CH 20

Translated by: Jellylynn

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

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

-曦嫔(xī pín)-Imperial Concubine Xi, Liao Qing Qing’s current designation

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

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

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

–梁贵妃(liáng guìfēi)- Noble Consort Liang

-廖贵人(Liào guìrén)- Noble Lady Liao, the female lead’s paternal elder cousin.

Current Ranking: Noble Consort Liang → Worthy Consort + Virtuous Consort → Imperial Concubine Xi →  Lady Li of Graceful Ceremony → Noble Lady Liao + Noble Lady Jiang

Liao Qing Qing tore open the envelope, unfolded the letter and the first words she saw were —To my daughter.

My daughter?

Oh.

It is a letter from the Liao manor.

Why did the Liao manor send her a letter?

She continued to read the letter. The content of the letter was mostly showing concern for her and missed her.

When she saw the three words “Noble Lady Liao”, she understood the intention of the Liao manor.

The concern for her was false, but they wanted her to say a few words in front of Emperor Jing Li to raise her paternal cousin, Noble Lady Liao, was true.

Heh heh.

They really know how to dream..

Before entering the palace, Noble Lady Liao’s father was already a fourth-rank’s official. Her father was a petty bureaucrat official of the eighth rank. The entire Liao manor’s resources were deferred to Noble Lady Liao’s family. The original owner did not live well.

She had never seen Liao manor show concern before.

Now that she was “in favour”, the letter from the Liao manor arrived. It was probably Noble Lady Liao’s father’s idea to force her parents to write this letter.

She was also not a saintess. In this imperial harem, she also lived with trepidation.

She had no intention to lend others a hand.

Anyway, as long as she was still Imperial Concubine Xi, her parents would not live too shabby in the Liao manor!

She didn’t want to meddle in Noble Lady Liao’s affairs.

She continued to snack on the pomegranates. She also cut two pomegranates at the same time, and sent them to Emperor Jing Li and was rewarded with a lot of food.

She ecstatically accepted it.

Afterwards, she did not receive any letters from the Liao manor for several days. She guessed that her parents stopped it to save her from worrying about it.

In a blink of an eye, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival.

This year, the crops ripened early and were harvested in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Emperor Jing Li was delighted because the Ministry of Revenue reported gratifying figures. This time, he did not take advantage of the reunion banquet to give the ministers a dress down, but ordered them to go home to admire the moon.

He set up a mid-autumn reunion banquet in the imperial harem.

On the day of the banquet, Emperor Jing Li took off his usual dragon robe and wore a dark purple cloud pattern brocade garment. He was handsome and tall ‒ thirty percent less dignified and twice as casual. The reunion banquet atmosphere was extremely light-hearted.

There were also imperial concubines performing on the stage with zither, chess, calligraphy and painting.

Liao Qing Qing didn’t know that all the imperial concubines were so talented. She applauded passionately and even Noble Consort Liang played a song “High Mountain Flowing Water”.

Emperor Jing Li rewarded her heavily.

Noble Consort Liang, who was rewarded, looked at Liao Qing Qing. She asked with a dignified smile, “Imperial Concubine Xi, what is your talent?”

“Responding to Your Highness, Noble Consort, this imperial concubine[1] will do so now.”

Then, Liao Qing Qing played a piece of flute on the stage.

It was a mediocre performance.

The imperial concubines were secretly pleased to hear this.

Noble Consort Liang turned her head to look at Emperor Jing Li.

Since Emperor Jing Li was young, he received an education that was not like the ordinary people. He was proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy and painting. This Liao Qing Qing was incompetent in all of this. Even her flute performance was mediocre… He pressed his forehead.

After listening to Liao Qing Qing’s performance, he said, “Not bad.”

Then, there was no more after that.

Noble Consort Liang sneered inwardly. She secretly glanced at Liao Qing Qing and felt as if she had overestimated her.

Liao Qing Qing did not intend to compete with the women of the imperial harem. She did not feel that her performance was good or bad.

After bowing to Emperor Jing Li, she sat back in her seat and could finally enjoy viewing the moon with her dinner in peace.

The mid-autumn moon was so beautiful.

It hung in the sky, radiating a clear glow. When it fell on one’s heart, it added a bit of artistic mood of inseparable love. Liao Qing Qing raised her head to look at it.

After the reunion banquet ended, Emperor Jing Li and Noble Consort Liang went to Linhua Palace. She took He Xiang back to Lisheng Pavilion. After she bathed, she stood on the windowsill and was still looking at the full moon of the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar. Her heart was extraordinarily at peace.

“His Majesty has arrived—”

Fu Sheng’s announcement suddenly sounded from the doorway. Liao Qing Qing was startled. When she turned her head, she saw Emperor Jing Li entering with big strides.

Liao Qing Qing hurriedly paid her respects, “This imperial concubine greets Your Majesty.”

“You may rise.”

Liao Qing Qing looked at Emperor Jing Li in surprise and asked, “Your Majesty, why are you here?”

“Why can’t I[2] be here?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

“Today is the fifteenth day.”

“So what if it’s the fifteenth day?”

“Don’t you always spend the night at Noble Consort Liang’s on the fifteenth day of every month?”

“Who said that?”

“That’s what everyone says.”

“It’s up to me.”

“… But if you come over here, won’t Her Highness, Noble Consort, be angry?”

“It’s not like she’s my Empress.”

“???” Your Majesty, you are so rebellious.

“Look what I have brought over?” Emperor Jing Li pulled out a flute from behind his back.

“A flute?”

“Yes.”

“Your Majesty, why did you bring a flute?”

“To teach you how to play it.”

“This imperial concubine knows how to play it.”

“Your performance sounded so horrible.”

“….” Liao Qing Qing was embarrassed. In the process of getting along with the imperial concubines, she adhered to the style of “low profile, low profile and low profile”, so she would not stand out in any way. As for this playing of the flute, it was her greatest talent.

“Come here. I’ll teach you.” Emperor Jing Li pulled Liao Qing Qing to his side. He held her hands and placed it on the flute. He said, “Your fingers need to have a sense of rhythm. Just now, the tune you were playing was wrong.”

“Have I blown it incorrectly?”

“If you play it incorrectly, you just blew it incorrectly. You don’t need to add ‘have I’.”

“Your Majesty, you are so unruly.”

“What did you say?”

“This imperial concubine is asking where to put this finger?”

“Put it here. Just now you placed it wrongly.” Emperor Jing Li slowly stood behind Liao Qing Qing. He stood closer to her, encircling her within his embrace. He said, “Your breathing should be steady and rhythmic.”

“Mm.” Liao Qing Qing nodded.

“Place your lips here.” Emperor Jing Li directed.

Liao Qing Qing obediently did what she was told.

He Xiang, who came to serve tea, saw this scene and was instantly happy by His Majesty and her master. She quietly served the tea and slowly withdrew. She secretly covered her mouth and giggled.

“Blow,” Emperor Jing Li said.

“Wu.” Liao Qing Qing made a sound.

“Wrong, the force is too weak. Blow again.”

“Wu.”

“A little more force.”

“Wu!”

“It’s not correct. Blow again.”

“Wu, Wu, Wu!” (Crying noises) His Majesty is too strict. I don’t want to learn it anymore. (Crying noises)

“Blow again!”

“Wu!”

“It’s still not right!”

Emperor Jing Li’s face inched closer to Liao Qing Qing’s. Liao Qing Qing immediately inhaled Emperor Jing Li’s faint scent. It was a pleasant scent like the smell of the forest during the summer. She didn’t know whether it was because she was single for too long or something else.

Suddenly, her heart started to race.

She averted her gaze and looked at Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li was about to explain when he suddenly noticed something was amiss. His eyes swiveled and found his face almost touching Liao Qing Qing’s fair face. Under the light of the candlelight and moon, he could almost see the fine hair on Liao Qing Qing’s fair face. Her eyes were sparkling as if they could speak.

He firmly grabbed her.

He instantly felt his mouth and tongue dry.

This feeling was too foreign to Emperor Jing Li! He had always been preoccupied with court affairs. After he was poisoned and started to get headaches, he had never experienced getting along as a man and woman.

He subconsciously let go of Liao Qing Qing and took a step back. Only this way, He could only conceal the seething in his heart. He asked, “Why can’t you play such a simple tune?”

“This imperial concubine just… just… can’t, ah.” Liao Qing Qing was somewhat nervous.

“What do you know about zither, chess, calligraphy and painting?”

“This imperial concubine knows how to grow vegetables.”

“… ” Growing vegetables again.

Liao Qing Qing stood upright and said, “Your Majesty, this imperial concubine really knows how to grow vegetables!”

“… ” Emperor Jing Li reached out to hold his forehead. He slightly lowered his head. After a short period, his body slightly trembled.

What’s going on?

Liao Qing Qing focused her gaze at him. F*ck, this man is laughing!

[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).

Translator’s Note: Hello, hope everyone is doing well. I have exams next two weeks. Hence, I may be updating earlier than Sunday for next week as well. Stay safe!