Chapter 24 The Regent Minister was scolded just like I was.
Jiang Nan's gaze swept over Sony's old face, which was twitching slightly with shock and anger, and her voice suddenly turned cold.
"You keep calling me a bondservant and a madman... Lord Sony, my surname is Guarjia, a legitimate Manchu family. Although not from the main branch, I am from one of the Upper Three Banners. Among all the officials in the court, who dares to say that I have no distant relatives or acquaintances?"
She stood up, took a step, and scanned the entire room with her gaze.
His voice rose a few decibels, carrying an air of sternness.
"Furthermore, has Lord Sony forgotten? Which of the palace maids here isn't a daughter of a good family from the Eight Banners? We Eight Banner women, once we enter the palace, become servants of the royal family. Serving the Emperor and our masters is our duty. But aren't your daughters and granddaughters, Sony, also servants of the royal family? Or... have you, Lord Sony, been in power for so long that you feel you've made great contributions and are now on equal footing with the Emperor, even considering your family members superior?"
"You call yourself a 'bondservant slave'? Is that the kind of term you would use to address a concubine personally appointed by the Emperor in front of him?"
This series of questions was incisive, hitting the most fatal flaws in Sony's words and revealing its subtle arrogance.
Sony's face turned deathly pale instantly. How could he dare to sit on equal footing with the emperor? Ao Bai's corpse was still hanging on the city wall.
His lips trembled as he pointed at Jiang Nan.
"You...you are being presumptuous and unreasonable. This is the Imperial Study where ministers discuss state affairs. How dare you, a woman, presume to discuss politics and criticize important officials here?"
Jiang Nan completely ignored his rebuke, sneered, and changed the subject, pointing the finger directly at the Empress.
"Very well, even if this is a place to discuss state affairs, then let's talk about state affairs. Lord Sony, today all the important officials are here, and I would like to ask you—how exactly did you raise your granddaughter, who is as noble as the Empress?"
Her voice suddenly rose, carrying an undisguised question.
"Her Majesty the Empress has been in charge of the inner palace for nearly three years, and the imperial offspring born to the concubines have either died in the womb or died in infancy. The number of those who have survived can be counted on one hand. I would like to ask, why is this?"
"Is it because Her Majesty the Empress cannot bear to see other concubines bearing children for the Emperor that she herself cannot give birth to a legitimate son? Do all the children in the harem have to make way for her legitimate son, whose birth may never be known?"
Her gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed intently on Sony.
"Even if, even if these things were not done by your granddaughter herself, as the mother of the nation and the head of the harem, she allowed the emperor's offspring to dwindle to this point, unable to protect one imperial heir after another. Isn't this her greatest dereliction of duty and incompetence? Does she deserve to sit in that position?"
"It could be an accident if she couldn't protect one or two people, but now that almost the entire army has been wiped out, what does that mean? Either she is vicious and ruthless, or she is a complete incompetent fool who is not worthy of being empress."
"Was I wrong to scold her? If a child is not taught properly, it is the father's fault. Her character is so flawed, do you, her grandfather, bear no responsibility? Lord Sony, I think you are not only old, but you are senile."
Her last sentence was almost forceful, filled with utter contempt.
“Look at yourself. You need someone to help you walk, you can’t even breathe properly when you talk, you’re so frail and old. I don’t know if you’ll wake up tomorrow after you go to sleep tonight. You should worry less and do some good deeds.”
Sony was so angry at her merciless, extremely sarcastic words that he trembled violently.
"puff--"
A metallic taste filled his throat, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
He pointed at Jiang Nan, his eyes bloodshot, but he couldn't utter a single word, only letting out heavy breathing.
"Father!"
Standing behind him, Suo'etu was terrified and rushed forward to support his swaying father.
She looked at Jiang Nan with a mixture of shock and anger, but dared not actually reprimand a concubine.
Sony finally managed to regain his composure and could only turn to Kangxi, his voice trembling with sobs and pleading.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you must do justice for this old minister! I have worked diligently for decades, and even if I have not made any great contributions, I have certainly put in a lot of hard work. Now, I am being insulted and reprimanded by a... a little girl. How can I save face? I might as well just smash my head against these imperial steps and die."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan scoffed, her tone even more disdainful.
"Alright, Lord Sony, stop playing the victim and appealing to emotions. Your Hesheli family is loyal to the Emperor; isn't that the duty of a subject? It's only right. The Emperor has bestowed upon your family unparalleled wealth and honor, making your granddaughter Empress, the mother of the nation. This is already an immense favor. What more do you want? Does doing something wrong mean you can't even be criticized? Even the Emperor isn't as domineering as you, is he?"
"alright!"
Emperor Kangxi, who had been silent all along, finally spoke, though his voice was not loud.
Yet, with the majesty of an emperor, he instantly suppressed all the noise.
He rubbed his temples and glanced at Sony, who was so angry he was vomiting blood and almost fainted.
She glanced at Jiang Nan, who was sticking her neck out and had a "I did nothing wrong, I'll do it again" look on her face, and felt both annoyed and amused.
This girl... her mouth is too sharp. If she really angers Sony to death here, it will only cause more trouble.
Admittedly, although Jiang Nan's words were harsh, they were all reasonable, a rebuke and questioning that he couldn't say directly.
They were all boldly laid out on the table, and the effect... was unexpectedly good.
He turned his gaze to the extremely anxious Suo'etu, and his tone softened.
"Song'etu".
"Your subject is here!"
Soetu quickly responded.
"I have my own plans regarding the Empress's matter, and we'll discuss it another day. Lord Sony is advanced in years and is emotionally agitated today, so it's not appropriate for him to discuss politics. You should help your father back to his residence to rest properly, and then summon the imperial physician for a thorough examination."
Kangxi's voice was beyond question.
"Ouch...my lord, I obey your order!"
Feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, Songgotu dared not linger any longer.
He quickly half-supported and half-carried his almost limp father, with the help of the eunuchs.
He staggered out of the imperial study, looking utterly disheveled.
An unexpected incident was temporarily suppressed by Emperor Kangxi.
——————
Inside the Imperial Study, only a few ministers, led by Ebilun, remained.
They all had their heads down, drenched in cold sweat, wishing they could shrink into a crack in the ground.
Especially Ebilun, whose face was as pale as paper and whose body was trembling slightly.
Kangxi's gaze, sharp as a knife, slowly moved onto Ebilun.
This regent, known for his fence-sitting and weakness, has for many years followed Ao Bai's lead blindly.
He caused Kangxi a lot of trouble, secretly sabotaging him.
"Ebilong".
Kangxi's voice was calm and even, yet it carried an immense weight.
Ebilun trembled all over and fell to his knees with a thud, touching the ground with his head, his voice trembling.
"Your subject...Your subject is here!"
Do you admit your guilt?
Kangxi's question was brief but deadly.
Ebilun lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to lift his head, his voice filled with desperate sobs.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty knows your crime, Your Majesty deserves to die ten thousand times."
Kangxi looked at his groveling and fawning manner, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.
"You have colluded with Ao Bai for many years, forming cliques and monopolizing the government. You have taken advantage of my youth and committed many rebellious acts. According to the law, you should be punished the same as Ao Bai, and confiscating your property is not an exaggeration."
"Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty, have mercy!"
Ebilun was so frightened that he could only kowtow and beg for mercy, his forehead instantly turning blue and purple.
Emperor Kangxi remained silent for a moment, as if weighing his options.
The Imperial Study was so quiet that only Ebilun's heavy, fearful breathing could be heard.
Finally, Kangxi spoke again, his tone still icy.
"Considering that you still have a remorseful heart, and... for the sake of the Niohuru clan's reputation, I will not pursue the matter further for now. I will first imprison you, and I will consider how to deal with you after the trial of Aobai is concluded."
Upon hearing this, Ebilun felt as if he were a drowning man grasping at a straw.
Although he is still in prison, at least his life and his family have been saved for the time being.
He immediately kowtowed repeatedly.
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty. Thank you for sparing my life. I will definitely repent and reform myself."
He knew in his heart that once Ao Bai fell, he, a fence-sitter, would have no chance of survival.
It is already a great favor from the Emperor that we can temporarily save our lives.
Perhaps it was out of respect for Consort Niohuru in the palace, or perhaps... she still had some use to her?
The guards stepped forward and carried the limp Ebilun away.
After dealing with these two regents, Emperor Kangxi finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
I felt all the pent-up emotions in my chest disappear, and an unprecedented sense of ease and control welled up within me.
He turned his head and looked at Jiang Nan, who was idly playing with her nails.
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