Chapter 173 Ma Jia is pregnant, and the nanny is dying.

After the Empress Dowager fell asleep in the Kunning Palace, Lady Tongjia was slapped twice by Jiang Nan and then secretly reprimanded by Emperor Kangxi.

Perhaps she had truly heeded the advice of the old woman beside her, and became much more restrained and low-key.

Apart from his daily self-reflection check-in, he would simply stay in his Chengqian Palace, either reading and practicing calligraphy or gazing at flowers and lamenting the passing of spring.

He seemed to be behaving himself and keeping to his own standards.

The entire harem fell into tranquility once again.

However, beneath the calm surface of Chengqian Palace, undercurrents were surging.

But it was carefully concealed by an invisible hand.

Time flies, and two months have passed in the blink of an eye. The early summer breeze brings a touch of heat.

That afternoon, in the sleeping quarters of Kunning Palace, the window was half-open, and a warm breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers gently stirred the gauze curtains.

Jiang Nan had just finished lunch and was lazily lounging on the cool couch for a nap.

Her light, early summer dress accentuated her languid figure.

If it were anyone else, living such a pampered life of eating and sleeping, they would have become plump and healthy long ago.

However, her physique is different from that of ordinary people; she remains slender and well-proportioned, making people marvel at God's favor towards her.

Jiang Nan was quite enjoying this leisurely life.

A series of hurried yet light footsteps came from outside the hall.

Before Kangxi arrived, his voice preceded his arrival, his tone revealing his undisguised excitement.

"Nannan, Nannan! You're so insightful! Can you guess what incredible good news is happening today?"

Jiang Nan didn't even bother to lift her eyelids, maintaining her limp posture.

Inside the Kunning Palace, if there were no outsiders present, she would skip most of the formalities when facing Emperor Kangxi.

She spoke lazily, her voice slightly hoarse.

"Your Majesty, your joy is practically overflowing from my Kunning Palace. There are only a handful of truly joyous occasions in life. And you've spoken of your divine foresight... Let me guess, is it Lady Ma Jia of Yikun Palace... that you have good news?"

Kangxi walked a few steps to the bedside, clapped his hands and laughed, his eyes full of joy.

"Tsk tsk tsk, as expected, nothing can be hidden from you. I just came from Yikun Palace. Ma Jia was not feeling well today, so I summoned the imperial physician to take a look, and guess what? She is indeed pregnant, and has been pregnant for more than a month. Nan Nan, you made a bet with me two months ago, and your words have actually come true. Tell me quickly, how exactly did you predict this? This matter is a bit too... bizarre!"

Jiang Nan glanced at Kangxi, a mysterious smile on her face, and made up a story.

"Your Majesty, you always said I was talking nonsense. I've told you before that I have a relationship with the King of Hell, and he often appears in my dreams to reveal secrets of heaven. Now... you should believe me, right?"

Kangxi's lips twitched violently. He was speechless at her talk of ghosts and gods. Did she think he was a fourteen-year-old who didn't understand?

However, they could not explain this undeniable fact and could only helplessly say...

"Fine, fine, I believe you, I believe your nonsense! Now tell me, who will be the next one to be pregnant in this palace?"

A sly glint flashed in Jiang Nan's eyes as she feigned mystery.

"As for the next one... her fate with Your Majesty is truly wondrous. She'll appear soon. However..."

She dragged out the tone.

"She is not yet your concubine."

Emperor Kangxi was taken aback, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"What do you mean by that? Do you mean I'm going to select more concubines for the palace?"

He has no intention of participating in any talent shows recently.

After hearing this, Jiang Nan shook his head in a profound and enigmatic manner.

"Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed, Your Majesty, so please refrain from making wild guesses. In short, when fate brings us together, nothing can stop it, so please wait patiently."

Kangxi was intrigued by her, but couldn't get any answers from her, so he had to turn back to the happy thing in front of him.

"Then tell me, is Ma Jia's child a prince or a princess? Has the King of Hell revealed anything?"

Jiang Nan nodded firmly, looking quite serious.

"The King of Hell said it's a healthy little prince."

Kangxi was overjoyed. Although he thought she was talking nonsense, he found her kind words very comforting.

Looking at Jiang Nan's still flat stomach, he couldn't help but ask again.

"Ma Jia is already pregnant, and your belly... why is there still no sign of life? Didn't the King of Hell say when he would give me another legitimate prince or princess?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan lazily turned over, her back to Kangxi, her tone carrying a hint of roguishness.

“Your Majesty, my pregnancy is different from theirs. Have you forgotten? I have said before that I am the mother of destiny, and my fate is incomparably noble. When this legitimate son will come is determined by Heaven. Even the King of Hell cannot control it or calculate it.”

Emperor Kangxi was speechless after hearing her words.

He sighed and decided to end the metaphysical discussion.

"Alright, alright, you already know the good news. Nan Nan, you must take extra care of Ma Jia's pregnancy and make sure she is well taken care of."

Jiang Nan then turned around, waved her hand, and spoke casually with confidence and domineering air.

"Your Majesty, you can rest assured. In this harem, who would dare to cause trouble regarding the imperial heir? I would be happy if such a fool dared to run into me, so I could stretch my muscles and get some exercise. My old bones are practically rusting from being idle."

Kangxi: "..."

Well, this conversation has died down again.

He found himself feeling powerless whenever he didn't talk to Nan Nan about serious matters, as he couldn't keep up the conversation.

"I still have memorials to review, so I'll return to the Qianqing Palace."

With a helpless and frustrated expression, he left Kunning Palace as quickly as he could, almost as if he were fleeing.

Seeing his helpless little expression, Jiang Nan couldn't help but chuckle, her mood becoming even more cheerful.

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No sooner had Kangxi left than Zhao Deyi slipped in silently, approached the bed, and whispered.

"Your Majesty, news has come from Chengqian Palace that the old nanny who serves Princess Tongjia... is dying."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan raised an eyebrow, a knowing look on her face, then curled her lips and sighed with slight disdain.

"Li Guiping is far too slow in getting things done. It's been two months, and he's only just finished? Isn't he being a bit too cautious?"

Zhao Deyi hurriedly explained.

"Your Majesty, this matter was not handled by Li Guiping himself. He found that palace maid, Wuya, who had been whipped, to do it. I heard that it was done very discreetly. The people from the Imperial Hospital went to check several times, but they couldn't find anything wrong. They just said that the old nanny was old and had caught a cold while staying out at night, which triggered her acute illness. Now, medicine is useless, and she only has one or two days left."

Jiang Nan looked slightly surprised.

Since Li Guiping sent word two months ago that he was suspected, no further concrete information has been provided.

She really didn't know that Li Guiping had asked Wuya to take action.

And judging from the looks of it, this Wuya clan member is quite ruthless and efficient? Indeed, none of the champions of palace intrigue in history are fools.

This is because the person was about to die, and Li Guiping only came to deliver the good news.

Zhao Deyi carefully observed Jiang Nan's expression and tentatively asked.

"Your Majesty, what do you think...? Should we find an excuse to visit Chengqian Palace to check on the sick, and while we're at it... see what's going on?"

He knew his master's love of watching plays.

Jiang Nan waved her hand and lazily lay back down, her tone carrying a hint of disdain.

"I, the Empress, would condescend to visit a dying old servant? What kind of talk is this? It's far too much of an honor for her, Lady Tongjia."

She paused, a hint of nostalgia in her voice, and sighed, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"Sigh, although I am indeed a little itchy to see what kind of dejected look Tongjia is now... I have to consider my status. Sometimes, I really miss the time when I was a concubine, when I could do whatever I wanted without so many restrictions."

Zhao Deyi chuckled inwardly upon hearing this, but outwardly responded respectfully.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

Jiang Nan closed her eyes and waved her hand.

"Alright, I'll take a break. Report back to me if there's any new development over there."

"Yes, sir."

The hall returned to tranquility.

Jiang Nan appeared to be resting with her eyes closed, but a faint smile played at the corners of her lips.

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An hour later? No?

What a heartless bunch! Not one of them helped me.