Chapter 84 I'm not pretending anymore, I'm truly afraid.
Jiang Nan was seen patting her chest.
He seemed to still have lingering fears as he pointed at Suo'etu.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, please look at Suo'etu's eyes. They are full of ferocity and murderous intent, as if he is about to pounce on me and devour me alive... My heart is pounding so hard that I'm afraid I'll have nightmares tonight."
Without waiting for Kangxi and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's reaction, she continued her worried analysis.
"The Hesheli family is powerful and influential, with deep roots and vast influence. Even if... even if these assassins weren't ordered by Suo'etu, they can't withstand the Hesheli family's immense wealth and power. What if Suo'etu, humiliated by this, harbors resentment and secretly spends a fortune to bribe everyone in my Yongshou Palace—from the sweepers and gardeners to even the sleepy eunuchs at the gate... Then, when I'm not looking, he might slip some arsenic into my food, causing intestinal damage... He might even find a dark and stormy night to stab me in the gut..."
She became more and more engrossed in her speech, even frightening herself so much that she trembled and covered her still-flat stomach.
"It wouldn't matter if I were to die, but I am carrying Your Majesty's child, the future of the Qing Dynasty, and the hope of the Forbidden City. If someone harbors evil intentions and deliberately spills oil where I am passing by, or pushes me hard from behind... Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, you two must protect us, this poor widow and orphan."
She looked pitifully at Kangxi and said something that terrified Suo'etu.
"Your Majesty, I'll make this clear today: if one day in the future, neither I nor my child suffers the slightest accident—whether it's falling while walking, choking on food, swallowing water, or inexplicably contracting some strange illness... no matter how much it seems like an accident, it will definitely be the work of the Hesheli family. It's absolutely Suo'etu's doing to avenge today's humiliation. At that time, I beg Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the Hesheli family for my child and me. Ideally... ideally, their entire clan should be exterminated as a warning to others, so that no one will dare to touch Your Majesty's beloved in the future."
Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was screaming inside.
Poisonous, absolutely poisonous! Consort Jin's mouth is practically blessed by the King of Hell himself.
This is saying the harshest things in the softest tone.
This put a curse on Hesheli's entire family, a curse that would condemn them to eternal damnation.
Soetu turned pale with fright and began to kowtow repeatedly, his voice filled with genuine fear and sobs.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, I would rather die than do such a thing. I swear to Heaven that I have no such intention. Consort Jin... this is forcing me to my death, forcing the entire Hesheli family to their deaths. How could I dare to harm the imperial concubines? Even if I have a thousand faults, I would never dare to commit such a heinous crime that would exterminate nine generations of my family."
Kangxi and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's gazes instantly shot towards Suo'etu like sharp swords.
Jiang Nan's words, though seemingly nonsensical, are actually logically sound and irrefutable.
From then on, Jiang Nan and her child were the living ancestors of the entire Hesheli family.
They had to offer incense three times a day, morning and evening, for fear that they might lose a single hair.
Soetu didn't even bother to take action; he wished he could spend every single hour of the day guarding the entrance to Yongshou Palace for Jiang Nan.
I pray that she lives a long and healthy life, and that she never gets hurt.
Emperor Kangxi almost burst out laughing. This girl is really... cunning and clever, and her acting is truly unbearable to watch.
He stared at Suo'etu with a stern face and a sharp gaze, his tone carrying an unquestionable warning.
"Song'etu, listen carefully to what Consort Jin said. I don't care if you harbor resentment, but what I said today is no joke. If you dare to make the slightest move, or if there is any mishap to Consort Jin or the imperial heir in her womb, I will hold your Hesheli family accountable first. At that time, don't blame me for not showing any consideration for our past relationship."
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang also spoke at the opportune moment, her tone calm yet carrying the majesty of someone who had secured the fate of the nation.
"Alright. Soetu, it's not that the Emperor and I can't thoroughly investigate today's events. Although the dead can't testify, if we really want to investigate, we can always find clues about how this palace maid entered the palace and who she went through. I can certainly make sure we know the truth."
She paused, looking intently at Suo'etu.
"The Hesheli family has rendered meritorious service to the court, and Sony has been even more diligent and accomplished. From now on, you must remember your duty and wholeheartedly serve the Emperor. The court will naturally not mistreat its meritorious officials. But if you truly commit any rebellious acts..."
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's voice suddenly turned cold.
"Even if the Emperor shows some leniency, I will never let him off easily. Do you understand?"
Sooto was drenched in cold sweat, lying on the ground, not daring to lift his head, and responded in a trembling voice.
"Your Majesty, I understand. I will remember Your Majesty's and the Empress Dowager's teachings and will certainly do my duty without any disloyalty."
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang nodded slightly, making the final decision.
"Hmm. Good. Let's leave it at that. The New Year's banquet must continue. Let's not let a small matter cause a big problem and disrupt the royal decorum."
Kangxi understood that Suo'etu had not explicitly slandered him, so it was difficult to convict him. He then went along with it.
"Song'etu, get up. I will take your words today as a moment of confusion and will not pursue the matter. Kneel down and leave."
"Your humble servant... takes his leave."
Soetu felt as if he had been granted a pardon, but he was also filled with shame, guilt, and fear.
He practically scrambled to his feet and staggered out of the main hall.
His back view was flustered and disheveled, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
After this one day, his prestige in the court and his standing in the emperor's eyes plummeted.
After Suo'etu withdrew, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang looked at Jiang Nan, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.
This girl has everything: courage, wisdom, and boldness.
Compared to her, the Empress was like a firefly compared to the bright moon.
She spoke slowly, making the final decision.
"Your Majesty, let the banquet begin."
Kangxi nodded, taking the opportunity to stop pursuing the matter of Lady Ma Jia, thus preserving the dignity of Cheng Rui's birth mother.
The people inside the hall understood each other without saying a word and immediately put on smiling faces.
They clinked glasses and exchanged toasts, as if the thrilling incident had never happened.
And when those princes, wives, and concubines looked at Jiang Nan again...
His eyes were filled with fervent adoration and deep awe—his sister was so cool.
This is truly a role model for us all.
Empress Hesheli watched as her uncle suffered a crushing defeat and fled in disarray.
Then look at Jiang Nan, who radiates brilliance and seems to have the entire Hesheli family under his feet.
She felt cold and helpless all over. Would she still have a place in the harem from now on?
Tu Hai, on the other hand, admired his fake niece to the point of worship.
He wished he could write an essay on the spot entitled "On Consort Jin's Art of Language and Strategic Deployment" and submit it to Emperor Kangxi.
He was secretly pleased.
Suo'etu, Suo'etu, why did you provoke Consort Jin?
Isn't this like an old man eating poison—wanting to die?
After this battle, Jiang Nan's prestige and terror level in the harem and the court soared to their peak.
————————
The banquet officially began.
The melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and delicious dishes were served in a continuous stream.
The atmosphere inside the palace finally returned to its superficial state of peace and prosperity.
At least everyone is trying to pretend to be happy.
Jiang Nan acted as if she had simply swatted a fly.
At this moment, he was leisurely savoring the delicacies carefully prepared by the imperial kitchen, his posture elegant and his expression composed.
But she could feel countless gazes still sweeping over her like searchlights.
It was filled with awe, curiosity, and the sister's ingratiating request to be taken along.
Especially the way those imperial concubines looked at him, as if they were looking at legendary figures from a storybook.
The resentment in Jiang Nan's heart caused by Suo'etu's cruelty had not completely dissipated.
If today's mindset were different, perhaps a little more fragile, or not quick-witted enough.
Even if she hadn't been unjustly killed by Suo'etu, she would have had a hard time finding a place in the harem afterward.
Her gaze involuntarily turned to Empress Hesheli, who was seated at the head of the table on her right.
The Empress was feeling uneasy when she suddenly felt a burning gaze fall upon her.
Looking up, I met Jiang Nan's smiling eyes, which seemed to see right through me and sent chills down my spine.
The Empress was so startled that her hand trembled, and she almost dropped her chopsticks on the table. She hurriedly lowered her head.
She held her bulging belly tightly with both hands, as if it were her last fortress.
She looked over again. This jinx! With so many people at the New Year's banquet, she can't possibly... curse me again, can she?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
