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

Chapter 47: Chapter 42: Medicinal Cuisine (Part 2)

Lu Ronghua held a high rank, so the other concubines wouldn’t dare to undermine her openly. But instincts couldn’t be hidden, and a flurry of odd looks landed on her. She maintained her composure for a moment but couldn’t hold it, her face flushing with embarrassment.

"Why must you be so distant? We are all sisters in the harem, after all. It’s not good to be so estranged," Feng Liangyuan, who had been rebuffed earlier, said softly, changing her tone. "We haven’t known each other for long, unlike Consort Guo and Noble Lady Gu. They have the bond of knowing each other from Chuxiu Palace, and they both happen to love dancing."

Standing behind Jiang Xian’s embroidered stool, Chen Daying’s eyes widened.

’Seriously? Does she really think I’m a palace maid?’

’When it came to friendship, she and Mrs. Jiang were the closest.’

’Is this Feng Liangyuan blind? No wonder she’s fallen out of favor.’

Chen Daying fumed internally, but Zhenqiu, beside her, discreetly squeezed her wrist, signaling her not to jump in. Feng Liangyuan’s remarks weren’t intended to mock Chen Daying’s low rank; she had simply forgotten her, not considering a mere concubine of Daying rank to be anyone of importance. Every word she spoke was a dagger to Consort Guo’s heart.

Couldn’t she see that Consort Guo’s face looked as if it was about to start bleeding?

Consort Guo, who was usually at the forefront of mocking Jiang Xian, hadn’t uttered a peep today aside from paying her respects, terrified that someone would compare the two of them.

And of course, her worst fears were realized.

"Come to think of it, Consort Guo and Noble Lady Gu do have some connection. When they first entered the palace, it was Consort Guo who first attended the Emperor, with Noble Lady Gu after her," said Yi Pin. She’d had a falling out with Consort Guo before the Longevity Festival and now seized the chance to kick her while she was down. "It’s just like the order of their performances at the Longevity Festival. In my opinion, Consort Guo’s dance was already lovely, but Noble Lady Gu’s performance... now that was a dance that could captivate the entire Capital."

With Yi Pin praising her, Jiang Xian had no choice but to offer her thanks.

Yi Pin smiled. "I’m just speaking my mind. You see enough of these tribute performances and they grow tiresome—it’s always the same old tricks. Noble Lady Gu’s performance was what finally perked me up."

"Are you saying, Yi Pin, that you were dozing off during the Longevity Banquet? That you needed someone else’s performance to wake you?"

Lu Ronghua retorted.

Yi Pin gave her a wronged look. "I admit I was exaggerating. I hope Sister Ronghua can be magnanimous."

Lu Ronghua scoffed. "If you don’t know how to speak properly, then you should speak less."

"That is enough."

Seeing the dispute about to devolve into an endless squabble, the Empress set down her teacup. The room fell silent at once, no one daring to be presumptuous. When the appointed hour arrived, the Empress dismissed them without keeping them a moment longer.

Her expression was the very picture of exhaustion, like someone eager to be done with their duties for the day.

Consort Guo departed with her head bowed.

But seeing Jiang Xian now walking ahead of her made the feeling even worse.

After leaving Jianzhang Palace, Consort Guo called out to Jiang Xian. "Noble Lady Gu," she said, her voice laced with acid, "the moment you arrived today, you sat in a position above me. Have you already decided you’re more distinguished than I am?"

’To think, not long ago, she was just a lowly concubine of Daying rank.’

’Back in Chuxiu Palace, when my maids took her hot water, she didn’t dare argue. She just left quietly to wash her hands and face with cold water. That, in my opinion, was the treatment a woman from a minor family like Mrs. Jiang deserved. But now she dares to sit above me? I feel like my position has been usurped, and I resent her for showing me such disrespect.’

"Noble Lady Gu, are you still holding a grudge because my palace maid took your hot water in Chuxiu Palace? I’ve already punished her for it."

’She’s actually trying to appear conciliatory!’

Chen Daying, standing to one side, was astonished.

Jiang Xian, however, just smiled. "That was such a long time ago. Entering the palace is like being reborn; I no longer recall what happened in Chuxiu Palace. Consort Guo, your status is distinguished. There’s no need to punish a palace maid for my sake. As for the seating arrangement..." She paused. "I was merely following protocol."

With that, she gave a polite nod and turned to leave.

Seeing that Jiang Xian was completely unyielding, Consort Guo had no choice but to return to Zhongcui Palace.

Meanwhile, Chen Daying said in surprise, "I thought she was coming to cause trouble for you."

"Her family may have spoiled her, but they didn’t spoil her stupid. If she wanted to cause trouble for me, what leverage does she have?"

They were both Noble Ladies, but Jiang Xian’s bestowed title made her slightly more distinguished.

"In life, it’s just a matter of when you realize what’s more important: putting on a show of power or ensuring your own survival. Her most pressing concern right now is getting the Emperor to notice her again, not picking fights out of spite."

A girl who enters the palace before she’s even twenty, no matter how many grand principles her family and nannies have drilled into her, is bound to be clumsy in practice and often ruled by her emotions. Jiang Xian patiently explained this to Chen Daying before adding her analysis, "This is especially true for the legitimate daughter of a prominent family like Consort Guo. It’s impossible that her family raised her from the beginning with the mindset of a concubine."