Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

"Don't worry, sister, I know what I'm doing. But you also know how kind the Zhen family was to me back then, so consider this my way of repaying that kindness."

Shen Meizhuang sighed, "Since you have made up your mind, I will say no more. I just hope you will be careful in everything you do."

After the two parted ways in the Imperial Garden, An Lingrong did not return to Yanxi Palace, but went to Shou Kang Palace instead.

Last night, An Lingrong racked her brains until midnight, her mind filled with thoughts of how to get Chunrong to talk. But Baoque was quick-witted and thought of the Empress Dowager.

As Chunrong's mistress, how could the Empress Dowager not know what Chunrong knew?

Full of confidence, An Lingrong arrived outside Shou Kang Palace. As soon as she opened her mouth to ask to see the Empress Dowager, the eunuch guarding the gate immediately said, "Please forgive me, Miss An, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager does not receive guests."

An Lingrong looked at the eunuch who had spoken, and said with a forced smile, "This eunuch hasn't even gone to report yet, how do you know that the Empress Dowager won't see me?"

The eunuch looked at An Lingrong with some surprise. It was really strange. There were so many smart people in the palace, how could such a stupid and dull person who couldn't understand words suddenly appear?

How dare a lowly gatekeeper eunuch falsely convey the Empress Dowager's imperial edict?

Moreover, this Consort An is merely a minor consort, a person with no background, no children, and no favor. Why would the Empress Dowager lower herself to see her? And where does she get the confidence that the Empress Dowager would see her?

"Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has been unwell lately, and the imperial physician has advised her to rest quietly. Therefore, Aunt Zhuxi has instructed us to keep the palace gates closed."

Although the gatekeeper had a lot of complaints in his heart, he still remained polite on the surface. Favor in the palace was unpredictable, and no one could be sure whether someone would gain or lose favor.

An Lingrong nodded stiffly, and after Baoque rewarded the gatekeeper eunuch, she turned and went to Chengqian Palace, hoping to run into the emperor again.

Unfortunately, the emperor did not come to Chengqian Palace.

Although the emperor did indeed choose Yun Xinluo's name in the evening, he ordered her to be brought to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to serve him in bed.

An Lingrong had nothing but good things happen all day, and her mood became increasingly irritable.

She was irritable for three days in a row.

They couldn't enter Shou Kang Palace, nor could they see the emperor. They could only watch helplessly as Yun Xinluo's face, nourished by the rain and dew, radiated like that of a young woman in her late teens.

Just as An Lingrong's jealousy was about to burst forth, Shen Meizhuang stopped her after paying her respects, "I heard that you've been going to the Shou Kang Palace to see the Empress Dowager for the past three days?"

An Lingrong's expression stiffened. She had been there for three days, but had been turned away at the door for three days. Not to mention the Empress Dowager, she hadn't seen a single palace servant in Shou Kang Palace, except for the eunuchs guarding the gate.

She finally realized that the Empress Dowager's actions were simply because she felt the Empress Dowager was too lowly and didn't want to waste her time.

An Lingrong, in her anger and resentment, couldn't help but come up with other ideas.

Since An Lingrong's importance is not enough, how about adding Shen Meizhuang?

Coincidentally, she had just had this idea the day before, and after paying her respects today, Shen Meizhuang actually brought up the Empress Dowager on her own initiative.

An Lingrong blushed and said awkwardly, "Sister didn't mishear. After leaving Suiyu Pavilion that day, I thought carefully about what Sister Zhen said. Consort Hua's side is indeed unreliable. To prevent her retaliation, I had no choice but to ask the Empress Dowager for help, but I didn't expect..."

"You've made your sister laugh at you."

Shen Meizhuang patted her hand, "You, what kind of joke is this? You didn't steal or rob, you were just asking for the Empress Dowager's protection, what's so laughable about that?"

"The reason I asked about my sister is because I had the same thoughts as her."

Shen Meizhuang looked around and said in a low voice, "As you know, the head of the imperial kitchen is a direct descendant of the Empress Dowager. I think we should go to the Empress Dowager first to apologize and make our attitude clear. Only then will things go more smoothly."

She was the one who made the mistake. As a junior and a person of low status, it was not shameful for her to bow her head and admit her mistake first.

"Then...sister, will you come with me?"

Shen Meizhuang smiled and said, "Okay!"

Shen Meizhuang was somewhat lucky; when she and An Lingrong arrived at Shou Kang Palace with gifts of apology, they happened to run into Sun Zhuxi.

"This servant greets Consort Shen and Consort An."

Shen Meizhuang dared not accept this person's courtesy now, and quickly stepped forward to help Sun Zhuxi up, saying, "Aunt, please don't be so polite."

With a concerned expression, she said earnestly and urgently, "We heard that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is unwell. Consort An and I have searched for some tonics to offer to Her Majesty. Would you mind if we could trouble you to pass them on to us?"

As she spoke, she slipped a purse into Sun Zhuxi's sleeve.

Sun Zhuxi smiled and agreed, "Your Highnesses Shen and An are very kind. This servant will definitely deliver the items to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Shen Meizhuang nodded in satisfaction, "Then thank you very much, Aunt."

Although she was unable to enter Shou Kang Palace or meet the Empress Dowager, Shen Meizhuang had already achieved her goal.

The Empress Dowager is not someone that these lowly concubines can simply meet or curry favor with as they please.

"Auntie, go ahead with your work. An and I won't bother you any longer."

Sun Zhuxi accepted the brocade box handed over by Caiyue and said very politely, "Please take care, ladies."

After Shen Meizhuang and An Lingrong left, Sun Zhuxi carried the brocade box and went straight to the main hall of Shou Kang Palace to meet the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, Consort Shen just delivered an old ginseng root to you for nourishment."

The key point is not the old ginseng, but the sentiment behind Consort Shen, or rather, the sentiment of the Shen family behind Consort Shen.

The Empress Dowager reclined on the couch, nodding with a smile. "I have always liked Consort Shen. I felt a little sorry for her when she was schemed against by the Empress and had a falling out with Asiha."

Sun Zhuxi naturally understood the Empress Dowager's intentions: "Now Your Majesty can rest assured. Consort Shen has not distanced herself from you because of Lord Asiha, nor has the Shen family behind her. With the Shen family's support in the future, you will have less to worry about."

The Empress Dowager was in a good mood. "Yes, with the Shen family's influence, the Wuya family will have an extra layer of protection."

She looked at Sun Zhuxi and said with emotion, "Although I value the Shen family more, I am also satisfied with Consort Shen herself. Her temperament, actions, and intelligence are all just right."

Not too stupid, not too smart, she has pride and ambition, yet she is also humble and modest. She is methodical and goal-oriented, yet not greedy or reckless. Such a person is easy to control and worry-free; you don't have to worry about her having inappropriate thoughts.

"Let Consort Shen come in next time."

Sun Zhuxi bowed and agreed.

Then, somewhat hesitantly, she asked, "Your Highness, Consort Shen came with Consort An today. When she gave this ginseng to me, she said it was a gift from both of them. I think Consort Shen will probably bring Consort An with her next time too."

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly but quickly relaxed her brow. "It's alright. Consort Shen has the Shen family behind her. Even if I accept her, it won't be easy for me to order her around. Consort An, on the other hand, is someone we can consider."

"Now, it's not advisable for our Shou Kang Palace to act too frequently, lest it displease the Emperor. This Consort An has long since pledged allegiance to Consort Hua, and has nothing to do with our Shou Kang Palace."

If anything was done, it naturally has nothing to do with Shou Kang Palace.