The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 841: Chapter 821: Struggle for the Throne (3)

Anning, having eaten and drunk to her heart’s content, first reported to Emperor Feng Jing about the tasks she had managed and handed over the accounts of those corrupt officials. Then, a bit hesitantly, she said, ”Mother, your child wishes to ask for something from you.”

”Speak.”

Emperor Feng Jing was in a good mood, so she indulged Anning’s antics.

Anning smiled, ”Mr. Xiao’s health suffered from childbirth this time. Your child wants to give her some nourishment and thought of asking Mother for some good medicinal herbs.”

For such a simple matter, Emperor Feng Jing certainly wouldn’t refuse Anning’s request.

She instructed Yu Ling to take Anning to the storeroom to choose the medicinal herbs.

Anning selected a piece of century-old ginseng, some lingzhi, and some top-grade bird’s nest. After selecting, she had Yu Ling pack them up for her, and then she left the palace with a box full of herbs.

Yu Ling saw Anning off and then returned to report.

Emperor Feng Jing was reviewing documents at the time and asked when Yu Ling returned, ”Has the Fifth left?”

Yu Ling approached with a smile, ”In response to Your Majesty, the Fifth Royal Princess has already left the palace. Before leaving, she asked the old servant to plead with Your Majesty on her behalf, saying she doesn’t wish to go out on tasks again this month and wants to stay with Mr. Xiao...”

”She herself doesn’t know how to tell me directly, that coward.”

Emperor Feng Jing jokingly scolded, ”Alright, I get it. Go tell Xu Xianjun that I’ll visit him tonight.”

Luange Palace

Xu Xianjun listened to a servant running to inform that Emperor Feng Jing would visit in the evening. He sat quietly on the couch for a long time before instructing his servants to prepare some dishes the Emperor likes from the small kitchen.

Then, he asked a long-serving attendant, ”Mo Qing, did the Fifth just enter the palace?”

Mo Qing quickly smiled, ”Yes, the Fifth Royal Princess left not long ago. Then, news from the Imperial Princess Mansion said Mr. Xiao gave birth to a legitimate daughter, presumably making His Majesty quite happy.”

Xu Xianjun chuckled, ”That’s good. Giving birth to a legitimate daughter, he now has some reliance. The child has indeed suffered a lot. I initially thought marrying into the Royal family would bring him a better life, but who would have thought he and the Fifth had such a tense relationship over those years? I feared it might ruin his life. But it seems he is fortunate, having borne a legitimate daughter. I am relieved.”

”It’s his fortune to have your concern, Mr. Xiao.”

Mo Qing promptly praised.

Xu Xianjun then said, ”Prepare some necessities and send them to the Fifth family, telling them to take good care. If anything is needed and not available in the mansion, they should send someone to me.”

When Anning returned to the mansion, another batch of rewards had been sent from the palace, and additionally, her sisters’ mansions all sent items.

Anning, holding the medicinal herbs, went directly into the main room.

When she entered, Xiao Yuanzheng had someone carry Third Miss to the side to watch.

He found it quite fascinating that this girl was the one he himself had carried for ten months. It was indeed a novel experience.

He poked Third Miss’s face with his finger and pinched her little hands and feet.

The nanny nearby was terrified, ”Lord, Third Miss is still small, you...”

When Anning came in, she heard this and saw Xiao Yuanzheng playing with her daughter, so she quickly put down the herbs and went over to hold the child, ”Oh my, my Third Miss, let me see.”

Indeed, in the womb, Third Miss was well-nourished, born fair and plump, with hair black and soft, appearing very lovable.

She furrowed her brows as Xiao Yuan poked her, seemingly about to cry.

Anning gently coaxed, ”Don’t cry, let’s not mind your daddy.”

Xiao Yuan smiled, ”Don’t hold her too often, or she’ll get used to it, and later she’ll always want to be held.”

Anning handed Third Miss to the nanny, ”What’s the worry, it’s not like we don’t have servants around. Just have a few more beside Third Miss, no problem.”

She sat beside Xiao Yuan.

All the servants in the room, seeing she had something to say to Xiao Yuan, promptly excused themselves.

Anning squeezed Xiao Yuan’s hand, ”Feeling better now?”

Xiao Yuan nodded, ”A bit better, just wishing I could bathe.”

”Hold on for a few days. When it’s night and no one’s around, I’ll bathe you, lest others make a fuss seeing it and it spreads out.”

Anning got up and brought the herbs over, ”These are for you, prepare them and nourish yourself.”

Xiao Yuan put the medicine away and talked with Anning about the upcoming bath ceremony for the third day.

He spoke softly, ”I’m in confinement, and someone must oversee the bath ceremony. I don’t want your secondary prince consorts involved, to prevent them from becoming too ambitious.”

Anning patted his hand, ”Rest assured, I’ll find someone to handle it. I’ve thought it over. For now, let my nanny, Qin Zhong, handle everything. Didn’t he oversee things when we first built the mansion after leaving the palace?”

Xiao Yuan was familiar with the man and laughed upon hearing this, ”Let him handle it then.”

As they were talking, a small servant with red eyes rushed in, ”Master, Miss is running a high fever and can’t eat a thing. The secondary prince consort wishes for you to have a look.”

Anning shot to her feet, ”Someone, come here.”

Two sturdier servants ran in.

Anning pointed at the small servant, ”Take him away and give him twenty strokes.”

The small servant was terrified and quickly knelt, ”Master, spare me, Master, spare me. It’s just that Miss is gravely ill...”

Anning sneered, ”No matter how severe Miss’s illness is, do you think you can just burst into the Lord’s chamber without announcing yourself? Is it justifiable? Does my Imperial Princess Mansion contain such unruly servants? If all behaved like you, how could my Lord and I continue living peacefully?”

She barked, ”Hurry and take him away, lest he soil the Lord’s floor.”

The two servants, scared, quickly dragged the small servant out.

Anning instructed, ”Take him out of the main courtyard and give him a thorough beating in front of Songtao Court.”

Songtao Court, of course, was where Wang Cejun resided. Beating a servant there was a big slap in his face, a direct warning from Anning to stay in line.

After a moment, Anning called out, ”Ru Yi, go to Wang Cejun and let him know it’s my command. If Miss is ill, the Imperial Physician should be called first. Also, have him properly tidy up his courtyard and not tolerate any kind of servant.”

Turning back around, Anning found Xiao Yuan already lying down.

Anning hastily went over and softly asked, ”What’s wrong, somewhere uncomfortable?”

Xiao Yuan remained silent with his eyes closed.

Anning tucked him in, ”Are you jealous? I don’t want to be like this either, but it’s a situation created by the former self. I can’t just dismiss all the former host’s husband servants upon my arrival. This is the Imperial Princess Mansion, if they were all driven out by me, where would they survive? One mustn’t commit such sins, right? Besides, didn’t you have many wives and concubines before as well? I followed you then and didn’t get all worked up like this.”

Well said.

Xiao Yuan found it impossible to be jealous anymore.

He opened his eyes, ”I understand, just that it still feels a bit uncomfortable.”