Chapter 58 Let's Talk About Love with Emperor Kangxi

The concubines had already learned about what happened in the Imperial Garden today through various channels.

Knowing that the Empress had once again suffered a great loss at the hands of Consort Jin and had lost all face.

Seeing the Empress trying to maintain her dignity while Consort Jin seemed completely unconcerned only confirmed the rumors.

Just then, as if remembering something, Jiang Nan gave instructions to Chunlan behind her.

"Chunlan, bring out the tea I brought. I dare not eat or drink anything from other people's palaces while I'm out, for fear of getting an upset stomach."

The words were not spoken loudly, but they clearly resounded throughout the entire hall, and their meaning was self-evident.

The empress's face instantly turned from pale to ashen, and her body swayed almost imperceptibly.

Chunlan responded and took out an exquisite purple clay teapot and several clean white jade cups from the basket she carried with her.

Jiang Nan smiled and looked at Consort Niohuru sitting opposite her, extending an invitation in a friendly tone.

"Sister Niohuru, are you thirsty? Would you like a cup? I brought a lot of cups with me; they're top-quality pre-rain Longjing tea, very refreshing."

Consort Niohuru glanced at Jiang Nan, then at the Empress, whose face was extremely pale.

A mischievous grin spread across his face as he politely declined.

"Thank you for your kindness, Consort Xie, but I am not thirsty."

Jiang Nan didn't mind, and asked Chunlan to pour her a cup of tea, which she then slowly sipped.

He even let out a satisfied sigh.

That leisurely demeanor was completely out of place with the heavy and oppressive atmosphere of the entire Kunning Palace.

You slut, you slut.

She's just laughing at me.

Empress Hesheli was cursing wildly in her heart.

She felt like a monkey being watched.

All dignity and prestige were trampled to pieces by Jiang Nan's seemingly casual but actually arrogant words and actions.

Because of Wanyan's poor health, she planned to reveal her trump card at the provincial examination tomorrow morning.

At this moment, overwhelmed by extreme anger and humiliation, I almost couldn't hold back and started typing prematurely.

But her remaining rationality told her that she couldn't.

The time is not right.

Turning against her now would only expose the fact that Wanyan was drinking the herbal medicine, making the situation even more unpleasant. She had to endure it.

She bit her lower lip hard, squeezing out a sentence through her teeth, her voice trembling noticeably.

"Alright, I'm feeling a bit tired today, and there's nothing important to say. If there's nothing else, you may all leave."

The concubines felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and they all rose, bowed, and took their leave, wishing they could escape immediately.

Jiang Nan looked at the Empress, who seemed unable to hold on any longer and wished she could disappear immediately.

He put down his teacup, still wanting more, and slowly stood up.

With a hint of regret on his face that he hadn't seen enough of the show, he gave a perfunctory bow.

"Alright, since Your Majesty is not feeling well and has no further instructions, then I shall take my leave. Your Majesty, please rest well and please don't get angry again."

After saying that, she led the people from Yongshou Palace away with a faint, mocking smile.

As the Empress watched Jiang Nan's departing figure, she gripped the armrest of her phoenix throne tightly and secretly vowed that she would teach this vile woman a lesson tomorrow.

——————

Inside the Yongshou Palace dining hall, the lights were on, and the aroma of food filled the air.

Jiang Nan was enjoying her meal when Kangxi's sudden appearance made her merely lift her eyelids.

Instead of stopping eating, he mumbled a complaint.

"Your Majesty, why do you walk so quietly, like a cat? If someone were timid, they would be scared out of their wits sooner or later."

Kangxi looked at her, her behavior both unruly and affectionate.

Far from being annoyed, he found it much more comfortable than facing the Empress's rigid etiquette in Kunning Palace.

He walked to the table, pulled out the chair opposite Jiang Nan, and sat down.

He deliberately put on a stern face, but his tone carried a hint of indulgent teasing.

"My Consort Jin has always been incredibly audacious. I think you'd be hoping I wouldn't come so you could eat all by yourself, wouldn't you? I've been so busy until now that I finally have time to eat, and you've already started eating by yourself?"

Jiang Nan swallowed the food in her mouth, picked up a silk handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and retorted confidently.

“Your Majesty, Yongshou Palace is my home, and you are the master of the house. I’m not treating you like an outsider. When we’re at home, we have to do whatever we want and follow all the rules. That’s so boring. It’s the same when you come here. Please be more at ease.”

Talking about feelings with your boss is much more effective than talking about rules.

Emperor Kangxi was both amused and exasperated by her absurd and fallacious arguments, and pointed at her, saying...

"Nannan, I can tell you're just greedy. You say you don't treat me like an outsider? According to you, I'm the head of the household. Ask around, in this entire Qing Dynasty, which respectable family has the mistress of the house eating before the master of the house? Your twisted logic won't fool me."

Seeing that she couldn't fool him, Jiang Nan immediately put on a docile expression that showed she knew she was wrong and was willing to admit it, readily agreeing with his advice.

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty is wise. I was wrong. Next time, I will wait until you, the head of the family, are at the table before I start eating, okay? I promise I won't eat first, even if I starve to death."

She verbally apologized, but a cunning glint flashed in her eyes.

Emperor Kangxi was rendered speechless by her ability to change her expression so quickly.

He shook his head helplessly, which was a tacit acceptance of her family rules, and his tone softened.

"That's more like it. But Nan Nan, if I'm late in the future, you don't have to wait around. You can have some snacks to tide you over. I'll be worried if you get sick from hunger."

These words carried a genuine concern.

Jiang Nan inwardly scoffed.

Hmph, at least you still have some conscience.

But he replied with a smile.

"I know, Your Majesty. Please sit down and have your meal. The food is getting cold. Zhao Deyi, go to the small kitchen and have them bring two more of Your Majesty's favorite hot dishes."

"Yes, sir."

Zhao Deyi quickly acknowledged and withdrew.

Emperor Kangxi picked up his chopsticks, took a small amount of the pickled vegetables in front of him that looked very appetizing, tasted them, and nodded in approval.

"Hmm, the pickles in your little kitchen are quite good, even better than those in the imperial kitchen."

"That's right. I specifically asked them to add less salt and more sugar and sesame oil, so it's appetizing without being too salty."

Jiang Nan proudly raised her chin.

The two ate their meal in silence for a while, when Kangxi seemed to remember something.

He put down his chopsticks, looked at Jiang Nan, and spoke with a mixture of inquiry and helplessness.

"Nannan, I heard that you angered the Empress again when you were in the evening meditation session? There was quite a commotion at Kunning Palace."

Jiang Nan was gnawing on a piece of braised pork rib when she heard this and paused.

She raised her greasy lips, blinked her eyes, and asked innocently.

"What? Is the Emperor feeling sorry for his Empress? Has he come to question her on her behalf?"

Kangxi glared at her, annoyed.

"What am I worried about? I'm just reminding you that the Empress is pregnant. The court, the harem, and even the Empress Dowager are all hoping for the safe arrival of this legitimate son. If you keep provoking her, and you really anger her to the point of harming the baby, then even if I want to protect you, I'm afraid it will be difficult to silence the gossip."

Jiang Nan put down the ribs, picked up a handkerchief and slowly wiped her hands, but she didn't think much of it.

The legitimate son?

Who brainwashed him so thoroughly with this evil concept of hierarchy between legitimate and illegitimate children?

Wasn't he himself born out of wedlock?

She pondered to herself, "Why don't I just take the position of Crown Prince from the Empress's legitimate son?" And so she did.

"Your Majesty, I've always had a question: do you particularly care about the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children?"