Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

What exactly did the emperor mean by making this arrangement?

Yun frowned and pondered for a long time, but still couldn't come up with a solution.

While she was lost in thought, Cui Jinxi walked into the inner room.

The slight footsteps startled Yun, who had been extremely fearful and uneasy since the incident.

She turned her head sharply towards the door and was relieved to see that it was Cui Jinxi.

Yun let out a breath of stale air, sighed, and looked back at the young girl sleeping soundly on the bed. After straightening the thin blanket covering her, she slowly got up and walked towards Cui Jinxi, gesturing for her to come outside to talk.

There were two palace maids standing at the entrance to the outer room. Not only at the entrance, but also in the side room and the left side room on the right, there were palace maids and eunuchs on standby at all times. These people were respectful and served diligently.

The only downside is that they don't communicate with Yun Shi and Cui Jinxi.

Lady Yun glanced at the palace maids at the door and sat down in the main seat furthest from the door.

It wasn't that she didn't want to get rid of them, but these people simply wouldn't let her out of their sight.

They would do whatever Yun asked them to do, but they would always leave someone to watch Yun's every move, so that Yun would not have a chance to be alone.

Cui Jinxi stood to the side of Yun Shi and said in a low voice, "Madam, I have tried, but we cannot leave at all. There are not only eunuchs on duty inside the gate, but also four strong and burly maids, and there is a squad of imperial guards outside the gate."

They are imprisoned here.

Cui Jinxi subtly traced Yun Shi's face, pondering the strangeness of this natural painting and the words Su Peisheng had told her. Suddenly, a rather absurd idea popped into her head.

The Emperor wants to take Lady Zhen as his concubine!

Cui Jinxi's heart was pounding. She had seen the face of the late Empress Chun Yuan before, and this was one of the reasons she asked Su Peisheng to arrange for her to stay at Suiyuxuan.

While the young and beautiful Lady Zhen did indeed resemble Empress Chun Yuan, this Lady Zhen was even more similar.

One could only offer solace and a way to express his longing, while the other could create a lifelike illusion, making the emperor feel as if Empress Chun Yuan were still alive, thus fulfilling his long-cherished wish: to have Empress Chun Yuan by his side.

Cui Jinxi was not surprised that the Emperor would have such thoughts about Madam Zhen. In fact, she had even had this suspicion when she saw Madam Zhen this morning.

There was indeed a way out for her by Madam Zhen's side.

No, you can't call her Madam Zhen anymore!

Cui Jinxi's eyes flickered as she took a purse from her person and handed it to her. "Madam, this is what the young mistress asked me to prepare for you. There are two thousand taels of silver notes inside."

Yun looked at Cui Jinxi with much more affection, but she did not accept the money. Instead, she pushed it back, saying, "You can keep it. You are the head maid in Huan'er's palace and know more about palace affairs than I do. This money will be more useful to you."

In her current situation, the only person she is familiar with is Cui Jinxi, and the only one she can rely on is Cui Jinxi. In addition, Cui Jinxi is someone Zhen Huan trusts, so Yun Shi is naturally willing to give her her trust.

A smile flickered in Cui Jinxi's eyes, but she said gratefully, "Thank you for your trust, Madam. I will certainly live up to your expectations and make good use of this money."

Having someone who was barely usable by her side made Yun feel a little better.

“We are in a precarious situation right now, like walking a tightrope over a cliff. One wrong step and we’ll be shattered to pieces. You are the head maidservant by Huan’er’s side, and I am Huan’er’s birth mother. We are the people who can least trust each other. There’s no need for such formality.”

Cui Jinxi immediately said solemnly, "Madam, rest assured, this servant will definitely protect you and the Second Miss."

Yun Shi felt a little relieved. She pulled Cui Jinxi aside and said in a heavy tone, "You don't need to worry about me. You'll have to take good care of Yu Rao."

The youngest daughter is only eight years old. If the emperor harbors thoughts of revenge, or if someone who is at odds with the eldest daughter has ulterior motives, Yu Rao would be the easiest target.

She is an adult and has some ability to protect herself, but her youngest daughter is at an age where she is innocent and easily deceived. If someone deliberately does something bad, and her daughter doesn't have anyone capable of protecting her, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Cui Jinxi was not disappointed by Yun's arrangement. She didn't care who she served; all she wanted now was a way to survive.

Zhen Yurao's side might be safer and have a better chance of survival than Madam's side.

If the Emperor truly harbors such feelings for the Lady, and the news leaks out to the Empress Dowager and Empress, the Lady may not fare well, but those serving by her side will certainly suffer.

The Empress and Empress Dowager dared not risk angering the Emperor by doing anything to the Lady, but they had no qualms about taking their anger out on the people serving the Lady.

The more Cui Jinxi thought about it, the better she felt to serve Zhen Yurao.

"Yes, from this moment on, I will stay by your side at all times."

With Cui Jinxi's assurance, Yun's tense emotions finally eased considerably.

This moment of relaxation immediately brought on drowsiness.

Cui Jinxi, ever perceptive, said, "Madam, why don't you take a short rest? I'll stay here with you and the Second Miss, and I'll wake you up immediately if anything happens. Now, both the Young Mistress and the Second Miss rely on your planning, so you must take good care of yourself."

Yun was persuaded by her. After a simple wash, she took off her outer clothes and went to sleep next to Zhen Yurao.

She didn't sleep well. Her dream was bizarre and strange, and she felt like there were dangerous eyes watching her from the shadows. Yun was terrified and could only keep running and running.

But the lurking, covetous gaze was like a persistent thorn in her side, impossible to shake off. It remained hidden beside her, preventing Yun from sleeping peacefully and leaving her even more exhausted.

After sleeping for about half an hour, Yun woke up slowly and reached out to touch Zhen Yurao, but missed.

Yun, who had been in a daze, suddenly woke up and opened her eyes.

She couldn't see the little girl in her blurry vision, but she did see a bright yellow figure that shouldn't be there at all—the emperor!

The emperor had been there for quite some time. Cui Jinxi intended to wake Yun Shi, but the emperor stopped her. Instead, he instructed her to take the sleeping Zhen Yurao away.

Then he sat quietly on the edge of the bed, watching Yun's peaceful sleeping face.

Yun's pupils trembled, and her body shook. Although she was still drowsy, her sixth sense as a woman detected the danger.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

Yun hurriedly sat up, clutching the thin blanket.

After recognizing who it was, she intended to get out of bed and kneel to greet him, but the emperor was sitting casually on the edge of the bed, and if she wanted to get past him, she would have to have close contact with him.

Furthermore, this situation completely contradicted the education she had received since childhood that "boys and girls should not sit together after the age of seven." Yun felt extremely dizzy, and a strong sense of immorality overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

"This humble woman, Zhen Yunshi, greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

Yun knelt on the bed, bowing shakily. As she bowed, she subconsciously referred to herself as Zhen Yun, subtly emphasizing her identity.

At the same time, an intense fear arose in her heart; the emperor's actions...

The emperor gazed intently at her hunched back, her apricot-colored undergarment clinging to her body, revealing her slender waist and spine.