Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

When Juqing was mentioned, An Lingrong pursed her lips with a bad expression and remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "A few days ago, Sister Zhen fell ill and didn't have enough people around her, so she borrowed Juqing from me."

The news of Zhen Huan's illness was mentioned by Huan Bi when she came to borrow people.

Suiyu Pavilion was far from Yanxi Palace, and her warm clothes were not thick enough, so she dared not brave the cold wind to visit her.

Xi Qiao was shocked for a moment. "There are quite a few palace maids and eunuchs in Suiyu Pavilion, so why is there no one to serve you?"

An Lingrong didn't know either. Huanbi came to ask for people, and Juqing often went with her without her consent. Perhaps it was because this time she was away for a long time that she was informed.

"Perhaps those people see that Sister Zhen is out of favor, so they're too lazy to deal with her."

Xi Qiao chuckled softly, "Does Your Highness even believe what you're saying? Consort Shen and Consort Wan have always been close sisters who support each other. Moreover, Consort Shen has always been favored since entering the palace. With Consort Shen's protection, how could Consort Wan have fallen to such a state?"

"Moreover, although Consort Wan's family background is not prominent, she is still the eldest daughter of a fourth-rank official. When she entered the palace, her family must have prepared enough silver for her to spend. In this palace, whether you are favored or not, as long as you have silver, you will not have a hard time."

"Even if she were truly seriously ill and lacked servants, shouldn't she logically seek help from Consort Shen, who is favored, has a good family background, and holds a higher rank than her?"

An Lingrong was stunned, her almond-shaped eyes misty, making her look incredibly pitiful.

Xi Qiao sighed, "I misspoke, please forgive me, Your Highness. If Your Highness doesn't mind my rambling, please think about it carefully when you have time. Your Highness, please take a nap, I'll stay here and keep watch."

An Lingrong was feeling unwell, and as the charcoal fire burned bright red and the room began to heat up, she became drowsy and soon fell asleep.

With Xiao Xizi by her side, Baoque quickly brought back all of An Lingrong's allowances, even making up for the missing amount from last month. She was so happy that her eyes crinkled with laughter.

After Xi Qiao left after delivering the warmth, Shen Meizhuang finally learned from the palace servants that An Lingrong had been doused with cold water the day before, and she brought people and a bowl of bird's nest to visit An Lingrong.

However, her timing was unfortunate; An Lingrong had taken her medicine and was fast asleep.

Seeing that only Baoque was busy serving tea and water in Mingse Residence, Shen Meizhuang asked the same question as Xi Qiao, and naturally received the same answer.

Shen Meizhuang was somewhat surprised, "Huan'er borrowed Juqing?"

Caiyue was also surprised. She had just visited Consort Wan yesterday on her mistress's orders, and she was clearly much better now.

Shen Meizhuang frowned slightly but quickly relaxed, stood up and said to Baoque, "Take good care of Lingrong. I'm going to Suiyuxuan to check on Huan'er. If Lingrong is missing anything, just let me know."

The magpie bowed casually.

Beg her? Bah, it's better to go to Zhongcui Palace and beg Aunt Chunrong.

Their mistress has had her monthly allowance withheld and has been tormented and humiliated by Consort Xia for quite some time now, and you've never uttered a sound about it. Why are you pretending to be a good person now?

If Consort Shen were truly so inclined, she could simply find a pretext to punish Consort Xia and those gossipy maids and eunuchs. Furthermore, given her favor with the emperor, wouldn't it be easy for her to send Caiyue to give a warning to those servants in the Imperial Household Department who were embezzling the mistresses' allowances?

If she had kept even a tiny bit of her verbal promise, how could their mistress's life have been so difficult?

It's just saying nice things to project a good image to the outside world!

Only their kind and innocent mistress could treat this sweet-faced but bitter-hearted person as a sister!

Bah, bad luck!

When Shen Meizhuang rushed to Suiyuxuan, Zhen Huan was copying palace rules in the warm inner room.

Huanbi and Liuzhu smiled as they helped grind the ink and lay out the paper. The room was warm and cozy, with a faint scent of ink in the air. It was truly a leisurely and happy day.

Shen Meizhuang removed her thick cloak and stepped into the gate of Suiyu Pavilion. She walked briskly to Zhen Huan's side and asked with suppressed anger, "Huan'er, have those arrogant and incompetent people been belittling you again?"

Zhen Huan was puzzled. "Sister is here. Liu Zhu, quickly bring tea and snacks."

After instructing the maid to serve tea, she asked Shen Meizhuang, puzzled, "What makes you say that, sister?"

Seeing that her complexion was rosy and her spirits were high, Shen Meizhuang finally felt relieved.

He pulled Zhen Huan to sit down and, while sipping tea, slowly said, "Ling Rong fell ill after being doused with cold water by Consort Xia. When I went to visit her, I saw that only Bao Que was serving her. So I asked about Ju Qing. But Bao Que said that you were too busy and had borrowed Ju Qing."

Zhen Huan was bewildered. "I have never seen Juqing in the palace."

Upon hearing this, Huanbi stepped forward and curtsied, saying with an air of matter-of-fact, "Reporting to Your Highness, I was the one who called them here. They are currently doing some menial work in the back."

It turned out that Kang Luhai, just like in the original story, couldn't stand the coldness of Suiyu Pavilion and switched allegiance to Consort Li.

Although Xiao Yinzi wasn't taken away by him, he wasn't very diligent in his duties. If there was a reward, it would be fine, but if there wasn't, Huanbi couldn't get him to do anything.

At this time of year, when the weather was freezing cold, Huanbi didn't want to leave the warm inner room to do chores, so she simply went to Yanxi Palace and called Juqing over.

Zhen Huan frowned, looking at Huan Bi with disapproval: "There are plenty of people in Suiyu Pavilion, why call Juqing here?"

Huanbi pouted, "Those palace maids and eunuchs are impossible to manage without money. The money we brought into the palace has been almost used up these past few days."

Since Zhen Huan was forced to keep only Liu Zhu and Huan Bi to serve her, she has faced many inconveniences.

Whenever someone needed to run errands, she would be rewarded. Moreover, because she had not yet served the emperor, Consort Hua punished her by reducing her monthly allowance for a year, and she had to buy all her food and necessities herself.

Those people in the Imperial Household Department are the most snobbish. Seeing that she had offended Consort Hua, they treated her even worse than they treated An Lingrong. If she didn't give her enough silver as a reward, she wouldn't get anything. Instead, she bought food, clothing, and other necessities from the Imperial Household Department at exorbitant prices.

Unfortunately, Zhen Huan needed pen, ink, paper and inkstone to copy the palace rules, so the money she brought was spent like water.

Zhen Huan remained silent, while Shen Meizhuang opened her lips as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

Xi Qiao returned to Zhongcui Palace and told Yu Ying'er about An Lingrong's miserable state. She was so frightened that she clung tightly to Xi Qiao's arm, saying, "Luckily, I have my sister to help me."

This is too bad!

Yu Ying'er was still shaken, and for the umpteenth time she was grateful to God for giving her a capable and loving older sister, otherwise An Lingrong today might be her tomorrow.

That situation is terrifying to even think about.

"Should we help her?" Yu Ying'er blinked her beautiful eyes and looked at Xi Qiao.

Xi Qiao smiled, but his words were ruthless: "I won't help!"

“A small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment. I have already given her charcoal and silver, which is enough. She has a good memory, remembering both kindness and grudges. What we have done has already done her a favor. If she gains favor in the future, she will not harm you on her own initiative because of this kindness.”

Although An Lingrong is worthy of sympathy, she is far too sensitive and insecure. Whenever she gives, she expects an equal or even double return.

She craves recognition from others and longs to stand on high and look down upon charity.

It would be too tiring to truly open up to this kind of person; it's most comfortable to maintain a comfortable distance.

Yu Ying'er obeyed her older sister in everything.

"Sister, can I attend the New Year's Eve banquet? I'm so tired of staying here." Three months! I haven't left the house for three whole months.

"Go if you want, but don't eat anything you don't want."

Yu Ying'er cheered and pulled her to choose clothes and jewelry.

On New Year's Eve, a grand banquet was held in the palace.

Yu Ying'er wore an orange-red brocade vest with gold embroidery, and a gold-inlaid red jade ornament on her headdress, making her look exceptionally festive.

Although there are six noble ladies in the palace, only she and Noble Lady Xin have official titles, so their positions are next to each other.

Yu Ying'er's seat in Jingren Palace was next to that of Consort Xin. The two were already familiar with each other. After not seeing each other for three months, they had endless things to talk about once they sat down.

Before long, everyone had arrived and the banquet began.

The emperor inquired about the well-being of the empress and concubines, but the sight of the plum blossoms adorning the banquet hall evoked deep sorrow within him.

He downed glass after glass of wine, but instead of calming his emotions, they grew stronger. Finally, unable to bear the grief any longer, he got up and left.

The concubines also noticed, but with the Empress still around, they couldn't overstep their bounds. Only Prince Guo followed the Empress's orders.

Yu Ying'er glanced at it only once before forgetting about it; caring about men would only hinder her wealth and status.

The emperor was even worse!

She glanced at An Lingrong, who was shrinking back with a timid look on her face. Just then, An Lingrong looked over as well, so she smiled and raised her glass to her. An Lingrong happily picked up the glass.

Consort Xin, who was standing nearby, noticed this and said with some surprise, "I didn't expect that my sister would have a relationship with Consort An."

"It's just that we two are the lowest-born in the palace, so we're sticking together for warmth," Yu Ying'er said nonchalantly, but her words and expression showed no sign of inferiority or dejection.

Consort Xin found it amusing. "What you say is true, sister, but in the palace, people don't care about birth, only about favor and offspring. With the prince in your belly, you are no less than anyone else. You will surely have a place among the empresses in the future."

"Sister, you're talking about me. I don't even know if the baby in my belly is a boy or a girl yet. Unlike you, sister, you already have Princess Shuhe to dote on you. In the future, this child will surely have a place among the main concubines of the six palaces."

The two exchanged compliments, and both were pleased.

However, in her spare time, Yu Ying'er thought about how important the word "reliance" really was.

Consort Hua, with the support of the Nian family and Nian Gengyao, didn't even respect the Empress. An Lingrong, of humble origins and lacking any real power, could only swallow her anger and endure being tormented.

Although Yu Ying'er came from a humble background, she had an older sister who was more powerful than a thousand troops and was her greatest support.