The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Xin Lan’s dream was very long and particularly real, so real that she thought it was her entire life.

In the dream, she always liked Wei Yuan and wanted to enter the Wei Family, but she never succeeded. Later, Wei Yuan married a concubine from the Miao Family, who was timid and weak when she first entered the Wei Family, and Wei Yuan didn’t like her at all.

But later, with the help of Mrs. Wei, Miao Anning gradually regained her confidence. She was a smart girl, and once she had confidence, she started taking over the affairs of the Wei mansion’s back courtyard, managing it well and winning over the hearts of Wei Yuan’s two children.

As they spent more time together, Wei Yuan also began to hold Miao Anning in his heart.

Miao Anning lived well in that lifetime; Wei Yuan adored her, and Wei Yuan’s son respected and relied on her, truly treating her as his own mother. Later, Wei Xing became the top scorer, joining the Hanlin Academy, and by the time Miao Anning was old, Wei Xing had become a first-rank official, and Miao Anning also became a first-rank wife. Wei Susu married into a prestigious family and became a Marchioness, and Miao Anning’s daughter was even luckier, marrying Prince Fu and becoming Princess Fu. Miao Anning enjoyed a life of honor and prosperity in that lifetime.

But Xin Lan, who wanted to marry Wei Yuan’s father through schemes, did not succeed. Later, she was sold by her brother to the son of a governor as a concubine, and her father was infuriated to death. After entering the governor’s mansion, she was favored for a while and even arranged a good marriage for Xin Yun thanks to her favored status. However, the governor’s son was fickle in love, and after two years, he forgot about her and turned to favor a newly arrived concubine.

Over time, she fell out of favor and was framed by those concubines, eventually starving to death in the woodshed, and her daughter was also harmed by those people.

When Xin Lan awoke, her eyes were full of gloom.

She clenched her fists, cursing softly: ”Miao Anning, you bitch, you stole my life. It was mine... Wei Lang was originally supposed to be mine. If Wei Lang had married me, I definitely would have lived better than you, definitely...”

After cursing, Xin Lan recalled an incident from her dream.

In the dream, not long after, a friend of Wei Yuan’s father came from the Capital, and Mr. Wei would take this friend sightseeing.

Xin Lan remembered that Mr. Wei would go boating with his friend, and for some reason, there were many people by the lake that day. There was even a family passing by who was holding a wedding, and when they set off firecrackers, one of them exploded, scaring people away and causing many to fall into the lake.

Remembering this incident, Xin Lan came up with an idea.

She clenched her fist and told herself she must succeed in her designs; she must marry into the Wei mansion and become Wei Yuan’s stepmother to suppress Miao Anning and take her revenge.

Wei Residence

Mrs. Wu entered through the corner gate and was led to Shi’an Courtyard by Chu Hong.

Anning saw Mrs. Wu coming in and quickly said with a smile, ”Mrs. Wu is here, hurry and get her a seat, and then bring some of the melons that Master got yesterday for Mrs. Wu to taste.”

Mrs. Wu sat down unceremoniously.

Having rushed all this way, she was also thirsty, so she took a sip of water and, putting on airs, said, ”Miss Si, Madam...”

Anning’s smile faded: ”Mrs. Wu, I am a married woman and no longer Miss Si of the Miao Family, you should call me Granny Wei.”

Mrs. Wu curled her lips, a trace of disdain flashing in her eyes: ”Granny, Madam knows about selling the servants from the young master’s and young lady’s courtyards, and Madam is unhappy. She asks that Granny Wei come back tomorrow.”

Anning couldn’t help but laugh: ”Why would Madam be displeased with us selling servants from the Wei House, how strange. Madam’s reach is long indeed, matters concerning the Wei family that others are not aware of, Madam knows very quickly. Alright, I’ll go back tomorrow, I want to ask Madam how it is that she doesn’t manage the Miao Mansion well to leave my father without worries, but focuses on other people’s affairs instead.”

Mrs. Wu nearly fainted from anger: ”As long as you remember to go back, Madam is still your legitimate mother, and you must be filial.”

Anning picked up her tea cup: ”Madam’s news is so well-informed, the day before when I was ill to the brink of death, I didn’t see Madam send anyone to check on me. Now that a few servants are sold, Madam’s heart is invested. It seems Madam considers a few servants more important than me as a daughter, demanding me to be filial when Madam herself is not benevolent, how absurd, don’t you think, Mrs. Wu?”

Mrs. Wu was stunned.

She hadn’t expected Anning to become so difficult in just a few days.

”Enough, I am still unwell, so I won’t keep you long. Ah, these lazy girls, why is it taking them so long to bring the melons, it seems Mrs. Wu won’t have the fortune to taste them.”

When Mrs. Wu’s face was about to stiffen, Anning said to Chu Hong: ”Chu Hong, see Mrs. Wu out.”

”Grandma.”

Chu Hong wanted to say something, but Anning’s strict gaze frightened her into withdrawing: ”Mrs. Wu, let me see you out.”

Mrs. Wu was on the verge of being infuriated to death.

But this was the Wei House, not a place where she could behave wantonly, so she had no choice but to leave with Chu Hong.

Mrs. Wu had just left when the maids brought the sliced melon up.

Anning tasted a piece of melon, and then Xiao Yuan came back.

After washing his hands and face, Xiao Yuan sat down and ate two pieces of melon: ”I’ve arranged everything, in a few days we’ll head to the Capital.”

”Uh?”

Anning looked at Xiao Yuan in confusion.

Xiao Yuan smiled: ”I’m going to participate in the Imperial Examination next spring. Originally, I planned to head over in autumn, but now it seems better to go earlier.”

”Oh dear, I almost forgot about this.”

Anning clapped her hands: ”I need to prepare some things, and remember to bring more money, when we reach the Capital, it would be best if we could buy a house.”

”I know.” Xiao Yuan asked the maid for some tea and snacks and, while eating, spoke to Anning: ”Going earlier, there’s another thing to address.”

”What is it?”

Anning asked.

Xiao Yuan flicked her forehead: ”You, you, lately you’ve become lazier, not even caring about the major events in the Capital. Now, the Noble Consort Chu, whom Your Majesty favors most, is seriously ill. Your Majesty is seeking famous doctors to treat the Noble Consort, so if we head to the Capital and you manage to cure the Noble Consort, with her as your backer, never mind Xin Lan becoming your mother-in-law, even if she becomes your great-grandmother, you need not fear her at all. With a Noble Consort to rely on, you won’t need her to set rules for you, you can be sure she’ll face hardships instead. Moreover, Old Madam is very wise, if you really form a connection with the Noble Consort, you’ll see, Old Madam will definitely suppress Xin Lan to the point where she can’t move.”

Anning thought about it and felt quite satisfied: ”She thinks that by becoming my mother-in-law she can oppress me, but doesn’t realize that above her is another mother-in-law, a shrewd and capable one, while the daughter-in-law below has a strong backing. There is nothing she can do, instead, she will have to watch her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, suffocating her with frustration.”

”Precisely.”

Xiao Yuan asked with a smile: ”Is my idea good or not?”

Anning raised a thumb: ”Good, brilliant, undeniably splendid.”

Xiao Yuan pointed to his cheek: ”So isn’t there a reward?”

Capital, Yuxian Palace

The Noble Consort Chu lay half-reclined on the bed, her long hair cascading onto the pillow. She had been sick for quite a long time and had become much thinner, yet even so, her beauty was breathtaking.

Emperor Jianyuan hurried into Yuxian Palace, and seeing the Noble Consort Chu, his heart ached.

”Chuchu, are you feeling any better today?”

He walked briskly over, sat by the bed, and held Noble Consort Chu’s hand.

Only after taking a few breaths did Noble Consort Chu speak haltingly: ”Your Majesty, I’m afraid my illness cannot be cured. In the future, I won’t be able to accompany Your Majesty. Your Majesty, please take care of yourself. When I’m gone, Your Majesty mustn’t grieve, and those imperial physicians have done their best, so Your Majesty mustn’t punish them for my sake... Those who served me are all good people, over these days, I’ve arranged their future paths. If one day... Your Majesty, please let them leave the palace.”

Hearing the ominous tone in Noble Consort Chu’s words, Emperor Jianyuan felt a stab in his heart: ”Alright, Chuchu, I’ll listen to you, but I won’t allow you to say such things, you will get better, and in the future, you will continue to accompany me.”

Noble Consort Chu smiled softly, sweetly, and happily at Emperor Jianyuan.

Emperor Jianyuan was captivated by her smile and was about to say something when unexpectedly, Noble Consort Chu suddenly pulled the bed curtains shut, no longer looking at Emperor Jianyuan.

Through the bed curtains, Noble Consort Chu’s voice came out: ”Your Majesty, my illness has made my appearance unsightly, please don’t come to see me anymore, Your Majesty, take care...”

”Chuchu...”

Emperor Jianyuan called out in a deep voice, but Noble Consort Chu did not respond.

Emperor Jianyuan’s nose twitched, and his eyes reddened.

He sat a while longer before getting up: ”Alright, I will leave now, and come to see Chuchu another day.”