Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

As Xi Qiao and Consort Jin had predicted, Shen Meizhuang indeed had a falling out with the head of the imperial kitchen, Uya Asiha.

That's right, this timing was completely unexpected.

the next day!

The very next day, a commotion broke out!

The day after the Empress handed over the Imperial Kitchen to Shen Meizhuang, she took the account books and led a large group of people to the kitchen of the Yuanmingyuan to find Asiha.

Her actions were not kept secret, and almost all the concubines in the harem sent people to watch the spectacle after learning the news.

"This servant greets Consort Shen. May you be blessed with good fortune."

Asiha bowed respectfully.

Shen Meizhuang frowned slightly as she looked at the young man in front of her. She hadn't expected the head chef of the imperial kitchen to be so young; he looked to be only in his early twenties.

"You must be Steward Wu Ya. No need for such formalities."

"It is indeed your servant."

Asiha stood up and stood to the side in front of Shen Meizhuang. Although there was no eagerness in his eyes, his attitude on the surface was acceptable.

"I wonder what your orders are for, Your Excellency? The kitchen is dirty and messy, and it would be an insult to Your Excellency. If you have any instructions, just have someone summon me."

Shen Meizhuang looked him over with a half-smile, "It's not really about giving orders, but I've looked at the kitchen accounts for a month and I have some questions about some of the records."

"Unfortunately, yesterday I sent someone to invite Steward Wu, but he was too busy to come. So today I've come in person to ask him for an explanation."

Chief Steward Wu?

What does this mean?

Asiha was a little confused for a moment, but his face showed no sign of it. He simply bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness is too kind to this servant. But as you have seen with your own eyes, the kitchen is always busy. This servant really cannot leave."

He did have to be respectful to the concubines in the harem, but he wasn't entirely without confidence.

Although he was only a seventh-rank official in charge of the kitchen, his lineage from the Uya clan alone made him more respected than officials of the fifth rank.

This is also the source of Asiha's true confidence.

"You!" Caiyue, who was following behind Shen Meizhuang, dared not speak her anger.

The kitchen was indeed busy all day long. They were busy preparing breakfast before dawn, and after breakfast, they would prepare snacks, meals for the palace servants, and then extra meals for the concubines, afternoon tea, dinner, midnight snacks, and so on. They were busy all day long.

but!

The imperial chefs and their assistants are the ones who are busy. What is there for this guy surnamed Wu to be busy with?

This is clearly an excuse and a disrespectful attitude towards their mistress!

Shen Meizhuang was also annoyed by Asiha's lack of tact. She had come in person, yet he still acted so arrogantly.

She looked at Asiha with cold eyes, "I have been learning about the affairs of the six palaces from Her Majesty the Empress for some time now, but this is the first time I have seen someone as busy as the head steward, unable to get away from his duties."

"Since the affairs of the kitchen are so numerous, why don't I inform Her Majesty the Empress to add a few deputy positions to the kitchen, so as to lighten the burden on Chief Steward Wu? What do you think, Chief Steward Wu?"

Asiha frowned. What's wrong with this Consort Shen? Who calls someone by only half their surname? Is this some new kind of insult?

They even reported to the Empress to add a deputy position?

laugh--

Who are you scaring?

Asiha's contempt was almost tangible. "Oh, that's exactly what I'd love to hear. Your Highness is truly intelligent and insightful. You've only just taken over the kitchen and you've already come up with such a brilliant idea. I'm ashamed of my own incompetence."

That sarcastic tone was obvious to anyone except the deaf and mute.

Shen Meizhuang choked, her anger rising uncontrollably: "Steward Wu is quite confident!"

Since this person is so unruly and disobedient, then don't blame her for showing no mercy.

Shen Meizhuang raised her hand, and Caiyue immediately handed her the account book she was holding.

"Since Steward Wu is so confident, why don't you take this opportunity to tell me where all the food purchased by the kitchen since you took office—almost double the amount allocated to the concubines—has gone!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Meizhuang threw the account book at Asiha.

There were quite a few people watching the spectacle, both openly and secretly, and they were all stunned by Shen Meizhuang's question and the fall.

A shadow flashed in Asiha's eyes. This Consort Shen was the first person to dare to be so disrespectful to him!

"Your Excellency, as the ladies each have their own dietary preferences, they often order special dishes. In order to serve the ladies well, the kitchen has to prepare more ingredients. As for the extras, they will not be wasted, after all, there are so many palace servants who also need to eat and drink."

A look of disdain flashed across Asiha's face. Since he dared to write everything clearly in the ledger, he was naturally not afraid of being investigated.

Shen Meizhuang naturally didn't believe his explanation. "Palace servants have their own allowances, and it's really inappropriate to abandon them like this. Besides, His Majesty is worried about the soldiers' pay on the frontier, so how can the inner palace be so extravagant!"

Asha grinned maliciously, "Very well!"

You, Consort Shen, walked right into this mess and courted death, so you can't blame him.

"Yes, Your Excellency is right. This servant will immediately order rectification and will ensure that all purchases are made according to the rations of each of you young masters, so as not to waste a single grain of rice."

His sudden show of weakness made Shen Meizhuang frown; she had a vague feeling that Wu Ya was up to no good.

However, since Wu Ya had already indicated that he would change his ways, she couldn't press the matter further.

"It's good that Steward Wu understands."

At Anlan Garden, the palace servants who listened to Xiao Lianzi's live broadcast all looked bewildered.

No, Consort Shen is too brave!

That's Chief Steward Wuya, the Empress Dowager's own nephew and the Emperor's own cousin.

Who in the entire palace doesn't know about the shady dealings in the Imperial Kitchen?

She just went ahead and recklessly charged forward like that.

Aren't you afraid of offending people?

Or is it that Consort Shen is truly an extraordinary woman who cannot tolerate any injustice, is unafraid of power, does not care about wealth and honor, and is wholeheartedly devoted to the Emperor?

Or perhaps they were unaware of the power and influence of the Shen family, who turned out to be a prominent and powerful family no less influential than the Nian or Wuya families.

Yu Ying'er also looked at Xi Qiao with a blank expression.

"Sister, what kind of person is this Consort Shen? I... I have no idea what she's up to."

Although she often couldn't understand various schemes and plots, she had made some progress under the guidance and teaching of her older sister. But this time, she couldn't even grasp the basics.

Xi Qiao's smile was a bit...strange when asked about this.

"This all started when Consort Shen sent someone to investigate Uya Asiha. Perhaps someone was dissatisfied with Consort Shen's deliberate sabotage, or perhaps the person Consort Shen sent was not careful enough, so Consort Shen did not know that Asiha came from the Uya clan."

Qingzhu's eyes lit up. "Just now, Xiaolianzi said that Consort Shen calls Steward Wuya 'Steward Wu.' Consort Shen doesn't think 'Wuya' is a name, does she?"

Xi Qiao just smiled and remained silent.

The others stared wide-eyed; the truth was just like that!

Oh dear, Consort Shen is in deep trouble!

Yu Ying'er was also dumbfounded.

"I was too naive. I thought that Consort Shen and Steward Wuya would only have a disagreement because one was disobedient and the other was incompetent. I didn't expect them to become enemies as soon as they arrived."

Without a doubt, the extra purchases recorded in the Imperial Kitchen's ledger, doubling the usual amount, were definitely fictitious; the real money must have gone into Steward Wuya's pocket.

Shen Meizhuang's arrival immediately cut off their source of income, and she interrogated and questioned them in front of so many people. Steward Wuya lost all face and dignity; no wonder she hated her to death.

Besides...

Even if Yu Ying'er was dull-witted, she understood the importance of clan ties. Chief Steward Wuya was a member of the Wuya family and the Empress Dowager's nephew.

Consort Shen has offended not only Chief Steward Wuya today, but also the Empress Dowager.

Xi Qiao chuckled. Shen Meizhuang's actions had offended more than just the Wuya family and the Empress Dowager.

Ashan's words clearly indicate that he wants to recreate the "mung bean soup" incident!

Not only should Shen Meizhuang unknowingly offend all the concubines in the palace, but she should also make all the palace maids and eunuchs hate her.

Tsk, this whole thing has somehow somehow gotten back into the plot.

—The emperor disliked and ignored him, offending the concubines in the harem, and the entire palace was filled with resentment.

In comparison, she only lacked the charge of faking a pregnancy to gain favor.

It's hard to say whether Shen Meizhuang is more miserable now or in the original drama.

Although she is no longer criminally charged, she no longer has sisters she can fully trust and support, and is now fighting alone.