“The only person I have ever truly loved and lost is Li Rong.”
After Li Ming gave the order, Fu Lai came to the Imperial Garden to deliver the results.
All the young ladies were waiting for the results, and seeing Fu Lai walk down the promenade from afar towards the center of the lake, everyone grew a bit anxious.
Fu Lai finally arrived at the waterside pavilion. He first saluted the Empress and Consort Rou, then he explained his purpose in coming: “The top three ladies have been chosen in the palace hall up ahead, and by His Majesty’s order, this old servant came to invite the three ladies to the main palace hall to receive their rewards.”
The Empress nodded, lifted her hand and said: “You may announce the winners.”
Fu Lai bowed, turned around to face the crowd and said: “Princess Ping Le, Miss Qin Zhenzhen, and Miss Shangguan Ya, please follow this old servant to the main hall to receive your reward.”
Upon hearing these words, Consort Rou’s face drastically changed, and Xiao Wei raised her head and looked up in disbelief. Shangguan Ya and Qin Zhenzhen both had a look of surprise on their faces. The Empress frowned, appearing rather uneasy as she asked: “Who was the first-place winner this time?”
“To answer Niangniang,” Fu Lai laughed, “It is Her Highness Princess Ping Le.”
The Empress looked up at Li Rong. Li Rong immediately revealed a look of surprise and happily asked: “It’s me?”
“Yes,” Fu Lai had many words of praise, “Your Highness’s skill in the art of incense is extraordinary, constantly receiving praises from everyone. Your Highness should quickly get up and go to the main hall to receive your reward.”
“Excellent,” Li Rong stood up with a delighted expression, “I haven’t received a reward in a long time. This was really fun.”
With that said, Li Rong turned to salute the Empress and said: “Mother Empress, I will go to Father Emperor to receive my reward.”
The Empress looked at Li Rong, unable to find the words to say for a while. She had to hold herself back for a moment before finally getting control over herself and saying: “Go on ahead.”
Li Rong saluted and withdrew, leading Shangguan Ya and Qin Zhenzhen away as they followed Fu Lai to the main palace hall.
Li Rong walked in front while Shangguan Ya and Qin Zhenzhen walked shoulder to shoulder. Shangguan Ya secretly poked Qin Zhenzhen and whispered: “You must have some pretty good incense-making techniques, huh?”
Qin Zhenzhen frowned. She lowered her voice and whispered back: “How could I? My incense burner was empty?”
“And that also won a prize?”
Shangguan Ya was in disbelief and began to think about the ulterior motives behind it. Li Rong was listening as she walked in front and pursed her lips with a small smile. She turned her head back and reminded Shangguan Ya: “Can you be certain that your name is the one written on your incense burner?”
Shangguan Ya immediately reacted and said in astonishment: “It was Xiao…”
Li Rong brought her hand up and gently placed a finger on her lips. Shangguan Ya tacitly understood and immediately expressed her understanding.
Hearing the three of them talk, Fu Lai walked further ahead to make it more convenient for them to speak freely. Li Rong took a few steps back and walked between the two of them, then she turned to Qin Zhenzhen beside her and asked: “Did you know that she switched out your incense burner?”
Qin Zhenzhen hesitated for a moment before replying: “I knew.”
“But you didn’t say anything?”
Qin Zhenzhen looked up and glanced over at Shangguan Ya, who was smiling beside her as she had her arms crossed. She shook her head and said: “I didn’t put anything in the incense burner. If she wanted to harm me, I could prove that the incense burner wasn’t mine. If she wasn’t trying to harm me, she must have had her difficulties, so I could simply step in and lend a hand. It makes no difference either way.”
Li Rong felt a little helpless when she heard this.
Shangguan Ya sighed and said: “Then you can be thankful that I’m the one you met today.”
Qin Zhenzhen laughed: “If it weren’t Miss Shangguan, I might not have been willing to help out like this.”
“Oh?” Li Rong was a bit curious, “Why did you help her?”
“Because my father used to say…” Qin Zhenzhen looked at the bright moon reflected on the surface of the lake with some nostalgia in her eyes, “If you want to know if a person is trustworthy, you only have to look into her eyes.”
“Then what do you see when you look at me?” Li Rong asked out of curiosity. Qin Zhenzhen turned her head. She quietly looked at Li Rong for a long time, then Qin Zhenzhen softly said: “Your Highness is a very good person.”
“Then you must be mistaken,” Shangguan Ya slung an arm over Li Rong’s shoulder and said with a smile: “Her Highness here is but a ruthless master who devours people alive and doesn’t even spit out the bones.”
Li Rong was taken aback by how Shangguan Ya put an arm over her shoulder. She gave Shangguan Ya an indifferent stare, but Shangguan Ya, on the other hand, wasn’t afraid and met Li Rong’s gaze with a smile. After she and Li Rong looked at one another for a while, Li Rong couldn’t help but laugh and give Shangguan Ya a little push before whispering: “You actually have quite the guts.”
Shangguan Ya, who had been pushed, also laughed and only said: “Anyways, Your Highness has already seen the worst side of me, so why not act a little unruly? If Your Highness is interested, you should find a day to join me at the poetry society and drink tea together sometime?”
“Drink tea?” Li Rong let out a scoff, “Would you like me to bring more money to gamble on big or small?”
Shangguan Ya was suddenly a little embarrassed by these words. She subconsciously touched her nose and whispered: “We’re in the palace right now, can you have a little more tact?”
The three of them played around as they walked all the way to the main palace hall. Li Rong lifted her gaze and saw Li Ming on the high throne, then her gaze went to Li Chuan, Su Rongqing, and finally Pei Wenxuan.
Pei Wenxuan saw Li Rong looking over and raised his eyebrows as he raised his cup of wine, as if claiming some merit for his hard work.
Li Rong couldn’t help but smile when she looked at Pei Wenxuan’s current appearance. Her gaze swept past him without a trace, then she went back to facing Li Ming, smiling as she saluted Li Ming: “Greetings, Father Emperor.”
“You may rise.” Li Ming was seated on the highest platform. He lifted his hand and let her stand up, then he placed his hand on his knee and smiled, “Zhen remembers that you weren’t very good at making incense before, but this time, you truly let your talents shine.”
“This is all thanks to the Prince Consort,” Li Rong smiled and turned to look at Pei Wenxuan, “The recipe I used to prepare the incense blend today was actually one that the Prince Consort taught me.”
“Zhen must say…” Li Ming turned and looked at Li Chuan sitting beside him: “How did Zhen not know about your sister’s scrappy skills like that of a three-legged cat?”
Having said that, Li Ming looked at Qin Zhenzhen and Shangguan Ya standing behind Li Rong and said in an unhurried manner: “Zhen has heard of Ya’er’s talent, but this young lady here today, Second Miss Qin, looks rather unfamiliar. Miss Qin,” Li Ming eyed Qin Zhenzhen and waved a hand, “Come forward and let Zhen see what kind of young lady made such wonderful incense.”
Qin Zhenzhen frowned. She gave Shangguan Ya a glance before coming forward.
Li Ming quietly scrutinized her, and everyone’s hearts began to race.
A thought flashed through Li Rong’s mind. If Li Ming tried to find a way to bestow a marriage decree at this moment, how should she respond?
She subconsciously shifted her gaze and looked over in Pei Wenxuan’s direction, but Su Rongqing was also sitting in the direction she was now facing. Su Rongqing had also been looking at her, so the moment she looked up, their eyes met, and Li Rong was taken back.
Su Rongqing seemed to see what she was worried about. Before Li Rong could react, she heard Su Rongqing suddenly say: “Your Majesty, these three ladies have been standing here for a while. I’m afraid they must be tired. Your Majesty should quickly reward them, so that they may go back.”
These words were not within the social norm. It would not have been surprising if Su Ronghua had said it, but it was a bit strange coming from Su Rongqing’s mouth as someone who had always been careful with his words.
Everyone looked over at him. Su Rongqing still had a smile on his face as he respectfully looked at Li Ming.
Li Ming thought for a moment, then he smiled and said: “Dear official Su is right. Chuan’er, you can give these three their reward in Zhen’s place.”
Li Chuan heeded the order. He stood up and led the attendant carrying the rewards over to Li Rong. He stopped in front of Li Rong and presented her with a pair of golden phoenix hair ornaments with dangling beads, then he meaningfully blinked at Li Rong and whispered: “Jie, thank you.”
He seemed so happy. Li Rong absentmindedly looked on, she didn’t think it would make Li Chuan this happy.
Li Chuan handed her the accessories and left with a smile. Li Rong stood in place and followed Li Chuan’s gaze. She saw that Li Chuan had walked over to Qin Zhenzhen.
Qin Zhenzhen was respectful and courteous. Li Chuan looked at her with some amusement in his eyes: “Gu never expected Second Miss Qin to not only be good with her hands and footwork but good at making incense as well.”
“Your Highness has overly praised me.” Qin Zhenzhen lowered her eyes and looked at the ground, not going beyond proper etiquette in the slightest.
Li Chuan gave Qin Zhenzhen her reward. Qin Zhenzhen gave her thanks in a respectful and proper manner, and Li Chuan walked over to Shangguan Ya.
He and Shangguan Ya were also cousins, but they were not too familiar with one another. Li Chuan was rather respectful towards her, and after presenting the reward to Shangguan Ya, he returned to his seat.
After the three received their rewards, Li Ming appeared to be a little tired as he said: “It’s getting dark now. Zhen is a bit tired. You young people can make yourselves comfortable.”
With that said, Fu Lai helped Li Ming up to his feet, and Li Ming left in the wake of people bowing and respectful voices sending him out.
After Li Ming left, the three young women walked out of the main palace hall together. Shangguan Ya glanced at the two of them and smiled: “Are you two going back now?”
“I should head back first.”
Qin Zhenzhen said as she looked up at Shangguan Ya: “What about you?”
“My dad might stay around for a bit longer,” Shangguan Ya pointed to the main hall, “I’m going back to the Imperial Garden to talk for a bit more with a few of my friends. I’ll leave you two to do as you see fit.”
“Go on.” Li Rong nodded and said: “I’ll wait for the Prince Consort, then we’ll head back together.”
“You two have a pretty good relationship.” Shangguan Ya raised her eyebrows. Li Rong couldn’t wait to give her another kick. She discovered that Shangguan Ya seemed to rely on the fact that the two of them shared a secret, so she became a little arrogant. For that reason, Li Rong had to urge her: “Hurry up and go. I’ll look for you at the teahouse another day.”
“Not a problem.”
Shangguan Ya replied, then she turned and left.
After Shangguan Ya left, Qin Zhenzhen turned to look at Li Rong and respectfully said: “Your Highness, if there is nothing else, this commoner’s daughter will take her leave first.”
“Wait!” Li Rong stopped her. Qin Zhenzhen turned around and looked back at Li Rong, who was still standing on the steps of the palace hall.
Qin Zhenzhen’s clothes were simple but elegant, an air of indifference in her facial features, as a gentle breeze swept past and lifted her skirt, slightly swaying it.
Perhaps because of her martial arts training, she always exuded a sense of indescribable righteousness, standing tall and upright like pine and bamboo but also like the sharp edge of a sword.
Even if she was merely standing in the palace, it could be seen that she was rather out of place, similar and yet different from the Qin Zhenzhen that Li Rong had seen back then.
There was a sudden tremor in her heart, and for a moment, the image of Li Chuan talking and laughing with Qin Zhenzhen flashed through her mind. That image overlapped with the scenes from Qin Zhenzhen’s funeral, causing her throat to tighten as an intangible sense of fear kept building up and taking over.
She looked at the girl standing beneath the moon, waiting for her to speak. After a while, Li Rong finally said: “Shangguan Ya switched out your incense burner today because she wanted you to marry and become Crown Princess in her place. She was originally supposed to become Crown Princess.”
Qin Zhenzhen revealed a look of astonishment, and Li Rong went on to say: “I helped you because someone had entrusted me to. Pei Wenxuan and I have no feelings for each other, and we have agreed that in the future, when we are free from all these constraints, we will amicably divorce.”
Qin Zhenzhen’s eyes slowly widened as she heard these words. Li Rong laughed: “In the palace, it is difficult to distinguish between right and wrong. You have to be more careful the next time you enter the palace.”
With that said, Li Rong didn’t wait for Qin Zhenzhen to respond. She turned around and walked back into the hall to find Pei Wenxuan.
Autumn: I actually forgot what happened here when I responded to a comment in the last chapter hehe… Now onto a blurb from our first short story—
(Yes, the second part is actually from the official introduction.)
《Body Swap》 Don’t Be a Favored Concubine
Introduction:
After the Emperor and Noble Consort swapped bodies…
This story will require using some imagination to fill in the blanks. It’s truly poisonous in nature, so please come mentally prepared.
Autumn Pond Reflection 
Interesting she says she helped QZZ and that someone entrusted that to her… considering she never really intended to help QZZ nor did anyone entrust her with that obligation. PWX made it quite clear that he wouldn’t involve himself with QZZ’s affairs, unless it was under LR’s direction.
With her phrasing she sounds like she’s telling QZZ that PWX has feelings toward her and he’s still available? But she knows full well QZZ does not reciprocate. On the other hand the context makes it seem like she’s telling QZZ to wise up and things aren’t what they seem.
Maybe I’m reading too much into this…
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I honestly don’t really like this QZZ? or whatever. if we put it all together, her words make no sense to me, and I don’t like her character. she is supposedly the general’s daughter. capable, calm, but not knowing how to live in a palace. she says that she is like a brother to her, but also never refused his help, nor put a normal end to their relationship. I don’t believe that she never thought about it, that the other woman’s man, her husband, looks after her in such a way, what kind of wife would like it. It doesn’t matter whether marriage is for love or not. what kind of person will be pleased that your husband is ready to go against you, your brother and family for the sake of his “beloved” “moonlight”.
Sorry for my mistakes. It’s not My language😅
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QZZ comes off as naive and ignorant in the PoVs of PW and LR. But it seems like she’s far deeper than what anyone thought
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