The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 1040: Chapter 1017: Glory Amidst Chaos 85

Noble families were a major concern since the beginning of the Da Qi era.

Among the noble families, there’s a saying: ”No dynasty lasts a thousand years, but there are thousand-year-old noble families.”

Some of the noble families in the Da Qi Dynasty have indeed been passed down for hundreds of years, and are now deeply rooted, making it difficult to eliminate them.

But in Anning’s view, it’s not too difficult.

Since the time of Emperor Qi, efforts have been made to weaken the power of noble families and vigorously promote poor families. After so many years of effort, noble families have become much weaker.

But this is not enough; Anning seeks to eliminate the troubles of noble families once and for all.

After all, the system of Noble Princess Consort Li is currently frantically absorbing Qi Fortune, markedly shortening Da Qi’s demise.

Next spring’s heavy rains will be a sign.

Anning plans to swiftly reclaim all of Jiangnan after the floods in spring next year.

There are many noble families entrenched in Jiangnan; after reclaiming it, these noble families must be promptly uprooted.

The Zhang Family, lacking vision and having an inflated sense of self-worth, truly thinks Xiao Yuan needs to rely on their strength, so they rushed right in.

Since he took the lead, Anning doesn’t mind using the Zhang Family as a test subject, to see if her ideas are correct or not.

Xiao Yuan quickly understood Anning’s intentions.

”What do you want Lao Liu to do?”

Anning smiled and closed her eyes: ”It’s a secret.”

Alright.

Xiao Yuan knew Anning was ultimately angry and could only sleep dutifully.

Xiao Ling soon gathered the troops and went to Jiangnan with Xiao Ying.

They didn’t go with fanfare but discreetly took the sea route.

When they boarded the ship, the Zhang Family was still unaware and continued their activities in Southern Yi.

Anning sent away Xiao Ling and Xiao Ying first, and soon after, Hui Family came with red eyes.

”What happened?”

Seeing her, Anning hurriedly asked, ”Who provoked you? Sit down and have some tea before you speak.”

Hui Family sat down and, after a moment, said, ”Third Sister-in-law, I can’t live like this.”

”What happened?”

Anning asked with concern.

”It’s Xiao Lao. He hasn’t come home for several days,” Hui Family gritted her teeth: ”I don’t agree to him taking in a concubine, so he took that woman as a concubine, bought a house outside for her, and probably has been staying there these days. He even bought a group of servants for that woman. I had people inquire, and the servants are calling that woman Madam. What am I? I’ve been with Xiao Lao through thick and thin, bore him children, what am I?”

Hui Family was genuinely sorrowful.

She married Xiao Jin many years ago and has always been gentle and compliant, devoted to Xiao Jin and their children, believing she never did anything inappropriate.

But Xiao Jin?

He thought of taking another since then? If they really... if they really reach the Capital, Xiao Jin becomes a Prince, who knows what will happen then, he might bring in a whole mansion full of concubines to annoy me.

”What are you planning to do?”

Anning didn’t comfort Hui Family much, but asked about her thoughts.

Hui Family thought for a moment: ”Well, I’m not agreeing to it. That woman being a concubine is out of the question. If Xiao Lao has the ability, he can divorce me, openly bring that woman back. Then I’d submit to him. Otherwise, for the rest of his life, he isn’t allowed to have another woman besides me.”

In the previous days at Duke Ping Mansion, Hui Family wouldn’t dare say such things.

But now it’s different.

Hui Family, from Capital to Southern Yi, went through a lot, becoming much more assertive. The local customs in Southern Yi are also different from those in Capital, making Hui Family more bold.

”Third Sister-in-law, didn’t the fifth family establish a female household and now lives with Kai’er?”

Hui Family asked Anning.

Anning nodded: ”Indeed.”

Hui Family chuckled: ”If Xiao Lao doesn’t listen to reason, then I will also establish a female household. I’ll live with the children and have nothing to do with him in the future.”

It seems Hui Family is truly heartbroken by Xiao Jin.

Anning thought Xiao Jin didn’t merely keep a concubine; he probably said something hurtful as well.

”I understand your intentions.”

Anning patted Hui Family’s hand: ”Rest assured, your third brother and I will stand with you.”

Hui Family felt a bit relieved.

After Hui Family left, Anning had Xiao Qing and Xiao Zhu investigate who brought the woman Xiao Jin kept, and to gather information about her.

Actually, it’s not difficult to inquire about this matter, nor is it a secret.

Moreover, in the territory of Nanyi Prefecture, there are hardly any matters Anning can’t find out.

Very soon, Xiao Qing and Xiao Zhu found out.

The woman Xiao Jin kept was named Bai Mei, astonishingly also sent by the Zhang Family.

It’s said the woman looks extremely beautiful, resembling a Heavenly Immortal, and possesses a kind of aloof and cold disposition, definitely out of the ordinary.

Xiao Qing and Xiao Zhu returned and told Anning: ”Mother, we also discreetly saw her. The woman doesn’t stay indoors entirely; we waited several days and caught her going out to shop, glanced from afar, she indeed looks good, and possesses an ethereal charm. But, we always felt something was off about her, something just doesn’t feel right.”

The words piqued Anning’s curiosity: ”What feels off?”

Xiao Qing shook his head: ”Can’t pinpoint exactly where it’s off, but she feels very fake, almost as if she’s not real.”

As he said this, Xiao Zhu seemingly remembered something: ”Mother, I think I’ve got it. Bai Mei looks pretty, and also seems cool, but she seems to lack warmth, as if she’s not human. Her every move, her speech and actions, appear as if they’re designed — how far to step when walking, how wide to open her mouth showing how many teeth when speaking, what actions to make when — all seem to be predetermined.”

His words made Anning furrow her brows.

”Alright, I understand. You both go off and play now.”

Xiao Qing and Xiao Zhu laughed and left, Anning stood up and said to Chun Xing: ”Have a car prepared, I’ll go to Mr. Four’s residence.”

Chun Xing went out to inform the steward to prepare the carriage and horse. Anning changed her clothes and went to find Hui Family.

When she arrived, Hui Family was teaching Ke’er needlework, saw Anning coming and immediately said, ”Third Sister-in-law.”

Xiao Keke also put down her work and greeted Anning.

Anning smiled and patted Xiao Keke’s head: ”Ke’er, your mother and I have matters to discuss. You go off and play.”

Xiao Keke smiled and went out with her handmaids.

Hui Family invited Anning to sit down, Anning waved her hand: ”No need to sit, change your clothes and bring some people; let’s go see that Mrs. Bai.”

Hui Family also knows who Mrs. Bai is, and immediately changed her clothes.

She specifically dressed in the attire of the main wife, wearing a dress embroidered with butterflies and flowers in pomegranate red.

Anning glanced: ”Change it, wear the sapphire blue one.”

Hui Family then hurriedly changed into a sapphire blue dress, Anning chose some jewelry for her to wear.

Hui Family then gathered a few skilled, robust old women, a few major handmaids, and had the steward select a few strong attendants from the outer courtyard to bring along.

Once the person was selected, she and Anning each rode on a carriage and went to the outer courtyard.

The property Xiao Jin arranged was not close to home; the Marquis Zhenan Mansion and Hui Family were located slightly north in the east of the city, and although the property was also in the east of the city, it was located very far south, almost near the edge of the south of the city.

The carriage left from here and took quite a while before reaching the outer courtyard there.