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

Chapter 62: Chapter 50: Max-Level Poor Little Thing (3)

She wore a thin, plain gauze robe, and beneath the fabric, her small, rounded shoulders held a hazy, gentle beauty. A Beauty with a troubled heart possessed an extra touch of soul-stirring charm. He unconsciously tightened his grip on her waist, finding the sensation indescribably pleasurable.

’How can anyone look so beautiful when they cry?’

The Emperor, who just moments before was telling Xian’er not to cry, stopped. He suddenly felt it was rather nice to see his beloved concubine crying. Not only was she beautiful, but the way it made his heart clench was a novel experience. In the past, no woman in the harem had ever made him feel this way.

When he lived in the imperial mansion, one married not for beauty, but for the support a wife’s family could provide.

Of course, the aristocratic families wouldn’t dare send a daughter who was too homely.

’Noble Princess Consort Rong is a dazzling beauty. The Empress is less striking, but still a dignified and beautiful woman. They have the confidence that comes with their family background. Only Jiang Xian has nothing. Her heart is filled with only me.’

He had seen his beloved concubine’s strong side. Watching her turn to him for help, flustered and helpless, the contrast doubled his sense of satisfaction.

’Sigh. She must love me dearly to show her feelings so genuinely!’

"How could I ever laugh at you? I can’t even dote on you enough."

"Then you must be scolding me in your heart, thinking I’m petty, spoiled, and pretentious."

Seeing Jiang Xian gradually start to show her claws, the Emperor was delighted rather than annoyed. A pale, sickly beauty was indeed moving, but when that pale face was flushed with the rosy color of willfulness he had spoiled her into, she was also extremely adorable.

Two Imperial Physicians arrived. The more skilled of them, Doctor Xin, prudently remained in the main hall, while the other went to the side hall to diagnose Chen Daying.

Doctor Xin hurried forward to take her pulse. Enduring the Emperor’s death glare, he reported with extreme caution, "Noble Lady Gu suffered from heart palpitations due to a scare, which resulted in temporary shortness of breath and chest tightness. It is nothing serious. As long as she avoids what frightened her and takes time to recuperate, she will be fine."

"Is it truly nothing serious?"

the Emperor asked with a frown.

’This is the prelude to a medical dispute!’ Doctor Xin thought, his heart pounding. Just before he replied, he caught Jiang Xian giving him the slightest of nods and was struck by inspiration. "Please rest assured, Emperor. Noble Lady Gu’s constitution is stronger than most. Where others might need three to five days to recover from such a shock, she only needs two doses of medicine, taken daily as prescribed. I guarantee her chest pains will not return."

Jiang Xian tugged on the Emperor’s hand and whined sweetly, "Emperor, Doctor Xin himself said that I must stay away from frightening things!"

The Emperor instantly understood her allusion and smiled. "Xian’er, you little rascal. If you had gone to the Imperial Garden today instead of Chen Daying, I imagine Consort Guo would be the one hiding her face and weeping."

’Ooh, the Imperial Garden!’

’Isn’t that the harem’s main gossip field?’

’Doctor Xin pricked up his ears to enjoy the gossip, but as he listened, he realized something was amiss... By that logic, when he’d told Jiang Xian to "stay away from the source of her fright," hadn’t he just handed her a weapon to use against Consort Guo? If Guo Nanshan found out he had inadvertently caused his daughter harm in the palace, he might redirect his anger toward him.’

"To think the Emperor sees me as so cruel! I’ve been wronged."

Jiang Xian put on a pitiful expression.

’In any case, Consort Guo isn’t here to defend herself.’ She launched a full-frontal assault. "Back in Chuxiu Palace, I was constantly bullied by Consort Guo. She would insist on taking the hot water I’d had prepared. The Emperor may not know this, but when one first enters the harem, before securing rank or favor, everything comes down to one’s family background. I suppose I can only blame my father for not being more accomplished! We were all new concubines, but I had to bow and scrape before Consort Guo. If the Emperor hadn’t promoted me to Noble Lady and bestowed upon me a respectable title, she might have tried to make me her personal palace maid!"

Her speech made the Emperor chuckle. Such a filial daughter.

"My dear concubine, you don’t sound much like the poor little thing you make yourself out to be."

"My father may be a disappointment, but my husband is exceptional, and that brings me glory."

Listening with his head bowed, Doctor Xin found the exchange to be a real eye-opener.

’He’d long heard this master was highly favored and had assumed it was for her beauty. Now he saw that her sharp tongue was just as incredible. A talent for flattery like that was worthy of a top scholar.’

The Emperor was pleased, so her breaches of etiquette went unremarked. He squeezed her hand. "I say but one word, and you have an entire speech to fire back at me."

"Well, not just anyone is worthy of hearing me speak. With some people, I can’t even spare half a sentence."

"Are you saying I’m your confidant, then?"

"The Emperor is my great hero, the one who brings me justice. And I have so many things I want to tell him."

’What was this conversation?’

’Doctor Xin felt this house call should qualify for hazard pay.’

And yet, this straightforward Emperor not only understood her crude and direct flattery, but he adored hearing it. He changed the subject, "In that case, what Doctor Xin said isn’t entirely without reason."