Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Just as the affair between Lady Zhen and Wen Shichu was like this before, the affair between Lady Zhen and the Emperor this time is also like this.

"My lady, please don't forget the losses you suffered at the hands of Consort Zhen before!"

Two loyal maids earnestly advised her, fearing that Shen Meizhuang would repeat the same mistake she made with An Lingrong.

Shen Meizhuang looked at the two of them with amusement, and said in an annoyed tone, "Am I really that useless in your eyes, unable to see through Lingrong's little thoughts and schemes? Or do you think I'm as stupid as a pig, falling into the same place twice?"

"Huh?" The two maids looked at each other blankly, then looked at Shen Meizhuang with confusion.

"Since you have already seen through Consort An's schemes, why do you pretend not to know and befriend her?"

Shen Meizhuang lowered her eyelids slightly, "I'm just paying off my debts."

Upon hearing this, Caiyue and Caixing shut their mouths.

Although the suffering that Consort An endured in the past was not intentionally caused by their mistress, she was ultimately burdened by their mistress.

The room was quiet for a moment, then Shen Meizhuang looked up at the two loyal maids again.

"Rest assured, I know what's going on with Lingrong. I will not get involved in Zhen Yunshi's matter anymore."

"It's good that Your Highness has a plan. We were just afraid that Your Highness would be used by Consort An for nothing."

They didn't try to persuade her any further; they knew their mistress understood.

Although the two were wary of An Lingrong, they had to admit that the Emperor had indeed been showing more favor to their mistress recently because of her friendship with An Lingrong.

However, An Lingrong also gained many advantages because of her close relationship with her mistress.

In this palace, being favored is one thing, and wielding power is another.

Not long after An Lingrong left Xianyue Pavilion, the concubines in the palace all received exquisitely crafted mosquito-repellent sachets made of precious materials.

Anlan Garden also had them; Caiyue personally delivered four, each embroidered with one of four different flowers.

Xi Qiao picked up one of the embroidered lotus flowers and held it under his nose to smell it. It smelled of honey and incense!

She looked down at the sachet, a thoughtful expression in her eyes.

Honey-scented sachets are not some common, ubiquitous vegetable, so it's quite intriguing that Shen Meizhuang would go to such lengths to make them into sachets and give them away.

Especially on the second day after the emperor favored Yun Xinluo.

Xi Qiao learned of the Emperor's marriage to Yun Xinluo in the middle of the night yesterday.

Shen Meizhuang's actions at this moment seemed to be a cover-up.

She was waiting for Shen Meizhuang and An Lingrong to jump into the pit themselves, so naturally she was paying close attention to their every move.

She saw everything, whether it was Shen Meizhuang sending Caiyue to deliver something to Tianran Painting a couple of days ago, or An Lingrong rushing to Xianyue Pavilion after delivering soup to Jiuzhou Qingyan.

What is An Lingrong's greatest skill?

That must be incense making.

At this moment, Shen Meizhuang, who was perfectly fine, was giving away these expensive honey-scented sachets to everyone in the harem like a generous benefactor.

Why should good things be shared with the sisters in the harem?

Nobody would believe that.

It's likely that these two used honey-scented incense on Yun Xinluo or Cui Jinxi beforehand, and through the unique and easily tainted nature of this fragrance, they confirmed that the emperor truly had an extraordinary relationship with Yun Xinluo!

Then... Shen Meizhuang's actions must have been intended to cover something up!

Was it out of caution to cover up the traces?

Or is it because of regret? Is it because they want to distance themselves as much as possible?

But regardless of the reason, Xi Qiao would not allow it.

She called Xiao Lezi over.

"Find an opportunity to meet with Su Peisheng or Xiaxiazi, and carefully smell whether they have the scent of honey fragrance on them. If they do, give them a heads-up."

Little Lezi scratched his head, "Auntie, I don't know what honey fragrance tastes like."

Xi Qiao picked up a sachet from the tray and gave it to him. "This is it. Take it and wear it. Our Empress doesn't like using perfumes. This was just sent by Consort Shen. Caiyue said that everyone in the harem has one."

The last sentence is quite meaningful.

Xiao Lezi took the sachet and tied it around her waist, smiling as she said, "Auntie, don't worry, I will definitely tell the people in front of the Emperor that this sachet is very precious and rare."

Although she didn't know what her aunt was plotting, Xiao Lezi was a very good executor.

With that, he left and went straight to the temporary imperial kitchen.

Although it was not yet noon, the emperor was inevitably tired and hungry from handling state affairs, so it was common for his attendants to bring him snacks and soup.

Xiao Lezi was lucky; as soon as he arrived outside the Imperial Kitchen, he saw Xia Zi sitting in a separate room eating snacks and drinking tea.

"Oh, what a coincidence, is Eunuch Xia also waiting for some refreshments?"

Xiaxia was quite familiar with Xiaolezi, so she immediately called him over to sit down and have some refreshments. "What a coincidence! Why are you personally serving refreshments to Consort Zhuang?"

For something as trivial as serving refreshments, any lowly eunuch or maid could easily be dispatched. Of course, those serving the Emperor are different!

Xiao Lezi sat down next to Xia Xiazi without any hesitation, and happily pointed out the sachet at her waist to him.

"Our Empress bestowed upon me the sachet she just received, so I must make a good impression!"

Xia Zi glanced at the sachet and could tell from the materials and embroidery that it was a fine item used by concubines and ladies-in-waiting. Not to mention, as soon as Xiao Lezi got close, he could smell a fragrance that was different from the cheap perfume powder commonly used by palace maids.

Xia Zi smiled and patted Xiao Le Zi's shoulder, "You're really lucky to be following Consort Zhuang."

Consort Zhuang's luck is truly remarkable. Although the Emperor has not chosen her name again, with the Sixth Prince around, he will not forget her.

Not to mention the allowances for a concubine's rank, the daily rewards were never lacking, and Zhongcui Palace was never short of anything good. What others had, Zhongcui Palace had; what others didn't have, Zhongcui Palace had in abundance.

Every now and then, the Emperor would inquire about and show concern for the emperor.

When the head of the Imperial Medical Academy came to check on the Emperor's health, he would always ask about the Sixth Prince and also inquire about Consort Zhuang.

Xiao Lezi proudly raised his chin, "I'm not bragging, but our Empress treats those who serve her with utmost care."

He patted the sachet at his waist. "Eunuch Xia, you are naturally a member of the Emperor's court, but in the harem, probably only our Lady would be willing to bestow such a precious honey-scented sachet upon the servants around her."

Sweet honey!

Although Xiazi may not be particularly interested in spices, who doesn't covet valuable things?

"Good heavens, it's actually honeysuckle!"

Although he was well-liked by the emperor, he had only ever heard of the spice "Honey Incense" but had never actually used it.

Xiao Lezi's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she looked surprised. "Eh? Eunuch Xia doesn't know?"

With an exaggerated expression, he tugged at Xiaxiazi's sleeve and sniffed it closely. "Oh my, you're really teasing me! What else could your scent be but honey fragrance?"

Xia Xiazi's expression shifted slightly; he even smelled of honey and incense on himself.

Xiazi pinched her sleeve and sniffed it closely. Sure enough, although the scent wasn't as strong as Xiaolezi's sachet, it was exactly the same.

Xiazi's eyes darted around, and she chuckled twice, casually brushing the matter off before moving on to other things with Xiaolezi.