Chapter 214 - 185: Selling Misery?

There was once a popular question on a social media platform: "If you have a stable government job, donate a kidney to save your mother, and can no longer perform your duties as a result, will you be fired?" The answers were all a resounding no. Not only would you not be fired, you would be held up as a moral exemplar, becoming the beloved mascot of your entire workplace—the propaganda department’s favorite kind of story.

By fasting and praying for the Empress’s well-being to the point of fainting, one certainly showed sincerity. It even earned her a rare look of approval from the Empress Dowager.

To her rivals of the same rank, it was an excessively sycophantic, manipulative ploy. But to those in power, since an Imperial Physician had been sent and confirmed it wasn’t a feigned collapse but a genuine faint requiring proper rest, that display of respect and dedication was enough to earn their approval.

And really, not everyone was willing to resort to such a tactic.

When word of this got out, Lu Ronghua and Guo Xiao Yi rolled their eyes so hard they nearly saw the back of their skulls.

Guo Xiao Yi was a bit more restrained; she had recently been cowed by the Emperor’s thunderous display of power, and Consort Ji had tried to curry favor with her after entering the palace. Lu Ronghua, however, was utterly disdainful. "Who is she putting on this act for? The only thing she hasn’t done is wait on the Emperor’s path after he leaves court and beg for his favor."

’Starving yourself until you faint, and in a way that the Imperial Physician can’t find any trace of foul play... She’s truly ruthless with herself.’ Lu Ronghua was accustomed to a life of luxury and comfort in the harem and couldn’t bring herself to be so harsh. She could only curse her behind her back for playing such games. "And Gu Zhaoyi! How could she just let her get away with it?"

For once, Lu Ronghua’s words proved prophetic.

That very afternoon, the Empress had the arrangements for the Empress Dowager’s birthday sent to Changle Palace. Faced with the neatly and meticulously organized loose-leaf notebook, the Empress Dowager was visibly moved and praised the Empress’s filial piety. However, Miss Fu Jin, who had been sent by the Empress, said, "This servant thanks the Empress Dowager on behalf of Her Majesty. The Empress’s pregnancy has been difficult, and she has been sleeping a great deal lately. She has had to entrust most matters to Gu Zhaoyi, but she dared not delegate the arrangements for the Empress Dowager’s birthday to anyone else."

The Empress Dowager was well aware of the immense number of tasks the Empress handled daily.

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly. "The Empress trusts Gu Zhaoyi, so this one should not say too much. However, Gu Zhaoyi is young. This one worries she might overstep her bounds. Summon her."

When Jiang Xian was summoned, she activated her Little Pitiful Halo.

Not at full power, just a little bit. Her complexion was slightly pale, but not sickly.

The Empress Dowager held a certain fondness for Gu Zhaoyi, who had given birth to the Eldest Prince. She often summoned Zhao’er to Changle Palace to amuse her and could see that Zhao’er was being raised exceptionally well. Furthermore, there was the matter of Jiang Xian saving her life during the trip out of the palace to pray. Although they didn’t interact much, the Empress Dowager kept her in mind. She said to her personal attendant, Nanny Yulan, "This one has summoned her not to make things difficult, but simply to see how she is handling her duties."

"Your Majesty has always been fair. If Gu Zhaoyi has performed her duties well, then this visit should be to receive a reward."

"That is sound reasoning."

The Empress Dowager had only summoned her because she was afraid Gu Zhaoyi might mismanage palace affairs or act recklessly, taking advantage of the fact that the Empress was less involved in her late-stage pregnancy. But when Jiang Xian actually arrived at Changle Palace, her appearance gave the Empress Dowager a start.

The newcomer’s face was pale and frail.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager could no longer maintain her formal bearing and quickly had Yu Lan help Jiang Xian up.

"How are these palace maids of yours serving you? For their mistress’s complexion to be so poor, have you called an Imperial Physician to see her?" The Empress Dowager’s sharp gaze fell on the two palace maids kneeling behind Jiang Xian. Jiang Xian quickly said, "It is merely some mental exhaustion; there is no need to trouble the Imperial Physician. Besides, your subject has a special knack for self-diagnosis."

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but be curious about how she diagnosed herself.

The Empress Dowager had never heard that Gu Zhaoyi knew medicine. Even when she was rewarded for her skill in attending the sick, it was for her talent in managing palace attendants and her meticulous, thoughtful care.

"Have the kitchens send over a table of fine dishes, with a good mix of meat and vegetables. If I have the appetite to eat, then there’s nothing wrong."

The Empress Dowager was taken aback. ’That has nothing to do with medicine!’

But on second thought, it actually made sense. "If a person cannot even eat, then things are truly bad. But your face is pale; you must still take more nourishing supplements." With that, the Empress Dowager had Yu Lan open her private stores and sent over some high-quality medicinal herbs. "You should have them on hand even if you don’t use them. We can’t have anyone else in the palace falling ill."

Originally, the Empress Dowager had intended to reprimand Gu Zhaoyi.

’But seeing her like this, that won’t do,’ she thought. ’What if Gu Zhaoyi collapses too? Who could I grab at a moment’s notice to handle palace affairs? Myself?’ The Empress Dowager had no desire to cling to power. She much preferred to enjoy life while she was still healthy and mobile; otherwise, she wouldn’t have handed over all authority in the harem to her daughter-in-law so early on.

Jiang Xian expressed her gratitude and steered the conversation back to business.

It turned out that two eunuchs were waiting outside, carrying a chest full of palace business for the Empress Dowager’s inspection.

’What do you call this?’

’This is the physical version of a PowerPoint presentation for a meeting.’

’In modern times, you have slides; in ancient times, you had bamboo slips, which were also piece by piece. All roads lead to Rome.’

"The Empress Dowager has surely heard about the birthday arrangements from the Empress, so your subject will not elaborate further." A large portion of the chest’s contents consisted of records and accounts from previous years, all marked with sticky notes for easy comparison and reference.

You could say this was the harem’s version of a work summary and performance review.

Jiang Xian was experienced in these matters. Her words, however, lacked the polished sophistication of noblewomen from aristocratic families like the Empress or Princess Consort Zhang, who had been immersed in that world since childhood. Her speech wasn’t as flowery. Anyone else might have thought Gu Zhaoyi was being disrespectful, but the Empress Dowager found her simple and sincere.

The Empress Dowager nodded repeatedly as she listened.

’That’s right,’ she thought. ’Given Gu Zhaoyi’s background, how could she know all these intricate subtleties?’

’She is simply capable and willing to work for the Empress.’

"There are some rules established by our ancestors that your subject dares not treat lightly, such as the arrangements for the noblewomen entering the palace. I’m afraid the Empress must be the one to make the final decisions," Jiang Xian explained her difficulties in a soft, quiet voice. "It’s not that these tasks are hard to handle. The hard part is that too many people are coming to your subject seeking favors."

The Empress Dowager thought Gu Zhaoyi’s words were simple and that she had no ulterior motives.

But even plain speech can be used to slip in a personal agenda.

"There is no need to disturb the Empress with this. Gu Zhaoyi, you just handle it impartially." After hearing the names Jiang Xian reported, the Empress Dowager’s expression grew focused. She said coolly, "Forget it. It would be difficult for you to be perfectly fair in all matters. This one grants you the authority to act at your own discretion."

How to arrange the seating for the noblewomen, whether they could enter the palace to see their daughters...

With a single sentence, the Empress Dowager had given all this authority to Jiang Xian.

Even if it was only temporary, it significantly elevated her status in the eyes of the various noblewomen.

"Your subject thanks the Empress Dowager for her consideration."

Jiang Xian immediately put on an expression of someone moved to tears with gratitude. Performed with her pale and frail complexion, it seemed all the more heartfelt, sincere, and natural.

There are many ways to play the victim.

With her current level of Holy Favor and status, she no longer needed to compete with a newly arrived Noble Lady for the Emperor’s pity and affection.

Regarding the matter of the Empress’s late-stage pregnancy, what Jiang Xian wanted from the Empress Dowager was simply this authority to act at her own discretion.

And among the family names she had reported to the Empress Dowager as intending to interfere with the birthday seating arrangements was none other than Mrs. Ji.