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

Chapter 61: Chapter 50: Max-Level Poor Little Thing (2)

’In your story, you are justice, you are everything. Considering the bigger picture and being considerate of others is for sages. You are the beautiful disaster cradled in the monarch’s palm. As long as the scales in his heart tip in your favor, you win.’

’Seventy percent truth, thirty percent fiction.’

A glint of moisture flashed. The forced tears concealed the cunning and calculation in Jiang Xian’s eyes.

Her mind raced, treating her appeal as an impromptu, unscripted speech.

"I know that for someone of my humble station to have attained the rank of Noble Lady is a blessing of a lifetime. I have tried my best to keep a low profile in the harem to avoid drawing attention. But Little Sister Chen is young and naturally a bit lively. Just now, she went to the Imperial Garden to admire the flowers and ran into Consort Guo. Consort Guo asked where I was and why I wasn’t with her. Little Sister Chen and I are as close as sisters, but she understands the rules perfectly and didn’t dare to reveal my whereabouts to Consort Guo. So, Consort Guo claimed Little Sister Chen was insolent and, like me, ignorant of the rules, saying she deserved to be punished. She then made her kneel in the Imperial Garden for a full hour. By the time she returned, her legs were... in a terrible state."

The narrative arc was complete, with all the necessary elements in place.

Seventy percent was true. The thirty percent that was false were the phrases "like me, ignorant of the rules" and "in a terrible state."

Even if Consort Guo had ten times her nerve, she wouldn’t have dared to slander the current Jiang Xian so openly. At most, she would have made pointed insults directed at Chen Daying. But how could she explain herself? The entire story was true, save for that one fabricated line. And with no security cameras in the Imperial Garden to review, it all came down to who the Emperor believed.

Kneeling as punishment wouldn’t cripple someone that easily.

But the phrase "in a terrible state" was highly suggestive. Combined with the look on Chen Daying’s face as she was carried away—as if she were on death’s door—the Emperor was convinced her condition was truly dire.

The voice of Xi Shi echoed in Jiang Xian’s mind:

’Now is the time. Lean into his embrace. Don’t ask him to stand up for you.’

Jiang Xian leaned against his chest and swallowed back her tears. "This is the first time I’ve seen something like this since entering the palace. Little Sister Chen’s legs... they were impossible to look at! I was so scared. But now that the Emperor is holding me, I feel much better. I don’t feel wronged anymore."

’It would have been better to have a palace maid speak for you, but I’m afraid your maids aren’t skilled enough. If they slipped up, it would ruin the effect,’ Xi Shi added.

’That’s right. A true "white lotus" never has to speak for herself.’

After hearing her out, the Emperor was displeased.

’Is that really what happened?’

He didn’t ask the question aloud. Instead, he gave Liang Yuyin a look. The latter withdrew silently, clearly on his way to investigate the scene.

"Xian’er, you have always been sensible and never stir up trouble. Of course I believe you. Someone must have intentionally caused this," the Emperor said. He took a cup of hot tea from a eunuch and personally handed it to Jiang Xian. Watching her take it with both hands, thank him in a small voice, and then sip the tea delicately, he couldn’t help but smile. "To think that a simple punishment by kneeling could scare you so. Anyone else would say you’re being too delicate. But when you were practicing for ’Unrivaled,’ the hardship you endured must have been a hundred times worse than kneeling."

A dance performed at a great height, on a path of silk.

The Emperor had no idea how many times she had fallen in secret, nor how bad the falls had hurt.

Jiang Xian maxed out her Little Pitiful Halo and Fan Filter, until even her tears seemed to glisten with a rainbow-like light.

"Xian’er, please stop crying. It breaks my heart to see you like this."

"I was holding it back, but I couldn’t help it once I saw the Emperor."

Jiang Xian said with tear-filled eyes, her voice full of sincere emotion.

(Translation: I wasn’t actually crying, but since the Emperor showed up, I definitely had to shed some tears.)

The attendants of the imperial court kept their heads bowed, minding their own business. They all thought Noble Lady Gu was truly something else. Her words were so pleasant to the ear, and she was truly willing to cast aside her pride, laying her weaknesses bare before the Emperor. Other concubines were always concerned with maintaining their dignity, unwilling to show weakness even in front of him. Or if they did, their methods were too subtle for the straightforward Emperor to notice.

Because he couldn’t be bothered to analyze it closely.

But this Noble Lady Gu, she practically crumbled up all her emotions and served them to the Emperor, using a direct and blunt method that even he could understand.

"I cry so much. Does the Emperor find me tiresome?"

"Xian’er, don’t say such foolish things. I’m just worried you’ll cry your eyes out. After the Imperial Physician checks your pulse, I’ll have him prescribe something to care for your eyes."

"You’re teasing me, Your Majesty."

She buried her head in the Emperor’s embrace, channeling the frail beauty of Xi Shi as tears streamed down her face, soaking the front of his robes in no time. He lifted her chin, only to see his beloved concubine’s unrivaled face streaked with tears like a little kitten, a sight so beautiful it was heart-wrenching.