Chapter 14 The Empress Cries

After explaining the matter of moving the palace, Kangxi looked at Jiang Nan, his tone softening somewhat.

"Nannan, is there anything else? You don't need to worry too much about the Empress for now. As long as you don't make any mistakes and your words and actions don't cause any major problems, she can't do anything to you openly."

Jiang Nan got the promise she wanted and nodded in satisfaction.

"I understand."

She rolled her eyes, leaned closer, and lowered her voice.

"Your Majesty, when you're about to take action against Ao Bai, remember to call me! I can help!"

Upon hearing this, Kangxi glared at him and said in a low voice, clearly annoyed.

"Nonsense! What help can a young lady like you offer? Swords have no eyes; what if they hurt you? Such dangerous matters are not for you to participate in. Stay obediently in Yongshou Palace."

Jiang Nan, however, defiantly raised her chin.

"Your Majesty, please don't look down on me. I'm quite good at fighting. Have you forgotten that I'm immune to all poisons? Maybe I can even help you draw fire. Anyway, I don't care. This is such an exciting... such an important matter, I must participate. It's settled then."

She didn't give Kangxi a chance to refute at all, and directly made the decision by being a rogue, and even threatened him.

"If you had killed Ao Bai and I was still in the palace in the dark, only finding out later, I would have... I would have made a scene." She originally wanted to say "I'll deal with you," but changed her words at the last minute, though the meaning was the same.

Emperor Kangxi was both amused and exasperated by her little temper.

But for some reason, I felt that having her around, making a ruckus and coming up with all sorts of crazy ideas, wasn't so bad...?

He waved his hand helplessly: "Alright, alright, I know. I'll let you know if I really need anything. You should go back now. I need to summon my trusted confidants to discuss the plans you just mentioned in detail."

He couldn't wait to start making plans.

"Then I shall take my leave!"

Having achieved her goal, Jiang Nan bowed happily and turned to walk briskly out of the warm pavilion.

Liang Jiugong respectfully saw her out, watching Jiang Nan disappear at the end of the palace road before turning back into the hall.

He cautiously observed Kangxi's expression, only to find that the young emperor showed no anger whatsoever.

Instead, it carried an unprecedented sense of exhilaration and vigor.

His fingers tapped the table unconsciously, clearly indicating that he was thinking rapidly about something.

Liang Jiugong's heart was already in turmoil.

My goodness, this Consort Jiang…

Isn't this like a god descending to earth?

She'd only been in the palace for two days when she started arguing with the Empress, criticizing powerful ministers, and teaching the Emperor underhanded tricks... and yet the Emperor just couldn't resist her charm.

That audacity, that insight, that tone of voice…

He had lived most of his life and had never seen anyone dare to speak to the emperor like that, and yet still manage to please the emperor!

In an instant, he elevated Jiang Nan's status to an unprecedented level in his mind.

This lady will definitely be the number one person in the palace who cannot be offended in the future.

You have to be even more careful and cautious than when serving the emperor!

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Inside the main hall of Kunning Palace, the oppressive morning revelry finally ended.

Empress Hesheri maintained a dignified demeanor as she looked at the group of concubines.

The seemingly calm yet meaningful gaze of Consort Niohuru, and the barely concealed fear and prying in the eyes of the concubines.

The group bowed and took their leave, filing out in single file.

Until the last person's figure disappeared outside the palace gate.

The dignified smile she had managed to maintain instantly crumbled, replaced by a grim expression of humiliation.

She suddenly stood up, disregarding even her demeanor, and almost staggered as she rushed through the beaded curtain into the inner palace.

"Bang!"

The bedroom door was slammed shut, cutting off all view from the outside.

Empress Hesheri could no longer hold on; all her grievances, anger, and shame surged forth like a flood bursting its banks.

She threw herself onto the phoenix bed covered with bright yellow brocade and buried her face deeply in the soft silk pillows.

His shoulders trembled violently, and intermittent sobs escaped his lips.

"Ugh... How could there be... How could there be such a despicable and vulgar person!"

She cried louder and louder, her voice broken and filled with unbelievable anger and embarrassment.

"How...how dare she...how dare she speak of me like that..."

Since she married into the palace at the age of thirteen and became the Empress of the Qing Dynasty, it has been more than two years.

Who doesn't treat her with utmost respect and obey her every command?

She was the Empress, the mother of the nation, and her every word was the golden rule of the harem.

Even the emperor held her in high esteem.

But today, just now!

She was actually verbally abused in front of all the concubines in the palace by a bondservant who had managed to gain a title by climbing the social ladder!

They called her vicious, hypocritical, and unworthy of being empress.

They even brutally tore open the most secret and untouchable things in her heart about the imperial heirs.

Her reputation, her authority, and the virtuous empress she had painstakingly cultivated for over two years.

He was mercilessly trampled underfoot and wantonly rubbed by that bitch Jiang Nan.

That vile woman, Niohuru, must be laughing at her in her heart.

And those subservient concubines below are probably secretly watching her make a fool of herself.

The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt; the more she cried, the more heartbroken she became. Her tears completely blurred her carefully applied makeup and soaked the expensive pillowcase.

An elderly nanny from the Sony mansion, who had watched her grow up since childhood, felt heartbroken upon seeing this.

He quickly stepped forward, gently patted her back, and whispered words of comfort.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please stop crying... You are of noble birth, it's not worth it to ruin your health over such a lowly servant girl, what is she anyway?"

Hesheli raised her tear-filled face, sobbing.

"But she... the Emperor protects her... she insulted me like that, won't the Emperor also think that I was wrong?"

A fierce glint flashed in the old woman's eyes as she lowered her voice.

"Your Majesty, you are confused. You are the Empress, and she is merely a concubine. To be so disrespectful and insult the Empress is a grave offense and a contempt for imperial authority. No matter what magical abilities she may possess, this crime is undeniable."

She leaned closer, her voice lower and more seductive.

"His Majesty is only temporarily bewitched by her strange constitution, which is why he's giving her some face. But in the end, she's just a scoundrel. Your Majesty, you must go and tell His Majesty everything that happened today, explaining the consequences. His Majesty is a wise ruler; how can he tolerate such an arrogant person?"

Hesheli stopped crying and looked at the old woman through teary eyes, as if she had grasped at a straw.

"Really? The Emperor... will really punish her?"

"My dear Empress!"

The old woman spoke with certainty.

"Even if we take a step back and assume that the Emperor is tempted by the novelty and softens his heart, don't forget that you still have your elders, Lord Sony and our Hesheli clan. How can they just stand by and watch you be humiliated by a mere bondservant? They will definitely put pressure on the Emperor in the front, urging him to prioritize the dignity of the nation and punish him severely."

These words were like a shot in the arm for Hesheli.

Yes, she is not alone; she has the powerful Hershey family behind her.

His grandfather, Sony, wielded immense power, but the emperor had not yet come to power.

In many matters, we also had to consider my grandfather's opinion.

Thinking of this, her grievances and weakness were instantly replaced by hatred and fighting spirit.

She sat up abruptly, wiped away her tears, and was about to get out of bed.

"Yes! I will go to the Emperor right now and make that vile woman pay the price."

"Oh, Your Majesty, please wait!"

The old nanny quickly stopped her and took out a silk handkerchief to carefully wipe away the tear stains and smudged makeup from her face.

“Look at yourself now, your eyes are red and swollen, and your makeup is ruined. It would be disgraceful to see the Emperor in such an unseemly manner. If the Emperor sees you, he will probably be displeased.”

Hesheli was taken aback, touched his wet cheeks, and suddenly realized what was happening.

The old woman continued.

"We must redo our makeup, dress up in a dignified and proper manner, even appear more graceful and magnanimous, before we go to plead with the Emperor. We must let the Emperor see that it is Consort Jiang who is arrogant and domineering, showing no respect for her superiors, while Your Majesty has suffered a great injustice, yet still maintains the demeanor and forbearance of the Empress. Only in this way will the Emperor pity you more and despise that arrogant wretch who does not know her place."

Hesheli took a deep breath, calmed down completely, and his eyes regained their usual gentleness.

But a hint of hatred lingered deep in his eyes.

"The old nanny is right. I was confused in my haste."

She called out loudly, "Someone come here!"

The palace maids who were waiting outside immediately filed in.

"Redo my makeup."

Hershey's voice had lost its usual calm and majesty, but it was still hoarse from crying.

The palace maids carefully helped her sit down in front of the dressing table, removed her smudged makeup, and applied warm towels to her eyes.

She reapplied powder to draw her eyebrows, added rouge to her lips, and styled her hair into two tall, elaborate buns.

She changed into a bright yellow phoenix-patterned everyday dress, symbolizing her status as empress.