CH 38.2

As soon as Emperor Jing Li arrived at Lisheng Pavilion, he saw Liao Qing Qing sitting on the stone bench in the courtyard.

The two hands of Liao Qing Qing were propping up her white, tender, little face. She was looking up at the full moon on the top of the sky. Her appearance was naive and adorable.

Emperor Jing Li’s heart softened at first glance. He raised his hand to stop Fu Sheng from informing of his arrival. He called out directly, “Qing Qing.”

Who?

Liao Qing Qing turned her head at the sound.

When she saw Emperor Jing Li, her face involuntarily showed an expression of surprise.

“Why? Don’t you recognise me?” Emperor Jing Li walked towards Liao Qing Qing.

Liao Qing Qing looked at Emperor Jing Li. She was a little bored just now because Emperor Jing Li had gone to Noble Consort Liang’s place, so she came out to look at the moon. Her mood was just relieved when she saw Emperor Jing Li. She asked, “Your Majesty, why are you back now?”

“I settled the things. Of course, I will return.”

“Your Majesty, what did you do?”

“You guess.” Emperor Jing Li picked up the teacup in front of Liao Qing Qing and drank the lotus water heartily.

“This imperial concubine[1] can’t guess.”

“It’s about your father.”

“What’s the matter with this imperial concubine’s father?” Liao Qing Qing tensed up for a moment.

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

He briefly told Liao Qing Qing what had just happened in Linhua Palace.

After listening to it, Liao Qing Qing’s mouth gaped.

“What’s wrong?” Emperor Jing Li touched Liao Qing Qing’s face.

Liao Qing Qing said, “Your Majesty, why are you so amazing?”

“Can I be an Emperor if I am not amazing?”

“So amazing! The most amazing Emperor!”

Emperor Jing Li was very pleased with this patting of the dragon’s butt.[2]

Liao Qing Qing asked, “What about the matter of this imperial concubine’s father?”

“The Liang family will take care of this matter, so we don’t need to bother about it.”

“Will they take care of it?”

“They will. They will do a beautiful job of it to atone for their sins, and—”

“And what?”

“And it will be better for them to do it than for us to do it.”

“Why?”

“Because they were the ones leading on putting pressure on me in the imperial court. Now they let everything turn its natural course, which was increasingly more convincing than us doing it.”

“Your Majesty, you are too good! This imperial concubine will pour tea for you.” Liao Qing Qing was aware that Emperor Jing Li was mighty and also knew that Emperor Jing Li had maximum harem intrigue skills. But she didn’t expect the maximum to be explosively good. She really admired him and couldn’t help but act obsequiously by pouring him a cup of water. However, she was still confused and asked, “Your Majesty, Noble Consort Liang is very capable. How come she fell into your trap?”

Emperor Jing Li looked at Liao Qing Qing in disdain.

Liao Qing Qing lowered her head and whispered diffidently, “This imperial concubine doesn’t understand.”

Emperor Jing Li had no choice but to answer, “A war within the heart.”

“Within the heart?”

“Mm.” Emperor Jing Li began speaking, “Noble Consort Liang is not a dumb person. She does bad things, but she always removes herself clean from it. This included the year she entered the palace. On the surface, she has feelings for me. In fact, she was aware of the gradual decline of the Liang family. With the last remaining warmth, she put meas ‘hostage’ to bring her into the palace using ‘affection’ as a card. Actually, she covets the position of an Empress. The position of Empress will bring light to the Liang clan.”

Liao Qing Qing nodded after listening.

“This time, the matter of Magistrate Liao is also the same. I guessed the ins and outs. I believe that some of the imperial subjects guessed most of it, but there is no evidence.”

“Your Majesty, you have not found evidence either?”

“The evidence I have found is not sufficient to prove anything.”

“So you thought of fraud?”

“Mm. I cast Judge Liao’s matter repeatedly, causing the imperial subjects to urge me. This is to give them a false impression that I am investigating. Recently, you said it seemed that someone was watching you. I sent someone to check. Indeed, it is the people of Noble Consort Liang and Worthy Consort who are observing your every move.”

“You are discerning through this point that Noble Consort Liang and Worthy Consort are fishy.”

“Not bad. Worthy Consort is the younger maternal cousin of Noble Consort Liang. However, her heart and mind are far from Noble Consort Liang.”

“Then why didn’t Your Majesty set your hands on Worthy Consort first?”

“If I set my hands on Worthy Consort on my side, Noble Consort Liang’s side will be prepared.”

“Right.” Liao Qing Qing nodded her head vigorously.

Emperor Jing Li continued, “So I use Worthy Consort as the entry point. I first gave Noble Consort Liang the impression that she was in an unfavourable position. She is smart, so she will certainly think I am tricking her. Once she has this idea, she has fallen into my schemes.”

“Why?”

“It is still the human heart. Once she thought of ‘fraud’, the things she had done will always exist in her heart and even infinitely amplify. She must be fully focused on the illusion to wrap it up. It is also easy to ignore the loopholes of what others speak of, which also allows me to take advantage of the skinny man and the door card to increasingly threaten her, causing her not to be able to withstand it.”

“Who is the skinny man?” Can a man enter the imperial harem? Liao Qing Qing thought carefully. It was brought in by Emperor Jing Li, so there was no problem.

Who knew Emperor Jing Li would reply, “A new eunuch under Fu Sheng.”

“…. Then… Then what about the door card?”

“I sent someone to steal it.”

“???” You can also do that? Liao Qing Qing was stunned. This Emperor Jing Li is too impecunious. His skills in fraud and theft are so exceptional. She asked again, “What about the matter about the head steward?”

“I made it up.” Emperor Jing Li said justifiably, but also a little proud.

“???” This… This… Such a thing can be made up?

“Anyway, Noble Consort Liang is living deep in the harem. She knew the general direction of things. But she wasn’t aware of the details. It would be harmless for me to make it up.” Emperor Jing Li added, “You read books all day; isn’t that also made up? Does it prevent you from indulging in it?”

“….” This… This… This logic is a hundred marks!

If Emperor Jing Li was not an Emperor, he would probably be a scoundrel.

“In the end, it’s that Noble Consort Liang’s heart isn’t bold enough.” Emperor Jing Li let out a sigh.

“That’s right. Not many people in this world have the inner strength of Your Majesty.”

“Mm.” Emperor Jing Li nodded his head without modesty and said, “When humans are alive, it is their heart. No matter what others say or think, as long as the heart is strong enough, they will be invincible with effort.”

Liao Qing Qing agreed with this point.

“So,” Emperor Jing Li continued with insight, “In the future, we must let our children have strong hearts, so they can level all hardships and dangers.”

“Children?” The topic is changing a bit fast. All of a sudden, we are talking about our children?

“Yes.” Emperor Jing Li said.

Liao Qing Qing felt her temples throbbed and said, “Your Majesty, you’re thinking a little far.”

“Is it far?”

“Far.” Liao Qing Qing’s eyes unconsciously moved towards three inches below Emperor Jing Li’s navel.

Emperor Jing Li, “???”

[1] 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.

[2] 拍马屁(pāimǎpì)- The literal translation is to pat a horse’s butt. It means to flatter or bootlck someone. Here, it means that Emperor Jing Li is very pleased with Liao Qing Qing’s flattery.