Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Among the Emperor's sons, the eldest son, the Third Prince Hongshi, was born to a bondservant, but the Third Prince has been adopted by Empress Chun Yuan and is no longer related to bondservant on the surface. Moreover, the Emperor has taken care of his upbringing, leaving the bondservant with no say.

The Fourth Prince Hongli was born to a palace maid selected from the common people. The origin of Consort Yun, who raised her, is questionable, and she was not a bondservant.

The mother of the Fifth Prince Hongzhou was a bondservant, but as everyone knows, the Fifth Prince was born and disliked by the Emperor. Now that he is almost ten years old, he is still left in the Yuanmingyuan Garden and ignored.

While Consort Zhuang, the mother of the Sixth Prince, was indeed from a bondservant family, from what she saw, the princess was indifferent to the Yu family with a hint of disgust and had no sense of belonging to the Yu family. The concubines in the palace were probably the same.

The eldest, the Third Prince, although he had the blood of a bondservant, had no feelings or ties with them. The Fourth Prince had absolutely no connection with bondservant families. The Fifth Prince had almost no chance of rising to the throne. Although the Sixth Prince was young, he might be influenced by his birth mother and aunt to dislike bondservant families in the future.

Thus, the situation that the Bao Yi family had built up over decades was beginning to deteriorate, so how could they not be anxious?

They desperately needed a prince who was of bondservant blood, who treated bondservant people well, and who could ideally be easily controlled.

For a mother to have a prince who has a chance of inheriting the throne, she must be favored by the emperor.

And with her appearance...

Ling Gu unconsciously touched her face. "To be honest, Princess, I once thought about disfiguring myself, but I was afraid that my family would be harassed by the clan. My father loves to read. Although he did not pass the imperial examination, he still passed the exam and became a teacher at the Imperial Academy. My father had the opportunity to be promoted, but the clan suppressed it."

Ling Gu clenched her fist: "That year, when I was about to enter the palace for the preliminary selection, I went to say goodbye to the clan chief's daughter and heard him say: 'If my father has a high official position, he may go against the clan's decision in the future.'"

At that time, she was unaware of the clan's intentions, and her appearance was not as beautiful as it is now. Yet, the clan leader was able to ruthlessly ruin the clan's future for an uncertain future.

Xi Qiao looked distressed: "People say that beautiful women are a source of trouble, but throughout history, when has it not been women who have borne the blame for men? Beauty is not wrong, and you are not wrong either, Ling Gu. Don't hurt yourself for others."

Ling Gu wept, but there was no sorrow in her eyes. Ever since she learned of her family's arrangements for her, she had been living in constant fear. She wanted to break free from her family's constraints, yet she had to bow her head for the safety of her family.

A mix of negative emotions tormented her.

Many times she blamed herself, resented herself, and hated herself.

I blame myself for not being obedient enough and for not being able to abandon my principles and follow the clan's arrangements.

She resented that she had been protected by her family, which not only prevented her from being filial to her parents but also hindered her father's future and caused her family to be suppressed and controlled by the entire clan, depriving them of their freedom.

She hated her own face even more; besides admiring herself in the mirror, it brought her only pain.

No one had ever protected her like this before, and no one had ever told her that none of this was her fault.

"Princess—"

Ling Gu knelt beside Xi Qiao, resting his head on her lap: "Please teach me how to survive in the harem."

Her beauty wasn't her fault, but her inability to protect herself despite possessing that beauty was.

Beauty is a weapon; others can use it to harm her. So why can't she use it to protect herself and what she wants to protect?

She used to not understand, always thinking there was room for maneuver.

Now that she knows she couldn't escape this fate from the beginning, let her compete with those people and see who is more powerful.

Xi Qiao's eyes flashed, and he gently stroked her temple with one hand, saying with a touch of melancholy, "I'm sorry, Ling Gu."

"It is my fault, Your Highness. In the palace, if it were not for your and Her Highness's favor, I would have had no chance against Juechan. I received your and Her Highness's kindness, but I dragged you and Her Highness into danger. It is my fault."

If it weren't for the care and guidance of the Empress and the Princess, she might have committed suicide if pushed to the brink.

“Princess, I now know how to proceed with the rest of the journey. When Consort Unaxi comes again, she will likely ask you to let me go home. You won’t need to deal with Consort Unaxi then.”

Xi Qiao took out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears: "Ling Gu, this road is not easy. Jue Chan and his accomplices will not give up easily. Your parents and siblings are in their hands, and there may be people they have planted around you as well."

"At that time, your every word and action will be monitored, and any decision you make will have to follow the will of the Juechan clan. They will not allow you to rebel, much less do anything that would harm the interests of the Juechan clan."

Ling Gu clenched her teeth. She knew in her heart that this was not a possibility, but the reality she had to face.

"As long as I am favored enough, I will always have a chance to break free from the control of the Juechan clan and the bondservant families."

Xi Qiao looked at her and remained silent for a moment: "Do you know the younger sister of Empress Xiaoyiren, the late Emperor's Consort Tongjia?"

Ling Gu nodded: "I know. After the Emperor ascended the throne, he bestowed upon her the title of Imperial Noble Consort of the late Emperor, and he held her in high esteem. Princess, why did you suddenly mention the Imperial Noble Consort Dowager?"

"In September, rumors spread throughout the capital that Longkodo had an affair with the Empress Dowager, and that his favored concubine bore a striking resemblance to her. Although the truth was unknown, the Empress Dowager issued an imperial edict ordering the concubine's execution on the very day the Emperor learned of the news."

Ling Gu's eyes widened. If it was just a rumor, all he needed to do was let the concubine appear in public more often, and the rumor would naturally disappear.

But the Empress Dowager actually issued an edict ordering his execution!

This……

Xi Qiao deliberately tested her: "So, do you understand why I mentioned the Imperial Noble Consort to you?"

Ling Gu's breathing became heavy and tense, just like a student being called on by the teacher in class.

"What the princess wants to tell me is that the Tongjia clan only has its last vestiges of glory left. The emperor will not let Lord Longkodo's actions go unpunished; he is simply waiting for the right opportunity."

"Lord Longkodo understands this, as does the Tongjia clan. And since the Imperial Noble Consort is from the Tongjia clan, she certainly won't stand idly by and watch her family decline. Therefore, if I were to gain favor and actively seek cooperation, neither the Imperial Noble Consort nor the Tongjia clan would refuse."

Xi Qiao nodded, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. Ling Gu was indeed very clever, understanding things immediately. It was much more rewarding than teaching Yu Ying'er.

However, there was something Ling Gu didn't know: she used Ling Gu to manipulate the entire Bao Yi family.

Consort Tongjia, the Imperial Noble Consort, had been suppressed by the four consorts who came from bondservant families since she entered the palace. How could she not have some resentment?

Linggu used the Imperial Noble Consort to get rid of Juechan, so how could the Imperial Noble Consort not take the opportunity to do something?

Who wants to be suppressed and unable to get ahead their whole life?

Even if the Imperial Noble Consort doesn't want to avenge her previous humiliation, Xi Qiao will always find a way to use her to drag the bondservant families into the mess.

Ling Gu unconsciously revealed a relaxed expression: "This servant understands, thank you for your guidance, Princess."