Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

"Sister Chun, I promise I'll behave myself and won't cause any trouble. It's not your fault, it's my fault, it was my greed for wealth and status, it's all my fault! Waaah... Sister~ Sister~"

She couldn't help but cry out, but then remembered that this was the Empress Dowager's Shou Kang Palace, so she quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief.

Chunmao pursed her lips and offered a few more words of advice. Yu Ying'er was afraid that she would implicate her sister again, so she dared not do anything out of line. After trying to stop crying, she bowed to the main hall of Shou Kang Palace before leaving.

After she left, Chunmao turned around and saw Sun Zhuxi standing under the corridor.

"Aunt, Consort Yu has left."

Sun Zhuxi gave a soft "hmm," turned around, and entered the main hall to report Yu Ying'er's performance and words to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager sighed softly, "Human hearts are all greedy! Besides, she has such a beautiful face. I believe Chunrong has no intentions, but she has been in the palace for many years. How could she know that the little boy who used to listen to her so obediently had also secretly harbored thoughts of climbing the social ladder?"

Sun Zhuxi bowed slightly, "Our Emperor is handsome and imposing, so it's understandable that the palace maids might have designs on him. Chunrong's decision to assign Yu Guan's daughter to work in the dog-keeping department that day was probably also out of caution."

What are they guarding against? Are they guarding against the women of the Yu official's household having designs on them? Or are they guarding against the emperor having designs on them?

The Empress Dowager glanced at Sun Zhuxi with a light laugh, "That's fine, let's stop the contraceptive soup too."

If she could gain favor, she could speak up for her fourteenth son more often.

"Suochuoluo agreed to take care of things over there. After all, she came from my side. If this child is a princess, that's fine. But if it's a prince... let's see if Consort Fang can live up to expectations."

The son of a palace maid is ultimately no match for the son of a noblewoman from the Eight Banners.

Inside Jingren Palace, the palace servants all huddled up like quails, not daring to utter a sound.

The Empress sat there with a grim expression, while Jianqiu stood beside her, frowning and muttering a complaint, "The Emperor is really something. There are so many Manchu bannermen girls, why does he have to favor palace maids! And two of them are from the Empress Dowager's palace."

She looked up at the Empress, "Your Majesty, is the Empress Dowager...?"

There are some things Jianqiu dares not say, but the meaning is already very clear. What other purpose could a mother-in-law have in arranging for her son to have someone in his room? It's nothing more than a way to put pressure on her daughter-in-law.

The Empress's eyes darkened. "My dear aunt is unhappy that I have no children!"

Thinking of the three pregnant women in the palace, the Empress felt a tightness in her chest and a headache. She slammed her hand on the armrest angrily, "What kind of thing is Suochuoluo? Does she even deserve to bear the imperial heir!"

Jianqiu immediately said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will deal with this lowly maid. It is already an honor for her to serve the Emperor, yet she dares to get pregnant in secret. Doesn't she fear that she is unlucky and short-lived, having the chance to conceive but not to give birth!"

Hearing her confidante's assurance, the Empress felt slightly relieved and a smile finally appeared on her face. "How is Consort Fang doing?"

"The crabapple blossoms are in full bloom, and Fang Gui is particularly fond of admiring them every day."

The Empress's smile deepened. "You haven't disappointed me. There's been a lot of discontent in the palace lately, and as the head of the harem, I can't just ignore it. It's springtime now, with all the flowers in full bloom, so I'd like to hold a flower-viewing banquet to dispel the resentment throughout the palace. Give the order to prepare properly."

Jianqiu smiled and agreed, then went out to deliver the message.

In Yikun Palace, when Consort Hua heard a servant report that the Empress was going to hold a flower-viewing banquet, she scoffed disdainfully, "The Empress just loves to do these kinds of hypocritical things to win people's hearts!"

Songzhi chimed in sarcastically, "The Empress is really good at making trouble. There are so many palace affairs to attend to, Your Majesty, you're already too busy to handle them all, yet she has the leisure to hold some flower-viewing banquet."

Consort Hua relaxed, a smug look on her face. "What does she have now besides the Empress's throne? She can't keep her looks, children, power, or favor. All she can do is admire flowers and listen to music! Let her be. Give the order to the Imperial Household Department to take good care of our Empress."

Songzhi chuckled and said, "That's right. How can that old woman, the Empress, compare to Your Majesty? It's just that she was lucky enough to marry into the Prince's Mansion early and become the Emperor's consort. Otherwise, how could she have gotten the Empress's position?"

Consort Hua was in high spirits, so what about the Empress? She still had to live off her.