Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Xi Qiao knew this man's greedy nature well, but his smile remained unchanged: "Of course I would like to ask for your patronage."

As she spoke, she took out a purse and handed it to Asiha. The purse contained five twenty-tael silver notes, which were quite thick.

Asha's smile brightened even more.

"Your Highness Consort Zhuang has gone to great lengths. Even if Your Highness hadn't allowed my aunt to make this trip, I wouldn't have dared to neglect Your Highness's wishes."

Xi Qiao completely ignored him, and before he paid the money, the food delivered to Anlan Garden by the kitchen staff was better than that elsewhere, but it still couldn't compare to the original food.

At most, it's just an upgrade from a small eatery to a Chinese restaurant, but no matter which one it is, it's worlds apart from what a master chef cooks.

During this period, apart from the Empress's household, all the concubines who hadn't been bribed received increasingly worse meals from the kitchen.

It is said that Consort Xin has been eating tasteless boiled vegetables and mushy steamed vegetables for two days in a row.

This man dared to act so recklessly in the Yuanmingyuan without the Empress Dowager's support; he would surely become even more audacious once he returned to the palace.

Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, the emperor only mentioned it briefly to the princes and princesses, and at most sent some money to the other concubines in private, but ignored everything else.

After Xi Qiao came out of the Imperial Kitchen, he passed in front of the Qianqing Gate, went through the Longzong Gate, and soon arrived at the Imperial Household Department.

The head of the Imperial Household Department was replaced in mid-July. The current head is Jiang Zhongmin, who was promoted by the Empress, while Huang Guiquan was demoted to deputy head. The two of them switched positions.

When Xi Qiao came to the Imperial Household Department, he was naturally looking for Huang Guiquan.

Huang Guiquan seemed to have known all along that Xi Qiao would come, and he had already found out the background of the palace maids and eunuchs that Jiang Zhongmin had placed in Zhongcui Palace.

There were eight people in total: four eunuchs and four palace maids.

Not all of them served in the main hall; two of them filled vacancies in the rear hall and were responsible for cleaning.

Of these eight people, two were affiliated with the Empress and one with the Empress Dowager.

"The backgrounds of the remaining five are fine, and nothing has been revealed so far."

"Thank you for your trouble, Steward Huang."

As he spoke, Xi Qiao slipped a thin purse into his sleeve.

After exchanging a few polite words, Xi Qiao left the Imperial Household Department and walked slowly along the wall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. His spiritual power penetrated the wall, allowing him to clearly understand the situation within fifteen meters.

Behind the Hall of Mental Cultivation is the Palace of Eternal Longevity, and the palace paths on both sides of the Palace of Eternal Longevity lead back to the Palace of Zhongcui.

However, Xi Qiao did not find a room that resembled the residence of the Yun family along the way. So, she continued forward along the back wall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, passed the entrance of the Palace of Eternal Longevity, and walked through the passage between the Hall of Mental Cultivation and the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

There were no palace servants walking on the palace road at that moment, so Xi Qiao took the opportunity to walk south along the east side of the Yangxin Hall palace wall.

This direction is opposite to the direction back to Zhongcui Palace.

Fortunately, the Hall of Mental Cultivation is not very large, and her walk around was enough to get a clear understanding of the situation in the east and west surrounding rooms and the rear hall.

Given Yun Xinluona's clandestine status, it was impossible for the emperor to place her in the main hall or the east and west side halls. The most likely place would be in the enclosed quarters where the palace women lived.

Xi Qiao did not find anyone in the west wing or the rear hall, so Yun Xinluo must have been placed in the east wing.

Sure enough, Xi Qiao hadn't walked more than a few steps outside the east wall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation when his spiritual power "saw" Yun Xinluo sitting in a room near the Auspicious Gate in the east wing.

Xi Qiao still remembers this room; it was where Suo Chuo Luo, a woman from the Suo Chuo Luo clan, lived when she was an official!

Having found the place, Xi Qiao turned around with a smile, preparing to return to Zhongcui Palace.

But just as they reached the Xianhe Right Gate, they saw Xiaoxiazi pass through the Jiazhi Gate and step into the Zhongsi Gate. Behind the Zhongsi Gate was the Western Six Palaces.

Xi Qiao didn't take it to heart and continued walking along the palace road towards the Imperial Garden.

However, when passing by Yikun Palace, Xi Qiao saw from the palace road that Xiao Xiazi did not stop, but continued forward.

This is a bit interesting.

Of the six western palaces, only Yikun Palace, Changchun Palace, and Xianfu Palace were inhabited.

Consort Qi lived in Changchun Palace, while Consort Jing and Shen Meizhuang lived in Xianfu Palace.

None of these three people were favored by the emperor. The first two had been out of favor for a long time, and the latter had clearly become a pawn abandoned by the emperor.

At this time, less than a quarter of an hour had passed since he returned to the palace. Xiao Xiazi was ordered to enter the inner palace to deliver a message, which should certainly be sent to the concubines that the emperor currently favors.

In the Western Six Palaces, only Consort Hua, who was pregnant, was still on the emperor's mind.

But Xiao Xiazi did not enter Yikun Palace.

As Xi Qiao walked, she pondered. When she entered the Imperial Garden, she didn't rush to leave but stood there for a while.

Within the range of his spiritual perception, Xiao Xiazi did not head towards the Eastern Six Palaces, but instead went towards the Suiyu Pavilion.

Xi Qiao raised an eyebrow and followed.

Broken Yuxuan.

Pei'er was helping people set up their luggage inside, while Zhen Huan sat alone on the veranda outside the room.

Although Suiyu Pavilion was not much different from when Zhen Huan left, she felt that it was shrouded in gloom, and even the afternoon sun could not break through the clouds to shine here.

Xiao Yunzi stood bowing beside Zhen Huan, and seeing her frowning, he cautiously glanced at the door.

"Your Highness, you haven't been out and about for quite some time. Would you like to take a stroll in the Imperial Garden?"

The guards who were stationed at the gate when they were at the Old Summer Palace were either dismissed or not on duty. There was no one outside the gate at the moment, so no one would stop them if they wanted to move around.

Upon hearing that she could leave, Zhen Huan immediately snapped out of her reverie.

She looked towards the entrance of Suiyu Pavilion and, as expected, did not see the guards she used to see. She was overjoyed, even if it was just a moment of freedom, she was willing to accept it.

"Then let's go for a walk."

Zhen Huan's joy was genuine; she couldn't wait to walk towards the door as she spoke.

"Please slow down, my lord, let me help you."

The two, mistress and servant, successfully exited the gate of Suiyu Pavilion. The Forbidden City was still sweltering in the August afternoon, but Zhen Huan seemed oblivious, leaning on Xiao Yunzi's hand and walking briskly forward.

Just as the master and servant were about to enter the palace path leading to the Imperial Garden, they ran into Xiao Xiazi.

"This servant greets Consort Zhen."

Xiazi was surprised for a moment, then flicked her sleeves and bowed.

Zhen Huan looked at Xia Zi with shining eyes, "Eunuch Xia, you may rise. Did His Majesty send you?"

Since Su Peisheng brought her mother and Yu Rao to bid her farewell and leave the palace, she has never seen anyone from the imperial court again.

Now that there are no guards outside Suiyu Pavilion, and Xiaxiazi has come at this time, does that mean that the Emperor is no longer angry?

Xia Zi sensed the surprise and anticipation in Zhen Huan's words, and hesitantly looked up to glance at Zhen Huan's beautiful, smiling face.

"Reporting to Your Highness, Steward Su sent me to check on how things are going here and if there's anything we need to add."

This was certainly not the Emperor's idea, but rather an instruction from his own master.

The Emperor felt nothing but disgust towards this woman; he had no affection for her whatsoever. Even though her heir was already three months old, the Emperor hadn't uttered a single question about it.

Zhen Huan was unaware of Xiao Xiazi's inner thoughts. Upon hearing that it was Su Peisheng, she immediately assumed it was the emperor's order, and her smile became more genuine.

"I've almost finished tidying up here; I just need to add some flowers. By the way, would Your Majesty like to come in?"