The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Anning indeed spent the entire night playing mahjong with the concubines of the harem.

Before playing mahjong, Emperor Kang He sent word to Anning that he had many things to attend to tonight and would stay at Qianyuan Palace, so she need not wait for him.

Anning waved it off with a smile, ”Got it, got it.”

In the quiet of the night, Emperor Kang He entered Consort Rou’s palace through a secret passage from Qianyuan Palace.

What greeted him was utter silence and nothing but darkness.

Emperor Kang He stood dumbfounded for a moment and felt around the bed, only to find that the room was devoid of people.

With a hint of anger, he left Consort Rou’s place and returned to Qianyuan Palace to find a young eunuch to ask, ”What’s going on in the palace today?”

The young eunuch was at a loss, ”Nothing major, but recently the Empress has been leading the ladies of the palaces in trying out various games, and tonight she took them to play mahjong in Changle Palace.”

”Playing mahjong?”

Emperor Kang He frowned, ”Utter nonsense.”

Since Consort Rou wasn’t there, Emperor Kang He couldn’t go to Anning Palace, so he had people carry lanterns to feed the fish at the fish pond.

It was pitch black outside, and to ensure Emperor Kang He could feed the fish smoothly, a dozen young eunuchs followed with lanterns.

When they reached the fish pond, Emperor Kang He took the fish food and scattered it into the pond, but not a single fish surfaced.

”What’s going on?”

Emperor Kang He had a looming sense of foreboding.

The young eunuchs were too scared to speak.

Emperor Kang He had them bring the lanterns closer, and it turned out the fish pond contained only water, and not a single fish.

”Where are my fish?”

Emperor Kang He demanded fiercely, ”Where did my fish go?”

The young eunuchs, having no choice, nervously replied, ”Your Majesty, the Empress led all the ladies to have a barbecue in the imperial garden today. The Empress got drunk and had all the fish in the fish pond caught and eaten.”

”Eaten?”

Emperor Kang He was furious.

”Yes,” the young eunuch’s head drooped lower and lower, ”Not only the Empress, but the Empress Dowager also received one, along with all the Imperial Concubines and ladies, each had one.”

Emperor Kang He was breathing heavily with anger.

Veins popped with rage, even his eyes were bloodshot.

”Wonderful, just wonderful, daring to get wilder; not only sowed chaos in the harem but ate my fish too.”

Emperor Kang He couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted, ”Prepare to go to Changle Palace, I want to see just what a mess the Empress has turned my harem into.”

With a storm of anger, Emperor Kang He proceeded to Changle Palace.

He hadn’t even entered the door when he heard a room filled with laughter and chatter.

”Sorry sisters, I won this round, come on, hand over the money, hand over the money...”

”Pong, I won with a kong.”

”Oh dear, how did I end up losing, really, sister, lend me some money first, I’ll pay you back later.”

Hearing this, Emperor Kang He grew even more infuriated.

He didn’t have anyone announce his presence and walked right in.

Once inside, no one in the room even noticed him.

All the concubines were engrossed in playing mahjong, and their nannies and palace maids were watching intently on the side, appearing more excited than the concubines.

Emperor Kang He immediately spotted Consort Rou.

Consort Rou was also playing mahjong. She, along with Princess Consort Zhen, Consort Li, and Consort Wu, was sitting at a table with Consort De. Consort Rou was in high spirits, her cheeks flushed with excitement, eyes shining, and sleeves rolled up, ”Quick, I won this round, let’s settle the score, Consort De, the money, give me the money.”

Emperor Kang He couldn’t believe this was Consort Rou.

This was the gentle and meek Consort Rou he thought he knew.

”Ahem.”

Emperor Kang He cleared his throat heavily.

Finally, the concubines noticed him.

Upon seeing him, they hurriedly stood, ”Your Majesty, may you be well...”

Anning stood up and waved them down, ”Sisters, sit down, I think His Majesty is probably quite bored, and has come specifically to watch us play mahjong.”

She smiled and bowed to Emperor Kang He, ”Your Majesty, didn’t you say you were busy with state affairs? How do you have the time to come to Changle Palace?”

Looking at Anning, utterly unaware of any wrongdoing and with no sign of repentance, Emperor Kang He grew even more frustrated, ”If I hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have known that the Empress has such abilities, leading the entire palace to gamble.”

Anning raised an eyebrow, ”Your Majesty, don’t make it sound so unpleasant, what’s called gambling, we sisters are just playing to relieve loneliness.”

”I...”

Emperor Kang He clearly came with grievances.

But would Anning let him stir trouble? Absolutely not.

Anning pinched her own thigh, and tears instantly welled, ”Is Your Majesty implying dissatisfaction with us playing? But is this something we wish for? Do we sisters wish for this mindless amusement, this daily overindulgence?”

In truth, she thought, indeed we do, quite splendidly so; this couldn’t be better.

With a sob, she accused Emperor Kang He, ”Isn’t it Your Majesty forcing us to this point? Your Majesty is aging, we sisters grow older by the day, and yet for years, this harem has no Prince or Princess; if only there were, we would have a purpose, we would certainly care for and raise Your Majesty’s child to be chubby, clever, and bright. But Your Majesty, you deny us even a single child, if we don’t find something to do, will Your Majesty drive us insane?”

Here, Anning clapped her hands, ”Oh, it must be that Your Majesty considers us old and unappealing, preferring us dead and replaced with young and fresh faces.”

With a wail, Anning burst into tears, ”If Your Majesty indeed thinks this way, we are of no offense to Your Majesty’s eyes, please punish me first, dispose of this Empress, then dispose of all my sisters. Dispose of us today, tomorrow we’ll be off to the Cold Palace, where we sisters can live out our remaining days together.”

Emperor Kang He was so vexed by Anning’s unreasonable clamor that his head, stomach, and heart all ached.

”What, what did I say.”

Now, he couldn’t dispose of the Empress, after all, he still needed the Gao family.

Moreover, not many family backgrounds of these concubines were weak; if he dared dispose of them, who knew what troubles might spring up in court.

”If Your Majesty isn’t dissatisfied with us, why not allow us to have children?”

Anning angrily queried, ”After all these years, my womb hasn’t stirred at all. I thought it’s probably because I can’t bear children, but what about my sisters? Your harem may not be a greenhouse filled with beauties together, but, I admit I’m not jealous-hearted, and value these sisters whether it’s for their appearance, talents, or family background, yet not one... If Your Majesty continues like this, I might as well die, then at least when buried beneath the earth, I won’t face shame meeting the Grand Ancestor and the Emperor.”

”You, you...”

Emperor Kang He pointed at Anning, wanting to scold her harshly.

Yet he truly had no grounds to reprimand her.

After all, Anning wasn’t wrong. His harem indeed wasn’t lacking in concubines, yet after all these years, not a single child — what sense did this make?

”Your Majesty look at Consort Shufei, her beauty is captivating, her personality invigorating, and she’s skilled in martial arts as well.”

”Your Majesty then look at Consort Rou, she’s kind and gentle, and her appearance is indeed elegant and enchanting.”

”And Princess Consort Zhen, her looks are no less, well-read in poetry and literature, she writes beautifully.”

”Consort Wu dances splendidly, her figure is most graceful.”

”Consort De is dignified and self-assured, and her voice is exquisite, her singing is most heartfelt.”

Anning praised each concubine, highlighting their strengths, ”Your Majesty, in what way do we sisters not meet your standards, to deserve such disdain?”

Anning’s words stirred the concubines’ hearts with a sourness, making them feel uncomfortable.

One by one, they, too, couldn’t help but start crying.