The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 1038: Chapter 1015: Prestige in Chaotic Times 83

Xiao Yuan slapped the table: ”Qing’er, go see who’s wailing here, what’s this ominous tune they’re singing? Go take a look, and if she insists on singing, then have her sing something joyful, like ’Carrying the Bridal Sedan’ or something.”

Xiao Qing received the order and left. In no time, the sound vanished without a trace.

Mr. Zhang couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of his mouth, feeling helpless about Xiao Yuan’s lack of romantic sensibility.

When Xiao Qing returned, he was in a hurry: ”Dad, you should go back quickly, my mother... my mother...”

Xiao Yuan sprang up: ”What’s happened to Lady?”

”You should go see for yourself.”

Xiao Yuan immediately started walking out, but after a few steps, he turned back to Xiao Qing and Xiao Yang and said: ”You two stay here and entertain Mr. Zhang for me.”

After a few more steps, he turned back again: ”Qing’er, give me some broken silver.”

Xiao Qing hugged his wallet: ”No way, Dad always borrows money from me but never pays it back.”

Xiao Yuan touched his nose helplessly.

Mr. Zhang smiled and took out two Silver Ingots, handing them over: ”Third Young Master probably left in a rush and finds himself short-handed.”

Xiao Yuan accepted the silver without saying anything further and left hurriedly, disappearing in an instant.

As soon as he left, Xiao Qing and Xiao Yang surrounded Mr. Zhang.

The two brothers put their arms around Mr. Zhang’s shoulders: ”Mr. Zhang, where shall we go for some fun later? Oh, I’ve heard there’s a new circus troupe in town, shall we go and have a look?”

”No circus, then shall we check out Yingchun House?”

”How about we go listen to some storytelling?”

”No, no, it’s better to take a spin to the gambling house.”

Mr. Zhang was overwhelmed by the incessant chatter from the brothers and regretted approaching Xiao Yuan today, accomplishing nothing but building up frustration.

Xiao Yuan left the tavern and hired a sedan to return to the Marquis Zhenan Mansion.

As soon as he entered, he saw Anning escorting Hui Family out, and he nodded to the Hui Family and went into the study.

Anning returned to the study after sending off the Hui Family.

”Whenever you’re free, have a word with the fourth brother.”

Anning spoke to Xiao Yuan as soon as he entered.

Xiao Yuan was briefly puzzled: ”What’s going on?”

Anning said in exasperation: ”Fourth brother has been absent-minded these days. Fourth sister-in-law told me that it seems he has taken a fancy to some girl and wants to bring her back to the mansion as a concubine.”

Xiao Yuan frowned: ”Why would he have such a thought? He once told me he wanted to live well with the Hui Family and said he wouldn’t take a concubine.”

”He said he wouldn’t, probably because he hadn’t met the right one.”

Anning chuckled: ”Maybe such a pleasant one has cropped up now, prompting him to change his mind. It’s just that, by doing this, he’d hurt the fourth sister-in-law, who has had a tough time with him. You say he’s wreaking havoc on his good life, one day when fourth sister-in-law truly grows cold-hearted, he’ll regret it. Just like the fifth sister-in-law, who even changed her surname to get away from the fifth brother. You see, she left with the child like this, and do you think the fifth brother doesn’t regret it? If he truly didn’t, how come he drank himself into a stupor every day during the time before Old Madam passed away?”

Xiao Yuan asked Anning to sit down, holding her hand: ”I suspect someone might be deliberately setting a honey trap. Just today, when I went out, someone tried to send me a woman too.”

Anning gave Xiao Yuan a sly smile: ”Well? Was this girl they sent beautiful, young perhaps, making me look like an old cabbage?”

Xiao Yuan was eager to survive: ”Beautiful or not, I honestly don’t know. I didn’t even give her a glance. With a Heavenly Immortal beauty like you with me, how can I spare a glance for another woman? Absolutely impossible! Besides, after seeing you, any other woman in my eyes is just terribly unsightly.”

Anning pinched Xiao Yuan: ”All right, you passed the test.”

Xiao Yuan pulled Anning onto his lap to sit, one hand around her and the other holding a map to look at.

Anning leaned in to see as well.

”What are you looking at?”

”Looking at the Jiangnan situation, to see where those noble families are distributed.”

Anning eyed the map thoughtfully for a moment: ”Is it about the Zhang Family’s matter?”

Xiao Yuan nodded: ”The Zhang Family wants to cooperate with us, facilitating our quick takeover of Jiangnan. However, they have conditions, wishing to be like local kings overseeing a region in Jiangnan and establishing a nation within a nation.”

”Aren’t they bold, daring to impose conditions on you, Mr. Xiao? Are they tired of living, or what?”

Anning smirked sarcastically: ”However, this matter isn’t easily dismissed. If handled well, it could be a boost to us.”

Xiao Yuan slapped the map: ”Am I the kind of person who’s double-dealing? I won’t play these manipulative tricks. Tch, those people from Da Qi have had it too good for too long, all fat and lazy like pigs, and now they even dare to discuss cooperation with me, trying to set a honey trap. They’re truly sick of living.”

Anning laughed too: ”The Zhang Family probably doesn’t know that several places in Jiangnan consume the salt our Southern Yi provide, and without us shipping large batches, many Jiangnan salt merchants have already suffered losses. Still, the salt prices have been somewhat stabilized. If we dispatch ships from Tiger Island port and transport salt to Jiangnan via sea routes in large quantities, it would definitely impact the Jiangnan market, causing holes in Daqi Dynasty’s coffers. However, we don’t currently have the hands to spare for that.”

Xiao Yuan held Anning a bit tighter: ”The Zhang Family is really short-sighted and increasingly declining, not even knowing these connections before daring to strike a deal with us.”

Suddenly, Anning shivered slightly.

Xiao Yuan quickly encircled her waist: ”What happened?”

Anning waited a moment before speaking: ”An Xin sent me some Qi Fortune. This Noble Consort Li must have gone mad, recklessly siphoning the dynasty’s Qi Fortune. Isn’t she afraid of retribution...”

”Just hold onto it,”

Xiao Yuan replied: ”It seems that we need to speed up our preparations for next spring.”

Yangzhou

The Mei Family has finally set off.

After days of discussions with his family, Mei Boqing finally decided to set out for the Southern Yi.

Moving so many people naturally requires preparation, and their residence needed to be entrusted to someone for sale. Many things at home had to be packed, which would take quite some time.

Moreover, Mei Boqing was taking a disciple to the Southern Yi.

This disciple lost both parents and had no other relatives, and he was able to continue his studies only under the patronage of Mei Boqing.

This disciple’s name was Zhang He, a clever person with a talent for studying. Most crucially, he wasn’t purely academic; in addition to the Four Books and Five Classics, he also excelled in mathematics and liked to make small objects. In summary, he was a well-rounded talent.

Having no attachments, Zhang He naturally left with Mei Boqing when he relocated.

By the time they set off, it was late autumn, and as they traveled south, they initially felt cold, but the further south they went, the more they felt the warmth of the weather.

Throughout the journey, Su Yu kept seeking opportunities to get close to Xiao Song, frequently inquiring about matters concerning the Marquis Zhenan Mansion.

As Xiao Song was quite young and trusted Mei Boqing, he didn’t suspect Su Yu, only thinking she was anxious about adjusting to the Southern Yi lifestyle. Hence, he earnestly told her about the Southern Yi’s local customs and traditions.

However, while Su Yu yearned to know about the Marquis Zhenan Mansion’s matters, Xiao Song spoke of the Southern Yi’s folk customs, leaving Su Yu frustrated and quite anxious.