Chapter 85 The Empress's Heart Turns Cold

Jiang Nan took in the Empress's frightened appearance and sneered inwardly.

Hey, little brat, are you scared now?

Hide? You can hide from the first day of the month, but can you hide from the fifteenth?

The confinement is over, and the daily morning and evening greetings will resume. Watch how I arrange everything for you clearly.

She had even started mentally planning her daily scolding schedule.

I just hope that this Empress can withstand the strain, and that she won't just finish warming up.

The other person clutched their stomach and cried, saying that the dragon fetus was uncomfortable.

That would be so disappointing; it would really affect her performance.

Consort Niohuru, sitting opposite, watched this scene unfold and couldn't help but feel a sense of schadenfreude.

She didn't believe for a second that Jiang Nan's anger could be easily extinguished.

The trouble caused by Songgotu will likely be paid for by the Empress in the end. There's probably going to be quite a show to watch.

I wonder how long this nominal Empress can hold out under Consort Jin?

She had no doubt that the Empress would be completely crushed by Jiang Nan.

After all, even the cunning old fox Suo'etu, who could manipulate events in the imperial court, was publicly humiliated and stripped of all face by Jiang Nan.

Soetu is no fool; he is the current face of the Hesheli family in the court.

He was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, who held real power.

Jiang Nan noticed Consort Niohuru's look of amusement and glared at her irritably.

Consort Niohuru immediately recalled the humiliating and infuriating scene of being forced to act coquettishly, and her whole body shuddered.

His expression froze instantly, and he quickly lowered his head.

Pretend to be engrossed in the plate of snacks in front of you that you've barely touched.

Silently repeating to myself: You can't see me, you can't see me...

Jiang Nan then withdrew her gaze with satisfaction and lazily called out.

"Zhao is triumphant."

Zhao Deyi, who had been standing by his side, immediately darted forward and bent his waist very low.

His face was filled with barely suppressed excitement and pride, and his voice trembled with happiness.

"Your Majesty, your servant is here."

"Your performance today was excellent. You were quick-witted and your sarcastic remarks were spot on. I am very satisfied."

Jiang Nan's tone was calm, yet it carried an air of approval.

Zhao Deyi felt overjoyed, almost floating on air, because the Empress had clearly praised him.

This made him happier than being rewarded with mountains of gold and silver.

He straightened his back even more, and his voice was filled with excitement.

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. It is my great fortune to be able to share your burdens. Your Majesty's favor is my greatest joy, and Your Majesty's enemies are my irreconcilable foes."

He's very confident now, with the Empress backing him up.

He felt he would dare to curse even if it meant pointing his finger at a prince or a duke!

Jiang Nan was amused by his declaration of loyalty.

"You have a very nice way of speaking. Alright, Chunlan should have finished treating Fangruo's injuries by now. Go check on her condition and report back to me."

"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will go immediately."

Zhao accepted the order with satisfaction and retreated with light steps.

At this moment, Consort Wang, who was sitting in the back row, quietly crept over and whispered to Jiang Nan.

"Your Majesty, I...I also wish to visit Miss Fangruo. She was injured while protecting Ruixue, and I feel truly guilty..."

Jiang Nan waved his hand, completely unconcerned.

"Go ahead. I just forgot to tell Zhao Deyi that you should pass on my message to Fangruo to rest well, and to have someone fetch any medicine Chunlan needs from the Imperial Hospital."

There's no rule like "you can't leave your seat until the banquet is over" in her household.

She was the rule. Once she gave her permission, who among the princes, ministers, and concubines in the palace dared to utter a word of dissent?

Wang curtsied in response and quietly left the room.

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Just then, a young prince, whose face bore a five or six-point resemblance to Emperor Kangxi and whose temperament was gentle and refined, appeared.

Holding a glass of wine, he walked calmly to the throne.

Jiang Nan's gossip radar immediately started beeping.

His gaze locked on her instantly.

He respectfully offered wine to Emperor Kangxi, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, and the Empress Dowager, his voice gentle and clear.

"I respect the emperor, the emperor's grandmother, and the emperor's mother."

Jiang Nan was curious.

Hey, which of Kangxi's brothers is this? They look like they were copied and pasted together, are they related?

Emperor Kangxi was clearly in a very good mood and drank some wine.

He caught a glimpse of Jiang Nan's undisguisedly inquisitive gaze and waved with a smile.

"Nannan, come here, let me introduce you."

Jiang Nan didn't hesitate and stood up to walk confidently to the emperor's presence.

Without any hesitation, they scanned and scrutinized the prince from left to right and from top to bottom.

He was muttering to himself.

"Your Majesty, this gentleman looks exactly like you. I'd guess he must be your brother, the closest of brothers, right?"

Emperor Kangxi was delighted by her unpretentious and straightforward manner.

However, seeing that his Nan Nan was still standing there, he immediately turned his head and deliberately glared at Liang Jiugong with a stern face.

"You blind fool, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and offer Consort Jin a seat."

Liang Jiugong wanted to slap himself in the face for forgetting his ancestor again.

He quickly put on a fawning smile and eagerly brought over a brocade stool.

It was carefully placed in the most prestigious position below the Empress Dowager.

Jiang Nan sat down comfortably, and Kangxi then introduced her with a smile.

"Nannan recognized him at a glance. This is Prince Yu, my second elder brother, Fuquan."

Jiang Nan nodded in sudden realization.

"Brother Fuquan!"

Emperor Kangxi was both amused and exasperated.

"Nannan, do not be rude, you must address him as Your Highness."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, standing to the side, was overjoyed.

As she gets older, she enjoys watching the younger generation's unconventional and lively antics, finding them particularly endearing and interesting.

Jiang Nan readily agreed with an "oh," then dragged out her words.

"Prince Yu—Auspicious—"

Prince Yu, Fuquan, was a truly good-tempered man. He quickly waved his hand, his smile as gentle as the warm spring sun.

"It's alright, it's alright. Consort Jin is a straightforward person. Since today is a family banquet, calling her brother will only make us feel closer. I think it's very good, very good."

He looked at Jiang Nan with clear and honest eyes, his tone full of sincere admiration.

"Your Highness, Consort Jin, your brilliance just now truly broadened my horizons. To be honest, my wife was completely captivated by you from the audience. She kept telling me that a woman living like Your Highness is truly wonderful. Although I am a man, I am also deeply impressed. In all my years of experience, I have never seen such a remarkable woman as Your Highness, who is both intelligent and courageous."

His praise was devoid of any flattery or greasiness; it was purely heartfelt appreciation, making one feel completely comfortable.

Jiang Nan felt a little embarrassed by his praise.

She waved her hand modestly, a rare display of humility, but her words were as sweet as honey.

"Oh dear, Your Highness, please stop praising me! If you keep praising me, I'll get carried away. What are my meager skills? I'm just relying on the Emperor and Empress Dowager's favoritism to bully them. If we're talking about real skill, it has to be..."

She abruptly changed the subject, her gaze fixed intently on Empress Xiaozhuang beside her.

She instantly switched to starry-eyed fangirl mode, flattering him with effortless grace.

"Our Empress Dowager is truly a divine being. Having served three emperors, what storms hasn't she weathered? Not only did she raise the Emperor to be so wise and powerful, but she also managed to remain firmly behind the scenes, stabilizing the country. In my humble opinion, the Empress Dowager is the true pinnacle of our Great Qing Dynasty... the pillar of strength, the anchor of stability, and a model for women."

This exceptionally high-level flattery struck Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang perfectly, hitting her heart right in the right direction.

What kind of scene hadn't Empress Xiaozhuang seen?

What kind of flattery haven't I heard of?

But she just happens to fall for Jiang Nan's tricks.

This statement affirms her great achievements.

With the affection and admiration of a junior, she listened with delight, her wrinkles beaming like blooming chrysanthemums.

She pointed at Jiang Nan and smiled at Kangxi.

"Your Majesty, listen to this girl's words! She can charm even the birds in the sky. I think she's not just clever, she's practically a genius."

Emperor Kangxi laughed heartily and echoed his sentiments.

For a moment, the atmosphere on the throne was incredibly harmonious.

It presented a heartwarming scene of three generations of a family enjoying each other's company in harmony.

——————

However, this jarring picture of family reunion fell into the eyes of Empress Hesheli, who sat alone on the right.

But it felt like a thousand needles, piercing her heart.

She watched as Emperor Kangxi, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, the Empress Dowager, and even Prince Yu all surrounded Jiang Nan, chatting and joking with her like stars around the moon.

And she was the rightful empress.

But it sits in a corner like a completely forgotten decoration, ignored by everyone.

Those envious, admiring, and flattering glances cast in the direction of the throne.

At this moment, she felt that everything had turned into a silent mockery and ridicule.

She felt like she was sitting on pins and needles; every second was torture.

She wanted to escape this suffocating and extremely embarrassing situation.

But as empress, her demeanor and dignity were like an invisible shackle, nailing her firmly to this shameful seat.

She could only stiffly straighten her back, feeling the sense of isolation and ridicule surging in from all directions.

What kind of empress was she anyway? A profound sense of desolation overwhelmed her.

——————

My rambling thoughts: No recommendations, no desire to write, no passion, no desire to move, just want to lie down.