“Oh, you, with a temperament like this…”
Being too honest, you’re bound to be bullied, especially in a palace where people either fawn over the powerful or step on the weak; you’ll be bullied to death.
Emperor Zhangping sighed faintly in his heart.
Recalling the situation when he went to Jingren Palace this afternoon, Consort Xi immediately called Little Concubine a vixen who bewitched the Emperor’s heart, and then proceeded to complain bitterly about him, digging up old grudges and showing no sign of repentance; he felt extremely annoyed.
In contrast, Little Concubine hadn’t said a single bad thing about Consort Xi since seeing him, hadn’t filed a complaint, nor had she seized the opportunity to act weak or pitiful.
The scale in Emperor Zhangping’s heart unconsciously tipped toward Little Concubine.
How could Little Concubine be the vixen Consort Xi claimed?
She was clearly the most genuinely honest and pure person, so much so that when she was bullied, she didn’t even know to ask him to uphold justice for her.
Then he would uphold justice for Little Concubine.
How could anyone punish someone the way Consort Xi did?
He didn’t believe for a second that she wasn’t making a mountain out of a molehill.
Emperor Zhangping, who could manage all civil and military officials in the court, naturally saw through the little tricks played by the imperial concubines.
Consort Xi was clearly dissatisfied not just with Little Concubine, but with him.
“In the palace, I am the rule. It is merely a form of self-address. Today, I grant you this privilege: except when addressing the Empress Dowager, you may refer to yourself as ‘I’ even in front of me. I will not hold it against you, and no one else has the right to comment.”
Unexpectedly, Emperor Zhangping granted Qing Luo such a privilege.
Qing Luo was stunned, her eyes wide and round.
After a moment, she stammered, “Your… Your Majesty… isn’t this inappropriate?”
She felt this was an extraordinary privilege, seemingly the first of its kind in the Harem.
Was this a pie falling from the sky?
Was she really this lucky?
Could kneeling once result in such a huge benefit?
“What’s inappropriate about it? Have you forgotten what I said earlier?”
Emperor Zhangping found Qing Luo dumbfounded reaction both annoying and amusing.
If this matter had happened to anyone else, they would have immediately expressed their gratitude—a thousand thanks would not be too much—but only the Little Concubine…
Qing Luo thought for a moment, “Your Majesty allowed This humble concubine to address herself as… wait, Your Majesty said that Your Majesty is the rule.”
As she spoke, Qing Luo’s eyes slowly lit up.
That’s right, Emperor Zhangping was the most powerful person in this dynasty.
Everything he said and did became the rule.
Even if it didn’t quite conform to previous rules, if it came from his mouth, it became the rule.
Since Emperor Zhangping had given her this privilege, it meant she wouldn’t have to worry about something like today happening again—she wouldn’t be slapped or forced to kneel just because she spoke too quickly without thinking.
Heaven knows her mouth sometimes moved faster than her brain; her words ran ahead while her brain chased after them, and sometimes, like today, the brain just couldn’t catch up.
“Do you understand?”
“This humble concubine understands. Your Majesty is truly kind to This humble concubine.”
That’s it?
That’s what she understood?
Emperor Zhangping felt helpless.
He reached out and tapped Qing Luo’s forehead.
“You still haven’t remembered what I said? As expected, you’re not very smart, you little dummy.”
Hearing this, Qing Luo pouted, clearly displeased.
“What’s wrong? Did I say something incorrect? Didn’t you yourself say you weren’t smart enough?” Emperor Zhangping poked her again.
Qing Luo’s pout was big enough to hang an oil pot on, and she was actually unhappy, even though he was just repeating her own words back to her.
Qing Luo refuted him confidently and logically: “How can that be the same? When This humble concubine calls herself stupid, that’s called modesty, showing This humble concubine knows her own limits. But everyone likes to hear compliments, and This humble concubine is no exception. Your Majesty should praise This humble concubine for being smart, not call her stupid. There’s a saying that if you keep calling a person stupid, even the smartest person will eventually become stupid.”
Emperor Zhangping ‘Tsk’ed’.
“That’s all made up nonsense, baseless talk. But Beloved Consort is indeed quite stupid.”
“If Beloved Consort keeps being so stupid, I’ll take back what I just said.”
He should give her a hint, otherwise, he didn’t know when the stupid Little Concubine would finally catch on.
Qing Luo suddenly realized.
So that was it—the address!
She chuckled happily, “I really was too stupid just now. Am I smart this time, Your Majesty?”
After speaking, she playfully winked.
Little Concubine was beaming with joy and pride, practically having the characters for’Smart’ written across her face.
This made the smile in Emperor Zhangping’s eyes deepen, though he only said, “Tolerable.”
“Oh.”
The drawn-out syllable revealed Qing Luo’s disappointment.
Emperor Zhangping thought, Little Concubine really takes things seriously.
Forget it.
He might as well indulge her and compliment her intelligence.
Little Concubine wasn’t completely uselessly stupid.
Thinking of this, Emperor Zhangping added, “Beloved Consort is very smart, one of the few intelligent people I have ever met.”
Even though she knew Emperor Zhangping wasn’t being entirely sincere, Qing Luo squinted her eyes contentedly and curved her lips into a satisfied smile.
Everyone has vanity; everyone wants to be complimented.
“Your Majesty is also smart. Your Majesty is the smartest, the wisest person under Heaven.”
“Not as smart as Beloved Consort.” Emperor Zhangping teased her deliberately.
“No, no, no.” New chapters come out on g.com first.
Qing Luo shook her head harder than a rattle drum.
“Your Majesty, please don’t say that. It’s too outrageous.”
Pausing, Qing Luo whispered, “When it’s just Your Majesty and me in private, I’ll be a bit more presumptuous, but at other times, I should still follow the rules.”
Who knows if Emperor Zhangping might regret it someday?
If he were to accuse her of disrespect because of this, she would never be able to clear her name.
“As you wish.” Emperor Zhangping didn’t want to dwell on the matter, thinking that Little Concubine was quite cautious; perhaps she wasn’t so stupid after all.
After chatting about other topics for a while, seeing that it was getting late, Qing Luo couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, when am I returning to Xianfu Palace?”
Emperor Zhangping raised an eyebrow.
“Is My West Warm Pavilion not as comfortable as your little courtyard? Are you uncomfortable staying here?”
Qing Luo shook her head frantically “No, no, it’s very comfortable. It’s just that being too comfortable makes me anxious. Also, if Your Majesty requires cohabitation tonight, I’m afraid I won’t be able to.”
Qing Luo quite liked cohabitation; she always received many benefits afterward, plus she needed to cohabitate more to bear a child for Emperor Zhangping.
But she didn’t want to cohabitate while injured.
What should have been a joyful matter would become less joyful.
What if… her face was gone.
Hearing this, Emperor Zhangping couldn’t help but feel utterly speechless.
He really wanted to crack open her head to see how it was constructed and why she had such absurd thoughts.
Did he say he wanted her to serve him?
Was he that unreasonable?
Was he that lustful?
Little Concubine made it sound as if all he could think about was having her cohabitate.
Couldn’t he simply be concerned about her?
“You should just stay here tonight and rest assured, and go back tomorrow. As for cohabitation, Beloved Consort does not need to worry about it.”
Qing Luo paused, then immediately realized.
Oh dear, what nonsense was she thinking?
Emperor Zhangping had so many concubines, and the Palace of Heavenly Purity had other sleeping quarters; the West Warm Pavilion wasn’t the only place for rest.
Emperor Zhangping could just casually flip a name plaque and summon another consort for cohabitation—why would he need an injured person like her?
She really thought too highly of herself.
That night, Emperor Zhangping did not stay in the West Warm Pavilion.
The Palace of Heavenly Purity had other sleeping quarters for him to rest.
As for summoning a consort for cohabitation, Emperor Zhangping did not flip anyone’s Green name Plaque.