Chapter 206 The Granny: Teaching Uya Clan to Bow
Kangxi was speechless after hearing her words.
He certainly understands this principle.
He was just seething with anger, a kind of frustration stemming from his powerlessness as an emperor amidst the infighting within the harem.
He let out a long breath, his tone softening.
"I...I understand. But...Nannan, is there really no way to eliminate these problems at their root?"
Jiang Nan slowly shook her head, her expression serious.
"I cannot do that! The only thing I can guarantee, and the only bottom line I can hold firmly right now, is that I will never allow anyone to lay a hand on the imperial heirs. As for the concubines... death and injury are inevitable. They can only blame themselves for not being smart enough, not being careful enough, or... for being unlucky."
She looked at Kangxi, her tone sharp and clear.
"Your Majesty, haven't you figured it out yet? The root of all this infighting in the harem lies within you. There is only one you, and your favor is limited. If you glance at someone more or bestow an extra gift upon someone today, it could become the fuse that ignites jealousy. As long as they harbor resentment and harbor delusions, the struggle will never cease. Today, one Qi Jia clan member falls, but tomorrow another Wang Jia clan member or Li Jia clan member will emerge."
Kangxi was silent for a moment, then raised his hand to rub his temples, and said wearily.
"Alright, I understand."
He changed the subject.
"So... how did you handle the fight between my cousin and Wuya?"
Seeing that he had softened his stance, admitted defeat, and changed the subject, Jiang Nan sneered inwardly.
snort!
Where did that arrogant attitude go?
Did they really think Jiang Nan was a pushover, someone who could be used as a punching bag?
If she doesn't silence this emperor today, she's not a Jiang!
Jiang Nan picked up her chopsticks again, took a piece of green vegetable, and replied in her usual casual tone.
“They’re both being punished equally. They’re both kneeling in the East Annex of Yonghe Palace and won’t be able to get up for at least three hours. Your Majesty, rest assured, I know what I’m doing. I didn’t do anything to them, just to teach them a lesson so they won’t embarrass themselves outside the palace again.”
Upon hearing this, Kangxi hesitated for a moment, then carefully considered his words before speaking.
"Nannan, isn't kneeling a bit too harsh? Especially considering my cousin... she is, after all, my own cousin. If this gets back to the Tong family, it won't look good on me..."
Jiang Nan seemed to have anticipated his words, and chuckled lightly, her tone confident.
"Your Majesty, please put your mind at ease. Since I have punished them, I have naturally silenced them as well. No one is allowed to utter a single word about what happened today outside Yonghe Palace. This matter is now closed. Tomorrow, when you have some free time, please go to Chengqian Palace and properly comfort your wronged cousin. Give her all the dignity she deserves. She won't tell the Tong family."
Seeing how considerate she was, Kangxi's frustration and anger at being unable to protect the concubines in the harem dissipated.
Instead, a complex mix of emotions arose.
There was both admiration for Nan Nan's methods and a sense of inexplicable relief.
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Chengqian Palace, Sleeping Chamber, Midnight
Most of the palace lanterns had been extinguished, leaving only a single lamp burning in the corner, casting a dim glow in the bedchamber late at night.
Lady Tongjia, dressed only in a plain silk nightgown, leaned against the warm couch, her face pale from exhaustion and lingering anger.
A young palace maid was kneeling on the footstool, carefully applying a warm towel to her swollen and sore knees.
Granny Ma sat on the embroidered stool in front of the couch, and couldn't help but gently massage her old legs.
For someone her age, kneeling for three hours as punishment was truly an ordeal.
She sighed inwardly, thinking how utterly pointless this disaster was.
But she also knew that since she had followed the young master, her honor and disgrace were now tied to him.
"hiss…"
The sharp pain in her knee made Lady Tongjia gasp, and she irritably brushed away the maid's hand.
"Be gentle, you useless thing!"
The palace maid was so frightened that she immediately kowtowed and begged for forgiveness.
The anger in Tongjia's heart did not subside because of the punishment of kneeling; instead, it burned even more fiercely in the quiet of the night.
She sat up straight, her eyes filled with humiliation and resentment.
“Granny Ma! Tell me, what is that lowly maid, Uya? She’s a lowly wretch who was brought up from the ranks by a bondservant. How dare she… how dare she actually hit me back! How can I swallow this insult?”
Despite the pain in her knees, Granny Ma raised her eyes and looked calmly at her mistress.
His tone carried a sense of helplessness and a reminder born of hardship.
"Princess, please calm down. Be careful not to upset yourself."
She sighed.
"Today's events, if I may say something inappropriate, you... were indeed a bit impulsive."
Seeing that Madam Tongjia was about to object, Granny Ma raised her hand and pressed it down slightly before continuing.
"Without any evidence, you rashly came to question us, which was already a poor move. What's more... you struck first. No matter what, you're in the wrong. Even if the Emperor asks about it tomorrow, what will you say? That you suspect Uya-shi harmed Qijia-shi and the nanny, so you couldn't stand it and hit her? If the Emperor asks for evidence, you won't be able to produce any, and the Emperor will think you're willful, reckless, and unreasonable."
Tongjia was momentarily speechless at the question. Thinking of the scrutinizing gaze that Kangxi might give her, her momentum weakened somewhat, but she still remained defiant.
"Could it be...could it just be left like this? Let that bitch get away with it? The death of the old woman, and the humiliation I suffered today, all for nothing?"
Seeing that Granny Ma was also suffering, she spoke softly, with a hint of guilt.
"Granny, I'm so sorry that you've suffered along with me today."
Granny Ma shook her head.
"This old servant has followed my master through thick and thin, so how could I be implicated? But Princess, revenge cannot be taken on a whim; we must employ methods and strategies to strike decisively without harming ourselves."
A glimmer of hope ignited in Tongjia's eyes.
"What brilliant plan do you have, Granny?"
Granny Ma leaned forward, lowering her voice even further, her tone carrying a clear sense of calculation.
“Princess, you are of noble status, the Emperor’s own cousin, and a mistress. Why do you need to personally roll up your sleeves and get involved in dealing with a mere concubine, giving people something to talk about? We can simply use the word ‘rules’ to suppress her.”
"rule?"
Tongjia seemed to be deep in thought.
"That's right!"
A glint of light flashed in Granny Ma's eyes.
"Etiquette and rules are of utmost importance in the palace. The fact that Uya dared to be perfunctory in her greetings to you today is a clear mistake. In the future, whenever she comes to pay her respects or you meet her on the palace road, if she shows the slightest lack of manners or careless words, you can have this old servant step in and, under the guise of teaching her manners, make her perform the full kneeling ceremony again and again under the sun or in the wind. It will not end until her posture is perfect and her heart is sincere. This is called cutting flesh with a dull knife. Although it will not hurt her bones, it will greatly blunt her sharpness and damage her face, leaving her with no way to express her bitterness. You, Princess, can just watch from the side. Wouldn't that be satisfying?"
As Tongjia listened, the image of Wuya being severely reprimanded by Granny Ma couldn't help but come to mind.
The scene of awkwardly repeating the bowing.
The frustration in his heart dissipated almost entirely, and a pleased smile even appeared on his lips.
“The old woman is right. This method is excellent. It is in accordance with the rules and can effectively curb her arrogance.”
Seeing that her master had listened, Granny Ma felt somewhat relieved and then solemnly gave him further instructions.
"Therefore, Princess, you must never act like this again. People in the palace are unpredictable. Today it is Uya, but if you encounter someone even more ruthless in the future, who will risk everything to bite you back, the consequences would be unimaginable. You must always remember that your nobility lies in your status and the Emperor's favor. You must use this method of suppressing others to deal with her, instead of getting into a street fight like a shrew, which would only lower your status."
Tongjia nodded in deep agreement, but then, remembering something, she pursed her lips and said...
“What you say is true, but… suppressing her like this isn’t effective for everyone. Look at Her Majesty the Empress back when she was still Consort Jin, did she ever talk about these rules of etiquette? Even Empress Hesheli couldn’t do anything about her back then.”
Upon hearing this, Granny Ma's expression hardened, and she lowered her voice.
"Princess, please be careful with your words! Her Majesty the Empress is no ordinary person. For now, we just need to keep an eye on Yonghe Palace. We can take it one step at a time; there's still a long way to go."
Tongjia also realized that she had spoken out of turn and was afraid that Li Guiping would overhear her gossip about the Empress.
She pursed her lips, not daring to say anything more.
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