Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Consort Hua's straight back suddenly hunched over, and she leaned back against the pillow in dejection.

She couldn't see through someone as clever as Chunrong.

If Consort Jin were here, she might be able to see something, but her relationship with Chunrong is a secret and cannot be known by more people.

"Your Majesty, I have a guess."

Xi Qiao said thoughtfully, "Although the recipe for the fertility elixir has long been lost, all medicines are subject to taboos and incompatibilities. Back then, there was the matter of the 'Joyful Fragrance' in your palace... Therefore, compared with Consort Zhuang, there is no doubt that you have an extra musk in your body."

Consort Hua gritted her teeth. "You mean, the musk remaining in my body affected the medicine's effectiveness? So the child in my womb changed from a prince to a princess?"

She had used that Huan Yi Xiang fragrance for many years, and the musk had long since seeped into her skin, making it extremely difficult to remove.

Xi Qiao nodded without any hesitation, "That's all I can think of."

Yes, that's right, she was just taking advantage of Consort Hua's lack of scientific knowledge.

Consort Hua angrily exclaimed, "The royal family! The Uya clan!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down."

Xi Qiao looked at Consort Hua with a hesitant expression, and finally only said this one sentence dryly.

Consort Hua tried her best to calm herself down. She couldn't get angry, because anger would harm her health and the child.

It took her a while to calm herself down: "I summoned you mainly to ask if you have any other plans regarding the Yun family matter?"

Speaking of this, Consort Hua couldn't help but get angry again. She had made all the arrangements, but the Emperor, that ruthless scoundrel, actually sent the person away!

Bah, you spineless coward!

If the emperor had kept the person by his side, she wouldn't have been so contemptuous. But the emperor disregarded human ethics, forcibly took the person's body, and then abandoned her.

This kind of despicable behavior is truly shameful to Consort Hua.

Xi Qiao hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not tell Consort Hua about Yun's transformation into the Imperial Madam.

The connections and scheming abilities she had previously demonstrated were sufficient; they would neither arouse Consort Hua's suspicion nor cause Consort Hua to underestimate her.

Neither Consort Hua nor the Nian family noticed the Emperor's tactic of feigning one thing while secretly doing another; she, a mere aunt in the harem, should have been even less likely to discover it.

Now that it has been confirmed that the child in Consort Hua's womb is a princess, the Nian family should start looking for a new husband.

If she reveals too much at this time, it will easily arouse the Nian family's murderous intent.

All the Nian family needs is a prince.

Those around the princes didn't need to be too smart or too capable. The more mediocre they were, the more satisfied the Nian family would be, and the safer they would be.

Xi Qiao sighed and shook his head. "Originally, there were plans, but now that the person is no longer in the capital, how can those arrangements be effective? It's a pity to miss such a great opportunity. We were about to use the Yun family to deal with the Empress, but the Emperor suddenly sent the person away."

"When I received this news, I thought I had misheard. Given His Majesty's infatuation with Empress Chun Yuan, how could His Majesty bear to let Yun Shi, who has such a beautiful face, leave!"

Consort Hua was also secretly regretful, "If I had known this would happen, I should have had those spies from Prince Guo's mansion send out the news when that fool Consort Qi claimed to be ill!"

The more Consort Hua thought about it, the more she regretted it; it was too late for her to stop!

As she spoke, she couldn't help but curse, "The emperor must have discovered something from Consort Qi and guessed that his affair with Lady Yun had been exposed, which is why he sent Lady Yun away."

"However, what I don't understand is that the Emperor knew that Prince Guo had an affair with Zhen Huan. Yet, he not only bestowed Zhen Huan's dowry maids upon Prince Guo, but also ordered Prince Guo to support and take care of Zhen Huan's parents and younger sister. What does this mean?"

Naturally, this was to set a trap for Prince Guo and to make fun of the two of them.

"This... this servant cannot fathom His Majesty's thoughts."

Consort Hua sighed again, "Don't even mention you, I can't figure it out either. The Emperor's actions lately have become increasingly incomprehensible."

Xi Qiao lowered his head and did not reply.

After sighing, Consort Hua changed the subject and brought up the Sixth Prince, "How has the Sixth Prince been lately? Since Consort Zhuang fell into the water, I haven't seen her take the Sixth Prince for a stroll in the garden much."

Xi Qiao smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. The Sixth Prince is doing well. The feng shui in the garden is very beneficial to health, and he has gained a lot of weight in the past month. After Your Majesty gives birth to the princess, this servant and Consort Zhuang will definitely bring the Sixth Prince to congratulate Your Majesty."

Consort Hua smiled, touching her belly with a gentle expression, and said, "I have two older brothers in my family, and they have always been very loving and caring towards me since I was a child. I am not lacking in the love of my brothers, and I also hope that my child can have a close older brother to protect him."

Xi Qiao looked surprised and doubtful, but quickly composed himself, only becoming more respectful.

He also made a very straightforward promise to Consort Hua: "If Your Majesty does not mind, the Sixth Prince will definitely take good care of the little princess in the future and treat her as his own sister."

Consort Hua was fairly satisfied with her answer.

"You have a heart."

As she spoke, she looked at Xi Qiao meaningfully: "Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them. I hope that my little princess can be loved by her parents and protected by her brothers. I suppose you, Chunrong, also hope that your nephew, the Sixth Prince, can live a peaceful, healthy, and worry-free life."

Xi Qiao's face turned serious, and she looked at Consort Hua with a look of doubt in her eyes. "Your Majesty is absolutely right. If I may presume to say something, I regard the Sixth Prince as my own child."

Consort Hua nodded knowingly. Since Chunrong had already become a nun and had her hair combed back to her old age, she could not marry and have children. The Sixth Prince was her only support.

"Chunrong, you are a smart person. I won't beat around the bush with you. I and the Nian family behind me have high hopes for the Sixth Prince."

Xi Qiao's expression went blank for a moment, as if she hadn't understood Consort Hua's implied meaning. After a long while, she replied in a hoarse voice.

"On behalf of the Sixth Prince, this servant thanks Your Highness and the Nian family for their high regard. However, this servant and Consort Zhuang have never had such ambitions. This servant and my sister only hope that the Sixth Prince will grow up safely and that he can bring this servant and my sister to his residence after he leaves the palace and establishes his own residence."

Consort Hua scoffed, "Chunrong, you know better than I do about the infighting in the harem, and you understand the Empress's ruthlessness better than I do. Do you think that if you all behave yourselves, the Empress and the other princes will let the Sixth Prince off the hook?"

Before Xi Qiao could answer, Consort Hua immediately chimed in, "No, absolutely not!"

"There can only be one throne. Unless the Sixth Prince loses his right to succeed, he cannot remain aloof and uninvolved."

What kind of prince would lose his right to succeed to the throne?

Disability, fatal stain.

"The struggle for the throne is not something you can choose not to participate in, even if you don't want to. It's an inevitable trend, and the Sixth Prince will be swept up in it whether he likes it or not. Unless you can be ruthless enough to leave him physically disabled or disgraced."

Xi Qiao's face was pale, and his body swayed slightly, "Your Majesty..."

Seeing the vulnerability on Xi Qiao's face, Consort Hua, her heart hard as iron, stared intently at her: "Chunrong, the Nian family and I need a prince who can stand by our side."

"And you and Consort Zhuang need to be able to protect the Sixth Prince amidst the perilous struggle for the throne and the turbulent power struggles."

“We both have what the other lacks, and we also lack what the other holds. If we join forces, we can benefit each other and achieve mutual success. Chunrong, what do you think?”

Xi Qiao was extremely satisfied! This was precisely her purpose in getting close to Consort Hua and the Nian family!

She gasped, her eyes flashing.

After a long pause, she finally spoke: "Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince is not yet a year old, and his temperament and intelligence are still unknown. Whether he can meet Your Majesty and Lady Nian's expectations is even more uncertain."

“However, as long as Your Highness and Lady Nian do not mind, this servant is willing to accept your and the Nian family’s kindness on behalf of the Sixth Prince. Regardless of whether you and the Nian family fulfill tonight’s promise in the future, the Sixth Prince will always be the brother who loves the little princess the most.”

Consort Hua smiled with satisfaction, "Don't worry, no matter what the Sixth Prince's aptitude is, the Nian family will have no problem ensuring his safety."

Even if the Sixth Prince is dull-witted and incapable of vying for the throne, he can still obtain the title of Prince of the Second Rank.

The closeness of a royal prince is never a bad thing for any family.