Hustle Queen in the Harem: My Consort Won't Stop Grinding

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Peer Competition

After the Emperor returned to Qiankun Palace, he issued a verbal decree.

The number of people wishing to perform for the Longevity Festival was immense. The late Emperor had favored grand spectacles, so during his reign, the Longevity Festival featured endless songs and dances from the Music Bureau’s performers. Even opera troupes from the Capital City would enter the palace for celebratory performances. Some might not even get to perform before the Emperor, instead entertaining guests on the periphery. However, the concubines’ performances were for the Emperor alone. While the families of the imperial clan and high ministers might be fortunate enough to watch on account of the festival, the concubines could never perform for guests alone, as it would disrupt the proper hierarchy of host and guest, superior and inferior.

When concubines performed for the Emperor to celebrate his birthday, the thought was more important than the skill. Therefore, any concubine who did not wish to perform in public could present her tribute to the Emperor privately before the Longevity Festival by simply registering with Chief Liang. For the next few days, he would not be flipping the name tablets, but would instead properly receive the heartfelt gestures from the women of the harem.

At this, the minds of some concubines began to race.

’A private performance?’

’Isn’t this a chance to see His Majesty in person?’

Those who had originally planned to just give gifts now added a performance to their offerings. All who entered the palace were daughters of good families, or at the very least, young ladies from wealthy households. They were bound to be skilled in at least one of the four arts: zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting.

When Chen Daying learned this had all started because of her, she stamped her foot. "So what if I embarrassed myself? It’s not the first time! How could we let them get off so easy, giving them a free chance to show their faces and compete for favor in front of the Emperor?"

Jiang Xian was surprised. "I never knew you were so obsessed with the Emperor’s Holy Favor."

"The more favor you have, the better my life is. Besides, I’m not afraid of anyone stealing my favor," Chen Daying said, offering her own logic as someone from the very bottom of the harem’s hierarchy. "I don’t have any favor to begin with."

Jiang Xian laughed. Seeing that Chen Daying was still indignant, she offered a piece of advice, "I’m not afraid of being compared to others. The more effort they put into their performances, the more they’re playing right into my hands."

When it came to giving gifts, Jiang Xian truly couldn’t compete.

She had started with nothing. A Changzai’s monthly allowance was pitifully small. Her current expenses in the palace only seemed lavish because of the silver taels the Emperor had rewarded her, plus her cut from the intel her Palace Attendants from Yizhu Pavilion had sold... Her finances had loosened up, but she was no match for those whose maiden families were right in the Capital City and could secretly send them money.

"I’m not afraid of others performing. I’m afraid of them *not* performing."

Mian Xia was confused. "But if everyone does the same thing, won’t you seem less special, my lady?"

But He Xiang, who stood beside Chen Daying, said, "Shu Changzai’s dancing is different from the others. Even an ignorant servant like myself can see how extraordinary it is. In the coming days, as other concubines perform for the Emperor, if their offerings are bland and unremarkable, they will simply serve as green leaves to highlight Shu Changzai’s bloom. And if there is one that is occasionally novel and outstanding, it will only make the Emperor more eager to see the performance that gives Shu Changzai such confidence."

Hearing this analysis, Jiang Xian shot her a look of appreciation.

This was exactly what she was thinking.

In her previous life, the company she worked for loved to use internal competition. They would create two small studios or teams to develop products in the same lane, pitting them against each other. The winner would get more resources, and the loser would be eliminated.

The King of Competition isn’t afraid of being compared.

It was like how a top student loves a difficult exam; only a high degree of difficulty can sift through the sand and reveal the true gold.

At the same time, a small snow-appreciation banquet was being held in the Imperial Garden. Lu Ronghua was the host, having invited the concubines she was friendly with for a small gathering. They, too, had just heard the news.

A flicker of joy first appeared on Lu Ronghua’s face.

She played the zither masterfully. If she performed early, she reasoned, and put in a little extra effort, she might be able to convince the Emperor to stay after her song was finished.

Consort Guo said coolly, "The Emperor just recently summoned Shu Changzai to accompany him to appreciate the snow. This was probably her idea."

"Her own skills are lacking, and she doesn’t want to lose face at the Longevity Festival banquet, so she had to resort to some strange trick," Tao Cairen chimed in, agreeing with Consort Guo. She broke into a smile. "It’s just given all of us sisters a chance to display our talents before the Emperor."

At that last sentence, the expressions of the other women turned serious.

Lu Ronghua didn’t want to discuss the content of their performances, lest they all start trying to spy on one another. She preferred to take a jab at the currently favored Yizhu Pavilion. "To serve a man with beauty alone is not a long-term plan. When beauty fades, so does love."

"I heard that Yizhu Pavilion took the initiative to request a dance mistress. I never would have thought," Feng Liangyuan said, covering her lips with her hand as she giggled. "Mastering dance isn’t something that can be achieved in a day or two. Not like you, Sister Ronghua. Long before we entered the palace, I had already heard of your unparalleled skill in both poetry and the zither. How could anyone hope to catch up overnight?"

Lu Ronghua was a little pleased to hear this. "It’s just an empty reputation. I practice the zither and compose poetry not to please others, but to quiet my own heart. It’s truly a pity this time. If one of our sisters could perform a dance and let the Emperor know that the harem also has concubines skilled in dance, that would be wonderful."

’It would be best if someone came and outshone Shu Changzai.’

In truth, what kind of waves could a mere Changzai make? Not to mention one from a poor family with no support from her maiden family. They weren’t in a great hurry to eliminate her, as anyone with eyes could see the Emperor was currently infatuated with Shu Changzai. This verbal decree was just the Emperor’s way of covering for Shu Changzai’s clumsy dancing. ’She really is just a seductive vixen with nothing but a pretty face.’

But even so, they were still furious.

How long had they been in the palace, only to be overshadowed by a mere Changzai!

Lu Ronghua desperately wished she could be the one to outshine Shu Changzai.

Unfortunately, she had been pampered since childhood and couldn’t endure the hardship of learning to dance.

Just then, Consort Guo spoke. "I plan to perform the ’Feathered Robe Dance’ at the Longevity Festival."

As soon as the words left her mouth, all eyes fell on her in surprise.

’She just announced it like that!’

Her expression grew even more arrogant. "If any sisters wish to perform the same dance as I, I don’t mind."

Seeing the confidence on Consort Guo’s face, everyone present understood. She must be an expert in dance, absolutely certain of her abilities, and completely unafraid of others copying her.

"Hearing you say that, I’m starting to look forward to your performance, Consort Guo," Lu Ronghua said, looking at her with a smile. "A dance performance can’t be without a fine costume. I have some excellent Floating Light Brocade in my palace... but unfortunately, time is a bit tight, so we can’t make a new dance costume. If you’re short on any jewelry, though, just come to me."

"Then I must thank you in advance for your kind offer, Sister Ronghua."

Consort Guo stood and curtsied to show that she accepted the gesture.

She wasn’t short on money, nor would she ever stoop to borrowing jewelry from others.

Lu Ronghua knew when she said it that Consort Guo would never actually come to borrow anything. It was just a way of expressing an attitude—

—that when it came to knocking Shu Changzai down a peg, they were on the same side.

In the Snow Appreciation Pavilion in the Imperial Garden, a charcoal fire burned nearby, filling the air with warmth and cheerful smiles.

At a glance, everything seemed utterly harmonious.

※

「Back in Zhongcui Palace」

After returning to Zhongcui Palace, a palace maid showed a look of doubt. "My lady, why did you announce your performance just now? The other ladies are guarding their secrets so closely, afraid someone will copy them."

"Let them learn if they want."

Having returned from the snow-appreciation banquet, a look of hatred surfaced on Consort Guo’s exquisitely made-up face. "I want Mrs. Jiang to lose sleep and live under the shadow of being outshone by me. They want to learn? Then let them!"

In her confidence, born of genuine talent, she was surprisingly similar to Jiang Xian.

Consort Guo had studied dance since she was a child; it was both a hobby and something her family had intentionally arranged. A girl being prepared for the palace needed to have some talent to fall back on, whereas the mistress of a typical official’s household had no such need. "I never mentioned it to the Emperor before because I wanted our days in the palace to be long and leisurely. If I reveal all my skills at once, I won’t have any secret weapons left for later..."

She had originally thought that after her first night serving him, the Emperor would be tender with her for several days.

She never expected Jiang Xian to intercept him first.

More than she hated her superiors who had long held high positions, she hated Jiang Xian, who had entered the palace at the same time as her.

Consort Guo took a deep breath, comforting herself, "Thankfully, my parents cultivated my talents from a young age... My heart is a little more at ease now. Otherwise, I’d be like that Mrs. Jiang—no talent, no virtue, nothing but a pretty face. She can only throw her dignity away and beg the Emperor. No matter how much favor she gains, she’s still a joke!"

The Longevity Festival lasted for several days, and even the Capital City was decked out in lanterns and colored banners, full of festive cheer.

Because of the Emperor’s verbal decree, quite a few concubines went to perform for him.

Most of them were newcomers.

Unfortunately, though many went, not a single one had her name tablet flipped. Swept over by the Emperor’s indifferent gaze, the newcomers, who rarely had a chance to see him, couldn’t stop trembling, and their performances were all quite mediocre.

The one who, unexpectedly, made the Emperor crack a smile was, of all people, Chen Daying.

After she finished her dance, the Emperor spoke up. "We had thought that since you are on good terms with Shu Changzai, We should reward you with something even if your dance was mediocre."

Liang Yuyin, standing to the side, could tell that the Emperor was setting up a punchline and trying to be suspenseful.

Chief Liang guessed correctly.

The second half of the sentence the Emperor had prepared for Chen Daying was: ’Now that We have seen your dance, We will not punish you, for the sake of your friendship with Shu Changzai.’

There was no other reason. Her dancing was just that ridiculous!

Not only did she move her arm and leg on the same side, but she was also completely off the beat.

Who would have known that Chen Daying wouldn’t pick up on the Emperor’s subtext? She kowtowed joyfully to express her gratitude. "The last time I received a reward from Your Majesty, it was thanks to Sister Shu’s good fortune, and I was already immensely grateful. Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

"..."

Her single, heartfelt thanks completely deflated the Emperor’s punchline.