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

After the examination, Xie Che couldn’t hold back.

Before giving birth to Zhaomao, Jiang Xian had a figure that could rival a movie star’s. During her pregnancy, the weight she gained seemed to choose its spots carefully. From behind, her waist was still slender; only her belly, arms, and thighs had gotten a little fuller... To a man, this was no problem at all. In fact, it was a whole new experience.

Jiang Xian’s worries were completely unfounded. The Emperor found her skin as smooth as cream, and her soft, plump arms and thighs felt like heavenly clouds to the touch. He couldn’t get enough of them.

Afterwards, once he had calmed down, Xie Che grew vexed. "I hadn’t intended to be intimate with you so soon."

Jiang Xian eyed him. "Didn’t you say your affection for me has only grown, not lessened?"

"It’s precisely because I cherish you that I’m worried you’ll get pregnant again."

Xie Che sighed and gently pinched her cheek. "You’ve misunderstood. The saying ’more children, more blessings’ refers to blessings for the husband’s family."

One of the main reasons the primary wife of a household in ancient times not only didn’t oppose her husband taking concubines but actively brought other women into his chambers was to share the risks of childbirth. With the abysmal medical conditions of the era, every delivery was like taking a stroll at the gates of Yama Hall. Even a safe and successful natural birth took an enormous physical toll. Not only was childbirth considered a woman’s sacred duty, but there were also no effective means of contraception. If a woman was exclusively favored, bearing a child year after year was tantamount to shortening her life with each passing year.

History, for instance, records that the mother of Gui Youguang, unable to bear the hardship of constant childbirth after having seven children in a row, put her faith in a folk contraceptive remedy. She drank a concoction of water infused with river snails and other unknown ingredients, was struck mute, and died shortly thereafter.

Jiang Xian understood this as well. After her month of postpartum confinement, she had bought safe contraceptives from her system to avoid getting trapped in an endless cycle of recovery. She snuggled against the Emperor and said softly, "For Your Majesty to be so considerate of me... I am truly moved."

Xie Che patted her back in a soothing gesture.

※

News that the Emperor had not only spent the night at Bihua Palace but had also been recorded three times in the Red History Record quickly spread among the harem concubines.

Consort Guo was so agitated it nearly harmed her pregnancy; she had to take a dose of fetus-preserving medicine in the middle of the night to finally stabilize herself.

The others, for the most part, were simply shocked.

’What? Was our window of opportunity really that short?’

’Attending to him in bed right after her confinement, and three times in one night at that.’

Before entering the palace, most of the concubines had seen pregnant women, who usually had sallow complexions and puffy faces. The Empress Dowager had said Gu Zhaoyi’s pregnancy was going exceptionally well, and at the Eldest Prince’s full-month banquet, all the concubines had seen the fair-skinned and adorable prince. ’Gu Zhaoyi’s nutrition must have been more than adequate! She must have gotten fat!’

The next day, when the concubines of the Six Palaces went to Jianzhang Palace to pay their morning respects, they finally saw what Gu Zhaoyi truly looked like after officially emerging from her confinement.

Due to her promotion to Zhaoyi, Jiang Xian had a whole new set of hair ornaments and jewelry.

Some were gifts from the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and others were from the Noble Consort.

She couldn’t afford to offend any of them, so she wore them all to show her gratitude.

A piece of jewelry from any one of those three would be an extraordinary treasure. The combined collection from all of them, worn by a single person, was truly a spectacle of shimmering pearls and glittering gold. As the saying goes, "Respect the robes before the person," and Jiang Xian’s splendor was so dazzling that people dared not look at her directly.

And yet, even laden with gems and jewels, her own beauty was not the least bit overshadowed.

Everyone noticed that Gu Zhaoyi had, indeed, gained weight.

But somehow, her weight gain had made her beautiful in a completely different way!

The added fullness from what seemed like a fresh supply of collagen softened the lines of her features, transforming the once cold and bewitching beauty into someone gentle and sweet. When she smiled, she radiated a maternal glow that made her even more captivating.

The concubines of the Six Palaces were her competitors, so they were naturally inclined to dislike her.

But upon seeing her grand appearance in Jianzhang Palace, they were all struck by one objective truth—’Gu Zhaoyi has probably hooked the Emperor so thoroughly he can’t get out of bed. No wonder his Holy Favor has only increased!’

"Previously, I was heavy with child, and then I was in my postpartum confinement, so I was remiss in paying my respects to Your Majesty, the Empress. I have been deeply anxious about it. After I return from Xihua Garden, I will be sure to arrive at Jianzhang Palace every day on time."

With this first appearance after her confinement, Jiang Xian publicly showed the Empress a great deal of respect.

The Empress smiled faintly, acknowledging her conscientiousness. "I know that throughout this time, even though you could not take a single step out of Bihua Palace, you still performed the full rites in the direction of Jianzhang Palace each morning and evening. Among everyone in the harem, you understand the rules best and are worthy of being a model for the Six Palaces. This is one of the reasons the Emperor promoted you to Zhaoyi as a commendation; it wasn’t solely because you gave birth to the Eldest Prince."

Jiang Xian showed her deference, and the Empress, in turn, elevated her.

Being called a model for the Six Palaces was the Empress’s stamp of approval.

With the Empress’s endorsement, no one could question her rank of Zhaoyi any longer.

The Empress knew this compliment wouldn’t anger Noble Consort Rong—the Noble Consort had no desire to be a role model and even hated it when others copied her. She had a host of privileges and powerful backing, and she knew it. Anyone who wanted to use her as a template had better take a good look at their own standing first. Zhaoyang Palace didn’t take in garbage.

Just then, Noble Consort Rong chimed in icily, "Gu Zhaoyi hasn’t taken a single step out of Bihua Palace, yet the Empress knows she’s been performing rites? Her Majesty the Empress must be clairvoyant!"

A collective look of bewilderment spread across the faces of the other concubines.

’The Empress hadn’t said anything to provoke the Noble Consort!’

However, none of the concubines found it particularly surprising.

After all, the Noble Consort was like a highly sensitive, red-named world boss. You could do absolutely nothing—just be humming a little tune as you walked past—and still draw her aggro, getting pinned down and mercilessly thrashed on the spot.

"I have always made it a point to care for all my sisters."

The Empress’s smile remained impeccable.

Jiang Xian impassively observed the room, taking in everyone’s reactions. ’Her high-intensity workouts had paid off. The flab had become firm and toned, making her look a whole size smaller. With her body fat down, she was once again light and lovely.’

Her appearance spoke for itself.

Her grand entrance was the loudest, most powerful declaration of all:

Gu Zhaoyi had finished her term and was storming back into the arena of harem politics!

※

As they left Jianzhang Palace, Jiang Xian said, "There probably won’t be any more open provocations for a while."

Even Lu Ronghua, who loves stirring up trouble more than anyone, has gone quiet.

Consort Guo is nearing her due date, and then she’ll be in postpartum confinement, so we won’t be seeing her for some time.

"Oh, but there is!" Chen Changzai said.

"Who?" Jiang Xian asked.

"Me!" said Chen Changzai. "Please, Sister, talk to the Emperor and get me on the travel list too! You don’t have to treat me like a concubine; just think of me as a little kitten or puppy."

Jiang Xian replied that kittens and puppies were precisely the things that couldn’t be brought to Xihua Garden, citing Princess Consort Zhang as a cautionary tale.

Chen Changzai looked utterly dejected. "I want to go have fun at Xihua Garden too! Please, I’m begging you, Sister Zhaoyi~"

After letting her plead for a little while, Jiang Xian finally relented with a laugh. "Of course I’ll bring you. I just need to have a word with the Emperor before we depart."

When Xie Che came to Bihua Palace that afternoon, he readily agreed to her request.

The Emperor had simply forgotten all about her when he was first drafting the list.

The trip to Xihua Garden was meant for Jiang Xian to relax, so of course the Emperor would grant her every wish, including her request to add someone to the party.

Seeing her chance, Jiang Xian added, "Then the next time you go to Qingliu Hall, you should take me with you, shouldn’t you?"

"I will not allow it," Xie Che replied.

Adding people was fine. Working overtime was not.

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