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

Chapter 56: Chapter 48: Private Treasury

This time, the System remained unmoved.

After all, its knowledge base could find no connection between clock repair and palace fighting.

But Jiang Xian was an expert at bluffing.

A plan formed in her mind. ’I want to learn clock repair as part of an earth-shattering conspiracy.’

System: ’Host, the probability of clock repair being related to palace fighting is extremely low.’

’I plan to add my unique scented powder to the clock. After I present it to the Emperor, as long as he keeps this self-sounding clock in his living quarters, he’ll smell my fragrance and inevitably think of me often.’

System: ’...’

Anyone else would have thought Jiang Xian was spouting nonsense.

The System’s analysis concluded she was talking nonsense, but logically, her plan was feasible. So, it settled for the next best thing. ’Host, you are forbidden from writing the System any more blank checks. You must carry out this palace fighting plan.’

Jiang Xian readily agreed. ’Of course. I’ll definitely add the scented powder.’

In truth, the plan could be easily discovered, and discovery meant a capital offense punishable by beheading. Naturally, Jiang Xian wouldn’t do something so foolish with such high risk and low reward. But since she had promised the System, she had to follow through. She had a general plan in mind, but she just smiled and said nothing.

[Name]: Clock Repair and Maintenance

[Type]: Course

[Note]: Course requested from the Infrastructure System. They don’t think you’re a serious palace fighter.

The System complained sullenly, ’Host, because of you, I’m being suspected of not being a proper Palace Fighting System!’

Jiang Xian remained calm and composed. ’Time will prove your host is right.’

After the exchange was successful, Jiang Xian stayed in the Luanqi Library for a while, sketching several items on paper. Before entering the Imperial Palace, she had crammed drawing lessons with the System. She couldn’t compare to the great masters of painting and calligraphy, but she was more than capable enough to draw simple sketches incorporating modern, creative ideas.

Zhenqiu stood behind her mistress. When she saw the chubby sketch of a Western clock with a comical-looking bird popping out to announce the time, she couldn’t help but chuckle. "My Lady, the few lines you drew beside the bird are the perfect finishing touch. I feel like I can really see the bird springing out! I never knew you could do Western-style painting."

"I can’t compare to a real painter. I’m just sketching out the general idea."

"I’ve never seen a Western painting, I’ve only heard descriptions. I imagine they couldn’t compare to yours in the slightest."

Zhenqiu may not have seen one, but Changyi, the Chief Palace Maid of the Luanqi Library, had.

"Western paintings don’t look like this,"

Changyi pursed her lips into a smile but joined in on flattering the Noble Lady. "But I think Your Ladyship’s drawings are much better!"

The art collections from the Westerners were filled with paintings of blonde women wearing not a single stitch of clothing—more explicit than erotic art and utterly shameless.

In this era, the Western World was still in its Late Renaissance period. Mannerism and countless religious paintings of the Madonna were in vogue. It was a far cry from modern art forms like "Q-style." Therefore, when they saw her using Western pigments but not in a true Western style, they merely assumed Jiang Xian had invented her own technique. It wouldn’t arouse any suspicion as to how she might have learned Western painting.

After sketching an item, she would write its name, the party who presented it as tribute, and the year it was given.

Jiang Xian recorded the items one by one using this format.

Once they understood Jiang Xian’s intention, the Palace Attendants of the Luanqi Library thought her drawings were lovely, but they didn’t believe she could actually finish. The Luanqi Library’s collection was vast, filling box after box. How long would it take to sketch everything? A pampered noble mistress didn’t need to draw for a living, so how could she possibly have the patience?

After drawing in the Luanqi Library for a while, Jiang Xian realized she couldn’t grind through it all in one go, and it wasn’t convenient to stay overnight. So, before leaving, she had all the items taken out of their boxes, inspected them, and then had them put back. "Alright, I’ve memorized them."

That took less than three breaths’ time!

Seeing Jiang Xian’s calm expression, the Palace Attendants were astonished, assuming she was just bluffing.

They didn’t know that in her mind, Jiang Xian was asking, ’Did you get the screenshots?’

’...’

’I’m a proper system,’ the System thought. ’How did I get involved in such shady dealings?’

After returning to Yizhu Pavilion, Jiang Xian spread out her paper and continued to draw.

This moment of burning the midnight oil felt just like pulling an all-nighter at her old job. She felt as comfortable as if she were soaking in a hot bath, which in turn made her palace maids worry endlessly about her.

The main hall had three rooms, and when Jiang Xian moved in, she designated one as her office. The Western clock was placed inside, allowing her to adhere to a strict schedule. She slept only four hours a day before waking up to grind away at her *Luanqi Library Book*.

As she drew, she couldn’t help but think, ’If someone digs this up thousands of years from now, maybe a theory that "Q-style originated in China" will start to circulate.’

Zhenqiu’s face was etched with worry. "My Lady, you only sleep for four hours a day. Can your body handle that?"

Jiang Xian said casually, "When you’re busy for the one you love, you don’t feel tired."

’She would never clock out. She was just too attached to the Imperial Palace.’

As for the Emperor, after his initial surprise, he agreed to let her dismantle the Western clock. Damaging an imperial gift was a capital offense. If a commoner were to receive such an item, they would have to worship it daily with burning incense. But who would have expected Jiang Xian to take such an unconventional path and want to take it apart?

The internal structure of the Western clock was complex, but with the diagrams from the System’s course, the very handy Jiang Xian figured it out in no time. She drew up a new clock face based on the twelve traditional double-hours and instructed the Manufacturing Office to make two copies and deliver them to Yizhu Pavilion.

After installing the new clock face, Jiang Xian removed the annoying wooden bird and replaced it with an auspicious beast popular during the Yan Chichao dynasty. Then, she tinkered with the chime, changing the piercing sound to something more mellow—a tone that could mark the hour while she worked without startling her and breaking her train of thought.

While engrossed in her crafts, Jiang Xian didn’t forget to make frequent visits to the Luanqi Library.

On one such occasion, she was spotted from a distance by Ma Wanyi and her retinue. Ma Wanyi herself had just been released from confinement and hadn’t noticed, but her Chief Palace Maid, Si Qin, had sharp eyes. "Your Ladyship, look! Isn’t that Noble Lady Gu? Why is she coming from the direction of the Emperor’s private treasury?"