Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Chapter 298 Mourning Honor

"Madam, when I came here, I ran into Second Aunt outside the courtyard. She looked hesitant, as if she wanted to see me but was also a little... hesitant."

The Yu family is very strange. The inner courtyard is strange, Yu Chonglin, the head of the family, is strange, and the Fujin's attitude towards the Yu family is strange.

For a moment, he couldn't quite figure out what the princess's attitude was.

To say that you hate the Yu family is an understatement; you hold evidence of their crimes but remain silent. To say that you've forgiven them is also an understatement; something seems to be missing.

Xi Qiao glanced at him: "Why are you stammering? Just ask whatever you want to ask."

Xiao Linzi scratched his head sheepishly: "This servant is dull and clumsy, and I didn't quite understand what Your Highness meant. I was afraid that I might lose my composure when I spoke or acted, and ruin your plans."

He wasn't very curious and did whatever his master told him to do. However, this was an inopportune time for a funeral, and those who would come were mostly important servants from various families, especially members of the imperial clan.

Most of these people need his help to take care of and settle them in. If he were to accidentally reveal something to these shrewd people, it could really cause problems.

Whether to suppress or help, the Fujin (principal wife) doesn't need to explicitly say it; he, as her close attendant, only needs to subtly hint at it, and those who want to curry favor with Consort Zhuang and the Fujin will take action.

"After my father and the Empress passed away, the people in charge of this household were my stepmother and my half-brother. It's true that there's no affection between us, but we can't fake blood ties. It's good that we can live in peace with each other."

Xiao Linzi immediately understood: this meant they were no longer going to care about the Yu family!

"This servant understands. Your Highness, please rest for a while. You'll be busy after dawn."

It was indeed very busy after dawn. People from the imperial clan who wanted to befriend Xi Qiao, as well as the wives of officials who had briefly interacted with Consort Wan at the memorial ceremony, all sent people over.

Although Xi Qiao doesn't need to go to great lengths to receive them, we still have to meet them.

Before they had finished meeting with all the stewardesses, another imperial decree came down.

When the emperor learned of Yu Chonglin's sudden death from a serious illness, he bestowed upon him posthumous honors, granting him the title of First-Class Earl of Grace and righteousness, and bestowing upon him three thousand taels of silver for his burial.

The one who came to deliver the imperial decree was Xia Zi. When he saw Yu Zhui, who was following Xi Qiao, he said with a smile, "This must be the young master. The emperor has issued an edict that the young master should enter the palace to study after the mourning period ends."

For ordinary families, being admitted to the palace to study was an unparalleled honor.

The Emperor's gracious treatment of Yu Zhui was tantamount to telling everyone that the Earl of Grace held by Yu Chonglin would be inherited by Yu Zhui in the future.

Xi Qiao nodded his thanks: "Thank you for your hard work, Father-in-law."

Xiao Linzi immediately stepped forward and stuffed a thin purse into Xia Xiazi's sleeve: "This is a token of our wife's affection, please do not refuse, sir."

Xiaxiazi left, and Xiaolezi, who had left the palace with him, couldn't stay any longer.

Everyone present knew he was Consort Zhuang's man, and assumed that Consort Zhuang had something to convey to Xi Qiao, so they voluntarily gave them the space.

After everyone was alone, Xiao Lezi leaned close to Xi Qiao and whispered, "Three days ago, Consort Zhao went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to request an audience and has not returned since. However, I have learned that shortly after Consort Zhao went in, the Hall of Mental Cultivation summoned the imperial physician."

The Fujin (wife of the emperor) kept telling him to keep an eye on Consort Zhao's movements.

"Due to the strict restrictions imposed on the palace by the bondservant saga, I haven't been able to find an opportunity to leave. I intended to tell you about this when you entered the palace today, but unexpectedly, the old master passed away."

Xi Qiao nodded. After the corruption case involving bondservants came to light, neither the Yu family nor the Jue Chan family were investigated. This was partly because the emperor gave face to the Sixth Prince and Consort Zhao, and partly because there was not much corruption that could be found in these two families.

But Consort Zhao entered the palace with the intention of suppressing her family, so how could she not take action?

No, the opportunity has come.

"I understand. I can't enter the palace during this period. The Empress and the Sixth Prince can only rely on you and Qingzhu. Be careful in everything you do."

"Yes, Your Highness, please take care of yourself. The Empress and the Sixth Prince are waiting to reunite with you."

After saying that, he silently added in his mind that he and Qingzhu were the same.

Xi Qiao smiled and patted his shoulder: "Go back, it'll only be half a year, it'll be over quickly."

She can't possibly wait nine months; she'll arrange everything before the Emperor's return.

After saying that, she added, "I'll find an opportunity to contact Sun Pinghai of Yonghe Palace later and ask him to tell Consort Zhao that I will find someone to help her."

A person like her, who does good deeds, expects the recipient to be grateful and repay her even more.

After Xiao Lezi left, Xi Qiao immediately called Xiao Linzi over: "Please invite Madam Suo Chuoluo to my resting room for a gathering."

Suochuoluo Siwen was the younger sister of Consort Shu, who died in the first year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign.

She is nineteen years old this year. She has been married for two years and has a son. Her husband's family is the famous Xilin Gioro clan. Her husband, E'anyan, is the deputy commander of the Zhongcheng Military Command, a seventh-rank official.

Suo Chuo Luo Siwen became very close to her because of the help she had given to Shu Changzai in the past, and because she had handed over Shu Changzai's belongings on her behalf after Shu Changzai's death.

Of course, it could also be because of Consort Yu Ying'er and the Sixth Prince, the youngest prince in the royal family.

But none of that matters. What matters is that her husband, E'anyan's, uncle is named Ortai!

Ortai was a renowned minister of Emperor Yongzheng!

This renowned minister had many achievements and extremely high political acumen, but unfortunately, she only remembered two things: the reform of the native chieftain system and the appointment of officials to assist in the government by order of Emperor Yongzheng.

When she first heard that her husband's family was the Xilin Gioro clan, she didn't take it to heart and just kept in ordinary contact with them.

But the Jiangsu specialties that Siwen sent as New Year's gifts a couple of days ago piqued her curiosity, so she asked a question.

Unexpectedly, this very question led to the discovery that Siwen was Ortai's niece-in-law!

What a convenience this is!

Moreover, at this time, neither Ortai nor his entire family had yet achieved great success, and their official careers and prospects were quite ordinary.

This is the perfect time to work hard to build a closer relationship!

Moreover, E'an's biological father died early, and he was raised by his uncle Ortai. He is now twenty-one years old.

Although he was a nephew, Ortai, who had his eldest son at the age of thirty-four, truly raised this nephew as if he were his own son.

Suochuoluo was not E'anyan's first wife. She was the second wife of E'anyan, arranged by the Xilin Gioro family when Shuchang was pregnant and was granted the title of Dading.

However, the first wife had no children left behind, so it didn't cause any problems.

The Xilin Jue Luo family is not yet qualified to attend the banquet in the palace, so there is no need for them to go to such trouble. Or perhaps it is because the Suochuoluo family wants to maintain their relationship with the Prince Mu's mansion that they came to offer their condolences early in the morning.

Xi Qiao had only been back in his room from the front courtyard for a short while when Suo Chuo Luo Shi arrived.

When she arrived, Xi Qiao had just lightly rinsed his eyes with scallion juice, and they looked somewhat red, as if he had just had a good cry.

Just as Suochuoluo was about to bow, Xi Qiao stopped her, saying, "Sister Siwen, don't be so polite. There are no outsiders here."