Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

The next morning, while Sun Zhuxi was serving the Empress Dowager her medicine, Su Peisheng led Aunt Fangruo, who served the Emperor, into the main hall of Shou Kang Palace.

"This servant greets the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager, leaning against the headboard, saw that the visitor was a confidant of the Emperor and her eyes lit up immediately: "Rise—"

She now speaks haltingly, and to avoid losing face in front of her servants, she will say one word at a time rather than two.

After Su Peisheng stood up, he respectfully said, "Your Majesty, this servant has come to report good news. The Emperor has decreed that Consort Zhuang's eldest sister, Princess Yu Jia, shall enter the Prince's residence. The Emperor is worried that Princess Yu Jia may not be proper in her manners, so he has specially ordered this servant to invite your personal nanny, Granny Sun, to give her some guidance."

"His Majesty was worried that the palace servants in Shou Kang Palace would not be able to take good care of you without Granny Sun, so he specially transferred Aunt Fang Ruo from the Imperial Palace. While Granny Sun is teaching Princess Yu Jia, Aunt Fang Ruo will temporarily take over the role of the head maid."

The Empress Dowager's mind was filled with thoughts of the title "Prince".

The emperor has promoted the fourteenth prince!

Now that they've been promoted to noble titles, does that mean they intend to let the fourteenth prince return?

Or is it that the emperor wasn't responsible for the fourteenth prince's fall from his horse and the poisoning of the four children?

Sun Zhuxi, who understood the Empress Dowager best, immediately asked on her behalf: "May I ask, Eunuch Su, is the Consort Yu Jia that His Majesty mentioned Chunrong? And what about this promotion? Now that His Majesty has promoted the Fourteenth Prince, does he have any plans to send him back to the capital?"

Su Peisheng's smile remained unchanged: "What the old nanny said is correct. This Princess Yu Jia is indeed the head maid of Zhongcui Palace. However, the Emperor has already issued an edict to elevate Princess Yu Jia to the Bordered Yellow Banner."

"Although the princess has lived in the deep palace for a long time, the nanny also knows that there is still a difference between the female officials in the palace and the female members of the imperial family. It is fine for Princess Yu Jia to live in a neighboring mansion, but the prince is the Empress Dowager's own son and the emperor's brother. There is no room for error in the rules and etiquette."

"As for the promotion, he is, after all, the Emperor's brother and close relative, and the Emperor has always kept him in mind. However, this servant is truly unaware of the Fourteenth Prince's return to the capital."

Although apart from the matter of Yu Jia Shi, the other answers were all irrelevant, it was all because Granny Sun misunderstood the situation and mistook the person from the beginning.

He didn't lie at all; he just didn't specify whether it was the Sixth Prince or the Fourteenth Prince.

Although the Empress Dowager secretly regretted that the Fourteenth Prince could not return to the capital, it didn't matter. Chunrong had already been betrothed to the Fourteenth Prince, and the Emperor had also granted her a promotion. Everything was developing in a positive direction.

Sun Zhu nodded and turned to the Empress Dowager, pretending to say, "Empress Dowager, Princess Chun and Princess Yu Jia have been working hard all year round. I'm afraid their health is deteriorating, which is no less than the loss of offspring. Why don't you be so kind as to send the imperial physician to treat Princess Yu Jia?"

The Empress Dowager replied with a smile, "Granted!"

Su Peisheng also smiled and said, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is kind-hearted. But when do you think it would be appropriate for Granny Sun to go and instruct Princess Yu Jia? Princess Yu Jia is waiting for Granny Sun to leave the palace together to prepare for her marriage. Once you set a time, this servant can arrange for someone to escort her."

Ok?

The Empress Dowager and Sun Zhuxi felt something was amiss; they figured they could simply take the princess from the palace on the same day she was bestowed upon her.

but……

Chunrong was, after all, Consort Zhuang's older sister, and had been elevated to a higher banner by the emperor, so her status was different. She could be considered a proper Manchu princess and should have a ceremony.

The master and servant didn't dwell on it any further.

Sun Zhuxi glanced at the Empress Dowager and said to Su Peisheng, "This matter should be handled sooner rather than later. Let's do it today. Please wait a moment, Eunuch Su, while I hand over the details with Fangruo and then I'll leave."

Zhongcuigong

After enthusiastically dressing up her older sister, Yu Ying'er led her to the side hall.

There are eight large boxes, each about half a person's height, placed here. These are the valuable items that Yu Ying'er had people pack up early in the morning.

She pulled Xi Qiao along and enthusiastically introduced the various boxes to her older sister, "This box contains imperial gifts, mostly exquisite porcelain and jade vases. Although they can't be exchanged for silver, they are both beautiful and prestigious as decorative items."

Yes, for Yu Ying'er, a commoner who loves gold and silver jewelry, these imperial gifts were just so useless.

However, this did not stop others from appreciating the gifts bestowed by the emperor.

These things may not be valuable, nor can they be resold. But they represent the grace and benevolence of the Emperor.

And this is something that no amount of money can buy.

"This box contains a jumble of things made in the Imperial Household Department but without any markings. Most of them are good items that I received as rewards or gifts from the Imperial Household Department. It's fine for you to use them yourself or give them away."

"This box contains fabrics, some from my allowance and some bestowed by the emperor. It includes fine silks and satins. Sister, please have some clothes made for yourselves according to the season."

"This box contains the new furs that were presented as tribute this year. Winter is just around the corner, and they'll be in high demand right now. Sister, don't be stingy; these things won't stay bright and warm if they're stored for too long."

"This box contains jewelry and loose pearls and gemstones. Some of the jewelry has been used, which is perfect for you to give as gifts. You can choose the rest that you like. If you don't like any of them, you can melt them down and make new ones."

"This box contains medicinal herbs and tonics for my sister to use to improve her health."

"The remaining two boxes contain some utensils, such as hand warmers and round fans."

After Yu Ying'er finished introducing the contents of the box as if they were her own treasures, she stuffed a sandalwood box into Xi Qiao's arms.

"This is the last bit of money I prepared for my sister, only 30,000 taels. I heard that this should have been given to my sister by my mother, but unfortunately my mother passed away early and could not send my sister off to her wedding."

She became a little sad as she spoke, but then smiled again: "It's okay, though. For so many years, my sister has taken care of me like a mother. Now that I'm all grown up, I can also help my sister get married in place of my mother."

“Sister, Yingying knows she’s no good and always worries you. But I will listen to you and raise Xiao Liu with peace of mind. I will not make enemies with the Imperial Concubine and will not associate with the likes of Consort Zhen.”

As she spoke, Yu Ying'er couldn't help but choke up a little, but she was also happy to think that her sister would be able to leave the palace and get rid of her status as a bondservant maid from today.

She sniffed and then said excitedly, "These are all the dowry I prepared for my sister. Although it's a bit thinner, the Emperor said that the Sixth Prince's mansion will need some time to be renovated, at least three to five months and at most a year and a half before we can move in. I still have time to save some for my sister."

If all else fails, she'll go and beg the emperor!

No matter what, she was determined to make sure her sister had a grand wedding.

Xi Qiao looked at the eight boxes in the side hall, each one crammed full. If they were unpacked, there would be forty loads of dowry, not to mention thirty thousand taels of silver. It was far from simple and meager.

Even wealthy families would treat their daughters' weddings this way.

Moreover, the royal family also had to give a betrothal gift. No family would dare to embezzle the royal betrothal gifts. With the betrothal gifts and these other items, it would amount to at least a hundred loads. This was not much among the wives of the imperial family, but it was definitely not a small amount either.

"I understand Your Majesty's intentions, but there is really no need for this."