Jiang Xian was no miser.
She loved making money, but she also knew how to spend it. She understood that money should be spent where it counted most.
As the saying goes, to do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools.
In the harem, the "tool" for advancement was oneself. She had always been generous when it came to investing in herself.
She purchased ten uses of Peeping Emperor's Footprint at 40 points each, to be used as needed.
Halo-type Golden Fingers could be used long-term. The Little Pitiful Halo was set at a particularly low price, clearly a beginner's perk—at best, it could make the Emperor feel pity for you; at worst, if the host were to be punished, it might not soften the heart of the high-ranking concubine dealing out the punishment, but it could at least make the executing eunuch go easy on you and not strike too hard.
For a newcomer to the palace with a humble family background and low rank, the System's intended path for the host was to be a "little pitiful" thing.
But she scrolled right past it, paying it no mind.
The System offered a kind reminder: [Host, the Little Pitiful Halo is extremely cost-effective.]
[I know,] Jiang Xian said, [but I don't want to be a little pitiful thing.]
With that, she purchased the Fan Filter, worth 1,000 points.
[Name]: Fan Filter
[Type]: Halo Type
[Function]: When activated, anyone who does not bear ill will toward the host will see the host through a beautifying filter of "Gaussian Blur +50, Whitening +65, Skin Smoothing."
[Note]: My baby has world-class beauty! You all just don't get it! What do you mean, "heavily photoshopped"? If I say this is an unedited picture, it's an unedited picture!
Objectively speaking, Jiang Xian's current appearance was already one-in-a-million beautiful.
But the harem was a sea of beauties, and every meeting, every night spent with the Emperor, was a make-or-break moment. She had to ensure she left a deep impression on the Emperor from their very first encounter. This was one layer of insurance.
From the "Courses" category, Jiang Xian bought Zhao Feiyan's Slow Step Dance.
Zhao Feiyan won Emperor Cheng of Han's favor not just for her beauty and light figure, but also for the outstanding dances she choreographed herself. And because she was incredibly thin, as light as a swallow... Jiang Xian felt she wasn't nearly that skinny. Among the Halo-type Golden Fingers, there was a [Light Body Aura], but it was very expensive, and she couldn't afford it.
So, Jiang Xian took a different approach and asked the System to let her learn Qinggong.
The System was puzzled: [Is Qinggong necessary for palace intrigue? Is the Host perhaps trying to find a loophole...]
[No. Once I master Qinggong, I plan to launch a night raid on the Emperor's bedchamber and force him to sleep with me.]
Jiang Xian said it without a second thought.
The System was deeply shaken, but she had convinced it.
「After her preparations were complete, the day of her first morning greeting at Jianzhang Palace arrived.」
"Jiang Daying, you're up a bit too early."
As a hastily washed Chen Daying came into the front hall and greeted her with a forced smile, Jiang Xian returned to her senses and smiled back. "Am I?"
Concubines of the rank of *pin* and above had sedan chairs for travel, but a small *daying* had no such privilege and could only walk. Yizhu Pavilion was also remote and desolate, so to get to Jianzhang Palace for the morning greeting, they had to pass through the Imperial Garden. After just a short walk, Chen Daying, who had only learned the rules the day before, already felt tired and sleepy.
She glanced at Jiang Xian beside her.
As if sensing her gaze, Jiang Xian looked back, her eyes sparkling. "Chen Daying, the weather is wonderful today. If I weren't mindful of the Palace Rules, I'd feel like running to pay my respects to the Empress."
Concubines were permitted to play instruments and practice dancing within their own palaces.
It was just that the Palace Rules had never anticipated that a concubine would enjoy a morning run.
"...As long as you're happy."
Chen Daying's heart felt even heavier.
System: [Palace Intrigue Points +1]
A flicker of surprise showed on Jiang Xian's face.
System: [Your statement made another concubine feel inferior. Judged as a minor act of palace intrigue.]
Because Jiang Xian had woken up so early, the two of them were actually the first to arrive at Jianzhang Palace.
"It's not time for the morning greeting yet. You two young ladies have arrived so early. Please, come inside and have a seat."
The Chief Palace Maid of Jianzhang Palace welcomed them in, serving them tea and pastries.
The rank of *daying* was too low; they didn't even get a soft cushion to sit on during the formal greeting and could only stand at the back. Since it wasn't time yet, the Empress had instructed the palace maids to allow the early, low-ranking concubines to sit and have some hot tea.
'This boss seems decent,' Jiang Xian thought. 'She knows how to treat her subordinates.'
A short while later, as the time for the greeting approached, Jiang Xian and Chen Daying stood up and took their places at the back.
The lower-ranking concubines arrived early, and soon nearly thirty of them filled the main hall of Jianzhang Palace. To have a seat among them was truly an honor.
Before long, everyone had arrived, except for the Lady.
"By my calculations, the Noble Consort should be here by now," Princess Consort Zhang, seated just below the Empress, said coolly. "I hope it's not another case of feeling unwell today."
'I get it,' Jiang Xian thought. 'A senior manager is late for the morning meeting.'
The concubines in the hall chatted for a while, but no one's gaze swept over Jiang Xian's position. In the eyes of these noble ladies, a newly entered *daying* was not yet considered a person, but at most a newly acquired piece of temporary furniture.
"I've long heard that the Noble Consort..."
Just as Consort Guo, another newcomer, was about to join in the gossip, her words were cut short by the announcement of a little eunuch from outside: "Noble Princess Consort Rong has arrived! Ma Wan Yi has arrived!"
With the arrival of the Noble Consort, everyone who had been seated had to rise to greet her.
The announcement came first, followed by a wave of fragrance.
The woman in the lead was dressed in bright, stunning colors. Ma Wanyi, a step behind her, was attired in an equally magnificent turquoise gown.
Judge the clothes before the person.
'In modern times,' Jiang Xian mused, 'these two would definitely be decked out in luxury brands.'
"I greet the Empress."
Noble Princess Consort Rong gave a slight bow, devoid of much respect.
The Empress didn't seem to mind, waving her hand for her to take a seat.
As everyone sat down again, Noble Princess Consort Rong explained with a smile, "The Emperor stayed the night at my Zhaoyang Palace and delayed me a bit this morning. The Empress won't blame me for it, will she?"
"Of course not," the Empress replied, her expression calm. "The newly entered sisters have already paid their respects. They just need to greet the Noble Consort now."
The newcomers rose and bowed gracefully to Noble Princess Consort Rong.
When they had bowed to the Empress, she had quickly bid them rise. The other high-ranking concubines naturally didn't dare to put on airs before the newcomers in a way that would overstep the Empress, so they too had told them to rise quickly. Only Noble Princess Consort Rong accepted the full, proper bow without telling them to stand, instead taking her time to carefully scrutinize the newcomers' faces.
Finally, her gaze landed on Jiang Xian.
To have been chosen for the palace, Jiang Xian was naturally beautiful.
She had used the system's beauty cream, and her skin was as tender as a peeled egg, possessing a natural, lovely color that cosmetics could not replicate.
The good skin, the Noble Consort could tolerate. After all, the newcomers were so young; there was no comparison.
But those naturally formed phoenix eyes!
Jiang Xian's phoenix eyes were exquisitely shaped. Her high brow bone connected to a straight, elegant nose, lending her features a stunning, grand beauty. Yet her personality wasn't one of a practiced seductress; she was charming without realizing it, which added a touch of cool nobility.
It was well known that the Noble Consort was the most brightly beautiful woman in the palace.
The Empress Dowager had repeatedly voiced her slight disapproval of this.
She found her beauty to be improper.
Because of the Empress Dowager's dislike, no other concubines of the "stunning" type had entered the palace, making the Noble Consort's vibrant beauty unique. She was especially proud of her own phoenix eyes.
Now, she was faced with a direct style clash.
The Noble Consort's mood instantly soured.
"What's your name?"
"Replying to the Lady, I am Daying Jiang Xian."
Without the Noble Consort's permission, a *daying* could not raise her head to look directly at her.
But from her tone of voice, Jiang Xian could sense that the Lady was in a foul mood.
"Lift your head. Look at me."
Jiang Xian raised her head, and the moment her eyes met Noble Princess Consort Rong's, she understood the reason—
'First day of work, at the morning meeting, and I've already worn the same outfit as the pettiest manager!'