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

Chapter 81: Chapter 66: Blind Praise

The Empress’s advice was correct.

When the Emperor received the loose-leaf notebook, he immediately recognized its convenience. But as he held it, caressing its surface, he noticed something else was different. Jiang Xian had depicted every item in his private treasury with a unique artistic style, using colors quite unlike those popular among the painters of Yan Chichao. Western pigments had long been available in the Yan Chi Country, but they had never become widely popular. Colorful painting was mostly reserved for architecture, while traditional coloring methods were mainly applied to landscapes of green mountains and blue waters.

The late Emperor had favored ink wash paintings, championing the idea that ink itself was color. During his decades-long reign, monochrome art dominated the Capital, and every artist considered it an honor to win his praise. The current Emperor, however, had a personality that loved opulence and splendor. Jiang Xian’s vibrant, chibi-style treasure album was painted right into his heart. He wished he could smash the like button for her right then and there.

Modern people see a beautiful picture, and they like and share it.

The Emperor saw a beautiful picture, so he summoned the officials of the Six Ministries to the palace to admire Jiang Xian’s artwork with him.

Hearing the reason for the summons, the Six Ministers were initially quite displeased.

Reaching the rank of Minister was nearing the apex of an official’s career. This was especially true for Zhang Mingci, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, known as the "Head of the Ministers." Mr. Zhang had always held his status in high regard, and now, braving the light snow to enter the palace merely to admire a Noble Lady’s painting left him exceptionally annoyed. Seeing his thunderous expression, his colleagues tried to console him. "For the Emperor to summon us with such fanfare, perhaps the palace truly has produced a once-in-a-generation master painter."

Zhang Mingci’s brow remained tightly furrowed.

’A sheltered woman from the inner quarters couldn’t possibly produce any decent art,’ he thought. ’Their world is so small, their perspective so narrow. Even if they paint some flowers and trees to amuse themselves, no matter how exquisite the technique, it could hardly serve as an admonition to the world.’ The Minister of Revenue, Qin Chengyi, said with a smile, "In my opinion, this business with Noble Lady Gu’s painting is just a pretext. The Emperor must have other important matters to discuss with us in private."

This explanation seemed reasonable, and Zhang Mingci’s expression softened slightly.

Liang Yuyin came out to greet them with a bow. The group fell silent, replaced their expressions with serious ones, and upon entering, knelt respectfully in greeting.

"Rise, my dear ministers. All of you, come take a look at my newly acquired treasure album."

The Emperor seemed to be in a good mood, beckoning everyone to look at the loose-leaf notebook in his hands.

When they heard this, their hearts sank.

’So he really did call us to the palace just to look at a painting?’

’And a painting by a harem concubine, at that?’

’Your Majesty, are you alright?’

Every one of them was a man of immense learning, possessing no shortage of literary refinement and large private art collections. Thus, hearing that this treasure album was the work of a mere concubine was all the more suffocating. The old ministers now looked at the Emperor the way a professor might look at a love-struck student who was proudly presenting his girlfriend’s edgy, angsty teen novel for their critique...

At that moment, the one whose composure had shattered the most was Qin Chengyi, the Minister of Revenue who had just been consoling Zhang Mingci.

Because he was a famous art connoisseur.

He had often entered the palace in the past to admire newly acquired masterpieces with the Emperor. And now, the Emperor called on him first. "Qin Chengyi, you come take a look at this treasure album."

Qin Chengyi, having been called out, hesitated, at a loss for words.

’It seems the Emperor not only wants to show off his beloved concubine’s painting, but he also wants us to praise it.’

’The mood has been set. It would be impolite not to offer some praise now.’

Steeling himself, Qin Chengyi took the jewel-adorned album. Just as he was preparing to lavish it with blind praise, he quickly discovered what made it different.

The treasure album was bound by golden rings, but the rings weren’t sealed shut. Running a hand over them, he could feel a mechanism that allowed them to be opened at any time, letting the pages be removed at will. Qin Chengyi’s eyes gradually lit up. "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! Masterful, truly masterful!"

No one understood the benefits of a loose-leaf notebook better than the Minister of Revenue.

The Ministry of Revenue was the modern equivalent of a ministry of civil affairs and a ministry of finance combined.

Among the Six Ministries, it was the one that managed the largest volume of accounts: land taxes, customs duties, commercial levies... He managed household registration and tax labor, while his Assistant Minister handled auditing, census records, and other accounting work. In their offices, the Fish Scale Atlases were piled as high as mountains. If they could all be replaced with loose-leaf notebooks, organizing them would become much more convenient.

At this thought, Qin Chengyi could hardly contain his excitement. He whipped his head around. "Was this truly made by the hand of Noble Lady Gu? It is truly divine! Please accept this old minister’s distant bow!"

As he spoke, he actually clasped his hands and bowed deeply.

When the other five ministers witnessed this scene, they were all dumbfounded.

First came shock, then admiration.

’We never realized Old Qin was such a master of currying favor with the Emperor. We really underestimated him. Look at that convincing performance, though that final bow was a bit over-the-top.’ The five ministers turned their heads in unison to look at the Emperor. But the Emperor didn’t find Qin Chengyi’s actions exaggerated in the slightest. He nodded in great satisfaction. "Noble Lady Gu poured her heart and soul into creating this treasure album so I could browse my treasures at any time... Don’t grip it so tightly." Seeing his excited grasp, the Emperor took the treasure album back into his own hands, a little concerned for it.

Only after hearing the Emperor’s words did Qin Chengyi begin to seriously examine the paintings inside.

With the clever design of the loose-leaf notebook coloring his perception, he did not hesitate to give the treasure album high praise. "The artistic style of this treasure album is refreshingly delightful. Her Ladyship did not use traditional techniques; her style is primarily realistic, yet it also contains a hint of playful childishness. She must have hoped the Emperor could occasionally use it to relax and unwind from his tedious state affairs. Her thoughtfulness is commendable. To have won the favor of such an ingenious Beauty—this minister is truly happy for Your Majesty!"

"Indeed. That is exactly what I was thinking."

The Emperor nodded repeatedly in satisfaction.

’Yes, that’s it! That’s exactly what I wanted to say.’

Jiang Xian was accustomed to drawing in a realistic style. But in the Emperor’s eyes, he pictured Jiang Xian staying up late, her eyes sore and strained, just to capture the intricate details of each object. As for the chibi art style, she must have drawn it that way specifically to amuse him, fearing he would be bored by his political duties.

’Sob... Xian’er loves me so much! It’s all in the details!’

Qin Chengyi’s praise had scratched him right where he itched; he was greatly pleased.

It was like a fan clicking on the top comments for their favorite idol’s work and seeing a respected critic praise all its best parts, making the fan want to slap their knee and beg for more. Seeing the Emperor look at Old Qin as if he’d found a soulmate, the other ministers refused to be outdone. They scrambled to praise the treasure album, and in the process, lauded Jiang Xian as someone unparalleled on heaven or earth.

"It encompasses all Six Principles of Painting! The brushwork is magnificent!"

"So lifelike! Noble Lady Gu has the hands of a goddess!"

Seeing that their flattery was missing the point, Qin Chengyi added, "Take a closer look at the golden clasps and the holes on this treasure album."

Hearing this, the five men turned back to look at him.

’What’s this? Is he giving us lessons on how to suck up now?’

But soon enough, they too discovered the object’s ingenuity. Their blind praise turned into genuine, heartfelt amazement.

Only Zhang Mingci was unwilling to admit that a woman could possess such practical ingenuity. "Perhaps it’s a method passed down in Noble Lady Gu’s family that she has simply presented to Your Majesty." He would rather the credit go to her father and brothers.

But the Emperor just nodded. "You’re right. Noble Lady Gu’s family should indeed be rewarded."

Zhang Mingci: ???