Quick Transmigration: Knowing I'm a Bad Woman, Yet Still Liking Me?

"Then I thank Eunuch Wang for his advice." Consort De still had doubts in her heart.

"Oh, no need for thanks. This servant only wishes Your Majesty well. What Your Majesty cares about, this servant naturally cares about as well. And because I care, I always want to say a few more words. If Consort De has no further instructions, this servant will take his leave now."

Consort De gave a wink to the person beside her, "See Eunuch Wang off for me."

The maidservant saw Wang Shunan out and slipped him ten taels of silver.

The fourth prince stood there, gazing longingly at Consort De.

Consort De sighed, "Someone, arrange accommodations for the Fourth Prince first."

The fourth prince quickly cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Your son thanks you, Mother."

Consort De paused, her hand holding the teacup still. "What did you say?"

The fourth prince seemed to only then realize what was happening, and said, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty."

Seeing his cautious demeanor, Consort De finally softened her expression. "You can say whatever you want here, but once you leave this palace, you still need to follow the proper etiquette."

"Your subject will obey Mother in everything."

The fourth prince grinned foolishly at Consort De, "Does Mother mean that as long as I don't leave this room, I can call her Mother?"

Consort De and her maidservant were amused by him and covered their mouths to laugh. "You're so glib. I'll send someone to bring your things over first, and we'll settle you in first."

"Yes, Mother, I will go right away."

After everyone left, the maidservant beside Consort De asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, what do you think of the Fourth Prince?"

The loving expression on Consort De's face vanished, replaced by a cold gaze fixed on the spot where the Fourth Prince had just stood. "My opinion is unimportant; what matters is what His Majesty wants me to do. As for the Fourth Prince, I believe he definitely has someone backing him."

But even after considering everyone in the harem, she still couldn't figure out who this person was.

The maidservant spoke uncertainly, "Master, do you think it could be His Majesty?"

Consort De shook her head. "If it were His Majesty, he should have taken this step long ago, instead of waiting until now."

Just then, a young eunuch entered. "Your Majesty, His Majesty has arrived."

"Um?"

Consort De was stunned for a moment. She was about the same age as His Majesty and had long passed the age of childbearing, so His Majesty had hardly come to see her in recent years.

He would come occasionally, but only to glance at the princess before leaving.

She then put on a smile and stood up to greet him.

Inside the Jade Hibiscus Palace.

Xiao Qi knelt inside the room, reporting the information she had gathered: "Master, His Majesty has taken Shen Xun'er away, but I can't find out where he was taken. The Fourth Prince was sent to Consort De's palace by His Majesty, and he went there last night as well."

Bai Yuan lay lazily on the couch, "It's fine. The Empress and Consort Shu are confined to their quarters. There has to be someone standing in this harem, right?"

After saying that, she put down the book in her hand, "But starting tomorrow, Tingxue will save herself the trouble of asking for leave every day."

After exchanging a few jokes with the master and servants, Bai Yuan heard the little system's voice and dismissed them all.

When only she and Wanyue were left inside, someone climbed in through the window.

Wan Yue instinctively covered her mouth to stop herself from crying out, then turned around and left, closing the door behind her.

Bai Yuan looked at the person in front of her with delight, "Ah Xuan, what brings you here?"

Wei Ci wanted to bow to her, but Bai Yuan pulled his forearm so he wouldn't kneel down. "It's just the two of us. If you still bow, it will make us feel distant."

"I'm here to tell you that Consort Hui's people have been investigating you recently, and it seems she has accomplices behind her."

"Oh~, what is she investigating?" Bai Yuan immediately became interested.

After all the unpleasantness between Consort Hui and me before, has she finally made a move?

"Consort Hui feels that a lot of your money has come from unknown sources and suspects that you are disrespecting the Emperor's grace."

To desecrate the emperor's favor means to suspect that you took something bestowed by the emperor and sold it outside the palace.

At best, one might be penalized with a pay cut, demoted, or confined to their quarters; at worst, they could be accused of "great disrespect," implicating even those around them.

If valuable imperial gifts such as gold, silver, or jewelry are involved, one might even be suspected of stealing palace items or colluding with foreign officials, and the punishment would be more severe.

As for why there is such a rule, it's because although the emperor bestows something upon you, you basically only have the right to use it.

If you want to give these things as rewards to others, you can give cheap ones, but for more valuable ones, you need to report to the Empress or the Imperial Household Department.

Once you die, those precious items bestowed by the emperor will be taken back by the Imperial Household Department, and before long, they may be given to others.

Seeing her thoughtful expression, Wei Ci asked, "Do you need me to help you with this?"

Bai Yuan's eyes were full of interest. "How will Ah Xuan help me deal with this?"

Wei Ci looked at her big, watery eyes staring at him and finally blushed. "If you get rid of Consort Hui's people, you can also get back those imperial gifts."

Bai Yuan released his hand from her mouth and chuckled, "Ah Xuan, you don't need to interfere. I didn't disrespect the Emperor's grace. The money was all secretly bestowed by His Majesty."

Wei Ci looked at her with some surprise. The emperor usually gave gifts, rarely money, unless it was a concubine he particularly liked.

Bai Yuan saw through his thoughts and pointed to the couch next to her, "Ah Xuan, sit down, let me tell you slowly."

Wei Ci glanced at the soft couch, hesitated for a moment, and then sat down.

Bai Yuan then slowly began to speak, recounting all her years of disguise and how she had made the emperor believe she was foolish.

Since the original owner and Wei Ci had known each other since childhood, even if she didn't say anything, the other party could guess what was going on.

Then she sighed, "Now that my father has returned to the capital, there's a sword hanging over the entire General's Mansion, and we don't know when it will fall."

Looking at the girl he had loved since childhood, Wei Ci felt an indescribable pang of heartache. "It's alright, now you have me. It won't be long before I can completely control the Eastern Depot. Together, we will definitely not let the General's Mansion repeat the mistakes of the Qi family."

Bai Yuan simply smiled faintly this time. "How is Shen Xun'er doing now?"

"The person who dealt with her was Wang Shunan, but I had someone inquire, and it seems the emperor was planning to use her to reprimand the empress."

"She didn't suspect you, did she?"

"No, don't worry. I used to be in the open while she was in the shadows, and I was kept in the dark because I didn't know many things. Now, the roles are reversed, and she's the one in the open."

Bai Yuan felt much relieved upon hearing this, and then said, "Our Emperor is truly a master of the ways of the emperor."

Wei Ci's eyes darkened. "Indeed, in his eyes, the common people are nothing, nor are the court officials. As long as his throne is secure, he can give up everything."

Bai Yuan also felt saddened along with him. "I originally wanted a child, so that the General's Mansion would have more options in the future. Who would have thought that a few days ago, the imperial physician arranged by my father came to examine my pulse and found something in the pastries that His Majesty had bestowed upon me?"

"What?"