Chapter 134 Jiang Nan: First, set up the stage
Jiang Nan led Niohuru into Zhongcui Palace.
Consort Ma had already been informed and was waiting in the courtyard. Upon seeing them enter, she hurriedly bowed.
Jiang Nan waved her hand, signaling her to get up, without stopping.
He walked straight toward the east side hall where Ma Jiashi lived, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
"No need for formalities, let's go inside and talk."
Ma Jia was filled with apprehension and quickly followed.
The group entered the East Annex Hall, and Jiang Nan naturally sat down in the main seat at the head of the table.
Niohuru sat to her left and right.
Ma Jia stood at the lower end, looking somewhat uneasy, and quickly spoke up.
"I'll have someone make tea right away..."
"No need for that."
Jiang Nan interrupted her, her gaze sweeping over the palace maids and eunuchs standing in the hall.
"I have a few words to say. You may all go outside and wait. Close the palace gates."
The palace servants dared not delay, responded in unison, filed out, and gently closed the palace door.
Suddenly, only three people remained in the hall, and the air seemed to freeze.
Ma Jia felt that invisible pressure, and her voice trembled slightly.
"I wonder what important matter Your Majesty has come to instruct me on today?"
Jiang Nan didn't beat around the bush; she went straight to the point, looking at Ma Jia with a serious expression.
The voice was calm yet carried a tremendous impact.
"Ma Jia, I ask you, do you hate Empress Hesheli? Do you want to avenge your untimely death, Cheng Rui?"
Ma Jia was startled by the blunt question, and her face turned pale instantly.
She was indeed born into the Bordered Yellow Banner, but her family had declined, and her father, Gaishan, was only a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Works.
He was not even considered a prominent figure in the capital city, where powerful and influential people gathered; his family had no power or influence.
She got up and then knelt down with a thud, her voice filled with sobs and fear.
"Your Majesty, please understand, I...I dare not harbor any resentment!"
Jiang Nan looked at her frightened appearance and sighed helplessly.
She knew that Ma Jia was weak-willed, but she never expected that the pain of losing her son would not temper her in any way.
They didn't even dare to admit their hatred.
Seeing this, Niohuru, who was standing to the side, also shook her head slightly, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes.
"Get up."
Jiang Nan's tone softened slightly, but with a hint of impatience.
"I'm not here today to force you to kill the Empress and avenge yourself. What are you panicking about?"
Ma Jia then stood up shakily, still keeping her head down, and asked in a low voice.
"Then... what does Your Majesty need me to do?"
Jiang Nan leaned forward slightly and spoke softly.
"I plan to make my move publicly at Erhe's full moon celebration. At that time, I need you to stand up at the right moment, accuse the Empress, and seek justice for your unjustly killed child."
Upon hearing this, Ma Jia's legs went weak, and she almost knelt down again, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
"Your Majesty, I am foolish and ignorant. I dare not. The Hesheli family is extremely powerful. I hate the Empress, but my family is so weak. If I incur the Hesheli family's wrath because of this, I will be annihilated in an instant. Please, Your Majesty, have mercy and spare me."
As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.
Jiang Nan almost laughed at her cowardice, and rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"What favor am I to offer? The Emperor is the ruler of this Great Qing Dynasty. What are you afraid of? Do you think the Hesheli family can control everything and bypass the Emperor to dismiss your father from his post?"
Ma Jia was speechless when asked the question, but felt a bitter taste in her mouth.
That is true, but if the Hesheli family wanted to crush her family, they had plenty of subtle ways to do so, so why openly dismiss her from office?
Seeing that she was still timid, Jiang Nan's tone turned cold and she began to put pressure on her.
“Ma Jia, listen to me. If I remember correctly, I have saved you twice. Once was when the Imperial Household Department withheld your charcoal, and you fell ill and were left unattended. It was I who investigated and punished the servants of the Imperial Household Department. And at the New Year’s banquet, Suo’etu tried to frame you. If I hadn’t suppressed him on the spot, you would have become the scapegoat, and your whole family would have been branded as traitors. Would you still be able to live peacefully as a concubine in Zhongcui Palace? Who brought you peace today? And who caused you the pain of losing your son? It was the Empress and the Hesheli family.”
With each word she spoke, Ma Jia's face paled a little more.
"Do you think you can escape by being cowardly and not resisting? Or do you think that if you obediently comply, the Empress will show you leniency and spare your future children?"
Jiang Nan's voice carried a chilling edge.
"You give birth to one, she harms another. If you dare not fight back, you will only live in the pain of losing your child and endless fear for the rest of your life. I really don't have the patience to waste words with you. Just give me a straight answer: do it or not?"
Jiang Nan's last words carried an undisguised threat.
"You're afraid of the Empress, but aren't you afraid of me? Think carefully before you answer."
Ma Jia's psychological defenses were broken down by this series of arguments and threats.
She collapsed to the ground, finally choking back tears as she gave in.
"This concubine...this concubine will obey Your Majesty, this concubine will do as Your Majesty commands, I beg Your Majesty to protect my family...How...how should this concubine accuse others?"
Seeing that she had given in, Jiang Nan's expression softened slightly, and he gave instructions in a deep voice.
"On the day of the full moon banquet, in front of the royal family, princes, and civil and military officials, you stood up directly and tearfully accused Empress Hesheli of plotting to harm the imperial heir! You said that after your secret investigation, you found that Prince Chengrui was born with a deficiency because the Empress had someone tamper with your food for a long time. Later, when Chengrui caught a cold, the Imperial Hospital was helpless, which was also due to the Empress's interference!"
She paused, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes.
"You must cry and beg the Emperor to seek justice for you, to redress the grievances of your unjustly killed child, and you must also say that the Empress's actions have angered both Heaven and Man, and even Heaven cannot bear to look upon them. Her son, Chenghu, was born with congenital defects and died young. This is the retribution for her many evil deeds. She had the entire Imperial Hospital protecting her throughout her pregnancy, yet the child still looks the same. What is this if not retribution?"
Jiang Nan's voice has a captivating power.
"You say that the Empress killed your child with her own hands, and now Heaven has taken her child away. This is the cycle of karma, and retribution is inevitable. The Empress brought this upon herself and personally took the life of her own son!"
Ma Jia was terrified; such scathing words were truly piercing.
She dared not resist, and could only grit her teeth and memorize everything, responding in a trembling voice.
"Yes...this concubine...has already remembered it."
Jiang Nan nodded in satisfaction and exchanged a knowing glance with Niohuru.
The roles for the grand full-moon celebration are already in place.
——————
The following day was also the third day after the birth of the little guy, Erhe.
According to the old customs of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, three major rituals must be performed to symbolize washing away the dust of the past life and praying for peace, health and wealth in this life.
The main hall of Yongshou Palace had already been decorated in a solemn and festive manner.
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang sat upright in the main seat, dressed in a robe with longevity patterns, her expression kind yet exuding royal majesty.
Emperor Kangxi sat to one side, trying his best to remain calm.
But the joy and anticipation of becoming a father in his eyes and brows could not be completely hidden.
Empress Dowager Borjigit sat quietly on the other side, with a gentle smile on her face.
The most eye-catching person was, of course, Empress Hesheli, who had just been granted permission to come to the ceremony after being released from confinement.
She was impeccably made up, attempting to restore her former elegance.
However, her slightly pale complexion and the unconcealable darkness in her eyes betrayed the torment and unease she had endured during her confinement.
She sat down below Kangxi in accordance with etiquette, her posture dignified, but inevitably somewhat stiff.
——————
Seeing this garbage data, I really have no mood to write anything.
Favoritism? No, all I get is this person keeping me hanging on by a thread, barely hanging on until the month is over.
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