Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Ah--

The older members of the imperial clan present had all met Empress Chun Yuan, and the ministers present also knew that the Zhen couple had perished in the icy snow of Ningguta.

At this moment, Consort Zhen was hugging a middle-aged woman who looked very similar to her and was dressed in the attire of a concubine, calling her "Mother" repeatedly.

The middle-aged woman, who appeared to be a concubine, responded to every word, completely confirming the relationship between the two.

With the Empress Dowager and the Empress both spontaneously calling out "Chun Yuan" and "Sister," what else could they not guess?

The emperor looked pale as he stared at Yun Xinluo and Zhen Huan, mother and daughter, who were huddled together and crying their eyes out.

Sitting in the main seat, the Empress Dowager had guessed what was going on, and her face instantly turned extremely ugly.

"Ouch—" Su Peisheng exaggeratedly slapped his thigh and stepped forward to separate Zhen Huan and Yun Xinluo, who were tightly hugging each other.

"My lords, you've mistaken me for someone else!"

Su Peisheng's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and the back of his clothes was already soaked with cold sweat.

“Princess Zhen, this is Consort Yun. She has served the Emperor since the time he was a prince. Although Consort Yun looks somewhat like you, she is not your birth mother. Your birth mother went to Ningguta with Consort Zhen.”

Upon suddenly learning of her parents' deaths, and now seeing her mother alive again, Zhen Huan was overwhelmed with grief and joy. She couldn't listen to Su Peisheng's words and didn't care about being considerate or not. Her heart was filled only with her family members who had come back from the dead.

Zhen Huan stubbornly held onto Yun Shi's hand, almost screaming herself hoarse, "No! No, this is my mother, I can't mistake her for someone else! Mother, Mother!"

Su Peisheng could barely contain his emotions. He gritted his teeth and gripped Zhen Huan's arm tightly, saying coldly, "Your Highness is probably delirious with grief! Three days ago, Prince Guo sent a message back to the capital that your parents have already been devoured by wolves."

Su Peisheng glanced at Yun Shi without leaving a trace, then forcefully pulled Zhen Huan away from her. "Your Highness, please accept my condolences. Your younger sister, Miss Zhen, is still waiting for your decision!"

Zhen Huan, in pain, finally calmed down.

Upon hearing Su Peisheng mention Zhen Yurao, Lady Yun released Zhen Huan as if electrocuted. She had long anticipated her husband's death, but her young daughter could not suffer any more misfortune.

Yun Xinluo, her face pale, looked up at Zhen Huan, whose face was streaked with tears, and said with a sorrowful expression, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. I have never met you before. It is only by the mercy of Heaven that we are fortunate enough to bear some resemblance."

“I have a younger sister who looks just like me. I was momentarily confused and mistook her for someone else. Please forgive me, Miss Zhen.”

Su Peisheng relaxed, smiling as he continued to smooth things over, "Miss Yun has been in the palace for many years and hasn't seen her family in a long time. It's only natural that she would be moved when she suddenly sees someone who looks so much like her younger sister. It's just human nature!"

Just as he was about to brush it off, Prince Dun suddenly spoke up, asking, "Oh? Something about what Chief Eunuch Su said doesn't sound quite right to me. I've heard a lot about the Emperor's concubines, but this one..."

Prince Dun looked at the Emperor and his servant Su Peisheng with a half-smile, "Judging from their age, they should be around the same age as me. If they really served the Emperor in their early years, why were their names not mentioned during the investiture ceremony?"

Su Peisheng was speechless, "This..."

The emperor gave him a cold glance, "Tenth Prince seems to be quite interested in my harem!"

The emperor's intervention relieved Su Peisheng from his predicament.

He glanced around with a deep look in his eyes, then said in a loud voice, "I was deeply in love with Chun Yuan. Since her passing, I have often been overwhelmed with grief. Fortunately, this maid has some of Chun Yuan's charm, which can offer some comfort and ease the pain of separation for a moment."

Prince Dun was about to speak again when his wife interrupted him, saying, "His Majesty's affection for Empress Chun Yuan is profound and righteous, which we all admire and respect."

When the princess spoke, Prince Dun gave a soft snort and sat back down sullenly.

Other members of the imperial family and ministers also chimed in, praising the emperor and Empress Chun Yuan's divine love.

Sitting in the main seat, the Empress listened to the praise and approval of the Imperial Family and high-ranking officials for Empress Chun Yuan, and her face turned ashen.

Pure Yuan Pure Yuan Pure Yuan!

Everyone's praising that bitch Rouze!

Then what does she mean by being an empress?

what?

The Empress was furious, but Zhen Huan, who was standing not far from the Emperor, was even more upset than the Empress.

What did His Majesty mean by what he just said?

Her mother looked remarkably like Empress Chun Yuan.

Her mother served the emperor?

Why is this happening?

Why is this happening?!

The familiar dizziness and weakness swept over her again. Zhen Huan's legs went weak, and she staggered uncontrollably. Fortunately, Su Peisheng was nearby and caught her.

"Your Majesty, bring her forward so I can have a good look at her. So many years have passed, and I have grown old; I have almost forgotten what Chun Yuan looked like."

The Empress Dowager forced a smile, trying to evoke the Emperor's soft heart and maternal affection by mentioning Empress Chun Yuan and her own advanced age.

The emperor's lips curled into a smile. "Yes, son obeys."

He led Lady Yun forward, and Lady Yun, knowing proper etiquette, knelt beside the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager reached out and touched Yun's temple, a dark glint flashing in her deep eyes. "So alike, so very alike. If Chun Yuan were still here..."

She pulled out a handkerchief to cover her eyes, then turned to look at the emperor and sighed, "Your Majesty, she served you for a time and has had such good fortune, so don't let her go back to the Yuanmingyuan."

These words, however, somehow helped to redeem the emperor.

“Since Your Majesty has spoken, your son will naturally comply. Let her be granted the title of Changzai, with the name Yun, and be granted residence in the East Annex Hall of Yongshou Palace.”

The empress's face darkened for a moment, but she had no choice but to swallow her anger.

The concubines present exchanged glances, each with a hint of resentment on their faces.

Everyone in the harem knew Yun's true identity. For a woman who had already given birth to become a legitimate concubine, and to be treated as a sister by them... this...

"Oh no! Consort Zhen has fainted! Imperial Physician!"

After the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, the emperor went straight back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and took Yun, who had just been granted the title of Yun Changzai, with him as well.

Throughout the journey, Yun's face was deathly pale, and she followed the imperial carriage with trepidation.

Back at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, without the emperor needing to say anything, Lady Yun disregarded the gazes of the palace maids, eunuchs, and guards inside and outside the hall and knelt down on the hard stone slab at the entrance with a thud.

The emperor heard the sound behind him, but did not stop walking.

Yun was filled with sorrow and grief, and had no time to pay attention to the pain in her knee.

She knew that the Emperor did not want her existence to be known, did not want her to be labeled as someone who disregarded morality and ethics, and did not want his reputation to be damaged or to be cursed by future generations.

But how could she dare disobey the Empress Dowager's orders? And how could she possibly disobey them!

Yun's tears fell silently, landing on the stone slab with a crisp sound.