Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Time flew by, and just before lunchtime, the emperor arrived.

Zhen Huan, along with her mother and sister, greeted the Emperor at the entrance of Bi Tong Academy.

"This humble woman greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor."

Yun's imperial title was revoked along with Zhen Yuandao's dismissal from office, and now she can only refer to herself as a commoner.

After the emperor personally helped Zhen Huan up, he turned to look at Yun Shi, who was still kneeling, and said, "Madam Zhen and Second Miss Zhen, there's no need for such formalities. Please get up."

"This humble woman thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

After expressing her gratitude, Lady Yun helped Zhen Yu Rao to her feet and stood half a meter behind Zhen Huan with her face slightly lowered and looking somewhat reserved.

The emperor, holding Zhen Huan's hand, was about to step into the room when he caught a glimpse of Yun Shi's face out of the corner of his eye and froze on the spot!

"Wanwan—" the emperor called out subconsciously.

He stared intently at Yun Shi's face, which bore the marks of time. Although she couldn't compare to Zhen Huan's delicate beauty, time had been kind to her. Even at nearly forty, she had no wrinkles or age spots, and instead possessed a charm that young women lacked.

The emperor had thought more than once what his Wanwan would be like today if she hadn't died young.

The appearance of Yun seemed to bring his midnight fantasies into reality; if his Wanwan were still alive, she would probably look like this.

Zhen Huan lagged half a step behind the emperor and didn't notice his gaze directed at her mother. Instead, she felt extremely embarrassed because the emperor addressed her by her childhood nickname in front of her mother and younger sister.

"Your Majesty~" Zhen Huan, still immersed in the emperor's favor, responded shyly.

The familiar voice brought the emperor back to his senses.

He took two deep breaths to suppress the surging emotions in his heart, but his gaze still couldn't help but wander towards Yun Shi.

"It's rare to see you so happy today, so let your mother and younger sister stay in the garden with you for a while longer. I'll have Su Peisheng arrange accommodations for your mother and younger sister later."

Zhen Huan was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately expressed her gratitude, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness. However, there is no need to arrange accommodations. Bi Tong Academy is spacious, and I will have two rooms prepared so that Mother and Yu Rao can stay comfortably."

The emperor insisted, "It's rare for your mother to come to see you, how can you treat her so lightly? Here's what we'll do: the Natural Painting Studio is uninhabited and close to the Bitong Academy, so let your mother stay there. Su Peisheng, have someone clean and prepare everything immediately, and make sure that Madam Zhen is not neglected."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will make the arrangements immediately."

Su Peisheng's heart was trembling. Natural Picture was indeed close to Bitong Academy, but it was even closer to Jiuzhou Qingyan!

Although Lady Zhen looks almost exactly like Empress Chun Yuan, she is already married! Moreover, she is the birth mother of Consort Zhen!

Seeing that the emperor had already made arrangements, Zhen Huan did not insist. Moreover, this matter was not necessarily a bad thing, as it would allow everyone in the harem to see the emperor's favor towards her!

"In that case, Wanwan thanks you, Silang."

"This humble woman thanks Your Majesty for your grace." Yun appeared happy, but felt a little strange in her heart.

Although she dared not look directly at the emperor, she could feel his gaze upon her—so forceful, yet filled with an air of unwavering determination.

Yun was extremely uneasy.

"Haha~" The emperor laughed happily, "Madam, there's no need for such formalities. Just settle in comfortably."

Today is indeed a day to be happy about.

The group entered the inner room, and the emperor sat down first. He turned to the reserved Yun Shi and said in a kind and friendly manner, "Madam, please don't stand on ceremony. Make yourself at home and relax."

However, the more amiable he was, the more uneasy Yun felt.

With a heart full of fear, Yun led Zhen Yurao to sit down.

The emperor noticed her unease, gave an ambiguous laugh, and reached out his hand to the eight-year-old Zhen Yurao, "Yurao, is it? Come to me."

Yun felt a pang of anxiety but dared not say anything, and could only watch helplessly as her youngest daughter walked toward the emperor.

Zhen Yurao was naive and ignorant, with only a vague concept of the emperor, and her curiosity outweighed her awe.

"This commoner, Zhen Yurao, greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!" She knew the rules, and although her movements were not smooth or graceful, she was not impolite.

"No need for formalities, come to me."

The emperor carefully examined Zhen Yurao's face. Although she was still young, one could vaguely see her future beauty. In a few years, this little girl would surely grow up to look even more like Wanwan than her older sister.

Zhen Yurao looked curiously at the emperor who was staring at her silently.

"Your Majesty, please have some tea."

Zhen Huan took the teacup from Cui Jinxi and placed it next to the emperor.

The Emperor raised his hand and placed it on Zhen Yurao's shoulder, smiling as he looked at Zhen Huan, "No wonder you often miss your family. If I had a younger brother or sister who was so similar to me, I would definitely miss them terribly too."

Zhen Huan smiled brightly, "Your Majesty is always teasing me, but Yu Rao and I are indeed very close. I am ten years older than Yu Rao. When we were at home, my mother was busy with household affairs, and I took care of Yu Rao almost the whole time. It is no exaggeration to say that I raised Yu Rao."

The emperor stroked the jade thumb ring on his thumb: "If that's the case, then the relationship is indeed closer than that of ordinary sisters."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Zhen Yurao, "Since your sister says she is very close to you, would you be willing to stay in the palace to accompany her?"

Upon hearing this, both Lady Yun and Zhen Huan were stunned.

With her childlike nature and her inherent attachment to Zhen Huan, Zhen Yu Rao replied without hesitation, "Yu Rao is willing! Yu Rao wants to stay with her sister forever! But Your Majesty, Yu Rao doesn't want to leave her mother either. Can her mother stay in the palace with her sister?"

Zhen Yurao answered very loudly and excitedly.

The emperor stroked Zhen Yurao's hair. "Of course you can stay, you and your mother can both stay."

Zhen Huan hesitated, staring at the scene before her, belatedly realizing something was amiss. The Emperor had already personally promised her mother to spend more time with her, and now he was emphasizing it again…

"Fourth Prince, this is probably inappropriate. Although Yu Rao is my younger sister, she is not a member of the royal family. It is fine for her to stay with me in the Yuanmingyuan Garden for a few days, but it would be against the rules if she went to the palace."

Zhen Huan sat up straight and looked at the emperor.

The emperor waved his hand dismissively, "It's nothing, just one or two more people. The palace can accommodate them. With my personal approval, no one dares to gossip."

But there has never been such a precedent in the palace.

Zhen Huan was uneasy, and Yun Shi was even more terrified that the Emperor wanted to keep them here!

This this……

Although Yun did not know the reason, fear rose uncontrollably from the bottom of her heart and spread throughout her body in a short moment.