Chapter 140 - 120: Backup Dancer
The Emperor chuckled, not pursuing the question of whether the Noble Consort was actually magnanimous.
He savored a few moments of the Noble Consort serving him his meal before speaking. "The matter concerning Qingliu Hall was my own doing. It was not Gu Pin’s fault."
’Just listen to that.’
’His peacemaking attitude? A-plus.’
’The result? Zero.’
’If their relationship hadn’t already eased, the Noble Consort would have flipped out. Defending another woman right in front of her... was he trying to play the hero saving the damsel in distress? That would only make her angrier.’ Before the Noble Consort could even frown, Jiang Xian quickly interjected, "Emperor, the Noble Consort is merely concerned for me, afraid that others might speak ill of me."
The Emperor looked toward the Noble Consort. "So you two have become that close. When Gu Pin was delirious with fever, it was your name she kept muttering."
Had it been anyone else, they would have seized the opportunity to put on a show of deep sisterly affection for the Emperor.
Not Noble Princess Consort Rong.
Before the Emperor arrived, she and Gu Pin were on good enough terms to secretly hold hands. The moment he appeared, however, she put on a stern face. "We are merely casual acquaintances, nothing more. In fact, Gu Pin seems to be much closer to the Empress."
Hearing this, the Emperor nodded to himself.
’That’s more like it. This palpable animosity toward the Empress... now *this* was the Noble Consort he knew.’
"I thought you had an issue with the Qingliu Hall matter."
Noble Princess Consort Rong admitted she did.
The Emperor asked, "Do you feel that I’ve handled things poorly?"
"If Gu Pin can go, then I should be able to go as well."
Noble Princess Consort Rong stated, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"You... go? What would you do there?" The Emperor looked rather taken aback.
Unlike the uninhibited Jiang Xian, the Noble Consort hailed from a major aristocratic family and was extremely conscious of her status. On a major occasion like the Longevity Festival, it might be acceptable. But to have her sing and dance before ordinary officials on a regular day... forget just wearing a veil, she wouldn’t be willing even if you wrapped her head to toe in a burlap sack.
"I can perform a sword dance. Gu Pin has a lovely singing voice, doesn’t she? The next time, she can sing while I perform a sword dance."
"It is a place of learning. Such a martial display would be out of place."
"How is it out of place... Just say it, Emperor! It’s not the display that’s wrong, it’s *me*, isn’t it?" The Noble Consort set down her chopsticks and pouted, perfectly embodying the look of a wronged Beauty.
The Emperor could only sigh.
After all, Noble Princess Consort Rong was half right this time. She indeed could not go to Qingliu Hall, but not because the Emperor disliked her. Qingliu Hall was where the Emperor cultivated his "own people," and the Noble Consort represented the power of the Rong Family. No matter how much she professed her love for the Emperor, he would never allow her near this private reserve. Jiang Xian, on the other hand, he used with complete confidence.
This was the art of choosing one’s side.
Once she understood this, Jiang Xian knew the matter had nothing to do with romantic jealousy. She smiled and said, "How could the Noble Consort possibly be at fault? It’s just that the Noble Consort’s status is so lofty, unlike mine..."
"And why aren’t you esteemed?"
Hearing Jiang Xian belittle herself, Noble Princess Consort Rong shot her an unfriendly glare.
Jiang Xian: ...
’Why is her Ladyship like an upgraded version of Chen Daying?’
’She was discovering that the Noble Consort’s likes and dislikes were completely black and white. She had a highly sensitive, all-or-nothing personality.’
"The Noble Consort is right. You are the Gu Pin personally appointed by the Empress Dowager; your status and character are both esteemed," the Emperor said, patting Jiang Xian’s hand. "It’s just that, my dear Noble Consort, the officials who frequent Qingliu Hall are not of high rank. If you were seen there, forget the Cloud General—Rong Xiazhi himself would think I don’t dote on you and come to the palace to lecture me."
Rong Xiazhi was Noble Princess Consort Rong’s eldest brother.
’Another valiant and skilled young warrior from the Rong Family.’
Yan Chi society upheld male superiority, but it was relatively relaxed about the strict separation of the sexes. It was mostly the prominent aristocratic families who made an issue of it to maintain their status.
And the Rong Family happened to be the most prominent of them all.
"Then has the Emperor considered the feelings of Gu Pin’s father? A parent’s heart is the same all under heaven,"
the Noble Consort said.
The Emperor’s gaze fell on Jiang Xian. "The Lady makes an excellent point," Jiang Xian said. "If Your Majesty could bring my father to Qingliu Hall, whether to be my reading companion or my backup dancer, I believe he would be most honored and delighted."
Jiang Xian casually arranged a job for her own father as a backup dancer.
’As long as you have no morals, no one can morally blackmail you.’
’No scruples in her heart, every move a work of genius.’
"This... is Gu Pin serious?"
This time, even the Emperor was astonished.
It wasn’t rare for harem Concubines to use their favor to seek positions for their families, but this was the first time he’d seen one seek a position as a backup dancer.
Jiang Xian nodded with great sincerity. "If Your Majesty doesn’t mind my father’s advanced age, getting him a position in the Hanlin Academy and bringing him to Qingliu Hall would be excellent."
That was the Hanlin Academy, a place every scholar in the world would die to get into. Given her father’s personality as a high-minded scholar, how could he possibly not like it?
The saying went that only top scholars could enter the Hanlin, and only Hanlin members could enter the Cabinet.
With Jiang Ke’s past examination results, he hadn’t come close to qualifying for the Hanlin Academy, and could only serve as a low-level local official.
On second thought, the Emperor found it to be an excellent idea.
He was grateful to Gu Pin for her clever schemes. Someone who worked for him deserved a reward. He had already granted her the rank of concubine, so the only thing left was to bestow favor upon her family. ’Bring her father to the Capital to serve as an official... an excellent idea! The post needn’t be a high one. I’ll have him close by and see what sort of man he is. Perhaps he’ll prove useful.’ At this point, the Emperor was still nursing a sliver of hope. ’Gu Pin is so wonderfully clever; maybe her father is a hidden gem the imperial examinations missed. I might just gain another talented man.’
He finished his meal with the two of them, then returned to Qiankun Palace to continue going through his memorials.
Noble Princess Consort Rong racked her brain but couldn’t fathom how, after all her complaints, she had somehow managed to secure an official post in the Capital for Gu Pin’s father.
Jiang Xian: "I truly must thank you this time, my Lady."
Having failed to achieve her objective, Noble Princess Consort Rong was in a less-than-stellar mood, and her tone grew chilly:
"Don’t just thank me with words. Have your father... pour me a cup of tea."
She had originally wanted to say ’kowtow to me twice’.
But because it was Jiang Xian, she softened her words at the last moment.
To her surprise, Jiang Xian’s eyes lit up, and she smiled. "My father is a man from outside the palace and a humble official; it would be improper for him to meet you, my Lady. Once he arrives in the Capital City, I will have him visit the General Mansion to let your father and brothers accept that cup of tea on your behalf. How does that sound, my Lady?"
A "Green Bean and Sesame Official" coming to the Capital needs more than just a favored concubine as a protective shield to be secure.
Jiang Xian was the type to remain unruffled by favor or disgrace. While the Noble Consort bore her no real ill will, she was habitually sharp-tongued. So, Jiang Xian seized the initiative, catching the verbal barb thrown her way and turning it into an opportunity.
Just as she expected, Noble Princess Consort Rong smiled.
"You’re quite the thinker! Fine. I will inform my family that they are to accept this cup of tea from your father."
Officials at court were all highly perceptive.
If Jiang Ke could visit the Rong Mansion after arriving in the Capital, it would be the equivalent of having the Rong Family’s seal of approval stamped on his forehead. This would ensure no one dared to make trouble for him.
Along with the imperial edict summoning him to the Capital, a letter from Gu Pin was delivered by express courier to Meize County.
When Jiang Ke received it, his wife snatched it away before he could even open it. "Quick, let me see what Xian’er wrote!"
"You can’t even read, what are you snatching it for?"
"I just want to touch the words our daughter wrote."
Ms. Zhang’s hand caressed the paper as if it were a treasure. Then, her expression changed abruptly. "Well, hurry up and read it aloud! Did Xian’er mention me?"
"The Emperor is summoning me to the Capital!"
Jiang Ke’s face lit up with ecstasy after reading the first line.
He continued to the second line: "To Qingliu Hall... What kind of place is Qingliu Hall? Never mind, it sounds like a good place from the name... To be... to be..."
Ms. Zhang urged, "To be what?"
"...to be our daughter’s backup dancer."