Chapter 151 Gives You the Opportunity to Serve Your Master

Jiang Nan looked at her trying to remain calm and nodded slightly, her tone even carrying a hint of appreciation.

"Tsk, she's quite composed. Of course, to be a close maid to the Empress, one needs courage and cunning."

She abruptly changed the subject, no longer dwelling on the poisoning, as if it were just a casual remark.

"You don't need to panic. I summoned you here today not to interrogate whether you poisoned me, or why you poisoned me, or whether someone instructed you to do so. I have no interest in any of these things."

She leaned slightly closer to Ning Wei, exuding a chilling aura.

"I was thinking, Her Majesty the Empress is leaving like this, all alone on the road to the Yellow Springs. How lonely she must be! She was the Empress after all. To be reduced to a lower realm without even anyone to serve her, wouldn't that be a loss of dignity? You are her most trusted confidant. Because of that loyalty, you should also go down with her and continue to serve the Empress. I'm giving you this opportunity. Are you... willing?"

Ning Wei's pupils suddenly contracted, and she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

Willing? This isn't a question; it's a death sentence.

She was so frightened that she could no longer hold on, collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face, and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, have mercy! This servant is of lowly birth, but I still want to live. I beg Your Majesty and the Emperor to spare my life. This servant does not want to die."

Jiang Nan straightened up, shook her head regretfully, and spoke with a mocking tone.

"Oh? I'm giving you a chance to continue being loyal, and you don't want it? It seems your loyalty to the Empress is nothing more than this. Look at you, you can't even keep your mistress in check—that's incompetence. Now you're unwilling to continue serving your mistress loyally. What use is there in keeping a disloyal and useless servant like you around?"

She stopped looking at Ning Wei and turned to Zhao Deyi, her voice indifferent, as if she were dealing with a piece of discarded junk.

“Zhao Deyi, such a disloyal and incompetent person is a menace if kept alive. Drag him to the Censorate and deal with him as appropriate.”

Zhao Deyi immediately bowed and responded, looking at Kangxi with a pleading expression.

Emperor Kangxi remained expressionless. How dare they arrange for someone to poison Nan Nan? He wondered if it had succeeded.

Or is it because Nan Nan is immune to all poisons that she didn't get hurt?

Thinking of this, he became even angrier and waved his hand coldly.

"Why aren't you dragging it away yet?"

"Yes, sir!"

Zhao accepted the order with a wave of his hand.

Two eunuchs immediately stepped forward, used rags to block Ning Wei's shrill cries, and roughly dragged her out of the main hall.

After dealing with Ning Wei, Jiang Nan slowly turned her gaze to the three members of the Hesheli family, whose faces were ashen.

She took a few steps closer, her gaze sweeping over them with an undisguised warning.

"The two gentlemen of the Hesheli family, and the lady."

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a knife.

"Let's leave it at that for today. Out of respect for the late Empress, I will spare the Hesheli family some dignity and will not pursue the matter further. But you'd better remember that if you have any improper thoughts in the future, you'd better be more discreet in your methods and not give me any leverage, or you won't get away with it so easily next time."

Gabula and Soetu had a rough idea of ​​what was going on, and they broke out in a cold sweat, repeatedly agreeing.

Mrs. Sheri was shaking so badly she could barely stand.

After Jiang Nan finished speaking, she ignored them and turned to give Kangxi a slight bow.

"Your Majesty, I have arranged all the servants for the Empress. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

Kangxi glanced at her and nodded.

"Okay, you can go back now."

Jiang Nan then turned around and walked out with a calm gait. As she passed by Niohuru, she said indifferently.

"Sister Niohuru, accompany me back to the palace."

Niohuru immediately responded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

She quickly followed.

After Jiang Nan left, Kangxi suppressed his complex emotions, turned to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, and softened his tone.

"Grandmother, you've had a long day. I'll take you back to Cining Palace to rest now."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang nodded slightly and stood up with the help of Sumala.

"Your Majesty has also worked hard. Let's go."

The group escorted the Empress Dowager and the Emperor as they departed.

Inside the empty main hall of Kunning Palace, only Hesheli and her family of three remained, assisting the Imperial Household Department in handling the Empress's funeral arrangements.

———————

Yongshou Palace Dining Hall, evening seven days later

The summer heat outside the window had not yet dissipated, and the cicadas were chirping incessantly.

Inside the dining hall, the ice chest exuded a slight coolness.

Jiang Nan sat alone before a table of exquisite dishes, feeling utterly listless.

I simply held a glass of chilled watermelon juice, sipping it slowly, and considered it my dinner.

The funeral rites for Empress Hesheli, who died suddenly, are nearing their end, and the royal dignity is being maintained in public.

She had Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's decree and was happy to be idle, hiding in Yongshou Palace, thus avoiding the pretentious mourning rituals.

Footsteps sounded, and Kangxi walked into the dining hall, still sweating.

His brows showed the fatigue of days of busy work, and his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

Jiang Nan looked up and saw him, put down her cup, and spoke casually with a hint of concern.

"Your Majesty, you've arrived? Chunlan, quickly bring His Majesty a glass of chilled watermelon juice. Look at him, he's covered in sweat; let him cool down first."

Kangxi responded and sat down opposite Jiang Nan.

He took the damp towel Liang Jiugong handed him, wiped his face, and let out a long sigh of relief.

He glanced at the almost untouched dishes on the table and frowned slightly.

"Nannan, are these dishes not to your liking? You've only recently finished your postpartum period, so you need to take good care of yourself. You should eat more nourishing foods."

Jiang Nan waved her hand lazily.

"Your Majesty, I am perfectly fine. It's just that it's too hot today, and I don't have much of an appetite. A little melon juice is enough to satisfy me. Your Majesty, please have your meal. You must be hungry."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze to the window, seemingly showing no interest in eating whatsoever.

Emperor Kangxi was indeed hungry, so he stopped trying to persuade him and began to eat while drinking the cool watermelon juice.

Jiang Nan sat quietly opposite him, casually swirling the juice in her glass and watching him eat.

After Kangxi finished his meal and rinsed his mouth, he finally relaxed and let out a satisfied burp.

"The Empress's funeral is finally almost over, and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

He paused, his gaze falling on Jiang Nan, and his tone became serious.

"Nannan, the position of Empress is currently vacant. Some ministers in the court have already submitted memorials requesting that I establish an Empress as soon as possible to secure the harem. Some have even suggested that I select concubines to enrich the palace."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan smiled slightly and looked at Kangxi with clear eyes.

"Oh my, you ministers have such keen noses, already eyeing the Phoenix throne? It seems everyone is trying to place their own people there."

Kangxi snorted, his tone carrying a hint of imperial coldness.

"I know perfectly well. I have kept those memorials in the archives and will not issue them again. The imperial concubine selection was only held last year, and I have many other expenses to pay, so please do not mention it again."

He changed the subject and stared at Jiang Nan.

"But the position of Empress still needs someone to hold it. Currently, in the palace, in terms of seniority, rank, and ability, only you, Nan Nan, and Lady Niohuru are qualified for this position. I prefer you. During this period, you have been assisting in the management of the six palaces and everything has been handled properly. With you here, I can be at ease about the affairs of the court. If you find the affairs too complicated, I can have Lady Niohuru assist you from the side and give her the authority to assist, so as to share your burden."