Chapter 155 Jiang Nan: Ma Jia is destined to have a child

After Kangxi nodded in agreement, the conversation in the hall fell silent for a moment.

Jiang Nan gently stroked her son's head, and soon, she heard a steady snoring sound.

She looked down and couldn't help but laugh.

The child was so comfortable from being petted that he fell into a deep sleep.

"Zhao is triumphant."

She gave the instructions softly.

"Take the little prince down to rest."

Zhao Deyi quickly responded and carefully took Erhe.

He walked very lightly and quietly left the bedroom.

Emperor Kangxi picked up his teacup, pondered for a moment, and looked up at Jiang Nan, who had reclined on the couch again.

His tone carried a hint of discussion, yet also revealed an undeniable decisiveness.

"Nannan, there is something I need to discuss with you. My maternal cousin, Lady Tongjia, will be entering the palace soon. In your opinion, what rank would be most appropriate for her?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan paused almost imperceptibly, instantly understanding.

Oh, Empress Xiaoyiren of the Tongjia clan from history, she's coming soon.

She's my cousin, how could her child be any good?

A hint of amusement flashed in her eyes, but she didn't show it on her face, her tone carrying a touch of teasing.

"So be it, let her go to the palace. You are the Emperor, what rank can't you give her? Even if you want me to give up my position as Empress to her, I will have no objection."

"Nannan!"

Emperor Kangxi frowned slightly, his tone carrying a hint of reproach, yet also a sense of helplessness.

"Speak carefully. You are the Empress, how can I not consult you about the promotion of the concubines in the harem? I must tell you, my cousin is the legitimate daughter of my uncle Tong Guowei. If she is given a low rank, it will not look good on my deceased mother. I have been thinking, it would be better to let her enter the palace as a princess first, enjoy the expenses of a concubine, and then promote her to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort after some time. This would also appear more dignified."

Jiang Nan chuckled softly, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, you have already planned everything out in your heart and set out the procedures clearly. Why do you ask me for help? Isn't that redundant?"

Kangxi was speechless at her words, and feeling somewhat embarrassed, he softened his tone.

"If you feel it is inappropriate, I... I can postpone it."

"That's not necessary."

Jiang Nan waved his hand, his expression becoming more serious.

"However, Your Majesty, since we're going to bestow titles, let's go all out. In all these years of being emperor, apart from me and my sister Niohuru, no one else in the harem has achieved a decent rank. They're all concubines. The spittle of those censors from the previous dynasty must have nearly flooded the threshold of the Qianqing Palace. Taking advantage of this opportunity, let's promote my sister Niohuru to the rank of Noble Consort, and together with your cousin Tongjia, we'll have one Noble Consort in each of the six palaces, east and west. We should also select a few more senior or accomplished women, such as those from the Nara clan and the Wangjia clan, and bestow them the rank of Consort. Only then will the harem look proper."

Kangxi listened to her well-reasoned analysis, his eyes showing approval, and nodded.

"You've thought things through perfectly, so we'll do as you say."

He then changed the subject and brought up another matter.

"By the way, Kunning Palace has been empty for a long time. As the Empress, it is not in accordance with etiquette for you to reside in Yongshou Palace for so long. Previously, it was because there were few people in the harem, but now that a grand conferment is to be made, the main palace needs to be arranged. You... you can't be feeling uneasy because Empress Hesheli committed suicide in her bedchamber in Kunning Palace back then, can you?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan raised an eyebrow and looked at Kangxi, revealing a knowing smile.

“Your Majesty, you don’t need to provoke me with those words. I’m not moving because I’m used to living in Yongshou Palace and I’m fond of the comfort here. Since you think I should move, then I will move there. But I can’t bear to leave Yongshou Palace empty and neglected, so let’s leave the principal position to Consort Wang. After all, she has given birth to Your Majesty’s eldest daughter, and she deserves the rank of Consort.”

Seeing that she had no lingering resentment about the past events at Kunning Palace, Kangxi felt somewhat relieved and readily agreed with her suggestion.

"Alright, as you wish. Yongshou Palace will be left to the Wang family."

————————

After a moment of silence, Kangxi looked at Jiang Nan with a deep gaze and finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time.

"Nan Nan, I have another question for you... Have you been using herbal contraceptives?"

Jiang Nan met his gaze, smiled frankly, with a hint of slyness.

"What? When did His Majesty notice something amiss?"

Looking at her like this, Kangxi was both amused and annoyed, his tone a mixture of emotions.

He was not angry about Nan Nan's secret use of contraception.

The imperial harem has few offspring, and if only Nan Nan conceives and gives birth...

This inevitably attracted much criticism and attacks from the previous dynasty and the imperial harem.

"Seven years have passed, Nan Nan. If I were still completely oblivious, wouldn't I be a fool?"

Jiang Nan chuckled softly, a hint of smugness in her voice.

"Your Majesty is naturally wise and mighty."

She suppressed her smile, her expression turned serious, and she lowered her voice, her tone carrying a hint of cryptic rambling.

"The reason I am doing this is because I know that Your Majesty's destiny for having children will truly flourish after this year. I have already had Chunlan stop taking her medicine. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can wait and see. Lady Ma Jia of Yikun Palace is destined to have a child, and she will conceive this year. If you visit her more often these days, you will surely receive good news."

When Emperor Kangxi heard her speak in such a mysterious way, he couldn't help but laugh and shake his head, taking it as her comforting herself.

"Nannan, you... you're getting more and more fond of saying these nonsensical things. In these past seven years, I've spent quite a few nights in the inner palace, but apart from Empress Nara's fortunate birth of a son, there's been no further news. Sometimes I feel that perhaps I'm just unlucky in having children..."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured."

Jiang Nan interrupted him, her tone resolute.

"Please trust me this once. Lady Magiya is just the beginning. In the future, there will be me, Lady Nara, and your cousin, the Imperial Concubine, who is about to enter the palace... There are so many princes and princesses in the Qing Dynasty that they could probably form an army. I'm just afraid you'll find them too noisy."

Kangxi listened to Jiang Nan's words, his face clearly showing disbelief.

Yet, there was also a hint of curiosity aroused by the certainty in her words.

"Nannan, you're going too far with your words. The matter of offspring is the will of Heaven, how can you possibly guess it? And you're talking about strategizing and deploying troops... I think you're just bored and making fun of me."

Seeing that he didn't believe her, Jiang Nan wasn't worried. Instead, she smiled like a cat that had just stolen some cream.

"Your Majesty, please just consider this my nonsense. However, how about we make a bet? You will do as I say and visit Consort Ma Jia in Yikun Palace more often during this period. If there is no good news within six months, I will... I will grant you one request, anything at all."

Kangxi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Could such a thing be predicted? He was certain he would win.

"Oh? If you do, what do you want?"

"If he does, then you must promise me that as long as Erhe's studies don't affect his regular classes, you can't make a scene if he occasionally skips school or sleeps in. You have to turn a blind eye."

"You!"

Kangxi was amused by her and reached out to pinch her cheek, but Jiang Nan nimbly dodged him.

He withdrew his hand, shook his head, and spoke with a tone full of indulgence.

"Alright, I'll take this bet with you. I want to see if your golden words are accurate."

"Then you'll just have to wait and see."

Jiang Nan sat back down confidently.

Looking at her resolute expression, Kangxi felt the gloom in his heart caused by his lack of offspring over the years.

It seemed that her optimism had dispelled their gloom.

Perhaps, as Nan Nan said, the turning point will come this year?