Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

"Your Majesty, His Majesty is in good health and everything is as usual. The flowers and herbs you requested will be sent to you by the Imperial Household Department as soon as possible."

As he spoke, Xiao Xiazi looked up at the blazing sun high in the sky and said meaningfully, "With the sun blazing overhead, to prevent damage to Your Highness's health and the imperial heir, please do not go far."

Zhen Huan's smile froze. "Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch Xia."

"You flatter me, my lord."

Separated by a wall, Xi Qiao smiled. "Tsk, the emperor's defenses have been completely breached!"

They even exiled Prince Guo to Ningguta to suffer, and wouldn't let Zhen Huan have an easy time either.

Inside the walls, Zhen Huan asked again, "Eunuch Xia, could you please tell me where Aunt Cui Jinxi is currently working?"

Logically speaking, Jinxi had only gone to serve her mother and younger sister for a period of time. After her mother and younger sister left the palace, Jinxi should have returned to their side.

When she was at Yuanmingyuan, she thought Jinxi had been sent back to Suiyuxuan, but when she returned to the palace today, there was no one in Suiyuxuan at all.

Although Xiaoxiazi couldn't be sure about this, he had a slight guess in his mind.

He looked troubled. "Your Highness, the dispatching of palace servants is a matter for the Imperial Household Department. This servant is unaware of it."

The maidservant serving by Granny Yun's side must have been placed by her master next to Miss Zhen.

Zhen Huan was secretly disappointed. She was desperately lacking trustworthy servants. If only Cui Jinxi were here.

Early the next morning, Yu Ying'er carried the Sixth Prince to Jingren Palace to pay her respects.

Because the Empress Dowager sent word that she wanted to see the Sixth Prince, Xi Qiao also joined the procession.

They thought it was just a routine greeting, but as soon as they entered Jingren Palace, they saw Huichun leading a lady dressed in the formal attire of a royal consort into the main hall.

Others only saw a back view, but Xi Qiao used his mental power to see who it was.

Consort of Prince Guo, Meng Jingxian!

Xi Qiao's eyes lit up. Meng Jingxian!

Judging by the time, Prince Guo and Zhen Yuandao have been in Ningguta for some time now.

The emperor must have already taken action against Zhen Yuandao, right?

Although Lady Yun remained in the Emperor's court as a nanny, her identity as Zhen Huan's mother remained a major threat. Only when Lady Yun's identity as Zhen Huan became a thing of the past would Lady Yun's existence not harm the Emperor's reputation.

I wonder how Zhen Huan will feel when she finds out that the man she once had feelings for indirectly caused the deaths of her parents and relatives.

With Zhen Huan's intelligence, it's impossible that she didn't realize the Emperor was behind this, but what could she do?

She had no other options.

She didn't even have the right or the standing to question or resent the emperor.

Because she herself was the culprit!

This is nothing more than murder and heart-wrenching!

As Xi Qiao had predicted, when paying her respects, Meng Jingxian asked about Zhen Huan because she hadn't seen her.

The Empress, understanding the implied meaning from the zither's tone, asked, "Does the Princess Consort come to the palace so early today because she has something to discuss with Consort Zhen?"

Meng Jingxian hesitated for a moment, then said, “Your Majesty, a letter from the Prince has been sent back urgently. It says that Consort Zhen’s father died in an accident while traveling in Ningguta. I came to the palace today to inform Consort Zhen of this matter.”

The Empress's eyes flashed. "Your Majesty is very kind. However, Consort Zhen's pregnancy is unstable, and she is currently recuperating in the palace. This matter..."

With a worried expression, she earnestly said, "To prevent any harm to the imperial fetus, please keep the matter of Consort Zhen's father's death a secret for the time being."

After the Empress finished speaking, her gaze swept over the concubines in the hall. "Pretend you didn't hear this. If anyone can't keep their mouth shut and spreads these words to Consort Zhen, affecting her pregnancy, the Emperor and I will not let them off lightly."

The concubines in the hall didn't hide it from each other; most of them knew about Yun Shi's affair with the emperor, and they each had their own opinions about Zhen Huan's decision to stay home to rest during her pregnancy.

No one can say for sure whether her inability to move around freely is due to an unstable pregnancy or some other reason.

However, since the Empress has given the order, everyone must obey her orders on the surface.

"Yes, Your Majesty, we will obey Your Majesty's command."

The Empress nodded in satisfaction. "Don't blame me for being strict. It's just that Consort Zhen's pregnancy is too weak. You should know that the royal family places the greatest importance on the imperial heir."

"Yes, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your concubines will obey."

The Empress nodded in satisfaction. After exchanging a few more words with Meng Jingxian and the other concubines, she led Yu Ying'er and several other concubines who had given birth to imperial heirs, along with a group of princes and princesses, to Shou Kang Palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.

A strong medicinal smell permeated Shou Kang Palace, completely masking its usual sandalwood fragrance.

Consort Qi walked behind the Empress, and couldn't help but cover her mouth and nose with her handkerchief when she smelled the odor. She didn't dare to ask the Empress directly, so she turned around and asked Yu Ying'er, Consort Jin, and Consort Xin: "Is Her Majesty the Empress Dowager ill again?"

The three of them shook their heads in unison, indicating that they did not know.

Xi Qiao, who was walking beside Yu Ying'er, knew a little about it.

The eldest grandson of the Empress Dowager's elder brother raped a member of the Ulanara family's direct line of wives in broad daylight.

This woman lived with her husband in Shengjing (present-day Shenyang) and had only moved to the capital half a month ago because of her husband's promotion.

Little did she know that while she was out offering incense, she was defiled by the sons of the Wuya family, and this happened in a sacred Buddhist sanctuary, witnessed by many officials' families.

Afterwards, Ulanara's wife, unable to bear the humiliation, committed suicide by running into a pillar.

Too many people witnessed this, and most of them were officials' wives or relatives with high status and influence. No matter how famous the Uya family was, they couldn't hide it from the public.

In less than half a day, the news spread throughout the entire capital.

The following day, most of the officials from the previous dynasty submitted memorials to the emperor.

Some denounced the Uya family and petitioned the emperor to severely punish them.

Some took the opportunity to submit memorials listing other crimes committed by the Wuya family, attempting to take a bite out of them.

Although the emperor kept the matter secret, he never relented in letting the Wuya family go.

The Empress Dowager was preoccupied with the glory of the Uya family, so how could she not fall ill upon hearing this news?

This happened four days ago, and apart from the Empress Dowager, Consort Hua, their confidants, and Xi Qiao, no one in the harem knows about it yet.

Xi Qiao knew this because Consort Hua told her.

And Consort Hua will find out...

It's because the Nian family orchestrated this whole thing!

The husband of the first wife favored his concubine, leaving the first wife with almost no place to stand. After two years of marriage, she finally became pregnant, but was forced to give birth prematurely.

Although she risked her life to give birth to a daughter, the child was exceptionally weak due to insufficient nutrients in the womb.

Although her family knew about her plight, they were afraid of Ulanara's power and dared not stand up for her.

When the Nian family approached her, this lady's six-month-old daughter was on the verge of death and urgently needed ginseng to save her life.

This woman sacrificed her own life for a ginseng root and for her daughter's survival.

After sighing for a while, Xi Qiao put the matter out of his mind.

The Empress Dowager had taken action against Consort Hua multiple times, so it was only natural for the Nian family to retaliate.