Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Yun Xinluo's expression changed. It wasn't that she intentionally arrived late; it was simply that she had no experience with paying respects and had no concept of it at all. The palace maid beside her had also completely forgotten about it.

"Please punish me, Your Majesty."

Yun Xinluo didn't try to explain, because she simply couldn't bring herself to use the excuse of "getting up late."

Moreover, since Consort Hua and the other concubines in the palace harbor resentment towards her, it's good to let them vent their anger in trivial matters, so that their resentment doesn't accumulate and lead to them taking drastic measures against her when she's not paying attention.

It's just being late for greetings; the punishment won't be too severe.

Consort Hua's anger did indeed subside somewhat upon hearing this, "Read..."

"The royal concubine!"

Before Consort Hua could speak, Zhen Huan jumped in anxiously, "Your Highness, please forgive me, although Consort Yun arrived the latest, she did not miss the time for paying her respects. It is only three-quarters past Chen Shi now."

As she spoke, Zhen Huan deliberately glanced at the hourglass placed not far from the door.

Consort Hua followed her gaze and saw that the hourglass had not yet run out. The words that were on the tip of her tongue suddenly got stuck in her throat. She couldn't spit them out or swallow them down, and she felt quite uncomfortable. Her gaze toward Zhen Huan also began to turn unfriendly.

Yun Xinluo's heart skipped a beat; something bad had happened!

She suppressed the bitterness in her heart and tried to make amends: "Thank you for your kindness, Consort Zhen, but I am late. It is my fault for keeping Your Highness and the ladies waiting. I am willing to accept the punishment."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Huan felt a surge of anger. What was her mother doing! She was clearly doing it for her own good, so why wasn't she grateful? And if she wasn't grateful, why did she have to ask for punishment?

Consort Hua felt a lump in her throat and looked at Zhen Huan with a cold smile: "Consort Zhen is as clever as ever, it's just a pity that Consort Yun doesn't seem to care!"

After her clumsy attempt at sowing discord, Consort Hua turned her gaze to Yun Xinluo, who was kneeling in the hall: "What are you still kneeling for? Do you expect me to help you up myself?"

"Yun Changzai is truly blessed. In the first half of her life, she enjoyed wealth and prosperity, and raised such a thoughtful and sensible child who always considers her needs and protects her. In the second half of her life, she only encountered a few minor setbacks before being favored by the Emperor, and she will certainly have a good life from now on."

As soon as Consort Hua finished speaking, someone below followed her lead and ridiculed the mother and son, "That's right, this is the first time in our Qing Dynasty that a mother and daughter have shared a husband. Perhaps Consort Yun and Consort Zhen will even be remembered in history!"

"Speaking of which, it hasn't been a hundred days since Consort Zhen's father passed away. According to the rules, one cannot marry or have children during the mourning period. I just don't know about you two..."

Although he hadn't finished speaking, his malicious gaze had already made his meaning crystal clear.

Zhen Huan and her daughter Yun Xinluo both looked grim.

Yun Xinluo spoke up before Zhen Huan could: "Thank you all for your concern and care. However, I am only the birth mother of the Fourth Prince and the Consort Yun of the Emperor. I have no other identity."

The implication is that it has nothing to do with Zhen Huan and Zhen Yuandao, so the infamy of mother and daughter sharing a husband should not be placed on her and Zhen Huan!

Although Zhen Huan knew in her heart that Yun Xinluo's words were not sincere, she still couldn't help but show a hurt look in her eyes when she heard it with her own ears.

Consort Hua scoffed dismissively, then feigned surprise. "The person I was referring to just now was the Fourth Prince, Hongli. Consort Yun, what are you thinking? Are you still hung up on people and events from the past? Unable to let go?"

Yun Xinluo gritted her teeth, knelt down, and begged for mercy: "It was my foolishness that led me to listen to Your Majesty's wise words. I had no choice but to explain in order to prevent Your Majesty from misunderstanding me. I had no other intentions. Please understand, Your Majesty."

Consort Hua pouted, "How boring!"

This Consort Yun is far too timid; she doesn't even have a fraction of the stubbornness that Lady Zhen possessed. If only she had argued a little more, she could have easily punished Consort Yun for insubordination.

After Yun Xinluo's matter was over, Consort Hua did not make things difficult for everyone. She simply said a few words and then dismissed them.

The greeting was so simple and harmless that when Consort Hua announced the end of the greeting, everyone felt a sense of unreality.

Even after leaving Yikun Palace, Consort Qi and Consort Xin still had dreamy eyes.

Consort Hua didn't cause them any trouble!

Strange!

At the back of the crowd, An Lingrong pulled Shen Meizhuang along and slowed her pace to Zhen Huan's side. "Sister Zhen, we haven't had a proper conversation in a long time. Would you be so kind as to visit your Suiyu Pavilion today for a cup of tea?"

Zhen Huan smiled and gave her a reproachful look, "Are you getting distant with me, An-meimei? What are you talking about? If you say that again, I'll get angry."

Then she looked at Shen Meizhuang, who was still lost in thought and not in the right state of mind, and sighed almost imperceptibly, "Sister, don't worry, we can find out everything if we work together."

It's unclear whether Shen Meizhuang listened or not; she merely nodded at Zhen Huan without uttering a word.

Yu Ying'er was not far away when they were talking, and she rolled her eyes when she heard what they said.

It's strange that these three people—two nobles and one concubine—would condescend to go to the palace of the lowest-ranking concubine instead of the palace of one of the nobles when they wanted to talk together!

The three of them were unaware of Yu Ying'er's inner thoughts. They walked through the Western Six Palaces and arrived at Suiyu Pavilion. They sent out all the palace maids and eunuchs to guard the windows and corridors, forbidding anyone to approach and eavesdrop.

"Sister Mei, have some tea."

Seeing that Shen Meizhuang was still restless, Zhen Huan deliberately brought her a cup of calming tea. "Sister Mei, the matter is over. No matter how much you hold a grudge, it won't change anything. You should cheer up and plan for the future."

It must be said that Zhen Huan, who has severed all feelings of love and affection and is now filled only with hatred, is much smarter and more rational than the Zhen Huan who was previously consumed by her romantic feelings and love for the emperor.

Shen Meizhuang mechanically picked up the teacup and skimmed the foam, looking down at the teacup with a listless and wooden expression.

“There is no future. There are no shortage of empresses above me. The last time the emperor bypassed them and handed over the power of the palace to me, it was both a sign of his high regard for me and a test. But I messed it all up.”

Her expression and eyes were blank. "Before, I didn't understand why the Emperor suddenly neglected me. Now I think it's because the Emperor is completely disappointed in me. That Uya Asiha is not only a member of the Uya family, but also the face of the Empress Dowager. I..."

The more Shen Meizhuang talked, the more desperate she became; she had truly embarrassed the Empress Dowager!

An Lingrong was at a loss for how to comfort her, so she could only look at Zhen Huan.

Zhen Huan sighed, took the teacup from Shen Meizhuang, and then grasped her hand. "Sister, you were also deceived and schemed against. As long as we find out who is behind this, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor will no longer blame you."

A glimmer of hope appeared in Shen Meizhuang's eyes. "Really?"

Zhen Huan nodded affirmatively, "Sister, you still have the Shen family behind you. Even considering Uncle Shen's dedication, the Emperor will surely give you another chance."

Shen Meizhuang's eyes lit up. Yes, that's right, she still had the Shen family!