Chapter 17 I won't scold the Empress.

Inside the main hall of Yongshou Palace, the afternoon sun shines through the carved windows, casting dappled shadows.

Jiang Nan was lounging on a cushioned chaise lounge, casually enjoying her unusually long lunch break.

There were seven or eight exquisite dishes and snacks on the table, but she proceeded slowly and deliberately.

Take a couple of bites, then put down your chopsticks to rest for a while, have a sip of tea, or even just space out for a bit before taking another couple of bites.

Sigh, the aristocratic life of feudal dynasties was truly luxurious materially, but spiritually incredibly boring...

For the nth time, she sighed inwardly, "If only I had a phone, I could watch short videos, catch up on dramas, and play games..."

That was truly a heavenly life; I would have no regrets in this life.

Now, I have so much free time that I'm practically going to rot, so all I can do is focus on eating and sleeping.

She ate her lunch slowly and deliberately, taking more than an hour, and still hadn't finished.

The palace maids and eunuchs serving nearby were used to it, keeping their eyes down and standing quietly.

She picked up the warm almond tea and took a sip, her gaze sweeping over Fang Ruo, who stood beside her, looking much calmer than in the morning.

He casually asked, "Fangruo, you must have been terrified this morning at Kunning Palace, right?"

Fangruo quickly bowed.

"This servant is incompetent and has disgraced Your Highness."

Jiang Nan waved her hand dismissively.

"It's no big deal. You just haven't seen enough of big scenes. You'll probably see plenty of these kinds of things when you're with me. You'll get used to it after a few times."

She spoke casually, as if the dramatic confrontation that morning was just an everyday occurrence.

Fangruo's face showed a hint of worry. After hesitating for a moment, she still whispered her advice.

"Your Majesty, I was too talkative... It's best to avoid contradicting the Empress in the future. Even if the Emperor protects you now, there's still the Empress Dowager in the palace!"

She lowered her voice even further.

"The Empress Dowager values ​​rules and etiquette the most. If the Empress is wronged and complains to the Cining Palace... I'm afraid... I'm afraid the Emperor won't be able to go too far against the Empress Dowager's wishes."

"The Empress Dowager?"

Jiang Nan sat up abruptly and slapped her forehead.

"Oh dear, how could I have forgotten about her!"

Empress Xiaozhuang!

This is the true ultimate boss of the Qing Dynasty's early imperial harem.

She instantly became much more alert.

This was an ancestor who served three dynasties, assisted two young emperors, possessed superb political skills, and enjoyed extremely high prestige among the Manchu and Mongol nobles.

Emperor Kangxi was able to successfully ascend the throne and assume personal rule entirely thanks to the support of this grandmother.

If she were to say something, Emperor Kangxi might not be able to withstand it...

I think of Empress Xiaozhuangwen, the wise and dignified woman in history.

Jiang Nan's arrogance, which had grown due to Kangxi's indulgence, immediately subsided considerably.

"Fangruo, you're right!"

She let out a breath, her tone becoming more serious.

"We should be careful not to overstep our bounds. But forget it, the Empress is just a fifteen-year-old girl after all. Why should I argue with her? It's pointless to bully a child."

I thought to myself, I've been her mother twice in my life, it would be beneath me to argue with her.

She made up her mind and said, "From now on, I'll just avoid her and not provoke her. I won't scold her."

Having figured this out, she felt relieved and then asked a question.

"Fangruo, is everything settled at Wang's place? Have all the things been moved over?"

Fang Ruo quickly replied.

"Your Majesty, everything has been arranged. They are staying in the west wing. All their allowances have been sent over, and two reliable maids have been assigned to serve them."

"Okay, that's good."

Jiang Nan nodded and got up from the couch.

“Let’s go see her. With another person in the palace, I’ll have someone to talk to. Besides, she has to take good care of the baby in her belly. I’ve already given my word to the Emperor.”

Fangruo quickly stepped forward to help him up.

Just then, the chief eunuch Zhao Deyi hurriedly entered from outside the hall.

With a hint of barely suppressed surprise and respect on his face, he bowed and reported.

"Your Majesty, news has come from the palace... from the palace."

"What news?"

Jiang Nan asked casually, while straightening her sleeves.

Zhao Deyi took a breath, lowered his voice, and said with barely concealed shock.

"That person in Kunning Palace... has been confined to his quarters by the Emperor."

"What?"

Jiang Nan suddenly stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked on in disbelief.

"Confined to her quarters? The Empress? Didn't she go to the Emperor to complain about me? How did she end up confining herself? How did she complain?"

She really didn't understand what was going on.

She was already mentally prepared for a pay cut and a demotion, but in the end... the plaintiff was locked up?

Fangruo, who was standing to the side, was also stunned, and then a look of relief and joy appeared on her face.

The master is perfectly fine, but the empress has been confined to her quarters. Is this matter... just going to be left like this?

Jiang Nan was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but burst out laughing, shaking her head as she spoke to Fang Ruo.

"This is a truly serious crime of disrespect! She used such a huge charge to accuse me, and she actually managed to get herself confined to her quarters? This Empress is... utterly useless! Even if the Emperor wanted to protect me, he wouldn't have gone so far as to directly cause trouble for her, would he? What incredibly stupid thing did she say that could anger the Emperor like this?"

She was extremely curious.

Zhao Deyi and Fang Ruo naturally dared not speculate on the Emperor's intentions and the Empress's words and actions, and simply lowered their heads and remained silent.

Jiang Nan laughed for a while, then put the matter out of her mind.

Who cares how she courts death, as long as the outcome is in my favor.

"Okay, I got it."

She waved her hand, feeling even better.

"Come on, Fangruo, Zhao Deyi, let's go see Wang Shi."

With that, she led a group of people toward the west side hall in a rather cheerful mood.

————————

Although the furnishings in the west wing hall are not as luxurious as those in the main hall, they are still elegant and clean.

Wang was sitting on an embroidery stool by the window, doing needlework with a restless mind, when she heard footsteps.

Looking up and seeing Jiang Nan enter, he quickly put down his work and stood up to greet her.

"Sister Wang, please sit down!"

Jiang Nan stepped forward and offered her a helping hand, his tone casual yet undeniably affectionate.

“From now on, we’re all family, so we don’t need to go through these formalities behind closed doors. You’re quite heavy, and it’s tiring for me to watch you perform these rituals.”

Wang was pressed back onto the embroidered stool, her face filled with fear and unease, and she whispered.

"Your Majesty, this...this is against the rules. If outsiders find out, and it reaches the ears of the Emperor or the Empress Dowager, they might blame me for not knowing my place and for implicating Your Majesty..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan waved her hand dismissively and sat down on another embroidered stool next to her.

"Sister, rest assured, within my Yongshou Palace, I am the rule. What outsider or insider? Who would dare to spread this?"

Her voice rose a few decibels, carrying a hint of coldness.

"If there really are such lackeys, that's perfect! I've been looking for someone who betrays their master for personal gain. Anyone who dares to betray their master will be tied up and sent to the Censorate."

As she spoke, she called out loudly, "Zhao Deyi!"

The chief eunuch Zhao Deyi, who was guarding outside the hall, immediately strode in and bowed to receive the order.

"Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

Jiang Nan's gaze swept over all the palace maids and eunuchs standing with their hands at their sides in the hall, her voice clear so that everyone could hear her.

"Zhao Deyi, pass on this message to all servants in Yongshou Palace—from this day forward, no matter what happens in Yongshou Palace, big or small, shall be revealed to outsiders. Anyone who dares to speak out of turn or loses control of their tongue, you don't need to report back to me, just arrest them and send them back to the Imperial Household Department. Then we will select honest and dutiful people to fill the vacancies. Do you understand?"

Zhao Dexin was startled and immediately bowed deeply, his voice resolute.

"Yes, Your Majesty! This servant obeys your command and will certainly restrain the palace staff, strictly abide by palace rules, and ensure that no information from Yongshou Palace leaks out. Any violation will be met with zero tolerance!"

"Okay, go down."

Jiang Nan nodded in satisfaction.

Zhao Deyi bowed and stepped back, but his back straightened a bit.

In his mind, he had already elevated the rules of Yongshou Palace to the highest level.