Chapter 259

News of the Emperor’s intention to promote the Pure Consort to Noble Consort spread through the harem like wildfire.

No one was particularly surprised.

Some even remarked, “It’s about time.”

For years, the question of when Jiang Xian would be promoted to Noble Consort had felt like the story of *Throwing Boots*—everyone was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Now that it had, they could finally rest easy.

After all, a real-life promotion wasn’t like a palace intrigue game where you just saw numbers change on a screen. While it was simple enough for low-ranking concubines, an investiture for someone of the Concubine rank or higher was a major hassle. A promotion to a rank above a consort, as revered as a Noble Consort, was practically a military campaign—the kind a stingier emperor would never want to approve.

As it turned out, the items needed for Jiang Xian’s promotion to Noble Consort had long been prepared by the Imperial Household.

The warm hat crafted especially for her as a Noble Consort lay in a rosewood brocade box, draped in silk. The sable-trimmed hat was adorned with a golden phoenix. Liang Yuyin pointed out, “Everything follows the regulations for a Noble Consort. The only exception is this cat’s eye stone, which the Emperor specifically instructed us to add.”

The Yan Chi people highly valued the cat’s eye stone. In this dynasty, the stone—known in modern times as the Golden Green Cat’s Eye Stone—signified extraordinary and noble status. Normally, only the golden phoenixes on the ceremonial headdresses of the Imperial Concubine and the Empress were permitted to have one…

But rules were rigid, and people were flexible.

The Emperor wanted to add more prestige to his most beloved concubine’s ceremonial attire, and no one dared to object.

“Your Ladyship, what do you think? Are you pleased with it?”

Liang Yuyin asked, his face wreathed in smiles.

The cat’s eye stone shimmered with a band of light, exuding both nobility and a hint of mystery. Jiang Xian, however, was completely indifferent to jade and gems. In her eyes, these trinkets were merely very valuable antiques and shiny rocks. “Please convey my words to the Emperor, Eunuch. I love every piece of ceremonial attire he has prepared for me.”

‘It’s a gift from the boss. I have to show my appreciation.’

After a careful inspection, Jiang Xian pointed out three details that needed to be reworked and asked the Imperial Household to take it back for adjustments. The eunuch was delighted to comply. They weren’t afraid of extra work; they were afraid of a master who kept her dissatisfaction to herself, only to settle the score later. Striving for perfection was a good thing. It meant they were earning their keep without any future trouble.

This time, the Empress had truly laid down her burdens.

That very evening, she announced that due to her need to recuperate and devote herself to Buddhist practice, the daily requirement to pay respects at Jianzhang Palace was canceled. From now on, it would only be once every ten-day period. On that day, she would also lead them to Changle Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, combining the two events with blatant efficiency. Some concubines who lived far away were so grateful for this kindness that they copied sutras and prayed for the Empress’s well-being to show their devotion.

For Jiang Xian, however, this was terrible news.

‘The morning and evening meetings are gone!’

Fortunately, she helped the Emperor with administrative duties, so she wasn’t worried about being idle. She had just been hoping to see the Empress during the morning greetings and use the opportunity to stay behind for a chat. With the morning assembly canceled, that plan was now delayed.

「Three days later.」

Princess Taihua visited Bihua Palace to play with the Eldest Prince. Jiang Xian then personally escorted her, heading straight to see the Empress.

The visit was, to say the least, a shock.

With the Emperor personally overseeing the project, the small Buddha hall in Jianzhang Palace had been completed quickly and skillfully. As a result, in addition to the usual scent of medicine, there was now the faint aroma of incense. Jiang Xian caught the scent before she even stepped through the palace gates. She remarked with a smile, “If I closed my eyes, I’d think I’d wandered into a temple overflowing with worshippers.”

After Fu Jin had a nanny lead Princess Taihua away, she began to complain. “We can’t get rid of this smell! It completely ruins the mood when the Emperor visits.”

Back when Jiang Xian’s rank was lower and she often came to Jianzhang Palace to act as a secretary, she had become quite familiar with Fu Jin. They sometimes shared conversations that were less than perfectly decorous. “You’re right,” Jiang Xian agreed. “This smell could probably smoke some Buddha-nature into even the most degenerate pervert.”

“Isn’t that the truth.”

A moment later, Fu Jin finally caught the underlying meaning.

‘Wait a minute,’ she thought. ‘Isn’t Lady Shufei comparing the Emperor to a pervert?’

She thought her own comment had been risqué, but Her Ladyship was clearly on another level. Fu Jin was filled with a sudden, profound respect.

“Announcing Lady Shufei.”

“Come in.”

From within the hall came the Empress’s languid voice.

On formal occasions, the Empress always spoke in a measured tone, reminiscent of an ancient bell in a grand temple. In private, she was far more relaxed, though her voice lacked much inflection, as if even speaking was too much effort. Jiang Xian was an expert at reading voices, able to discern the emotional state behind every sound even in a noisy room. And the Empress’s voice right now sounded exactly like that of…

…an employee who was about to quit.

Checked out, given up, and radiating the cheerful indifference of someone who no longer cared about worldly affairs.

She was even more startled when she entered the room.

The Empress, a woman who always maintained perfect decorum, was reclining on a chaise lounge padded with a wool blanket, a smile in her eyes. Before Jiang Xian could even curtsy and pay her respects, the Empress beckoned her to sit. “I am at peace now. Exceptionally so. In my entire life, the most peaceful I’ve ever felt was probably before I married, and right now.”

The Empress had Fu Jin bring Jiang Xian a pot of fruit cordial.

Jiang Xian assumed it was tea but noticed no tea-like aroma. She took a sip and was startled by the sweetness, frowning in silence.

“HAHAHA, surprised you, didn’t I?”

The Empress saw her reaction and laughed aloud. “Go and get a pot of wine for the Pure Consort. You can handle wine, I trust?”

“Boiled water would also be fine.”

“Who serves a guest plain water?” the Empress replied with a gentle smile.

‘I’m not fond of alcohol,’ Jiang Xian thought. ‘It slows my brain down and tanks my work efficiency. But what wage-earner can avoid social drinking? I even know how to smoke—just lighting one, holding it between my fingers, and taking a puff or two on rare occasions to build rapport with a client. Here in the harem, I only ever drink with the Emperor when he visits, and I’m never one to overindulge.’ She then asked aloud, “Why have you stopped drinking tea, Your Majesty? Is it for your health?”

Beside them, Fu Jin wore a clear look of exasperation.

The Empress said, “The fruit cordial I like is too sweet, and the Imperial Physician says it’s not good for me. But I just love it. If it weren’t for needing to stay alert, who would want to drink strong tea?”

“But I learned my appreciation for tea tasting from you, Your Majesty.”

“I’m skilled at it, but I don’t enjoy it,” the Empress said with a smile—a relaxed, carefree smile that Jiang Xian had never seen on her before. “It’s like so many of my other skills. I can do them all, and I do them all well, but I don’t actually like any of them.”

Jiang Xian was reminded of something her old colleagues used to say—

‘I wish I could win the lottery and be financially free.’ Then they would list all the things they wanted to do but never had time for, like beating *Sekiro* and *Elden Ring*, binge-watching all the shows they’d saved up, learning to write, learning to paint… and so on.

They all had dreams that had been pushed aside for the sake of work.

Once they had the money, they would go find the meaning of their lives.

But Jiang Xian didn’t.

Jiang Xian couldn’t help but ask, “Then what do you like to do, Your Majesty?”

The Empress replied, “I like doing nothing.”

From her expression, Jiang Xian knew she was serious.

The Empress came from a renowned aristocratic family. Even as a woman, she naturally had access to the best resources of the era. She’d had a start in life that Jiang Xian could never have imagined—a born winner, first-class.

And this born winner was saying she had no dreams and wanted to do nothing at all.

Jiang Xian glanced at Fu Jin.

The Empress gestured for her to take the other palace attendants and leave.

Once they were alone in the room, Jiang Xian finally asked, “You don’t even want to become the Empress Dowager?”

And just like that, the Emperor, who had just been compared to a pervert, was now being scheduled for an immediate death in Jiang Xian’s hypothetical scenario.