CH 33.1

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

–曦昭容(xī zhāo róng)- Lady Xi of Bright 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

–贤妃(xián fēi)- Worthy Consort, Noble Consort Liang’s maternal cousin

–太后(tàihòu)- Empress Dowager, Emperor Jing Li’s birth mother

–常嬷嬷(cháng mómo)- Chang Momo, the Empress Dowager’s senior palace maid

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

–寿禧宫(shòu xǐ gōng)- Shouxi Palace, the palace the Empress Dowager resides.

Current Ranking: Empress Dowager → Noble Consort Liang → Worthy Consort + Virtuous Consort → Lady Xi of Bright Countenance →  Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony → Ye Liangyi + Wu Liangyi → Noble Lady Liao + Noble Lady Jiang

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Emperor Jing Li said, “You can go back to sleep.”

Liao Qing Qing did not understand and asked, “But Your Majesty, what’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing is wrong with me.”[1]

“Then why are you sitting while covering this imperial concubine’s[2] eyes?”

Emperor Jing Li found an excuse and said, “I… I just wanted you to go back to sleep.”

“???”

“Sleep.” Emperor Jing Li removed his hand.

Liao Qing Qing blinked her eyes and looked sleepily at Emperor Jing Li.

She did not notice Emperor Jing Li’s abnormality. She asked in a low, muffled voice, “Your Majesty, did you have a nightmare?”

“… I had a dream.” But it was not a nightmare.

“It’s okay. Dreams are the opposite.” Liao Qing Qing dazedly patted Emperor Jing Li’s hand and comforted, “There is no need to be afraid.”

“…. You can continue sleeping. I have to attend the morning court.”

Liao Qing Qing wanted to get up. “This imperial concubine will help you get dressed.”

Emperor Jing Li adamantly refused, “No need!”

Liao Qing Qing stopped moving and asked, “Really?”

“No need. Go sleep.”

“Then this imperial concubine will go back to sleep.”

“Mm.”

Liao Qing Qing lay back on the bed and slowly closed her eyes.

She really fell asleep.

She just… just… slept?

Emperor Jing Li was surprised for a while. Then, he shook his head helplessly. The corners of his mouth unconsciously raised to form a happy smile.

When his eyes fell on the blanket, his face immediately stiffened and then he lifted it.

He didn’t know whether to be happy or embarrassed when he looked at the damp pants.

He summoned Fu Sheng at once, bathed and dressed to attend the imperial court.

As soon as the imperial court was adjourned, he immediately summoned Imperial Physician Fan.

Imperial Physician Fan asked softly, “Did Your Majesty have a reaction again this morning?”

Emperor Jing Li’s face was tense, and he said, “Not only did I have a reaction, but it also came out.”

Imperial Physician Fan did not understand for a moment. He raised his eyes and asked, “What came out?”

Emperor Jing Li shot daggers at him.

Imperial Physician Fan instantly understood. He said, “Replying to Your Majesty, it’s a good thing that it came out!”

Emperor Jing Li did not respond.

Imperial Physician Fan continued, “But once won’t do.”

“Once won’t do?”

Imperial Physician Fan said sincerely and with vigour, “Yes. During the year where Your Majesty was poisoned, Your Majesty’s life was almost endangered. But fortunately through the blessings of Heaven, Your Majesty overcame that hurdle. In these years, this humble subject[3] thought days and nights about how to remove the remaining poison in Your Majesty’s body. Although Your Majesty is young and Your Majesty’s body is healthy and rapidly recovering, we should observe it for a longer time to be safe. It is to ensure that nothing goes wrong!”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing Li nodded his head and said, “Beloved subject is right.”

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“Please be patient, Your Majesty.”

“???” Why does this sound as if he was in a hurry? Emperor Jing Li did not mind it, but he still rolled his eyes at Imperial Physician Fan and said, “You can leave.”

“Yes.”

Imperial Physician Fan left again.

Emperor Jing Li got up and sat down at the table. He was about to go through the memorials when the charming appearance of Liao Qing Qing in his dream suddenly appeared in his head.

And that feeling of becoming a celestial…

He had never experienced such a feeling. It was wonderful beyond words.

About the same time, he felt warmth under his belly.

He hurriedly collected his thoughts, recollected himself, and focused on his memorials so that he would not think about the dream again. In such a manner, he was busy until noon.

Fu Sheng walked forward and asked, “Your Majesty, where should the lunch be served?”

Emperor Jing Li said, “At Lisheng Pavilion.”

He knew that the Emperor wanted to go to Lisheng Pavilion. Fu Sheng had inquired about Liao Qing Qing’s whereabouts, so he said, “Replying to Your Majesty, Mistress Xi is not in Lisheng Pavilion at the moment.”

“Where is she?”

“She went to Shouxi Palace first thing in the morning.”

“To do what?”

“I heard that after the rain yesterday, the flowers in the Empress Dowager’s backyard have bloomed. She summoned Mistress Xi to see them and she will also be eating in Shouxi Palace.” Fu Sheng replied with a smile.

“Oh. The Empress Dowager didn’t make things difficult for Lady Xi of Bright Countenance?”

“This servant does not know.” Fu Sheng knew when to shut up about what should not be said.

“Then I will go to Shouxi Palace.”

“Yes.” Just when Fu Sheng was about to rush to the door to inform them, Emperor Jing Li stopped him and said, “No need for the imperial carriage. I will walk.”

“Yes.”

Emperor Jing Li sat and went through the memorials all morning. He felt that he should walk around, so he took Fu Sheng to walk.

Once he entered Shouxi Palace, he saw Liao Qing Qing accompanying the Empress Dowager to have their meal.

When Liao Qing Qing saw Emperor Jing had arrived, she smiled and shouted first, “Your Majesty!”

Her voice was so clear and sweet that Emperor Jing Li’s heart softened.

Liao Qing Qing went forward and saluted, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Jing Li stepped forward and held Liao Qing Qing’s hand. “You may be at ease.”

Liao Qing Qing softly said, “Your Majesty, this imperial concubine is dining here with the Empress Dowager.”

“I know.” Emperor Jing Li responded in a whisper like her, “That’s why I came over.”

Liao Qing Qing nodded.

Emperor Jing Li looked at the Empress Dowager and said, “This son greets Queen Mother.”

The Empress Dowager was as steady as a mountain and asked, “Has the Emperor eaten?”

Emperor Jing Li replied truthfully, “Not yet.”

“Let’s eat together.”

“This son obeys the order.”

Emperor Jing Li sat beside Liao Qing Qing and accompanied the Empress Dowager to have lunch together. He secretly observed the Empress Dowager’s attitude to Liao Qing Qing. Although the Empress Dowager had a cold and stern temperament, she treated Liao Qing Qing quite well.

He thought. The Empress Dowager was probably used to seeing the complexity of people’s hearts. She probably feels tenderness towards Liao Qing Qing, who is simple and forthright. This is also Liao Qing Qing’s blessing.

This put Emperor Jing Li’s mind at rest.

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

[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] 微臣(wēichén)-This humble subject/this small official. It’s a self-humbling term used by government officials and officials in feudal courts.