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

Chapter 46: Chapter 42: Medicated Cuisine

There was trouble in Jianzhang Palace today.

The concubines who came to pay their respects all vaguely sensed the oppressive atmosphere hanging over Jianzhang Palace. This was especially clear from Fu Jin, who was there to greet the ladies. Usually, her smile was radiant and sweet enough to melt one’s heart, but today it was faint, her expression nearly a scowl.

’What an eye-opener!’ Fu Jin thought. ’To think Noble Princess Consort Rong would resort to such tricks to curry favor, and all to startle Her Majesty. The Empress drank the calming soup, but her face is still pale. She keeps feeling nauseous at the memory of that overwhelming metallic smell. Even the scent of incense is unbearable to her now, so we had to have it all removed and brew a cup of hot tea to calm her nerves.’

Everyone entered and paid their respects to the Empress.

As always, the Empress quickly bade them rise. Her expression was placid, her lips pressed tightly together.

Lu Ronghua lifted her teacup and said languidly, "Before the festival, some people were practically standing outside. Now that the festival is over, they’ve somehow earned the privilege of a seat inside."

In the harem, the hierarchy was strict; every seating position held meaning.

During the last concubine selection, the Empress Dowager had decreed that the harem must be filled. The Emperor had only recently ascended the throne, and the rear palace was quite empty. Still, the Purple Sandalwood Ganoderma Long Back Chairs, reserved for head consorts of each palace, were left mostly vacant rather than allowing someone of a lower rank to occupy them. Jiang Xian had entered the palace with a low station, and since Yizhu Pavilion had no head concubine to grant her a forward position, she, a lowly concubine of the Daying rank, had to stand practically by the door—a position even worse than that of a chief palace maid to a high-ranking concubine.

Lu Ronghua’s words were just one step short of calling out Jiang Xian by name.

But she hadn’t, not quite.

Lu Ronghua’s cold, almond-shaped eyes glared at Jiang Xian, but she didn’t see the on-pins-and-needles expression she’d been expecting. Jiang Xian sat perfectly composed, wearing a distant yet polite smile—her quintessential "Meeting Face 2.0."

Version 1.0 was the look of intense concentration one feigned while pretending to listen carefully to a senior leader.

’As long as she doesn’t use my name, she’s not talking about me.’

Feng Liangyuan chimed in with a melodic voice, "Sister Shu is truly blessed... Oh, listen to me, how forgetful. I should be calling you Sister Gu now."

At the mention of her new title, the faces of the other concubines fell.

The Emperor truly cared for her.

The rank of Liang Yuan was only half a step above a Noble Lady. Seeing Jiang Xian shoot up the ranks like a rocket made Feng Liangyuan deeply uneasy. Lacking any definitive plan to ruin her, she decided to just follow the trend and take a jab at her.

’So she did call me out by name after all...’

Jiang Xian thought with a touch of regret, but her response was swift. "A trivial person such as myself is hardly worth my sister’s notice! If you cannot remember the new title His Majesty bestowed upon me, then perhaps it would be best if you simply mentioned me less."

Feng Liangyuan was left speechless.

At first glance, Jiang Xian’s words seemed self-deprecating, but on closer inspection, they were a perfectly measured retort—not too soft, not too harsh.

Her next line, however, was much more direct. "You know, ever since I entered the palace, nothing good has ever happened when I’m singled out by name—unless it’s by the Emperor. I’d really rather you not single me out, Sister."

Throughout the exchange, she maintained a perfect smile.

Not an ounce more to seem insolent, not an ounce less to appear weak.

Witnessing Jiang Xian’s discomfiting performance, the concubines who had been watching from the sidelines had mixed reactions.

Some thought her a fool for not concealing her edge and playing the part of the meek, subservient woman. ’She’s such a firecracker,’ they thought. ’Retorting after just one jab. Isn’t she just asking for trouble?’

Others thought she was refreshingly genuine and living life on her own terms. When this gaggle of women gets jealous, they are truly unforgiving.

Neither side guessed correctly.

’Jiang Xian was perfectly calm. She simply felt this was the moment to take a hard stance, so she did, without any personal emotion involved. If a meeting isn’t for business, it’s for making an impression. Why should a favored concubine hide her strengths and bide her time? So that the plots against her can become more subtle? If she keeps a low profile for too long, the Emperor might actually forget she exists.’

If she fought back, people would want her dead.

If she lay down and took it, she would actually die.

Without a doubt, Jiang Xian chose the former.

Lu Ronghua set down her teacup, her face a mask of contempt. "As if anyone would care to mention you by name. How laughable!"

’System,’ Jiang Xian thought, ’I want to purchase a one-time BGM.’

This one-time consumable item could plausibly manifest music in the minds of others. Jiang Xian took Lu Ronghua’s earlier words—"Before the festival, some people were practically standing outside. Now that the festival is over, they’ve somehow earned the privilege of a seat inside."—and set them to a backing track that conveyed a feeling of "I’m speechless, this is so ridiculous." Then she removed the new lyrics, leaving only Lu Ronghua’s original voice layered over the instrumental music. This way, the historical figures around her wouldn’t be distracted by words they couldn’t understand.

’Setting the tempo? Who doesn’t know how to do that?’

With her subtle push, everyone present immediately recalled Lu Ronghua’s earlier words.

That’s right—it was Lu Ronghua who had started it by targeting Jiang Xian.

For her to now act all high and mighty, pretending she couldn’t be bothered to name names, was indeed rather laughable.