Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Xi Qiao and Sun Zhuxi returned to the Yuanmingyuan together from the palace.

When she arrived at Anlan Garden, An Lingrong was in the inner room talking with Yu Ying'er.

"Auntie is back." Yu Ying'er looked at Xi Qiao with sparkling eyes.

Xi Qiao, who was very familiar with her various micro-expressions, paused in his steps—the relieved look in Yu Ying'er's eyes, finally saved, was all too clear.

She glanced at An Lingrong without leaving a trace, and seeing that An Lingrong was holding Yu Ying'er's hand and that her eyes and nose were red, she immediately understood.

Yu Ying'er is a very easygoing person, and not very patient. When she encounters someone like An Lingrong who is so delicate and sensitive, she inevitably becomes hesitant and timid. Short-term contact or having someone else mediate is fine, but when she has to be alone with An Lingrong, she really feels uncomfortable.

Xi Qiao smiled and stepped forward to greet her, "Greetings to Consort An. It is kind of you to come and visit our Empress."

"Aunt, please don't be so polite." An Lingrong personally helped Xi Qiao up and did not let her kneel down to curtsy. "Aunt, you flatter me. Since I entered the palace, Sister Zhuang and you have taken good care of me. Now that Sister Zhuang has been framed and is bedridden, what kind of person would I be if I didn't come to visit her?"

A strange light flashed in Xi Qiao's eyes. An Lingrong seemed much less self-conscious and insecure today. It was clear that the emperor's favor was indeed the greatest source of confidence and assurance for women in the harem.

Xi Qiao thought this in his heart, but showed no sign on his face. "What are you saying, my lady? There is no right or wrong. Interactions between people are simply a matter of fate."

As if touched upon some memories, she sighed with a slightly dazed look in her eyes.

"When you first entered the palace, Your Highness, and we met in the Imperial Garden, I vaguely thought I saw Consort Zhuang, who was not yet a concubine at that time. Because I was worried that Your Highness might be unfamiliar with the palace rules and might break a taboo, I presumptuously mentioned it."

As he spoke, Xi Qiao looked at Yu Ying'er with a weary expression, then looked at An Lingrong with apologetic eyes, "Who would have thought that my unintentional act that day would sow the seeds of such a terrible disaster? Not only did it almost harm Your Highness, but it also caused you, my lady, to be resented by that Zhen family."

An Lingrong was puzzled as to why she suddenly brought up these things, but then her mind turned to the fact that Consort Zhuang had been assassinated twice in a row.

"Does Aunt mean that Consort Zhuang's two murders were related to Consort Wan?"

Xi Qiao inwardly praised her for being shrewd, but on the surface he sneered, "From today onwards, there will only be Consort Zhen in this palace, and there will be no more Consort Wan!"

Yu Ying'er's eyes lit up. She had been dissatisfied with Zhen Shi for a long time, and her sister had finally helped her suppress the person. "Aunt, what exactly happened? Please tell us quickly."

An Lingrong and Yu Ying'er reacted similarly, but An Lingrong had some doubts in her heart. She had heard that Prince Guo's attendant was one of the people who harmed Consort Zhuang, but now Chunrong said that Zhen Huan was the one who did it.

How could Zhen Huan, a mere low-ranking concubine, possibly have any connection with the people around Prince Guo?

An Lingrong didn't quite believe it.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has found out that the Wen family and the Zhen family have been neighbors for decades. The two families have a very close relationship. Wen Shichu and Zhen grew up together. It would not be an exaggeration to say that they were childhood sweethearts."

"That day, because of me and Your Highness, Consort Zhen was severely punished twice by Consort Hua, and that's why she hated you. At the same time, Consort An was also blamed by her a lot and was slandered by Consort Zhen behind her back."

"Wen Shichu is of one mind with Zhen Shi, so naturally he likes what Zhen Shi likes and dislikes what Zhen Shi dislikes. Consort Hua has two imperial physicians, Jiang Cheng and Jiang Shen, who are beyond his reach. Consort An is not favored at the beginning, so he has no reason to make a move against her."

Xi Qiao can spout nonsense so easily.

It wasn't that she intentionally lied to the two of them, but there were some things that weren't suitable to tell Yu Ying'er, who was so simple-minded.

Moreover, there is also An Lingrong here.

To be honest, she always harbored a strong sense of wariness towards An Lingrong, always feeling that this woman might suddenly become petty and ruthless, and then strike them when they weren't looking.

Between his own intuition and An Lingrong, an outsider, Xi Qiao naturally chose to trust himself!

Especially just now, as soon as An Lingrong spoke, her intuition kicked in again.

It's a good thing that the little white rabbit grows fangs to protect itself when surrounded by wolves, but the fear is that under such pressure, the little white rabbit might become psychologically abnormal and indiscriminately point its fangs at those around it.

Xi Qiao suppressed the various thoughts that popped into his mind and continued with an angry expression: "When we were in the palace, we had the Empress Dowager to take care of us, and the Imperial Hospital was full of people and eyes, so Wen Shichu didn't dare to make a move. But now that we're in the Yuanmingyuan, we have fewer people with us and no Empress Dowager to take care of us, so naturally we were taken advantage of."

"Although Wen Shichu is extreme in nature, his medical skills are quite good due to his family's medical background. Many nobles and princes ask him to treat them. Over time, he has naturally accumulated a lot of connections, and A Jin is one of them."

"Yesterday, Her Majesty drank a few too many cups at the banquet. When she went out to sober up, Wen Shichu saw her. Seeing that the surroundings were quiet and there were few people, he harbored ill intentions. He originally thought it was very good, since if something happened, Prince Guo would take the blame, so naturally it wouldn't be traced back to him."

"Unexpectedly, his scheme clashed with someone else's, alarming the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Otherwise..."

Xi Qiao didn't say anything more, but a murderous intent appeared on his face.

Yu Ying'er already knew the whole story, but with An Lingrong present, she deliberately feigned surprise, widening her eyes and covering her mouth with both hands, as if afraid she would cry out.