Chapter 24 Part 1- Hiking

How are they going to cause her trouble?

Plant evidence?

Poison her?

Suppress her?

These were the tactics that would often appear in television dramas. She did not know how Noble Consort Liang and the others were going to do it. The always lazy Liao Qing Qing couldn’t help feeling nervous. However, she had no idea what Noble Consort Liang’s next move would be.

She could only carry on with caution.

Presently, she could only listen to Noble Consort Liang with a smile on her face.

After the ceremony of paying respects was over, Liao Qing Qing brought He Xiang out of Linhua Palace.

She intended to wait for Noble Lady Jiang and Noble Liao to ask a few questions.

However, who would have thought that Noble Lady Liao and Noble Lady Jiang had not come out after a long time.

It was evident that they and Noble Consort Liang were discussing something.

She didn’t wait any longer. She returned to Lisheng Pavilion with He Xiang, tidied her small vegetable garden, picked some vegetables and sent them to the imperial kitchen.

A small green vegetable was added as a dish at noon.

As Liao Qing Qing looked at the tender green vegetables, she had a great sense of accomplishment. At this moment, Emperor Jing Li rushed from Zhengqian Palace.

She hurriedly pulled Emperor Jing Li and said, “Your Majesty, look. This vegetable is planted by this imperial concubine.”[1]

Emperor Jing Li specially played along, “It does look like vegetables.”

“It’s originally vegetables.”

“Beloved concubine is good at this!”

Emperor Jing Li’s compliment was half-hearted, but Liao Qing Qing was still very happy and ate the entire plate of vegetables all by herself. She put down her chopsticks and recited to Emperor Jing Li of what happened during the ceremony of paying respects. She said, “The other imperial concubines also finished their embroidery, scriptures and blessing characters.”

“Mm.” Emperor Jing Li nodded and said, “We will send them to the Empress Dowager on the day of the Double Ninth Festival.”[2]

“Your Majesty, are you going to the private courtyard?”

“I’m[3] not going to the private courtyard. I’m going to Wansui Mountain.”

“Wansui Mountain?”

“Yes, you’ll go there too.”

“Me too?” Liao Qing Qing asked.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Ascend the mountains, reach the peak, admire the scenery.”

“Are we leaving the palace?”

“That’s right.” Emperor Jing Li nodded and asked, “Do you want to come?”

“I want to.” Liao Qing Qing nodded. Ever since she had transmigrated, she had been staying inside the palace. She did not know what outside the palace looked like. She really wanted to go and have a look.

“Then get ready and leave early in the morning on the day of the Double Ninth Festival.”

“Your Majesty, who else will go to Wansui Mountain?”

“Some of my subjects.”

“What about the imperial harem?”

“This is left to Noble Consort Liang to arrange.”

“Oh,” Liao Qing Qing replied. For some unknown reason, she had a feeling that Noble Consort Liang would bring Noble Lady Liao and Noble Lady Jiang with her.

Sure enough!

On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, Liao Qing Qing spotted Noble Lady Liao and Noble Lady Jiang among the few imperial concubines in the imperial harem.

With Noble Consort Liang as their support, Noble Lady Liao and Noble Lady Jiang no longer treated Liao Qing Qing as someone worth noticing. Their chins were raised higher than before.

Liao Qing Qing didn’t take them seriously at all.

Anyway, it was just walking up the mountain.

She and Noble Consort Liang entered the Emperor’s carriage and no longer paid heed to the rest of the imperial concubines.

Liao Qing Qing and Noble Consort Liang paid their respects to Emperor Jing Li, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“You may rise.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Liao Qing Qing and Noble Consort Liang sat on the left and the right of Emperor Jing Li. The carriage was quiet and peaceful. Liao Qing Qing genuinely did not expect to go to Wansui Mountain in such a manner. She originally thought she could sit in a small sedan chair and then lift the curtain to enjoy the autumn scenery outside the window.

The untouched nature was certainly extraordinarily beautiful.

However, in front of her was Emperor Jing Li and Noble Consort Liang. She did not dare to do what her heart was dying to do. She glanced at Emperor Jing Li, who was sitting upright and motionless, then at the dignified Noble Consort Liang. She did not dare to move.

Her legs were placed together tightly. Her body was upright and she sat like Noble Consort Liang.

It was a true replica of Noble Consort Liang.

Noble Consort Liang became unhappy when she saw it.

Emperor Jing Li wanted to laugh. He lightly coughed and said, “Imperial Concubine Xi.”

Liao Qing QIng hurriedly answered, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Take a look. Are we out of the palace?”

“Yes.”

Liao Qing Qing answered. She suppressed the delight she was feeling from within and lifted the carriage’s curtain. The first thing she saw was the soft blue sky.

The sky is so beautiful!

Under the sky were green and yellow woods and meadows. Occasionally there would be a few farmhouses. She became increasingly comfortable. She was in a great mood and really wanted to give a big shout. However, she did not forget herself.

She suppressed her elation, lowered the curtain and turned back with a straight face. She said, “Replying to Your Majesty, we have already left the palace gate.”

“Oh, is that so? What’s there outside?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

“There are trees, grass and the blue sky.” Liao Qing Qing answered.

“Answer me as you look at them.”

“Yes.”

Liao Qing Qing raised the curtain again. She deliberately lifted it higher to allow a gentle breeze to get in. She restrained herself and said, “Look, Your Majesty. The autumn air is like this. The azure sky is lying with a few clouds.”

“Lying?” Emperor Jing Li asked.

“Isn’t it lying?”

Emperor Jing Li said with the corner of his lips quirked, “Yes, it is lying. Go on.”

Liao Qing Qing continued to report.

Emperor Jing Li occasionally interjected with a few sentences and asked Noble Consort Liang’s opinion. Noble Consort Liang was an orderly person. She did not like this kind of carriage ride when one did not have  the proper stance of sitting in a carriage like Liao Qing Qing and Emperor Jing Li. A hint of dissatisfaction could be seen hiding within her eyes. But she did not dare to say it and only listened to Emperor Jing and Liao Qing Qing ‘spewing nonsense’.

She wished she could kick Liao Qing Qing out.

After enduring for a long time, they finally arrived at the foot of Wansui Mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, there were already soldiers standing in advance besides the carriages of some ministers. They were all there to protect Emperor Jing Li.

In unison, they bowed to Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li looked at Liao Qing Qing.

Liao Qing Qing, “???”

“Let’s go.” Emperor Jing Li said.

She thought she was going to follow Emperor Jing Li to the top of Wansui Mountain. But she only climbed a third way up when Emperor Jing Li stopped and said, “Noble Consort Liang, all of you can stop here according to the rules, so let’s do the same this time.”

Noble Consort Liang answered, “Yes.”

Emperor Jing Li looked at Liao Qing Qing and said, “I am going to ascend to the highest point. You can just offer incense and play here.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t forget what I said.”

“Your Majesty, what did you say?”

“You are my favoured concubine,” Emperor Jing Li whispered.

“….”

“I’m leaving.”

[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] 九九重阳节(Jiǔjiǔchóngyáng jié)- Double Ninth Festival is observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar. It is a traditional Chinese holiday. According to the I Ching, nine is a yang number; the ninth day of the ninth lunar month has too much yang (a traditional Chinese spiritual concept) and is thus a potentially very auspicious date. Hence, the day is also called “Double Yang Festival”. It is customary to climb a high mountain, drink chrysanthemum liquor, and wear the zhuyu plant, Cornus officinalis. (Both chrysanthemum and zhuyu are considered to have cleansing qualities and are used on other occasions to air out houses and cure illnesses.) On this holiday, some Chinese also visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects.

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