Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

When An Lingrong saw her laughing and joking with the palace servants, the tension that had been building up inside her eased.

Although Sister Zhen and Sister Mei were close to her, both of them were from well-to-do families and had excellent manners and etiquette.

She had to maintain proper decorum even in their presence, and this was especially true after entering the palace. She was afraid that if she were to be careless and lose her manners, others would laugh at her.

Looking at Yu Ying'er's nonchalant aura and the tolerant yet helpless expressions of those around her, she was momentarily dazed. A thought suddenly arose in her mind: Consort Zhuang and her maid were as close as sisters. She wondered if she and her two older sisters would one day be able to be like that.

Xi Qiao coughed lightly, "Please, ladies, go and rest in the pavilion in front. We still need to pick these flowers for a while."

Yu Ying'er's smile faltered, and she quickly lowered her hand, straightening her posture. She looked apologetically at An Lingrong, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Sister An. I don't usually do this. It's just that I feel close to you, Sister An, and for a moment..."

Her mind kept racing, but she still couldn't find the right words.

An Lingrong smiled, her eyes crinkling, and interrupted her, "What are you saying, sister? You're so genuine, I can't help you. Let me help you to rest."

You should never help someone who is not close to you, especially if she is pregnant.

Yu Ying'er hesitated for a moment, but still extended her hand, "Then I'll have to trouble you, little sister."

The group of five entered the pavilion. Xi Qiao pretended to look at the sky and said to the two palace maids brought by An Lingrong, "It's almost time for Your Highness to take your pregnancy-preserving medicine. Could you please trouble the two ladies beside you, Your Highness, to help Qingzhu and Jinshuang?"

An Lingrong naturally had no objections.

Xi Qiao bowed gratefully and then gave the two pieces of silver to the two men.

The two were overjoyed to see the silver. Baojuan accepted it without thinking, while Juqing hesitated for a moment before accepting it as well.

When there were only three people left in the pavilion, Yu Ying'er blinked and looked at her, "Auntie, is there something you want to say to Sister An alone?"

An Lingrong was slightly surprised and looked at Xi Qiao as well.

Xi Qiao curtsied. "Please forgive me, Miss An, but I noticed that the honest-looking palace maid beside you doesn't seem to be one of your dowry maids, nor is she from Yanxi Palace. So I wanted to ask you about her."

An Lingrong's heart tightened. "Aunt is right. Juqing was given to me by Consort Wan from Suiyu Pavilion."

Yu Ying'er's eyes widened upon hearing this, her face filled with disbelief.

"Where does a mere concubine like Consort Wan get the power to decide the fate of palace maids? Does she not understand the rules, and neither do the head maids and eunuchs of Suiyu Pavilion? These are rules that even newly arrived palace maids should know. Didn't they remind you?"

An Lingrong was completely bewildered by the three questions.

Xi Qiao looked at An Lingrong with a strange expression, "Young Master An, didn't the aunt sent by the Imperial Household Department to teach the concubines etiquette teach them palace rules?"

An Lingrong was bewildered. "Aunt Fangruo only taught me palace etiquette."

"Fang Ruo?" Yu Ying'er exclaimed in surprise, "Fang Ruo is the head maidservant in the Imperial Household Department. In the palace, only Aunt Zhu Xi, who serves the Empress Dowager, can compare to her. How could Fang Ruo be the one teaching the new concubines etiquette? How could it be Fang Ruo who taught you? This..."

Xi Qiao praised Yu Ying'er in his heart, "Young Master An, although my mistress's words are unpleasant to hear, it is indeed the truth. The tutors for the concubines before they enter the palace are assigned by the Imperial Household Department, but the Imperial Household Department has no jurisdiction over the people in front of the Emperor."

An Lingrong's heart was filled with turmoil.

She knew her own background. Fangruo went to the Zhen family to teach Sister Zhen, and she was just doing it on the side.

An Lingrong's face turned pale. She stood up and bowed to Xi Qiao, "Thank you for your guidance, Aunt. I am very grateful."

Xi Qiao stepped aside, saying, "Princess An, there's no need for that. It would be best if Princess An personally went to Consort Hua's Yikun Palace to report on Ju Qing's matter."

Meeting An Lingrong's puzzled gaze, she patiently explained, "Her Majesty the Empress is unwell, and Consort Hua has been in charge of the affairs of the six palaces. Let's not even talk about sending palace maids. In terms of the number of people serving, a lady of your rank can only have two palace maids and one eunuch serving her."

"Although there are many unfavorable comments about Consort Hua in the palace, she treats her subordinates with fairness in rewarding and punishing them, and manages the vast harem in an orderly manner without any trouble."

“Your Highness, this matter could be a big deal or a small deal. If it is maliciously exaggerated by someone and reaches Her Majesty’s ears, I’m afraid Your Highness and Consort Wan will both be severely punished.”

"Instead of doing that, Your Highness should admit your mistake first. Her Majesty might just give you a small punishment as a token gesture."

Upon hearing this, An Lingrong became restless and wished she could go to Yikun Palace immediately.

The roses were quickly picked, and the group left the Imperial Garden together, heading towards the Eastern Six Palaces.

Before parting, Xi Qiao reminded An Lingrong, "There is also a head maid in Yanxi Palace. You might as well go and ask her."

An Lingrong nodded absentmindedly.

Back at Zhongcui Palace, Yu Ying'er couldn't wait to ask Xi Qiao, "Sister, didn't you say you wanted to win over the An family?"

"Why are you pushing her to Consort Hua instead? Juqing is against the rules, so just send her back to Suiyu Pavilion. If this alarms Consort Hua, Consort Hua will have something on An Shi. If Consort Hua has this leverage, won't she be able to manipulate An Shi ruthlessly?"

Her small brain capacity was insufficient to support overly complex thinking.

Xi Qiao poured her a cup of warm tea to soothe her throat. "Do you know why Consort An's tutor is Fang Ruo?"

hmmmm?

Yu Ying'er was genuinely curious.

"That's because after Consort An was selected, Consort Wan took her to stay at her home for a while, and the two of them shared a tutor. Consort Wan caught the Emperor's eye. If it weren't for Consort Shen already being a member of the Han Banner Army, Consort Wan would have been a Consort if she had entered the palace."

"Your helper can only help you. You have to sever the relationship between Consort An and Consort Wan before she will wholeheartedly rely on you. As for your concerns, Consort Hua has Consort Li and Noble Lady Cao by her side, so she may not look up to Consort An."

Xi Qiao smiled and said, “Consort Hua is most jealous of anyone who competes with her for favor. Consort Wan is the only one among the new concubines with a title, which has already angered her. Consort Hua will definitely take this opportunity to punish her.”

Yu Ying'er's eyes lit up. Although her older sister hadn't explicitly stated her scheming, she had already figured it out!

There are no secrets in the palace; the reasons behind Consort Hua's punishment of Consort Wan could not be kept hidden.

Even if Wan Changzai doesn't say it, she will definitely harbor resentment towards the An family after being punished.

An is a sensitive and somewhat insecure woman. Faced with Wan Changzai's coldness and blame, wouldn't her feelings be worn away over time?

Xi Qiao curled her lips into a smile. Of course, her purpose was not limited to this. An Lingrong was skilled in perfumery, and she was sure to discover the secret of the Joyful Fragrance when she went to Yikun Palace.

When she was neglected and bullied, and wanted to find a way out for herself, Consort Hua was the best path she could see and reach.

In the drama, An Lingrong had Yu Ying'er strangled to death. Now, it's not unreasonable for her to use An Lingrong several times for Yu Ying'er's sake.

In Yanxi Palace, An Lingrong originally wanted to ask Baojuan to inquire about the identity and location of the head maid, but she suddenly remembered that when Sister Zhen sent Juqing away, Baojuan had not said a word and had not reminded her. She immediately abandoned the idea of ​​using Baojuan and turned to call another palace maid, Baoque, to ask.

"Replying to Your Highness, the head aunt of our Yanxi Palace is Aunt He. When she has nothing to do, she stays in the side room of the rear hall."

An Lingrong immediately got up and was about to leave, but after taking two steps she turned back and took the brocade she had just received with her.

Today, Consort Zhuang's palace servants asked her maids to help pick flowers and gave them small amounts of silver as a reward. She went to ask Aunt He for advice on how to do it empty-handed.