Chapter 150 Jiang Nan: I am reluctant to part with her.

Evening at the main hall of Kunning Palace

Emperor Kangxi stood in the hall with his hands behind his back, his face ashen, his chest rising and falling slightly, clearly furious.

The news of Empress Hesheri's suicide was like a resounding slap in the face to the royal family.

"The ancestral family law clearly forbids concubines from committing suicide. This is a serious crime that will implicate the entire family. Yet, Empress Hesheli, as the Empress, dared to commit such a disrespectful act in the Kunning Palace, in the Forbidden City, a place of great imperial destiny. She has defiled the palace and deserves to be executed."

Kangxi's voice was filled with barely suppressed, thunderous rage.

His gaze shot like a sharp arrow to the three people kneeling before him—Hesheli Gabula, Lady Hesheli, and Suo'etu.

"Gabula! Your well-educated daughter has committed such a heinous crime. Does your Hesheli family think that I dare not punish her? Are you going to squander all the goodwill that Prince Sony earned through his life's hard work by your unworthy descendants?"

Kangxi's questions struck Gabula's heart like hammer blows.

Gabula kowtowed to the ground, tears streaming down his face, his voice hoarse.

"Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty to raise my daughter and deserve to die. I have no face to face Your Majesty or my late father... I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

Lady Hesheli and Suo'etu also fell to the ground, trembling all over.

Kangxi took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and spoke in a slightly calmer tone, but with a more complex tone.

"Punishment? If I really wanted to punish you, you would already be on your way to Ningguta. I suppressed this matter and told the public that the Empress had suddenly died of an acute illness. This was already out of respect for the Duke of Sony. You... better watch yourselves."

He waved his hand wearily.

"Rise, all of you. I will bury the Empress in the Jingling Consort Cemetery according to regulations. To the outside world, it will be said that she died of illness. You in the palace, please cooperate to make the funeral as dignified as possible."

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your divine grace!"

The three of them, Gabula and his companions, felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They rose shakily, stood with their heads bowed to the side, and the atmosphere in the hall was awkward and somber.

——————

At this moment, Liang Jiugong's clear voice could be heard from outside the hall.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived! The Empress Dowager has arrived! Consort Jin and Consort Niohuru have arrived!"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, supported by Sumala's hand, calmly entered the main hall.

Behind her followed the Empress Dowager, whose face was etched with sorrow, and Jiang Nan and Niohuru, who were meek and submissive.

Jiang Nan and Niohuru were the first to bow to Emperor Kangxi.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Emperor Kangxi composed himself and stepped forward to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.

"Grandmother, you have arrived. It is your grandson's incompetence that has prevented him from restraining the harem, causing the Empress to commit such a grave offense of disrespect, disgracing the palace and disturbing you."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang sighed and patted the back of Emperor Kangxi's hand.

"Your Majesty, what's done is done, and there's no use in regretting it. You are busy with countless affairs of state, and if these women in the harem are determined to die, how can you possibly keep an eye on them all the time? There's no need to blame yourself too much."

Emperor Kangxi frowned and asked.

"Grandmother, the Empress has passed away. Should the funeral be conducted according to the rites for a state mourning?"

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang slowly shook her head.

"Just bury her in the imperial concubine's mausoleum according to regulations. After all, she was a criminal, and to receive such honors is already an extraordinary favor from the royal family. There is no need for a national mourning; there is no need to trouble the people and waste resources."

Her gaze shifted to Gabula and the others.

"What do you think, Hesheri family?"

The three of them, Gabula, immediately knelt down again.

"Your subject respectfully obeys the Empress Dowager's decree and thanks the Empress Dowager and the Emperor for their grace!"

Emperor Kangxi nodded in agreement.

"As the Empress Dowager said. Liang Jiugong, issue an edict to the Imperial Household Department to properly handle the Empress's funeral, keeping everything simple."

He turned to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, his tone concerned.

"Your Majesty must be tired from your journey. Please return to Cining Palace and rest well."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang nodded and then looked at Jiang Nan.

“Consort Jin, Erhe is still young and cannot withstand any hardship. You do not need to participate in the funeral arrangements. Just stay in Yongshou Palace and take care of the child.”

"Your Majesty, I obey."

Jiang Nan respectfully agreed, feeling a pang of sadness at the thought of the Empress's passing.

The main issue was that they developed some feelings for each other through the bullying.

She went there all alone; someone should at least see her off. Consider it a reward for the Empress being amused by her.

Thinking of Ning Wei's palace maids, a look of deep sorrow appeared on her face.

She stepped forward and spoke softly to Kangxi.

"Your Majesty, the Empress is, after all, the Empress. Although her actions were...inappropriate, her affairs after death are a matter of imperial dignity. I dare to suggest that since Her Majesty's passing was so sudden, she will need close attendants in the afterlife. The servants of Kunning Palace were utterly incompetent, failing to even notice or stop their mistress from hanging herself. What use are such derelict servants? It would be better to select one of her close attendants and have him die with her. This would preserve Her Majesty's dignity in the afterlife and also uphold palace rules as a warning to others."

Upon hearing this, Kangxi frowned, thinking that Jiang Nan intended to restore the cruel old system of funerary sacrifice, and said in a deep voice.

"Nannan, you mustn't speak nonsense. I have already abolished human sacrifice. How can I restart this evil practice because of a criminal woman?"

Jiang Nan remained calm and continued speaking.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. That is not what I meant. What I meant was, the person closest to Her Majesty the Empress and most likely to notice something amiss, such as... that personal maid named Ning Wei? I heard that she was always the most trusted by the Empress. With her mistress's passing, she failed to fulfill her duty to dissuade and rescue her, which is already a serious dereliction of duty. Letting her continue to serve Her Majesty is reasonable and justifiable, and it also shows that Your Majesty has been extremely benevolent. After all, she is the Empress of the country. On her journey to the afterlife, she cannot be without anyone to serve her. That would be too desolate."

As soon as she finished speaking, Madame Hesheri's expression changed drastically, and her fingers nervously clenched her handkerchief.

Soetu also suddenly looked up at Jiang Nan, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Kangxi's eyes flickered slightly, realizing that Nannan did not intend to overthrow the regime through human sacrifice, but rather to take the opportunity to eliminate certain people.

He didn't care much why Nan Nan was dealing with a palace maid; after all, she was just a servant.

However, the fact that the empress's personal maidservants volunteered to die for her also confirms the claim that the empress died of illness, which can reduce some of the controversy.

"Never mind."

Emperor Kangxi waved his hand, going with the flow.

“A servant, Nan Nan, if you think it’s appropriate, then so be it. Liang Jiugong, have someone bring the palace maid named Ning Wei from the Empress’s side.”

"Yes, sir!" Liang Jiugong responded, gesturing to the eunuch behind him.

Silence fell upon the hall once more.

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang lowered her eyes and remained silent, as if everything was none of her concern.

————————

Before long, two eunuchs escorted the palace maid Ning Wei into the main hall.

Her hair was slightly disheveled, her face was deathly pale, and her body was trembling uncontrollably, clearly indicating that she knew disaster was imminent.

Jiang Nan slowly walked forward, looking Ning Wei up and down with interest, her tone indifferent.

"Raise your head. I'm asking you, did you... arrange for someone to poison my food at the Yingtai Palace?"

These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

Kangxi's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously looked at Jiang Nan.

Seeing her standing there unharmed, I remembered her immune system, but I also felt a bit scared.

His gaze instantly turned sharp as he stared intently at the three members of the Hesheli family.

Who was responsible for this poison?

Gabula and Soetu looked shocked and bewildered, clearly unaware of the matter.

Madame Heseri lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with anyone, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

Ning Wei was terrified by this blunt accusation, and her whole body trembled like a leaf.

She never expected that Consort Jin would be so blatant, launching an attack right after the Empress's death.

Her survival instinct made her deny it, her voice trembling with panic.

"Your Highness, Consort Jin, please understand! I am innocent! I have no knowledge of any poisoning. I swear to heaven that this did not happen."

She held onto a sliver of hope, believing that as long as there was no concrete evidence, denying it might offer a chance of survival.