CH 36.2

Chapter 36 Part 2- Empress Dowager

Liao Qing Qing slightly lowered her head.

She had heard every word the Empress Dowager and Emperor Jing Li had said.

Her father was taken into custody for corruption, bribery and faction affiliation.

There was nothing she could do about it.

She might even suffer from her father’s influence and meet her demise in the imperial harem.

Because no Emperor can allow his imperial concubines to be ambitious.

Emperor Jing Li was no exception.

At this moment, she was even more determined that Second Master Liao was not corrupt, received bribes and affiliated with a faction.

This was all targeted at her.

The other party deliberately poked at Emperor Jing Li’s scales of adversity.

That person should be aware that Emperor Jing Li was very cold and ruthless. When the dynasty was fighting from top to bottom, he didn’t hesitate to take action against Empress Dowager’s family, causing his relationship with Empress Dowager to be broken for three years.

Then Emperor Jing Li would treat her…

She didn’t expect that Emperor Jing Li would say, ‘It was probably spread by someone with a motive.”, let alone Empress Dowager, who had always been distant and cold, to say, ‘then uncover that person with that intention’.

They believed in her and in her parents.

She felt a lump in her throat.

In her previous life, her parents passed away early, followed by the death of her grandparents.

She grew up alone amid trials and hardships.

Regardless of what happened, she had to face it on her own.

She was used to dealing with it alone.

If she couldn’t deal with it, she would use Ah Q’s method of spiritual victory.[1]

After all, people always had to make themselves believe that life was beautiful and promising in order to live a better life.

She never thought that Emperor Jing Li would protect her at the critical moment, nor did she ever expect that Empress Dowager would hear the news and call her to Shouxi Palace at the first opportunity to give her a piece of mind.

It was like she was walking alone in the snowy night, shivering.

Unsure of her direction.

Suddenly someone appeared with a lamp and took her into his arms, telling her ‘You’re home.’.

It was so warm that she cried.

Her tears uncontrollably welled up in her eyes.

Empress Dowager spoke again, “Lady Xi of Bright Countenance, you should not worry too much.”

“Yes,” Liao Qing Qing answered.

Then, she raised her head, and tears abruptly fell from her watery blurry eyes.

Empress Dowager was stunned and turned to look at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li was slightly dumbfounded and immediately got up and walked towards Liao Qing Qing.

Liao Qing Qing wiped her tears with her hands while standing up.

Emperor Jing Li had already stood in front of her.

This was the first time Liao Qing Qing cried.

The first time she cried in front of people. Her head lowered in embarrassment.

Emperor Jing Li held her hand and asked, “Why are you crying?”

Liao Qing Qing couldn’t say anything.

Emperor Jing Li said, “I don’t blame you.”

Empress Dowager interjected, “This grieving one doesn’t blame you either.”

“Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, you are too good to this imperial concubine. This imperial concubine….” Originally, Liao Qing Qing had stopped crying.

However, when she heard Emperor Jing Li and Empress Dowager say that, some nerves had been poked for some unknown reason, causing her tears to fall like beads with a broken thread.

It couldn’t be stopped and fell one drop after another.

Even the palm of Emperor Jing Li’s hand was wet.

It was as if it hit the tip of Emperor Jing Li’s heart, causing him to feel a pang of pain. He extended his hands and wrapped his arm around the back of Liao Qing Qing’s head. He pressed her into his arms and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “Look at how promising you are. How is this a big deal?”

After saying that, his heart tingled.

Liao Qing Qing didn’t expect Emperor Jing Li to hug her in this way. Although she was very touched and felt very warm, she even wanted to burst out crying and cry out her years of grievances, years of loneliness, and years of longing.

But this would not be logical.

She hurriedly curbed her sobs, took out her handkerchief and quickly wiped her tears. While she was panicking, she did not forget to wipe the tears on Emperor Jing Li’s hand and then apologised to Empress Dowager, “Empress Dowager, this imperial concubine has lost her propriety. Please forgive me.”

Empress Dowager spoke with a gentler voice, “This grieving one isn’t crazy and wouldn’t condemn anyone for no reason. Alright. It’s afternoon. Let’s have lunch together.”

“Yes,” Liao Qing Qing responded.

“Chang Momo.” Empress Dowager continued, “Take the Emperor and Lady Xi of Bright Countenance to freshen up. This grieving one can’t stand to see such a dirty child.”

“Yes.” Chang Momo looked at Emperor Jing Li and Liao Qing Qing with a smile.

Emperor Jing Li and Liao Qing Qing felt somewhat embarrassed.

This was especially the case for Liao Qing Qing.

She didn’t expect that she would lose her propriety to this extent. If she had transmigrated into a different dynasty, she would probably be hit by the board and die suddenly on the spot, right?

Thankfully, thankfully.

Luckily, this Wei Dynasty isn’t that scary.

She followed Chang Momo to wash her face, changed into new clothes and then accompanied Emperor Jing Li and Empress Dowager to have lunch together.

After lunch, Empress Dowager needed to chant sutra and take a nap.

Liao Qing Qing and Emperor Jing Li took their leaves.

On the way back to Lisheng Pavilion, Emperor Jing Li picked up Liao Qing Qing’s hand and softly asked, “Why did you cry?”

Liao Qing Qing answered, “I’m touched.”

“Touched by what?” Emperor Jing Li asked curiously.

“Empress Dowager and Your Majesty treat this imperial concubine so well.”

“Just that? That’s all it takes for you to cry.”

“Mm.”

“Exceptional!”

“This imperial concubine is just a good-for-nothing.”

Emperor Jing Li laughed.

Liao Qing Qing walked with her head down.

Emperor Jing Li said, “You really know how to cry.”

“How can I cry?”

“Empress Dowager likes you even more because you cried.”

“Why?”

“As soon as something happened to your father, Empress Dowager summoned you to the palace for your own good.”

“This imperial concubine is aware.”

“She is scared that I would be like the late Emperor, sacrificing imperial concubines in the harem at will for the sake of the imperial court’s subsistence.” Emperor Jing Li said, “Especially you.”

“Why this imperial concubine?”

“Empress Dowager likes you.”

“Why does Empress Dowager like this imperial concubine?”

“You guess.”

“….” At this time, Emperor Jing Li still had the mood to say “guess”. Liao Qing Qing replied cooperatively, “Because I am smart?”

“No.”

“Because this imperial concubine is extremely smart,” Liao Qing Qing said confidently.

Emperor Jing Li ruthlessly asked back,“??? Do you have a misconception about being smart?”

“Then what else is it?”

“Because you are foolish,” Emperor Jing Li said with a smile.

“….”

“Empress Dowager likes foolish ones.”

“???”

Liao Qing Qing looked at Emperor Jing Li incredulously.

Emperor Jing Li held Liao Qing Qing’s hand, pursed his lips and smiled as they walked towards Lisheng Pavilion.

A palace maid who was peeping not far away hurriedly ran towards Linhua Palace.

As soon as she saw Noble Consort Liang, she told what she saw and heard.

Noble Consort Liang asked in shock, “Empress Dowager didn’t punish Lady Xi of Bright Countenance?”

“Responding to Your Highness Noble Consort, no.”

“And also what?” Noble Consort Liang couldn’t quite believe her ears.

“And Lady Xi of Bright Countenance had her meal at the Empress Dowager’s place.”

“What else?”

“Then Lady Xi of Bright Countenance and His Majesty held hands and went back to Lisheng Pavilion with a smile.”

“Nonsense!” Noble Consort Liang suddenly raised her voice.

The palace maid was scared and kneeled on the ground with a thud. She said as she shivered, “Your Highness Noble Consort, this maidservant does not dare to speak of nonsense. This was what the maidservant saw with her own eyes. Lady Xi of Bright Countenance and His Majesty indeed were holding hands, talking, and laughing as they returned to Lisheng Pavilion.”

[1] 阿Q精神法(ā Q jīngshén fǎ)- Ah Q’s method of spiritual victory or the method of spiritual victory is a concept that was criticised in The True Story of Ah Q as a self-comforting method. When Ah Q was beaten or bested, he would use this method to comfort himself. It depicts the mentality of Chinese people in a satirical posture, and also has a derogatory meaning. Method of spiritual victory is a technique used to regain self-esteem by making oneself feel good through self-hypnosis and self-anaesthesia. Credit: Wikipedia