The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 959: Chapter 936: Prestige Amidst Chaos 4

Xiao Yuan lay on the bed, the curtain was lifted, and the room had faint moonlight spilling onto the floor.

Anning could see the outline of Xiao Yuan’s features and also the thing he was holding.

”I bought it at a stall outside.”

Xiao Yuan put a Water Flowing Silver ring on Anning’s finger, and another on his own. The size wasn’t quite right, so he adjusted it before wearing it properly.

Anning smiled, ”I was just thinking about how to stash some things, and with this thing, it’s saved a lot of trouble.”

Xiao Yuan whispered, ”I bought talisman paper and cinnabar. Tomorrow, let’s find a way to expand a stationary space inside the rings.”

”Mm.”

Anning nodded.

Water Flowing Silver can carry space, but it can’t expand too large, at most a few cubic meters. Still, a few cubic meters is enough to store some necessary items, along with some gold and silver. No matter where you go, gold and silver are hard currency. With gold or silver, you can find ways to buy other things.

Xiao Yuan and Anning discussed for a while, then neither of them slept but got up to start cultivating in separate corners.

To create a space inside the ring, at the very least, they need to introduce energy into their bodies.

Fortunately, there is still some Spiritual Energy in this world, and the world rules do not overly suppress cultivation activities. Although achieving high cultivation is not possible, introducing energy into the body can be done.

By the time dawn arrived, both Anning and Xiao Yuan successfully introduced energy into their bodies.

A layer of black dirt-like substance came out on both of their bodies.

Anning wasn’t willing to call the maid to prepare water or anything, so she and Xiao Yuan cleaned each other using the Cleaning Technique.

Imperial Palace

In Yonghe Palace, Noble Consort Li sat at the dressing table, grooming herself as she asked her nanny attendant, ”Are there any updates from Duke Ping Mansion?”

The nanny nodded with a serious face, ”Our people sent word. They’ve found evidence of contact between Duke Ping and the deposed Crown Prince.”

Noble Consort Li smiled faintly, ”That’s good. Have our people submit a secret memorial to Your Majesty to inform him about this matter.”

The nanny acknowledged and stepped out.

Noble Consort Li stood up, donned a light water-red gauze robe, and walked outside with her hair elegantly styled.

The weather was pleasant today, neither too cold nor too hot, and Noble Consort Li wanted to take a walk in the imperial garden.

As she walked, she pondered about the Duke Ping Mansion affair.

She had been planning this for a long time.

This time, she planned to have everyone from Duke Ping Mansion exiled, so they can no longer stay in the capital. She aimed to have the whole Duke Ping Mansion, regardless of gender or age, exiled to Southern Yi where they would never return to the capital for life, allowing her peace of mind.

If not for Duke Ping’s grandfather having performed a great service by saving Emperor Wenzong’s life in the past, and for the current Emperor treating Duke Ping Mansion well and being unwilling to easily exterminate them, Noble Consort Li desired to completely wipe out Duke Ping Mansion, with everyone executed.

Moreover, there is another matter about which others are unaware, but Noble Consort Li knows well.

The current Emperor harbors feelings for someone, his white moonlight, who is Duke Ping’s younger sister.

Even though Noble Consort Li doesn’t know how the current Emperor became acquainted with Duke Ping’s younger sister, she knows that she previously helped the Emperor when he was merely a regular Royal Family member and encountered difficulty, saving him. Since then, he has held her in his heart.

Unfortunately, the girl didn’t have a good fate and died from an epidemic at sixteen.

Though she is gone, the Emperor hasn’t forgotten her over the years.

Because of this alone, the Emperor wouldn’t kill Duke Ping Mansion’s people outright, at most exile them.

Noble Consort Li considered all this as she entered the imperial garden.

If all the people of Duke Ping Mansion were sent to Southern Yi without a chance to return to the capital, the current Emperor wouldn’t meet Duke Ping’s sister again, nor would he have a reason for true love to dismiss the expenses of the harem.

She would be secure in her position as the Noble Consort.

Not knowing which girl from Duke Ping Mansion would become the Emperor’s true love, she decided to take precautionary measures by removing everyone from Duke Ping Mansion first to plan further.

After breakfast, Anning and Xiao Yuan hid in their room.

Outwardly, they said Xiao Yuan wasn’t healed enough to meet the wind.

In reality, they were expanding the space inside the rings.

It took them about a day to create a space of about ten cubic meters inside each of the rings.

Limited by the materials, they could only make the space this large, any bigger could ruin the ring.

With the space created and stabilized, they began placing items inside.

Anning placed all her jewelry and Silver Tael into the space, along with some bedding and clothes.

Xiao Yuan also placed some clothes, while discreetly stocking a change of clothes for the children.

Besides clothes, Xiao Yuan’s space contained snacks, dry food, and meat products which could endure time and stave off hunger.

Having stocked the items, Anning and Xiao Yuan settled in to await the home’s confiscation and exile.

That night at dinner, Cuiyu came to serve, but Xiao Yuan didn’t raise an eyelid, ”Nothing is needed here, you may leave.”

Cuiyu looked at Xiao Yuan with an aggrieved expression, but he ignored her, and she unwillingly withdrew.

Xiao Yin watched Cuiyu’s departing figure, silently alert.

That night, once everyone in the mansion was asleep, Anning and Xiao Yuan quietly went to the kitchen, taking some food, while Xiao Yuan went to the treasury to gather some small but valuable items into the space.

He also packed a considerable amount of gold leaves, bars, and bricks.

Gold is more potent than silver in purchasing power, and it doesn’t take up much space, allowing Xiao Yuan to fill a box with gold, along with some gemstones and jade.

Anning gathered small, unobtrusive jewelry.

Just these were insufficient; Anning and Xiao Yuan planned to create a valuable item that could openly be exchanged for money.

As Xiao Yuan was about to sleep in the evening, he said to Anning, ”Don’t worry about it, I’ll find a way.”

The next day, he woke up early and went out to find a block of wood, crafting several miniature memorial tablets himself.

The memorial tablets were hollow inside, each filled with gold.

They were tablets for Duke Ping ancestors and Xiao Yuan’s departed younger sister.

Once finished, Xiao Yuan secretly placed them inside the room.

That day, the Old Madam was in good spirits, and the peonies in the mansion’s rear garden were blooming beautifully, prompting the Old Madam to invite female relatives for a gathering with wine and entertainment in the garden.

Neither the troupe nor the feast had arrived when cries and hurried footsteps were heard from the front.

Anning knew the moment had come.

Without minding others’ reactions, she swiftly ran toward the Old Madam’s quarters.

The Old Madam, being elderly, moved slowly and would take a considerable time to reach Leshou Courtyard, which was exactly the window Anning needed.

When Anning arrived, the young maid in charge was elsewhere, leaving the quarters empty.

Anning immediately went for the Old Madam’s private treasury.

Once inside, she opened several boxes, collecting the jewelry inside the space, and opened a chest containing gold, of which she took a part.

She also gathered some useful items from the Old Madam’s room.

After collecting, Anning heard someone approaching, quickly slipped out through the window, and headed to the kitchen instead of finding others.

Due to the wine feast, the kitchen was busy preparing various foods, including dried fruits, snacks, and fresh vegetables, and fruits.

Anning quietly entered, gathering a good amount of snacks, meat, and fruits when no one was watching.

Shortly after, she heard a shout, ”Duke Ping Mansion’s female relatives must not run around. Gather at Leshou Courtyard; all maids to the front yard.”

Anning knew then the confiscation had begun.

She hurried over to Yuanxiang Courtyard.

In Yuanxiang Courtyard, Xiao Ying was leading younger siblings in the yard, their faces filled with fear.

Upon seeing Anning, the children seemed to find their anchor.