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

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Harem’s No. 1 Dancer?

On the day of the Longevity Festival, a stream of high-ranking officials and nobles filed into the palace to offer their birthday wishes.

The Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager appeared together, dressed in their most magnificent court robes. They glittered with gold, their attire substantial and imposing. From her seat below, Jiang Xian looked up, the brilliant luster of their jewels reflecting in her eyes.

’I’m too late for the Empress’s position, but maybe I can still fight for the Empress Dowager’s.’

After the formal greetings were exchanged, it was time to be seated.

With the Empress Dowager presiding, even someone as favored as Jiang Xian received no special treatment. She remained at a table designated for those of the Changzai and Daying ranks. But just after she was seated, an imperial eunuch placed a small bowl of cherries and snow fungus bird’s nest on her table. "These are tributes from the convoy for His Majesty’s sacred birthday," he explained. "Aside from the bowls for the Empress Dowager, the Empress, the Noble Consort, and Princess Consort Zhang, the Emperor instructed me to bring only this one to you. He said that the banquet food might look appealing but may not be to your taste, and that you should have this to tide you over." Seeing her start to rise, the little eunuch quickly added, "The Emperor said there is no need for you to give special thanks."

"Then I must trouble you to thank the Emperor on my behalf."

Jiang Xian said with a smile.

The cherries were already pitted. She ate them with a small silver fork, and they were intoxicatingly sweet.

Jiang Xian wasn’t much of a gourmand. To prevent Chen Daying, sitting beside her, from drooling all over the table in full view of everyone, she gave her half. It would also encourage her to keep her chopsticks moving and her mouth shut, saving her from getting into trouble.

"Thank you for the treat, Sister Shu," Chen Daying chimed in sweetly.

Zhang Changzai, who sat at the same table, shot her a cold look and said in a biting, passive-aggressive tone, "Chen Daying, you are a consort yourself. She is merely a Changzai. Why must you be so servile?"

Jiang Xian’s eyelid twitched.

Before Jiang Xian could retort, Chen Daying gave Zhang Changzai a wary look. "If you’re trying to get on Sister Shu’s good side, you should find someone else! Sister Shu already has me."

"..."

’What kind of twisted logic is that?!’

’Was I trying to flatter Shu Changzai? I was mocking Chen Daying for sucking up to a mere Changzai! What’s so great about being Shu Changzai’s lapdog? It’s not like Shu Changzai has shared any of the Emperor’s favor with her these past few days!’

’It just goes to show that Shu Changzai isn’t a generous or tolerant person.’

Furious at the bizarre accusation, Zhang Changzai was about to argue when she heard Jiang Xian turn her head. A broad, cheerful smile was on Jiang Xian’s face. "Little Sister Chen is right. You really shouldn’t have your eye on me, Zhang Changzai."

If she was speechless before, now Zhang Changzai felt her chest tighten with rage.

But this was a grand banquet, and she couldn’t make a scene. She could only sit there with a stiff expression, determined to ignore the residents of Yizhu Pavilion.

Zhang Changzai lived in the same palace as Consort Guo, and they were united by their shared dislike of Jiang Xian.

The quiet lasted only a moment. When the eunuch began announcing the Princes who were presenting their gifts, Zhang Changzai spoke up again. "I’m so looking forward to Consort Guo’s *Feathered Robe Dance*! Her Ladyship has studied dance for many years and is incredibly talented. She rarely performs for others, so I feel truly blessed to witness it today." She shot a glance at Jiang Xian. "I hear Shu Changzai is also preparing a performance. Why don’t you and Chen Daying go ahead and give the Emperor a little preview?"

’It’s bad enough she won’t just hide her incompetence, but she insists on making a fool of herself in front of the imperial family and all their guests.’

Chen Daying sensed the sparks flying between them.

She whispered to the palace maid standing behind her, "He Xiang, do you think I should jump in and help?"

"My lady, have you forgotten Shu Changzai’s instructions?" He Xiang said quickly. "Keep your mouth shut and your chopsticks moving. Don’t make trouble for her."

Chen Daying was rather disappointed.

’And here she thought she was so sharp-tongued and had such a keen grasp of human nature, she could have fought Jiang Xian’s battles for her.’

"Since you don’t feel blessed enough, I’ll give you another chance to feast your eyes," Jiang Xian replied in a soft, gentle voice.

If one didn’t pay close attention to the words, they might have thought she and Zhang Changzai were having a pleasant conversation.

Zhang Changzai’s face hardened. "Let’s hope it’s not a feast for the eyes so much as a laughingstock."

No sooner had the words left her mouth than it was nearly time for Consort Guo, now in her dancing costume, to take the stage.

As the music of strings and flutes began, a graceful figure appeared on the stage.

At the high table, the Empress Dowager looked interested when the eunuch announced the *Feathered Robe Dance*. "This dance was lost for a long time," she remarked. "The versions circulating in the dance studios are just reconstructions based on the imagination of later generations. But this Consort Guo performs it quite well. It’s clear she has put in a great deal of effort."

The Emperor, however, was clearly unimpressed with Consort Guo.

The Empress Dowager’s praise was merely a courtesy afforded to Consort Guo’s family. "I find it mediocre at best," the Emperor commented. "It can’t compare to the *startled swan dance* from the autumn hunt."

That had been a performance by the Music Bureau.

"If the dancing girls from the Music Bureau performed poorly, it would cost them their heads. Consort Guo can’t be expected to compare to professionals," the Empress Dowager said with a gentle smile. "Based on dancing skill alone, she can still be considered the best in the harem."

When the dance concluded, Consort Guo curtsied gracefully and offered auspicious words of felicitation.

Her heart was pounding, but her thoughts were not on the man at the high table.

Instead, they were on Jiang Xian, who was about to humiliate herself in front of everyone.

At that thought, she could hardly wait to rush offstage, change back into her formal attire, and get a front-row seat to watch Jiang Xian make a complete fool of herself.