The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Anning spoke to the Old Madam briefly and then went to the Miao Mansion with a few maids and old women.

Wei Yuan’s father, Mr. Wei, is the Prefect of Wu Yuan, while Mr. Miao is the Wuyuan Deputy Magistrate. Speaking of it, Miao Anning’s sister marrying into the Wei Family is a high match, and Miao Anning’s match is even higher. Because of this, when the Miao Family originally spoke of marrying a concubine to the Wei Family, the Wei Family wasn’t very willing. Later, it’s unclear what made them agree to this matter.

Anning sat in the carriage and went back to her parental home. The carriage stopped at the gate of the Miao Mansion. With the help of a maid, she got off the carriage and just entered the main gate when she ran into Mr. Miao and Anning’s legitimate brother, Miao Jing.

Anning quickly stood aside and bowed: ”Master, brother.”

Mr. Miao smiled when he saw Anning: ”Back to see your mother? Then you’d better hurry inside. By the way, didn’t your husband come?”

Anning also smiled and replied: ”My husband went with Aweng to visit Mr. Li, the Mountain Master.”

”Then you better hurry now.”

Mr. Miao seemed to have urgent matters and left without saying much to Anning.

Miao Jing stayed behind and whispered to Anning: ”Your sister-in-law left you something good.”

Anning pursed her lips with a smile.

Miao Jing quickly followed Mr. Miao’s steps.

Anning took the maids and old women into the inner house.

Mrs. Miao had been waiting for her for quite a while; seeing her come, she snorted coldly: ”Miss Si is different once she’s married, huh? It takes calling three or four times to get Miss Si to come.”

Anning bowed her head slightly and, regardless of Mrs. Miao’s expression, sat down by herself: ”I was ill the other day, feeling very uncomfortable, and didn’t dare go out. Now that I’m slightly better, I hurried here to see Madam. I heard Madam hasn’t been well. Have you called a doctor? What did the doctor say? Have you taken any medicine?”

Mrs. Miao said coldly: ”No need for Miss Si to worry. I’m asking you, how are the maids and old women in Xing’er and Susu’s rooms being sent away? Those were left behind by your sister, and some were sent over because I was not assured. How could you...”

Anning calmly drank half a cup of tea and then placed the teacup on the table. The clunking sound perfectly interrupted Mrs. Miao’s words.

”Madam, you initially wanted me to marry into the Wei Family to take care of Xing’er and Susu. Now that I’m there, why bother sending more people? Are you not assured of me? Furthermore, those left behind by Sister are rather bold now, relying on Sister’s past favor to disregard everyone. They even dare contradict our Old Madam’s orders. When I say one thing, they can retort ten. Such rebellious servants cannot be kept. Moreover, I didn’t decide on sending them away; I’ve only been married into the Wei Family for a few days and haven’t figured out the inner house, certainly didn’t dare sell anyone. These were determined by our Master. The servants were blind enough to offend the Master.”

Speaking of this, Anning raised her eyebrows: ”I have to say, Madam, your judgment in choosing people is not so good. I was sick and barely able to care about the inner house affairs. The servants allowed Xing’er and Susu to run around. The children are so young, out playing with no one to accompany them. What if someone with ill intentions abducted them? Besides, I’ve said the children should avoid coming to my place to avoid sickness, but those unruly servants insisted on bringing Xing’er and Susu to my room several times a day. Madam, tell me, can such people still be tolerated?”

What Anning said was so clean and direct that she didn’t leave Mrs. Miao any room to interject.

Her words were clear and crisp as popping beans, and she laid out everything logically, even making it hard for Mrs. Miao to refute.

Mrs. Miao took several deep breaths: ”What you said makes sense, but such a significant matter, you should at least inform the family.”

Anning frowned: ”Madam, the Master was furious and insisted on selling the servants. How could I speak up? Should I tell the Master these are Miao’s servants and need Miao’s permission? If I said that, how could the two families maintain relations?”

Mrs. Miao was infuriated: ”Fine, fine, whatever you say is reasonable. Let’s forget it for now. I’ll send a few servants next time.”

”Sorry for troubling Madam.”

Anning smiled and was about to stand up to pay respects, but she stood up too abruptly, causing a dizzy spell and nearly falling. She grabbed a high frame with one hand and rubbed her forehead with the other: ”Madam, I’m terribly dizzy and can’t see straight...”

As she spoke, Anning seemed to want to collapse.

The maids and old women who followed her quickly supported her in fright.

”What’s happening? Quickly come to my room and rest.”

Seeing this, Mrs. Miao hurriedly gave orders.

Anning relaxed and waved her hand: ”It’s not appropriate. If the sickness spreads to Madam, what can be done? Moreover, staying at the parental home for treatment and medication isn’t reasonable. I’ll return once I feel better and come to pay respects when I’m thoroughly recovered.”

Seeing Anning like this, Mrs. Miao dared not keep her.

She hastily urged people to make Anning a bowl of brown sugar water and let her rest for a while.

Anning rested for an hour and then felt better. She got up to bid farewell to Mrs. Miao.

There, Granny Miao asked someone to give Anning a piece of material, saying it was material sent from her parental home. The material was light and soft, perfect for summer clothing, and she had specifically saved a piece for Anning.

Anning sent a maid to thank Granny Miao before getting onto the carriage to head back.

Sitting in the carriage, Anning’s expression was inexplicable.

By the time she returned, Xiao Yuan had already returned to the mansion.

Seeing Anning’s pale face, he was somewhat worried: ”What’s wrong?”

Anning waved her hand: ”Nothing, perhaps I’ve been affected by the heat. I’ll be fine after resting for a while.”

Xiao Yuan helped Anning into the room and dismissed the maids.

He and Anning took off their shoes and half-lay on the bed side by side. Anning sighed deeply: ”This matter has become complicated.”

”What are you talking about?”

Xiao Yuan looked at Anning in confusion.

Anning said: ”Today, I saw Mr. Miao and Miao Jing, and I realized I don’t share any blood relation with them.”

Uh?

This indeed makes things complicated.

”Are you suggesting that your concubine mother cuckolded Mr. Miao?”

Xiao Yuan asked Anning raising his eyebrows.

Anning laughed twice: ”Isn’t that obvious? It seems my concubine mother’s boldness is quite substantial. I wonder who her lover is? Also, my concubine mother had the capability to cuckold Mr. Miao, yet her death back then was quite suspicious. I heard she was murdered by the concubines in the back courtyard, given her skills, how could she fear them? In my memory, those old concubines in the Miao Family’s back courtyard didn’t possess such formidable methods.”

Xiao Yuan suddenly thought of something.

He hugged Anning: ”Could your concubine mother have faked her death and run away with her lover?”

”Quite possible.”

Anning nodded emphatically.

Xiao Yuan stroked his chin: ”This matter needs thorough investigation.”

Anning leaned in Xiao Yuan’s arms: ”Tomorrow, you should inquire properly, see if any old-timers from the Miao Family have disclosed anything. If found, take me to question them. Otherwise, I’ll never be at ease.”