The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 849: Chapter 828: Struggle for the Throne 10 (February Monthly Ticket Bonus)

During the New Year’s Eve Banquet, as soon as Xiao Yuan sat down, he quietly told Anning about the Eighth Prince.

Anning was taken aback and turned to look at Xu Xianjun.

Xu Xianjun had applied thick powder on his face, and the rouge was quite heavy, likely used to cover his complexion.

He still carried the gentle smile he usually did, appearing very calm and peaceful.

Anning briefly held Xiao Yuan’s hand: ”I know about this matter, don’t worry.”

When Emperor Feng Jing arrived, everyone rose to pay their respects. Emperor Feng Jing, with a smile on his face, sat down and announced a general relaxation.

Everyone took their seats, and Emperor Feng Jing raised his cup in a toast to heaven and earth.

Every year’s palace banquet is the same, the procedures are generally similar, so Anning and Xiao Yuan were not surprised at all. After Emperor Feng Jing spoke a few words, the palace banquet officially began. Anning whispered to Xiao Yuan: ”It’s snowing outside.”

Xiao Yuan responded with a hum, looking at the cold dishes on the table in front of him, some of them had a white greasy layer, he just couldn’t eat.

”Father gave some dried meat, would you like some?”

Xiao Yuan asked Anning. Anning shook her head: ”You eat it.”

She saw a strand of Xiao Yuan’s hair come loose and raised her hand to tuck it behind his ear.

Sitting directly across from Anning, the Sixth Imperial Princess saw this scene and smiled at Anning, who returned the smile.

They waited until the palace banquet ended, and by then a thick layer of snow had fallen outside. As they left Tianyuan Hall, Anning supported Xiao Yuan: ”The road is slippery, be careful.”

The Sixth Imperial Princess’s Lord, Ms. Ping, saw Anning and Xiao Yuan walking ahead, gave a loud cough, and exchanged looks with the Sixth Imperial Princess.

The Sixth Imperial Princess pretended not to see, while Ms. Ping grumbled, ”Don’t come begging me later.”

Following behind were the Seventh Princess and Lord Shi. Lord Shi looked somewhat enviously at Xiao Yuan’s back: ”Fifth Brother-in-law is truly good to Fifth Sister.”

The Seventh Princess concealed a hint of coldness in her eyes, the corner of her mouth curled up in a gentle smile: ”Let me support you a bit.”

Ping Zhengjun witnessed this and stomped hard on the Sixth Imperial Princess’s foot.

The Sixth Imperial Princess cried out in pain, clutching her foot, while Ping Zhengjun sneered: ”What’s wrong? Can’t be careful walking anymore, bump into something? You say you’re not even as good as me, a grown woman can’t walk properly, wouldn’t people say you’re just like a man?”

The Sixth Imperial Princess was furious, glaring fiercely at Ping Zhengjun.

Ping Zhengjun snorted coldly, lifted her head, and walked forward with her chest out.

The Sixth Imperial Princess gritted her teeth and muttered, ”Why don’t you fall to your death.”

Anning helped Xiao Yuan onto the carriage, glancing back to see the Princesses and Lords also boarding their respective carriages.

Once inside the carriage, Anning was handed a hand warmer, while Xiao Yuan sat wrapped in a large cloak, holding a small hand warmer, with a thick blanket on his lap.

Anning took the blanket and sat next to Xiao Yuan, draping it over both their legs.

The two chatted intermittently, arriving home quickly.

After entering the house, Xiao Yuan busied himself having two large bowls of beef noodles cooked and brought over.

The white noodles were pulled thin, topped with a large spoonful of stewed beef cubes and chili, just the sight was enticingly fragrant.

Each of them ate a large bowl of beef noodles with gusto.

Having finished the noodles, they kept watch until midnight, listening to fireworks outside before going to sleep.

After sleeping for only a few hours, it was dawn, and they had to quickly get up and dress in formal court attire to enter the palace for the ceremonial rituals.

The first day of the Lunar New Year passed thusly, and on the second day, it was time to visit relatives and friends, lasting till the fifteenth, usually spent visiting kin and friends.

On the second day, Anning and Xiao Yuan went to visit the Princess Manor.

By the third day, they were supposed to go to the Third Princess Manor, but Anning went to the palace instead.

She went to Fengji Palace, upon entering she kowtowed to Emperor Feng Jing: ”Mother Emperor, your child has heard that the Eighth Brother is critically ill, asking Mother Emperor to summon the Eighth Brother to the capital for treatment.”

Even during New Year, Emperor Feng Jing couldn’t find peace, reading a book when suddenly hearing Anning’s request, was taken aback.

”Do you know what it means to summon Ashuo back? What issues the envoy might face heading to the Di Clan? How they will perceive our Da Qi Dynasty? How will they perceive me? Since the founding of Da Qi Dynasty, countless Royal Princes have been sent to marry at the border, many died abroad, and couldn’t return to the capital in death, Ashuo is not alone; the number of princes who died due to diplomatic marriages is countless.”

Anning looked up at Emperor Feng Jing: ”Mother Emperor, your child is willing to be the envoy, to personally go to the Di Clan and bring the Eighth Brother back, asking Father Emperor to agree.”

Emperor Feng Jing’s face darkened: ”No need to say more, withdraw.”

”Mother Emperor.”

Anning wished to say more, but Emperor Feng Jing summoned guards: ”Escort the Fifth Royal Princess out.”

Anning was taken out by two guards, she gritted her teeth, and kneeled directly in the snowy courtyard: ”Mother Emperor, your child is willing to be the envoy to bring the Eighth Brother back.”

Emperor Feng Jing sat in the hall, listening to Anning’s loud pleas, her expression grew increasingly grim.

She took a deep breath, holding the book up to read, ignoring Anning’s requests.

More than two hours later, Emperor Feng Jing said to Yu Ling: ”Go see how the Fifth Royal Princess is doing?”

Yu Ling returned looking anxious: ”Your Majesty, the Fifth Royal Princess is still kneeling outside, snow has fallen heavily, the Fifth Royal Princess is nearly a snow figure now.”

Emperor Feng Jing’s hand trembled slightly as she held the book: ”Let her be.”

Luange Palace

Xu Xianjun stumbled, almost falling, Mo Qing hurried to support him: ”Master, should I go persuade the Fifth Royal Princess?”

Xu Xianjun waved: ”Don’t go, don’t go, I must pretend not to know.”

He gestured for Mo Qing to leave.

With only him left in the room, tears poured from Xu Xianjun’s eyes.

When the Eighth Prince went to marry, he cried hard in private, at the farewell he dared not cry, could only keep a smile.

Now the Eighth Prince is uncertain between life and death, and the Fifth Royal Princess kneels in the snow pleading with His Majesty to bring the Eighth Prince back to the capital, but she’s unlikely to succeed.

He’s not afraid of anything else, but only afraid the Fifth Royal Princess might get frostbitten or harm her knees.

In such cold weather, the ground is lined with bluestone slabs, kneeling even briefly, the chill would freeze through the body, after more than two hours, the Fifth Royal Princess is likely almost frozen into an ice block.

Outside, the snow kept falling heavily, Xu Xianjun sat on the bed wiping tears, telling himself to hurry and cry it out, once emptied no more would flow.

At such times, he could only hide, he couldn’t go to Fengji Palace, couldn’t persuade the Fifth Royal Princess, couldn’t help plead for her.

If he intervened, it would only worsen matters, infuriating His Majesty further.

Soon, news of Anning’s plea to Emperor Feng Jing for the Eighth Prince to return to the capital spread beyond the palace.

The ministers’ homes received the news, and the princesses’ mansions got the news even earlier.

The Eleventh Imperial Princess was together with the Seventh Princess and the Tenth Princess, listening to a performance.

On stage, the play ”Blossoms of a Perfect Moon” was being performed, the Eleventh Imperial Princess sipped her wine, when the Seventh Princess’s attendant came with news of the incident.

The Seventh Princess downed a cup of wine: ”Eleventh Sister, aren’t you going to the palace to take a look?”

The Eleventh Imperial Princess chuckled: ”What is there to see? With Fifth Sister there, it’s fine, isn’t she trying to show off, then let her kneel, I want to see how long she can last. I bet she won’t just fail to bring Eighth Sister back, she’ll also end up in our mother emperor’s bad graces.”

The Twelfth Princess raised a cup to the Eleventh Imperial Princess: ”However they are your older sister, aren’t you worried?”

”When has she ever worried about me?”

The Eleventh Imperial Princess laughed scornfully: ”I’m her true sister, yet she treats Twelve Sister better than me, always with that sulking face, as if I owe her money I refuse to pay. I’m just tired of seeing her.”