CH 41.1

“Fu Sheng!” Emperor Jing Li shouted.

“This servant[1] is present!” Fu Sheng hastily answered.

“Go get a blanket!”

“??? Your Majesty, you’re not going to bring Lady Xi of Bright Countenance a blanket personally, are you?”

“Of course!”

“But—” But the reason why Fu Sheng said that the Liao manor was poor was for the Emperor to reward the Liao manor with something. By doing so, His Majesty could find sustenance from it and wouldn’t need to miss Lady Xi of Bright Countenance so much.

He did not expect the Emperor would personally deliver the blanket.

Moreover, the Liao manor was poor but would they be short of a blanket for Lady Xi of Bright Countenance?

Has His Majesty forgotten the one thousand taels of silver awarded to Liao manor a few days ago?

Sending a blanket… It’s incredible how His Majesty can think of this!

“But what?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

Fu Sheng lowered his head and said, “But Your Majesty is a monarch that oversees the palace. If you were to leave the palace, it would inevitably cause some bad rumours.”

Emperor Jing Li paused for a moment.

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Fu Sheng asked cautiously, “Is that right, Your Majesty?”

“That’s right!”

Fu Sheng instantly let out a sigh of relief.

Emperor Jing Li then added, “So I[2] have to disguise myself.”

Fu Sheng, “???”

Emperor Jing Li’s eyes turned to Fu Sheng.

Fu Sheng’s body hardened and timidly called out, “Your Majesty.”

“Go get me a set of eunuch’s clothes.”

“???”

“Hurry, go.”

“….”

A quarter of an hour later, Fu Sheng looked at the tall and muscular man in the eunuch’s uniform in front of him. His temples throbbed, and he couldn’t help but say disapprovingly, “Your Majesty, this isn’t appropriate, right?”

Emperor Jing Li tugged at his eunuch uniform and lifted his hat. Everything was fine, but the eunuch uniform was a little small. It was barely acceptable.

He ignored Fu Sheng, picked up a blanket and said, “Let’s go.”

“Your Majesty, this isn’t appropriate.”

“How is it inappropriate?”

“It’s too dangerous outside, and if the Empress Dowager knows about it….”

“Fu Sheng.” Emperor Jing Li turned his head. His eyes slightly narrowed, and he said, “Great Wei is my Great Wei. I secretly disguised myself and walked on the avenue of the capital. If I can be killed, then I, the Emperor, should indeed die!”

Fu Sheng shivered with fear.

Emperor Jing Li’s expression instantly became cordial and said, “Go. It’s not the first time I sneak out of the palace. Let’s go according to the original route.”

Fu Sheng had no choice but to reply, “Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Fu Sheng went in front of Emperor Jing Li and said loudly, “Your Majesty, this servant receives your order and will go out of the palace to deliver a blanket to Lady Xi of Bright Countenance.”

Emperor Jing Li naturally did not reply to Fu Sheng.

Fu Sheng straightened his back. With a stern face, he turned his head to palace maids and eunuch beside them and said, “Whether the sky or the ground fell. No one should disturb His Majesty’s sleep. I[3]….” Until when? His Majesty looks so imposing and reliable. Actually, it is hard to guess his thoughts. “I will return and personally serve His Majesty.”

The palace maids and young eunuchs bowed their heads and answered in unison, “Yes.”

Fu Sheng closed the room door and walked straight ahead.

Emperor Jing Li lowered his body and followed him.

Once they were out of Lisheng Pavilion, Fu Sheng called for four guards with superior martial arts skills to follow him covertly so as to avoid anything unforeseen; in fact, they were meant to protect Emperor Jing Li.

Everything was well arranged.

Only then did Fu Sheng and Emperor Jing Li leave the palace gates by riding a horse on the pretext of delivering something to Lady Xi of Bright Countenance. At this time, it was already dark, and the number of pedestrians on the road was decreasing. However, everything was very peaceful and safe.

This was something that Emperor Jing Li was satisfied with.

The Wei Dynasty under his governance should be close to the state of “no one picks up lost articles in the street[4]and doors are not locked at night”.[5] In his heart, he was a little proud of himself.

Very quickly, they arrived at the entrance of Liao manor.

They informed the gatekeeper that Eunuch Fu Sheng was here.

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The gatekeeper hurriedly went to inform.

A few moments later, Second Master Liao hastily came out to receive him.

Fu Sheng was aware of how much importance the Emperor placed on Lady Xi of Bright Countenance, and he wouldn’t dare to act pretentiously in front of Lady Xi of Bright Countenance’s father.

Moreover, the Emperor was right in front of him.

He very politely exchanged pleasantries with Second Master Liao.

Second Master Liao asked, “May I ask what is Eunuch Fu’s instruction for visiting late at night?”

Fu Sheng answered, “Magistrate Liao is polite. I don’t dare to give any instructions. I just came to deliver a blanket to Lady Xi of Bright Countenance on the order of His Majesty.”

“Deliver a blanket?” Second Master Liao was astonished.

“That’s right.” Fu Sheng explained with a smile, “This blanket is Lady Xi of Bright Countenance’s favourite. It is light and comfortable, and it can keep out the cold in winter and cool in summer.”

Second Master Liao marvelled, “There is such a magical blanket in this world!”

Fu Sheng felt awkward for a moment.

Emperor Jing Li, hiding behind Fu Sheng, wanted to laugh. This Magistrate Liao really had limited abilities like what Qing Qing had said.

Fu Sheng unnaturally responded, “Ye-Yeah.”

“Please quickly have a seat.” While Second Master Liao was speaking, they had arrived in the front courtyard hall. Second Master Liao was prepared to receive Fu Sheng properly and let his daughter’s palace maid come to fetch the blanket.

However, Fu Sheng said, “Magistrate Liao need not be polite. I will send it over to Lady Xi of Bright Countenance.”

“Eunuch Fu will personally send it?”

“I am a servant of the imperial family. To send something to Her Highness is also part of my duty.” Fu Sheng was afraid that Magistrate Liao would not allow him to enter the backyard and added, “If this object were given using the hands of others, this servant wouldn’t be at ease, and it would not be easy for me to explain to His Majesty.”

Emperor Jing Li nodded his head. Fu Sheng is a good speaker.

Magistrate Liao immediately agreed, “Yes, yes, yes. It’s just that it’s already nighttime. It’s inconvenient for this official[6] to enter the backyard. Hence, let the maidservant bring Eunuch Fu inside.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Fu Sheng responded in agreement.

Emperor Jing Li realised that Magistrate Liao was still a bit pedantic.

That’s right.

If Magistrate Liao isn’t so pedantic and stupid, he wouldn’t have been able to give birth to such a lovely and innocent person like Qing Qing. Emperor Jing Li looked at Magistrate Liao in a good light with this thought in mind.

He’s pedantically adorable.

“Then I will send the blanket to Lady Xi of Bright Countenance,” Fu Sheng said.

Magistrate Liao thanked him, “Thank you for the trouble, Eunuch Fu.”

Fu Sheng glanced back at Emperor Jing Li before heading inside.

Emperor Jing Li deliberately bent over and hunched his body. He followed Fu Sheng into the backyard. He had already surveyed the layout of Liao manor once. It was indeed simple and practical.

It was even a bit shabby.

His heart ached for Qing Qing when he thought of how his Qing Qing grew up here without any silver and time to learn zither, chess, calligraphy and painting, and she only knew how to grow vegetables.

After arriving at the backyard, there was another side door to enter the small courtyard. The small courtyard was obviously more elegant than the two courtyards in front. He felt much more at ease when he heard the maidservant say it was specially built for Qing Qing.

Just before entering the courtyard, he heard sounds of people talking inside.

“Elder Sister, I’m about to win.”

“Don’t get cocky. I can tell how you are going to place the pieces.”

It’s Qing Qing’s voice!

It was only a night and two days since he heard it, but it felt like two or three years had passed. For the first time, he realised the meaning of the phrase “one day apart seems like three years”.

He was very excited.

He followed the sound source and saw a half-opened window filled with warm yellow light. Liao Qing Qing was sitting on a soft couch in front of the window playing chess with a young child.

“Who is that young child?” Emperor Jing Li was instantly unhappy.

“That’s Lady Xi of Bright Countenance’s younger brother. Our family’s noble son.”

Emperor Jing Li’s face softened slightly.

Fu Sheng cast a glance at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li immediately realised his body. He lowered his back and hunched his back again. They followed the maidservant to the door.

[1] 奴才 (núcái) – self appellation of bondservant when addressing the royalty or one’s master/your humble servant.

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

[3] 咱家(zánjiā)- I (often used in early vernacular literature). It is usually used by eunuchs.

[4] 路不拾遗(lùbùshíyí)- No one picks up lost articles in the street. It means that honesty prevails throughout society.

[5] 夜不闭户(yèbùbìhù)- Doors are not locked at night. It suggests a stable society.

[6] 本官(běn guān)- this official