CH 49.2

When He Xiang saw this, she laughed and said, “Mistress, look at how the Bureau Chief of the Department of Agricultural Products treats you as if he is giving sacrificial offerings to a celestial.”

Liao Qing Qing asked in response, “Does he treat me like a celestial?”

“That’s not all. The Department of Agricultural Products staff treats the Mistress like a celestial.”

“Is that true?”

“Mm. Mistress, you may be unaware, but this maidservant[1] heard about it the other day.”

“Heard about what?”

“I heard that after you discovered this potato, all the people in the Department of Agricultural Products had their salaries doubled, and everyone was privately thanking the Mistress.”

“They are thanking me for the silver, right?” Liao Qing Qing pointed straight to the crucial point.

He Xiang insisted, “They are definitely thanking the Mistress. Mistress’s merits are certainly not measured in silver. There is no telling how many people will benefit from this in the future.”

Liao Qing Qing smiled.

He Xiang said proudly, “Mistress is that amazing!” When the concubine candidates entered the palace, He Xiang was assigned to serve Liao Qing Qing in Lisheng Pavilion. Liao Qing Qing was just a small Liangyi for a long time.

Compared to the palace maids, she wasn’t really surviving very well.

But she didn’t think about it that much. She just wanted to serve her master well. However, she didn’t expect that Liao Qing Qing was going to be the head of the imperial harem in just over a year. Her monthly salary was much more than the others and her parents and younger sister were living better than before.

He Xiang was not a person that compared with others unrealistically.

But she was still overjoyed to have achieved something good, especially since her mistress had discovered potatoes, which had such a high production rate. The poor would have a better time in the future.

She was proud to be able to serve her mistress.

Liao Qing Qing smiled and continued the conversation, “I think I’m quite amazing too.”

He Xiang laughed along with her.

The master and servant got along very well.

After departing from the Department of Agricultural Products, Liao Qing Qing got on the carriage, and He Xiang walked beside her. The weather was already hot by this time, and Liao Qing Qing stayed at the Department of Agricultural Products for quite a while. After returning to Lisheng Pavilion, bathing and changing her clothes, Liao Qing Qing was in good spirits.

She heard the birds chirping around her and wanted to go out for a walk. So she said, “He Xiang, let’s go out for a walk.”

“Mistress, where do you want to go?” He Xiang asked.

Liao Qing Qing said, “To a cooler place.”

“A rockery or by the lake?” He Xiang thought about it and added, “You can also go to the bamboo forest. There are people over there who clean the bamboo forest. It’s cool to walk around in it, just that there are some mosquitoes.”

“No need to go to the bamboo forest. We can just walk casually to look at the trees and listen to the birds chirping.” It had been a long time since Liao Qing Qing had strolled around the imperial harem, mainly because the potato matter was sorted out and Liao Qing Qing wanted to relax. If she could, she would like to go on a picnic tour.

“Yes. Mistress, would you like an umbrella?”

“Open an umbrella.”

“Yes.”

Hence, Liao Qing Qing and He Xiang shared an umbrella. When they were under the shade, the umbrella was kept away. They walked around to look at the flowers and grass.

He Xiang said, “Mistress, look at how pretty the flowers are.”

“The Rainbow Pink,”[2] Liao Qing Qing said.

“What about this one?” He Xiang asked.

“This one is called Shechuangzi.”[3]

“Mistress, you know so much. This maidservant only knows the name of some wildflowers.”

“I’ve learned all this from the Empress Dowager. I’ll tell you if you want to know. Just remember it.”

“Yes.”

Liao Qing Qing took He Xiang everywhere to look for different kinds of flowers and grasses on the ground. Just then, He Xiang saw a figure flashing quickly, and she let out an “eh” sound.

Liao Qing Qing asked, “What’s wrong?”

“This maidservant just saw one of the palace maids from Noble Consort Liang’s palace run away from here.”

“Isn’t that normal? This is a public area. All the imperial concubines in the harem can come over, so maybe Noble Consort Liang is nearby.” Liao Qing Qing lifted her eyes and surveyed the place. Sure enough, she saw Noble Consort Liang standing on the water pavilion.

When Liao Qing Qing saw Noble Consort Liang, Noble Consort Liang also happened to look over. Liao Qing Qing was still Lady of Bright Countenance, not as dignified as Noble Consort Liang. At this time, she should approach and greet her according to the etiquette.

“Let’s go,” Liao Qing Qing said.

“Yes,” He Xiang answered.

Liao Qing Qing ambled towards Noble Consort Liang and bowed strictly according to the rules, “This imperial concubine greets Noble Consort Liang.”

“You may rise,” Noble Consort Liang said.

Liao Qing Qing slowly got up.

Noble Consort Liang measured Liao Qing Qing with her eyes. With a smile on her face, she said, “I haven’t seen you for a few days, and Lady Xi of Bright Countenance has become increasingly full of life.”

Liao Qing Qing responded, “Noble Consort Liang has flattered me.”

“Look at your figure. It is getting better and better.” As Noble Consort Liang said this, she used her hands to grab onto Liao Qing Qing’s arms, like they were very intimate.

Liao Qing Qing wouldn’t have thought much about it if this were last year. However, she had already fallen out with Noble Consort Liang and Worthy Consort this year. Presently, there was no one else, so there must be something amiss with Noble Consort Liang acting so intimately.

Instantly, she was alerted and gave a sideways glance at He Xiang.

He Xiang also understood the significance of this. Her body immediately became tense and stared straight at Noble Consort Liang and her mistress, fearing that Noble Consort Liang would do no good to her mistress.

But Noble Consort Liang still appeared to be calm.

Liao Qing Qing took the opportunity to secretly take a step backwards while she paid her respect. She said, “Thank you for your compliment, Noble Consort Liang.”

“Bengong[4] is telling the truth. No wonder you can charm His Majesty to be head over heels with you.”

“???” Liao Qing Qing felt that Noble Consort Liang was about to show her powers.

Noble Consort Liang’s face hardened, and she said, “Nowadays, His Majesty only has eyes for you in his heart and has forgotten about all of us.’

“Noble Consort Liang, this imperial concubine—”

Noble Consort Liang interrupted Liao Qing Qing, “You don’t have to explain!” She continued, “you find Bengong a sore in your eye!”

“???” Where is this going? Liao Qing Qing opened her mouth to explain, “Noble Consort Liang, this imperial concubine thinks that you have misunderstood.”

“Are you trying to get rid of Bengong?”

“Noble Consort Liang, this imperial concubine does not—”

“Lady Xi of Bright Countenance, Bengong has misjudged you. I didn’t expect you to be so evil inside!” Noble Consort Liang’s voice raised slightly as she moved closer towards Liao Qing Qing and deliberately pulled Liao Qing Qing’s arm.

Liao Qing Qing and He Xiang were instantly taken aback.

He Xiang even stepped forward and grabbed Liao Qing Qing’s arm. “Mistress.”

But instead of pulling Liao Qing Qing’s arm, Noble Consort Liang suddenly leaned back and fell into the lake.

There was a loud splash.

Liao Qing Qing, “???” I didn’t use any force.

He Xiang, “???” This maidservant didn’t push anyone either.

The author has something to say: ——

Liao Qing Qing: ???

He Xiang: ???

Emperor Jing Li: I understand.

Liao Qing Qing: You understand what?

Readers: He is the expert in harem intrigue.

Liao Qing Qing: I understand too.

[1] 奴婢[núbì]- I; your humble servant (term of self-address used by servants, maid-servants and eunuchs when addressing the emperor, minister, concubines, etc.)

[2] 石竹(shí zhú)- The Rainbow Pink also known as the China Pink is the species of Dianthus native to northern China, Korea, Mongolia and southeastern Russia. Credit: Wikipedia

[3] 蛇床(shé chuáng)- Shechuangzi also known as Cnidium monnieri or Monnier’s snow parsley is a flowering plant species in the genus Cnidium. Credit: Google

[4] 本宮 (Běngōng) – I, the one who owns this palace. Such as the queen will call herself ‘the palace’, and the princess with the official title can also call herself ‘the palace’.