Chapter 40 Kangxi: Promoted to Consort Jin
Jiang Nan watched coldly. "You've already fainted? Whether you're really fainting or faking it, I don't care," she thought with a sneer.
Ha, trying to get away with this? No way.
She immediately raised her voice, her tone extremely anxious.
"Oh dear, Your Majesty, what's wrong? Did you faint from excitement at having to clear my name? This won't do, Chunlan!"
"This servant is here."
Chunlan immediately stepped forward.
Jiang Nan spoke urgently, but her eyes gleamed with the light of a triumphant prank.
"Quickly, take a look at Her Majesty the Empress. Make sure she regains consciousness immediately. I'm waiting for Her Majesty to uphold justice. If necessary, administer acupuncture, using the longest needles."
She winked quickly at Chunlan.
Chunlan understood immediately and stepped forward, pretending to put her hand on the Empress's wrist. After a moment, she replied.
"Your Majesty, the Empress is merely suffering from a sudden surge of anger and blood stasis; she is not seriously ill. This servant will administer a few acupuncture treatments, and she will soon regain consciousness."
Jiang Nan immediately urged him anxiously.
"Then what are we waiting for? Fangruo, hurry up and fetch Chunlan's silver needles, the thickest and longest ones."
Emperor Kangxi watched from the side, his lips twitching slightly, almost losing his composure.
Jiang Nan's almost absurd yet satisfying counterattack left him with mixed feelings.
This girl is truly vindictive and unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss. Is she trying to turn Hesheli into a hedgehog?
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Just then, Zhao Deyi received the results.
One of the eunuchs who was being searched was so frightened that he trembled like a leaf, his face turned ashen, and his crotch was even wet.
Zhao Deyi unceremoniously took it from his hidden pocket.
They found several scraps of fabric similar in texture to the voodoo doll, along with a small amount of similar stuffing.
There were also several notes covered with vicious curses.
The handwriting was exactly the same as the one on the doll before, clearly a practice draft imitating Jiang Nan's handwriting.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
Zhao Deyi held up the items he had found high, speaking loudly.
"The stolen goods are here; they were found on this lackey."
Jiang Nan immediately abandoned the unconscious empress, strode forward, and took the evidence of the crimes.
He pinched his nose and flipped through it with disdain, then his face showed an extremely exaggerated look of shock and mockery, as if he had just realized something.
She dragged out the melody, her voice resounding throughout the entire venue.
"Oh my, everyone, look at this! Our virtuous and kind Empress is so thoughtful and meticulous in her work. She has even prepared such complete evidence for framing me in advance. Our Empress has really worked hard."
She took the stack of notes and walked to the side of the unconscious Empress, who was being supported by her nanny.
Talk to yourself at a volume loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Chunlan, is your acupuncture technique any good? Why hasn't the Empress woken up yet? I still need to ask her for more advice. How did this filthy thing, written in my own handwriting, cursing the imperial heir to die young, end up in the secret pocket of the eunuch in Kunning Palace?"
She clapped her hands suddenly, making an expression of extreme shock.
"Oh—I understand now. So that's what Your Majesty was planning, first sending someone to kill Chengrui, then bringing this filthy thing in, stuffing him into Yongshou Palace during the chaos of the palace search, and finally catching him red-handed? Oh my, Your Majesty, your play is truly flawless and brilliant. I'm amazed and thoroughly enjoying watching this show."
Seeing that the Empress's eyes were still tightly closed, her eyelashes trembling wildly but she remained unresponsive, Jiang Nan felt that the time was right.
She turned around to face Kangxi and the Empress Dowager.
The playful expression on her face vanished instantly, replaced by grief and indignation at having suffered a great injustice. She bowed gracefully, her voice slightly choked with sobs.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, you both witnessed it with your own eyes. The Empress... she is so vicious, framing the concubines. Her heart is despicable. I... I almost suffered eternal damnation. Now that she has been caught red-handed, I beg Your Majesty and Empress Dowager to do justice for me. I feel so wronged. I am so afraid. I am so afraid that I will not even dare to leave the palace gates again. I am afraid... I am afraid that Her Majesty the Empress will find another way to smear me."
Her performance was so sincere and moving that it touched everyone who heard it.
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang rolled her eyes inwardly as she watched her change of expression so easily and effortlessly.
However, he could only maintain a solemn expression.
However, one has to admit that this girl is indeed amazing; she not only resolved the crisis but also thoroughly humiliated her opponent.
This time, Hesheli really bit off more than she could chew...
Emperor Kangxi felt extremely pleased and exclaimed how satisfying it was.
Looking at the unconscious empress and Jiang Nan's aggrieved yet sharp eyes.
He suppressed a smile, looked at Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, and spoke with a heavy heart.
"Grandmother, you have seen it all. Hesheli's actions are truly outrageous and insidious, framing concubines and disrupting the palace. Now that the evidence is conclusive, what do you think should be done?"
Empress Xiaozhuang glanced indifferently at the Empress on the ground, her eyes filled with nothing but disgust.
She felt no sympathy left; she waved her hand dismissively.
"Xuan Ye, you are the emperor, and your harem is naturally yours to manage. I am tired and will return to the palace first."
Having said that, he actually took Sumala's hand and turned to leave, as if staying even a moment longer would be considered unclean.
She had seen enough of the show today and had a clear understanding of Jiang Nan's sharpness and methods.
The Hesheli clan? This is a good opportunity to curb their increasingly arrogant attitude; this farce is truly absurd.
With his grandmother's tacit approval, Kangxi no longer hesitated.
The pent-up anger and the current sense of exhilaration surged up together. He took a deep breath and spoke loudly.
"Liang Jiugong".
"Your servant is here."
"Issue my decree!"
Kangxi's voice, carrying the decisiveness of an emperor, resounded before the gates of Yongshou Palace.
"Consort Guarjia is gentle and kind, skilled in domestic affairs, virtuous and discerning, and clever in thwarting treacherous schemes. She is hereby promoted to Consort Jin and granted the power to assist in managing the six palaces. An auspicious day will be chosen for the investiture ceremony."
When the decree was issued, everyone was shocked.
To be granted the title of imperial concubine without bearing a child and to be given the power to assist in managing the six palaces—what an extraordinary favor!
Empress Xiaozhuang paused for a moment, but did not turn around. She simply added a sentence.
"Xuan Ye, having no son, has already been granted the title of concubine, which may invite criticism from the previous dynasty."
She wasn't trying to stop her, she was just reminding her.
Kangxi replied immediately.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, Jiang Nan comes from the prestigious Guarjia clan. Her cousin, Tu Hai, is a trusted minister of mine, holding the position of Grand Secretary and having rendered meritorious service to the court. Such a family background is sufficient for her to be made a concubine."
A hint of surprise flashed in Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's eyes.
Guarjia Tuhai was actually Consort Jiang's cousin?
When did the emperor elevate her family to such a high level?
It turned out that the emperor had already paved the way for her, and he nodded in agreement.
"In that case, let us do as the emperor wishes."
Having said that, he said no more and left.
Kangxi's gaze swept over the still unconscious Empress on the ground, his eyes cold, and he continued.
"Empress Hesheli has failed in her moral conduct and has been lax in managing her subordinates, nearly causing a great disaster. From this day forward, she shall be confined to Kunning Palace to reflect on her mistakes. Without my personal edict, she shall not step out of the palace gates even once."
He paused, his gaze falling on Jiang Nan, who had just stood up and still had a wronged expression on her face, and his tone softened a little.
"The affairs of the six palaces will be temporarily managed by Consort Jin."
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace. Long live the Emperor!"
Jiang Nan immediately knelt down to pay her respects, her voice clear and crisp.
With just the right amount of gratitude and a hint of pride.
At the gates of Yongshou Palace, a shocking conspiracy ended with Empress Hesheli's complete defeat and Jiang Nan's splendid promotion.
Sunlight streamed down, illuminating Jiang Nan's slightly upturned lips with radiant brilliance.
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