Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

"Now that the Empress Dowager is seriously ill, it is precisely the time when her children need to be by her bedside to show their filial piety. You have also heard from the imperial physicians about the Empress Dowager's illness, and it is the worst thing to do to think about it. However, the Fourteenth Prince is suffering in the imperial mausoleum, so how can the Empress Dowager rest in peace to recuperate?"

"If you could take the initiative to ask the emperor to marry into the Fourteenth Prince's household at this time, and remind the emperor that the Fourteenth Prince is still guarding the imperial mausoleum, the emperor, with his filial piety towards the Empress Dowager, would surely forgive the Fourteenth Prince. At that time, neither the Empress Dowager nor the emperor would treat you unfairly."

Sun Zhuxi paused here: "The Empress Dowager may not be able to make decisions in other mansions, but in the Fourteenth Prince's mansion, the Empress Dowager's words are comparable to an imperial edict. If you can give birth to a son or daughter for the Fourteenth Prince after you enter the mansion, you will definitely have a place as a secondary consort in the future."

Sun Zhuxi picked up her tea and took a sip. She refused to believe that Chunrong could remain unmoved after things had come to this point!

Xi Qiao appeared thoughtful, but inwardly he couldn't help but roll his eyes. This was a recipe for disaster.

That pit that the fourteenth prince slumped over, ha—

Only Wuya, that brainless mother, is still putting in the effort.

However, Sun Zhuxi was right about one thing: the Sixth Prince cannot have a maternal aunt who is a servant!

Xi Qiao originally planned to leave this world when Xiao Liu was about twelve or thirteen years old and ready to take up a post in the court, but the actions of Wu Ya Shi and Sun Zhu Xi made her see another possibility.

A more convenient and advantageous option.

The mother's family is indeed Xiao Liu's weakness, and cannot provide Xiao Liu with any help at all.

Without its own power base or enough money, what can it accomplish by relying solely on the emperor's favor?

The Nian family is indeed prominent and powerful, and can help Xiao Liu a lot.

But if Xiao Liu can only rely on the Nian family, who knows if the Nian family won't have other ideas?

We still need to find some support for Xiao Liu.

Another factor is money; winning people's hearts isn't something that can be achieved simply by saying a few nice words.

If you want people to do things for you, you have to offer them tangible benefits and advantages. If you throw around a lot of money, even if it means risking your life, there will be plenty of people eager to do it for you.

She certainly doesn't lack gold and silver, but that's only relative to palace life. If it comes to the struggle for the throne, all that gold and silver she has would be nothing more than a splash in the water.

These thoughts flashed through Xi Qiao's mind, and her face showed a timely expression of longing and interest in the pie in the sky that Sun Zhuxi had promised, but that was all.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager and the nanny, for your consideration for me and the Sixth Prince, but..."

As he spoke, Xi Qiao looked troubled. "I'm just really worried about you, my lady. I don't know what the future holds, but if something happens to Consort Zhuang and the Sixth Prince, what good will any other options do?"

“My heart is small and cannot hold so many calculations and schemes. I only want to stay by their side and protect them. Even though the Sixth Prince’s birth mother is not well-known, he is the Emperor’s own son and a prince of the Qing Dynasty. He is already extremely noble.”

"Furthermore, Consort Zhuang and I have never harbored any other delusions. As the old nanny said, the struggles within the royal family are treacherous. Given the Sixth Prince's background, that position naturally wouldn't fall into his hands, and thus, those conspiracies and schemes would naturally not befall him..."

With a loud "bang," the sound of a teacup being slammed onto the table interrupted Xi Qiao's words.

Sun Zhuxi looked at her with displeasure, "Chunrong, you seem to have forgotten that you and Consort Zhuang owe yourselves to the Empress Dowager's grace!"

"Now that the Empress Dowager has suffered a stroke, she should not think too much. The only way to make the Empress Dowager happy is to bring the Fourteenth Prince back from the Imperial Mausoleum, so that she can recover as soon as possible. You and Consort Zhuang have received the most favors from the Empress Dowager, yet you are unwilling to do even such a small thing?"

"The Sixth Prince is of noble birth and of such high status. Raising him alongside you two sisters, who are disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unbrotherly, one can only imagine his future character. Once the Empress Dowager is lucid, I will certainly implore her to choose another virtuous concubine to raise the Sixth Prince."

This is blatantly using Xiao Liu to threaten her.

Xi Qiao's face immediately turned deathly pale. He knelt down in a panic and grabbed Sun Zhuxi's skirt, pleading, "Granny, please don't! I... I was out of my mind just now and said some nonsense. Please don't hold it against me."

She pleaded with red eyes while subtly gasping for breath.

Damn, I knelt too hard just now, my knees hurt so much.

With tears in his eyes and a sob in his voice, Xi Qiao said, "The Fourteenth Prince is the youngest son of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's younger brother. His status is extremely noble. I am overjoyed that the Empress Dowager has taken a liking to him. I will certainly not fail to live up to the Empress Dowager's good intentions."

Sun Zhuxi's expression softened slightly, and he personally helped her up. "Good girl, this is how it should be. What kind of status does the Fourteenth Prince have? If it weren't for this fortunate turn of events, how could someone of your status have entered the Fourteenth Prince's harem? You must cherish this immense favor."

Xi Qiao staggered to his feet, and before he could even stand properly, he quickly forced a smile and bowed towards the Empress Dowager's bedroom, saying, "This servant thanks the Empress Dowager for her grace."

Sun Zhuxi patted her hand and smiled with satisfaction. "The Empress Dowager was right about you. You are indeed a loyal and devoted person. You are not young anymore. You should hurry up and ask Consort Zhuang to ask for favors on your behalf."

"Firstly, it will help the Empress Dowager resolve her worries as soon as possible, and secondly, it will allow you to serve the Fourteenth Prince as soon as possible and strive to give birth to a son or daughter so that the Sixth Prince can have a younger brother or sister. With children and status outside the palace, Consort Zhuang can feel more at ease in the palace."

Xi Qiao looked up in alarm, but when he saw Sun Zhuxi's cold gaze, he stammered in response.

After a series of threats and inducements, Sun Zhuxi released Xi Qiao and he left.

Stepping out of the room, Xi Qiao glanced back with a mocking look. That old hag, she didn't need to lift a finger; the emperor would deal with her soon enough!

In the afternoon, the imperial physician came again to administer acupuncture to the Empress Dowager, and Sun Zhuxi found an excuse to have a chat with him.

At that time, Xi Qiao was serving the Empress Dowager with Yu Ying'er. Sun Zhuxi and the imperial physician were far away, and her spiritual power could not reach them, so she did not know what they were talking about.

However, when the imperial physician left Shou Kang Palace, the sweat on his brow and the fear in his eyes were unmistakable.

Meanwhile, the three concubines who stayed to attend to the Empress Dowager were also dismissed by Sun Zhuxi on the grounds that the Empress Dowager needed to rest and should not be disturbed.

No sooner had Yu Ying'er and her two companions left Shou Kang Palace than the little eunuch who had been crouching by the wall and window found an opportunity to openly go to Yangxin Hall.

Su Peisheng recognized the young eunuch and immediately led him inside.

After a brief retelling, although the emperor only heard about 70-80% of what was said in the small inner chamber, he still managed to glean the true cause of the Empress Dowager's stroke.

"My dear Empress Dowager, you've always been so biased towards the fourteenth prince!"

The emperor's gaze was calm and unwavering, devoid of the previous heartache.