Chapter 208 Ma Jia's Initiation

Hesheli suppressed her resentment towards her family, which gradually solidified into a resolute determination.

She turned her determined gaze to the old nanny standing beside her, her voice extremely low.

"Granny, come closer to my ear."

The old woman's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly moved closer.

Hesheli's tone was calm and unwavering as she spoke to the nanny.

“Go and contact that bribed midwife. Tell her that things will be done as the Princess Consort has arranged, but if things don’t go well and someone finds out, she needs to know what to say next in order to save her family’s life.”

The old woman held her breath and listened carefully.

"Have her steer the conversation toward Consort Niohuru, the head of Yikun Palace."

A sharp, cold glint flashed in Hesheli's eyes.

“Tell the midwife: Consort Niohuru is of noble rank, but due to damage in her early years, she can hardly conceive again. If Lady Majia, who is in the same palace, unfortunately dies in childbirth this time, leaving behind a healthy prince, that prince will be Consort Niohuru’s true son. This plan of taking the child and leaving the mother is reasonable and justifiable when applied to Consort Niohuru. Anyone who hears this will believe it to some extent!”

After hearing this, the old woman thought about it again and had to admit that this frame-up was both vicious and precise.

Hesheli stared into the old woman's eyes, her tone suddenly turning icy.

"You must make that midwife understand the seriousness of the situation. If she follows our instructions and insists that she was instructed by Consort Niohuru or her confidants, she might still have a sliver of hope. But if she panics and talks nonsense, revealing even a single word that could implicate her family..."

She paused, her eyes turning sinister and vicious, her tone icy and ruthless.

"Then let her think carefully about her family outside the palace. Are they living peaceful lives, or did the whole family... die an accident? It's all because of her mouth."

The old woman trembled at the sight of her master's expressionless face and ruthless tone.

Hesheli took in the nanny's fear, turned around, and her back looked thin and cold under the solitary lamp.

“Granny, don’t look at me like that. Since we can’t avoid this disaster, let’s find a scapegoat before the knife falls on us. Niohuru clan… If we have to blame someone, blame her for being in a high position and being unable to have children. That’s the most convenient excuse.”

The old woman's heart sank; she knew all too well.

The master has now been pushed to the edge of a cliff by the family, and there is only one dark road ahead, with no room for turning back.

The Empress's wrath is always terrifying; if she were to be found guilty of plotting to harm the imperial heir...

These people absolutely cannot bear this; they can only extricate themselves from it!

She nodded heavily and said in a hoarse voice.

"This old servant... understands. Master, rest assured, this old servant will convey these words to you verbatim and make sure that midwife knows the consequences of speaking recklessly."

Go!

With her back to him, Hesheli waved her hand, her voice filled with endless weariness.

"Be clean and don't leave any loose ends."

"Yes, ma'am." The old woman bowed and quietly left the bedroom.

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Several days later, at dusk, in the sleeping quarters of Kunning Palace.

The hall was warm and inviting, with a faint scent of styrax wafting from the gilded incense burner.

Jiang Nan reclined on the soft couch, while Consort Niohuru and Lady Daijia sat on embroidered stools on either side.

The three people were playing Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game) around a small table.

Jiang Nan seemed to be having good luck, as there was already a pile of small gold melon seeds in front of him.

She casually played a pair of cards, glancing up at the darkening sky outside the window.

He then glanced at the calm-looking Niohuru across from him, his tone tinged with a hint of mockery.

"Sister Niohuru, you really have a big heart. It looks like Lady Magiya is about to be born, and instead of staying in your own palace to oversee things, you have the leisure to come here and play cards?"

Consort Niohuru calmly played a card, her tone even.

"Your Majesty is too kind. Everything in my palace has already been arranged, and the midwives and imperial physicians are all waiting. As soon as Ma Jia's water breaks and labor begins, someone will come to report immediately. Besides..."

She paused, then looked at Jiang Nan.

“If it really comes to the time of delivery, Your Majesty, won’t you have to go there to oversee things? I’ll just go back with Your Majesty, so that the people below won’t panic.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying.

She knew in her heart that, according to history, this child of Lady Ma Jia should be Emperor Kangxi's third son, Yin Zhi.

Since this is a child she knows is destined to be born, there shouldn't be any major problems.

She felt that the world was silently correcting the lineage of Kangxi's descendants in a peculiar way.

This feeling has become increasingly clear since she stopped using contraception and has still not gotten pregnant.

"Yes, that makes sense."

Jiang Nan nodded, then easily won another round and pushed the golden melon seeds in front of her.

"However, it is indeed getting late. Let's finish this last round and then call it a day. You can all go back to your palaces for your meals."

Niohuru and Daijia quickly agreed.

Just then, a deliberately hurried sound of footsteps came from behind.

Zhao Deyi appeared at the palace gate, bowing and reporting hurriedly but calmly.

"Your Majesty, an urgent report has arrived from Yikun Palace: Consort Ma Jia's water has broken and she has already gone into labor!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan gently put down the cards in her hand, stood up, straightened her sleeves, and said to Niohuru.

"Look, we were just talking about her and here she is. Since she's about to give birth, Sister Niohuru, why don't you come with me to your palace?"

She then turned to Daijia.

"Sister Dai Jia, you should go back first. Who knows how long this childbirth will take, so you don't need to come along."

"Yes, this concubine will take her leave."

Dai Jiashi quickly stood up and bowed.

Jiang Nan, supporting Chunlan's hand, walked out while asking Zhao Deyi, who was following closely behind.

Has the Emperor been informed?

Zhao Deyi bowed and replied.

"Your Majesty, the eunuch from Consort Ma Jia's side has already gone to the Qianqing Palace to report the news. His Majesty should be on his way by now."

Jiang Nan nodded slightly, said no more, took Chunlan's hand, and walked out of Kunning Palace with ease.

The palace servants had already prepared the Empress's phoenix carriage.

She boarded the palanquin, and Consort Niohuru followed closely behind in her own sedan chair.

The group, in a grand procession, headed towards Yikun Palace.

————————

Inside the east wing of Yikun Palace, the lights were on.

When Jiang Nan and her entourage arrived, Kangxi was already seated in the main seat, with a few concubines of similar rank and well-informed backgrounds sitting nearby.

Upon seeing the Empress arrive, everyone quickly rose and bowed.

Jiang Nan led Niohuru forward and respectfully bowed to Emperor Kangxi.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Emperor Kangxi raised his hand in a gesture of support.

"Get up."

His gaze swept over the several concubines, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Jiang Nan understood, and without waiting for Kangxi to speak, she turned to the concubines, her tone calm but unquestionable.

"This place is cramped and crowded, which will only cause more trouble. You should all return to your palaces first. Your intentions are enough."

Those concubines were just there to make a show of it and express their opinion.

Hearing the Empress speak was something they were all eager to do, and they all rose to take their leave. In a short while, the side hall became much quieter.

Jiang Nan then sat down in the seat below Kangxi, remaining silent and listening intently to the sounds coming from inside the bedchamber.

The bedchamber was quiet; it seemed that the activity hadn't officially begun yet.

Looking at Jiang Nan's calm profile, Kangxi felt a little calmer about his inexplicable anxiety.

He spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of dependence.

"Nannan, you once said that Lady Ma Jia would give birth to a son for me safely this time, is that right?"

Jiang Nan turned her head, met his gaze, and nodded firmly, her tone reassuring.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Lady Ma Jia is blessed with good fortune and will surely be safe and sound with her child."

Upon hearing this, Kangxi's tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

Suddenly remembering that Nan Nan always waited for her son Erhe to have dinner, she thought that he must not have eaten dinner yet.

"Nannan, this will probably take quite a while. Why don't I have someone prepare a meal first, so we can have something to eat to tide us over?"

Jiang Nan readily accepted good advice.

"That's fine. We can have the kitchen prepare a bowl of shredded chicken noodles and send it to Ma Jia Shi so she'll have more energy when she gives birth."

Upon hearing that noodles were eaten during childbirth, Emperor Kangxi was immediately reminded of the time when Jiang Nan gave birth to Erhe.

As he calmly ate a large bowl of shredded chicken noodles in his bedchamber, a genuine smile involuntarily appeared on his tense face.

He addressed Liang Jiugong, who was standing to the side.

"Liang Jiugong, did you hear what your mistress said? Go and prepare the meal quickly."

"Yes, sir."

Liang Jiugong bowed in response and swiftly withdrew to make the arrangements.