Chapter 37 The Witchcraft Crisis Erupts
Upon seeing Jiang Nan and his group enter, everyone in the hall immediately turned their attention to them.
Kangxi stopped and looked at Jiang Nan, his eyes filled with mixed emotions: worry, anxiety, and warning.
In the end, he simply nodded slightly to her, everything understood without saying a word.
Nan Nan, you've arrived... The situation is perilous today. With the Empress Dowager here, even I cannot guarantee your safety. You must be careful.
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang also raised her eyes and her gaze fell on Jiang Nan.
His gaze was calm and serene, yet it carried a profound and discerning insight that seemed to see through everything.
She naturally recognized this concubine from the Guarjia clan, who had recently stirred up quite a storm in the harem and earned the emperor's special attention.
But she didn't show any emotion, just glanced at it briefly, and then turned her gaze back to the inner room.
The moment Jiang Nan entered the palace, a fleeting, barely suppressed resentment and smugness flashed across the depths of Empress Hesheli's eyes.
But on the surface, he still maintained that compassionate and sympathetic demeanor.
Jiang Nan remained composed and respectfully bowed to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress.
Then they quietly stepped aside and sat down.
Wang followed closely behind, her palms sweating with nervousness.
A suffocating silence fell over the hall once again.
Only the occasional suppressed gasps of Kangxi, barely containing his anger, and the faint gasps of fear from the imperial physicians could be heard.
Jiang Nan's gaze swept calmly across the entire room, a cold smile playing on her lips.
What a vivid portrayal of humanity...
She could sense the immense sadness and tension in the air.
An undercurrent targeting her is quietly brewing.
Apart from Lady Majia, who was truly heartbroken and silently wept in her inner chamber while watching over her son, and the Empress Dowager, who perhaps genuinely grieved for her great-grandson, the rest of them...
An enraged Emperor Kangxi, an empress putting on an act, servants kneeling and begging for mercy, and even herself.
It seems everyone is waiting for the same moment.
Waiting for the moment when that tiny life in swaddling clothes will finally be extinguished.
It was also the moment when Empress Hesheli's true colors were revealed.
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Inside the east side hall of Zhongcui Palace.
The oppressive silence was broken by a soft, sigh-like gasp.
Then came Ma Jia's heart-wrenching sobs, which she could no longer suppress.
Prince Chengrui has passed away.
Kangxi stopped abruptly, his back stiffening for a moment before he slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When I opened my eyes again, all that remained was a deep weariness and an indescribable sense of unease.
He turned around, his voice low and hoarse, and spoke to the Empress Dowager who was sitting upright.
"Grandmother... Chengrui, you're gone. Let him go peacefully, no longer needing to suffer in this world."
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang sighed deeply.
With genuine sorrow and regret on her face, she twirled the prayer beads in her hand and murmured.
"Alas...so be it, it's all fate. I'm going back now. Xuan Ye!"
She looked at Kangxi, her tone carrying a hint of entrustment.
"You are busy with affairs of the previous dynasty, but you should also pay more attention to the harem and help the royal family to have children as soon as possible."
"Grandson will remember the teachings of His Majesty."
Emperor Kangxi bowed and agreed.
Just as the somber atmosphere began to ease slightly, and the Empress Dowager was preparing to rise and leave—
A seemingly inconspicuous palace maid dressed in the attire of Zhongcui Palace suddenly stumbled out from the kneeling crowd.
She cried out in a piercing, mournful voice.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, this servant...this servant has something important to report. This servant discovered...discovered something terrible in the young prince's room! The young prince died unjustly."
She was crying and wailing.
He pulled a small doll made of rough white cloth from his bosom and held it high above his head.
The little doll had several gleaming needles stuck in its chest, and there seemed to be blurry notes pasted on its body.
Everyone in the hall, including the Empress Dowager who was about to leave, was instantly drawn to it.
Kangxi's pupils suddenly contracted, his heart filled with both shock and anger.
Here comes Hesheli!
You actually used such a vicious trick, witchcraft and sorcery?
Are you trying to pin the death of my son entirely on Jiang Nan?
He subconsciously looked at Jiang Nan with concern.
Jiang Nan felt his gaze, but only blinked at him almost imperceptibly.
His eyes were calm, even carrying a hint of knowing certainty and amusement at the spectacle.
Kangxi was taken aback by her reaction, and his anxiety inexplicably dissipated somewhat.
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's brows furrowed instantly, her face revealing extreme displeasure and annoyance.
Witchcraft? Such a thing as bewitching has happened in the imperial harem?
Exhausted and weary, she rubbed her temples, glancing almost imperceptibly at the person standing beside her.
Empress Hesheli was perfectly positioned to display an expression of shock and anger at that very moment.
Is it her? To bring down that Consort Jiang, she's even risking the life and death of the imperial heir?
"Bring it here."
Kangxi's voice was cold, carrying suppressed anger.
The palace maid trembled as she presented the doll to the emperor.
Kangxi grabbed the doll, glanced at it, and his expression turned even more unpleasant.
On the rough cloth doll, there were notes with crooked and wicked curses written on them.
And the handwriting... was seven or eight parts similar to Jiang Nan's handwriting when she reviewed palace affairs.
What a wicked thought! They even imitated the handwriting.
Emperor Kangxi was furious, but he had to suppress his anger and play along.
He turned his head sharply, his gaze like a blade shooting towards the Empress, and shouted angrily.
"Empress, is this how you manage the harem? How could you allow such evil magic to appear in the Crown Prince's palace? How can you be in charge?"
Empress Hesheli seemed to be startled by this sudden accusation.
She immediately knelt down with a thud, her voice filled with grievance and panic.
"Your Majesty, I am aware that although I oversee the six palaces, the concubines reside in different places, and I cannot keep an eye on each of them at all times. I truly do not know... I am truly wronged."
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager interrupted Kangxi's reprimand in a deep voice.
"Alright, Xuan Ye. Now is not the time to hold the Empress accountable for her negligence. The most urgent task is to find out who put this curse on the imperial heir. Their intentions are despicable."
At this moment, Lady Ma stumbled and fell at Kangxi's feet, weeping bitterly.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you must do justice for me and Chengrui! I was just saying... I was saying that Chengrui was perfectly fine yesterday, so how come he suddenly developed a high fever today... It turns out that someone used such evil magic to harm him. Your Majesty, Chengrui was murdered."
Kangxi looked at the weeping Lady Magia at his feet, then at the glaring witchcraft doll in his hand.
His gaze swept over Jiang Nan again, who remained calmly seated, even with a faint, mocking smile on his lips.
Suddenly, I felt at peace.
He then said in a cold voice.
"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly for me, and find out who made this cursed object."
Seeing this, the Empress immediately seized the opportunity and spoke.
"Your Majesty, there are writings on this doll. May I have a look? I manage palace affairs and am quite familiar with the handwriting of my sisters. Perhaps I can find some clues."
The Empress Dowager nodded.
"Let the Empress see it. The sooner we find out the truth, the more at ease I can return to the palace."
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A typhoon is coming! All you Guangdong folks, please lock your doors and windows tightly. The outer winds will start blowing after midnight, reaching their strongest point tomorrow morning. In short, stay safe!
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