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

Chapter 67: Chapter 54: Scolding-for-Hire

Before dawn, the Emperor had to rise to wash and dress.

By this hour, the civil and military officials were already making their way to the palace in the dark. Jiang Xian had woken up even earlier than he; the moment he opened his eyes, she was already directing the attendants to prepare his Dragon Robe and crown.

"Xian’er, you’re up even earlier than I am."

The Emperor took her hand. It was ice-cold. He figured she must have been busy for quite some time after waking, the warmth from the night under the covers long gone. She smiled and said, "I wanted to prepare all of Your Majesty’s personal things myself."

No boss dislikes a cautious and meticulous subordinate.

Lately, the Emperor had heard rumors of Jiang Xian growing arrogant from his favor. But the Emperor trusted his own eyes more. The Jiang Xian he saw might be playful and act spoiled with him, but when it came to observing propriety, she was more considerate and respectful than anyone. Seeing her so bright and full of energy this early, the Emperor knew she was waking up for him out of genuine devotion.

So he sat up and pulled Jiang Xian into his embrace. "Why trouble yourself? Just let the attendants do it."

Jiang Xian wasn’t discouraged by the comment.

She knew this was the boss’s way of showing his approval. Since she was already up, it was no trouble to say the right thing. "The attendants could never be as meticulous as I am," she said. "Hurry and get up, Your Majesty. Let me help you dress."

The Emperor heard this and, as expected, looked satisfied.

Jiang Xian had been a very serious student when learning etiquette from her nanny, and her skill in helping the Emperor dress was now masterful, almost on par with the attendants of the imperial court.

Even the task of combing his hair fell to her.

A nearby Palace Attendant unfolded a strip of cloth. If any of the Emperor’s hairs fell out while it was being combed, they had to be caught; not a single one could touch the ground. The matron who taught etiquette had once made a quip: ’When you’re combing the Emperor’s hair, just think of each strand as your own head. Imagine the horror if your head fell to the floor!’

Jiang Xian was completely focused when she worked, her heart calm and her hands even steadier. She quickly finished combing his hair and secured it with a hairnet.

’The uniform for an emperor really puts one’s looks to the test,’ Jiang Xian thought. ’With no mask to hide behind and all your bangs swept back, it’s instantly clear whether your features belong to a true dragon or a common beast of burden.’ She voiced her curiosity, "What do you do with the hair you collect?"

"It is the tradition of the Yan Chichao dynasty to place them in a brocade bag and then store them within my hair tower."

’No wonder,’ she thought. ’Every time the Emperor stayed the night in her main pavilion, his personal Palace Attendants would still be there the next morning after she rose. When she later returned, there wouldn’t be a single hair on the bed. It was as clean as if no one had ever slept there.’

’Anything that came from the Emperor’s body could not be treated carelessly. It must be to prevent someone with malicious intent from using them for witchcraft.’

Just then, Zhenqiu walked in quietly and gave her master a very slight nod.

Jiang Xian took the hint and immediately said, "There is something I must report to Your Majesty."

The Emperor grunted, signaling for her to speak.

"Yesterday, Guo Cairen came to Yizhu Pavilion seeking an audience with the Emperor. Since Your Majesty was... occupied at the time..." Jiang Xian lowered her voice, glossing over their intimacy. She continued, "Guo Cairen was very emotional, and Mr. Liang, fearing she would disturb you, did not let her in. After you and I had gone to bed, she remained waiting outside. Chen Daying is a great respecter of the rules, and after being frightened half to death by Guo Cairen yesterday, she became too anxious to sleep knowing Guo Cairen was waiting right outside. So, she moved a stool outdoors and sat with her."

When it came to the subtle phrasings of the *Spring and Autumn Annals*—the art of reporting to a superior—Jiang Xian didn’t need any lessons from Xi Shi.

’Did Chen Daying gloat in her face?’

The way Jiang Xian told it, Chen Daying was simply being thoughtful. Guo Cairen was of a higher rank, and Chen Daying had previously made her kneel in punishment. She feared that sleeping soundly in a warm room while Guo Cairen waited outside would incur her displeasure. So, she very sensibly went out to keep her company in the cold wind.

’And as for why Chen Daying was sitting?’

’That was also easy to explain. After all, Chen Daying’s legs were injured, and that injury was Guo Cairen’s fault to begin with.’

He Xiang, who was outside, also heard this version of events and was utterly amazed.

’Her own master’s childish fit of pique, when retold by the Noble Lady, was transformed into an act of cautious, rule-abiding propriety. She was so full of schemes, it was enough to make one’s skin crawl!’

Sure enough, the Emperor frowned and summoned Liang Yuyin. "Guo Cairen is right outside Yizhu Pavilion?"

Liang Yuyin knelt as he replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. This servant advised Guo Cairen that the night air was damp and offered to have eunuchs escort her back to Zhongcui Palace. But she insisted on waiting for Your Majesty to emerge and even questioned if this servant intended to overstep my station and use force on her. After some persuasion, she stopped making a scene and simply waited quietly through the night."

The Emperor’s expression grew colder. "And Chen Daying was outside with her?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, the Emperor’s face turned completely black. "Absurd! How dare Guo Cairen show such arrogance right at my doorstep! I merely demoted her, and she runs to Yizhu Pavilion to frighten an injured woman. When she’s denied an audience, she waits outside all night. Is she trying to force me to see her?"

At that moment, the Emperor felt like a female university student who wakes up from a nap to find a boy has laid out a heart-shaped pattern of candles below her dorm to confess his love.

Anyone would feel a sense of guilt if someone waited for them all night in the cold wind.

And that guilt quickly turned into displeasure.

’After all, I didn’t summon her. She chose to wait outside. If other Palace Attendants saw her and the story spread, wouldn’t it sound as though I was enjoying myself in warmth and comfort with Jiang Xian while leaving another of my concubines to wait in the cold?’

’Isn’t this just pure emotional blackmail?’

’And was the Emperor going to stand for that?’

"Relay my decree: Guo Cairen is to be confined to Zhongcui Palace for one month. She is not to step out without my express permission."

Liang Yuyin acknowledged the order and withdrew.

When an imperial edict was announced, all uninvolved personnel also had to kneel. Outside the door, Chen Daying had no idea that she had just been crowned with the three labels of "highly proper," "terrified by Guo Cairen," and "cautiously meticulous." Startled from a deep sleep, she knelt on pure instinct. After hearing the edict, she was suddenly wide awake.

’Ha! What a great thing to wake up to!’

Beside her, Guo Cairen, who had waited all night, looked like she was losing her mind.

This time, however, Mr. Liang didn’t indulge her pleas of injustice. Instead, he summoned two strong eunuchs to gag her and escort her back to Zhongcui Palace. "If she doesn’t want her dignity, then this servant will preserve it for her."

As he finished speaking, a sound of clapping arose from nearby.

Liang Yuyin turned to see Chen Daying, who was beaming with delight.

Seeing this, Liang Yuyin couldn’t help but feel a sense of resignation. ’To think a simpleton like her actually bet on the right horse. Noble Lady Gu’s cunning is not to be underestimated. With just a few words, she swayed the Emperor’s mind and covered all the bases for Chen Daying.’

After seeing the Emperor off, Zhenqiu remarked with a sigh, "You’re truly good to Chen Daying, my lady."

"You think too highly of me."

Jiang Xian gave a small smile.

’You often see this type of person in the workplace: a respected, amiable leader who keeps a favored "attack dog" on staff. Whenever a situation requires someone to get nasty, they send him in. This person usually has a humble background with nothing to lose and is more than willing to sacrifice their dignity. It’s the same principle here. Every concubine in the harem wants a reputation for being gentle, virtuous, and obedient. Who else but Chen Daying would be willing to throw all that away?’

’It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement, like keeping an attack dog on a leash.’

’With these recent incidents, she wanted to make everyone in the harem understand one thing: she would retaliate for even the smallest offense, and she would do so while preserving her own good name. In the Emperor’s eyes, the people of her Yizhu Pavilion would seem especially proper—just poor, pitiful things who were being targeted and bullied.’