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

Chapter 68: Chapter 55: Xizi Pongxin

The atmosphere during today’s morning greetings was particularly strange.

The Emperor had only recently ascended the throne, so there weren’t many concubines of high enough rank to be seated in Jianzhang Palace. The sudden absence of Consort Guo naturally piqued everyone’s curiosity. Of course, the well-informed, like Consort Xian, already knew she had been demoted and confined. ’What kind of person is she?’ Consort Xian mused inwardly. ’Thinking a night-long vigil outside Yizhu Pavilion would earn the Emperor’s pity. She’d have better luck daydreaming.’

It wasn’t that her plan was impossible.

The problem was that Jiang Xian was inside Yizhu Pavilion, whispering poison in the Emperor’s ear. With his first impression of the Guo Family already soured, there was naturally no way she would come out of this well.

All eyes then fell on Zhang Daying.

Feng Liangyuan asked in confusion, "Why is Zhang Changzai standing so far in the back?"

By rights, Consort Guo had a seat. As a Changzai from the same palace, even if Consort Guo were absent, she should have been standing behind Consort Guo’s empty seat, not all the way in the back. Looking at her position, she was actually standing with the other concubines of the Daying rank, so far away she was almost out of sight.

Lu Ronghua covered her lips with a delicate laugh. "Feng Liangyuan, you should watch what you say. Ms. Zhang was demoted to Daying by imperial decree yesterday."

The Daying and Changzai standing in the back all looked as if they’d had a sudden revelation.

Then, in unison, they all turned to look at Zhang Daying.

Not everyone had the skill to perform a dance like Jiang Xian’s "Unrivaled." Promotions usually only happened during festivals or for those who became pregnant. It was so difficult to move up a single rank, yet she had been knocked all the way down to Daying. It was like a bolt of lightning striking nearby; even if you weren’t hit, the shock was terrifying.

Zhang Daying lowered her head in shame and anger, her face so red it looked like it could bleed.

’The Emperor might as well have confined me along with her!’ she thought. ’At least then I wouldn’t be out here alone, being stared at like a monkey in a show.’

Feng Liangyuan asked in shock, "But why?"

Lu Ronghua smiled sweetly. "I heard it was because Guo Cairen made Chen Daying kneel in the Imperial Garden. After that, a palace attendant from Yizhu Pavilion went to fetch the Emperor, and then the demotion decree was issued. Oh my, I don’t know much, just the general gist of it."

There wasn’t much entertainment in the palace, so watching someone else get struck by lightning was strangely amusing.

Jiang Xian understood. ’This one knows her way around a subtle narrative.’

’She claimed not to know much, but she’d managed to hit all the key points, framing me as the villain. She made it sound like if someone so much as touched my dog, I’d have them demoted and confined.’

"Noble Lady Gu, is this really true? To fetch the Emperor over a mere Daying... isn’t that making a mountain out of a molehill?"

Feng Liangyuan looked at Jiang Xian, unable to hide the jealousy in her eyes.

Liang Yuan was a middling rank in the palace, neither high nor low.

How long had it been since she had last seen the Emperor?

A mere Noble Lady had actually managed to summon the Emperor just by asking. How could she not be jealous?

Jiang Xian was leisurely sipping her tea.

She had bought a single-use Antitoxic Pill from the System Mall, which could neutralize poison once upon ingestion, so she felt completely at ease consuming food from other palaces. Hearing Feng Liangyuan’s words, she set down her teacup. "I believe Sister Liang Yuan is absolutely right."

Hearing this, a smug look appeared on Feng Liangyuan’s face.

’That’s right,’ she thought. ’The hierarchy in the palace is strict. No matter how favored Jiang Xian is, when I deign to correct her, she has no choice but to listen obediently.’

But then, Jiang Xian put on an extremely troubled expression. "Yesterday, I told the Emperor that it was just a small matter of being frightened and having some heart palpitations. How could I possibly trouble an Imperial Physician or disturb His Majesty? But the Emperor said it wasn’t an overreaction."

She lowered her head, turning her face to the side and looking up at Feng Liangyuan with soft, vulnerable eyes. "Is Sister Liang Yuan suggesting that I should have listened to you instead?"

Jianzhang Palace fell silent.

Cold sweat dripped down Feng Liangyuan’s back. She gave a dry laugh. "Of course, one must listen to the Emperor."

Jiang Xian repurchased the "I’m Depressed" item from the mall and took on a sickly appearance.

She frowned, clutching her chest, her face deathly pale. "Sister, what you said... it frightens me so... Oh..."

Feng Liangyuan was speechless.

’Wait, what is she doing? Is she trying to frame me? Didn’t you show off some martial arts skills during your Longevity Festival dance? How did you suddenly transform into such a delicate flower?’ Feng Liangyuan stammered, "I... I... I didn’t say anything! All the sisters here heard me, I was just asking a question..."

"That’s enough, Feng Liangyuan. Say no more. Noble Lady Gu was just frightened yesterday."

Seeing that Jiang Xian’s face was pale and didn’t seem to be an act, the Empress had to intervene.

Feng Liangyuan could have died from frustration.

The key thing was, while Jiang Xian’s face was as white as a sheet, her response was even quicker than Feng Liangyuan’s. Her eyes glistening with unshed tears, she said to the Empress, "To receive Your Majesty the Empress’s kindness and consideration... I actually feel a bit better." She then dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief and choked out, "I thank Your Majesty the Empress."

She activated her Little Pitiful Halo.

This halo had no effect on those who already disliked her, but it was quite effective on neutral parties or those who had a favorable impression of her. The Empress didn’t suspect she was feigning illness and even asked if she should summon an Imperial Physician.

Jiang Xian expressed her gratitude. When the Imperial Physician arrived, he diagnosed the same condition—

Heart palpitations brought on by a fright.

Feng Liangyuan, who had also been made to stay and hear the results, wore a look of utter disbelief. But the facts were right in front of her, and she could only offer a wronged and reluctant apology to Jiang Xian. This time, Jiang Xian didn’t make things difficult for her. "It is my own body that is too weak. Just one word from Sister Liang Yuan, and my heart began to ache terribly."

She struck a classic Xizi Pongxin pose.

Lu Ronghua couldn’t take it anymore. "Noble Lady Gu, are you like this in front of the Emperor, too?"

Still clutching her heart, Jiang Xian turned to look at her, blinking innocently. "Whatever do you mean, Sister Ronghua? I am always the same inside and out. However I am before my sisters is naturally how I am before the Emperor."

Many of the concubines who witnessed this scene felt they had lost their appetite for lunch.

After this battle, Jiang Xian’s "delicate weakness" left a deep impression on the other concubines.

It was just that Xizi Pongxin pose...

’So artificial!’

’Does the Emperor really like this type?’

Grumbling aside, many of them went back and began to study Jiang Xian’s demeanor, wanting to learn how to act weak and pitiful to win the Emperor’s affection.

Lu Ronghua was one of them.

She was well-informed and knew the details of yesterday’s events, including that the Emperor had summoned Doctor Xin for Jiang Xian and that the diagnosis was heart palpitations from fright. She even had a hand-copied duplicate of Jiang Xian’s medical records in her own palace.

Therefore, she truly believed that Jiang Xian was playing the part of a sickly beauty in front of the Emperor.

Confident in her high rank, she usually paid Jiang Xian no mind. But she, too, wanted to win back the Emperor’s favor. So, after the Emperor chose her tablet for the night, she changed into a snow-white gauze gown, lay weakly on the bed clutching her heart, and held the pose for a long time until the Emperor noticed and asked, "What’s wrong with you?"

"I... My heart feels uncomfortable."

Lu Ronghua furrowed her brow, putting on an act of extreme fragility.

The Emperor saw that she truly looked like she was about to collapse. He promptly retied the sash he had just undone, his expression turning serious as he called Mr. Liang inside. "Quick, summon the Imperial Physician! Lu Ronghua is not well."

Lu Ronghua froze.

She was just imitating Noble Lady Gu, hoping to earn the Emperor’s pity. She never expected him to summon an Imperial Physician directly.

Not only did he summon the Imperial Physician, but the Emperor also had her lie down and tucked her in. "Since you are unwell, We will not force you. As it happens, We still have some memorials to finish reading. The Imperial Physician will be here soon. Take whatever medicine he prescribes. We will take Our leave now."

Lu Ronghua: ???