotton.[5] They only became angry for nothing and secretly rolled their eyes at Liao Qing Qing.

Liao Qing Qing was not stupid.

Even though her harem intrigue skills were not as good as Emperor Jing Li, she had a strong sense of danger.

She keenly felt that Noble Consort Liang and the others were not as placid as before. It was probably because they wanted to understand her abilities. So they did not mind the period of her being “immensely favoured” and whatnot anymore.

The sooner it is resolved, the better.

Ay!

It finally came to this point.

Before Liao Qing Qing could think of a way to deal with it, Chang Momo came to summon her to go to Shouxi Palace again. She was allowed to bring her palace maids this time.

When she arrived at Shouxi Palace, she saw the same poker face of the Empress Dowager.

After speaking a few words, the Empress Dowager went about her business.

Liao Qing Qing was the type of person with discernment. Of course, she also assisted the Empress Dowager in her work.

When it was noon, the Empress Dowager ordered her to go back to Lisheng Pavilion.

She also went back to Lisheng Pavilion.

On the second day, Chang Momo came to call her again.

The same thing happened on the third day.

The same happened again on the fourth day.

…. A woman’s thoughts are impossible to fathom! She did not know what the Empress Dowager had in mind. Emperor Jing Li said that the Empress Dowager liked her. She still did not believe it. Altogether, she only spoke a few words with the Empress Dowager. The occasional few words from the Empress Dowager were dignified and detached, mostly picking on her.

She listened attentively.

The Empress Dowager had never lost her temper nor punished her.

On the contrary, because she went to Shouxi Palace day after day, she had lesser contact with Noble Consort Liang and the others. Her days went by smoothly.

Noble Consort Liang and the others hated it so much that their teeth itched. But they could not do anything.

In a blink of an eye, it was going to be the day where Emperor Jing Li personally ploughed the fields.

“In two days it will be the second day of the second month, the Emperor will personally plough the fields. Lady Xi of Refined Countenance will also be following the imperial carriage?” The Empress Dowager asked coldly.

“Replying to the Empress Dowager, this imperial concubine will be going.” Liao Qing Qing answered as she watered the flowers.

The Empress Dowager remained silent and continued to play Go with Chang Momo.

Liao Qing Qing also did not take the initiative to inquire with the Empress Dowager.

At this time, Fu Sheng’s voice sounded outside the hall, “His Majesty has arrived—”

The Empress Dowager slightly tilted her head to look sideways.

Emperor Jing Li walked up to the Empress Dowager with big steps and bowed.

The Empress Dowager bopped her head.

Liao Qing Qing and Chang Momo bowed to Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li approached Liao Qing Qing and said, “Queen Mother, it’s already noon. This son and Lady Xi of Refined Countenance will return.”

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“Go ahead.”

“Your Highness, Empress Dowager, this imperial concubine will take my leave.” Liao Qing Qing said.

The Empress Dowager nodded.

[1] 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.

[2] 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.

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

[4] 赶鸭子上架(gǎnyāzishàngjià)- to drive a duck onto a perch. It means to push somebody to do something way beyond their ability.

[5] 拳头打在棉花上(quántou dǎ zài miánhua shàng)- Hitting one’s fist on cotton. It means that one’s fist hits the other person’s belly, which is as soft as cotton. It is described that the opponent’s ability is very good. One can’t hurt the other person at all regardless of how much force one uses.