Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Yu Ying'er kept chattering away. After telling everyone about the fun she had in Jingren Palace, she started talking about what she had seen when she left: "I had just left Jingren Palace when Jianqiu called out to Consort Fucha and Consort Xia. I guess the Empress wanted to win them over."

Xi Qiao suddenly realized why she hadn't heard about the "One-Zhang-Red" punishment.

“However,” Yu Ying’er frowned, “it seems that Consort Wan did not hold a grudge against Consort An because of the previous punishment. After the Empress made her kneel before Consort An, she even left Jingren Palace with Consort An to return home.”

However, Zhen Huan had been kneeling for quite a while today, and her knees were covered in bruises. She was in a hurry to go back and apply medicine, so she didn't go to stroll around the Imperial Garden as in the drama, thus avoiding the incident of soaking in the pot.

Wow, the feeling of changing just a little bit and creating the whole plot is... damn awesome!

Xi Qiao's eyes brightened, and he turned to ask her, "You didn't seem to care much about the relationship between Consort An and Consort Wan before, so why are you suddenly interested today?"

Yu Ying'er frowned. "I don't know what's wrong with me, but today when I saw that Zhen Shi, I felt a deep-seated disgust, and I wanted to scratch her face to shreds. Aunt, is something wrong with me?"

Yu Ying'er was filled with anxiety.

Xi Qiao frowned slightly but quickly relaxed. Could this be... the power of the plot?

The villains' innate aversion to the protagonist?

She gently comforted Yu Ying'er, "Don't overthink it. Some people are just born with incompatible horoscopes and conflicting temperaments. Perhaps it's just like that between you and Consort Wan."

“When I’m not around in the future, avoid her and don’t offend her to her face. I’ve met Consort Wan. She looks kind and friendly, but she’s not a good person inside. Ten of you wouldn’t be as cunning as her.”

“If she upsets you, just come back and tell me, and I'll get revenge for you.”

Hearing her say that, Yu Ying'er immediately felt relieved. Sure enough, her sister loved her the most!

Broken Yuxuan.

After Zhen Huan saw Shen Meizhuang and An Lingrong off with her gentle and kind demeanor, the smile on her face immediately disappeared, replaced by a look of melancholy.

Huanbi brought in a bowl of white fungus soup and placed it beside Zhen Huan. With a tense face and an unhappy expression, she began to complain with great resentment, "Your Highness's punishment today is completely undeserved. If it weren't for Consort Shen pulling Your Highness aside to speak, this mess wouldn't have happened!"

“That Consort An is the same,” she frowned, “like an ingrate! She’s clever enough to follow the little palace maid’s instructions and stand properly, but she didn’t even bother to remind the mistress.”

“My lady,” Huanbi said, getting angrier as she spoke. She took two steps forward and sat down next to Zhen Huan, grabbing Zhen Huan’s forearms with both hands. “This is the second time that Consort An has implicated you. Haven’t you seen her true colors yet?”

"Those people from humble backgrounds are all cunning and vicious. Not only do they try to climb up the social ladder by clinging to the Zhen family's name, but they also dare to turn around and trample on you, young master. They are truly hateful and infuriating! You must not let them off lightly, young master!"

Hearing Huanbi's heartfelt complaints on her behalf, Zhen Huan's expression softened slightly. She picked up the white fungus soup, took a couple of sips, and then said softly, "Sister Mei and Lingrong probably didn't mean it."

Huanbi raised her eyebrows, about to persuade her again, when Zhen Huan said, "Alright, don't say any more. The struggles in the harem are treacherous. Even if I am intelligent, I am bound to make mistakes if I have no one to help me. Losing the emperor's favor is a small matter, but implicating my father and the entire Zhen family would be the greatest sin."

Huanbi shut her mouth reluctantly, but an unprecedented thought arose in her mind: since the mistress needs help, why can't she?

She is the young master's own sister; she would never betray the young master or the Zhen family.

Isn't she more trustworthy and worthy of support than Consort Shen and that so-called Consort An?

The thought, once it surfaced, was hard to shake off, firmly occupying Huanbi's mind.

Zhen Huan was recalling the perilous scene in Jingren Palace that morning and was unaware of Huan Bi's thoughts. She touched her chest with lingering fear.

Thinking of the thick palace rules, she said in a low voice with a grim expression, "We have completely offended the Empress. Consort Hua is also quite dissatisfied with me. I'm afraid I'll have to endure some hardship before I gain favor."

Huanbi didn't care at all. "Don't worry, my lady. We'll get through this period. With your looks and character, you'll definitely be favored once the ban is lifted. You'll have all sorts of good days ahead of you."

Zhen Huan chuckled at her words and tapped Huan Bi's nose with her finger, "You~"

At this moment, Liu Zhu walked in and said, "What are you saying to Huan Bi, my lady? I heard the laughter even before I entered the room."

Zhen Huan laughed and said, "It's Huanbi. I don't know where she gets her confidence from, she keeps saying that I will definitely be favored."

Liu Su sat down on the footstool with a grin, "Of course it's because of your beauty and grace, Your Highness. There is no noble lady in the entire capital more beautiful than you."

Zhen Huan glared at her, "You only know how to say nice things to make me happy. Alright, stop joking around. Huanbi, give some silver to Xiao Yinzi and have him go to the Imperial Household Department to get some daily necessities."

Palace maids and eunuchs are used to flattering those in power. Now that she has offended the Empress and been punished by Consort Hua, the Imperial Household Department will probably treat her with contempt. It would be best to make preparations in advance.

"Entering the palace means enduring a life of hardship," Zhen Huan sighed.

***

Without the "One Zhang Red" and "Pao Fu" incidents, Zhen Huan did not choose to feign illness to avoid the emperor's favor. However, being confined to her quarters for three months and having to copy the palace rules seventy times was strangely consistent with the original plot.

But with the addition of the arrogant and gossipy Xia Dongchun to Yanxi Palace, An Lingrong is in for a tough time.

Xia Chang's words were truly sharp; every word he uttered was like a soft knife, each one stabbing at An Lingrong's sore spots.

Unfortunately, there was no principal seat in Yanxi Palace, and the highest-ranking Consort Fucha was aligned with the Empress along with Xia Chang. The two were practically comrades in arms, so she naturally wouldn't stand up for An Lingrong, who came from a humble background and was timid by nature.

Especially after all the new concubines had finished serving him in bed, leaving only 14-year-old Fang Chunyi and An Lingrong who had not yet been summoned, Xia Changzai said even harsher things.

"Oh, so you're always running around trying to curry favor with Consort Shen?"

"What, your good friend didn't introduce you to anyone? Hehe~ But then again, if I were Consort Shen, I wouldn't even look at your shabby appearance. People from humble backgrounds can't be presented to the world."

An Lingrong pursed her lips and lowered her head, the words "poor and unpresentable" echoing in her mind. This was not the first time she had heard them, but each time they made her feel extremely inferior.

Xia Changzai said a few more sarcastic remarks, but seeing that An Lingrong was still unresponsive, she lost interest and snorted before leading her people to the Empress's Jingren Palace.

Baoque stepped forward worriedly and offered her a cup of tea, racking her brains to comfort her: "Your Highness, don't take Xia Changzai's words to heart. She's just good with words. His Majesty has been busy with state affairs lately, but he will surely summon you when he's done."

An Lingrong took a sip of tea, only to find her mouth filled with bitterness. "It's alright, I'm used to it. Besides, it's a fact that I come from a humble background."

At this moment, An Lingrong thought of Consort Zhuang in Zhongcui Palace again. They didn't have much contact, but whenever she spent time with Consort Zhuang, it was always easy and happy.

Unfortunately, Consort Zhuang's pregnancy has been progressing poorly lately, and the imperial physicians have advised her to rest in bed. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor have also ordered that no one should disturb her.

"Your Highness is kind-hearted, but as a fellow concubine, why is it that Consort Xia is allowed to bully others?"

She could get used to it, but Baoque couldn't. She said with a wronged expression, "Consort Shen is the same. She is now assisting Consort Hua in managing the six palaces. When the young lady is bullied by Consort Xia and her allowance is cut, she doesn't care at all. If she had just said a few words for the young lady, how could the young lady's situation be so difficult?"

After a moment of silence, An Lingrong said, "Sister Mei is already busy learning palace affairs from Consort Hua, so she doesn't have time to pay attention to these things. My matter is nothing serious and not worth bothering her."

Baoque wanted to say more, but An Lingrong stopped her, "Alright, I understand you're standing up for me. But I was lucky to even enter the palace; whether I gain favor is up to fate. Why are you the only one here? Where's Juqing?"

Baoque said indignantly, "Just now, Huanbi from Suiyu Pavilion came and called Juqing away."

This is not the first time.

An Lingrong looked dazed, her eyebrows and eyes lowered again, making it impossible to see her expression.