The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: The Face-Slapping Time-Traveling Farming Girl 6

That evening, when it was time to rest, Qi Rui entered Anning’s room.

He came in with a stern face and said, ”Do you know that Wenshao has dropped out of the academy?”

Anning, indifferent, looked up: ”I know. I’ve advised Wenshao before, but he wouldn’t listen. He said he doesn’t love studying. When I pressed him, he resisted, and after all, he’s not my biological son, there’s only so much I can do.”

Qi Rui’s expression then softened a bit.

He sat down and sighed, ”After all, he’s the son of that maid, far less intelligent and sensible than Wenwei.”

Anning’s face showed agreement, yet inwardly she was criticizing Qi Rui for blatantly lying.

In truth, Wenshao’s background was much better than Wenwei’s.

Bai He was the daughter of a fallen scholar, and what was Zhou Zhenniang? The sons she bore couldn’t be any good.

After talking for a while, Qi Rui planned to stay the night in her room.

But Anning was unwilling to share a bed with such a scumbag.

She might not be a chaste and heroic woman, but she disdained someone like Qi Rui.

”After my recent illness, I’ve been feeling weak and fear I can no longer serve my lord. If my lord wishes, I could arrange someone else for you.”

Anning smiled as she ushered Qi Rui out.

Qi Rui put on a caring face, ”If you’re unwell, let it be. No need to arrange anyone else, having you alone is enough.”

Anning sneered inwardly but stood up to see Qi Rui out.

After she sent him away, Anning had someone clean the spot where Qi Rui had sat before retiring to bed herself.

In the following days, Anning stopped urging Wenwei to study.

Without Anning’s supervision, Wenwei, like a wild horse unleashed, ran out to play every day.

Qi Rui was busy with his duties at the government office, and hadn’t noticed at first, but later did and felt somewhat angry.

At dinner, he made a point to remind Anning, ”Wenwei has been rather unruly these past few days. Lady, you should discipline him more.”

Anning, all smiles, replied: ”I was just thinking of discussing this with my lord. This illness has drained me; I fear I lack the strength to discipline the child. I was thinking of hiring a teacher, or perhaps sending Wenwei to the academy, what do you think?”

Qi Rui looked displeased, and scrutinized Anning for a long while.

Anning showed no trace of guilt.

Qi Rui then thought he might be overthinking.

The matter of swapping the children had been done discreetly; Anning didn’t know anything about it and regarded Wenwei as her own. If possible, she would naturally discipline him well.

Now that she suggested hiring a teacher, it must be that she truly lacked the energy to handle the child.

”You also take care, don’t wear yourself out.”

Qi Rui showed concern as he went to hold Anning’s hand, but Anning, without a flicker of emotion, lifted her soup spoon: ”What my lord says is right.”

Qi Rui, left hanging, felt somewhat embarrassed.

”These next few days, I’ll have someone inquire properly to find a good teacher for Wenwei.”

Qi Rui smiled, then bowed his head to eat, without saying anything more to Anning.

He remained silent, and so did Anning.

After the meal, Qi Rui left.

Once he was gone, Anning called Mrs. Hao over: ”Is everything arranged with Mr. Sun?”

Mrs. Hao approached and whispered with a smile, ”Everything has been discussed well, we just need the master’s decision to invite Mr. Sun into the mansion.”

Anning nodded, picked up the cup of water and took a gentle sip, ”That’s good.”

After a while, Qi Wenshao came to greet Anning.

Seeing him come in drenched in sweat, Anning quickly had a maid fetch a towel for him to wipe his face and had him change into more comfortable clothes. After he was ready, Anning took Qi Wenshao to the side hall to study.

She first inquired about Qi Wenshao’s progress in his studies, reviewed the material previously learned, and then taught some new concepts.

Anning’s teaching was lively and interesting, making even the most rigid and boring topics captivating.

Qi Wenshao, being eager to learn, listened attentively and absorbed the teachings.

He had a good memory and decent comprehension; he roughly understood everything Anning explained after one lecture, and could almost remember everything after reviewing the material himself when he returned.

Seeing that Qi Wenshao had good potential, Anning was pleased and taught with even greater enthusiasm.

After lecturing for half an hour, Anning gathered up the books.

She stood behind him with her hands behind her back, standing next to Qi Wenshao, ”We’ll stop here for today. Tomorrow, after you return from the Ye family, review the books first, have dinner, then come over to learn new material. Also, you need to practice your calligraphy diligently, your handwriting is a bit irregular.”

Qi Wenshao quickly stood up in agreement.

With a smile on his face, he looked very joyful as he took out a hairpin made of strung-together jade beads from his wallet and carefully handed it to Anning: ”Earlier, Madam mentioned liking these little trinkets. I, having nothing of value and unable to buy anything expensive, bought some beads and strung this together myself.”

Qi Wenshao looked somewhat nervous and shyly hopeful as he presented the hairpin to Anning.

The hairpin he held wasn’t of particularly high quality; the jade beads were mediocre and the craftsmanship was not worth mentioning, yet Anning still liked it very much.

She fiddled with it in her hands, ”Good boy, I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness. I’m thrilled that you thought of this; this hairpin means more to me than anything else, I really like it.”

Anning didn’t just say it; she also wore the hairpin in her hair.

Qi Wenshao, seeing Anning’s pleasure, also smiled gleefully.

After a moment, Anning instructed him, ”It’s good that you have filial piety, but I really don’t lack anything. In the future, you don’t need to go to such lengths. You’re still young and should use your energy to study harder. As long as you excel in your studies and have a successful future, it will be worth more to me than any amount of gold or jade.”

She genuinely cared, and Qi Wenshao could feel it.

Qi Wenshao bowed his head, his eyes reddening, ”Mother is right, I will remember this and will certainly honor you well.”

Anning patted Qi Wenshao’s head and straightened his clothes, ”Alright, go back and rest.”

Qi Wenshao bowed and then left.

After he had gone, Anning turned to Qing Mei, ”Go find some Buddhist scriptures and store them here. If anyone asks what Mr. Qi is doing, say that I’m having him copy Buddhist scriptures.”

Qing Mei responded and left.

Anning sighed before returning to her room to rest.

To be honest, Anning truly did not like staying in this suffocating inner house or having to face Qi Rui, that despicable man, every day.

Had it not been for her mission’s requirement to ensure the happiness of Qi Wenshao and Qi Wenjuan, Anning would have divorced Qi Rui and left long ago.

If she really wanted to take revenge on Qi Rui and the others, she wouldn’t have to stay and suffer in the inner house; Anning had countless methods of revenge at her disposal, yet now she could not use any of them and had to endure.

After all, in ancient society, if a divorce occurred, the children would belong to the man’s side.

Moreover, since Qi Wenshao was not her biological son, she had no reason to take him away.

And even though Qi Wenjuan was her biological child, the Qi family would not let her go to the Ye family.

For these two children, Anning had to hold back.

However, she had already planned her next move; as much as she was suffering now, she would make sure that Qi Rui and the others would suffer just as much in the future.