Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

The mere mention of the "concubine's status and treatment" made even Yu Ying'er feel melancholy.

While others could enjoy the privileges of a concubine as soon as they became pregnant, they had to endure ten months of hardship, walking around every day with their big bellies to pay their respects.

Consort Jin and Consort Xin felt even more bitter. If it weren't for Consort Zhuang giving birth and Consort Hua's kind words, they might not have been able to obtain their consort titles at all.

Consort Xin slammed her teacup down on the tea table, letting out a cold snort. "It's just the treatment of a concubine. There's no imperial decree for promotion, no investiture ceremony, and no instruction from Her Majesty the Empress. What kind of concubine is this? What kind of honorable position is this?"

"Rank is rank, and treatment is treatment. Don't confuse the two, Consort Zhen! If, as you so illogically argue, receiving treatment is equivalent to rank, then shouldn't Consort Zhuang be honored as Consort Zhuang?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Ying'er chuckled, her eyes sparkling: "Sister Xinpin is joking. I, on the other hand, am eager to be promoted immediately. If I could become a Consort, who would want to remain just a Consort? It's just a pity that I lack the right fate and background."

Yu Ying'er emphasized the word "foundation" very heavily.

Whether others reacted or not, An Lingrong suddenly felt a stirring in her heart.

Consort Jin smiled and replied, "Sister, your words sound a bit like boasting. In this entire palace, everyone can say they lack fate and background, but not you, sister. Sixth Prince, that is the best fate and background."

As long as the Sixth Prince is alive, it's only a matter of time before Consort Zhuang is promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine.

Yu Ying'er chuckled, "Sister knows me. I don't care about rank or status. As long as I have enough to eat and wear, that's fine."

Consort Jin smiled as well. It had long been known that Zhongcui Palace had gone to great lengths to embezzle food from the kitchen.

She glanced at Shen Meizhuang, whose face was pale below, and said, "Yesterday I looked at the kitchen's accounts. Although Consort Shen advocated for saving money, she didn't actually save much silver. On the contrary, it caused a lot of inconvenience to the ladies of the harem."

Although Consort Jin had no experience in wielding palace power, there was no reason for her not to step on a ready-made stepping stone.

Although there are no practical benefits, the palace servants underground will surely be grateful to her, and it will be much easier for her to order people around or place people in the future.

"I already informed the Imperial Concubine yesterday that the Imperial Kitchen's procurement will resume as normal starting today."

Consort Jin looked at Shen Meizhuang with a half-smile, "In addition, I also specifically met with Chief Steward Wuya and have already spoken with him. The Imperial Kitchen will prepare the meals according to the taste preferences of each of the ladies in the palace."

The implication was that no extra money needed to be given.

Yu Ying'er was the first to cheer, beaming with joy, "That's wonderful! Although Asiha is a capable person, he has quite an appetite. Consort Jin has saved me a lot of money."

Shen Meizhuang hadn't paid any attention to Consort Jin's verbal jabs, but her expression suddenly changed drastically when she heard the name "Asiha".

She stood up abruptly, her expression urgent and nervous, and asked Yu Ying'er, "If I may be so bold as to ask, who is this Asiha that Consort Zhuang spoke of?"

Yu Ying'er was stunned and looked at her in confusion. "What's wrong with Consort Shen? You've dealt with Asiha quite a bit in the past two weeks while you were in charge of the Imperial Kitchen, haven't you? Why are you asking me who he is?"

Shen Meizhuang was instantly struck dumb. Wu Ya? Uya!

Uya Asha!

The Emperor's maternal clan, the Uya clan!

Shen Meizhuang's vision blurred, and she slumped weakly back into her chair.

"My lady!" Caiyue cried out anxiously in a low voice, her voice tinged with tears.

They've been set up!

When the young mistress took over the purchasing ledgers of the Imperial Kitchen that day, she secretly contacted the palace servants bribed by the Shen family and asked them to investigate as much information as possible related to the Imperial Kitchen.

The message relayed by the palace servant clearly stated that the head of the imperial kitchen was surnamed Wu, with the given name Ya. Because his name sounded the same as the surname of the Empress Dowager's family, many people who did not know the details mistakenly thought he was a member of the Wuya family.

After the head steward Wu discovered this, he tried every means to curry favor with Shou Kang Palace, creating the illusion in the eyes of outsiders that he was a member of the Wuya family. He then used this to embezzle and accept bribes in the palace, and to deduct the allowances of unfavored concubines.

It was precisely because she knew these things that Shen Meizhuang had a preconceived prejudice against Asiha and intentionally used such a seemingly high-ranking but actually marginalized steward to establish her authority.

But don't want to...

Shen Meizhuang raised her hand to signal Caiyue not to say anything more; she was just too confident.

This is the imperial palace. Even if the Shen family bribed some people beforehand, if the Shen family can buy people with money, others can naturally also use money to turn them against them.

Everyone in the hall saw Shen Meizhuang's distraught state and had the same thought in their minds: Could it be that Consort Shen doesn't know the true identity of Steward Wuya?

Consort Jin and Yu Ying'er exchanged a glance, both seeing undisguised shock in each other's eyes.

Huh? You really don't know?

Consort Jin was genuinely surprised, because she was certain that Consort Hua had not intervened, and that the other concubines likely did not have the connections or ability to accomplish this.

Then, the only possibility is—the Empress!

Consort Jin's thoughts raced in an instant.

Consort Xin looked at Shen Meizhuang with surprise and suspicion, and then, without any sense of propriety, leaned close and said, "No wonder you were so bold back then, making things difficult for Chief Eunuch Wuya in front of so many people. It turns out you didn't know that Chief Eunuch Wuya was a member of the Empress Dowager's clan!"

She had thought that Consort Shen was of such high moral character that she couldn't stand Chief Eunuch Wuya exploiting palace servants, deducting bribes from concubines, and embezzling money by taking advantage of the Empress Dowager's power.

Unexpectedly, it was for such a laughable reason!

ridiculous!

As soon as Consort Xin finished speaking, most of the concubines in the hall cast disdainful glances at Shen Meizhuang.

Even Zhen Huan couldn't help but glance at her. She had always thought that Sister Mei was incredibly intelligent, but she never expected that she would make such a low-level and foolish mistake.

This was truly beyond Zhen Huan's expectations.

Shen Meizhuang's face grew even uglier, especially when she felt the various gazes cast upon her by the concubines and servants in the hall, she felt a sense of utter shame and indignation.

who is it?

Shen Meizhuang gritted her teeth in resentment. Who on earth had schemed against her and fooled her like this?

In an instant, the images of all the concubines in the imperial harem flashed through Shen Meizhuang's mind.

Consort Jin sighed with some surprise, "This is truly..."

How laughable!

If Shen Meizhuang had known Chief Steward Wuya's identity yet still stood her ground, many would have admired her integrity and uprightness.

Now that the real and absurd reason has been exposed to the public, all that remains is ridicule.

Although this was likely because Shen Meizhuang was framed, so what?

When people hear the pronunciation of "Wu ya", their first thought is of the Empress Dowager in the palace and the Wuya clan from which she came.

Consort Shen, far from having any doubts, brazenly believed it. At best, this was just her losing face; at worst, it showed she had no respect for the Empress Dowager.

But regardless of the truth of the matter or what the consequences will be.

The impression that Shen Meizhuang left on those in high positions is now difficult to change!

If there were another opportunity to manage the affairs of the six palaces, it would never be Shen Meizhuang's turn again.

It can be said that her dullness and stupidity were solidified at this moment, becoming her unique label.

The hall fell silent for a moment.