The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 1004: Chapter 981: Honor Amidst Chaos 49

On the second day of the wedding, Xiao Ling brought his new bride to the third branch.

Both he and Yuan Family had smiles on their faces, indicating the wedding night went quite well.

As soon as they entered, Xiao Ling shouted: ”Third Sister-in-law, we’re here to greet you and Third Brother.”

Anning quickly smiled and greeted them: ”Alright, I know you’re here, come in quickly.”

Xiao Ling led Yuan Family inside, and Yuan Family was about to pay respects to Anning. Anning quickly stopped her: ”What’s the point of such courtesies? We’re family, no need for formalities, just sit down, and we’ll chat.”

After Yuan Family sat down, Xiao Ling wandered off to chat with Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan said to Xiao Ling: ”Later, take your wife to the small ancestral shrine in the backyard to pay respects to the ancestors. I’ll then add your wife to the family genealogy.”

”Alright.”

Xiao Ling was very pleased.

Xiao Yuan then discussed the plans to go to the seaside with Xiao Ling, and Xiao Ling said: ”I’ll go with Third Brother.”

”How is that possible?”

Xiao Yuan waved his hand: ”You just got married, right now is your honeymoon period, how could I take you with me?”

Xiao Ling chuckled: ”I’ve discussed with Yuan Family. Now I’ll definitely go with Third Brother and Fourth Brother. If I’m not home, Yuan Family can stay with her parents, and I’ll bring her back when I return.”

”Then you must discuss this properly with your father-in-law.”

Xiao Yuan thought if Xiao Ling went with him it wouldn’t be bad, all three of them would be away, leaving the Old Madam to her devices. But thinking of the upcoming earthquake, Xiao Yuan told Xiao Ling: ”Your Third Sister-in-law is planning to take the children to Prefecture City, ask your wife if she’d like to go with them. If she agrees, she can return home with your Third Sister-in-law.”

”Sure.”

Xiao Ling readily agreed.

After Xiao Ling and Yuan Family returned, he told her about this.

Yuan Family wanted to stay with her family for a few days, but she also knew their situation wasn’t great. Her family had just arrived in Southern Yi, and they spent most of their money on buying houses and land, with little left. She had many brothers, and their meals were already quite frugal. If she stayed with them, she feared her sister-in-law might have complaints.

”I’ll go with Third Sister-in-law.”

After thinking it over, Yuan Family decided to go to Prefecture City with Anning.

On the other side, Mrs. Zhao was coaxing the Old Madam: ”Mother, it’s not that we don’t want to take care of you, but you don’t understand, the Third Family’s status is quite significant now. When Lao Liu got married, several rich people from the county attended, even the county magistrate sent a gift. Was this for Lao Liu? Obviously, it was for the Third Family. The Third Brother loves to hide things; who knows what treasures he’s concealing. If you go there, you can help us find out. If you stay with them, we’ll have the chance to visit you, and at the very least, we’ll be obligated to pay daily respects. Then, we can gradually take things from the Third Family, and once there’s nothing left, you can come back...”

The Old Madam was evidently tempted.

The Eldest Family was struggling these days.

They were lazy, only spending without earning; even an endless supply of riches wouldn’t hold up to such wastefulness, let alone how much money could the Eldest have?

She thought of how Third Brother, though quiet, had amassed such wealth in Southern Yi, and felt a bit resentful. She was angry that he didn’t help his older brother, and even angrier at his lack of filial piety.

”Alright, tomorrow I’ll feign illness. When Third Brother comes, I’ll say I miss him and the children and want to stay with them for a while.”

The Old Madam nodded in agreement.

Mrs. Zhao beamed with joy.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yuan went to find Xiao Jin to discuss the family’s departure. Xiao Jin turned to Hui Family to quickly pack their belongings.

By late afternoon, Anning and Hui Family, taking the girls of the household, rode a carriage to the county.

On the way, they encountered someone from the village who asked where they were going. Anning said they had some business to attend to in Prefecture City, and a Madam there had invited them to visit.

Everyone in the village looked on with envy.

Once Anning and Hui Family left, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin went to the shipyard.

Anning and Hui Family arrived in the county, where they stayed at an inn for the night. The next day, after Xiao Ling and Yuan Family returned home, Xiao Ling sent Yuan Family to the county to meet up with Anning, and then went to find Xiao Yuan.

Once they met up with Yuan Family, Anning’s group continued on to Prefecture City.

Lai County wasn’t far from Prefecture City, just over a hundred miles. If the carriage moved quickly and departed before dawn, they could arrive before nightfall.

However, meeting up with Yuan Family caused a delay, and Anning’s group rested overnight on the road, arriving in Prefecture City just before noon the next day.

Prefecture City was evidently more prosperous than the county, but it didn’t hold much appeal for Anning and her group.

Upon reaching Prefecture City, Anning found a large inn and rented a courtyard for rest.

Afterward, Anning instructed Hui Family and Yuan Family to either rest at the inn or explore nearby with the children. Meanwhile, she went out early and returned late, attending to her affairs.

Yuan Family was curious about what Anning was doing, but seeing Hui Family ask no questions and pretending to see and hear nothing, she decided to stay silent as well.

Anning was naturally preparing to build momentum.

In Nanyi Prefecture City, there was a rumored descendant of a former royal lineage, a man about thirty years old, who had attempted the exams for years but never became a Scholar, eventually abandoning the pursuit.

He had some spare wealth and secretly hired many thugs, bribing some officials’ stewards and constables. In Prefecture City, he opened a brothel and a gambling house.

This man, named Yu Youcai, was ruthless and shrewd, and his thugs were reckless and fearless, making him a person few dared to provoke.

Furthermore, Yu Youcai had several exceptionally beautiful sisters, whom he sent off as concubines to notable families—from stewards of the government office to sub-prefects of other prefectures, down to the gentry of Prefecture City, all had Yu Family girls as concubines.

People jokingly called Yu Youcai the brother-in-law, and some referred to his family as the concubine house.

Yu Youcai wasn’t angry about this; instead, he felt quite pleased.

Over the years, Yu Youcai’s hands were stained with many lives, making him a notorious criminal.

Anning planned to use Yu Youcai as a tool for revenge.

One day, after Yu Youcai returned from a brothel, his wife approached to discuss something. However, they were interrupted by the hurried arrival of the house steward, who whispered in Yu Youcai’s ear: ”Master, something has happened at our house.”

”What is it?”

Yu Youcai thought to himself that he was practically the overlord of Prefecture City, what could possibly cause his steward such alarm?

”Didn’t you say yesterday you wanted to eat fish? Today, our cook bought several fresh fish, and while cleaning them, a piece of silk book was found in the fish’s belly.”

”What silk book? Let me see.”

Yu Youcai smiled: ”This is certainly an unusual thing.”

The steward handed the bloody silk book to Yu Youcai, who opened it and was immediately startled.

The silk book was small, the words on it were tiny, yet despite being inside a fish’s stomach, the writing was not blurred, but rather clearer.

It had eight characters: The dragon rises, the Yu family reigns.

The meaning was obvious, suggesting a major earthquake, and on the day of the earthquake, Yu Youcai was to proclaim himself king.

Yu Youcai recalled his father’s words about their ancestors belonging to the former royal family, having distant ties to the Emperor, and despite their fall from grace, they still had royal blood.

Thinking about this, coupled with the silk book, left Yu Youcai perturbed.

”Make sure the cook keeps his mouth shut, no one should hear any of this.”

Yu Youcai instructed before taking the silk book into his study alone.

He spread the silk book on the table, staring at it intently.

Gazing at it, Yu Youcai felt confused and soon fell asleep on the table.