Chapter 28 You are Consort Ma Jia?

The Empress has not yet arrived.

Jiang Nan glanced around and saw that the first person sitting on the lower left was Consort Niohuru.

She was wearing a light purple cheongsam today, and her expression remained aloof, but her eyes flickered slightly when she saw Jiang Nan enter.

Jiang Nan stepped forward and, following protocol, slightly curtsied to Consort Niohuru, performing a courteous bow.

"May Lady Niohuru be well."

Consort Niohuru nodded in return, her gaze lingering on Jiang Nan for a moment before she spoke softly.

"Consort Jiang has arrived."

His tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

Jiang Nan smiled, said nothing more, and walked straight to the first empty seat on the right side—that was her seat.

Sit down calmly.

Wang followed obediently behind her and sat down on the embroidered stool below her.

Wow, they've even reserved seats for them. These women are all shrewd.

As soon as she sat down, several concubines of lower rank in the hall rose to greet her.

"Greetings to Consort Jiang."

Jiang Nan waved her hand casually.

"Get up, everyone."

His gaze swept over the concubines who had risen to their feet.

It wasn't until a young woman dressed in a light purple cheongsam, with a gentle face but a lingering sorrow, rose to pay her respects.

"This humble servant, Ma Jia, greets Consort Jiang."

The woman's voice was soft, with a hint of timidity.

Jiang Nan didn't immediately tell her to get up. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, looked her over, and asked.

"You are... Consort Ma Jia? The one who gave birth to the eldest prince, Cheng Rui?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Jia trembled almost imperceptibly, and lowered her head even further.

"Yes, Your Majesty, it is...it is this humble servant."

Jiang Nan sighed inwardly as she looked at her cautious, precarious demeanor.

He clicked his tongue twice, his tone carrying a hint of something unfathomable.

“Brother Chengrui…sigh, the birth of this child may not necessarily be a good thing for you.”

Ma Jia suddenly looked up, her face turning three shades pale instantly, a hint of fear and bitterness flashing in her eyes.

She quickly lowered her head, her lips trembling, but dared not say a word.

How could she not know what Jiang Nan meant? The eldest prince... in this deep palace.

Especially under the nose of a powerful empress who was about to have a legitimate son, she was a thorn in her side.

She subconsciously glanced at Wang, who was sitting below Jiang Nan. Although she was also nervous, her complexion had obviously improved a lot.

A strong sense of envy and bitterness welled up in my heart.

Why...why does she have Consort Jiang's protection?

Jiang Nan took in her reaction and continued to ask.

"How is the eldest prince's health now? What did the imperial physician say?"

Ma Jia's voice choked with sobs, filled with bitterness.

"Your Majesty... the imperial physician said it was a congenital weakness, a congenital deficiency that fluctuates in severity, and it never seems to get much better. I am truly..." She couldn't continue, her eyes reddening.

Jiang Nan pursed her lips and said in a low voice without any politeness.

"This kid is really suffering."

These words, though blunt and cruel, struck at Ma Jia's deepest sore spot.

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Just then, the sound of a eunuch announcing his arrival came from outside the hall.

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

Ma Jia felt as if she had been granted a pardon, but also like a frightened rabbit, and quickly took her leave.

He retreated to his seat, bowed his head deeply, and wished he could hide himself away.

Empress Hesheri, supported by a palace maid, slowly walked out of the rear hall.

Today, she specially wore a brocade robe with a pomegranate flower pattern symbolizing many children, and applied a light layer of powder to her face to deliberately conceal her previous haggard appearance.

She unconsciously placed one hand gently on her lower abdomen, her posture more reserved and deliberate than usual.

She sat down on the phoenix throne, and the concubines began to pay their respects.

His gaze swept over the concubines below who were paying their respects, and when he saw Jiang Nan, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his eyes turned icy cold.

But they quickly moved away, trying to remain calm.

Her father sent a message to the palace early in the morning, saying that her grandfather, Sony, was so angered by Jiang Nan yesterday that he vomited blood and was now bedridden. What's more serious is that Jiang Nan went to the Imperial Study with the Emperor yesterday, a place she was not allowed to go.

"Get up, everyone."

The Empress's voice sounded gentler than usual. After everyone expressed their gratitude, they rose and sat down again according to their rank.

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Jiang Nan had just sat down when she immediately stood up again.

All eyes instantly turned to her, even the Empress subconsciously straightened her back and looked at her warily.

Jiang Nan merely gave a perfunctory bow, her tone flat and even a little impatient.

"If Your Majesty has no other important matters to instruct me, I am feeling a bit tired, so I will take my leave now."

The empress wished her dead, and she really had no intention of putting on a show of being harmonious sisters with the empress; it was too exhausting.

As long as we can't find any fault with her, the Empress can't do anything to her.

Seeing this, Wang also quickly stood up and performed a proper bow.

The Empress was so enraged by Jiang Nan's blatant perfunctory attitude and rudeness that her chest heaved and her nails dug fiercely into her palms.

He barely managed to suppress his anger and force a stiff smile.

"Since you're not feeling well, sister, you should go back and rest early."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

Jiang Nan responded without hesitation and turned to Fang Ruo.

"Fangruo, help me back. I'm hungry. Let's go back and have a meal."

Her arrogant attitude of coming and going as she pleased, completely disregarding the Empress Dowager.

The concubines in the hall stared in disbelief, yet none dared to utter a sound.

The Empress clenched her teeth so tightly that the fake smile on her face could barely hold on.

Jiang Nan didn't care whether she was angry or not, and walked towards the outside of the palace on her own.

As she passed Ma Jia's seat, she suddenly stopped, as if she had just remembered something.

He turned to look at Ma Jia, who was still keeping her head down, trying to minimize her presence.

"Ma Jia Shi".

Jiang Nan's voice was exceptionally clear in the silent hall.

"I have never met Prince Chengrui before, and I am quite curious about him. Since we have nothing else to do now, why don't you take me to your palace to see the young prince?"

Upon hearing this, the entire main hall of Kunning Palace fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.

All the concubines held their breath and looked at Jiang Nan in disbelief.

He then secretly glanced at the Empress, whose face had turned ashen on the throne.

This... Consort Jiang is too daring! She just said she was tired and wanted to go back for a meal.

Now they're going to see the young prince again? This is clearly a slap in the face to the Empress.

He even openly tried to win over the birth mother of the eldest prince, which not only slapped her in the face but also humiliated the empress.

Ma Jia froze, then suddenly raised her head, her face ashen, her eyes filled with immense terror and struggle.

Her lips trembled as she looked at Jiang Nan.

He glanced quickly and unconsciously at the empress above him, whose breathing was unsteady. His heart pounded wildly, almost bursting out of his chest.

If it were outside in the past, she would have been more than willing, but... but the Empress was watching from above.

If she agrees now, it would be an open act of surrender, completely offending the Empress.

What if Consort Jiang's actions were just a passing fancy and she wouldn't actually protect her... then what about her and Cheng Rui...?

She dared not gamble; she couldn't afford to.

She lowered her head, her voice barely audible, trembling violently.

"Your Majesty... the prince is unwell today and is unable to receive guests. Please forgive him..."

After saying that, she almost collapsed on the embroidered stool, her back instantly soaked with cold sweat.