Chapter 28 Part 2- Hearing ‘I Heard’ Thrice

Emperor Jing Li walked towards Shouxi Palace. As he walked, he couldn’t help looking around; however, he didn’t see Liao Qing Qing.

He looked behind him curiously.

He saw Liao Qing Qing walking behind Lady Ye of Bright Deportment.

""

So rule-abiding?

It is as if she wasn’t the one clinging onto him like an octopus last night?

Fine.

It’s good that she is rule-abiding for important events.

Emperor Jing Li stopped minding Liao Qing Qing again. He turned to the front and continued walking.

Noble Consort Liang slowly followed Emperor Jing Li.

Liao Qing Qing obediently followed Noble Consort Liang, Virtuous Consort and the others. They entered the main hall. With a quick glance, they caught sight of a noble woman sitting in the main hall.

This person was the Empress Dowager, the birth mother of Emperor Jing Li.

She did not expect her to be so young.

She looked like she was not yet fifty years old. She wore a dark purple dress. The jewelry that should be worn was worn. Her serious expression reminded one of Emperor Jing Li.

Somehow, a sense of solemness filled the atmosphere.

This aura is too imposing!

Liao Qing Qing immediately tucked away all her distracting thoughts.

In front of the Empress Dowager, she didn’t dare to make a mistake. She followed Noble Consort Liang and the others to pay their respect, “Greetings, Your Highness Empress Dowager. Wishing the Empress Dowager great health.”

“You may rise,” the Empress Dowager said.

“Thank you, Empress Dowager.”

Liao Qing Qing stood with her eyes lowered. She perked her ears to listen to the Empress Dowager. Even if the words were pleasantries, there was a sense of noble detachment when they came out of the Empress Dowager’s mouth, even to Emperor Jing Li.

The Empress Dowager and Emperor Jing Li didn’t seem to have a good relationship.

“Emperor.” The Empress Dowager suddenly spoke.

“This son is present.” Emperor Jing Li responded.

“This grieving one[1] hasn’t returned for a long time. You have not added any new people to your palace.”

Emperor Jing Li responded, “Queen Mother, this son is preoccupied with the affairs of the state.”

The Empress Dowager said, “The affairs of the imperial harem are family affairs as well as state affairs.”

“Queen Mother is right.” Emperor Jing Li did not refute.

The Empress Dowager didn’t say anything and turned to ask, “None of you have eaten, right?”

“Yes,” Emperor Jing Li replied.

“Let’s eat together.”

“Yes.”

The Empress Dowager got up and walked towards the side hall.

Emperor Jing Li followed.

Seeing Noble Consort Liang and the others made a move, Liao Qing Qing followed suit.

She carefully took her seat.

Looking at the dishes of food being served, she had little appetite because of her nervousness from fearing that the Empress Dowager would notice her. At the same time, she also held onto a little luck that the imperial concubines visiting today were all high rank.

She had the lowest rank.

The Empress Dowager would not notice her.

Who knew that she would hear the Empress Dowager say, “Are you Lady Xi of Refined Countenance?”

F*ck!

Liao Qing Qing’s heart tightened.

On the side, Noble Consort Liang had a smile on her lips when she heard it.

Emperor Jing Li, who was sitting beside the Empress Dowager, looked at Liao Qing Qing upon hearing it.

Liao Qing Qing forced herself to calm down. Then, she slowly stood up. She first performed a simple bow and said with a faint smile on her face, “Replying to Your Highness, Empress Dowager, this imperial concubine[2] is Lady Xi of Refined Countenance.”

The Empress Dowager stared at Liao Qing Qing with cold eyes.

Her stare made Liao Qing Qing shudder inwardly.

Only then did the Empress Dowager say slowly, “I heard that the Emperor favored you the most?”

Isn’t this Empress Dowager too blunt?

That’s true.

She is the Empress Dowager.

Even Emperor Jing Li has to be courteous.

She could even run amok in this palace. 

In that case, to her, a small shrimp with no background, she could completely subdue and suppress her. There was no need for euphemisms. Liao Qing Qing calmed her emotions and replied, “Replying to Your Highness, the Empress Dowager, His Majesty treats us harem sisters very well. Recently, the weather turned chilly, and Lisheng Pavilion is located in the west. It’s warm in the winter, so His Majesty visits more often.”

Upon hearing that, Emperor Jing Li looked at the Empress Dowager.

“Oh I see.” The Empress Dowager added, “I heard that your father is the Vice Magistrate of Zhu Prefecture?”

What is a vice magistrate of Zhu prefectures?

That’s a low ranking official of the eighth rank next to the capital.

In front of the family background of Noble Consort Liang, Virtuous Consort and the others, it was simply not enough.

If it were not for the previous Emperor’s decree that the concubine candidates were not restricted by their status.

Liao Qing Qing simply could not enter the palace.

Even so, hearing the Empress Dowager mentioned “Vice Magistrate of the Zhu Prefecture”, Noble Consort Liang and the others had some disdain from the bottom of their hearts. They held their laughter back.

Emperor Jing Li’s face turned sullen, appearing displeased after hearing this.

Liao Qing Qing was indifferent.

She never felt inferior because of her poverty and origin.

She could live on confidently as long as she led a clean and honest life.

So she said, “Responding to Your Highness Empress Dowager, yes, this imperial concubine’s father has limited qualifications and studied very hard, but he could only reach the rank of Vice Magistrate. However, it’s good that this imperial concubine’s father is a Vice Magistrate. He thinks that although his rank is low, he could contribute to the Great Wei if he were to work hard. He is very proud of it.”

Very proud?

Proud of being a small official?

That’s really something!

This would have been something sarcastic!

But Noble Consort Liang couldn’t scorn at it.

On the contrary, she was a little ashamed of herself because of Liao Qing Qing’s words.

The Empress Dowager listened while looking at the Emperor Jing Li.

Emperor Jing Li’s expression did not change, but his eyes glinted “very proud”.

The Empress Dowager snorted and said, “Lady Xi of Refined Countenance is very articulate. But I heard that you are not proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy and painting?”

Again with the ‘I heard’! 

This sentence kept poking Liao Qing Qing’s heart.

It would be fine if she was teased by Emperor Jing.

Presently, it was in public. The Empress Dowager spoke of it in the open.

This was the same as saying that she couldn’t ascend to the grand hall.

Noble Consort Liang and the others were delighted.

It seems that the Empress Dowager really doesn’t like Lady Xi of Refined Countenance.

Liao Qing Qing said candidly, “Replying to the Empress Dowager, this imperial concubine is not proficient.”

“Do you know that the Emperor is proficient in everything from zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and song?”

Liao Qing Qing replied, “This imperial concubine is aware.”

“Since you know, how do you communicate with the Emperor on a regular basis?”

“Queen Mother.” Emperor Jing Li finally couldn’t listen anymore.

The Empress Dowager is clearly picking bones from eggs.[3]

To make things difficult for Liao Qing Qing!

The Empress Dowager ignored Emperor Jing Li and looked straight at Liao Qing Qing.

Emperor Jing Li’s brows knitted together.

He did not want to eat this boring breakfast anymore.

His hands pressed to the table. Just when he was about to get up and leave while flicking his sleeve, he heard Liao Qing Qing say, “Replying to the Empress Dowager, this imperial concubine is communicating with His Majesty with this imperial concubine’s heart.”

Emperor Jing Li’s movement paused.

The Empress Dowager looked at Liao Qing Qing and asked, “With your heart?”

Liao Qing Qing calmly said, “Yes, this imperial concubine’s family is poor. So I was unable to learn zither, chess, calligraphy and painting. However, this imperial concubine accompanies His Majesty with my heart like how this imperial concubine’s mother accompanies my father. I can listen to His Majesty’s zither and comment on His Majesty’s paintings. If possible, this imperial concubine can also learn zither, chess, calligraphy and painting starting from today.”

Once Liao Qing Qing finished speaking, the hall was extraordinarily quiet.

The Empress Dowager was rendered speechless.

Noble Consort Liang and the others were dumbfounded.

""

How can there be such a shameless woman like Liao Qing Qing?

How can she say such shameless words in broad daylight?!

Emperor Jing Li froze and slightly lowered his head.

He suppressed the flower in his heart, preventing it from blooming. However, a beautiful curve appeared at the corners of his mouth.

The author has something to say: ——

Liao Qing Qing: The last thing I said was the “using my heart” tactic.

Emperor Jing Li: ???

——

[1] 哀家(āijiā)- This grieving one/ I (self-referring by a widowed empress etc, used in historical novels and operas)

[2] 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.

[3] 鸡蛋里挑骨头(jīdànlitiāogǔtou)- to look for bones in an egg/to find fault/to nitpick.