The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 971: Chapter 948: Glory Amidst Chaos 16

In the following days, Xiao Yuan paid attention and noticed the loss of the Dynasty’s Destiny.

The original body of Xiao Yuan had met the late Emperor.

Xiao Yuan could still recall the late Emperor’s appearance from his memory, and he could deduce from the Emperor’s countenance that this Dynasty was supposed to have over three hundred years of national fortune. But now, after only a hundred years, there’s only ten years of fortune left - the Qi Fortune loss is too rapid.

At the same time, Xiao Yuan became more wary of that so-called system.

The next day when they set off, Anning drove the carriage first. Xiao Yuan did not sit inside the carriage but outside, talking to Anning.

”A Dynasty’s over two hundred years of Qi Fortune absolutely cannot be cheaply taken by the system.”

Xiao Yuan whispered to Anning, ”Let’s think of a way to retrieve the Qi Fortune.”

Anning nodded, ”Let’s wait and see, the system should have merely stored the Qi Fortune for now. It won’t immediately absorb it, and even if it does, I can make it spit it out. However, even if the Qi Fortune is returned, this Dynasty is bound to fall.”

Anning had encountered such situations before. She once faced a system that absorbed Qi Fortune; she captured the system and returned the Qi Fortune, but it was to no avail.

The people from whom the Qi Fortune was taken had long since declined, and even with Qi Fortune, they couldn’t absorb it. The Qi Fortune could only nourish their relatives or someone else.

This time, the Dynasty’s Destiny is similar.

The Daqi Dynasty has already lost its fortune, and Emperor Jingqing has little Dragon Energy left. His reign cannot last long, even if Anning crushes the system and returns the Qi Fortune. It can only nourish the new Dynasty.

Moreover, returning all the Qi Fortune at once is not beneficial for the entire Dynasty and can instead cause more hardship for the people on this land. Over two hundred years of Qi Fortune scattered all at once might be too much and might be better off being gradually dispersed in the future.

Anning’s intentions were understood by Xiao Yuan.

”Then let’s wait a little longer.”

After traveling for two more days straight, Xiao Yuan and his party found that the further they went, the more severe the drought became. Initially, there was some water in the small rivers they saw, but now the rivers had little water left and were often reduced to muddy riverbeds.

”What do we do if there’s no water?”

Even Xiao Ling was worried.

Anning ignored this. When she didn’t need to drive the carriage, she curled up in the carriage teaching Xiao Fu how to make masks.

Anning knew in her heart that during the fall of every Dynasty, various disasters would frequently occur.

The plague she anticipated might erupt soon, so she needed to prepare in advance.

While resting, Anning made masks, whereas Xiao Yuan was preparing medicine.

Along the way, they purchased a good amount of medicinal herbs. Whenever the carriage stopped, Xiao Yuan would gather herbs nearby and use them to make some preventive medication.

Although the Hui Family didn’t know what Anning was making, they knew that the couple from the third branch often had great foresight. Along the journey, they benefited significantly from being with the third branch, avoiding several disasters.

For example, the heavy rain, and when they were passing through the mountain road the other day, Anning warned there might be a landslide and they should hurry.

The group accelerated their pace through that section, and just after they passed, the mountain indeed slid, and rocks rolled down. If they were slower, they could have been crushed.

After that incident, the entire group listened carefully to Anning. When Anning said move, everyone hustled, and when she said stop, no one dared to move.

Consequently, when Anning made masks, the Hui Family helped as well.

Continuing onward, after about five or six more days, it still hadn’t rained. Some riverbeds cracked, and many commoners were heartbroken seeing their crops dry out in the fields.

Everyone felt heavy-hearted.

Xiao Ying and the others had always lived in the Duke Ping Mansion, enjoying a life of luxury, and they didn’t know the living conditions of ordinary people. During these days, they witnessed firsthand how difficult life was for the people.

They felt fortunate to have been born in the Duke Mansion, for even being demoted to commoners or exiled, their lives were better than average commoners.

Just when everyone thought they had passed through the disaster area, Anning woke everyone up just before dawn.

”Quickly move, there’s a big town about twenty miles ahead. We must reach it.”

Xiao Jin and others got up, ”What’s wrong?”

Anning looked terrible, ”A locust plague is coming fast. In the wild, we might get hurt. We need to find an inn and also stock up on grain and water before it arrives.”

”Quickly move.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yuan, Xiao Jin, and Xiao Ling’s faces turned grim.

The children had become very sensible after these days on the road.

Even the once-pampered Xiao Keke became very obedient. Despite the bumps on the road, she never complained.

The women quickly boarded the carriage, and the men began driving the carriage at a rapid pace.

Anning sat on the carriage guiding the way, with Xiao Yuan leading. They sped along and finally reached the town by daylight.

Upon entering the town, they quickly found a large inn.

Xiao Yuan stopped the carriage, jumped down, and called for the shopkeeper inside, ”Do you have any rooms available? Give us a few superior rooms and please prepare some food and water.”

The shopkeeper came out with a welcoming smile, ”Yes, we have superior rooms. There’s also a large courtyard in the backyard if you’d like to book it entirely.”

”Alright.”

Xiao Yuan tossed the shopkeeper some broken silver, ”We’ll book the courtyard for three days. This is the deposit.”

Anning also jumped down at this time, turned around, and helped Xiao Yin out of the carriage while Xiao Ying helped Xiao Fu down.

Once everyone was out of the carriage, Anning led the women and children with the waiter to the courtyard they had booked.

Xiao Yuan and the others drove the carriage into the inn and let the waiter take the horses to the stable to feed them.

After settling everything, Xiao Yuan went inside.

He said to Anning, ”You and the sisters-in-law should eat with the kids first, then get some water ready for baths. My brothers and I will go buy supplies.”

Anning nodded, ”Alright, you go ahead.”

After Xiao Yuan and the others left, Anning called over the Hui Family and asked the waiter to set the table.

Everyone sat down and quickly finished their meal with no time for small bites or savoring, then prepared water. Anning let the children bathe first, then she and Hui took their baths.

Everyone bathed quickly, not daring to waste time.

After bathing, Anning washed the dirty clothes in the bathwater, then rinsed them with clean water and hung them out to dry.

By this time, the sun was high, and it was very hot outside, so the clothes would dry quickly.

At this moment, Xiao Yuan and the others returned with supplies. Anning had saved some food for them. Once back, they were urged to eat immediately.

After eating, the three brothers took quick baths.

While Xiao Yuan was still soaking in the bathtub, he heard startled shouts, ”What’s that, why is there a dark mass? Oh no, it’s locusts, the locusts are here...”