Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

News of the imperial physician's arrival at Shou Kang Palace, along with news of the Empress Dowager's critical illness, spread at the same time. The Emperor, who had been hiding in Yangxin Hall under the pretext of being busy with state affairs, rushed to the scene upon hearing the news.

When the emperor arrived, even if it was just to show their faces in front of the emperor and make their presence known, the concubines in the harem had to go to Shou Kang Palace to express their concern for the Empress Dowager.

Shou Kang Palace was suddenly packed with people.

The Emperor and Empress sat in the main seat of the Shou Kang Palace, with Consort Hua and a group of concubines sitting on either side, while Sun Zhuxi, Chunmao, and several others knelt below.

"How could the Empress Dowager suddenly have a stroke when she was perfectly fine?"

That's right. After examining her pulse, the imperial physician discovered that the Empress Dowager had suffered a stroke after vomiting blood in a fit of anger!

Currently, the imperial physicians are directing female doctors in the Empress Dowager's bedchamber to administer acupuncture and save her life, hoping to prevent her from becoming completely paralyzed.

Sun Zhuxi did not reply immediately, but instead knelt with her head bowed, her face pale.

Consort Hua waited expectantly for Sun Zhuxi's reply, without any worry that Sun Zhuxi would tell the truth and then be punished by the emperor for it—because Sun Zhuxi would absolutely not dare to tell the truth!

As expected, after hesitating for a moment, Sun Zhuxi calmly replied, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager suffered a stroke after hearing that the Imperial Concubine was nearly assassinated during her pregnancy, which caused her to vomit blood due to anger."

Now, the only person who can save the Fourteenth Prince's family, the Empress Dowager, is paralyzed and bedridden. If she were to reveal that the Empress Dowager already knows, the Emperor might do something else.

A hint of mockery flashed across Consort Hua's eyes, but she rose anxiously to apologize, saying, "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have said these things to the Empress Dowager. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

The emperor pursed his lips and fiddled with the eighteen-piece toy in his hand. He absolutely did not believe this. The Empress Dowager had secretly orchestrated the Empress Consort's multiple mishaps during her pregnancy.

It's likely that the Empress Dowager was so frustrated because the Consort not only escaped her schemes and harms, but also gave birth to Feng Shengge unharmed and was granted the treatment of an Imperial Noble Consort. This frustration probably caused her to suffer a serious illness.

His mother, the Empress Dowager, was not a magnanimous person.

Nothing more...

"The Imperial Concubine's words were inappropriate; she shall be fined six months' salary."

Upon hearing this, the Empress immediately became unsteady on her feet. "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has committed an offense that caused the Empress Dowager to suffer a stroke. How can merely punishing her with a salary be enough to appease the people?"

The Emperor didn't even glance at the Empress. "Insubordination? Empress, tell me, how did the Consort commit insubordination and offend the Empress Dowager?"

"This……"

The Empress was momentarily speechless. According to Sun Zhuxi, the Consort had only mentioned being plotted against when she was talking to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress's face darkened, and she retorted, "Your Majesty, although the Consort was merely stating the truth, the Empress Dowager is already ill. How could she possibly hear such sordid matters? The Consort's actions are already suspected of disregarding the Empress Dowager's health."

"Although the Empress Dowager's hemoptysis and stroke were not entirely the fault of the Noble Consort, they were certainly her fault. The Noble Consort was ordered to attend to the Empress Dowager and take good care of her health, which was her duty. This alone is a dereliction of duty on the part of the Noble Consort."

"Moreover, the news that the Empress Dowager suffered a stroke due to anger has not been suppressed. It is likely that the news has already reached outside the palace. If she is not severely punished, I'm afraid that the ministers of the previous dynasty will also speak out to impeach her."

Before the emperor could refute her, the imperial concubine knelt down in fear, "Your Majesty, I request to be confined to my quarters."

The emperor looked at the imperial concubine with a deep gaze. These were words that the imperial concubine would not normally say.

The next moment, the Imperial Concubine said again, "Your Majesty, I have made a mistake in failing to serve the Empress Dowager well. But I cannot and dare not admit to causing the Empress Dowager to suffer a stroke due to anger. Everyone knows that I was almost plotted against by villains during my pregnancy. When the Empress Dowager inquired about the imperial heir, how could I not report the truth?"

The emperor's expression softened slightly. Yes, now that the Consort is a mother, she can no longer act recklessly.

The Empress, however, was unwilling to let go of this opportunity to suppress the Consort: "She resorted to sophistry and evasion..."

"Alright, Your Majesty."

The Emperor interrupted the Empress, saying, "It is an undeniable fact that the Consort was plotted against during her pregnancy. It is only natural for the Empress Dowager to inquire about her with such kindness. It is just a pity that the person behind the scenes is so well hidden."

The emperor made the final decision, sealing the matter.

"However, what the Empress said is indeed reasonable. The Consort did not take good care of the sick. So let her be confined for another three months."

After saying this, the emperor personally helped the imperial concubine up and patted her hand gently. "Go, Shilan. I will visit you and Feng Shengge when I have time."

The Imperial Concubine raised her smiling face and glanced triumphantly at the Empress: "Your Majesty, I obey your command. Feng Shengge and I will be waiting for Your Majesty at Yikun Palace. I will take my leave now."

Only after seeing the Imperial Concubine off did the concubines in the main hall dare to breathe heavily.

After dealing with this matter, the imperial physicians had already finished acupuncture for the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has awakened."

"How is the Empress Dowager? Can she recover completely?"

The imperial physician replied with difficulty, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's stroke came on suddenly and severely. Although she is now conscious, she still needs time to recover. If she takes good care of herself and stabilizes her emotions in the future, there is a good chance of her making a full recovery."

The implication is that the person cannot be stimulated, or there will be no hope.

The emperor was already mentally prepared, so he wasn't surprised to hear the imperial physician's words.

"I understand. From now on, you will be responsible for the Empress Dowager's care. You may use any medicine you wish, but I expect to see her condition improve within half a month."

Without waiting for the imperial physician's reply, he stepped into the Empress Dowager's palace.

The Empress Dowager lay conscious in bed, but her appearance was poor. Due to the stroke, her mouth and eyes were crooked, and her hands and feet were stiff. Only a few fingers could still move.

Seeing the emperor enter with concern on his face, the Empress Dowager's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

He was not moved by the emperor's concern at that moment, but by his own predicament, and even more so by the heartache he felt for his beloved young son and grandson.

Her son, Yinzhen, was such a proud man!

The Empress Dowager stared wide-eyed at the approaching Emperor: "Wicked...wicked...wicked..."

She couldn't control her expression at that moment, and her speech was incoherent. She just stared at the emperor with wide eyes, and after talking for a long time, she only managed to utter one word, leaving people unable to guess what she was trying to express.

The emperor sat down on the edge of the bed. Although he had a falling out with the empress dowager, they were still mother and son. Seeing the empress dowager lying in bed after suffering a stroke, he felt quite sad and, unusually, felt a surge of filial piety.

He listened carefully for a moment and only heard a broken "you you you". He assumed that the Empress Dowager had something to say to him and did not think of anything else.

He saw the Empress Dowager staring at him with anxious eyes, but she was unable to speak a complete sentence due to her stroke. Her anxiety became more and more obvious, and her emotions became more and more agitated.

The Empress Dowager was naturally agitated and anxious. Her son, Yinzhen, was paralyzed! Her most beloved grandson was also critically poisoned. If she didn't act quickly, could Yinzhen recover? Would her four grandsons still survive?