The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Anning is someone who stays true to her word.

When she said she would alleviate the loneliness of those women in the palace by taking them out to play, she really started to arrange it.

Anning asked the Imperial Household Department to make many Mahjong sets, as well as items for other games such as checkers and Monopoly.

Once everything was ready, Anning mentioned these plans when the concubines came to pay respects.

A few days later, Anning began to take the concubines in the palace out to play.

Frankly speaking, Anning was also quite good at organizing eating, drinking, and entertainment.

What she arranged wasn’t just playing one game.

She first led the group in playing Mahjong, then moved on to some intellectual games, and then organized various competitions.

Of course, the women who entered the palace all had their skills; whether it was music, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, guessing games, riddles, or dancing, they all knew a little.

Today, Anning gathered everyone to paint; tomorrow, they would discuss music, then form groups for dancing, and it wasn’t just dancing, she also organized dance battles.

Additionally, Anning led the concubines in designing beautiful clothes and applying elegant makeup.

Before long, even those Imperial Concubines heard the news and gathered together to join in the fun.

Thus, Anning’s team grew larger and larger, and naturally, the activities became more diverse.

On this day, the weather was particularly nice, and because it was late summer, it wasn’t too hot. By evening, there was a cool breeze, so Anning invited the concubines to the garden to play and barbecue together.

She had the palace attendants prepare a barbecue grill and various seasonings.

Once everyone arrived, Anning led the group in grilling meat, bread slices, and various vegetables.

The concubines inside the palace didn’t actually eat very well.

Their eating, clothing, and use were all strictly regulated; what they ate every day and how many dishes they had were all strictly stipulated, making it challenging to try anything new.

But the meals Anning organized for the concubines were quite varied, with new things to try all the time, making everyone eager, looking forward to the dawn every night so they could quickly gather to play and eat together again.

Some concubines thought that since the Emperor didn’t like them anyway, and they hardly saw him even after entering the palace, instead of being stuck in the palace like a stagnant pond, they might as well have a good time with the Empress.

Anning had the palace attendants grill the meat, while she grabbed fruit wine and drank with everyone. After a few more glasses, she smiled and asked Cui Yu to bring the fishing rod, then got up to sit by the fish pond in the back garden to go fishing.

”The things sent by the Imperial Kitchen aren’t fresh. Today I’ll get you something fresh, just watch— I’ll fish up a few for us to grill and eat together.”

Princess Consort Rou, slightly tipsy, smiled and came over: ”To be honest, I’ve been craving those fish for a long time, especially that golden carp; ever since entering the palace, I’ve been thinking about it but never got to eat it. You’re amazing; help me catch it, and I’ll thank you properly.”

Consort Wu also joined in: ”I want to eat that red one— it’s so beautiful, and I’m sure it’ll taste good.”

Then, each concubine spoke one after the other, with some wanting to eat the fish with long white spots and others wanting the one with a bump on its head.

Anning laughed: ”Alright, alright, as you wish. We’ll catch them all. Today, let’s see if I can get all the fish from the pond so everyone can eat to their heart’s content.”

Consort Rou quietly slipped aside to hide.

She was really scared.

No one else knew, but she did. Those fish in the pond were Emperor Kang He’s treasures.

All those fish were raised by Emperor Kang He.

He didn’t dare let anyone know he liked raising fish, always secretly coming to feed them. Every time he saw them grow a little, he’d be overjoyed, and he’d even told Consort Rou that he planned to gift her the best-looking one one day.

But today, Anning was actually going to ruin those fish.

Consort Rou was so frightened her face turned pale.

But she didn’t dare say anything.

And also, she didn’t want to say anything.

In her mind, this was great; if the Empress ate the fish, Emperor Kang He would surely be furious and might even depose the Empress sooner.

But looking at the increasingly vibrant faces of the other concubines, she suddenly felt a bit reluctant.

Consort Rou was torn inside, but ultimately because she was timid and afraid to intervene.

Anning was also quite skilled at fishing, and within half an hour, she had caught a good portion of the fish in the pond.

She let the concubines pick out the nicer-looking ones, had them taken to be prepared, and the less appealing ones were sent to the Imperial Kitchen to be made into fish soup for everyone in the palace.

Of course, Anning kept a particularly pretty one to send to the Empress Dowager.

By the time it was getting dark, the whole imperial garden was filled with the scent of smoke and delicious food.

Anning chewed on a grilled fish while saying, ”Sisters, hurry and eat. After we’re done eating, let’s all go to my place. I have good tea and fruit prepared. Tonight, let’s play Mahjong all night.”

And Consort Rou, from a family of military generals, was straightforward and lively: ”Alright, I’ll be in till the end tonight.”

She rolled up her sleeves, revealing a section of her pale and smooth arm: ”Come, let’s drink one together.”

Anning had turned the imperial garden into quite a mess with the concubines. After the garden, she led them to Changle Palace.

Consort Rou was a bit scared, so she softly said to Anning: ”Empress, I still have...”

Anning hugged Consort Rou tightly: ”What’s the matter? If you go back, you’ll also be alone, unable to sleep during the long night. It’s better to come to my place and have fun with the sisters.”

Leaning on the alcohol, Anning clung to Consort Rou and wouldn’t let go: ”If you think highly of me, you’ll come along; if you don’t, then you’re looking down on us sisters. What do you all say?”

Consort Wu chimed in: ”Yes, Consort Rou, you should come with us. The Emperor won’t come to us anyway, so why not have fun with the Empress.”

Consort Li laughed: ”Exactly, I’m telling you, I’m lucky today; later, I’ll surely win. Don’t cry when you lose your money.”

”Who would cry? Do you think we care about those few copper coins?”

Princess Consort Zhen raised a brow, her beautiful face full of disdain.

Anning hugged Consort Rou, walking as she cried: ”I know how everyone used to think of me, thinking I’m not a good Empress, that I monopolize the Emperor, not allowing him to visit you all. But you have no idea how wronged I am. Since I married the Emperor, he’s been cold towards me. Even when he visits, it feels like a formality, and months can pass without him coming once. In all these years, I’ve had no children, and even the Queen Mother knows I’ve tried to persuade the Emperor countless times, thinking it wasn’t easy for you all to leave your families and enter the palace, hoping the Emperor treats you better. But as Empress... What I have is just the title, privately, the Emperor doesn’t listen to me, and he’s criticized me several times.”

At this point, Anning hiccuped from the alcohol: ”I’ll tell you, no man in this world doesn’t have a wandering eye. I think our Emperor isn’t normal. Either he secretly likes some little demon, or he... prefers men. I wish he’d be a flirtatious type, instead of this. Plus, he’s the Emperor; he surely wants heirs. But I’ve advised him many times, yet he doesn’t linger in the harem at all. Do you think there’s something wrong with him, and he’s using me as a shield?”

As she spoke, Anning held Consort Rou and cried: ”Consort Rou, I’m feeling so bad; being Empress is too suffocating. I know you feel the same, and it’s also hard for the other sisters. We can’t fight against the Emperor, but we can’t go on like this. From now on, we sisters can only hold together for warmth...”

Consort Rou was quite embarrassed, being held by Anning.

She felt a mix of shock, anger, and some shame.

”What are you saying? You’re the Empress...”

”Empress, my foot.”

Anning looked truly drunk and started to curse: ”Do you think I wanted to be Empress? When I married the Emperor, I never thought he’d become the Emperor. I just thought he’d be a Prince at most; life at the Prince Mansion is much quieter than in the palace. But who knew fate would play such a joke...”

”Empress,”

Lady pulled Anning aside: ”Are we playing Mahjong?”

”Yes, those who don’t are idiots.”

Anning raised her hand spiritedly: ”Let’s go, let’s go play Mahjong together. Consort Rou, if you dare to escape, tomorrow we’ll come and beat you up.”

Consort Rou laughed dryly: ”I’m not escaping, I definitely won’t escape. I’ll be here till the end tonight.”