Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Xi Qiao looked at her leisurely, and after enjoying her changing expressions, he spoke indifferently: "I've been here for quite a while now, so the Empress Dowager should be up by now. Please trouble you to inform her for me."

She had initially thought that the old man had brought her to the warm pavilion because the emperor had some orders, but it turned out to be just because of some of her personal issues.

What a waste of time!

However, it's not entirely a waste.

At least one of Zhen Huan's allies has been found.

Fangruo forced a smile: "Please wait a moment, Madam. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager only knows that the wife of the Fourteenth Prince will come to Shou Kang Palace to pay her respects today, but she did not know that Madam would also be coming. Please allow me to inform her again."

Before meeting this person, she didn't actually know that when Xia Zi came to deliver the imperial decree last night, he only said that the Fourteenth Princess Consort would enter the palace today to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Auntie."

Inside the Empress Dowager's bedroom, Chunmao and the others had already dressed and groomed her.

Although Fangruo described the Empress Dowager's recent condition in a frightening way, in reality, the Empress Dowager's condition had greatly improved. She was already able to get out of bed and walk around, and her speech no longer showed any stuttering or sluggishness.

However, given his age, he cannot fully recover in a short time, and his movements are not as flexible and easy as before, with some stiffness.

Having suffered a stroke and coughed up blood, the Empress Dowager was well aware of her health condition. She was already very satisfied that she had recovered to this extent in just one and a half months.

After putting on the last hairpin, Chunmao helped the Empress Dowager away from the dressing table: "Empress Dowager, breakfast is ready, and the Fujin is waiting in the warm pavilion. Would you like me to invite the Fujin to dine with you?"

Chunmao asked in a low voice.

Although she was always in the room serving the Empress Dowager as she changed and washed, she could still hear some of the noises outside.

—At least she noticed Fang Ruo coming and going.

Since the Empress Dowager suffered a stroke and fell ill, the Emperor, out of concern for her health, issued a special decree forbidding anyone from disturbing her while she recuperated.

As a result, no outsiders were seen in Shou Kang Palace for a long time.

Yesterday, someone from the Emperor's court came to deliver a message that the Emperor had granted the Princess Consort permission to enter the palace to visit the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager was overjoyed for quite some time.

Upon waking up today, he specially asked Aunt Fangruo to personally go outside to greet the Fujin.

If Fang returns, it must mean she has already received the Fujin (princess).

"Quickly, invite her here."

The Empress Dowager had not seen her most beloved youngest son's primary wife for a long time. Ever since she learned last night that the Emperor had ordered the Fourteenth Prince's wife to come to the palace to attend to him during his illness, she had been waiting.

Hearing Chunmao's words, he was overjoyed and couldn't wait to see his daughter-in-law.

It wasn't that she particularly liked her youngest daughter-in-law, but rather that her heart was completely devoted to her youngest son.

I wonder how her fourteenth son is doing, and what about Hongchun's four children.

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but sigh inwardly: Chunrong and Consort Zhuang are quite capable. They have actually made the Emperor much more lenient towards the Fourteenth Prince. Now they are even willing to let the Fourteenth Prince's children study in the palace, and they have even sent Lady Wanyan to visit her.

"Yes, I will go and invite you right away."

Chunmao summoned other palace maids to help the Empress Dowager, and after responding cheerfully, she quickly headed towards the door.

As she reached the door, she bumped into Fangruo. Out of respect for her status as a person of the Emperor's court, Chunmao took the initiative to say, "Aunt Fangruo, the Empress Dowager requests an audience with the Fourteenth Princess Consort."

Fangruo froze for a moment before realizing they had misunderstood. She pulled Chunmao back, saying, "Please wait, Miss. I have something important to report to the Empress Dowager."

Chunrong, unsuspecting, stopped in her tracks, following her lead.

Fangruo entered the hall and bowed to the Empress Dowager: "This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. Your Majesty, the Princess Consort of Prince Mu has come to the palace to express her gratitude. Would you like to see her?"

The Empress Dowager and the palace maids and eunuchs serving in the hall looked puzzled.

Who is Prince Mu?

Or perhaps they were simply ignorant and unaware that there was such a prince among the imperial family?

The Empress Dowager also looked curiously at Fangruo, the spy her eldest son had placed beside her: "Was this Prince Mu just appointed by the Emperor?"

Those who went to the palace to express their gratitude were either newly married or had received a great reward from the palace.

However, she knew very well that there was no such person as Prince Mu in the imperial clan, unless he was newly appointed.

Fangruo naturally knew that neither the Empress Dowager nor any of the palace servants in Shou Kang Palace knew of the newly appointed wife of Prince Mu.

But since the Emperor allowed this person to come and express his gratitude, it means that he has tacitly approved the Empress Dowager's knowledge of this matter.

It's one thing for the Emperor to give permission, but it's quite another for him to inform the Empress Dowager afterwards.

Those who relay the message must carefully consider their words. Otherwise, they risk being punished for their misdeeds.

Moreover, although the Empress Dowager's stroke has greatly improved, her physical condition is still not as good as before after this incident, and she can fall ill even in a snowfall.

Although the Emperor's actions were a way of treating his brothers well and bringing honor to the Uya family and the Empress Dowager, given the Empress Dowager's temperament, she was bound to be furious, especially since it concerned her own son and she was the last to know.

The imperial physicians repeatedly advised the Empress Dowager to avoid extreme joy or anger.

If the Empress Dowager were to suffer any harm due to her great anger, those who served her would certainly not fare well.

Fangruo's heart sank further and further. At this point, she no longer wanted to speculate on the complex feelings the Emperor harbored for the Empress Dowager, nor did she want to guess the Emperor's intentions.

None of this matters or helps her in her current situation.

Various thoughts flashed through Fangruo's mind, but they did not stop her from replying.

She lowered her eyes before the Empress Dowager, a smile playing on her lips, her voice tinged with joy: "Your Majesty, when the Emperor bestowed favors upon the imperial clan a month ago, he considered his own brothers..."

She had barely begun to speak when the sounds of palace maids and eunuchs paying their respects suddenly came from outside.

"This servant greets the Fourteenth Princess Consort. May the Princess Consort be blessed."

The Empress Dowager was preoccupied with her youngest son and had no spare thoughts for anyone else. Overjoyed, she turned to look outside and instructed those around her, "Quickly invite the Fourteenth Princess Consort in."

A doubt arose in Chunmao's mind.

Isn't the Fourteenth Prince's wife in the warm chamber?

Given the Fourteenth Princess's composure and discipline, she would never wander around Shou Kang Palace without the Empress Dowager's decree. What's going on today?

However, this doubt was not enough for Chunmao to raise questions in front of the Empress Dowager. She simply went out to greet the Fourteenth Prince's wife with a bad feeling.

Soon, she led a graceful and elegant noblewoman into the hall.

"Eniang."

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager, the Fourteenth Princess Consort choked up with sobs.

After experiencing the heartbreaking events of her husband's paralysis and her son's near-death experience with no way to see her, the Fourteenth Princess couldn't help but tear up when she saw the Empress Dowager, her powerful backer.

She quickly stepped forward, knelt down before the Empress Dowager, and performed a grand salute: "Your daughter-in-law greets Mother, may Mother be blessed with ten thousand years of happiness and peace."