Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

When Prince Guo and Lady Guoluo were caught red-handed by the Imperial Clan Court, Xi Qiao had already survived the most dangerous period, and the pockmarks on his face and body had scabbed over.

After the imperial physician sent by the emperor confirmed through pulse diagnosis that she had survived smallpox, he returned to report with a generous gift.

Not long after the imperial physician left, the Mu Prince's residence was reopened, and many things that Xi Qiao should not have known were spread into the residence.

The most important event was, of course, that Consort Zhuang in the palace became pregnant again.

When Anlu told her wife the news, she was a little worried because she knew exactly what this so-called "encounter of good fortune" meant.

"Madam, what about Her Majesty..."

She was really unsure of herself. Although the princess was always careful and cautious, it was a crime for a concubine to fake a pregnancy. If it were discovered, not only the empresses and the sixth prince, but even the princess would be blamed.

Xi Qiao patted her hand reassuringly: "There won't be any accidents, Xiao Linzi will handle it."

She didn't want to bring up the matter again, so she changed the subject: "Have those people in our household been dealt with?"

Upon hearing this, Anlu immediately perked up: "Don't worry, Madam, I've already sent people to handle it. People from the Prince Xin's residence and Madam Xilin Jueluo have also been sent. Tomorrow, there won't be anyone in our residence who will bother you."

Prince Xin held considerable influence within the imperial clan. Although the guards of his palace were not under his jurisdiction, Prince Xin could easily replace them with his own people by making arrangements and bribing them.

Madam Xilinjueluo had been entrusted by their wives long ago to help find a group of suitable people.

The Fujin (principal wife) personally screened these people again. Although she dared not say that all of them were useful and loyal, they were at least better than the previous ones.

It wasn't that they were highly cultured, but rather that their families had all been thoroughly investigated, and many of them had even been given jobs by the Fujin (princess's wife).

Such a person would absolutely not dare to betray or cause trouble easily.

Xi Qiao nodded, looking at her with satisfaction, and said, "You did a great job, not only in this matter, but also during the time I was bedridden."

"In a few days I should be going to the Yuanmingyuan to accompany the Empress and the Sixth Prince. I won't be able to return to the manor much in the future. I need someone to help me look after things in the manor. Anlu, are you willing?"

An Lu smiled shyly when she heard Xi Qiao's praise, but when she heard that she would be left in the Prince's mansion, she immediately felt uncomfortable: "Madam, this servant wants to serve by your side."

Xi Qiao did not agree for the time being: "I am not at ease entrusting the things in the greenhouse to others. If you do not want to stay in the manor, then I will have to call Xiao Linzi back."

Anlu was in a dilemma. There were no flowers in the greenhouse, only white fungus, which was the Fujin's hard work and a hen that could lay golden eggs!

She would be suspicious for two days if someone glanced at such a valuable asset while passing by. She would not feel at ease until she had thoroughly investigated the person and ruled out any ulterior motives.

Of course, she would feel at ease if the young master were in Xiao Linzi's care, but the young master cannot be left alone, especially now that he is still in the Yuanmingyuan.

It seems that the Princess Consort is also about to go to the Old Summer Palace.

Xiao Linzi was originally from the Yuanmingyuan, and he had more connections and acquaintances there than she did, making him more useful to the Fujin.

An Lu gritted her teeth: "Madam, this servant is willing."

Looking at her expression, Xi Qiao couldn't help but laugh. Why are they all so clingy?

"Don't worry, I will come back to the manor often. After all, Your Highness is an imperial concubine, and the Sixth Prince will have to go back to the palace to study when he turns six."

An Lu was not comforted; her eyes held a hint of grievance and reluctance.

Xi Qiao could only sigh helplessly.

She was so short-staffed that she had no choice but to keep Anlu in the manor.

One afternoon in late July, news suddenly spread in the Yuanmingyuan that Prince Mu's heir, Hongjing, and the sixth prince, Hongxi, had suddenly developed high fevers and were suspected of having contracted smallpox.

Later, the wet nurses discovered bean curd powder in the crevices of the longevity lock worn by Hongjing.

The gap was sealed with wax, but as the temperature rose and Hongjing wore it for a long time, the wax filling the gap melted, revealing what looked like bean curd powder inside.

Anlan Garden has been sealed off.

Yu Ying'er, who was less than two months pregnant, along with her three children and the palace maids and eunuchs who served her, were all locked inside.

Looking at the tightly closed gate, Yu Ying'er couldn't stop her tears from falling. She didn't know if it was out of worry for her and her child's lives, or because of the emperor's heartlessness.

She had spent the whole day with her three children, even taking a nap together. But when she woke up, Hongxi and Hongjing suddenly developed a fever for no apparent reason.

Even now, after being diagnosed with smallpox by the imperial physician, she still feels a sense of unreality, like it's a dream.

It felt as if I was still in a dream and hadn't woken up.

However, the coldness when the imperial edict arrived, ordering Anlan Garden to be closed off and preventing entry and exit, and the pain of having one's palms pierced by fingernails, felt all too real.

She couldn't even convince herself of her own honesty.

Xiao Lezi and Qingzhu supported her, and seeing her silently shedding tears, they felt particularly bad.

Their queen is usually loud and boisterous, and when she's angry or upset, she usually makes a lot of noise, which is quite disturbing. This deathly silent state is really rare and frightening.

Qingzhu looked at Yu Ying'er with concern and whispered to her, "Your Highness, if you're feeling down, just let it out. Don't bottle it up and ruin your health."

Yu Ying'er shook her head, wiped away her tears, and calmly asked Xiao Lezi, "Who is taking care of Hongjing and Hongxi now?"

Fifteen minutes ago, after the imperial physician declared that the two children had contracted smallpox, the palace servants serving them wished they could stay away.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Jin Shuang and Xiao Linzi are taking care of our prince and heir, and the imperial physicians and nannies specially sent by the Emperor will definitely be fine."

Although the emperor ruthlessly closed the gates of Anlan Garden, he did not leave them to die.

“Miss Aya is also keeping an eye on Princess Shou’an. I just asked her, and the princess is fine and has no signs of fever. It seems she has not been infected.”

Anlan Garden is spacious. The Sixth Prince, Prince Hongjing, and Princess Shou'an were all settled in the backyard, but they have now been moved to the side rooms in the front yard.

Yu Ying'er nodded. Jin Shuang was someone her sister had kept after careful consideration. She was not only loyal but also extremely cautious and meticulous in her work. With her by Xiao Liu's side, there was indeed no need to worry too much.

Xiao Linzi is also a capable person, and his loyalty goes without saying. Moreover, he was specially sent in by his older sister to help her.

"Go and tell the servants in Anlan Garden to do their jobs well. As long as the Sixth Prince and Hongyang get through this dangerous situation safely, I will reward each of them with one hundred taels of silver!"

With such a generous reward, even if the palace maids and eunuchs who were also imprisoned in Anlan Garden did not serve them diligently, they would certainly not do anything unwise out of resentment.

Xiao Lezi breathed a sigh of relief. Good, their mistress was even stronger than he had thought: "Yes, this servant will go and deliver the message right away."