Chapter 18 Servants always treat people differently based on their status.
Jiang Nan then turned back, smiled at the shocked Wang Shi, and her tone returned to its previous casualness.
"Sister Wang, you can rest assured now, right? From now on, when there are no outsiders, you can call me 'Little Sister,' or you can just call me 'Nan Nan,' it sounds more affectionate."
Wang watched as she acted swiftly and decisively, employing both kindness and severity.
I was filled with shock and gratitude, my eyes were slightly red, and my voice was a little choked up.
"Sister...why are you so kind to me?"
She simply couldn't understand why she, a concubine with no favor or power, was in this situation.
What virtue could possibly warrant such favor and protection from Consort Jiang, who was at the height of her power and even dared to confront the Empress?
Jiang Nan tilted her head and thought for a moment, then casually smiled.
"Perhaps... we were kindred spirits in a past life? Or maybe I just find you pleasing to the eye."
She spoke in a relaxed tone.
"Life in this deep palace is long, how boring is it to be alone? You need a few sisters you can confide in, don't you think?"
She patted Wang's hand.
"Alright, stop asking why. I'm good to you, so you should be good to me too. Let's support each other and live comfortably in this palace. I'm waiting for you to give birth to a child safely so I can play with... no, I mean, take care of him/her. I'll let the child recognize me as his/her godmother."
Wang was amused by her straightforward and somewhat childish words, and she burst into laughter through her tears.
A huge surge of warmth and a sense of security welled up in my heart.
She nodded emphatically: "Meeting you, sister, is the greatest blessing I could ever have. If this child is fortunate enough to be born safely, you will be the child's godmother. No! I would even consider you my only mother."
She said this with utmost seriousness.
According to palace rules, a low-ranking concubine like her, even if she were lucky enough to give birth to a prince, would almost never be qualified to raise him herself.
The children were often given to high-ranking concubines or even the empress to raise.
There are few high-ranking concubines in the palace now, and the rules are not strictly enforced yet, but what about in the future?
If Jiang Nan continues to treat her this way, perhaps she really will have the opportunity to raise her child on her own.
Just thinking about this possibility filled her with endless gratitude towards Jiang Nan.
She secretly vowed in her heart: From now on, I, Wang, will follow Jiang Nan's lead!
Jiang Nan was oblivious to the turmoil in her heart and casually glanced around.
————————
His gaze swept over a palace maid and a eunuch standing behind Wang Shi, and the two immediately lowered their heads, appearing very submissive.
She seemed to suddenly remember something and asked casually.
"By the way, Sister Wang, do you still need these old servants around you? Were any of them secretly disobeying you or cheating on you before? If so, just say so. Don't be afraid, I will take care of it for you. This is a good opportunity to clean house."
Upon hearing this, Wang's body stiffened slightly.
She subconsciously glanced at her personal maid and the eunuch standing beside her with his hands hanging down.
His lips moved, as if he hesitated, unsure whether he should speak.
Jiang Nan was incredibly perceptive; she immediately discerned the clues from her subtle reactions and complex gaze.
There was definitely a problem. It seems they had suffered a lot of injustice in the past, or... these servants were actually spies planted by the Empress.
She sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm, and made the decision for Wang Shi directly.
"Looks like they're causing some trouble. Why don't we investigate and find out?"
She raised her voice again: "Zhao Deyi!"
Zhao Deyi, who had just retreated outside the hall, immediately responded and entered again.
"Your servant is here."
Jiang Nan raised her chin slightly, pointed at the two people behind Wang Shi, and gave a command in a calm tone.
"Go, have people thoroughly search the two old servants that Sister Wang brought. Search their luggage and the places they can access. See if there are any benefits they shouldn't have or that exceed their allotted allowance, especially... see if there are any gifts or markings from Kunning Palace or other palaces."
"Yes, sir!"
Zhao Deyi's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he immediately understood his master's meaning. He waved his hand and summoned two eunuchs.
Upon hearing this, the palace maid and eunuch turned deathly pale.
The palace maid knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly while crying out in a pitiful voice.
"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! This servant...this servant will never dare to do it again! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!"
Her reaction was practically an admission of guilt.
Jiang Nan raised an eyebrow and looked at Wang Shi: "Sister, what do you think?"
Looking at the kneeling palace maid begging for mercy, a long-suppressed hatred and pleasure flashed in Wang's eyes.
She took a deep breath, finally shook her head firmly, and responded in a low voice.
“She…did indeed secretly spread rumors about me on several occasions, and…she also withheld my allowance. I don’t know about the other things.”
Jiang Nan understood.
"Send them away."
Jiang Nan was too lazy to ask any more questions and simply waved to Zhao Deyi.
Zhao Deyi understood and immediately shouted at the eunuch behind him.
"What are you still standing there for? Gag him, drag him to the Censorate, and ask him everything that needs to be asked."
Two eunuchs immediately stepped forward, rudely gagged the palace maid, and dragged her away despite her struggles.
Another eunuch, his face ashen, collapsed to the ground and was dragged away as well.
The hall fell silent instantly, and the other serving maids and eunuchs were all trembling with fear, their heads hanging even lower.
Jiang Nan acted as if nothing had happened. She hated betrayal the most and added to Zhao Deyi.
"Investigate whether there are any other unreliable old people around Wang Shi and deal with them all. If there are not enough people, go to the Imperial Household Department and pick honest ones to fill the gaps. Yongshou Palace, don't let any traitors betray us."
"Yes, Your Majesty! This servant understands!"
Zhao Deyi bowed and accepted the order, his heart filled with even more awe for his new master's methods.
———————
Jiang Nan found it somewhat amusing to look at Wang Shi's trembling and fearful appearance.
She also felt that the women in the deep palace lived a truly stifling life.
She patted Wang's hand and casually changed the subject.
"By the way, Sister Wang, I have some good news for you."
Wang raised her head, looking somewhat bewildered.
"Good news?"
"uh-huh!"
Jiang Nan nodded, a sly smile playing on her lips.
“For the next few days, we won’t need to get up early to go to Kunning Palace for our morning and evening greetings.”
Wang was stunned and didn't react.
Why...?
"Because of our esteemed Empress."
Jiang Nan drawled out her words, with a hint of schadenfreude.
"He has been confined to his quarters by the Emperor."
"What?"
Wang's eyes widened suddenly, she gasped, and her face was filled with disbelief and shock.
"Confined...confined to her quarters? The Empress has been confined to her quarters?"
She almost thought she had misheard.
That morning, Jiang Nan had publicly berated the Empress, accusing her of insubordination and disrespect.
As a result... Jiang Nan was unharmed, while the Empress was confined to her quarters?
This...this is absolutely outrageous.
The Emperor's favoritism is outrageous!
Jiang Nan nodded firmly when she saw Jiang Nan's shocked and speechless expression.
"It's absolutely true, it's all over the palace. To be honest, I'm quite curious about how she managed to accuse me and anger the Emperor to the point of locking her up. Logically speaking, even if the Emperor wanted to protect me, he would at most try to smooth things over and give both sides a slap on the wrist, but it shouldn't have escalated to something as serious as confinement, right?"
She touched her chin, looking equally puzzled.
"Is this Empress... really such a simpleton? She managed to get herself implicated in a lawsuit?"
Wang opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything for a long time.
I just felt that this Consort Jiang's methods and the Emperor's favor were simply unfathomable.
The sense of dependence and awe in my heart deepened even further.
"However..."
Jiang Nan quickly put her doubts aside and said with a grin.
"This is a good thing for us. We can sleep in a few more days. Alright, sister, you rest first. I'm going back to the main hall now. If you get bored, feel free to come and talk to me anytime. Don't be shy. We're family now, and I'd love to have someone to chat with to keep me company."
Wang nodded quickly in agreement, a warm feeling welling up inside her.
Jiang Nan then got up and led Fang Ruo back to the main hall.
———————
As evening approached, Jiang Nan was having dinner with Wang Shi, who had come to pay her respects.
The two chatted idly about various gossip and trivial matters in the harem while eating.
Although Wang was gentle by nature, she gradually relaxed and became more talkative under the influence of Jiang Nan's easygoing attitude.
Just as they were getting into an interesting conversation, the head eunuch, Zhao Deyi, hurried in and bowed to report.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor's entourage is on its way to Yongshou Palace and will be arriving soon."
Upon hearing this, Wang dropped her chopsticks with a snap, her face turned pale, and she hurriedly stood up.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty has arrived. This concubine will take her leave now!"
She instinctively felt that she shouldn't be in the way.
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