Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Upon closer inspection of the letter's contents, Xi Qiao and Xiao Lezi simultaneously displayed subtle expressions.

Xiao Lezi asked with a look of surprise and doubt: "Could it be that Consort Wan really has an affair with Prince Guo?"

"Everyone knows that Prince Guo was slept with by A Jin, yet she actually twisted the truth and said that someone was spreading rumors, denouncing the person behind it as vicious and despicable. Apart from that, her words were full of tender affection, which even moved a disabled servant like myself."

"And what about your relationship with Her Majesty, Aunt? Not to mention that the Empress Dowager forbade anyone to mention it, even Consort Qi and Consort Jing might not know. How could Consort Wan, a concubine who entered the palace later, know?"

Xi Qiao picked up the letter and held it to her nose to smell it. A very faint and elegant fragrance of plum blossoms wafted into her nose. It must be the ink specially mixed by Zhen Huan. She regretfully gave up her plan to imitate it.

"Have you forgotten Cui Jinxi, the head of Suiyu Pavilion?"

As Xi Qiao spoke, he folded the letter back up along the grain of the paper and put it back into the envelope. "This Cui Jinxi is from the same hometown as Su Peisheng, who is in charge of the Imperial Court, and they have a very good relationship."

"As the emperor's most trusted confidant, Su Peisheng has access to almost no secrets in the palace. If he could arrange for his beloved to live comfortably, he would place her next to Consort Wan, who resembles Empress Chun Yuan. Why can't he tell Cui Jinxi about my relationship with the Empress?"

Xi Qiao frowned as she spoke, feeling a bit annoyed.

With Cui Jinxi at Suiyu Pavilion and Zhen Huan receiving Su Peisheng's support from the Emperor, it wouldn't be so easy to get rid of Zhen Huan. However, trying to harm Cui Jinxi would alert Su Peisheng, who wouldn't be so easy to deal with. A misstep could attract the Emperor's attention, and things could get really bad.

It's possible to start with Zhen Huan, but that wouldn't be easy. Zhen Huan knows about her relationship with Yu Ying'er, which means Cui Jinxi has already secretly pledged allegiance to Zhen Huan. Putting aside everything else, just based on Cui Jinxi's knowledge of palace secrets, Zhen Huan won't easily give up on her.

In an instant, many ideas flashed through Xi Qiao's mind, but she did not adopt any of them.

But there's no need to rush. Zhen Huan is currently at the Yuanmingyuan, while Cui Jinxi has been left in the palace. She has plenty of time to think about how to get rid of Cui Jinxi.

Pulling his wandering thoughts back, Xi Qiao resealed the envelope and handed it to Xiao Lezi. "Return this letter, and don't give anything away. Also, have someone keep an eye on Wen Shichu. I need to know what Prince Guo wrote in his reply."

Xiao Lezi took the letter and hesitated, saying, "Auntie, shouldn't we keep your relationship with the Empress a secret? This Prince Guo is quite capable; once he finds out, he'll definitely try to deal with you."

Xi Qiao laughed. "I want him to know that the closer my relationship with the Empress, the deeper his fear of me will be, and the more eager he will be to get rid of me. The more powerful the spies he will use will also be."

"Instead of guarding against thieves for a thousand days, it's better to lure them out of their hole. Take this silver and find someone to carefully monitor the people coming and going in and out of Prince Guo's residence, especially those who meet with people from the palace and the garden! Also, we need to keep a close eye on Anlan Garden, especially the Sixth Prince's side. But be careful, the Emperor's people might also be watching Prince Guo."

Xi Qiao pushed the box, already filled with silver, in front of him, saying, "Don't be stingy with your rewards. If you really can't find anyone you can help, you can ask Zhou Ninghai for help. If you don't have enough silver, just come to me for more."

Xiao Lezi had already spotted the box, but he hadn't expected it to contain silver. Such a large box must be worth at least five hundred taels. He pondered Xi Qiao's words for a moment, "Among the people I know, there are quite a few guards, but they're all good-for-nothings. It's impossible to avoid the Emperor's men. Aunt, what about Consort Hua's side…?"

Xiao Lezi felt uneasy. Was it really okay to entrust such an important matter to Consort Hua?

Xi Qiao smiled, tilting his chin slightly as he glanced at him, "Just go if I tell you to, don't be shy."

Xiao Lezi was shocked. Her aunt's abilities were always unexpected. Even Consort Hua had to give her aunt face!

"Alright, this servant will go to Brother Zhou for help shortly. But what should we do with Wen Shichu? Are we just going to let him help Consort Wan harm our Lady?"

Although the medicine did not end up in the mouths of the Empress and Qingzhu, the fact remains that he did it.

How could we possibly let this person go?

Xi Qiao's eyes flashed coldly. "Once we get the reply, Wen Shichu will be useless. We'll catch him red-handed. Even if he doesn't die, he'll be skinned alive and kicked out of the Imperial Hospital. This palace doesn't need an imperial physician who is subjectively hostile to our Zhongcui Palace."

Little Lezi laughed and picked up the box full of silver. "Alright, Auntie, watch closely, this servant will definitely handle things perfectly!"

Wen Shichu's medical skills are superb, but the other imperial physicians are not necessarily much worse, and this winter's epidemic is not something that can be solved without him.

Oh, right, the epidemic!

Xi Qiao's eyes lit up.

At Prince Guo's residence, the steward hurriedly ran towards Prince Guo's courtyard with a letter intercepted from the palace.

"Your Highness, Your Highness," the steward rushed into Prince Guo's room anxiously, "Your Highness, just as you predicted, someone in the Yuanmingyuan Garden has sent a message to the Empress Dowager!"

The expression on Prince Guo's handsome face was unreadable. "Give it to me!"

The butler served it immediately.

Prince Guo took a look and, seeing that the envelope contained only ordinary paper and there was no writing on the front, tore open the seal and took out the letter.

Upon opening the letter and glancing at it briefly, Prince Guo's eyes revealed a look of doubt.

Chunrong was a familiar name to him. Among the Empress Dowager's four head maids, she was the most rigid and boring, but she was also a rare person with a calm and steady temperament.

Consort Zhuang came from the Empress Dowager's side and was quite arrogant when she first gained favor. It was reasonable for the Empress Dowager to send the most composed and rigid Chunrong to take care of her in order to protect the imperial heir in her womb.

He originally thought that Consort Zhuang or Chunrong were behind the schemes that had been plotted against him today.

After all, the Empress Dowager sent Chunrong to Consort Zhuang's side with the intention of protecting Consort Zhuang and the Sixth Prince. And Consort Zhuang is now a concubine, so it's normal for her to have some tricks up her sleeve.

However, judging from the contents of the letter, although Chunrong discovered that Ajin was the one who pulled Consort Zhuang underwater, she did not take any action. She simply wrote this letter to ask for the Empress Dowager's opinion. Furthermore, Consort Zhuang was still unconscious due to a high fever caused by choking on water.

If that's the case, then who exactly is plotting against him behind the scenes?

Prince Guo's expression changed several times before he solemnly handed the letter to the steward, saying, "Pack it up and send it to Shou Kang Palace."

If it wasn't Chunrong, then he would have to investigate Prince Dun. If it wasn't Prince Dun, then there was only one other possibility—the Emperor!

Prince Guo couldn't help but recall the humiliation he had suffered today. He, a dignified seven-foot-tall man, the most honored Prince Guo of the Qing Dynasty, had actually been—

Ah Jin, even if he isn't executed by the emperor, Prince Guo will never let him off easily! Even though this man is loyal to him and has never had any ulterior motives, he shouldn't have lost control of himself!

Prince Guo was filled with resentment.

However, the steward returned in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea after leaving, carrying another letter. "Your Highness, Imperial Physician Wen Shichu from the palace has come to visit, saying he is delivering a letter to you on behalf of an old friend."