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

Chapter 55: Chapter 47: Sending a Clock

For the time being, Jiang Xian had no way of knowing about the Emperor’s melancholy.

After leaving Changle Palace, the other concubines barely had time for a second glance before she took Chen Daying’s arm and scurried away. All that remained was a light green figure disappearing in the distance, a sight that brought her nickname, "the Green Flash," to mind.

’Jeez, she really is fast!’

Back at Yizhu Pavilion, Chen Daying saw her call Zhenqiu over to grind ink. "Aren’t you dancing today?" she asked.

"You want to watch me dance?"

Chen Daying nodded.

"Which dance do you want to see?"

Chen Daying said, "The one called the... um... that high-intensity, full-body fat-burning workout, created by Pamela."

"That’s a workout I do to burn fat and get defined abs. What’s so interesting about watching that?"

’After all, a workout routine for burning fat is hardly as visually appealing as a dance meant to showcase beauty.’ Chen Daying said, "Because you look so exhausted doing it. When I sit here eating snacks, they somehow taste even more delicious."

Jiang Xian: ...

’So that’s it. Happiness is all about comparison.’

Chen Daying asked, "By the way, what are these ’defined abs’ you mentioned?"

Jiang Xian turned and said to He Xiang, "Take your master home. She won’t be having lunch with me today."

"No, no! Sister, I was wrong! It was a slip of the tongue!"

The main hall’s dining room wasn’t open to the side halls today, so Chen Daying caved instantly. Only after a torrent of flattery did she regain the privilege of eating in the main hall. Jiang Xian ignored her, sat down to refine her plans, and then headed to the Emperor’s private treasury.

The Royal Family’s warehouses were enormous, with different storerooms for different types of items. Accessing any of them required imperial approval to prevent chaos.

The Luanqi Library, which the Emperor had granted Jiang Xian special permission to organize, housed antiques, jade artifacts, calligraphy, paintings, and other curiosities presented to him by barbarian vassal states and high-ranking nobles.

Among them were many items that the people of Yan Chi could not comprehend.

For example, a clock from which a wooden bird popped out at a certain hour.

The people of Yan Chi valued tranquility, so the Emperor disliked such a startling device.

When it was delivered to the Yan Chi Country, its makers hadn’t converted the dial to the twelve-hour system the people of Yan Chi were used to. As a result, the Emperor found it inconvenient and paid little attention to its more brilliant qualities.

The Emperor had promised Jiang Xian she could pick anything she fancied as a reward, and he had his own ideas about what she might choose. ’After all, she’s a young woman; the rare spices from the barbarian lands are sure to be her first choice.’

So, upon hearing that Noble Lady Gu had gone to the Luanqi Library, he dispatched his Chief. "Go and see which items Noble Lady Gu takes a liking to."

Liang Yuyin acknowledged the order.

Upon his return, he first offered praises for Noble Lady Gu, relaying how she expressed immense gratitude for the reward and was overcome with joy. Then, his tone shifted. "However, Noble Lady Gu has made a request that this servant did not feel at liberty to grant. I had to return to seek Your Majesty’s instruction."

"What request?"

"Noble Lady Gu wants to take the clock apart."

「Luanqi Library.」

Compared to the storerooms that held silver, the Luanqi Library was cleaned far more frequently.

To prevent the theft of national wealth from the silver storerooms, anyone entering or leaving had to do so completely naked. Even so, some silver always went missing during each inventory count. It seemed some people were just talented at hiding silver in the most secret of places.

Thus, they were cleaned less frequently, unlike the Luanqi Library, where the precious artifacts inside required regular dusting and maintenance.

The Emperor had given one of his concubines an "assignment," but he didn’t truly expect her to manage a warehouse. So, the moment Jiang Xian arrived, even before she was formally announced, the Chief Eunuch in charge, Ke Chengchun, hurried out to greet her with a beaming smile. "This servant, Ke Chengchun, is at Your Ladyship’s command. The library has already been cleaned in preparation. Would you care for some tea and snacks?"

’A master of her status is likely just here to pick out a few things,’ Ke Chengchun thought. ’She wouldn’t really take on the task of "organizing the library." She’s one of the Emperor’s favored concubines now. I must be sure to serve her respectfully with tea and snacks.’

To his surprise, Jiang Xian shook her head. "I’ve already eaten. Just show me inside, Eunuch."

Seeing the Noble Lady’s insistence, Ke Chengchun had the library doors opened. He held up an oil lamp to light the way. "Please watch your step, Your Ladyship. We can’t light too many lamps because of the paintings and calligraphy stored within."

Knowing the Noble Lady was coming, Ke Chengchun had opened the doors earlier to air the place out.

Even so, the musty odor that had built up over the years was still anything but pleasant.

Jiang Xian’s expression remained neutral as she inquired, "Eunuch, how do you normally take inventory and organize the Luanqi Library? Is there a ledger?"

Just then, a palace maid with delicate features entered. She curtsied to the Noble Lady before introducing herself. "This servant is Changyi, a Chief Palace Maid from the Storage Department. Here is the ledger for the Luanqi Library. Please take a look, Your Ladyship."

To prevent eunuchs from interfering in politics, a decree from the late Emperor forbade them from becoming literate. Consequently, any work requiring written records had to be handled by literate palace maids.

Jiang Xian took the handwritten ledger, and with one look, she immediately understood the problem.

The Luanqi Library was full of curiosities, making it much harder to categorize than other storerooms. For a place like the medicinal supply, items could simply be cataloged in the order they were received. That approach wouldn’t work here. For example, the old Western clock mentioned before—what category did it fall under? Changyi had initially classified it as a decorative object, like a vase, only to discover later that it contained a hidden mechanism!

It was a truly baffling situation.

The ledger was a bound volume, so pages couldn’t be inserted in the middle, which was extremely inconvenient.

In the end, the only option was to list things in the order they arrived.

The Luanqi Library was originally established to give the Emperor something to appreciate in his leisure time, away from the rigors of governing. However, due to poor categorization and a lack of understanding of the items’ functions, it had fallen into neglect. As a result, the Palace Attendants assigned to the library were also sidelined. Since their master had no use for the place, it had become an undesirable post.

Looking at the archaic, cumbersome ledger, Jiang Xian thought of the two proposals she had written.

Back then, she had punched uniform holes along the edge of the pages and bound them with a cord, borrowing the concept of a loose-leaf notebook.

Binding it with a cord was inconvenient; you had to untie it every time you wanted to add a page.

Since it was for her own personal use, she hadn’t wanted to trouble the Manufacturing Office. The Palace Attendants at Yizhu Pavilion couldn’t fashion simple metal rings for her, so she had to make do with the cord.

’The loose-leaf notebook was supposedly inspired by a priest who dropped his bible, scattering the pages everywhere. The idea was later popularized by the British brand Filofax. Before I could afford a smartphone, the loose-leaf notebook was my go-to for taking notes. It got me through countless all-nighters. Later, I got a part-time job and bought a tablet. Handling documents became so much easier that I never used a physical notebook again. Only now, after transmigrating, did I remember this amazing invention. In the modern world, a loose-leaf notebook isn’t as convenient as an iPad. But in ancient times, it’s an incredibly useful invention for administrative work! I was just so used to it that I never stopped to think about what a genius invention it was.’

"Bring me paper and pigments. And move a table and chair over here. I’m going to reorganize the contents of the Luanqi Library."

’I have to handle the task the big boss gave me flawlessly. Just doing a passable job isn’t enough. I need to show that I’ve poured my heart and soul into this.’

Ke Chengchun didn’t understand her intentions, but he followed her orders. Afterward, he pressed, "His Majesty has decreed that you may choose anything you like as a reward, Your Ladyship. Is there any item that has caught your eye?"

Jiang Xian’s gaze swept across the room, finally settling on two Western clocks in a corner.

"I like this,"

She paused. "But... can I take it apart?"

Simultaneously, Jiang Xian made a request to her system. [It’s time for a new course on clock repair and manufacturing!]

System: [Host, this really has nothing to do with palace intrigue.]

Jiang Xian: [There are two of them here. I want to modify one and give it to the Emperor. Giving the Emperor a clock... which sounds dangerously like sending him off to his end...]

Jiang Xian: [Wait, uh.]

She realized she had just thought something incredibly treasonous.