CH 34.1

Chapter 34 Part 1- Who Is Good-Looking?

Worthy Consort nodded her head and spoke with certainty, “Yes.”

Noble Consort Liang’s eyes froze, and her body stiffened.

Worthy Consort quickly called out, “Your Highness Noble Consort.”

Noble Consort Liang waved her hand and sat down on the yoke chair.

Worthy Consort asked with anxiety in her eyes, “Your Highness Noble Consort, what should we do?”

Noble Consort Liang took a moment to return to her senses. Her eyes fell on Worthy Consort’s face.

Worthy Consort said, “It was less than a year after she became from Liangyi to Lady Xi of Bright Countenance. She is still favoured by His Majesty. If she were to give birth to a boy or girl, wouldn’t that secure her position?”

“Impossible,” Noble Consort Liang interrupted Worthy Consort.

Worthy Consort fell silent.

Noble Consort Liang said, “Who does Liao Qing Qing think she is?”

Worthy Consort responded, “But we can’t stop Lady Xi of Bright Countenance.”

“Who said that?”

Worthy Consort said, “Lady Xi of Bright Countenance appears to be dim-witted. But in fact, she abides by the rules and regulations and never overstepped her propriety. Her manner of speech may seem outrageous. However, not a drop of water leaked.[1] She gets along well with the imperial concubines of the harem and even the servants of Lisheng Pavilion are also extremely disciplined. She is really not a simple person.”

Noble Consort Liang cast a glance at Worthy Consort and asked, “Are you afraid of her?”

“This concubine doesn’t mean that.”

“There is no perfect person in this world.”

Upon hearing that, Worthy Consort’s eyes flickered slightly. She asked, “Your Highness, Noble Consort, has a way?”

Noble Consort Liang smiled faintly, gently picked up the teacup and took a sip.

She thought about Liao Qing Qing’s matter in her heart.

Meanwhile, Liao Qing Qing did not think about Noble Consort Liang.

She followed Emperor Jing Li to the Ministry of Agriculture. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw a green stone road planted with various plants on the left and right. There were many men and women in uniform hoeing, picking flowers, building shelves, etc.

No one expected Emperor Jing Li to come.

Each one of them was surprised and hastily knelt to pay their respect.

“You can attend to what you need to do.” Emperor Jing Li still held Liao Qing Qing’s hand and said to the Bureau Chief of the Department of Agriculture and Materials, “Come with me.”[2]

“Yes.”

“Oh, right. On the way, summon the Minister of Revenue as well.”

“Yes.”

Emperor Jing Li and Liao Qing Qing entered the hall of the Department of Agriculture and Materials hand in hand.

Not long after, the sweaty Minister of Revenue arrived.

As soon as he entered the hall, he quickly bowed to Liao Qing Qing and Emperor Jing Li.

“You may rise.” Emperor Jing Li raised his hand and said, “Have a seat, minister.”

“Yes.” The Minister of Revenue sat down in the lower seat.

Only then did Emperor Jing Li ask the Minister of Revenue and the Bureau Chief of the Department of Agriculture and Materials about their recent affairs. The Minister of Revenue and the Bureau Chief answered respectfully.

They didn’t dare to hide anything.

Emperor Jing Li’s subject changed and asked, “What achievements has the Department of Agriculture achieved recently?”

Achievements?

Naturally, it referred to agricultural discovery or increase in production.

But this kind of thing was really not easy to produce results.

The Minister of Revenue and Bureau Chief of Agriculture looked at each other.

The Bureau Chief of Agriculture replied truthfully, “Replying to Your Majesty, there are no achievements.”

“Oh. I do have some achievements here.”

When Emperor Jing Li said that, the Minister of Revenue and the Bureau Chief of the Department of Agriculture were both stunned and then looked at Emperor Jing Li in surprise at the same time.

Emperor Jing Li glanced at Fu Sheng.

Fu Sheng immediately presented the potato plant in his hand.

Emperor Jing Li said, “Put it on the table.”

Fu Sheng placed it down.

Emperor Jing Li said, “Come and take a look.”

The two people, the Minister of Revenue and the Agriculture Bureau Chief walked to the table with their bodies lowered. They looked at the unfamiliar plant with an oval ball attached to the root, which was something they had never seen before. They couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, what’s this?”

“Potato.” Emperor Jing Li said.

“Potato?” The two of them asked in unison.

“Yes. It’s edible potatoes.” A proud expression appeared on Emperor Jing Li’s face.

Not only did Emperor Jing Li attach importance to population and farming, but so did they. When they saw this edible crop called “potato” appear, they asked urgently, “It’s edible?”

“Yes.” Emperor Jing Li said.

The Minister of Revenue and the Agriculture Bureau Chief were about to pick up the potatoes and eat them.

“Hold on,” Emperor Jing Li said.

The two of them looked at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li looked towards Liao Qing Qing.

Liao Qing Qing said, “He Xiang, bring the roasted potatoes to the two lords for consumption.”

“Yes.” He Xiang carried the basket and walked to the two of them. She offered two black potatoes and said, “Please peel off the skin of the potatoes before you eat them.”

The two of them picked up the black potatoes half-doubtingly, glanced at Emperor Jing Li and Liao Qing Qing, and then their eyes fell on the black potatoes.

They were a bit disdainful of it inwardly, but they still complied with the instructions to peel off the potato skin.

Once they removed a layer of potato skin, they saw the orange and yellow potato core, accompanied by a sweet aroma that startled both of them.

They looked at one another and gently took a bite.

Instantly, the soft and glutinous fragrance spread in their mouths.

Unlike Emperor Jing Li, the two of them spend years shuttling between various well-known and unknown plants and flowers. They specialised in selecting species that could be eaten to feed the hungry. They understood the taste of species that could be for consumption the most.

This potato is definitely an excellent product!

The two were immediately excited and took two more bites.

They didn’t even have the time to peel the potato skin and ate with a mouth filled with dirt and sourness. They did not mind it.

But they couldn’t bear to finish it. They kept half of it in their hands. Their bodies shook slightly. Then, with a “thump”, they knelt in front of Emperor Jing Li. Suppressing their excitement in their heart, they tried to calm down and said, “Your Majesty, this is indeed edible.”

Emperor Jing Li said, “Yes, Lady Xi of Bright Countenance and I have already eaten it.”

“I wonder how this thing should be planted?” Without waiting for Emperor Jing Li to speak, the Minister of Revenue asked directly.

Emperor Jing Li looked at Liao Qing Qing with a smile.

Liao Qing Qing was a little smug. She didn’t expect that her transplanted potatoes could win the eyes of these high-ranking officials.

She smiled at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li said with a faint smile, “This is not done by me. It was planted by Lady Xi of Bright Countenance.”

Lady Xi of Bright Countenance?

The two of them looked at Lady Xi of Bright Countenance simultaneously.

They had only seen Lady Xi of Bright Countenance once, but they had a deep impression of her.

During the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, the other imperial concubines were just going through the motions. Only Lady Xi of Bright Countenance and Empress Dowager sincerely cared for the land. Later on, a small green snake appeared in the field, scaring the other concubines out of their wits.

Lady Xi of Bright Countenance caught the snake calmly and collectedly.

The small green snake was released in front of the eyes of the people.

Due to the disturbance of the snake, they knelt in front of Empress Dowager and Emperor Jing Li to admit their mistake. However, they carelessly broke the taboo of destroying their cultivated fields. If not for Lady Xi of Bright Countenance’s wise words, not only would their gauze hats[3] not be saved, but Emperor Jing Li’s reputation would also have been damaged.

At that time, they were so scared that they were drenched in sweat.

Every time they thought of this, they had lingering fears, and their admiration and gratitude to Lady Xi of Bright Countenance were beyond words.

They didn’t expect that Lady Xi of Bright Countenance planted this potato.

How much power does Lady Xi of Bright Countenance have?

The two of them were astonished.

Emperor Jing Li continued, “This potato was originally a tribute, the umbrella flower, from the northwest. I gave it to Lady Xi of Bright Countenance. Lady Xi of Bright Countenance found it was different and transplanted to the vegetable field. After nearly half a year of careful cultivation and care, they grew to become the edible potatoes you see now.”

So that’s how it is!

Their admiration for Liao Qing Qing increased to another level. They turned their bodies towards Liao Qing Qing, knelt on the ground and touched their heads to the floor with their hands before their knees.[4] “This subject respectfully requests Lady Xi of Bright Countenance to teach the method of growing potatoes, and this subject is willing to die for it.”

[1] 滴水不漏(dīshuǐbùlòu)- The literal meaning is ‘not one drop of water can leak out’. It describes a person who speaks or acts in a very detailed, meticulous and faultless manner.

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

[3] 纱帽(shāmào)- gauze hat/ job as an official

[4] 跪拜礼(guìbài lǐ)- It mainly refers to when one kneels on the ground, their left hand over their right hand place before their knees, forehead slowly lowering till it touches the back of their hands and pausing briefly there. Credit: Baidu & Google