The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 998: Chapter 975: Prestige in Chaotic Times 43

Snowflakes began to drift from the sky again, and there were corpses lying by the roadside. It wouldn’t take long before the pure white snow would cover them.

The carriage of Marquis Guangning’s Mansion passed on the road, leaving black wheel marks behind.

As the carriage moved forward, a group of refugees surrounded the convoy.

Their eyes shone greedily as they looked at the seemingly simple yet sturdy carriages.

”Boss, there are women in these carriages too. Let’s kill the men and keep the women...”

The refugees, filthy and reeking, spoke of murder and robbery as soon as they opened their mouths.

The female relatives of Marquis Guangning’s Mansion huddled inside the carriage, too afraid to move, especially the young ladies, who curled up tightly in the corners.

The men were furious yet sorrowful.

There were too many refugees, and even if they fought to the death, it might not be enough. Before long, they could all be killed, and the women might be dead or ravished by these rioters...

Thinking of this, Marquis Guangning looked up at the sky, tears glistening faintly in his eyes.

He did not utter the kind of words that suggested the women should commit suicide if the men in the family died, for Marquis Guangning was not that kind of stubborn person. He wouldn’t think chastity was more important than life.

But he also did not tell the women to live well.

Sometimes, living was more painful than dying.

”The heavens are going to destroy my Marquis Guangning’s Mansion.”

Marquis Guangning thought of his eldest daughter, who ended miserably inside the palace, and his youngest daughter, who was yet to be married, and his old tears flowed freely.

Miss Yuan, huddled inside the carriage, had quietly grasped a hairpin.

She thought, if things went wrong, she would use the hairpin to take her own life, preferring death to losing her honor.

The refugees, holding sticks and some stolen weapons, rushed forward, while the men of Marquis Guangning’s Mansion also held their knives in readiness.

The snow fell even heavier.

Several refugees approached and surrounded the eldest son of Marquis Guangning, while others were about to clamber onto the carriages to drag the women out, and yet others considered how to steal the horses.

At that moment, a sound of horse hooves was heard from a distance, and a young man of about eighteen or nineteen rode swiftly on a chestnut horse through the white snow.

He wore black clothes with a thick red cloak flaring behind him as he ran, making him a sight to behold.

The youth approached on horseback, and with the long knife in his hand, he had already cut down several refugees.

”Is this Marquis Guangning’s convoy?”

He asked loudly.

Marquis Guangning came to his senses, stepped forward a few steps, and cupped his hands in salute: ”Indeed, and may I ask who you are, brave man...”

”Sixth Uncle, wait for us.”

Three boys, about ten years old, each on horseback caught up, followed by a man in his twenties and a group of strong men on horseback.

The three boys arrived, and the leading boy drew his knife from his waist and, with a casual throw, stabbed a refugee who had just climbed onto a carriage right through.

He deftly jumped off his horse, pulled his knife back, turned, and with another swift move, cut down another refugee.

The boy’s gaze was sharp, his expression steady; truly young in age, yet he seemed very reliable.

He held his knife at his side and bent slightly to salute before Marquis Guangning: ”Greetings, Uncle, the youngest here is Xiao.”

Upon hearing the surname Xiao, Marquis Guangning realized who this was.

The first youth who arrived also dismounted by this time and was already fighting alongside the refugees.

The group of people the youth brought carried a killing aura and had already slain many refugees. The once white snow on the ground was now stained red.

”Are you the boy from the third branch?”

Marquis Guangning carefully sized up the ten-year-old boy, and after a while, he remembered who this was.

Xiao Ying smiled: ”It is indeed I, Uncle, please rest for now while I take care of these refugees for you.”

Before his words fell completely, he had already taken the other two boys to fight the robbers again.

Only then did Marquis Guangning feel relieved.

The Xiaos, he didn’t expect that at his time of trouble, it was the Xiao Family who came to their rescue.

Very soon, Xiao Ying, along with his people, either killed or drove away the refugees.

And over there, Xiao Jin was already reminiscing with Marquis Guangning.

He was smiling as he spoke: ”Not far from here, there is a small town with an inn. Why don’t we go there to rest a bit first?”

Marquis Guangning naturally had no objections.

So, both families hurried to the small town before nightfall, taking over the whole inn.

Once settled in and freshened up, Marquis Guangning had the waiter arrange a few tables to thank the Xiaos.

Marquis Guangning, Xiao Jin, Xiao Ling, and Xiao Ying, along with his sons, sat at one table.

During the meal, Xiao Jin laughed: ”Fortunately, we made it in time; otherwise, perhaps... When my third brother heard about your mansion’s situation and feared you might encounter trouble on the road, he ordered us to come and meet you. Thank heavens...”

Xiao Ying didn’t drink alcohol but drank hot tea: ”Uncle might not know, when our family went to Southern Yi, it wasn’t peaceful either. At the time, there were droughts and locust plagues, and later epidemics; we were on tenterhooks the whole way.”

Marquis Guangning thought of the things encountered on their journey and couldn’t help but sigh deeply: ”This world, truly leaves one at a loss on how to go on living.”

Xiao Yuan entrusted household matters to Anning and had the teaching tasks handed over to him as well, then took people to the coast.

It was many days after Xiao Yuan left, and by the time he returned, it was already the twenty-somethingth of the twelfth lunar month, almost the new year.

He returned with a trail of dust, his entrance bringing a chill with him.

Xiao Fu quickly stood up to help Xiao Yuan take off his cloak, while Xiao Yin promptly handed him a steaming bowl of ginger soup.

Xiao Hui then said, ”I’ll go and cook for Dad.”

Xiao Yuan smiled, sat comfortably in the armchair, and reclined lazily: ”Home is still the most comfortable.”

Anning chuckled, casually laying a blanket over him: ”Warm yourself up for a bit first.”

Xiao Yuan laughed, glancing around at the girls in the room: ”After all, raising daughters is good. The more you raise them, the more considerate they become, caring for their father.”

Xiao Yi smiled with her lips pursed and handed a handful of dried fruits to Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan took them and enjoyed them, while Xiao Yun thoughtfully moved a small wooden basket to his side, allowing him to easily discard the nutshells.

Xiao Yuan felt completely relaxed, an unprecedented comfort, as he munched on the dried fruits while directing Xiao Fu and the others: ”Fufu, massage Dad’s shoulders, Yin’er, rub my legs, ah, my arms are a bit sore.”

Anning teased him with feigned annoyance: ”You’re such a card.”

The four lively daughters circled around Xiao Yuan, tending to him meticulously.

Xiao Yuan smiled with satisfaction: ”I have five daughters attending to me; isn’t that wonderful? I can’t imagine how many people will envy me in the future.”

”Alright, alright, look at you enjoying with your five daughters.”

Anning placed the ready clothes and hats on the bed: ”I’ll go check on Huihui.”

Before she could leave, Xiao Hui came in with a big bowl of rice noodles.

The rice noodles were made with a rich chicken soup base, with a large chicken leg inside, along with some tofu skin and some greens, looking colorful and smelling fragrant and appetizing.

Xiao Yuan was indeed hungry, as he took the rice noodles and began eating heartily.

”There’s still chicken soup in the pot, Dad, eat slowly. If it’s not enough, I’ll cook another bowl.”

Xiao Hui smiled and placed a glass of warm water where Xiao Yuan could easily reach it, allowing him to rinse his mouth after the meal.

”One bowl is enough.”

Xiao Yuan looked up and said: ”In a while, you should bring over your assignments for me to see, especially Hui’er and Yin’er.”

The five girls went to their rooms to get their assignments, and as soon as Xiao Yuan finished his meal, he began to guide them one by one.