Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

A while ago, my newborn had another bout of jaundice, which was quite a ordeal. The little bit of weight I had managed to gain quickly disappeared. After carefully nurturing her for half a month, her cries were just as weak as when she was born, making her look pitiful like a little kitten.

Her heart was aching terribly, and she spent her days either by the bedside watching over her or kneeling before the Buddha in prayer.

Consort Jing walked to the door, turning back every few steps, and whispered to Hanzhu through the thick curtain, "What happened?"

Outside the door, Hanzhu shivered from the cold wind but dared not lift the curtain to go in and warm herself. The little princess had just been sick, and the weather was so cold that if even a wisp of cold wind got in, she might not survive.

As she trembled, hugging her arms, she replied through the curtain: "Your Majesty, today the Emperor bestowed the title of Noble Lady Zhao upon a woman. As is customary, I prepared a reward and sent it over. But Noble Lady Zhen, for some unknown reason, made Xiao Yunzi wait just one step before me."

"Such overstepping of bounds is one thing, but that little Yunzi even used Consort Zhao as a note outside Yonghe Gate and made a lot of sarcastic remarks about Consort Zhuang in front of Eunuch Le."

"Eunuch Le was quite magnanimous and didn't hit him. He just had someone report the matter to Consort Hua. The Consort ordered that Xiao Yunzi be beaten fifty times in front of the palace servants of Suiyu Pavilion."

"When the people from the Imperial Household Department came to your door, Consort Zhen finally realized she was scared and hurriedly sent someone to ask you for help."

Hanzhu was furious: "You've been working day and night to take care of the little princess, and she, on the other hand, is not content with just sitting comfortably in her postpartum confinement period, but insists on causing trouble and creating all these problems!"

That is, after all, the little princess's birth mother; the empress couldn't just ignore her.

Consort Jing frowned deeply. "Fifty strokes of the cane? Did Consort Zhen offend Consort Hua?"

She remembered that although Consort Hua had punished Consort Zhen several times, it was not because of personal grudges, but because Consort Zhen had violated palace rules first.

Xiao Yunzi did violate palace rules by speaking ill of the concubines, but surely she shouldn't be punished with fifty strokes of the cane?

As soon as Consort Jing finished speaking, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

The reason Consort Hua was punished so severely was not because she had a personal grudge against Consort Zhen, but because of her!

Consort Jing's heart skipped a beat.

From the first day she brought the little princess back to Xianfu Palace, that little Yunzi would come several times a day, each time using the excuse that Consort Zhen was troubled by worries and unable to sleep during the month.

The real reason is clear to everyone.

She had been feeling strange all day, as if something was missing. It turned out that Xiao Yunzi hadn't come today.

Consort Jing was momentarily lost in thought, and when she came to her senses, she heard Hanzhu's gratifying voice: "My lady, think about it, who in the whole palace still has close ties with her? It's not surprising that Consort Hua dislikes her."

If it were for the sake of the little princess, how could anyone from Suiyuxuan possibly enter the gates of their Xianfu Palace?

Consort Jing sighed, "No matter what, I have to make this trip. You should step back."

Hanzhu was aware of this, which made her even more dissatisfied, but she could only suppress it: "This servant has already ordered someone to prepare a warm sedan chair and hand warmers. Little Princess, please rest assured, this servant will go to change her clothes later and then come back to guard you."

This outfit is chilly; don't bring it inside and make the little princess suffer.

When Consort Jing arrived at Suiyu Pavilion with another trusted maid, Ruyi, Xiao Yunzi had already been pressed onto the torture bench and beaten with a full twenty strokes of the rod.

These executioners had been bribed by Yonghe Palace and Zhongcui Palace, and had also received a hint from Zhou Ninghai of Yikun Palace, so they naturally put in all their effort to beat Xiao Yunzi to death.

However, since Zhongcui Palace and Yonghe Palace had given them money to have their legs broken, they still maintained a strong sense of contract and prioritized fulfilling the wishes of these two young ladies before focusing on the thirty strokes of the rod that followed, ensuring that the man would die after the beating.

They're professionals; they make a living with this skill. If they're ordered to give someone fifty strokes of the cane, they have to do it to the fullest extent. They won't be able to breathe until they've finished.

After the twentieth blow, Xiao Yunzi's legs were completely ruined.

Inside the courtyard of Suiyu Pavilion, the palace servants were forced to gather together to watch the execution. Looking at the bloody mess on Xiao Yunzi's buttocks on the torture bench, they all felt a chill in their hearts, colder than the sub-zero temperature outside.

When the dull thud of the rod hitting flesh as it was raised high echoed, the palace servants around them involuntarily shuddered, as if their own buttocks were also aching.

"Consort Jing has arrived!"

The loud announcement rang out, and both Zhen Huan inside the room and the palace servants watching the execution breathed a sigh of relief.

"This servant greets Consort Jing. May Your Highness be blessed."

Consort Jing stepped down from the sedan chair and looked at the half-conscious Xiao Yunzi. Although she felt a sense of relief, she felt even more reluctant to let go.

She told them to stop the formalities and said to the executioners, "Stop beating them. The New Year is just around the corner, and it's bad luck if someone dies."

The head eunuch stepped forward and replied with difficulty, "Your Majesty, please forgive us, but these fifty strokes of the rod were bestowed upon Xiao Yunzi by the Noble Consort. We servants dare not disobey orders. Please, Your Majesty, do not make things difficult for us."

With Consort Hua in charge of the harem, who dared to disobey her?

Consort Jing waved to Ruyi, signaling her to reward these people with silver: "I will not make things difficult for you, eunuch. I have already sent someone to the Noble Consort's side, and someone will come to deliver the message soon."

"It's freezing cold outside, and it must have been difficult for you eunuchs to come all this way. Why don't you move inside and rest for a while, have some hot tea to warm yourselves up? If the Imperial Concubine doesn't allow it later, you can continue beating her."

The head eunuch couldn't very well refuse. If Consort Jing had such influence that the Imperial Consort would change her mind, what was wrong with giving in to her wishes now?

Moreover, Consort Jing was particular about her actions; there were three silver coins in that purse.

"Then we servants will respectfully disobey your orders."

Consort Jing breathed a sigh of relief; the matter was over, and Consort Hua should not object.

She ignored everything else and simply headed towards Zhen Huan's palace.

Behind Consort Jing, Ruyi frowned as she looked at the chaotic Suiyu Pavilion, a look of disdain flashing across her eyes.

She glanced at Pei'er, who was standing there pale-faced and stunned, and gently nudged her. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and have someone serve tea to the eunuchs."

After saying that, she followed Consort Jing's steps.

In the east wing of Suiyu Pavilion, Consort Jing was startled to see Zhen Huan leaning against the headboard.

At this moment, Zhen Huan is like a completely different person from before.

Her long hair was dry and frizzy, and her eyes had lost their former liveliness, becoming dull and lifeless. Coupled with those two large, round, and heavy dark circles under her eyes, she looked exactly like a dead fish.

Add to that her deathly pale, bloodless skin with an eerie, sickly look; and her swollen, round face, like an over-fermented bun, and she looked like a female ghost in the world.

This, this, this—