Chapter 152 The Succession of the Empress

Jiang Nan sighed inwardly with a hint of mockery, "What a fine way to share your burdens."

She blinked innocently, then suddenly leaned closer, probing with a hint of cunning.

"Your Majesty, are you testing me? Are you trying to see if I have any improper thoughts about the Empress's position?"

Kangxi was taken aback by her question, then chuckled, his tone carrying a rare hint of frankness and helplessness.

"Why am I testing you? In this palace, if I can't even trust you, who can I trust?"

Even so, a hint of caution still flashed quickly across his eyes at the end.

The heart of an emperor is as deep as the sea; to completely trust someone is simply a luxury.

Jiang Nan noticed his fleeting attempt to dodge.

She understood perfectly, and smiled with her eyes crinkling, a touch of naivety in her expression.

"Really? If Your Majesty truly trusts me and wishes to make me Empress, then I will do so. If Your Majesty feels it is inappropriate, or has other considerations, then I will have no complaints and will simply stay in Yongshou Palace. In short, I will obey your will."

She deftly tossed the choice back, adopting an extremely humble posture.

Kangxi remained silent for a moment, his gaze lingering on Jiang Nan's face.

Niohuru clan? Although her family background is even more illustrious, can he really be completely at ease making her empress?

Whether or not one has a biological son is not that important to the empress.

Upon weighing the options, it was actually this seemingly unruly man who repeatedly helped him consolidate his power.

Jiang Nan, whom he knew so well to some extent, made him feel even more...controllable.

At least, if that day ever comes, he will have plenty of excuses, and the former dynasty's Tu Hai will not object.

After all, this family of her parents isn't really her family.

"I trust you."

Kangxi's eyes were full of trust, he nodded, and spoke with a firm tone.

"The Empress's seat is most suitable for you, Nan Nan. My mind is made up."

Jiang Nan sneered silently to herself.

Trust? The trust that emperors speak of is merely the optimal solution for the current situation.

If it weren't for Jiang Nan, Emperor Kangxi would have had no choice but to select Lady Niohuru.

Compared to the power of the Niu Kulu family, wouldn't it be easier for Jiang Nan to control and manipulate her alone?

She was not surprised at all that she was chosen as empress.

Emperor Kangxi read extensively, especially historical texts.

How could he not know the threat that maternal relatives posed to imperial power?

Empress Lü Zhi, the shadow of Empress Wu Zetian—how could he not be suspicious and on guard in a situation like this?

The trust he now gives her is based solely on the premise that she, Jiang Nan, poses no threat and is of use to him.

If one day in the future...

Imagine the future struggle for the throne among the nine princes? This emperor before us has shown no mercy whatsoever.

To secure his throne and eliminate the threat posed by his adult sons, he manipulated power to keep his sons in check.

Ultimately, this turned all the future princes into mortal enemies.

Despite the turmoil in her mind, a bright smile bloomed on her face as Jiang Nan stood up and bowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty trusts me, and I will certainly live up to your trust. I will do my best to manage the harem for you and ensure that you have no worries."

"good."

Emperor Kangxi nodded with satisfaction.

"I will issue an imperial edict in the outer court tomorrow, ordering the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to select an auspicious day for the empress's investiture ceremony."

He seemed to remember something and added.

"I have already spoken with the Empress Dowager, and she is very satisfied with you."

Then, his tone became complex, carrying a hint of admonition.

“Nan Nan, in the future you will be the Empress, the mother of the nation. You need to restrain your temper a bit. You must always be mindful of the proper etiquette and decorum.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan immediately reverted to her lazy demeanor and waved her hand to interrupt him.

"Oh, Your Majesty, I haven't even become emperor yet, and you're already saying such discouraging things. I naturally know the rules and etiquette, but please don't try to confine me like a wooden puppet. Rest assured, I know my place and will manage the harem perfectly. If anyone in the harem dares to speak ill of me according to the rules..."

She drawled out her words, laughing half-jokingly.

"Then I'd rather not be Empress. You should let Sister Niohuru take on this responsibility instead."

Emperor Kangxi was both amused and exasperated by her remarks. He knew that Nan Nan meant that if she became empress, no one would dare to disobey her.

"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. You've always been decisive, and I know you understand what you're doing."

Jiang Nan then smiled again and personally refilled Kangxi's glass of watermelon juice.

"That's more like it, Your Majesty. Would you like some more? This juice is very nutritious."

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The main hall of Yongshou Palace, at dusk.

As the Empress's funeral gradually subsided, Hesheli was slowly forgotten by the public.

Jiang Nan's rule of holding a three-day sleep deprivation session has begun to be reinstated.

She was still dressed in the auspicious robes of a concubine. Although the grand ceremony for her investiture as empress had not yet taken place, Emperor Kangxi had already issued an imperial edict in the previous dynasty to appoint her as empress.

The entire palace now tacitly regards her as the Empress.

She walked slowly into the main hall and sat down calmly in the main seat.

His movements carried a calmness that was different from before.

Your Highness, led by Consort Niohuru, and including Consorts Wang, Daijia, Majia, and Nara, a host of palace concubines stood in solemn silence according to their rank, awaiting your arrival.

Seeing Jiang Nan seated, everyone bowed in unison, their voices ringing out clearly in the empty hall.

"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years and be well!"

Jiang Nan calmly swept her gaze over the faces below, which were filled with awe, envy, or trepidation.

He raised his hand gently, his voice steady.

"Get up, everyone, sit down."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Everyone sat down as instructed, their posture more reserved than before.

"The auspicious day for my investiture as empress has not yet arrived, and the grand ceremony has not yet taken place. I am still Consort Jin for now."

Jiang Nan broke the silence, her tone as straightforward and frank as ever.

However, due to his current status, he naturally exudes an air of authority.

"However, whether she is the empress or not is just a title. A few days earlier or later doesn't really matter."

She continued slowly, her gaze sweeping over the crowd indifferently.

"You all know my temperament. As for things in the inner palace, apart from the change in how I address you, everything else will remain the same. For example, the morning and evening greetings every three days will remain as usual."

She leaned back lazily in her chair, straightened up, and her eyes sharpened as she slowly scanned every face in the room.

"However, I have mentioned the importance of being law-abiding before, and I would like to add a few more words today."

The moment the words were spoken, the air in the hall seemed to freeze.

All the concubines in the hall felt a chill run down their spines, instinctively straightening their backs and even softening their breathing.

"What I cannot tolerate most here are those underhanded tricks that secretly trip up the imperial heirs."

Jiang Nan's voice turned cold.

"The grudges and schemes among adults, the rights and wrongs, you each rely on your own abilities. Competing for favor, vying for rank, scheming, and playing tricks—as long as you don't go too far, I can turn a blind eye. But the imperial fetus, the infant, is innocent. From this day forward, anyone who dares to set their sights on the imperial heir, whether it's a fully formed fetus or a born prince or princess, don't blame me for being ruthless and merciless."

She suddenly looked up, her eyes flashing with even more fierceness, as if she were looking at some non-existent enemy.

"You should know about the old story of Yanxi Palace, right? Consort Nara was pregnant with the emperor's child, but she was tricked by Wanliuhashi and the child was lost in an accident. Now look at Wanliuhashi, she was punished by me with a severe beating, and now she is barely surviving in the Cold Palace. Whether she is alive or dead, I have long since stopped caring. This is a lesson from the past!"

Jiang Nan leaned forward slightly, and a sense of oppression followed.

"I am not like Hesheli, who must cut off your path to survival in order to secure my position as empress."

Her tone was resolute, and her words were firm and resounding.

"On the contrary, I wish you were blessed and capable enough to have many children for the Emperor. The more princes and princesses the Qing Dynasty has, the better; that is true royal fortune."

Upon hearing this, the concubines reacted in various ways: some were astonished, some were deep in thought, and some were disbelieving.

But regardless of their inner thoughts, they all stood up in unison and responded respectfully.

"Your Majesty, I will obey your decree."

"Alright, everyone sit down."

Jiang Nan waved her hand, her tone softening slightly.

"In short, the rules here are simple: you have to fight for everything through your own abilities, but there are bottom lines: you are not allowed to touch children or pregnant women."

A mocking smile curled at the corner of her lips, her eyes filled with coldness.

"Of course, anyone who thinks they're clever enough to fool everyone is welcome to try, just don't let me catch them red-handed. Otherwise..."

This seemingly casual remark sent a chill down my spine more than the previous stern warning.

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The discussion is about who should be the empress? That's already been decided.

There was a lot of foreshadowing beforehand, such as Niohuru not daring to become empress, and although Jiang Nan did not actively seek the position of empress, she herself wanted to be empress.

The emperor's deep-seated suspicion was the most important factor.

In my opinion, if Emperor Kangxi had not had no other choice when he first assumed power, he would not have chosen Empress Hesheli as his empress.

Looking at the Ming Dynasty, if it weren't for Zhu Di's rebellion and the existence of Empress Xu, there would never have been another empress born into a noble family.

The results are dismal. Even if you comment more actively, without encouragement, it's all doomed to fail.

Still raising them? What a joke, they've all been ruined.