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

Chapter 74: Chapter 61: Hot-Blooded Second Score

"Come and help me change," the Empress said slowly.

The command was originally meant for a palace maid, but the attendants of Jianzhang Palace were so well-disciplined that the bedroom was utterly silent. Jiang Xian, hearing it from the antechamber, chirped in reply, "Of course, Your Majesty! I’ll come help you change right now."

’Isn’t it just changing clothes?’

’I can help the Emperor change, so what’s the big deal about helping the Empress?’

Hearing this, the other palace maids assumed the Empress had intended for Noble Lady Gu to serve her, so they didn’t stop her from entering.

Jiang Xian deactivated the Little Pitiful Halo she’d used on the Emperor and switched on her Fan Filter. This ability was mostly useless on the other concubines, since every one of them was brimming with malice toward her. She’d be lucky if they weren’t seeing her through an "anti-fan" filter, let alone a Fan Filter. ’In their dreams.’

As the Fan Filter took effect on the Empress, she saw Noble Lady Gu enter, looking radiant. She was silhouetted against the morning light, which traced a golden halo around her. Her clear, bright eyes, brimming with a gentle smile, were fixed on the Empress as she paid her respects. She possessed a vitality the Empress herself had long since lost.

The Empress said, "...You may rise."

Somehow, seeing the vibrant Noble Lady Gu only made the Empress feel even more exhausted.

She felt like an exhausted university student, tormented by 8 AM classes, looking on in disbelief at the class overachiever who was just as early but still bursting with energy. "I had actually called for Fu Jin," she said. "I was going to have you wait outside for a bit."

For a proud concubine, being asked to serve the Empress would be a humiliation.

The Noble Consort, for instance, would never be willing.

For lower-ranking concubines, it was considered a great honor. But the Empress had a placid nature; she never considered being served by others an honor for them. Not that she was some progressive champion of equality—she was simply too lazy to be arrogant and too lazy to overthink it. If Jiang Xian was unwilling, she wouldn’t force her. She was giving her a chance to back out.

"Just waiting outside would be boring. I’d much rather come in and attend to you, Your Majesty. Don’t worry, the Emperor himself has praised me for being meticulous and thoughtful."

Jiang Xian deliberately brought up the Emperor to test the Empress’s reaction.

Out of the corner of her eye, she scanned the Empress’s serene face but saw not a single trace of jealousy.

The Empress said, "If the Emperor is fond of you, then I have no reason to worry."

The Empress added, "Besides, I also find you to be meticulous and thoughtful in your work."

’Approval from the CEO of the harem!’

’In her professional life, Jiang Xian hadn’t had many female bosses, but her experiences had always been pleasant. They were often meticulous and had high standards, attentive to both the big picture and the small details. Praise from another woman always gave her a greater sense of accomplishment.’

Beneath her heavy robes, the Empress was just a young woman in her early twenties, her youthful frame encased in a somber shell forged by ritual and etiquette. After helping her dress, Jiang Xian also took on the task of her makeup. She shaped the Empress’s eyebrows and used modern techniques of concealing and contouring to apply her powder, making her look much more vibrant than usual.

Seeing the result, the palace maid Fu Jin was thrilled.

"Noble Lady Gu, your makeup skills are simply divine!"

She had been the Empress’s dowry maid and was exceptionally close to her.

Fu Jin gazed at the Empress. After being in Noble Lady Gu’s hands, her whole face looked years younger, as if she were a maiden again, before her marriage.

Jiang Xian smiled. "Does Your Majesty like it? If so, I can stay behind after the morning greetings to teach your palace maids."

’The principles of contouring and concealing were all rooted in modern art.’

’Ancient impressionistic painting didn’t emphasize three-dimensionality or light and shadow, so the makeup styles were also rather flat. At most, they’d use blush to create the look of a young maiden’s rosy cheeks.’

’Then there was the "reverse-gradient brow" popular in the Yan Chichao dynasty, where the top edge of the eyebrow was blended slightly upward.’

’After all, the cosmetic powders of this era were all white; there were no skin-toned shades.’

’It was too difficult to achieve a truly natural contouring effect with these materials, but even a little touching up, especially for concealing fatigue, was a huge improvement over the usual methods.’

"You’re not one to keep secrets, are you?"

The Empress was moved. "Every woman in the harem guards her beauty secrets jealously. But you... I haven’t even asked, and you’ve already offered to tell me everything."

Ever since Jiang Xian gained favor, the Empress had heard many rumors.

They said she was incredibly cunning, that she had the Emperor completely wrapped around her finger.

They said she was vicious, that not even the Noble Consort was her match.

They said she was petty and vindictive, and that she would repay any slight a hundred times over.

Now, as the Empress sized her up, she felt that Jiang Xian was not only stunningly beautiful, but also pure-hearted and guileless. ’How could she be the hideous monster the Noble Consort described?’ she thought. ’...That’s right. The Noble Consort wishes death upon anyone who wins the Emperor’s favor. These palace rumors must have come from Rong Xueshi as well.’

"Since entering the palace, I haven’t found a kindred spirit aside from Chen Daying," Jiang Xian said. "It’s a rare gift to have Your Majesty’s appreciation. Why would I hide what little knowledge I possess?"