Chapter 71 Chief Steward of the Imperial Household Department? Dragged Away
Feng Yuheng and the other stewards of the Imperial Household Department, like defeated roosters, walked dejectedly into the east wing of Zhongcui Palace.
The hall was completely devoid of heat, which made Feng Yuheng's heart sink even further.
Zhao Deyi strode into the bedchamber and reported to Jiang Nan in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, the Chief Steward of the Imperial Household Department, Feng Yuheng, and his relevant stewards have all been brought here and are waiting outside."
Jiang Nan didn't even lift her eyelids.
She continued to slowly and deliberately brush away non-existent dust from her fingernails, her tone indifferent.
"Yes, let them all come in. After I finish dealing with this troublesome matter, I need to go back to Yongshou Palace to rest. I don't have time to waste here any longer."
Zhao Deyi immediately turned around and called out to the outside of the hall.
"Her Majesty has summoned you; why are you all not immediately brought into the palace to report?"
Feng Yuheng took a deep breath, steeled himself, and led seven or eight of his men in single file.
As soon as he entered the bedchamber, the chilling atmosphere sent a shiver down his spine.
He quickly glanced up and saw Consort Jin sitting upright in the high seat, expressionless.
Consort Niohuru and the other concubines sat on either side, each holding their breath.
Their gazes fell upon them with a mixture of curiosity and schadenfreude.
Ma Jia, lying on the bed, was a living testament to her crimes.
Knowing that things would not end well today, Feng Yuheng quickly stepped forward.
He knelt down with a thud, and all the managers behind him also knelt down and kowtowed in greeting.
"Your humble servant Feng Yuheng pays respects to Consort Jin. May Your Highness live a thousand years!"
Jiang Nan did not call her to get up, but instead used her clear and cold eyes to quietly observe Feng Yuheng kneeling below.
The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; the only sounds were the suppressed breathing of the crowd.
This silent pressure is more terrifying than any rebuke.
After a long silence, Jiang Nan finally spoke, her voice not loud, but each word clear and carrying an unquestionable command.
"Feng Yuheng, and the rest of you, just kneel down before me like this."
She paused, then her tone suddenly turned stern.
"Slap yourselves. You'll stop when I think you realize you're wrong. Do you understand?"
These words shocked the entire hall.
Slap yourself in the face?
In front of all the concubines in the harem?
This is an utter disgrace.
This was especially true for someone like Feng Yuheng, a high-ranking eunuch who had cultivated his influence in the palace for many years.
Feng Yuheng suddenly looked up, his face drained of color, and his eyes were filled with disbelief and humiliation.
He looked at Jiang Nan, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something, but he stubbornly remained still.
This Consort Jin... she actually humiliated him like this.
He was, after all, a fourth-rank official and the head of the Imperial Household Department, a prominent figure in the palace.
If I slap myself in public today, how will I maintain my position in the palace? How will I manage my subordinates?
A surge of resentment welled up in my heart.
He was certain that he had many ministers from the previous dynasty who had benefited from him, so Consort Jin might not dare to really try to kill him.
He lowered his head and remained silent.
He expressed his dissatisfaction and backbone through silent resistance.
Seeing this, Zhao rebuked him sternly.
"Feng Yuheng, didn't you hear the Empress's decree? Hurry up and do it."
Jiang Nan raised her hand to stop Zhao Deyi, looking at Feng Yuheng's unyielding appearance.
Instead of getting furious, he found it somewhat ridiculous.
Is this some kind of silent, passive-aggressive tactic against me?
Did he think I would be concerned about his connections with the previous dynasty? Was I afraid to act rashly for fear of breaking the law?
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She slowly stood up and walked over to Feng Yuheng.
She crouched down, looked him straight in the eye, and even had a playful smile on her face.
"Steward Feng, what do you mean by this? Do you think what I said... is ineffective?"
Feng Yuheng felt uneasy under Jiang Nan's gaze, which was both condescending and intimately close.
But he still forced himself to lift his head and reply with a stiff neck.
“Your Majesty, this servant…this servant is a senior eunuch in the palace. By the grace of His Majesty, I have been appointed as the head eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, a fourth-rank chief eunuch. Even if I have made a mistake, the Emperor or the Imperial Clan Court should determine my guilt. Your Majesty…Although you are in charge of the Phoenix Seal, according to palace rules, you have no right to directly punish eunuchs of this rank unless…unless there is an imperial decree.”
Upon hearing this, Consort Niohuru paused almost imperceptibly in the hand holding her teacup.
A faint hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.
Is Feng Yuheng out of his mind? Or is he really stupid?
Discussing palace rules with Consort Jin, of the Guarjia clan?
Isn't that a huge joke?
She could trample on the Empress's face at will, why would she care about the rank of a mere servant? She was immediately amused by the foolishness of the servant in front of her.
The other concubines were so frightened they dared not utter a sound, secretly cursing Feng Yuheng for being so reckless.
If Consort Jin were a person who followed the rules, could she have scolded the Empress until she vomited blood and fainted?
To confront her head-on is just courting death, isn't it?
Listening to Feng Yuheng's righteous and stern explanation, Jiang Nan felt a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
This servant actually dared to reason with her? When has Jiang Nan ever reasoned with anyone? At most, she would reason with the Empress.
She rebuked the Empress with righteous indignation, so the Empress must have done something wrong.
Even the Empress Dowager has confirmed that Jiang Nan lacks morality and has urged her to cultivate her character and virtue.
She nodded, acknowledging Manager Feng's explanation.
His tone remained calm, yet carried a sense of impending doom.
"Oh? So, according to you, I, acting as the Empress Dowager, don't even have the authority to punish a mere servant of the Imperial Household Department who neglected his duties and nearly caused the death of a mistress in the harem?"
She leaned forward slightly, lowered her voice, and spoke words as cold as ice.
"Feng Yuheng, you really have a lot of guts."
"I originally thought that since you are a senior member of the palace, I would punish you in public today to teach you a lesson and make you more restrained in the future, and then the matter would be over. I didn't expect that not only would you not appreciate it, but you would also dare to put on airs and talk about rules and principles with me?"
She chuckled, straightened up, and glanced at everyone in the hall.
The voice suddenly rose in pitch, carrying endless authority and sarcasm.
"Do you think that just because the Imperial Household Department has such intertwined interests, and because some people in the previous dynasty accepted your tribute, they will definitely protect you? Even if they do protect you, do you think I can't do anything to you?"
"Feng Yuheng, you really made me laugh."
"You still don't understand. The Imperial Household Department has no shortage of servants and people who want to climb the ranks. Even without you, the Imperial Household Department will still have someone in charge."
Her gaze finally settled on Feng Yuheng's pale face, her tone casual yet carrying a fatal decisiveness.
"Enough. Why say so much to someone as dead as you?"
After saying that, she stopped looking at Feng Yuheng, turned around and shouted a clear voice towards the outside of the hall.
"All guards outside, come in here."
Before he finished speaking, several guards with swords, who had been waiting outside the palace gates for a long time, entered in response.
They moved swiftly, their armor imposing, and in an instant, they subtly surrounded Feng Yuheng and the others kneeling inside the hall.
A chilling atmosphere permeated the air.
These guards had long been instructed by Guargalangtan that the orders of Consort Jin of Yongshou Palace were equivalent to imperial decrees.
Moreover, Lord Langtan and Consort Jin are family, so they naturally know whose advice to follow.
When Feng Yuheng and his managers saw this scene, their faces turned ashen and they trembled like leaves.
They never expected that Consort Jin would directly mobilize the guards, indicating that she was serious about dealing with him.
Jiang Nan didn't even glance at Feng Yuheng, who was slumped on the ground, and directly gave orders to the head guard.
"Feng Yuheng, the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, neglected his duties and embezzled the allowances of the concubines, causing Consort Ma Jia to fall seriously ill and nearly die. He also behaved improperly in front of the Emperor, contradicted me, and disregarded palace rules. He has been arrested and sent to the Department of Strict Punishment for strict supervision and to await further judgment."
"Yes, sir!"
Without hesitation, the head guard waved his hand, and two fierce-looking guards immediately stepped forward.
They helped the limp and powerless Feng Yuheng up.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, spare me! This servant knows he was wrong. This servant will slap himself, this servant will slap himself right now."
Only now did Feng Yuheng truly feel the fear of annihilation.
Tears streamed down his face as he struggled and begged for mercy, but it was too late.
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