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

Chapter 41: Chapter 39: Promoted to Noble Lady

The little eunuch behind Shu Changzai tied the end of the silk to the second-floor railing.

Shu Changzai leaped into the air. As the music swelled and the audience gasped, she gracefully stepped onto the silk, walking toward the pillar in the center of the five-pointed star formation.

The Emperor’s pupils tightened.

Down below, the guests’ minds were racing.

The men thought, ’No wonder Shu Changzai is so favored. Who wouldn’t be captivated by such a peerless beauty, as light as a swallow?’ The more licentious among them couldn’t help but imagine what heavenly bliss it would be to have such a delicate creature in their chambers.

The women, however, were thinking of other things entirely.

’Just how thin is Shu Changzai?’

’How does she do it?’

’Does she even eat?’

’Being that light, can she even get her monthly cycle? Can she get pregnant? To want only the Holy Favor and not children... how ruthless!’

But all those worldly thoughts vanished once Shu Changzai began to dance.

She was actually going to dance upon the six pillars, using them as her stage!

The guests saw her as frail, but they didn’t realize that her ability to perform these movements relied on incredible control over her limbs and immense core strength. An ordinary scholar would likely be taken down in three moves if they faced her. Only through grueling practice could one make it all look so effortless.

Her water sleeves, light as mist, billowed out. The hem of her dance skirt, studded with fine gems, sparkled brilliantly, yet neither could outshine the stunning beauty of her face. Under the influence of the [Fan Filter], the crowd felt they weren’t watching a live performance, but a high-definition, perfectly edited music video.

The white snow fell, serving only as her backdrop.

Jiang Xian raised her warming aura slightly, causing the freshly fallen snow to melt the instant it touched her, thus preserving the aesthetic. Previously, when Consort Guo danced, she had repeatedly sent flirtatious glances toward the Emperor. Jiang Xian, however, did not. She was cultivating the image of an immortal. ’How could an immortal constantly flirt with a man?’

Just when the crowd thought it couldn’t get any more spectacular, butterflies suddenly appeared, fluttering gracefully around her as if drawn to the Lady of the Moon Palace herself.

The guests were in an uproar.

The beauty of Shu Changzai’s dance was so great it had even enthralled the butterflies!

Those who could enter the palace were all people of culture. Some officials, their poetic muse stirred, were already muttering verses under their breath, wishing they could immediately take up a brush, grind some ink, and compose a poem worthy of the scene.

As the dance concluded, Shu Changzai leaped down from the central pillar.

A swarm of butterflies enveloped her, creating the illusion that they were bearing her aloft.

After landing, she deactivated the Butterfly Attracting Fragrance and sank into a graceful bow.

Only at the very last moment did Jiang Xian raise her eyes, giving her big boss the most sincere look she could muster. ’Promotion, a raise, and reaching the pinnacle of my life!’

"Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!"

The Emperor stood, descended from his seat, and personally helped Jiang Xian to her feet, repeating the word "Wonderful" three times.

At that moment, however, a strange thought occurred to Jiang Xian—

’If the Emperor had said "Exquisite! Exquisite! Exquisite!"... wouldn’t he have sounded like he was trying to suppress a sneeze in front of everyone?’

To personally help a mere Changzai to her feet at the Longevity Banquet was an extraordinary honor. But the Emperor felt she was worthy; indeed, only such a gesture could do justice to the profound emotion and adoration in his heart. No one knew better than him how much hardship Jiang Xian had endured for this one dance, how much she had suffered. Those excruciating stretches were tantamount to torture. ’And how many times must Shu Changzai have fallen while practicing this dance at such a height?’

Jiang Xian had indeed fallen, and she had suffered a great deal.

But she didn’t mind.

"The moonlight is especially clear and bright tonight. It must be because of my beloved consort’s dance!" The Emperor was like a superfan who had just seen his favorite idol perform live and was now spamming the comments with gushing praise. He was the ruler of a nation, and it was his birthday; there was no reward too extravagant for him to bestow. He granted her a seat of honor near his own and issued a decree:

"Hear Our decree! Shu Changzai is pure of heart and clever of mind, and her devotion is sincere. She is hereby promoted to the rank of Noble Lady, and her title is changed to ’Gu.’"

No one paid any attention to the flood of other rewards that were announced after.

They had only heard the decree of her promotion.

Between the ranks of Changzai and Noble Lady were Talented Woman and Beauty. Shu Changzai—no, Noble Lady Gu—had skipped ranks in her promotion!

The significance of her new title was also worth pondering.

Her previous title, ’Shu,’ praised her unrivaled beauty. But the Royal Family was concerned with appearances, and the titles of high-ranking concubines usually aimed for virtues like ’virtuous,’ ’gentle,’ or ’moral.’ The late Emperor did have a Consort Li, whose title meant ’beautiful,’ but it was an exception. For the Emperor to change her title now clearly showed that he cared for more than just her pretty face.

A more elegant title suggested he anticipated further promotions for her, and was already paving her path forward.

But what was the meaning behind the character ’Gu’?

Soon, the Emperor explained it himself. "Just now, watching my beloved consort’s performance, I felt as if I were seeing an immortal from the Moon Palace. It also brought to mind Li Bai’s poem, ’Cloud Music.’"

He couldn’t very well grant her the title ’Moon.’

Thus, from the line, "The sun-crow has yet to leave its valley; the gazing rabbit is half-concealed," the character ’Gu’ becomes a poetic name for the moon.

"It also means that We will often be by your side to care for you."

’My rice bowl is more secure than ever.’ Jiang Xian looked at the Emperor, deeply moved.

The Emperor, too, was deeply moved.

Only He Siyuan, sitting in a corner below, felt so miserable he thought he might be sick.