CH 56

“Mm.” Liao Qing Qing nodded honestly.

Emperor Jing Li’s face instantly turned sullen.

Liao Qing Qing happened to notice it. She knew that Emperor Jing Li’s unknown mental illness was about to erupt again, so she immediately held Emperor Jing Li’s hand back and said, “Your Majesty, there is a reason for this.”

“What’s the reason?” Emperor Jing Li asked in a grumbling tone.

“This concubine[1] wants to tell you personally!”

Emperor Jing Li looked straight at Liao Qing Qing.

Liao Qing Qing said extremely seriously, “This concubine doesn’t want you to hear from other people’s mouths, so this concubine told Empress Dowager not to tell Your Majesty yet. But Your Majesty has been too busy lately, so this concubine postponed it.”

“It sounds pleasant to hear. Today, I[2] am free, and I don’t see you wanting to tell me. It was I who discovered the little shoes first.”

“This concubine forgot.”

“Forgot?”

“….” If she were to say “I did forget” now, the childish Emperor would lose his temper again. Hence, she has to change the topic. Liao Qing Qing contemplated for a moment and said, “It’s because this concubine hasn’t looked at Your Majesty for too long. When Your Majesty came, all I could think about was Your Majesty, so this concubine has suddenly forgotten about it.”

As expected, Emperor Jing Li’s face looked better.

Liao Qing Qing secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Emperor Jing Li carefully recalled Liao Qing Qing’s words. He was thrilled and asked, “So, you miss me?”

“I do,” Liao Qing Qing replied.

The corners of Emperor Jing Li rose uncontrollably. As to whether he was the last person to know Qing Qing was pregnant… It didn’t matter; what mattered was that Qing Qing missed him. He placed Liao Qing Qing on his lap again and asked, “How many months pregnant are you?”

“The Imperial Physician said it’s been more than two months.”

“So long? I didn’t even know.” Guilt flashed past in Emperor Jing Li’s eyes.

“This concubine also found out not long ago.” Liao Qing Qing explained, “It’s mainly because the child didn’t torment me. I don’t feel anything other than drowsiness.”

“It’s an obedient child.” Emperor Jing Li reached out to stroke Liao Qing Qing’s flat stomach.

Liao Qing Qing said with a smile, “It’s still small. You won’t be able to feel anything.”

Emperor Jing Li looked at Liao Qing Qing again and said, “Qing Qing, I thank you.”

A faint smile appeared on Liao Qing Qing’s face. It had her usual striking appearance and was a little more attractive than usual.

Emperor Jing Li’s heart tickled as he looked at her. He kissed Liao Qing Qing’s lips again. After kissing for a while, Emperor Jing Li’s breath became slightly heavier. Liao Qing Qing pushed Emperor Jing Li away and said, “Your Majesty, you can’t.”

“Why?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

“The Imperial Physician said that the foetus is unstable before the third month, so we must not mess around.”

“Last month, we were still very passionate.”

“???”

“Evidently, the child’s skin is firm.”

“???”

“We really can’t?” Emperor Jing Li asked somewhat worriedly.

“Yes. We weren’t aware in the past. But now that we know, we naturally have to pay more attention.” Liao Qing Qing’s hand reflexively protected her abdomen.

Emperor Jing Li looked at Liao Qing Qing’s hands. Bitterness filled her heart. However, he felt warm and delighted upon thinking that this was his and Qing Qing’s child. He placed his big hands on Liao Qing Qing’s hands and said, “Iwill listen to you.”

Liao Qing Qing nodded her head.

Emperor Jing Li kissed Liao Qing Qing’s forehead.

After that, he listened to whatever Liao Qing Qing said.

For example, they couldn’t broadcast the pregnancy in the first three months of her pregnancy.

Only then did Emperor Jing Li not make it known to the world.

After three months, Emperor Jing Li could not control himself anymore.

He proclaimed it in the imperial harem.

He went to the imperial court to announce it.

He also announced to the land under heaven that taxes would be reduced for a year.

Liao Qing Qing felt that Emperor Jing Li was being too ostentatious, but Emperor Jing Li didn’t think so. He hadn’t established an Empress and had no heir for many years, so many people were poking at him behind his back and saying he was impotent.

Of course, he had to show off a bit.

Those imperial officials, who had been arguing all day, remained silent at this time. Although they were argumentative, they were dedicated to the country and regularly urged Emperor Jing Li to get married and have children. Even though they were not too satisfied with Liao Qing Qing as the Empress, Liao Qing Qing had indeed created a legendary achievement and was now pregnant with an imperial child.

Even the argumentative imperial subjects had to shut up.

There was no more objection to Liao Qing Qing in the imperial court in this regard.

At this time, the snowstorm in Dongliao County and the flooding in the south were curbed in time because of Emperor Jing Li’s high efficiency and hundreds of thousands of catties of potatoes were subsequently delivered. So there were no more people who died from starvation.

Many rumours spread that this was the auspicious sign of an imperial child and so on.

In short, the common people recognised Liao Qing Qing as Her Highness the Empress.

However, there was someone in the imperial harem who did not.

This person was Consort Liang.

Consort Liang lost power, which was equivalent to “losing Emperor Jing Li’s favour”. She was not well-liked by Emperor Jing Li. However, she was still a consort because her grandfather was the Marquis Huaishan, a founding imperial official.

Although Marquis Huaishan passed away many years ago, his honour still remained in the Liao family.

Because of Marquis Huaishan, Emperor Jing Li did not deal with Consort Liang harshly but only demoted her from the rank of Noble Consort to Consort.

At first, Consort Liang was disillusioned by the incident. Now, she thought that the Emperor was considering Marquis Huaishan’s merits, and the fire in her heart rekindled.

She wanted to make a move.

She was no longer passive and dressed up again. From time to time, she walked around the imperial harem, and it was no surprise that this reached Liao Qing Qing’s ears.

Liao Qing Qing was already the Empress. Although she was pregnant, Emperor Jing Li forbade her from exerting herself. However, Imperial Physician Fan said it was good for pregnant women to exercise in moderation. So Liao Qing Qing and Imperial Physician Fan convinced Emperor Jing Li to move around in moderation every day.

She also worked with Virtuous Consort to manage the harem.

Every move of the imperial harem was naturally under the palm of her hands.

She remembered that when Consort Liang was demoted, Emperor Jing Li was willing to let Consort Liang assist Virtuous Consort in managing the imperial harem. In the end, Consort Liang almost killed a palace maid by beating her to death in the palace.

A palace maid was also a human being. A palace maid was also born to a mother and father.

Emperor Jing Li was furious when he learned of this and withdrew Consort Liang’s authority to assist in managing the imperial harem, grounding her for half a year.

That was tantamount to falling out of favour.

Nobody would have thought that Consort Liang would come out again after six months.

Liao Qing Qing could not help but suspect that Consort Liang might be up to no good again.

After all, a woman with such ambition and background would not give in so easily.

And as expected, as soon as Consort Liang came out, she came over to pay her respects to Liao Qing Qing.

He Xiang was horrified after hearing this. She hastily ordered all the palace maids and eunuchs in the courtyard to be vigilant, not to slack off and make sure that the Empress was safe.

Liao Qing Qing herself was a little more vigilant as she sat on the upper seat.

She ordered someone to invite Consort Liang in.

After not seeing her for more than half a year, Consort Liang looked a little thinner than before but still had the same aura as before. When she saw Liao Qing Qing, the Empress, she automatically put away her former aura and respectfully paid her respects to Liao Qing Qing, “This concubine greets Your Highness, the Empress.”

“You may rise.” Liao Qing Qing said with a smile, “I have not seen you for a long time, Consort Liang.”

“Yeah, it was this concubine who was insensible and angered His Majesty. After being grounded for half a year, this concubine just came out to meet Your Highness, the Empress.”

“You are thoughtful,” Liao Qing Qing answered very formally.

Consort Liang felt very uncomfortable after hearing this. This was like a rich man and a poor man. The arrogant rich man had always looked down on the poor man. One day, a fortune fell from the sky, and the poor man became wealthier and more powerful than the rich man, and the rich man had to work for him.

How can the rich man not feel upset? 

Even though she was upset, she could not let it show. Consort Liang bowed in an orderly manner.

Liao Qing Qing inquired Consort Liang about her problems and ordered someone to give her some things as a bestowal. Consort Liang thanked her gently.

She did not make a single mistake from the start to the end.

As she was leaving, she gave a gentle glance at Liao Qing Qing’s stomach, making Liao Qing Qing’s scalp tingle. She always felt that Consort Liang had bad intentions. When Emperor Jing Li came over, Liao Qing Qing told Emperor Jing Li about Consort Liang’s visit.

Emperor Jing Li directly said, “Be careful of Consort Liang. She will definitely have bad intentions.”

Liao Qing Qing, “???” As expected of the young expert of harem intrigue to be so perceptive.

“Send someone to monitor her every move.” Emperor Jing Li said.

Professional!

Very professional harem intrigue skills!

“We can’t live in this place anymore,” Emperor Jing Li suddenly said.

“???” Liao Qing Qing looked at Emperor Jing Li in bewilderment.

Emperor Jing Li continued, “Live in Zhengqian Palace with me.”

“Live in Zhengqian Palace?”

When Liao Qing Qing was promoted again, Emperor Jing Li had asked Liao Qing Qing to move to another palace several times. However, Liao Qing Qing refused on the grounds that Lisheng Pavilion was quite good, mainly because she had an experimental field here, and she couldn’t bear to part from it.

After the coronation ceremony, Liao Qing Qing was still unwilling to move to another palace.

Emperor Jing Li was even prepared to build a new palace for Liao Qing Qing.

Aren’t there enough palaces in the imperial palace?

Liao Qing Qing was a frugal person, so she was naturally unwilling to do such a laborious task and refused immediately.

At this moment, Emperor Jing Li offered to live in Zhengqian Palace.

Zhengqian Palace.

That was the Emperor’s private bed chamber. Generally, when the Emperor was tired and did not want to sleep with the Empress and concubines, he would go back to his Zhengqian Palace to rest.

If Liao Qing Qing were to live in Zhengqian Palace, wouldn’t she be living with Emperor Jing Li?

That is not appropriate, right?

""

As if he could see what was in Liao Qing Qing’s mind, Emperor Jing Li immediately said, “Rules are made and broken by people. An ordinary couple lives in the same room all their lives. I am living in the same palace with my Empress. Why can’t I do so by setting an example of harmony between husband and wife for the common people?”

“….” Your Majesty is so good with his words.

“Besides, I am also doing it for the sake of the child.”

As soon as the child was mentioned, Liao Qing Qing immediately fired up.

Emperor Jing Li said, “Concubine Liang is causing mischief. Are you sure you can see it?”

She really couldn’t be sure.

“What if there is an oversight and you and the child get hurt?”

Liao Qing Qing immediately said, “Your Majesty, you have to protect this concubine and the child!”

“Of course!” Emperor Jing Li held Liao Qing Qing’s hand and said with certainty, “How I wish I could eradicate all the people and things that are dangerous to you. But I am the Emperor, and I have to, at the very least, abide by the systems in doing things. Otherwise, wouldn’t the land under heaven be in chaos?”

Liao Qing Qing nodded her head.

“Right now, Consort Liang has bad intentions but has not done bad deeds, so I cannot have her head removed. But by the time she does bad deeds, she may have already harmed you and the child. Therefore, I have to prevent it before that happens and then make the first move, provided that you and the child cannot be harmed in the slightest.”

Liao Qing Qing continued to nod her head.

Emperor Jing Li said, “So move in with me, and I wouldn’t need to run to Lisheng Pavilion every day.”

“This concubine obeys the orders.”

Emperor Jing Li nodded, looking very happy. Even his movements were very swift. On that night, he brought Liao Qing Qing to Zhengqian and started to move things in large quantities towards Zhengqian Palace the next day.

At first, no one understood what this was all about. But when they did, the entire Lisheng Pavilion had been moved to Zhengqian Palace, and the swiftness of the movements rendered many speechless.

When Consort Liang learnt the news, her whole body froze.

“Her Highness, the Empress, has moved to live with His Majesty?”

The author has something to say: ——

Emperor Jing Li: From now on, I will be able to see Qing Qing after I leave the imperial court! Happy!

Bun: You can see me too!

Emperor Jing Li: ???

——

[1] 臣妾(chénqiè)- this concubine/I, your servant (self-appellation of a lower-rank female). The literal meaning is ‘this subject and this concubine’.It is a self-appellation used by the ranks including and above Consorts. They are used by Consorts, Noble Consorts and Empress, etc. in front of the Emperor, Empress Dowager and Consorts, Noble Consorts that have a higher rank.

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