Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Chapter 280 Wish

The fact that the Empress Dowager dared to release Fang Ruo at this time must mean that she had reached some kind of deal with Fang Ruo, making Fang Ruo stay away from Zhen Huan and not become an obstacle to taking Zhen Huan's life.

The Empress Dowager wanted many things, but four of them were the most significant:

First, the family prospers and never declines.

Second, the empress's position was secure.

Third, the youngest son will enjoy prosperity and peace.

Fourth, Hongshi ascended to the throne.

These four wishes, along with other miscellaneous ones, all revolve around the same core—the emperor!

Unfortunately, the emperor has now grown distant from her.

Xi Qiao did not believe that the Empress Dowager's conspiracy with Fang Ruo could make the Emperor disregard past grievances and become the obedient and devoted son he once was to the Empress Dowager.

As for Fangruo, all she wanted was to live and have a status.

They couldn't return to the Emperor's court, and staying in the Shou Kang Palace offered no dignity or respect, and even risked their lives.

She wouldn't run away if she weren't mentally ill.

Simply leaving Shou Kang Palace alive was not difficult for Fang Ruo.

But how could an aunt who came from the imperial court not have a bit of arrogance?

Survival is definitely not an option on the list.

What could two people like these possibly conspire to scheme against each other?

Or rather, what would the Empress Dowager ask Fangruo to do?

Xi Qiao pursed his lips, deep in thought, and picked up the cold tea again with his right hand, wanting to take another sip.

But just as she picked up the teacup, Yu Ying'er snatched it away, saying, "You can't drink it; cold tea is bad for your health."

Xi Qiao snapped out of his daze and caught a glimpse of Yu Ying'er's worried face.

Yu Ying'er carried two cups of cold tea to the outside of the warm pavilion, handed them to Xiao Lianzi who was guarding the door, and whispered to him to brew two more cups of weak tea.

Her older sister drinks too much tea and doesn't sleep well, so she doesn't usually drink tea. But judging from her current condition, she could probably drink two more cups of strong tea.

Xi Qiao smiled, feeling a warm feeling in his heart.

She put down the teacup and thoughtfully placed one hand on her chest.

These heartwarming words suddenly reminded her of the chilling killing intent she had sensed in the Shou Kang Palace earlier.

Empress Dowager, Emperor, Fangruo, her.

The Empress Dowager's murderous intent towards her at that time must have been because her death would benefit the Empress Dowager.

What the Empress Dowager wants most now is undoubtedly to make the Emperor obedient and compliant.

She was someone who had absolutely no connection with the emperor, yet her death could rekindle the emperor's affection and filial piety towards the empress dowager.

impossible.

that……

Xi Qiao's brows relaxed, and the anxiety that had been lingering around her vanished.

She misunderstood. There are many ways to make someone obedient and compliant. The Empress Dowager doesn't need to stubbornly stick to a blocked path.

Of these methods, the most sophisticated and least noticeable is emotional control.

Secondly, there is the drive for profit; as the saying goes, money can make the devil turn the millstone.

In addition, there are threats that can be exploited, such as threats against family, privacy, and future prospects. Everyone has vulnerabilities and can be threatened.

The Empress Dowager used to deal with the Emperor by controlling his emotions, but now that that's no longer working, she naturally has to change her approach.

When self-interest is no longer a consideration, only threats remain.

If an ordinary person were to do this, they would only face certain death. However, the Empress Dowager was the Emperor's birth mother, and the Emperor would not bear the sin of matricide.

Using her death to threaten and manipulate the emperor?

Unless her death is related to the emperor and is extremely dishonorable, not only should not a single word be leaked, but even the slightest rumor should not be spread.

Rape, violence!

It would be best to die directly in the emperor's bed.

That would be dishonorable enough, enough for the Empress Dowager to use it to control the Emperor.

"what--"

Xi Qiao was so angry he laughed.

Very good, this is very much in line with the Empress Dowager's ruthless style.

Xiao Lezi and Qingzhu got goosebumps from her laughter, which contained a hint of anger.

"Madam, is there a deeper hidden danger in Fangruo's visit to Suiyu Pavilion?"

The problem with the superficial aspects is that Fangruo helps Consort Wan.

Xi Qiao suppressed his disgust; there was no need to talk about these dirty things to disgust everyone.

"It's alright, I'll handle it. During this time, you all need to be careful. First, guard Zhongcui Palace well, and second, if you need to notify me of any emergency, be sure to pay attention to how you address me."

Xiao Lezi lowered her voice to ask for confirmation: "Auntie?"

Xi Qiao nodded.

"Yes, this slave knows."

Broken Yuxuan.

When Fangruo arrived, the people from the Imperial Household Department were carrying things out.

They came to collect the utensils and clothing belonging to the concubines.

Everyone knows that the Emperor was angry with Consort Wan because of the death of the Fourth Prince—even those who don't know should be able to guess it just by looking at Consort Wan being moved back to Suiyu Pavilion.

The emperor naturally revoked the title of concubine.

If one follows the proper procedures, without the investiture ceremony, receiving the golden edict, or being instructed by the Empress, one cannot be a proper concubine, nor can one enjoy the privileges of a concubine.

However, one must always know how to be flexible, especially those in the Imperial Household Department, who are most adept at this.

Therefore, in many cases, once the emperor issued an edict to promote someone, the Imperial Household Department would immediately prepare everything and present it to him.

Sure enough, seeing that the emperor was about to change his mind, the Imperial Household Department followed suit and went to great lengths to retrieve the concubine's belongings that had just been delivered the day before.

The person who did this was none other than Huang Guiquan, who was reappointed as the Director-General of the Imperial Household Department.

Huang Guiquan saw a young palace maid carrying a bundle following behind Fang Ruo, and his scheming mind immediately began to stir.

"What's wrong, Aunt Fangruo?"

Fangruo bowed to him and said, "Greetings, Steward Huang. This servant has come to instruct the young mistress on the Empress Dowager's decree."

Although she was unaware of Jiang Minzhong's resignation, the deputy chief steward was still the chief steward, and no one would offend anyone on this matter.

Huang Guiquan's eyes flashed. He had heard that Consort Qian had gone to Shou'an Palace today. How dare Consort Qian tell the Empress Dowager about things in the inner palace?

"Oh? I was quite ignorant. Aunt, could you tell me why?"

Fangruo's gaze fell on the little eunuch who was carrying the concubine's belongings out, and she said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This servant has come for the same reason that Chief Eunuch Huang is here."

Fangruo appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, she was secretly uneasy.

Along the way, we encountered many palace maids and eunuchs, all of whom were discussing Chengqian Palace in hushed tones.

When she heard from the Empress Dowager that Consort Wan had been moved back to Suiyu Pavilion, she had her suspicions.

But hearing those rumors about Consort Wan with my own ears still shocked me.

She became ugly and fat, unable to serve the emperor, unable to conceive again, her own daughter was given to Consort Jing, she became the birth mother of the Fourth Prince, and the Fourth Prince committed suicide by fire in the middle of the night...

None of these points can be linked to a favored concubine.

This is also completely different from the meaning that Consort Wan, no, Noble Lady Wan, revealed when they met with her.

Is there anything Fangruo doesn't understand?

He just wanted to take advantage of her.

But there's nothing to be angry about; they're both equally bad.

Seeing that he couldn't get any useful information out of her, Huang Guiquan wisely refrained from asking any further questions and simply told her:

"Consort Wan is currently inside, overseeing the imperial physicians examining each item sent by the Imperial Household Department. Aunt, please go in yourself."

Fang Ruo thanked him and then entered the East Annex Hall.