The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Aunt Feng understood that Anning had set up a barrier, which bolstered her courage.

She handed a blueprint to Anning: ”Take some time to use this blueprint to retrieve the items I’ve stored.”

”What items?”

Anning asked as she accepted the blueprint.

Aunt Feng didn’t hide the truth from Anning: ”Both your maternal grandfather and grandmother were loose cultivators. When I was young, I heard your grandmother say she seemed to be from a noble family, but her family was exterminated, and she escaped with a family treasure. Later, she met your grandfather and followed him, living incognito, traveling and practicing cultivation. Before she passed away, she gave me this blueprint, saying that following it, one could find that treasure. At the time, your grandfather was captured by the Demon Clan, and I feared I couldn’t protect the item, so I dared not look for it. Until now... I don’t even know if it’s still there.”

Anning put away the blueprint: ”I’ll find some free time to check it out.”

Aunt Feng held Anning’s hand: ”Don’t tell anyone about this, not even your father.”

”Alright.”

Anning nodded heavily.

As soon as she finished talking with Aunt Feng and dispelled the barrier, a servant girl came running to say Young Master Xiao had requested a meeting.

Anning hurried to the front courtyard.

There, she saw Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing was dressed in a black outfit with a longsword on his back, looking like he was prepared for a journey.

Seeing Anning approach, he smiled and offered a respectful salute: ”Second Miss, I’m going out to travel. Ayuan isn’t well, and I don’t dare take him along. This journey will be fraught with danger. I can manage alone, but bringing Ayuan worries me too much. Reluctantly, I can only brazenly ask Second Miss to take care of Ayuan for a while.”

”Alright.”

Anning agreed with a smile.

She asked Xiao Qing: ”Is Xiao Yuan still at the inn?”

”Yes.” Xiao Qing handed Anning a jade box: ”These are fruits I picked in the mountains a few days ago; please enjoy them, Second Miss.”

Anning didn’t even look at what kind of fruits were inside the box and simply took it: ”Alright, Brother Xiao, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Xiao Yuan.”

She thought for a moment and added: ”I’ll go to the inn to pick him up later.”

Xiao Qing showed a hint of awkwardness on his face and coughed: ”Without a proper arrangement...”

”It can be arranged.”

Anning led Xiao Qing to the outer study: ”Older brothers act as fathers. You are Xiao Yuan’s elder brother and can arrange his marriage. I’ll ask my father to assist, and we can arrange the engagement now. With this arrangement, Xiao Yuan can stay with the Zhu Family long-term.”

Xiao Qing touched his nose awkwardly: ”Would Uncle Zhu agree?”

Anning raised an eyebrow: ”He doesn’t have a choice.”

This seemed to leave Xiao Qing uncertain about what to do.

But he still followed Anning to the study.

Anning knocked on the door: ”Father, may I come in?”

Inside, Family Head Zhu was chatting with visiting cultivators of great power. Upon hearing Anning’s voice, Family Head Liu didn’t smile: ”Ah, it’s the esteemed niece. Let her in immediately.”

Family Head Wu personally opened the door.

Anning brought Xiao Qing inside.

She went straight to the point upon entering: ”Father, I’d like to ask you to arrange an engagement between me and Xiao Yuan.”

Uh?

Family Head Zhu was taken aback: ”Ningning, isn’t this inappropriate? You’re still so young and previously expressed disinterest in marriage. Why the change of heart?”

Anning understood Family Head Zhu’s concern.

He was worried that if Anning married away, other families would unfairly benefit.

After all, Anning was a Nascent Soul Ancestor. Whichever family she supported could rest easy. The Zhu Family wouldn’t easily let her go to another family.

Anning smiled: ”Father, Xiao Yuan and Brother Xiao have both renounced the Xiao Family. They won’t return for life. If I marry Xiao Yuan, he will stay with us...”

Before Anning could say more, Family Head Zhu agreed.

”Alright.”

Family Head Zhu looked at Xiao Qing: ”Dear Nephew, did you bring a token?”

Xiao Qing indeed had a few tokens.

Anning had previously given Xiao Yuan his parents’ relics from Xiao He, and Xiao Yuan must have passed some to Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing took out a pair of jade rings: ”These were protective charms worn by my parents long ago, and today I offer them as tokens to Second Miss.”

Anning accepted the jade rings and glanced back at Family Head Zhu.

Family Head Zhu considered for a moment, then took out a pair of gleaming silver hairpins: ”Take these back for Xiao Yuan.”

After exchanging tokens, with several family heads witnessing, the engagement was settled.

Xiao Qing could leave Sifang City with peace of mind, traveling wherever he wished.

Meanwhile, Family Head Zhu instructed the butler to bring Xiao Yuan over.

Previously, Family Head Zhu thought about having Mrs. Zhu prepare a courtyard for Xiao Yuan, but Mrs. Zhu returned to her maiden home.

Anning suggested: ”Let Mother prepare it. She should get familiar with the household affairs.”

Family Head Zhu agreed with a smile.

After Family Head Zhu finished entertaining guests, he finally had a moment to speak with Anning.

He directly asked Anning: ”Why are you interested in Xiao Yuan? With his health... As a Nascent Soul Ancestor, you could have any man you want, so why choose someone so unreliable?”

Anning leisurely drank her tea: ”Father, you only know part of the story. Xiao Yuan’s health isn’t great, but it isn’t untreatable. Once he recovers, with his understanding and spirit root, his cultivation speed will be fast. Moreover, since I reached the Nascent Soul stage, I have gained deeper insights into the world. Today, I noticed a great Qi Fortune on Xiao Qing. Father, you know what it means to carry a great Qi Fortune.”

Family Head Zhu was startled: ”Are you suggesting... If that’s the case, shouldn’t you marry Xiao Qing?”

Anning waved her hand: ”That’s not right. Brother Xiao doesn’t like someone like me. Marrying him would only create more resentment. It’s better to marry Xiao Yuan. Father knows how much Xiao Qing values Xiao Yuan. Marrying Xiao Yuan could be more dependable than marrying Xiao Qing.”

That’s true.

Family Head Zhu nodded: ”As long as you feel it’s worth it.”

At this moment, the butler brought Xiao Yuan inside.

Aunt Feng also learned about this from the inner courtyard.

She had already prepared a courtyard.

The small courtyard was near the West Corner Gate of the Zhu Family Mansion, a stand-alone property that was peaceful when the door was shut and conveniently accessible through the West Corner Gate. Furthermore, the courtyard housed many spirit plants, beneficial for someone recovering from illness.

Aunt Feng meticulously prepared it, and by the time she finished, Xiao Yuan had arrived.

Aunt Feng warmly welcomed Xiao Yuan: ”Please check the room to see what’s missing. Let me know if you need anything added, and I’ll arrange it for you.”

Xiao Yuan didn’t inspect the room, but instead bowed to Aunt Feng: ”The room you’ve prepared must be wonderful, nothing could be missing. I’m grateful you took the trouble to prepare it, and I feel truly obliged.”

He was already handsome, looked fragile, and his face showed signs of illness, evoking sympathy. Being so considerate and courteous made Aunt Feng both sorrowful and fond of him: ”Good child, you stay here and let me know if you need anything else. You can also tell your uncle; treat this as your own home and don’t stand on ceremony.”