Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Speaking of this, Consort Hua's eyes flashed with anger, and she immediately knelt before the Emperor and Empress Dowager, looking as if she had suffered a great injustice. While weeping, she said mournfully, "Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, please do justice for me. Musk has been mixed into my Huan Yi Incense."

Upon hearing this, not only the three leaders but also the concubines who had come to congratulate Consort Hua on her pregnancy were shocked.

The emperor was silent for a moment, then flew into a rage and ordered a thorough investigation.

"I want to see which reckless fool dares to commit such evil deeds in this palace!"

He had clearly given a hint that no one was allowed to reveal the secret of Huan Yi Xiang!

He wanted to see who had the audacity to leak this information to Consort Hua!

The Empress Dowager took a deep breath and said a few more words to reassure and comfort Consort Hua. Then she assured her, "With me and the Emperor here, no one will dare to harm you and the imperial heir in the future."

After saying many kind words and receiving a generous reward, the three powerful figures of the palace finally left Yikun Palace, restoring peace and quiet to Consort Hua.

As soon as they left, the smile on Consort Hua's face vanished without a trace.

With tears in her eyes, she gazed in the direction of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Your Majesty, Shilan's affections have ultimately been misplaced.

However, the Nian family needs a prince, a talisman.

At this moment, a young woman dressed as a palace maid approached Consort Hua and said, “Your Highness, the items have been checked. There is musk in the white jade Guanyin statue that the Empress Dowager sent.”

Consort Hua closed her eyes tightly. "Uya! Tell the family about this."

"Yes, this servant will go back now."

In the Shou Kang Palace, the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress sat quietly.

After a long while, Zhu Xi, Su Peisheng, and Jian Qiu entered the hall together.

Zhu Xi was the first to report the information she had found to the three: "Your Majesty, the Emperor, and the Empress, I have investigated the Imperial Hospital. In the past six months, only two imperial physicians, Jiang Cheng and Jiang Shen, have taken the pulse for Consort Hua. No one else, including the apprentice female physicians, has had any contact with Yikun Palace."

After she finished speaking, Su Peisheng stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, the Emperor, and the Empress, I have investigated all the palace maids and eunuchs in Yikun Palace. There are no problems with the backgrounds and life stories of any of them. None of them know anything about perfumery or medicine.”

"In addition, this servant also investigated the ladies and concubines who were close to Consort Hua and the people who served them. Neither Consort Li nor Noble Lady Cao had any knowledge of incense or medicine."

As for Consort Li and Noble Lady Cao, they are both veterans of the Prince's residence. If they truly possessed such abilities, they wouldn't have only recently joined Consort Hua's household.

Finally, Jianqiu stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor, and Your Majesty the Empress, this servant has checked the records of Madam Nian and the women of the Nian family entering the palace to pay their respects. Since Consort Hua entered the palace, the women of the Nian family have entered the palace three times in total, and each time Consort Hua has given them a generous reward."

Those rewards would be inspected before leaving the palace, but who would dare to examine the belongings of the women of the Nian family in detail? It was just a formality.

In this situation, who knows if there's anything they shouldn't have smuggled in, like the Joyful Fragrance!

The emperor paused in his hand movements, then looked up and stared at Jianqiu.

Jianqiu tensed up, a sense of dread rising within her.

"Your Majesty," the Empress interrupted the Emperor's scrutiny, "with the Empress Dowager in the palace giving instructions, no one would do or say anything they shouldn't. I believe the problem likely originated outside the palace."

The Empress Dowager sighed, "Your Majesty, you've heard the results of their investigation. The information shouldn't have been leaked to Consort Hua from within the palace."

The Emperor lowered his eyes, his face revealing neither joy nor anger. "Since the Empress Dowager and the Empress are so convinced, then I will send people to investigate the Nian family. Su Peisheng—"

“Your servant is here.” Su Peisheng bowed and stepped forward.

"Send men to investigate thoroughly! I need to know who the Nian family has been in contact with in the past six months!"

"Yes, sir." Su Peisheng accepted the order and left.

The Empress Dowager waved to Zhu Xi and Jian Qiu, signaling them to leave.

"Your Majesty, what are your thoughts on Consort Hua's pregnancy?"

"I..." A dark light flickered in the Emperor's deep eyes, "Empress Mother, your son cannot..."

"Your Majesty!" The Empress Dowager looked solemnly at the Emperor and raised her voice, "The Nian family is powerful and will surely become a threat in time. Since that child from back then... then he cannot be kept alive now either!"

The Emperor closed his eyes and remained silent. After a long while, he opened his eyes and looked straight into the Empress Dowager's eyes. "Shilan feels guilty and remorseful for not being able to give her son a child for many years. I... have let her down a lot. I cannot hurt her any further."

Meeting the Empress Dowager's disapproving gaze, the Emperor stood up. "I have already made up my mind about this matter, so I won't trouble you, Your Majesty. It's getting late, Your Majesty should rest early. I still have state affairs to attend to, so I won't keep you company any longer."

"Emperor!" The Empress Dowager was furious, but powerless to do anything about it.

Su Peisheng was ordered to mobilize the Blood Droplets to investigate the Nian family for a whole day, but they found nothing except for some backdoor deals and gifts.

Unconvinced, the emperor ordered his men to investigate for two more days, but they still found nothing.

Meanwhile, the news that the Huan Yi Xiang, which the emperor had bestowed upon Consort Hua, contained a large amount of musk had somehow already spread outside the palace.

In order to appease the Nian family and to give them an explanation, the three leaders of the palace gathered again at Shou Kang Palace.

The Emperor spoke first, “After three days of investigation, we found nothing wrong with the Nian family. But this matter has somehow spread outside, and my desk is now piled high with memorials.”

After a moment of silence, the Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor and asked, "What are your thoughts, Your Majesty?"

The Empress looked at the Emperor with unease. She knew that she had to give Consort Hua, the Nian family, and all the officials an explanation as soon as possible regarding the presence of musk in the Huan Yi Incense.

The Emperor has summoned her to Shou Kang Palace as well, which I fear...

The Empress looked at the silent Emperor, and her heart sank lower and lower.

The Empress Dowager put the Buddhist prayer beads aside and said firmly, "Emperor, the Empress is the mother of the nation. How can her reputation be tarnished? Moreover, the Emperor and Empress are closely connected. If the Empress is wrong, then it is Emperor who is wrong."

The Emperor finally spoke, “Empress Mother, I had no such intention. I was just thinking about how to silence the Nian family and the officials.”

If this matter cannot be handled properly, not only will the Nian family be affected, but the officials will also avoid the royal family and will no longer be willing to send their daughters to the palace.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat relieved, and the Empress's worries were finally put to rest.

Reassured by these words, the Empress Dowager softened her tone: "Does the Emperor have a plan in mind?"

The emperor fiddled with his hand and shook his head. "The Nian family is no ordinary family."

If we don't satisfy them, they might not be willing to fight to the death. The border must not be lost.

The Empress Dowager's eyes darted around, and a slight smile appeared on her lips. "Has the Emperor forgotten Consort Duan?"

The emperor paused in his hand movements.

Back in the Prince's mansion, Consort Duan and Shilan had an old grudge against each other...

Therefore, after a five-day investigation into the matter of the Huan Yi Xiang incense bestowed upon Consort Hua by the Emperor being adulterated with musk, the blame fell on Consort Duan of Yanqing Palace.

Xi Qiao had already guessed this outcome, but seeing the emperor issue an edict pinning the blame on Consort Duan, he couldn't help but sigh that the royal family was indeed ruthless and dark.

Consort Duan was demoted to commoner and forced to commit suicide. The Qi family was punished, with its members dismissed from office, their property confiscated, and exiled. The emperor also issued an edict forbidding the Qi family members from holding office for three generations.

Three generations later, a large family is almost finished.