Chapter 42 Consort Jin's words were so arrogant!

As evening fell, the setting sun bathed the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City in a golden-red hue.

The usually quiet main hall of Yongshou Palace was now packed with people.

Almost all the concubines with titles and ranks in the harem were present, sitting on embroidered stools on both sides in order of their status.

Holding the teacup that had long since gone cold in her hands, her fingertips unconsciously picked at the rim of the cup.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; even breathing seemed to be deliberately suppressed into a faint stream.

Everyone's face was filled with cautious reverence, but their eyes concealed an undeniable tension.

Even her drooping eyelashes were trembling slightly.

There was no other reason than that, even though they couldn't attend the grand performance in front of Yongshou Palace this morning, they had already heard it clearly through the eunuchs and maids in their respective palaces, and their hearts trembled.

Empress Hesheli was exposed on the spot for framing someone, and after fainting from anger, she was then randomly pricked with thick needles by a female physician arranged by Consort Jin.

Ultimately, he was confined to the Kunning Palace.

This newly appointed Consort Jin, Guarjia Jiangnan, is ruthless and cunning.

Not only did she escape unscathed, but she also rose to the rank of imperial concubine, holding the imperial decree to temporarily assume power in the palace.

With such ruthless methods and overwhelming imperial favor, who wouldn't fear? Who wouldn't be terrified?

As for the fallen empress, they felt no sympathy whatsoever at this moment, only relief that it wasn't them who had suffered misfortune.

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Surrounded by eunuchs, Jiang Nan wore a ceremonial robe with cloud and dragon patterns, symbolizing her rank as a concubine, her gold ornaments gleaming in the afterglow of the setting sun.

As she slowly walked out of the back hall, all eyes instantly focused on her.

The next second, she lowered her head in awe, like a startled bird, not daring to linger even in the corner of her eye.

She walked to the first chair in the main hall, a sandalwood armchair with a bright yellow cushion.

His gaze swept casually over the silent crowd below.

I chuckled to myself: Am I really that scary? They all look like quails being watched by a cat…

Or is Chunlan's cooling tea really that effective, making you all lose your temper after drinking it?

She sat down comfortably, resting her elbows on the armrests, her posture exuding a touch of languor.

Yet it exudes an air of authority, as if he were the one who calls the shots in this harem.

Consort Niohuru, who was seated at the head of the left-hand side, was the first to rise and curtsy slightly in accordance with etiquette.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to Consort Jin. May Your Majesty be well."

His expression was as calm as a deep pool of water, revealing no trace of joy or anger.

Jiang Nan waved her hand casually, her tone quite amiable.

"Sister Niohuru, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat."

Only then did the other concubines of lower rank dare to stand up, their movements so synchronized as if they had rehearsed beforehand.

As she bowed deeply, the pearl flowers at her temples rustled softly, and her voice carried a distinct hint of timidity.

"This humble servant greets Consort Jin, wishing Her Majesty a long and peaceful life."

In the crowd, Ma Jiashi lowered her head, the stray hairs on her forehead obscuring the emotions in her eyes.

Her fingers gripped the handkerchief tightly—she was both grateful to Jiang Nan for indirectly avenging Cheng Rui and overwhelmed by a torrent of regret.

If only I had believed her then, if only I hadn't rejected her offer out of fear of offending the Empress.

Is there still a glimmer of hope for Chengrui?

But there's no going back now, and Jiang Nan is now the de facto ruler of the harem.

The empress is now a prisoner, and she has no chance to make amends.

"Get up, everyone, sit down."

Jiang Nan's voice was indifferent, revealing no emotion.

When everyone expressed their gratitude, they spoke very softly, and when they sat down again, their movements were so slow that they seemed afraid of disturbing something.

Everyone stood up straight, eyes downcast, not daring to move their hands even slightly.

Once everyone was seated, the hall fell into a suffocating silence once more, as if even the sound of the wind outside the window was shut out.

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Looking at the lifeless scene, Jiang Nan felt suffocated.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, the crisp sound breaking the silence and resonating clearly throughout the hall.

"Many of these sisters and sisters look unfamiliar to me; I don't recognize them all."

Her gaze swept across the crowd as if she were examining her own private property, and then she suddenly called out names.

"Which one is Consort Nara?"

As soon as he finished speaking, two young concubines stood up at the same time.

His hasty movements knocked over the small stool behind him, and he quickly steadied himself.

His voice was visibly tense, and even his breathing was erratic.

"I am here."

Jiang Nan was taken aback, then chuckled softly, her laughter carrying a hint of amusement, which made the two of them stiffen even more.

Oh right, there were two Nara clans at this time. Which one was Consort Hui who later gave birth to Yinzhi?

This does have a bit of a "real and fake Monkey King" vibe to it.

She wasn't flustered; she had her own way of distinguishing things, so she just asked directly.

"Oh? What a coincidence, there are two Nara sisters here. Which of you lives in Yanxi Palace?"

One of the older concubines, whose appearance was more dignified and composed, quickly responded.

His head drooped even lower, and his posture became even more respectful.

"Your Majesty, it is I who reside in Yanxi Palace."

Jiang Nan looked her over carefully for a few moments and nodded.

Yes, with her calm and composed demeanor, she is undoubtedly Consort Hui of the Nara clan. The other one is Consort Tong, who gave birth to Wan Fu.

A smile appeared on her face, her tone casual yet carrying a certain implication.

"Yanxi Palace? Hmm, that's a good name. It sounds auspicious and festive. Please have a seat."

Consort Nara's heart stirred, and she quickly curtsied to express her gratitude. When she sat down, a thin layer of sweat had already broken out on her back.

Having received the auspicious name of this new ruler will likely bring fewer troubles in the palace in the future.

Jiang Nan didn't look at her again. She thought of someone else and continued calling out names, her tone still crisp and decisive.

"Which one of you is from the Li family?"

She specifically asked about Lady Li because she remembered that this Consort Li had been the first to bestow titles upon the imperial harem in the seventeenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign.

She was the first among the concubines to be granted the title of Consort An, which shows that she was extremely favored by the emperor at that time.

However, after the 20th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, this person disappeared without a trace, and there are no further records of him. He had no children and his fate remains a mystery.

She was simply curious and wanted to see what this fleetingly favored concubine looked like.

A pretty concubine with a clever look in her eyes rose in response.

Her voice was clear and crisp, but it couldn't hide her nervousness.

"This humble servant, Li, greets Consort Jin."

Jiang Nan looked her up and down; she was indeed a beauty in the making.

Her eyes and brows held a charming liveliness, and she spoke, as if testing the waters or issuing a warning.

"I've heard that the Emperor seems to like you quite a bit?"

Upon hearing this, Li's face turned completely pale, and all color drained from her eyes.

Her knees buckled and she almost knelt down. She hurriedly waved her hands to explain, her voice trembling with tears.

"Your Majesty, you are wise. I have only been serving His Majesty dutifully. I have never dared to be arrogant because of his favor, much less..."

Jiang Nan waved her hand to interrupt her, her tone somewhat nonchalant.

"Oh, it's alright. I was just asking casually out of curiosity. In this palace, it's the Emperor's prerogative to favor or like whomever he wants. I have no time to be jealous or competitive."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Li's pale face, and added an even more hurtful remark.

"You can serve the Emperor according to your own abilities. As long as you don't get in my way, just behave yourselves. If you don't behave yourselves, the Empress will be an example."

These straightforward and domineering words elicited various reactions from the people in the hall.

Some people lowered their heads and clenched their handkerchiefs, while others secretly glanced at Jiang Nan before quickly lowering their eyes again.

But they were all thinking to themselves.

Of course you don't need to be jealous or envious—the Emperor is practically giving you his heart.

Even the Empress has been overthrown by you. Who else in the harem can compete with you?

After getting to know everyone, Jiang Nan lost interest in continuing the small talk.

His gaze shifted to Consort Niohuru, who remained silent to the side, and a mischievous thought suddenly arose within him.

His tone was so blunt it was almost rude, as if he was deliberately trying to cause trouble.

"Sister Niohuru, I now hold the title of Consort and temporarily assume the power of the palace. Are you unhappy about this? Are you secretly plotting to harm me?"

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