Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

This time, Yu Ying'er was shocked. Her sister was the Empress Dowager's chief palace maid, yet she still needed money to do things for her.

Looking at her foolish appearance, Xi Qiao suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "It's true that I'm a senior palace maid in the Empress Dowager's service, but I'm also a rank-holding stewardess. You think you can get someone to do things for you just by talking? You're lucky if they don't turn around and harm you."

Thinking of the girl's feat of making the people in front of the emperor peel walnuts with their bare hands, Xi Qiao felt a lump in his throat. "There are capable people everywhere in this palace. You have to be careful with your words and actions at all times."

"Never offend anyone easily. Everyone has the potential to climb the social ladder, and once they gain power, they can turn around and make you suffer a terrible fate. Being kind and humble is the best way to survive in this palace."

Yu Ying'er turned pale with fright at the danger in those words.

Seeing that the time was right, Xi Qiao softened his expression and said gently, "I was able to get to where I am today by 'observing more and speaking less, giving more and taking less.' Now I'm teaching you these principles, and you must keep them in mind at all times."

"Yingying, you're my only family now, so you have to take good care of yourself."

Yu Ying'er nodded with tears in her eyes.

Xi Qiao couldn't stay too long. Before leaving, he slipped Yu Ying'er two silver ingots and a handful of loose silver. "You should show your appreciation for Eunuch Huang's kindness. Send one of these silver ingots to Eunuch Huang later. Also, when you have time, buy some melon seeds and peanuts to share with the palace maids and eunuchs you work with."

"I understand, sister. Don't worry. I will keep your words in mind."

Fearing that the girl might forget things easily, Xi Qiao decided to give her another dose of harsh medicine, whispering in her ear, "Just watch, Consort Fang's fate may not be good."

Regardless of the plot she knew, it's not hard to draw this conclusion just by looking at the smell.

Only three days after her pregnancy was revealed, Consort Fang used the imperial fetus to steal the emperor's favor everywhere. Not only did the empress have an abortion, but Consort Hua, Consort Li, Consort Xin, and other concubines whose favor she had stolen also harbored resentment towards her.

Yu Ying'er was stunned for a long time, not even knowing when her older sister had left.

On his way back to Shou Kang Palace, Xi Qiao was also thinking about how to settle Yu Ying'er. Palace maids could only leave the palace at the age of 25. In the Qing Dynasty, 25 years old was already considered an old maid, and she could not marry into a good family. She would either become someone's second wife and face a pair of concubines and illegitimate children every day, or become someone's concubine and be mistreated.

Becoming a governess for the young ladies and princesses of wealthy families is also a way out, but one must be of a certain rank.

With Yu Ying'er's personality, it wouldn't be easy for her to even become a senior palace maid; she truly lacks the intelligence and emotional intelligence.

As for becoming a palace maid who dies of old age in the palace, Xi Qiao never thought about that.

From this perspective, it seems that becoming an imperial concubine is the most suitable option.

As long as she can give birth to a son, Yu Ying'er will have no worries for the rest of her life.

The reward for the "Empress of the World" achievement includes a large gift pack of elixirs, which contains pills for having a son, having a daughter, false pregnancy, infertility, pregnancy preservation, detoxification, and more.

With these good things, Yu Ying'er's chances of having a son increased to 99%.

This palace intrigue system is really something else. Besides the prizes, elixirs, and gold, there's a whole bunch of auras with various effects, like "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix," "The Fragrant Concubine Reborn," "Clear Hearing and Vision," and so on—it's dazzling.

Unfortunately, the halo can only be worn by the host.

It didn't matter that she couldn't use the halo. With the pills and gold and silver provided by the system, she was confident that she could block all kinds of means and protect the child as he grew up. But the problem was how to raise the child by Yu Ying'er's side.

Palace maids were promoted starting as "Guan Nuzi" (官女子), and only those who reached the rank of "Pin" (嫔) were allowed to raise princes and princesses.

The chubby orange was stingy with her rank; even though Consort Xin gave birth to a princess, she only received the rank of Consort. Consort Cao would not have become a Consort if it weren't for Consort Hua's support.

These two are daughters of officials, selected as imperial concubines through a grand selection process.

How could Yu Ying'er, a down-on-her-luck palace maid, possibly surpass others?

Official women, ladies-in-waiting, ladies-in-waiting, noble ladies, and concubines.

In other words, one must at least befriend a powerful person before one can get pregnant.

Four grades, that's a bit difficult, but it doesn't seem that hard.