This chapter has been brought to you by me, ororomunroe90, vivie and leecherleechleech.
This chapter makes me smile whenever I read it.
Chapter One Hundred and Five Fated
Halfway through the night, Qu Qing Ju suddenly woke up from her dreams, the cramping in her legs unbearable, as though something had twisted her foot tendon and was swinging on it.
“Qing Ju, what is it?” He Heng suddenly awoke from his slumber and saw that the forehead of the person beside him was dotted with sweat. From the light casted by a candle in the corner of the room, he saw that even the colors of her lips had changed, and paled himself, hurriedly calling for a servant.
A commotion later, Qu Qing Ju’s cramps disappeared under the massage of the pregnancy mama. She rubbed her forehead tiredly. She felt that she was very drowsy but couldn’t fall asleep.
“Emperor, please don’t worry. When a woman is pregnant, hand and foot cramps may occur. If care is taken with the diet, it will subside in a while.” The pregnancy mama saw that the Emperor didn’t have a happy expression and informed cautiously, “Normally, if someone massages niangniang, it can help relieve the symptoms.”
He Heng’s face cleared slightly. Seeing Qu Qing Ju’s tired state, he ordered: “Zhen will get the nurses from the Imperial Hospital for this matter. You can all leave.” He didn’t understand medicine but knew that a person had many acupuncture points. If a wrong spot was pressed, it was deleterious to the mother and the fetus.
The pregnancy mama, Mu Jin and the others carefully left. After leaving the room, they finally took a breath. The Emperor’s expression had been very dark, so frightening that they didn’t dare to breathe.
“Can’t sleep?” He Heng kept on patting Qu Qing Ju’s back and seeing that she didn’t fall asleep, he asked, “Still uncomfortable?”
Qu Qing Ju shook her head and changed positions: “Can’t sleep.”
“What is it?” He Heng pulled the blanket up and wrapped it more securely around the two of them, “I’m not having morning court tomorrow so we can talk now.” Tomorrow, it was the start of sealing the pen and the break from court. In reality, He Heng still had a pile of things to do but to comfort the person beside him, of course he wouldn’t say those things.
Qu Qing Ju felt that she didn’t have any desire to talk, but looking at the other’s spirited state, she could only respond: “Talk about what?”
“Anything will do,” He Heng forced down the urge to open his mouth in a yawn, “Like your childhood, or what things you like.”
Qu Qing Ju stared for a beat before sighing: “I don’t remember much from my childhood. Before, I didn’t have many chances to leave the compound. When I grew older, only jiumu would take me to meet others, but I couldn’t spend all my time with jiumu. The relationship between Tian Family and the Qu Family became antagonistic after that. So from birth, life was like that, there’s not much to talk about.”
“Liang shi was truly horrid,” He Heng lovingly ran his fingers through Qu Qing Ju’s hair behind her back, “Xiandi hadn’t done many things for me. This entire life, the only good things he did are two matters. One is you, the other is the succession edict.”
“I can’t compare to the succession edict. In this world, this is only one succession edict, but there are hundreds of thousands of women,” Qu Qing Ju squirmed and changed her position to put her head at He Heng’s neck, “Liang shi was horrid, but my father was the true culprit. My mother died of unknown causes and father was in a rush to welcome a new wife. If it wasn’t for jiujiu and his family, I’m afraid that even my dowry would have been very meager. If I really had married that shoddily, then what reputation would I have had with the Imperial House?”
“The family of the Duke of Zhong Yi is very good,” He Heng said a beat after hearing her words, “In this world, there are men like your father, but there are couples who are together for their lives.”
Qu Qing Ju’s lips curled. Was He Heng telling her that he wasn’t the same kind of person as the Duke of Chang De?
“There are women in this world who like hearing pretty words, but there are also those who only see reality,” She put a hand on his chest, “Coincidentally, I am the latter. I don’t like hearing what people say, only like seeing what people do.”
“Doing is better than seeing?” The smile on He Heng’s face grew wide, “I’m very comforted by how smart Qing Ju is.”
He was afraid that she wouldn’t like to hear him, and also wouldn’t like to see what he did.
On the twenty ninth day of the twelfth month, the court pen was sealed. Except for those who had to be on duty in each ministry, the other people had gone home to pass the year. But even so, those officials weren’t truly idle. They were proactively finding out whose family received gifts from the Emperor and which families were able to attend the Imperial Family’s year-end banquet.
This was the first year since the new Emperor had ascended the throne. Those who received gifts from the Emperor meant that those people, at the very least, had caught the Emperor’s eyes. It would have been strange if no one in Jing cared about them.
So from the twenty ninth to the thirtieth day, there were gifts coming out of the palace. Those who received them were ones such as Cheng Wang and the Duke of Zhong Yi. Aside from the luck character and spring couplets from the emperor, there were gifts from the two Empress Dowagers and the Empress. Some, such as the Right Minister Right, Ning Wang, Rui Wang, and Minster Luo, also received some gifts.
As for the others’ families, some people received the Emperor’s character, some received the Empress’ gifts but they didn’t have the honor to receive gifts from the four big personages. However, at this year end, all the officials in Jing City understood one thing. That was, you could only eat if you followed the Emperor.
The year banquet was on the thirtieth day. Other than the members of the Imperial House, only families who had a first-rank title were lucky enough to be able to enter the palace to enjoy the banquet, such as the Duke of Zhong Yi and the two heads of the two Empress Dowager’s paternal families.
Qu Qing Ju and He Heng sat together at the very front. Due to her pregnancy, she didn’t drink any wine. In front of her was a “phoenix returning to the nest” soup. Basically, it was a chicken stuffed inside a pig’s stomach and then cooked using an old pot, but the taste was good and fitting to drink in the winter.
The people below knew that the Empress was pregnant and no one was foolish enough to toast her. So halfway through the banquet, she had been idle.
“The Empress’ belly is so round and smooth. Chen fu thinks this child must be male.” Qin Bai Lu raised a wine cup, stood and said to Qu Qing Ju, “Chen fu toasts niangniang, and wishes that niangniang will give birth to a son soon and stays young forever.”
The Empress was already pregnant. Wishing for her to give birth to a son soon, wasn’t it not appropriate? Luo Wen Yao furrowed her brows, and followed in standing and raising her wine cup, “Chen fu wishes Empress to stay healthy and have a good year.”
Qu Qing Ju grasped the wine cup from her side. Mu Jin poured her a cup of water. She raised the cup towards the two people: “Many thanks to both dimei. Since I can’t drink now, I have to use water in place of wine to thank both of you.”
He Heng placed a duck’s tongue into Qu Qing Ju’s bowl, smiling as he declared: “Everyone here isn’t an outsider so zhen isn’t afraid everyone will laugh. Zhen and Empress are both young and feel the sex doesn’t matter.”
Everyone followed in agreeing, and along the way, praised both Emperor and Empress. The major idea was that no matter if it was an imperial son or daughter, they would certainly be the recipients of Emperor and Empress’ good genes, and in the future, would become one that would stun the world.
Qin Bai Lu couldn’t believe that the Emperor would so brazenly protect Qu Qing Ju to the point that he would say in front of all those people that he didn’t care whether it was a boy or girl. Did the Emperor not want someone to carry down the line?
“In the future, zhen and Empress will have many children. To guess whether each one is a boy or girl, that would be zhen and Empress bringing trouble upon ourselves.” He Heng roared with laughter, self-mockingly adding, ”Zhen doesn’t want to go to such trouble.”
Everyone naturally followed in laughing, but their hearts were scared witless. What the Emperor just said, it seemed to mean that he was only going to have children with the Empress only.
It must be that they heard wrong!
Qu Qing Ju raised an eyebrow at He Heng. Seeing he was smiling as he listened to the flattery of the people below, she lowered her head to continue drinking soup.
Wei Qing E and He Qi sat together. She looked dazedly at Qu Qing Ju dressed in a purple wide sleeved dress embroidered with a hundred birds bowing to a phoenix. She couldn’t believe her eyes and ears. The Emperor was really willing to favor only one woman, and was even willing to have only her have children?
She thought about the tongfang that the other officials had sent over after they returned to court. Even though she had shared in the hardships with wang ye and wang ye treated her much more closely, didn’t he still take the women that others gave as tong fang?
Was it really true that this world had a man that was faithful, and this man was the Emperor as well?
Wei Qing E slowly took her gaze back. Strangely, her gaze fell on Qin Bai Lu. Qin Bai Lu’s expression wasn’t well. Rui Wang beside her didn’t seem to pay any attention to her. The two sat at a two-person table but their atmosphere wasn’t any different from strangers.
It was no wonder then that Qin Bai Lu was that jealous of Qu Qing Ju. As a woman, she could understand what the other thought, even she was slightly jealous of the Empress. She had the status, she would almost have a child, and she even had the fidelity of her husband. And this woman who had everything didn’t even need to be kind or generous, didn’t need a high birth but still lived better than all of them.
“What are you looking at?” He Qi pulled her sleeve under the table, warning in a small voice, “Don’t copy lao san’s wang fei’s stupidity. I heard the Emperor doesn’t like that one and already bestowed down a few beauties to Rui Wang Fu.’
Wei Qing E’s heart jumped. Her brow creasing, she asked: “Wasn’t it said that the Emperor didn’t keep any of the female candidates?”
“He didn’t keep any, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t bestow them to other people,” He Qi swirled the wine cup in his hand, flicking a look in the direction of He Yuan, “Lao san was too arrogant in his conduct, but that one of his isn’t a peaceful one. I heard that in the past, she had done many things to offend the Empress. The way the Emperor dotes on the Empress, would he spare that one of lao san’s?”
“The Emperor wouldn’t ……” Wei Qing E’s tongue twisted. The Emperor wouldn’t manage such matters.
“Don’t see only his appearance, he’s ruthless,” He Qi pushed his voice so quiet that only the two of them could hear, “How that Qu ce fei’s of lao san passed away, there’s a lot that went on there.”
Wei Qing E gripped her wine cup tighter. Then a woman who could keep a man like that in the palm of her hand, how scary was she?
In that instant, the look that Wei Qing E gave Qu Qing Ju was as though she was seeing a devastatingly beautiful demoness.
Qu Qing Ju didn’t know that she had been levelled up to demoness. She gave a yawn and ate the fruits that had been cut up. She occasionally exchanged words with the noblewomen as the year banquet slowly came to a conclusion.
At precisely midnight, the fireworks exploded outside the hall, dying half of the hall red.
Qu Qing Ju looked outside the hall and managed to see one of the fireworks burst, impossibly beautiful.
“Like it?” He Heng reached out a hand to her, “I’ll accompany you outside to see.”
Qu Qing Ju gave him her hand. The two walked out of the hall holding hands and stood at the tall stage outside the hall. They watched as bud after bud of fire bloom and then wither, beautiful as though it was a dream.
Behind the two were the people who had come to attend the banquet. Everyone saw the hands of the Emperor and Empress entwined together. Under the fireworks, the figures of the two were like a painting.
Wei Qing E stood next to He Qi. Her gaze was fixed on the Emperor and Empress’ hands that hadn’t let go from beginning to end. She seemed to once again see the last evening of the year one year ago, as Qu Qing Ju, clad entirely in red, walked down step by step from those stairs, and the Emperor, still a wang ye then, couldn’t resist going forward to support Qu Qing Ju.
It seemed that she had never forgotten that scene, and it was deeply embedded in her heart.
The fireworks then, it was still as bright and attractive as today, but what she could remember was the hand the Emperor couldn’t help but reach out.
Maybe some things were fated.
Like her and He Qi, Qu Qing Ju and the Emperor, Qin Bai Lu and Rui Wang.
Thanks! Such a lovely chapter. HH is turning out to be a very good husband. LOL, poor QQJ because of HH is thought to be a demoness. HH is truly using actions to prove his love for QQJ.
QBL….she will bring trouble to herself for sure. QQJ is already the beloved Empress of HH. QBL is like an egg smashing on a rock since HH will always shelter QQJ.
At the real ending, QBL will meet the ugly end…
At least Ning Wang and his wife’s relationship is getting better. Ahh that Rui Wang Fei is still so arrogant and disrespectful. Rui Wang should hurry up and divorce her if he can.
Thank you for the chapter!
I loved the little observations going on in this chapter. I have nothing against WQE and HQ so I hope they live happily and quietly as well.
I have to admit I would be jealous of QQJ as well if I was them.
Thaannk youu♡
how many chapters are there ?
123
There are 123 chapters.
Thank you so much!! 😘😘😘
Thank you!!!
Why did I keep on grinning the whole time reading this chapter??? XD XD XD
Thank you. Such a lovely atmosphere. Glad to hear that QQJ is slowly opening her heart to HH. Keep up the good work HH. Funny, QQJ didn’t know she was elevated to a position of a demoness.
Should i say 105/124 chapters, 19 more chapters before we reach the beautiful ending? I am grateful to be here, reading from day one till now everyday, the most anticipated translation, yeah. And i can say, i hope i will be able to read this till the end of my freedom. I dont know how long will it to be free, and how will i be away, so, in my nervous days and restless hours, this, makes my days letting me have a few moments of peace, although its temporary but still, thank you very much for everyday’s chapters and thank you very much for not giving up translating.
Wow so HH was partially responsible for Qu ce fei’s death? O.O
That’s kind of shocking despite already knowing that he does things behinds people’s backs.
Is the implication that HY’s closest servant actually is HH’s man?
It’s hard to say. Guess we will have to wait and find out.
The cuteness is killing me.
😍😍😍
I feel as though through the last couple of chapters what we have seen of Rui Wang Ièm kind of impressed. Even though it took a tragedy like his fathers death and the shock of not being chosen as the successor he has finally matured and seen reality for what it is. He is officially done fighting and willing to accept his fate. It seems he really understands that HH wonèt kill him and is willing to stay quiet and live a more peaceful quarrel free life. I like that though, since what I hate most is when a character doesn’t know when to give up when they have clearly lost. In a way all of Xiandi children know how to. Ning Wang knew not to beg and instead allied himself with HH although it never really goes in to detail although we know he composed a letter we dont really know the contents although we can guess. ANother is obviously RW which I mentioned already, and lastly is Chen Wang, which I think is more towards his place as the youngest as well as never being favored. He never really had the chance or leeway to become arrogant, he had neither a powerful mother nor his fathers love and in the end allied with the only brother who actually treated him with respect. Also Cheng Wang never made any enemies, and among his brothers is the most innocent not to say he didn’t complete some secret missions (hehe cause we know he did) All in all I like where the story is headed. I like how HH understands that QQJ isn’t in love with him completely yet and he still has to prove himself. What she said in this chapter reiterates that when she makes the comment that actions speak louder than words and I agree. HH will basically have to remain in a monogamous relationship with her for life. This I feel is because obviously she grew up in the 21st century where monogomy is the norm and polygamy is considered taboo, you can clearly see the difference in attitude when you read the thoughts of Ning Wang Fei about the tongfang in her fu. I love these translations and commend you guys for putting such hard work and dedication I and all the readers really appreciate it.
“[He Yuan] is officially done fighting and willing to accept his fate.”
Hmm, I wonder. To tell the truth, I’m still expecting him to try some scheme at some point in the near future. People just don’t change that easily. Though granted, life gave him quite a few blows recently.
“in the 21st century where monogomy is the norm and polygamy is considered taboo”
There are still many cultures across the planet that permit (and even encourage) polygamy (usually, male polygamy). Like the Islamic nations, many African countries, and there’s even Utah in North America where polygamy is legal. In fact, according to Wikipedia, polygamy is legal in about 25% of countries–I was shocked at how high that number is, but maybe I shouldn’t have been. After all, even though most developed nations do not legally permit polygamy, the numbers for cheating and divorce in those same developed countries are sky-high. Which all goes to hint that monogamy, very likely, is not a natural state for human beings, but instead a social and/or religion-based artificial construct. Unfortunately.
I re-checked a fact, and I apologize for my error: polygamy is not legal in Utah. But it can (and does) happen (and is unlikely to be prosecuted).
Hello there.
I agree that there might be a possibility of He Yuan attempting something. Readers do not know what lies ahead for future chapters and only the author knows (or those who finished this novel). Change is up to the individual and how one discern a need for change or not.
I understand all of readers on this blog have different opinions and beliefs. I respect your comment and agree to various parts.
Yes, monogamy is a social construction, but so is polygamy.
Because it is socially constructed, monogamy is not “natural” . Polygamy is the same. Polygamy is not “natural” either. Despite one practice occurring before another in history, both are human practices and are created by humans. Yes, some places practice monogamy while others practice polygamy depending on each social group(ex: religious group or part(s) of a country). Whether polygamy or monogamy is considered bad or not, the cultural/social context should be taken into consideration for each place when analyzing a particular group.
I do not think polygamy or monogamy is considered “natural” as the word natural is subjective in this context. What is proven natural is the ability of reproducing found in many species on this planet Earth. Homo erectus, one of the earliest found ancient human species, was discovered to have sexual intercourses of opposites genders (dating way back). Only the need to reproduce is “natural”.
So yes, you are right. Monogamy is not a “natural” state,but a social construction.
The numbers of countries that do not allow polygamy and the numbers of cheating / divorces may correlate, but are not causation. Why? There are many variables as to why people cheat or divorce. Personalities can be a factor in this. I mentioned that changing is up to the individual. Well, divorcing or cheating is decided by an individual. Even known statistics cannot be used as a clear determinant for basing a definite likelihood of someone cheating or divorcing. There are the possibilities of changes within the last minute,environment,situation,etc. To take an example from this novel, He Yuan practices polygamy (specifically polygyny if looking at his household only). Yet, he wants to divorce Qin Bai Lu. There are many factors as to why he wants to divorce her and her attitude may be a possible factor Well, only by reading future chapters will readers know whether he will divorce her or not, but everyone can see their distant interactions with each other. My point is that even when practicing polygamy one can choose to divorce one of the wives/husbands. Islamic and Mormon divorces exist. Statistics cannot account every single factors or control outliers. Thus, I say it’s all correlation and cannot determine whether one practice is better than the other or that monogamy is a social construct.
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I understand if you disagree or agree with me about the entire comment input or on various parts.
I apologized if you feel offended (I do not meant to attack anyone if they felt attacked) and sorry for the long winded comment and some repeated parts.
I did not disagree with most of your statements, really. I wanted to include polygamy as a social construct besides monogamy. I only want to point out that the numbers of divorces and cheating in “developed” countries that do not permit polygamy is not a strong evidence to hint or conclude that monogamy is a social construct. Studying social groups and history of humans lead to better evidences. That part is the only one that I disagree on.
Comments facilitate discussions and I get to see the varying or unified opinions from other readers on each chapter. Most agree that we appreciate the translator and her helpers for bringing us viewers a lovely story and working hard to translate each chapter.
Reading your comment was interesting. Have a good day Adnana.
ChocolateCosmos,
Hello. I can’t reply directly to your comment, so I’m replying this way.
First of all, please don’t apologize for anything. Tone–the way we mean things–is difficult to judge when communicating in writing only, therefore it’s easy to misunderstand others and feel offended. However, this is absolutely not the case here; I can see you were just expressing your thoughts and had absolutely no intention to attack anyone. Even if we disagree with each other, we can still respect each other’s opinions.
Okay, now to clarify a bit some of my earlier statements.
I believe that human monogamy is a social construct–encouraged, in no small measure by religion and by the basic fact that (especially in older times hen survival was harsh) after the drive for reproduction had been satisfied, both the female (mother) and the male (father) were necessary to ensure the survival and growth of their vulnerable young. Conversely, I believe that polygamy is only incidentally a social construct–because the drive for it exists instinctively in humans, so of course over time cultures were shaped in such a way as to accommodate that drive. BTW, I’m not using the word “polygamy” as meaning “The condition or practice of having more than one spouse at one time.” (which yes, is completely a social construct… as are spouses, marriage, family etc). I’m using it as to mean “A mating pattern in which a single individual mates with more than one individual of the opposite sex.”
And that’s what I meant by saying that polygamy and not monogamy is very likely the *natural* state for humans. I still stand by that opinion. If you take away all the outer trappings of religion, societal expectation, heck of civilization–in other words, if you revert humans to their most primal, instinct- and survival-driven form–I very much doubt that lifelong monogamy would be practiced instinctively instead of polygamy. It hardly ever *was* practiced over the course of human evolution, was it?, before our modern and (hopefully) more enlightened times. Only 3 percent to 5 percent of the roughly 5,000 species of mammals are known to form lifelong, monogamous bonds. The odds are definitely not in favor of humans being included among that small minority. Sure, we’re not the average mammal. We’ve got our intellect and our mortal compass. Still, some drives are universal.
“The numbers of countries that do not allow polygamy and the numbers of cheating / divorces may correlate, but are not causation.”
That’s my bad, for not properly expressing myself. Of course, there are many variables as to why people cheat or divorce. The point I was trying to make: in monogamous cultures, people struggle very, very much with staying monogamous as highlighted by the overwhelming number of cheating situations and divorces. No, I’m not saying that polygamous societies are better. Yes, again, reasons for cheating/divorce vary. Nevertheless, the common denominator here: the overwhelming majority of monogamous relationships fail in time. So people may enter this pattern of sequential monogamy over their lives (changing from one partner to another to another after each relationship/partner has run their course etc.)–which is no true monogamy at all, is it? Because it’s short-term each time, not really until “death do us part”. And why do people struggle so much with *lifelong monogamy*? Why even with all the benefit of civilization and education and modernity is it nigh impossible to achieve? Because–and that’s the point I was trying to make–maybe humans just aren’t built for lifelong monogamy. It isn’t their “natural” state, just as it isn’t for 95-97% of all mammals.
Unless QBL gets thrown out she will never learn x-x and geez HH is so sweet 😀 even tho he is so young, he is starting to be a very devoted husband to QQJ!!! He’s like 21 right? I also can’t believe he declared to everyone that his only woman is QQJ xD
Who else reads the story and doesn’t cry or get emotional? I tend to grin a bit, when something clever or fun is going on, but the story doesn’t move me to the degree I’ve seen in the comments. I don’t fawn over HH, the MC, or their relationship.
I’ve never cried while reading this story, and I’ve never felt moved of affected to the degree I experienced in the past each (rare) time I discovered a book that would go on to become an absolute favorite. I think this is mostly due to the tone and the writing style of the novel. The narration style seems to me a bit detached, oftentimes not close enough to the characters, not immersed enough in their emotional lives to have the power to pull me in completely and sweep me away. Like, take the heroine–the character I identify most with when reading a story. Qu Qing Ju is, to a large degree, a cypher. When she does open up a bit for the reader, she often seems cold and emotionally detached. If *she* doesn’t FEEL (or claims she doesn’t feel) things keenly and crazily strong, then why should *I*? I like this book very much, but its pull on me and the pleasure it affords me is intellectual more than it is emotional.
With that said, since 10 or so chapters ago, there’s also been more of a shift in my emotions in that I’ve also become more emotionally involved in the book and am looking forward much more impatiently to each new chapter. 🙂 I haven’t been really addicted to the story for most of its run, but now on the end stretch… I actually am.
“Qu Qing Ju didn’t know that she had been levelled up to demoness.”
LOL, that was the best line ever XD
Btw, what did HQ meant about QYS? HH was involved in her death…?
“Btw, what did HQ meant about QYS? HH was involved in her death…?”
I really wonder about that too. I mean, sure, it was a dark stain that the Empress’ di sister was Rui Wang’s minor concubine, and we’ve seen in the past that HH has zero tolerance for embarrassing relatives-by-marriage. But he seemed not to care about QYS… I can’t imagine that he was directly involved in her untimely end. Maybe it has something to do with that talk between HY and his servant in a previous chapter, that after HH disposed of QQJ’s family, it wouldn’t look good if he, HY, was to be seen favoring QYS. So maybe HY let QYS get sick and die to eliminate a problem and indirectly curry favor with HH but they didn’t actually kill QYS?
haha this current QQJ just naturally enchanted HH and her status got elevated to a demoness level. let alone ancient women, modern women would be also jealous having HH as her husband
“Wei Qing E gripped her wine cup tighter. Then a woman who could keep a man like that in the palm of her hand, how scary was she?”
LOL forever. This chapter definitely goes in my top 10 for this novel. I couldn’t help smiling again and again while reading it. Thank you!
I love to read about strong women, but I love it even more when a strong woman is paired with a strong man (and worthy partner) without it leading to a diminishing of her strength, but on the contrary. There was this quote in another book that I had to write down because of how much it struck me (said by an older female relative to the heroine, about the hero):
“He’s strong,” Louisa said. “He’s strong without being a bully. Married to you, most men would either end up letting you do their breathing for them, or they would feel they had to master you. You were fortunate to find a man who is strong enough to let you be what you are.”
What a wonderful quote. Which book is that from?
Ah, my weakness for Regency romance. 🙂
It is “The Deception” by Joan Wolf; I love most of her traditional Regencies so, so much, and even so, “The Deception” is one of my favorites. The hero is wonderful. 😉
Thank you. 🙂
Which book…..??
Oh god, QBL, she won’t stop being so petty even with her now fragile status…
Thank you for the chapter 😊
thank you very much!
woah—! i’m going to scream myself hoarse with all the good chapters coming out today! wah—! really awesome, he publicly announced that he won’t take another woman, and he will protect the empress no matter what?! -scremas and fall over from too much fangirling- -faves chapter-
Thank you very much~! =D I can see why this is a fav chapter of yours, its now one of mines too!!! Wonder how HH is going to act once QQJ starts giving birth lol, We’re gunna see the usually cool HH get all flustered, hopefully=D
Geezzz… QBL and HY relationship is so unhealthy. They should divorce instead.
HH is indeed ruthless but smooth. Now he tried hard to be in QJ’s good grace, to be that special perdon in her heart… I find it rather cute 😆
Thanks for this chapter
“Geezzz… QBL and HY relationship is so unhealthy. They should divorce instead.”
Ironically enough, as bad as QBL has it now, I’m pretty certain she still has it better as HY’s wife and ruler of his wang fu than she would have it if she were sent back home to her family–divorced and thus shamed. These characters are living in those kind of unfair times. 🙁
With that said, I feel zero compassion for QBL. Most (if not all) of her misery is of her own making.
He Heng did something rekated to QYS death? Hmmm didn’t see than coming, how come Ning Wang know about it I wonder
“Zhen and Empress are both young and feel sex doesn’t matter.”
I have to read that several times. I thought he was talking about his celibacy during his Empress pregnancy. Hehehe.
It would have been better if its “gender”.
But it did woke me up.
I’ve been here and enjoying the read everyday.
Thank you all ladies.
Ahh, I can see the confusion. My mind had just automatically did the “sex” bit based on the Chinese.
Nice chapter. I really love this novel. And also all the comments from everyone. But what i love the most is your notes/thinking at the top of the post before the chapter starts. We are about to reach the end of the novel, and I think I will miss the note a lot. Thank you so much. ^^
Thank you for the update, HH is so sweet. I like QQJ bluntness, it lessen the misunderstanding that might occur between them.
Nice translation, thanks. A lot of QQJ’s life is turning out fine due to luck, if she were married to HY instead what would her life have been. Or if HY instead of HH became emperor. While she is smart (not to take foolish or silly steps) and not easily fooled, she also realises how much luckier she has been, compared to the other average women around. Some of the other women are silly, but most of this is about making best of what you have been given.
The end is so near that I am getting rather sad for I will miss this story when it’s ended. @wyhwce Will you be translating a new story?
Yes, but I won’t start immediately after this one ends. I will finish translating and then post like I’m doing with this one.
Nice! Do you know what story already? =)
Thanks for the chapter! HH try your best! (*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑
When I read that last little section of the chapter I just had to comment even though its been almost two months. Firstly, squeeeeee! I can’t stop the smile on my face! Qu Qing Ju and He Heng are so sweet together. Reading it reminds me of a scene from a Chinese drama called The Empress of China.
*spoilers for the drama*
In the grande finale, the empress and the emperor sit together and watch the fireworks as they confess their love for each other. As they sit with each other’s arms around them the Emperor closes his eyes and takes his final breath and the Empress weeps. It was such a powerful scene and so beautiful! （ーー；）I’ll admit, I cried my eyes out at that scene.
Thanks for the chapter!
thanks for the chapter!
I’m happy about the improvement between HQ and his wang fei, at least someone learnt from their past mistakes and willing to improve.
I totally second Ning Wang fei’s conclusion, fate does play a role in situations.
Off topic. No offense meant but I kept reading about duck’s tongue and couldn’t help myself to take a quick peek at google. I regreted it immediately. 😂
LOL
Everyone naturally followed in laughing, but their hearts were scared witless. What the Emperor just said, it seemed to mean that he was only going to have children with the Empress only.
It must be that they heard wrong! <— LOL I laughed so hard here.
See, our main couple is low-key very dark but somehow the story written beautifully making it seems justified. I know QYS's illness is suspicious but I thought it is HY's works like he unconsciously treat her bad due to QQJ but still keeps her since she must had some similar features to her step-sister that he unconsciously yearn. Glad I was proven wrong (cause now I somehow comes to like HY chara). This means HH's man in HY fu is that Mr. Gao right, the one that moves the string of HY all this time. In the beginning HH had says "Wang fei will get all that she is due", now I understand it. He is very deep and suitable to be an Emperor.
WQE monologue is so melancholic. But indeed, it must have been their fate/destiny. She and HQ (she is patient and good at enduring, unlike QQJ and QBL), QQJ and HH (both ruthless and schemes runs deep, most important both possessiveness), BQL and HY (both arrogant and prideful, but now that HY nose is broken and woke up and BQL stills the same, Idk if they'll still be together)