Chapter 35 Sister, your smile is creepy.

On the way back to the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Kangxi's face remained gloomy.

This kind of show of force might temporarily intimidate the monsters and demons in Zhongcui Palace, but it's by no means a long-term solution...

If Hesheli is determined to take action, it will be impossible to guard against.

He rubbed his temples, his mind racing.

Should we try to take away Hesheli's power in the palace? Or... arrange for someone to keep an eye on her?

His gaze unconsciously drifted towards the direction of Yongshou Palace.

In this harem now, there are those who are bold, shrewd, unafraid of the Hesheli clan, and whom I can trust to some extent…

It seems that only Nan Nan is left.

However… he frowned. It would be improper and unjust to rashly let her assist in palace affairs and interfere in matters of the harem.

On the contrary, it would only bring her more jealousy and criticism, and neither Hesheli nor the Empress Dowager would agree to it.

A suitable opportunity is needed…

An opportunity that would allow me to legitimately grant her some power and thus restrain the Hesheli clan.

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Inside the Kunning Palace, Empress Hesheli leaned against a soft couch.

Listening to the trusted old nanny's low-pitched report on the recent changes that had occurred in Zhongcui Palace.

"The Emperor's sudden arrival enraged him. He immediately dragged the two nannies who served Prince Chengrui and a personal eunuch to the Imperial Prison for execution, saying they would be strangled on the spot. Even the wet nurse was almost..."

The old woman's voice carried a hint of lingering fear and surprise.

The Empress's face instantly darkened, and her hand resting on her lower abdomen tightened involuntarily.

"Why would His Majesty suddenly go to Zhongcui Palace? And why was he so angry? Granny, do you think... His Majesty has noticed something? How come you just went to Zhongcui Palace and made arrangements, and then he went there right after? And he even punished the servants?"

The old woman was also very anxious, but she forced herself to remain calm and analyzed the situation in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, please don't worry. This old servant thinks... it may not be that His Majesty has noticed anything. Perhaps His Majesty has been busy with state affairs lately and is feeling frustrated, or perhaps he has heard that Prince Chengrui's condition is not improving and is feeling irritable, so he is taking it out on those servants who are not serving him well? Such things have happened before."

She paused, then reassured him with even greater certainty.

"Moreover, the medicine we used was extremely well-hidden, mixed into the nourishing food that Consort Ma Jia was taking during her early pregnancy. The dosage was just right, and it was something that ordinary imperial physicians could not detect. No matter how many times the imperial physicians examined the little prince, they would only say that he was born with congenital deficiencies and was weak from birth. They would never think of anything else. To put it bluntly, according to the original dosage, this little prince should have died in his swaddling clothes. The fact that he has survived until today is due to Consort Ma Jia's meticulous care day and night and her extremely good luck."

Upon hearing this explanation, the Empress's tense expression eased slightly. She nodded, her tone carrying a hint of coldness.

"What you say is true, Granny. In the end, it's just that this child is unlucky, has little fortune, is born with deficiencies, and is weak and sickly. He has no one to blame but himself. What does it have to do with me?"

The old nanny quickly agreed.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right; this is simply the child's destiny."

The old woman pondered for a moment, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes, and asked in a low voice.

"Then... Your Majesty, shall we still proceed with our original plan?"

"Move! Why don't you move?"

The Empress's answer was resolute and carried an undeniable ruthlessness.

"If we don't act now, when will we? If we don't seize this opportunity to make a big scene, how can we crush that bitch Jiang Nan in one fell swoop? Every day she lives, every day she lingers in front of me, every day I endure this humiliation, I absolutely cannot tolerate her."

A glint of excitement and malice flashed in the old woman's eyes, and she nodded emphatically.

"This old servant understands and will handle this matter cleanly and efficiently."

The Queen took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down and think things through more thoroughly.

“However… His Majesty has just lashed out at the people of Zhongcui Palace, and they must be watching that area right now. Let’s hold back for a couple of days, until His Majesty’s anger subsides and his attention is no longer on Zhongcui Palace, before we make our move.”

"Have your men find a quiet time of night, when the guards are lax, and secretly open one window of Prince Chengrui's bedchamber halfway open... Although the summer heat is intense, the night air is still chilly. With his frail body, being exposed to the wind all night will inevitably cause him to catch a cold. Then... he'll have a persistent high fever, be unable to take medicine, and the imperial physicians will be helpless..."

She didn't say anything more, but her meaning was crystal clear.

A child who was already weak and unable to grow up was suddenly struck by an unexpected cold.

It could be the last straw that breaks the camel's back.

"This old servant understands."

The old woman understood immediately, her eyes flashing with malice.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, this matter will be handled as if it were an accident, and will leave no trace."

The Empress nodded in satisfaction and leaned back against the pillow.

He gently stroked his slightly protruding belly, a sinister smile of certainty spreading across his face.

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Inside Yongshou Palace, the coolness brought by the melting ice blocks slightly dispelled the summer heat.

Jiang Nan had just picked up a bowl of chilled plum juice, but hadn't had a chance to drink it yet.

Zhao Deyi hurried in, a trace of lingering fear on his face.

He whispered a report about the thunderous rage that had just occurred at Zhongcui Palace.

Jiang Nan paused for a moment, holding the bowl, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Oh wow? That was fast?

She thought to herself, "I just left the Qianqing Palace and he immediately went to the Zhongcui Palace to clean house."

That's quite efficient.

She slowly sipped her plum juice, the cool, sweet and sour taste making her squint her eyes comfortably.

My mind was racing.

So... he listened to that? He went to make an example of someone?

Or... just to see his son one last time and vent his anger?

Thinking of that sickly, pale baby who was too weak to even cry, a feeling of pity swept through Jiang Nan's heart.

Emperor Kangxi... had it pretty tough.

The mother knows that her own son is being plotted to be killed, but due to various constraints, she may not be able to protect him.

Being an emperor is so frustrating.

However, this feeling of reluctance quickly dissipated.

She was neither a saint nor a deity; her reach could not extend to Zhongcui Palace, nor could she save the child destined to die young.

The power struggles in the imperial harem are that cruel; it's either eat people or be eaten.

She was more curious about something else—Empress Hesheli.

What specific methods will they use to accurately pin this accusation of murdering the imperial heir on Jiang Nan's head?

She sipped her plum juice, lost in thought.

Framing someone? It's nothing more than fabricating some evidence and then just happen to be discovered.

His gaze swept over the Yongshou Palace, which was meticulously managed by Zhao Deyi and Fang Ruo and was as solid as an iron barrel.

A mischievous smile crept onto her lips.

Yongshou Palace is now impenetrable; it will be quite difficult for her to simply insert evidence.

unless…

Her eyes lit up, and she suddenly realized the key.

Thinking about this, she didn't feel nervous at all; on the contrary, she found it even more interesting.

His smile grew increasingly sly, like a child who had discovered a new and exciting toy.

Wang, who was sitting to the side doing needlework, happened to look up and caught her strange smile.

Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, "Little sister? What are you laughing at over there all by yourself? It's kind of creepy..."

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