CH 53.1

Names mentioned in this chapter (which can also be found in the glossary):

-廖青青(Liào qīngqīng)- Liao Qing Qing, the female lead. 

–曦昭容(xī zhāo róng)- Lady Xi of Bright Countenance, Liao Qing Qing’s current designation.

-景礼帝(jǐng lǐ ​​dì)- Emperor Jing Li, the male lead.

–梁妃(liáng fēi)- Consort Liang, formerly known as Noble Consort Liang.

–贤妃(xián fēi)- Worthy Consort, Noble Consort Liang’s maternal cousin

-德妃(dé fēi)- Virtuous Consort

-荷香(Hé ​​xiāng)- He Xiang, the female lead’s maidservant

-福生(fú shēng)- Fu Sheng, the emperor’s chief eunuch. 

Current Ranking: Empress Dowager → Worthy Consort + Virtuous Consort + Consort Liang → Lady Xi of Bright Countenance →  Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony → Ye Liangyi + Wu Liangyi → Noble Lady Liao + Noble Lady Jiang

It can’t be that I am pregnant, right?

No way, right?

Liao Qing Qing carefully recalled her menstrual cycle.

Emperor Jing Li asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”

Liao Qing Qing got back to her senses and looked back at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li’s eyes were filled with puzzlement.

The drama she used to watch surfaced in Liao Qing Qing’s mind, where an imperial concubine in the harem faked her pregnancy and caused a lot of trouble. She didn’t want that to happen, so she replied to Emperor Jing Li with a smile, “This imperial concubine[1] thinks that Your Majesty is right.”

Emperor Jing Li smiled and took out the pomegranate bracelet from the wooden box and put it on for Liao Qing Qing. “Then continue wearing it. Maybe you will be blessed with many children.”

Emperor Jing Li did not believe in strange powers.

But since it involved Liao Qing Qing, he believed in it.

Liao Qing Qing nodded her head.

Emperor Jing Li went into the room with Qing Qing in his arms. Soon afterwards, Emperor Jing Li left after an imperial official requested an audience with Emperor Jing Li. Liao Qing Qing asked He Xiang, “When was the last time my period came?”

He Xiang immediately replied.

Liao Qing Qing listened and said, “Then I didn’t have my period this month?”

“It’s still two or three days away.”

“Oh, then I remembered wrongly.”

Even though Liao Qing Qing said this, there was a strange and warm feeling in her heart.

She glanced down at the pomegranate bracelet on her wrist and smiled.

She thought to herself, ‘Maybe he is on his way here.’

She stopped paying attention to it. It just happened to be the Lunar New Year. She had been in the palace for more than three years. In previous years, Consort Liang, Virtuous Consort and Worthy Consort were in charge of the harem. At this moment, Consort Liang and Worthy Consort lost their power, which was the same as falling out of favour.

Liao Qing Qing and Virtuous Consort were now in charge of the entire imperial harem. She and Virtuous Consort always had a good relationship. They handled all of the matters smoothly.

It was just that it was hectic during the Lunar New Year.

The Lunar New Year goods, monthly salary, rewards, interaction with the imperial subject’s families, and so on kept her busy until Lunar New Year’s Eve.

This was Emperor Jing Li’s only day off.

After Emperor Jing Li brought a group of imperial concubines to pay their respect to Empress Dowager, they did not disturb Empress Dowager anymore. Emperor Jing Li held Liao Qing Qing’s hand and returned to Lisheng Pavilion. The two of them spent the whole day together.

They played chess, drank tea and chatted.

The day was extremely pleasant.

Last year, Liao Qing Qing wanted to build a snowman, but she didn’t manage to. This year, Emperor Jing Li didn’t ask the palace maids and eunuchs to sweep the snow in Lisheng Pavilion. The two put on their overcoats and built a snowman in the courtyard.

No. To be more precise, Emperor Jing Li was building it, and Liao Qing Qing was giving him instructions.

“Your Majesty, build a fatter snowman.” Liao Qing Qing was draped in a red cloak. Her ebony hair was covered with fluttering snow falling from the tree’s branches, making her look increasingly beautiful and charming; her soulful eyes made her look more animated.

Emperor Jing Li raised his eyes for a moment, and his heart rejoiced. He hadn’t been this relaxed and refreshed in a long time. He said with a smile on his face as he moved the shovel in his hands, “All right.”

As Liao Qing Qing watched Emperor Jing Li pile up a large column in three or five strokes, she did not hesitate to praise him, “Wow, Your Majesty, you are amazing!”

A smile appeared on Emperor Jing Li’s face.

“The snowman’s head should be round,” Liao Qing Qing said.

“Mm.”

“Your Majesty, build two snowmen.”

“Why?”

“One is too lonely.”

“Then I[2] will build a male snowman and a female snowman.”

“Yes, yes!”

“One is me, and the other is Qing Qing.”

Emperor Jing Li was so energetic that he warmed up in no time and began to untie his overcoat.

Liao Qing Qing hastily went forward to take Emperor Jing Li’s overcoat and said, “Your Majesty, this imperial concubine will hold it for you. When you are cold later, you can wear it again.”

“Alright. It’s slippery here. Stand on the other side.”

“Mm.”

Liao Qing Qing held onto Emperor Jing Li’s grey overcoat and stood next to him. She turned her head and said to He Xiang, “Go to the imperial kitchen to bring over some aubergines and radishes.”

“Mistress, what are you going to do with it?”

“To make the eyes and nose for the snowman later.”

“Yes.”

He Xiang ran away happily.

Liao Qing Qing set her eyes on Emperor Jing Li again. It was Emperor Jing Li’s day off. He was not in his usual brightly coloured dragon robe but a simple, comfortable purple beautiful garment. The yellow belt around his waist gave off a leisurely feeling. With the surrounding white snow as the backdrop, he was more upright like pine or cypress that defied the cold.

For no reason, it gave her a sense of stability.

Immense happiness and joy silently filled her heart.

She quietly gazed at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li suddenly turned his head and asked, ‘How did I do?”

Liao Qing Qing turned her eyes to the two snowmen and said, “It’s not round enough.”

“How can I make them rounder?”

“This imperial concubine will help you.”

Liao Qing Qing handed Emperor Jing Li’s cloak to Fu Sheng and slowly walked towards him while rubbing her hands together. Emperor Jing Li grabbed her hands just as they touched the snow.

“Be careful of falling ill,” Emperor Jing Li reminded.

Liao Qing Qing’s heart warmed up, and she said, “Your Majesty, this imperial concubine has always been in good health.”

“That won’t do. What if you get sick?” Although there were top-notch imperial physicians in the palace, there were still few illnesses caused by cold outside and inside the palace. Emperor Jing Li was afraid that Liao Qing Qing would have the slightest accident.

“…. This imperial concubine will wear gloves. Would it be alright if I wear gloves?”

Emperor Jing Li reluctantly agreed.

After Liao Qing Qing put on the gloves, she began to rub against the snowman’s face, making it round. She and Emperor Jing Li used a branch for the snowman’s arms, the purple skin from an eggplant for the eyes, carrots for the nose, and a carrot skin for the mouth.

Two snowmen were then built.

“Mm. Not bad. Not bad.” Liao Qing Qing was very satisfied.

“Do you like it?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

Liao Qing Qing nodded. “I like it.”

“It’s for you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“I don’t want you to thank me verbally.”

“Then what does Your Majesty want?”

“Kiss me once.”

“….”

“Kiss me once.”

As soon as Emperor Jing Li said this, He Xiang and Fu Sheng next to them pursed their lips and snickered as they lowered their heads. When Liao Qing Qing turned her head to look at the two, she saw nothing and kissed Emperor Jing Li on the lips.

Emperor Jing Li smiled and kissed her back.

The wind blew at that moment, blowing the snow off the branches and landing on Liao Qing Qing’s and Emperor Jing Li’s face with a <smack> sound. The two of them sprang away in unison, looking at the snow pellets on each other’s faces. They were stunned at first, then laughed at the same time.

Emperor Jing Li stretched out his arms to brush the snow off Liao Qing Qing’s face.

Liao Qing Qing also brushed the snow off the side of Emperor Jing Li’s face.

Lisheng Pavilion was filled with unceasing laughter. The palace maids and eunuchs were all happy; however, pleasant days always ended quickly.

Soon the sky became dark.

The snow began to fall.

The sound of firecrackers sounded from inside and outside the palace. It was filled with the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year.

After a sumptuous dinner, Emperor Jing Li held Liao Qing Qing and leaned on the soft couch with a blanket around them as they watched the snowflakes falling outside the window together and the two snowmen amongst the snowflakes. They stayed up for the Lunar New Year together.

“Qing Qing,” Emperor Jing Li called out.

Liao Qing Qing softly answered.

“Do you know?”

“What?”

“I haven’t been this happy for a long time.”

“It’s the same for this imperial concubine.”

“You too?”

“Mm.”

Emperor Jing Li’s grip around Liao Qing Qing slightly tightened as he gazed out at the two snowmen outside. He said somewhat sentimentally, “Those two snowmen are me and you, together forever. I used to think that the palace was a cage. After I met you, everything became exciting. The sun shone brighter; the birds’ chirps were even clearer; even the trees in the palace became adorable. I couldn’t help thinking that if only I had met you earlier, Qing Qing. Do you feel the same too?”

After Emperor Jing Li asked, he waited for Liao Qing Qing’s answer.

He waited for a long time, but there was no response.

He looked down puzzledly and saw that Liao Qing Qing had fallen asleep.

……

What about the promise of staying up all night together for the Lunar New Year?[3]

Emperor Jing Li extended his hand to pinch Liao Qing Qing’s cheek, wanting to wake her up, yet he couldn’t bear to apply force. He kissed Liao Qing Qing on the face, covered her with a blanket. Then, he hugged Liao Qing Qing. He stayed up for the Lunar New Year with a warm feeling in his heart.

He only fell asleep after staying up ten minutes past midnight.

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

[3] 守岁(shǒusuì)- See in the New Year/stay up all night on the eve of Chinese New Year. A long time ago, there was a ferocious creature called Nian. Each time, Nian emerged at night and returned to the forests after dawn and he would only come out to attack humans once every 365 days. People would call the eve of Chinese New Year a critical moment to defeat Nian. After the reunion dinner, people dared not to sleep and sat together to embolden each other. People lighted candles or oil lamps to stay up late, as a symbol to ward off illnesses and demons. This tradition has been passed down from then on.