Chapter 189 Daily Bickering with Emperor Kangxi
Niohuru was still doubtful and wanted to ask more, but Zhao Deyi had already led Wuya and her servants into the bedroom.
Today, Uya specially wore a simple, light blue qipao.
She wore only a simple velvet flower in her hair, which made her look exceptionally elegant and gentle.
After entering the hall, she dared not raise her head, and walked respectfully into the hall, leading Zhu Xi to kneel down deeply.
"This humble servant, Wuya, greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years and be well. I also greet Consort Niohuru!"
"Get up and take a seat."
Jiang Nan spoke in a calm tone.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
After expressing her gratitude, Uya carefully sat down on the embroidered stool, her posture extremely respectful.
"I have come here today with great trepidation, specifically to express my gratitude to Your Majesty for your grace."
Uya's voice was soft, filled with sincere gratitude.
"If it weren't for Your Majesty's kindness, I would still be a lowly palace maid today. I have nothing to repay you with but this sachet I embroidered myself. The needlework is crude, but it is just a token of my sincerity. I hope Your Majesty will not find it offensive."
As she spoke, she took out a carefully wrapped sachet from her sleeve, which Zhu Xi took and respectfully presented to Chunlan, who was standing to the side.
Chunlan checked it first, and only after confirming that there was nothing wrong with it did she hand it to Jiang Nan.
Jiang Nan took the sachet and saw that the sapphire blue satin was embroidered with a simple orchid pattern in silver thread, with fine stitches.
Although it's not top-notch skill, you can tell that it was done with care.
She squeezed it, and the spices inside emitted a faint fragrance.
She found it somewhat amusing that the future Yongzheng Emperor's biological mother was so close to her.
It was quite a strange feeling that Consort De, who was known for her meticulousness in history, personally embroidered a sachet for her.
"Yes, you put your heart into it. It's well embroidered."
Jiang Nan casually placed the sachet on the small table beside the couch, her tone relaxed yet carrying a hint of approval.
"You don't need to be so formal with me. I appreciate your thoughtfulness."
She suddenly turned to look at Niohuru and said sarcastically.
"Sister, look at her! Uya has only been here a few days, and she already knows to send me a handmade needle and thread. You've been by my side for so many years, and I've never seen you send me a sachet, let alone a handkerchief!"
Niohuru was caught off guard by the sudden fire, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on her usually cool face as she said helplessly.
"Your Majesty, I am not very skilled in needlework. If Your Majesty wishes, I will go back and learn. However, my embroidery is not very good, so please do not dislike it."
Jiang Nan nodded solemnly.
"Very well, then I'll be waiting. You'd better study hard, and don't try to fool me with something crooked and shabby."
"Your Majesty, I will obey your command."
Niohuru had no choice but to agree.
He was already pondering whether he should find the embroiderer first or tear up the silk after returning to the palace.
Jiang Nan secretly rejoiced.
She was thinking that in the future, she would simply have all the prominent concubines in the palace present her with some handmade tributes, which would be quite amusing.
It's just a pity that Hesheli died too young.
She snapped out of her thoughts, looked at the somewhat nervous Uya, and casually asked.
"Are you settling in well at Yonghe Palace? Has Lady Qi Jia given you any trouble?"
She knew that Consort Qi Jia was still living in Yonghe Palace.
Uya hurriedly got up to reply.
"Your Majesty, everything is fine. Thank you for your concern. Sister Qi Jia... has been very kind to me."
She carefully considered her words and didn't say much.
Jiang Nan gave a soft "hmm" and was about to ask something else when Liang Jiugong's clear and loud voice suddenly came from outside the hall.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Everyone in the hall was taken aback.
Jiang Nan raised an eyebrow. What day is it today? Everyone's here at once.
Niohuru quickly regained her usual aloof and dignified demeanor and stood up.
Uya's heart skipped a beat. She quickly stood up, bowed her head, and stood respectfully, her heartbeat quickening involuntarily.
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Emperor Kangxi strode into the Kunning Palace's sleeping quarters, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall like lightning.
The previously relaxed atmosphere instantly tensed up.
"Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"
Inside the hall, Jiang Nan led the way, followed by Niohuru Wuya and all the palace maids, who all bowed in unison.
Kangxi did not stop walking. He gently helped Jiang Nan up and sat down directly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.
"Get up, everyone."
His gaze lingered on Jiang Nan's face for a moment, then swept over Niohuru and Wuya, who was clearly nervous.
He finally let out a hum.
"Nannan, your Kunning Palace is quite lively. My beloved concubine and the newly promoted concubine are all gathered here."
Jiang Nan sat back down on the phoenix couch, completely unconcerned.
He even lazily adjusted the cushion, his tone carrying a hint of perfunctory concern.
"Your Majesty, why have you come at this hour? Have you finished reviewing all the memorials from the previous court?"
Kangxi ignored her comment and went straight to the point.
His tone carried a hint of frustration and accusation.
"Empress, you are becoming more and more decisive in your actions these days. Let me ask you this: the matter of the Imperial Study having one day off every seven days is of great importance to the education of the princes and grandsons. Shouldn't you have consulted with me and discussed it before issuing the decree?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan feigned understanding, then switched to an innocent and aggrieved expression, skillfully playing dumb.
"Your Majesty, what makes you say that? In this harem, everything is decided by you. How dare I make decisions on my own?"
Emperor Kangxi was amused by her attempt to shift the blame and pointed at her.
"What else could it be! It's that imperial edict you just issued yesterday, from now on, the Imperial Study will only have one day off every seven days! I'm afraid the whole palace knows about it now, except for me, the emperor, who's still in the dark. How can you change the rules of study just like that?"
"Oh, so that's what it is!"
Jiang Nan clapped her hands, a reproachful smile spreading across her face, and her tone became sarcastic.
"Your Majesty, you have truly misunderstood me. I haven't had a chance to explain this to you in detail yet. I think Your Majesty is busy with many affairs of state and military matters. It is really inappropriate to disturb you with such a trivial matter as adjusting the schedule of the inner palace academy."
She paused, then changed the subject, using herself as a shield, and her tone became self-righteous.
"Besides, this idea wasn't entirely my own. My grandmother, the Empress Dowager, was very kind and compassionate. She felt sorry for Erhe's hard work studying and appreciated the teachers' efforts in guiding him. That's how she came up with this idea. I was merely conveying Your Majesty's wishes and running an errand. If Your Majesty finds it inappropriate..."
She dragged out the words, her eyes gleaming mischievously.
"Then why don't you go to the Cining Palace now and personally explain things to your grandmother?"
Kangxi felt a tightness in his chest from her string of words.
The mention of Empress Xiaozhuang, in particular, left him with no choice but to comply.
He stared at them helplessly.
"you…"
Jiang Nan immediately responded, her tone feigning grievance and carrying a hint of accusation.
"What did I do wrong? Wasn't I just trying to help you and Grandmother? What, Grandmother didn't even tell you beforehand? Why don't you dare to say anything to her? So you're just picking on me because I'm easy to bully? You think I'm easy to take advantage of?"
As she spoke, she deliberately glanced at Kangxi, her eyes full of contempt.
Emperor Kangxi was rendered speechless by her unreasonable and irrational behavior, and his imposing manner of accusing her vanished instantly.
He could only wave his hand helplessly, his tone softening.
"I didn't say anything... I just felt that if you've already decided on some things, you should have informed me beforehand so I would be aware of them and avoid being asked by my ministers without knowing anything, which would be embarrassing. Fine, fine, I won't say anything more, is that alright?"
Jiang Nan knew when to stop, but she wouldn't let it go and continued to urge people on.
"Your Majesty, you are so wise and understanding! Now that everything is alright, why don't you hurry back to the Qianqing Palace to review the memorials? These matters of state are a thousand times, ten thousand times more important than whether the Imperial Study is on leave or not!"
The frustration that Kangxi had just suppressed resurfaced, and he said, his neck stiff.
"This is my palace. I can come and go as I please. You... you have no right to tell me what to do!"
These words were spoken with a hint of defiance.
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