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

Chapter 48: Chapter 42: Medicated Diet

Chen Daying was lost in thought.

"Speaking of which, I’m quite curious how your family raised you."

He Xiang suspected that the young mistress next door was really asking: ’Did your family not teach you anything at all?’

"They taught me when I was little. Later, my parents must have thought I was too smart, saying it was better to let me stay simple and unpretentious than to try and change my personality."

Hearing the words "too smart," Zhenqiu and He Xiang both wore looks of utter shock.

This...

’Chen Daying’s parents must have terrible judgment.’

But Jiang Xian understood—

If a person was foolish to a certain degree, it was better for them to be a simple, content person with no great ambitions, happy with small comforts. Besides, Chen Daying was sweet-looking. If she hadn’t entered the palace, she could have found a suitable husband and lived a peaceful, happy, and ordinary life. Now that she was in the harem, being a bit "simple" with her low intelligence and emotional awareness would actually make her less likely to cause trouble.

Jiang Xian lowered her gaze and sighed softly:

"Parents who truly love their children must plan for their distant future."

* * *

The morning greeting hour ended. Shortly after the Emperor concluded his court session, Princess Consort Zhang received a report. The Empress’s attendant, Fu Jin, had gone to Qiankun Palace to see the Emperor. After Fu Jin left, the Emperor sent Liang Yuyin to the Imperial Hospital for a recipe for a blood-replenishing medicinal soup, then had the dish personally retrieved from the Imperial Kitchen and sent to Zhaoyang Palace.

"By my calculations, it’s still some time before her period is due at Zhaoyang Palace."

Princess Consort Zhang was puzzled.

The Noble Consort’s menstrual cycle was no secret in the harem. When she was on her period, she would become exceptionally irritable. She would either call in sick and skip the morning greetings, or she would show up and rant from the moment she was seated until the Empress declared her own fatigue. It was as if she came just to vent her suffering on the other concubines; they were her personal painkillers.

She frowned and sent a palace maid to investigate.

She had deep roots in the harem and a high status, so it wasn’t difficult for her to pry some trivial news from the imperial court. She soon learned the truth.

"Copying scriptures with her own blood to pray for the Emperor?"

After hearing the palace maid’s report, Princess Consort Zhang’s expression cooled. "For someone so delicate, she can be surprisingly ruthless with herself."

If the court were to have two Noble Consorts, Princess Consort Zhang would be the prime contender.

She dreamed of being promoted.

The Noble Consort controlled palace affairs and had previously held the Emperor’s favor, preventing him from appointing a second Noble Consort.

Princess Consort Zhang was the very picture of "biding one’s time" in the palace, but she wasn’t truly the type to just drift along aimlessly. After the Noble Consort met her Waterloo with Jiang Xian, she unsheathed her sharp sword. She spread malicious gossip about the Noble Consort throughout the harem, saying she was jealous and cruel, and that she held the Emperor and Empress in contempt... In all honesty, it wasn’t slander; at most, one could call it spreading the facts.

Her efforts were not in vain; the fact that the Emperor didn’t release the Noble Consort from confinement early was a clear and positive sign.

At the Longevity Banquet, the Noble Consort, conscious of her status and unwilling to lose face before the imperial clan and noble families, had dressed in an opulent and magnificent manner, showing no sign of sorrow. The Emperor saw she was doing quite well, and with Jiang Xian’s stunning dance to top it off, he seemed to have somewhat forgotten about the Noble Consort.

But ultimately, there were still feelings between them. The Noble Consort had harmed herself to pray for his well-being, and while the Emperor did not lift her confinement, he had Chief Liang deliver a blood-replenishing, nourishing medicinal soup. This let the Six Palaces know that she had not fallen from favor.

"The Empress cannot stand the sight of blood. No wonder her face was so pale this morning." After connecting all the dots, Princess Consort Zhang’s brow smoothed. "And the Empress... why was she in such a hurry to deliver the blood-written scripture to the imperial court for the Noble Consort? Holding onto it for ten or twenty days wouldn’t have caused any harm... Hmph. She just doesn’t want to be the villain."

’If she had held onto the scripture, the Emperor would still feel sorry for the Noble Consort when he eventually found out, and the Empress herself would have gained nothing from it.’

Whatever Princess Consort Zhang could figure out, the Empress could figure out as well.

"I’m afraid the Noble Consort is about to get smug again."

Princess Consort Zhang’s prediction was correct. Over at Zhaoyang Palace, the arrival of the blood-replenishing medicinal soup, personally delivered by Liang Yuyin, created a jubilant atmosphere. The cold expression that had clouded Noble Princess Consort Rong’s face for days finally gave way to the first hint of a smile.

Qiu Tang flattered her, "The Emperor still holds Your Ladyship in his heart. He was afraid you wouldn’t want to drink medicine, so he specifically sought out a mild, nourishing medicinal soup to help you recuperate. You will surely be able to bear children for the Emperor soon."

Noble Princess Consort Rong smiled.

In truth, she didn’t like medicinal soup either; she was an incredibly picky eater. She just loved hearing others boast about the favor she received, as it made her feel special and reaffirmed her status as the most powerful woman in the harem.

This medicinal soup was the first shot fired to intimidate the Six Palaces.

Just as she was reveling in her triumph, Qiu Yun entered, looking restless and uneasy. Qiu Tang teased her, "Why do you look so anxious? You can’t serve Her Ladyship looking like that. You deserve a beating."

"Your Ladyship,"

Qiu Yun gave the Noble Consort an obsequious glance, then knelt to report, "Tonight, the Emperor... is visiting Yizhu Pavilion."