Chapter 43 Skip the morning greetings, I can't get up.

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall instantly became as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes all fixed on Consort Niohuru.

Ma Jia also quietly raised her eyes.

This Consort Niohuru came from a prominent family and was always composed.

If she were to clash with Consort Jin, the harem would likely descend into chaos once more.

Consort Niohuru remained unmoved, merely glancing at her indifferently, her tone calm and even.

“Sister Jinfei, you are overthinking it. Whether it is the title of Consort or the power in the palace, it is all a favor from the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Sister, you are capable and should do more. I have no other thoughts, and I have no energy to scheme about anything.”

Jiang Nan was satisfied with her reaction and smiled.

The tone suddenly shifted, becoming sharper and even crueler.

"Sister, you are so magnanimous. But I've heard that you may no longer be able to conceive?"

Her gaze swept across the room, her tone carrying a deliberate reminder.

It's like calmly stating a cruel fact, yet it's also like deliberately reopening everyone's wounds.

"Of course, perhaps there are a few sisters here who seem to be favored but have never conceived, hoping for good news every month but never getting any—perhaps they have fallen for similar tricks without even realizing it?"

These words were like a thunderclap, causing all the concubines in the hall to change their expressions drastically, with some turning pale instantly.

Someone covered their mouth, almost gasping out in surprise.

Many people instinctively clutched their lower abdomens, their eyes filled with fear and bewilderment.

It turns out that some of them were unable to conceive for a long time not because of bad luck, but because someone might have sabotaged their chances.

Consort Niohuru's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

She looked up at Jiang Nan, her eyes filled with complex emotions. After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke.

"Where did you hear this, sister? I am indeed prone to having difficulty conceiving due to cold constitution, but as for whether I was harmed by someone, I have no evidence."

What other evidence do you need?

Jiang Nan scoffed and bluntly exposed the truth.

“Sister, your family is prominent and of noble birth. If you were to give birth to a healthy prince, what would that be like? Wouldn’t you become a thorn in someone’s side? If it wasn’t her, who else could it be?”

Consort Niohuru pursed her lips, neither admitting nor denying.

But her silence said it all.

The other concubines in the hall were terrified. Wasn't "she" referring to the Empress?

Seeing that she was distraught, Jiang Nan stopped rubbing salt into her wounds.

She cleared her throat, raised her voice a few decibels, and spoke with an unquestionable authority.

"Alright, let's not dwell on the past. Since the imperial decree is now difficult to disobey, and I am temporarily in charge of these trivial matters in the harem, then I will establish a few rules."

All eyes immediately turned to her.

"If any of the servants serving in your palaces are unsatisfactory, dishonest, or simply an eyesore, please report it to me. If the situation is true and reasonable, I can arrange for them to be sent back to the Imperial Household Department so that I can select suitable replacements for you. If you need this service, you can always contact Fangruo, who is by my side, to register and process it. This is currently the only way I can truly help you all."

Upon hearing this, many of the concubines below showed surprise and gratitude in their eyes.

For them, being able to replace servants who might be bribed or deceive their masters was an incredible stroke of luck.

Everyone stood up and bowed.

"Thank you for your grace, Consort Jin."

"Alright, alright, sit down. Don't keep bowing. It's tiring."

Jiang Nan waved her hand again.

"There's no need for formalities here. Everyone, please be at ease. I don't eat people."

She continued, "Furthermore, starting tomorrow, the morning greetings will be waived. I can't get up; I need to sleep. If I don't sleep well, I'll age faster and my mood will suffer."

Many of the concubines couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle, which eased the tense atmosphere considerably.

"From now on, the daily self-reflection will be changed to once every three days. Everyone, come and sit down, chat, and have some tea. If there are any conflicts or disagreements in the palace, or any difficult matters, just say them on the spot. I will take the lead and make a decision for you. Don't make trouble for no reason. Let's all have some peace and quiet."

Her new policy, though simple and direct, truly resonated with the hearts of these concubines.

It spares you the painful daily morning greetings, allows you to replace disloyal servants, and provides a place to seek redress for grievances…

Although this Consort Jin is sharp-tongued and frightening in her methods, she seems to be quite fair and straightforward in her work.

"That's enough for today, everyone can leave now."

Jiang Nan concluded by waving her hand.

The concubines, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, and filled with a strange sense of gratitude and anticipation, rose and respectfully bowed.

They quietly withdrew from the main hall of Yongshou Palace one by one.

Watching them leave, Jiang Nan breathed a long sigh of relief.

The first court assembly at Yongshou Palace concluded amidst this complex atmosphere of awe, shock, and gratitude.

Consort Jin, Jiang Nan, is known for her unwavering principles, fair dealings, and sharp, outspoken nature.

It was deeply etched in the hearts of every concubine in the imperial harem.

——————

Yongshou Palace Sleeping Room.

"Fang Ruo!"

Jiang Nan thought that since he was taking over, he should at least make a show of it. He rubbed his face and cheered himself up.

"Give me a list of the head maids in charge of various departments in the harem, as well as the main managers of the Imperial Household Department in charge of purchasing and personnel. It doesn't need to be too detailed, just make sure you see who they are working for and which palaces they are close to."

Since I have to go to work, I should at least understand the company's organizational structure and personnel relationships first.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will take care of it right away."

Fangruo quickly agreed.

"There's more!"

Jiang Nan added.

"From now on, you should screen all the matters reported by the palaces. For trivial matters and mutual complaints, just deal with them according to the old rules or find a similar example. Don't report everything to me. Only report matters involving the distribution of allowances, personnel transfers, or matters that really cause a big commotion."

The first essential skill for a leader is knowing how to delegate authority and focus on the big picture while letting go of the small details.

Doing everything personally will only lead to exhaustion.

She is well-versed in the essence of modern management: taking it easy.

Fangruo hesitated for a moment.

"Your Majesty, won't this make people think you're not doing your job properly?"

"Not doing your best?"

Jiang Nan raised an eyebrow. That's exactly what she wanted. She needed to establish Kangxi as someone who didn't care about power. That was the way to make it last.

"It would be abnormal if I were to do everything wholeheartedly. Do they want justice? Most likely, they want to use me to suppress their opponents. I will not be used as a pawn. Tell them to stop bothering me if they have nothing to do. When I am in a good mood, the world will be at peace. If I am bothered by their noise, then no one will have a good time."

Her words were both domineering and shameless, which amused Fangruo and Madam Wang.

"Yes, I understand."

Fangruo smiled and agreed.

They found that their master's twisted logic and heresy actually made sense inexplicably.

——————

Autumn has arrived in the blink of an eye, and the summer heat is gradually fading.

Under the almost Buddhist-like management of Consort Jin, the imperial harem was in charge.

Surprisingly, the calm lasted for two months.

There was no fuss about morning and evening greetings, and no petty squabbles among the concubines being reported.

All the palaces seemed to be behaving themselves, and even the servants of the Imperial Household Department became much more disciplined.

The Imperial Household Department is making great efforts to prepare for the first imperial concubine selection since Emperor Kangxi ascended the throne.

This added a touch of busyness and undercurrent of anticipation to the palace.

Empress Hesheli, who was confined to Kunning Palace, seemed to have been deliberately forgotten by Emperor Kangxi.

Besides the imperial physicians routinely taking her pulse to ensure the safety of her unborn child,

Emperor Kangxi never set foot there again, nor did he ever mention lifting the ban.

That evening, after finishing his official duties, Emperor Kangxi, as usual, went to Yongshou Palace for dinner.

The hall was brightly lit, and several exquisite seasonal dishes and Jiang Nan's favorite desserts were laid out on the table.

The atmosphere was warm and casual.