Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Su Peisheng understood the emperor best, but at this moment he could only offer words of comfort: "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. If the Fourth Prince were alive, he would certainly not want you to grieve and suffer because of his passing."

The emperor lowered his hand, but his eyes were already red: "At the age of thirty, I am already an old man, my eyes are full of sorrow and I can only suffer in silence. When I read Mr. Banshan's words back then, I thought they were nothing special, but now that it has happened to me, I feel deeply saddened."

Su Peisheng's eyes also reddened. "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. The Fourth Prince was such a good child. Although he made a grave mistake, it was because he cared about you so much and wanted more of your attention and love."

Upon hearing this, the emperor felt even more sorrowful and burst into tears: "This unfilial son! He is clearly a clever child, how could he not understand my protection of him!"

Given yesterday's situation, adopting him into the Zhen family was already the lightest punishment possible.

"The Zhen family!"

The emperor suddenly paused: "Why didn't Lady Zhen notice the fire in the rear hall of Chengqian Palace yesterday?"

In fact, the emperor suspected that Zhen Huan had ordered the arson, but the evidence sent by the Consort clearly described the Fourth Prince's mad outburst and his expulsion of the palace servants.

Moreover, Zhen has always been pragmatic; she wouldn't dare to commit a crime like murdering a royal prince!

Su Peisheng immediately replied, "Your Majesty, Consort Wan has been having trouble sleeping for the past month. She needs to drink a strong calming soup every night to fall asleep. Last night, she drank the calming soup and went to sleep."

"Even the great commotion caused by the servants running around putting out the fire did not wake Consort Wan."

The Emperor slammed his hand on the table: "What Consort Wan! I gave her the rank of Consort so that she could take good care of Hongli, and after just one night, Hongli is gone! What face does she have to sit in this rank? Tell her to get back to Suiyu Pavilion!"

The investiture ceremony has not yet been held, so this concubine title is not worthy of the title.

"Yes, yes, yes, this servant will take care of it right away."

Taking one's anger out on others has always been one of the emperor's specialties.

Meanwhile, inside the Shou Kang Palace.

Xi Qiao was once again left out in the warm pavilion, accompanied by Fang Ruo, the imperial aunt who was not well received in Shou Kang Palace.

When Fangruo served her tea, half of the gold bracelet on her wrist was visible, which Xi Qiao happened to see.

This is an exquisite gold bracelet with a flat, scale-like pattern; such items are not uncommon in the palace.

But this one...

She withdrew her gaze from the bracelet, held her teacup, and sighed, "It's I who have dragged my aunt into this."

Fangruo was taken aback when she suddenly spoke the words she had kept hidden deep in her heart, and she almost lost control of her expression for a moment.

"What are you saying, Madam? The Empress Dowager is of the highest rank. It is my good fortune to be able to serve by her side in my past life."

Xi Qiao sighed again, "Forget it, I was just being petty. I thought Aunt was also eager to get out of this mess."

Fangruo paused, realizing that the Princess Consort of Prince Mu was actually willing to help her.

She looked at the person in front of her with suspicion, but saw that the person had lowered her eyes and was sipping hot tea. Although she did not wear many ornaments, the noble air and aura she exuded were superior to many concubines and ladies-in-waiting.

She struggled for a moment, then turned to look at the palace servants outside the warm pavilion, and approached Xi Qiao in a low voice to plead, "Please forgive me, Madam. I was just afraid of causing trouble for you. You and Consort Zhuang have it tough too."

Now, Consort Zhuang's position in the palace is completely secure.

She had the rank of imperial concubine, princes, palace power, and imperial favor.

Very few people can sway her, so maybe this can really help her!

Although Consort Wan was an excellent candidate, her problem was that she failed to give birth to a prince, and therefore did not have enough influence in the eyes of the Emperor and Empress Dowager.

Thinking about it this way, the wife of Prince Mu is the best candidate right now.

"This matter is not easy for me, and I'm afraid it will put the Fujin and the Empress in a difficult position."

Xi Qiao looked up at her and said, "It's alright. I'm willing to try for you, Aunt. But if it doesn't work, please don't blame me in your heart."

Fang Ruo just called Yu Ying'er Consort Zhuang, that's not right!

Fang Ruo shouldn't know!

The guards outside Shou Kang Palace are still transferred from the imperial court. Although the emperor has not explicitly forbidden news from entering Shou Kang Palace, this intention is still evident.

The concubines in the harem knew this, and the Empress Dowager herself was also aware of it—otherwise, she wouldn't have closed herself off in the palace to recuperate and refused to see anyone from outside.

In addition, if the news came in openly and legitimately, it should have been mixed with the background of Zhen Huan's conferment of the title of concubine.

If Fangruo knew Zhen Huan's current situation, would she still help her?

Xi Qiao thought it was unlikely.

Fangruo simply wanted to escape her current predicament—to leave Shou Kang Palace, a magnificent prison where she could lose her life at any moment, and to use her position to return to the Emperor's court and continue her extraordinary career as a head maid.

In this matter, besides the emperor's word, the favored concubine also had to offer her advice.

In Fangruo's eyes, who was behind on information, Zhen Huan was such a promising prospect.

She and Zhen Huan were merely using each other.

Therefore, the source of this information is quite obvious!

It was Zhen Huan—only Zhen Huan's people would not tell Fang Ruo any news that was detrimental to Zhen Huan.

That old bastard really did get together with Zhen Huan!

If Fang were not such an unreasonable person, she would immediately say sincerely, "No matter what the outcome, it is my blessing to have your help. However, I don't understand why you would help me, my lady."

As soon as she finished speaking, Fang Ruo's gaze fell directly on Xi Qiao's face, trying to find the answer she wanted from her eyes and expression.

Xi Qiao said with concern, "I just want to help Your Majesty build more good relationships. If any fools ever dare to offend or plot against Zhongcui Palace again, please lend a helping hand, so as not to disturb Your Majesty and the Sixth Prince."

Fangruo did not immediately agree; her gaze remained fixed on Xi Qiao's face, but she did not notice anything amiss.

"Don't worry, my lady, I am not the kind of person who forgets kindness."

Xi Qiao raised his hand to stop her from bowing: "Aunt, please listen to me first. Do you know very well that you can never return to the Imperial Court?"

Fangruo nodded; she naturally understood.

“Since you understand, Aunt, you should also know that the only thing I can do is help you become the head aunt in the East and West Six Palaces. Whether or not there are concubines living in the East and West Six Palaces, there is no shortage of head aunts.”

"The only places that still have vacancies are places like Suiyuxuan."

She bet that the emperor would take his anger out on Zhen Huan because of the Fourth Prince Hongli's self-immolation. Whether she could keep her position as a concubine was debatable, but she would definitely not be able to stay in the main hall of Chengqian Palace anymore.

Unfortunately, the rear hall of Chengqian Palace had just suffered a fire and reconstruction was necessary, so the left and right side halls were uninhabitable for a short period of time.