Chapter 11 Your Majesty, I scolded the Empress.

As Jiang Nan reached the door, she seemed to suddenly remember something and stopped.

He turned to look at Wang, who was still kneeling on the ground, terrified and at a loss, and asked in a loud voice.

"Wang! Do you have anything else to say? If not, quickly take your leave from Her Majesty the Empress and stop getting in the way."

This fool, he just offended the Empress to death by pleading for her, if he doesn't run away together now.

Are we just going to stay here and wait to be used as a punching bag by the Empress and skinned alive?

Jiang Nan rolled her eyes inwardly. This guy seemed alright, and he had some guts, but he was just a little bit dim-witted.

However, she'd better have a strong pregnancy and give birth to a healthy child, so that Hesheli can be proven wrong!

This proves that Jiang Nan was not wrong.

Wang, whose name was called, looked up abruptly, her face blank and terrified, completely caught off guard.

Jiang Nan was so anxious she wanted to stomp her feet; what a blockhead!

She had to be more explicit, her tone becoming impatient.

"What are you waiting for? Do you expect me, a mere concubine, to wait for you? Hurry up!"

Wang Shi suddenly realized what was happening and, without thinking, quickly kowtowed towards the Phoenix Throne, her voice trembling.

"Your Majesty, this humble servant...this humble servant takes her leave..."

After saying that, he practically scrambled to his feet and staggered after Jiang Nan.

Seeing her disheveled appearance, Jiang Nan slowed down and waited for her to catch up.

Before leaving the main hall, she kept talking loudly about herself, as if she were talking to herself, or as if she were talking to everyone in the hall.

"They are all the Emperor's concubines, and they are carrying the Emperor's children. What are you afraid of? The Empress won't eat you. How could such a virtuous and kind person as the Empress casually beat and kill palace concubines? This harem belongs to the Emperor, not to Hesheli clan's one-man rule."

These words were clearly transmitted back into the palace. Empress Hesheli felt dizzy upon hearing them and almost fainted.

Jiang Nan didn't care whether she lived or died, and led Wang Shi and her entourage from Yongshou Palace.

They quickly walked out of the suffocating area of ​​Kunning Palace.

As you walk along the long street far enough from Kunning Palace, the warm sunshine of early summer shines down.

Jiang Nan finally let out a long sigh of relief and slowed her pace.

She turned to look at Wang Shi, who was still in shock and pale-faced, and spoke directly.

"Sister Wang, pack your things and move to a side hall in Yongshou Palace. I will speak to the Emperor about it."

Wang looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with disbelief and confusion.

"Why...why? Your Majesty, why are you so kind to me?"

She simply couldn't understand it; this man had just offended the Empress.

Why would Consort Jiang, who is struggling to protect herself, suddenly protect her?

Jiang Nan glanced at her, her tone slightly disdainful.

"Didn't you just foolishly plead for me? For that alone, I have to help you. Besides, do you think you can still get away with this? You spoke up for me in front of so many people, which has completely offended the Empress. Knowing her temperament, do you think she'll let you off? If I don't protect you, you and the baby in your belly probably won't live past next month."

Her words were blunt and cruel, and Wang's face turned even paler, her body swaying as she listened.

They had clearly considered the terrible consequences.

"It's settled then."

Jiang Nan made the final decision.

"I will go and tell the Emperor right away that you should go back and pack your things now, and wait for the Emperor to issue an imperial edict to move to the west side hall of Yongshou Palace. I will have Fangruo make the arrangements for you."

Her tone left no room for argument.

Looking at her, Wang's eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions: fear, gratitude, and a glimmer of hope for a better future.

She bit her lip and finally gave a deep bow.

"This humble servant... thanks Your Majesty for your protection. Everything is at Your Majesty's discretion!"

"Okay, go ahead. Hurry up."

Jiang Nan waved.

Watching Wang Shi hurriedly leave, supported by her personal maid, Jiang Nan stroked his chin.

Thinking to himself, now is the time to go and report to his biggest backer—the boss, Emperor Kangxi.

She composed herself and said to Fang Ruo and Zhao Deyi, "Let's go to the Qianqing Palace."

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Jiang Nan led Fang Ruo and Zhao Deyi, walking non-stop until they arrived outside the Qianqing Palace.

When the young eunuch guarding the palace gate saw her arrive, he quickly stepped forward and bowed to stop her.

"Greetings, Consort Jiang. His Majesty is currently reviewing memorials. Does Your Highness have any urgent business to attend to? Please allow me to inform Chief Steward Liang first."

Jiang Nan stopped, took a deep breath, and suppressed the emotions surging in her heart from the conflict just now.

Try to make your voice sound steady.

"Please inform His Majesty that I have an important matter to report to Him immediately."

The young eunuch responded with a "Yes, sir!" and quickly turned and entered the hall.

Standing under the corridor outside the palace, Jiang Nan looked at the magnificent palace in front of her, feeling a little apprehensive.

They felt good about roasting the queen, but now they're coming to the boss to clean up their mess...

I wonder if Emperor Kangxi will be upset that I've caused him trouble?

But she had no choice but to strike first.

Not long after, Liang Jiugong strode out, his face bearing his usual respectful smile.

But a subtle, almost imperceptible curiosity lingered in his eyes.

"This servant greets Consort Jiang. Your Majesty, the Emperor requests your presence."

"Thank you for your trouble, Steward Liang."

Jiang Nan nodded and straightened her slightly wrinkled collar.

Following Liang Jiugong, we stepped over the high threshold and entered the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace once again.

As expected, Emperor Kangxi was sitting behind his desk, holding a vermilion brush, writing something on a memorial.

Hearing footsteps, he didn't even look up, but simply asked a question.

"What is it that you urgently wish to see me?"

Jiang Nan walked to the desk and bowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Kangxi then put down his pen and looked up at her.

When his gaze fell upon Jiang Nan's face, which clearly still bore traces of lingering anger, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Get up. Speak, what is it that is important?"

Jiang Nan straightened up, took a deep breath, and decided to get straight to the point, determined to make a startling statement.

"Your Majesty, I... just now in Kunning Palace, I scolded the Empress."

"..."

The warm pavilion fell silent instantly.

Kangxi's fingers, adorned with a white jade thumb ring, suddenly paused. He raised his eyes, his sharp gaze fixed directly on Jiang Nan.

With disbelief and a hint of anger.

"What did you say? You insulted the Empress?"

He leaned forward slightly, and his tone became serious.

"Jiang Nan, you've gotten yourself into trouble and come to me for help? Do you even know what a crime it is to insult the Empress? You're the first person in the history of the Qing Dynasty to dare to do something like this."

Jiang Nan met his angry gaze without backing down.

Instead, he straightened his back, his voice clear and even somewhat self-righteous.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I did not act presumptuously without cause. I served tea to the Empress in accordance with the proper etiquette, and my manners were impeccable. However, Her Majesty deliberately did not accept the teacup, nor did she ask me to rise. She left me kneeling there in the cold. She was clearly making things difficult for me and trying to establish her authority."

She paused, then raised her voice and began to apply eye drops.

"It doesn't matter if I suffer some grievances, but I am a concubine personally appointed by Your Majesty. The Empress's humiliation of me is not only a slap in my face, but also Your Majesty's face. She is telling everyone in the palace that the concubines appointed by Your Majesty are nothing more than stray cats and dogs on the street, who can be abused and humiliated at will. I cannot tolerate this."

As Kangxi listened to her impassioned speech, the anger on his face was gradually replaced by a strange expression; he was almost amused by her anger.

"According to you, you're not only blameless for disrespecting your superior and insulting the Empress, but actually meritorious? Should I thank you for saving my face?"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Jiang Nan immediately seized the opportunity, even revealing a "you finally understand" expression on her face.

"In a moment of anger, I did offend the Empress with my words. But I was only trying to uphold His Majesty's dignity. I also said that outside the palace, everyone praises the Empress for her virtue and her role as a model for the nation, but her actions are clearly all an act. I was just exposing her hypocrisy."