Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

August passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was mid-September.

A rare period of peace arrived in the imperial harem.

On September 18th, Consort Hua's water broke unexpectedly while she was taking a nap.

Fortunately, it was not far from Consort Hua's due date. Not only had everything been prepared in advance in Yikun Palace, but the midwives and wet nurses had also moved into the rear hall, and Lady Nian was also in charge.

When the concubines in the palace heard the commotion and rushed to Yikun Palace, Consort Hua had already been taken to the delivery room.

The delivery room was completely silent, except for the faint sound of the midwives gently instructing Consort Hua on how to breathe.

When Xi Qiao arrived at Yikun Palace with Yu Ying'er, Consort Qi, Consort Jing, and Consort Jin were already sitting under the corridor, waiting. The three of them lived in the Western Six Palaces, so the journey was shorter than that to Zhongcui Palace.

After exchanging greetings, Yu Ying'er routinely asked how things were going.

Consort Qi clicked her tongue and shook her head. "The imperial physician has already prescribed labor-inducing drugs. If the baby isn't born before the amniotic fluid runs out, then—"

Should I prescribe labor-inducing drugs?

Did the imperial concubine's water break on her own?

Consort Jin ignored Consort Qi's almost curse-like words and told Yu Ying'er with a bad expression, "The midwife just came to report that the Imperial Concubine's baby is in an abnormal position, and the Imperial Concubine is likely to suffer some pain."

The amniotic sac has broken, and the baby must be delivered as soon as possible, otherwise both the mother and the baby will be in danger.

"How could this be—" This morning when I took the baby's pulse, I hadn't heard anything about the baby being in the wrong position, and the imperial physician also said that the baby would not be born for several more days.

Before Yu Ying'er could finish speaking, a muffled groan and a cry of pain came from the delivery room.

The midwife was adjusting the baby's position for the imperial concubine.

Yu Ying'er gasped. Could it be that Consort Hua had been framed?

She shrank back in her seat, somewhat frightened. Even with the power of the Nian family and the caution of Consort Hua, they couldn't ensure that this pregnancy would proceed smoothly until the baby was born!

The person behind this...

hiss--

Yu Ying'er gasped. Her sister had told her that the Empress had been placed under house arrest by the Emperor because of the imperial chef's plot to harm Zhen Shi. Consort Jing and Consort Jin could not harm Consort Hua, and Consort Qi and Consort Xin did not have the ability to do so.

The only possible one is the one from Shou Kang Palace!

Yu Ying'er turned to look at her older sister, only to find her sister standing there meekly, not even giving her a glance.

woo~~

Okay, there are too many people around here, let's ask my sister when we get back.

One after another, muffled groans of extreme pain and Madam Nian's heartbroken words of encouragement could be heard from the delivery room, but the midwife never mentioned how many centimeters the cervix had dilated.

The concubines who had experience with childbirth changed their expressions and had a bad feeling. The other concubines also had a vague feeling that the Imperial Concubine's pregnancy would not be easy.

Almost two cups of tea later, the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress arrived at Yikun Palace.

The concubines rose to pay their respects, but the emperor paid them no mind. After gesturing to them briefly, he immediately seized on Consort Qi, the most senior and experienced among them, and asked, "How is the Noble Consort? When did she enter the delivery room?"

Consort Qi replied truthfully, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has been in the delivery room for half an hour, but this pregnancy... seems to be not going smoothly. The midwife just reported that the baby was breech, and she has just corrected the position. The baby is probably still waiting for the cervix to dilate."

The emperor's expression changed. The imperial concubine had just entered the delivery room after her water broke, and now, half an hour had passed, her cervix was still not dilated.

In his anxiety, he instinctively lifted his foot to head towards the delivery room.

The Empress Dowager's face also showed a solemn expression. "In that case, could it be that there are signs of a difficult labor? Your Majesty, please do not worry. I will go in and see the Imperial Concubine."

The emperor stopped and said to the empress dowager, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Your Majesty."

The emperor's use of the phrase "Empress Mother" reveals his genuine concern for the Consort.

The Empress Dowager's eyes flashed; the Emperor was too fond of the Imperial Concubine!

"Why should we, mother and son, be so formal? Besides, the Imperial Concubine is currently giving birth to my grandson."

In the delivery room, Consort Hua, Nian Shilan, was in a terrible state. The intense pain had left her drenched in sweat, her dark hair plastered messily to her face. Madam Nian held one of her hands by the delivery bed, her eyes brimming with tears as she encouraged her.

The midwife found by the Nian family examined Consort Hua's body and finally showed a hint of joy on her ugly face: "The cervix has opened! Your Highness has finally opened! Quickly, give Your Highness some ginseng soup to help her replenish her strength."

The Empress Dowager entered just in time to hear what the midwife said, and her originally cheerful mood immediately turned somber.

Shilan was lucky to survive that year!

"The Empress Dowager."

Just as Lady Nian got up to fetch the ginseng soup, she saw the Empress Dowager enter. Her heart sank slightly, but she could only suppress her emotions and bow.

The Imperial Concubine's pulse has always been steady and strong, and her pregnancy has been going well. However, today, she suddenly lost her water in her sleep without realizing it, and she also showed signs of being in a deep sleep.

If the imperial physician hadn't forcibly awakened the concubine with acupuncture, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The Imperial Concubine's current state is undoubtedly the result of a scheme, and the person in the palace most likely and capable of doing so is...

Madam Nian's eyes darkened.

The Empress Dowager nodded and said, "No need for formalities. How is the Imperial Concubine? I think I just heard her open the palace gate?"

"Yes, thanks to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Consort is ready to give birth. The delivery room is filthy and would be too defile to Your Majesty's health. Please, Your Majesty, move to the delivery room."

The Empress Dowager stood by the bedside of the disheveled Consort, seemingly encouraging her kindly: "Consort, just focus on giving birth. The Emperor and I will be watching over you outside."

The Imperial Concubine forced a slightly ferocious smile and thanked the Emperor in a hoarse voice, "Thank you for your trouble, Empress Dowager and Emperor. I will certainly not disappoint you."

No one knows what the Empress Dowager felt upon hearing these words, but her expression did stiffen for a moment.

The entire afternoon was spent in Yikun Palace by all the concubines and ladies-in-waiting, including the Empress Dowager and the Empress.

The Imperial Concubine gave birth as dusk approached and night was about to fall.

As the emperor paced anxiously, cheers and the weak, feeble cries of a newborn finally broke out from the delivery room.

The midwife soon came out beaming with joy, carrying a large red swaddled baby. "Congratulations to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, the Empress, and the Imperial Concubine on the safe delivery of a daughter. The little princess weighs six pounds and six ounces. The imperial physician has already examined her pulse. Although there was some damage in the womb, she will be fine with careful care."

The emperor was overjoyed. He took the swaddling clothes from the midwife and looked at his daughter, whose face was wrinkled and red. He didn't find her ugly at all, but rather found her incredibly cute.

He couldn't help but burst into laughter, but then, afraid of disturbing the infant in his arms, he quickly fell silent and asked the midwife, "Very well, how is the Imperial Concubine?"

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is fine. She was just exhausted during childbirth and has fallen into a deep sleep."

Upon hearing that Consort Hua was unharmed, the Emperor finally felt relieved: "That's good, that's good. Guards, reward them handsomely! The entire Yikun Palace will receive a year's salary, and the midwife will receive one hundred taels of silver."

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, thank you for your generous gift."