Chapter 370: Chapter 370

When An Ning arrived, outside the Qianqing Palace, a group of imperial princes were kneeling together on the ground, all with slightly pale faces. The Eldest Young Master at the front looked particularly bloodless, and the Third Prince behind him appeared similarly drained.

Seeing the Imperial Noble Consort's procession approach, Yin Zhen and the others couldn't help but show complex expressions on their faces.

At noon, the entire Qianqing Palace was eerily silent.

A group of palace servants knelt on the ground carefully cleaning up tea sets, not daring to make the slightest sound from beginning to end. When they noticed An Ning approaching, Liang Jiugong in the distance couldn't help but cast a worried glance in her direction.

On the imperial throne, Kangxi's eyes were clearly dark and gloomy, with faint traces of blood visible upon closer inspection, indicating he was in a state of raging fury.

Well now, it seems this matter is truly serious!

After directly ordering all the palace servants to withdraw, An Ning turned to look at Liang Jiugong standing nearby:

"What exactly happened just now?"

Though she was asking Liang Jiugong, An Ning was actually looking at the person sitting on the imperial throne.

Stealing a glance at his master and seeing no objection, Liang Jiugong finally gathered his courage to speak:

"Just now, the Third Prince reported to His Majesty that Prince Zhi performed curse magic against... against the Second Prince, and... and also..."

Swallowing hard, Liang Jiugong closed his eyes as if facing certain death: "There's a concubine in his residence who bears at least some resemblance to you in appearance."

Reportedly, she was not only deeply hidden but also greatly favored by Prince Zhi.

Of course, Liang Jiugong didn't dare to elaborate further. After this brief description, he quickly lowered his head.

She wondered if she should express her absolute astonishment.

Under the emperor's piercing gaze that felt almost physical, An Ning casually sat to the side. In the vast palace chamber, only the woman's voice could be heard asking with considerable curiosity:

"Really? Resembling me even just partially must mean she's quite beautiful. Chief Steward Liang, did you see her? How attractive was she?"

The Imperial Noble Consort's focus was rather unusual. Couldn't she see His Majesty was nearly furious enough to kill someone?

Remembering the scene from earlier, even the experienced Liang Jiugong couldn't help but tremble, lowering his head even further.

With a glance from Kangxi above, Chief Steward Liang moved with unusual speed, practically scrambling out of the hall.

Soon, only two people remained in the great hall.

Pretending not to notice the strange atmosphere, after giving a brief glance upward, An Ning skillfully retrieved a geography book she had previously left on the bookshelf and settled onto the couch to read.

For a while, only the rustling sound of turning pages could be heard in the room.

Kangxi, who had been in the midst of his anger: "..."

"By the way!" After a long moment, just as Kangxi was about to speak, An Ning suddenly looked up from her book below, her clear gaze fixed on him as usual:

"What about that girl? How does Your Majesty plan to deal with her?"

"If she conspired with outsiders to set up this scheme, I naturally have nothing to say. But if she's just an innocent woman who encountered this misfortune merely because she resembles me..."

"You certainly care quite a lot!"

Perhaps because his anger had been repeatedly interrupted, though Kangxi's face still showed irritation, he no longer displayed the consuming rage from before.

Picking up the teacup beside him:

"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Knowing her temperament, he didn't mention the word "explain," merely glancing at her briefly, his voice low and deep.

"What else? Waiting for Your Majesty to calm down first."

Leaning against the kang table, An Ning maintained her casual tone, though her beautiful face showed considerable sharpness: "To avoid you taking out your displeasure on me in the moment."

The implication was clear: don't blame her for your biological son's lustful intentions.

This was one blame she absolutely wouldn't accept...

After a moment of silence, the person above lightly snorted, the eighteen-bead bracelet in his hand making rustling sounds:

"I haven't said anything yet, but your temper has grown quite fierce!"

Despite his words, the anger on his face had subsided, or rather, shifted to another target:

"I've never seen you interact with the First Brother before. When exactly did this wretched creature..."

As he spoke, visible fury began accumulating on his face once again.

What kind of logic was this? What did interaction have to do with anything? An Ning couldn't help but roll her eyes slightly.

After speaking, even Kangxi himself seemed to realize something, his gaze once again falling on the person leisurely reading by the window.

Radiant like the morning sun, luminous like polished jade, serene like calm green waters, peaceful and composed.

Years had passed in the blink of an eye, and while time hadn't left her completely untouched, few could tear their eyes away from her at first glance.

That deeply ingrained charm and grace—as a man, no one understood what that meant better than he did.

As if thinking of something, the look in his eyes grew even darker.

After a long while, just when An Ning thought he wouldn't speak again, she heard him suddenly say: "A-Ning, if reincarnation truly exists, would you... be willing to remain by my side again in the next life..."

Unexpectedly, or perhaps expectedly, the person on the soft couch gave no answer for a long time.

The answer was already quite clear.

At some point, snowflakes began falling softly outside the window, and the inner chamber became frighteningly quiet once more.

Noticing the intense gaze upon her, after a long moment, An Ning finally looked up from her book, her long eyelashes casting slight shadows beneath her eyes:

"Your side will never lack for company."

"But I'm asking about you right now, Imperial Noble Consort!"

As his deep voice fell, facing his almost consuming gaze, An Ning couldn't help but let out a light laugh:

"Imperial Noble Consort, as you said—Imperial Noble Consort. You say you want me to remain by your side, but in what capacity? As one of your countless concubines?"

"So A-Ning, are you resenting me now?" the person before her suddenly laughed.

"Your Majesty jests."

Forcing down the faint moisture in her eyes, after a moment of stunned silence, An Ning spoke with calm composure:

"Resent you for what? No matter what, Your Majesty hasn't treated me poorly over these years. The power, status, fine clothes, and delicious food I enjoy now, all the honor and wealth—they all come from you. I'm not so foolish as to not recognize that!"

One shouldn't bite the hand that feeds them.

Though he could see she wasn't being insincere, Kangxi's expression on the imperial throne grew even darker. After a moment, he spoke almost petulantly:

"Does A-Ning want the position of Empress?"

Without doubt, the air fell into silence once again.

Seeming particularly speechless for a moment, she lifted her eyes to give him a faint glance before casually turning a page:

"If that's how Your Majesty wants to interpret it, then so be it!"