Chapter 32 Want to kill two birds with one stone? Not a chance!

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan raised an eyebrow and a knowing smile appeared on her face.

Tu Hai is indeed very thorough in his work; he even managed to break through the palace's security perimeter.

The position of Commander of the Imperial Guards... that's quite high. He's responsible for the security of the palace and is definitely a useful pawn.

She wasn't surprised.

The Guarjia clan is a prominent and widespread Manchu clan.

Countless members of the clan served in the Eight Banners, the Imperial Household Department, and the palace.

It's perfectly normal for a member of the clan to become a mid-level officer in the guard system.

Now that Tu Hai is tied to her, he will naturally hand over these usable resources in the harem to her gradually.

“Langtan…”

She whispered the name once and memorized it.

Then, she turned to look at Zhao Deyi, the chief eunuch who had been standing by with his hands at his sides.

"Zhao is triumphant."

"Your servant is here!"

Zhao Deyi immediately bowed and replied.

"Did you hear what Chunlan just said?"

Jiang Nan's tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable air of command.

"Your Majesty, I heard you clearly."

Zhao Deyi understood immediately.

"Um."

Jiang Nan nodded. "Later, go and quietly inquire about Lang Tan's background and duty schedule. Find a safe opportunity to contact him privately in the name of Yongshou Palace, and say it's my intention. Don't make a fuss, just let him know that I know he's one of us. There will always be a time when it comes in handy."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

Zhao Deyi immediately agreed, already considering this matter a top priority.

The Commander of the Imperial Guards...this is a key figure who directly controls the security of the palace.

The Empress is about to extend her influence into the palace; this matter must be handled discreetly and thoroughly.

He secretly decided that he would handle it himself and would never entrust it to anyone else.

After giving his instructions, Jiang Nan said no more. Lang Tan, the military commander.

She silently considered to herself that this was an unexpected delight.

It will be much easier to transmit messages inside and outside the palace in the future. In critical moments, it might even be of some other use?

She didn't plan to use the piece immediately, but it's always good to be prepared.

In this deep palace, having an extra path and an extra pair of eyes always brings a bit more peace of mind.

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Two days later, at Yongshou Palace.

Jiang Nan lazily reclined on the cool couch, idly flipping through a book.

Chunlan stood by her side, whispering to her several medicinal diet recipes suitable for summer conditioning.

The chief eunuch, Zhao Deyi, hurried in from outside the hall, his face showing a hint of solemnity.

He quickly walked closer, bowed, and whispered.

"Your Majesty, this servant has just received news from the little brats below."

"Hmm? What is it?"

Jiang Nan put down her book and looked up at him.

Zhao Deyi lowered his voice even further.

"Over at Kunning Palace... Her Majesty the Empress's most trusted old nanny quietly headed towards Zhongcui Palace early this morning."

"Zhongcui Palace?"

Jiang Nan frowned slightly, momentarily unable to recognize which concubine's residence it was.

Upon hearing this, Wang, who was sitting on an embroidery stool doing needlework, immediately looked up, a hint of worry on her face, and softly replied.

“Sister, Zhongcui Palace... is the residence of Consort Ma Jia, and Prince Chengrui is raised there.”

Jiang Nan's eyes cleared instantly, and she sat up straight.

"Ma Jia Shi? Cheng Rui?"

Her mind raced.

Why would the Empress's people sneak into Chengrui's mother's palace at this hour? What is she planning to do?

Cheng Rui…it seems he died young in the ninth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign? It's only been seven years now…

Is the Empress already impatient to take action?

Her legitimate son isn't even secure yet, and she's already so eager to eliminate potential threats?

She's not even going through the motions? Isn't she afraid the women in the harem will say she's ruthless? That she's eliminating her eldest son to clear the way for her legitimate son?

Something unusual must be going on!

Jiang Nan almost immediately concluded that the Empress was not simply concerned about Cheng Rui's condition.

Lady Ma Jia was gentle and kind-hearted, and her Zhongcui Palace had long been thoroughly infiltrated by the Empress.

If the Empress really wanted to do something, she wouldn't need her most trusted nanny to personally intervene.

Unless... it is to do something extremely secretive, extremely important, and absolutely necessary to ensure that nothing goes wrong.

Thinking back to the humiliation she had inflicted on her, Jiang Nan already had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on.

framing someone?

Is the Empress trying to use the opportunity of killing Cheng Rui to frame Jiang Nan?

Is this a two-birds-with-one-stone strategy? It gets rid of the troublesome eldest son and completely eliminates her, this thorn in their side.

——————

Having figured this out, Jiang Nan calmed down, and even a hint of mockery appeared on her lips.

She turned to the bewildered Wang, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty.

"Sister Wang, it seems that our Empress has finally lost her patience and is going to personally send Prince Chengrui on his way."

Upon hearing this, Wang was so frightened that her hand trembled, and she almost pricked her finger with the needle. Her face turned pale instantly.

"Sister, what... what did you say? The Empress really dares to do that? This is the eldest prince, the Emperor's only son."

"So what if he's the eldest son?"

Jiang Nan scoffed, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"What's killing a concubine's eldest son to make way for her healthy, unborn legitimate son? Besides, it would also drag me down with it. How could she let such a good opportunity slip by?"

Wang was terrified when she heard this, and her voice trembled.

"Then...should we tell the Emperor right away? We can't let the Empress get away with this."

Jiang Nan shook her head, her eyes frighteningly calm.

"Tell the Emperor? What can we tell him? Just say we saw the Empress's nanny go to Zhongcui Palace? What does that prove? The Empress could simply say she went to visit her and bring some tonics. Not only would that alert her, but she might also turn around and accuse us of deliberately framing the Empress out of jealousy that she is pregnant with the Emperor's child. We have no evidence, and speaking rashly will only bring shame upon ourselves."

Her gaze shifted to Zhao Deyi, and her tone instantly became resolute, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Zhao is triumphant."

"Your servant is here."

Zhao Deyi stiffened and immediately bowed to obey the order.

"From this day forward, you will listen to me carefully."

Jiang Nan's voice was cold.

"Unless I order you to, you are not to go anywhere. You are to stay in Yongshou Palace. Your top priority is to guard Yongshou Palace like an iron fortress. No stranger is allowed to step into the palace without my permission. All eunuchs and maids in the palace, including the lowly ones, are to be kept under my watch. They must go to bed, eat, and even go to the toilet in pairs to supervise each other. Anyone who dares to be alone or whose behavior is suspicious will be arrested immediately. There is no need for interrogation. Just tie them up and send them back to the Imperial Household Department. I will say that I am not comfortable with their work and request a replacement. Immediately select a new person with a clean background and simple family from the Imperial Household Department to fill the vacancy. It is better to send the wrong person away than to leave any doubts."

Zhao realized the seriousness of the matter, his face turned solemn, and he kowtowed heavily.

"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant obeys the decree. This servant will risk his life to ensure that no villains cause trouble in Yongshou Palace. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

He immediately got up, strode out of the hall, and began to carry out Jiang Nan's orders swiftly and decisively.

The atmosphere inside Yongshou Palace instantly became tense and somber.

Wang was so frightened by Jiang Nan's decisive and ruthless order that she dared not utter a sound, but she admired him even more.

Sister, you're amazing! Such skill, such alertness...

Even if the empress wanted to smear someone, she would have to be able to do so.