The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Xiao Yuan had been in the small dark room for a quite a long time.

He gradually got to know the place well.

Honestly, the security in the small dark room was not very tight.

The main reason was that the original person was very honest and had never caused any trouble, so he went along with whatever was told to him.

Moreover, the small dark room was particularly sturdy with no windows, the door was locked tightly, and the original person was not very promising, so once he was locked inside, escape was impossible, which made both Emperor Kang He and the Hidden Guard truly trust Xiao Yuan.

On this day, it was time to deliver the meal again. Generally speaking, meals were never missed any day.

Because Xiao Yuan was supposed to play the role of Emperor Kang He, if he appeared emaciated from hunger, people would undoubtedly see through the disguise.

This evening, the meal was delivered a bit late, and the person delivering the meal placed it at the small window, from where Xiao Yuan fetched it.

As the person put the meal at the window, Xiao Yuan swiftly grabbed the plate with one hand and reached out with the other hand to twist the person’s wrist before he even had a chance to react.

”You...”

The person could only utter one word before a peculiar sound reached his ears, and immediately, he began to feel dazed.

Without knowing how, he actually took the key and unlocked the door.

Then, Xiao Yuan walked out from the small dark room.

After coming out, he locked the door again and made everything look as it originally was.

Following that, Xiao Yuan found a place to hide.

The person who delivered the meal wandered around, eventually bringing clothes similar to theirs for Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan changed into the clothes, and boldly followed the person delivering the meal through the secret passage.

Xiao Yuan knew what the secret passage looked like. There were two routes in this secret passage.

One led from Changle Palace to the small dark room, and the other led out of the palace.

The key to the passage leading to Changle Palace was held only by Hei Ling and Emperor Kang He.

There were several keys for the passage leading outside the palace; one was with Lu You, another was with Emperor Kang He, and a few others were held by trusted Hidden Guards.

Xiao Yuan didn’t need a key; he opened the lock using the spiritual power he had cultivated during his time there, passed through the door, locked it again, and then boldly proceeded to Changle Palace.

When Xiao Yuan arrived at Changle Palace, Anning was not there. Inside Changle Palace, some Palace Attendants were busy. Xiao Yuan hid until Anning returned, and then revealed himself.

Anning had been busy today arranging the Imperial Physician to check the pulse of the concubines.

The diagnoses showed that everyone was in good health, except for Consort Rou, who had a weaker constitution.

Anning specifically went to see Consort Rou.

She went to Consort Rou’s palace and deliberately said, ”Sister Rou, don’t overthink things. Take good care of your health, eat well, and take some supplements. In just a few months, you’ll be in good shape, and then I’ll arrange for you to serve Your Majesty.”

What could Consort Rou say?

She couldn’t say much: ”Thank you, Sister.”

Anning smiled and patted her hand. ”Don’t think too much during this period. Take good care, go walk in the imperial garden when you have spare time, or we can get together and play. In general, a better mood will lead to a better body.”

After dealing with Consort Rou, Anning began arranging the candidates for serving at night.

She gathered all the concubines to discuss the matter.

Lady said, ”We will follow Sister’s arrangements. Sister, go ahead.”

Anning smiled, ”This matter, we must discuss among us sisters, but I do have some thoughts. I will share them, and we can ponder them.”

”Sister, just say what you want to,” Princess Xian added.

Anning said, ”The reason you sisters were able to enter the palace was because of your many brothers from your family. Both the Empress Dowager and I believe you sisters are good at bearing children, so instead of assigning by rank, why don’t we arrange it by the number of brothers in your family?”

This was Anning blatantly treating Emperor Kang He as a stud.

Her meaning was clear: I want Princes; whoever is most likely to produce Princes, whoever seems best at childbearing, I will arrange for Emperor Kang He to sleep with.

Lady had no objections.

She had many brothers, with a total of nine, including legitimate and illegitimate ones.

Princess Xian didn’t have objections either; she also had many brothers.

Everyone looked at one another and did a mental calculation. Based on this calculation, everyone might have a chance to be chosen.

With that, it seemed pretty fair.

”We will follow Sister’s lead.”

All the concubines agreed unanimously.

Don’t assume these concubines have deep feelings for Emperor Kang He; they were selected and entered the palace, and many of them hadn’t even seen Emperor Kang He before entering the palace, some even after entering the palace. How could there be any feelings?

Moreover, everyone had their own calculating mindset; chatting about feelings with the Emperor meant seeking death.

The purpose of these concubines entering the palace was always very clear—to have Princes, compete for the throne. As for the Emperor, he was just a tool.

Anning’s current goal was to magnify this mentality among the concubines.

”Alright, it’s settled then. I have one more thing to say: I married Your Majesty several years ago, and during these years, I have never conceived. Although the Imperial Physician checked my pulse, and there’s nothing wrong with my health, I don’t want to waste Your Majesty’s time anymore. Later, I won’t be serving at night, and the time is available for sisters. May we all work together to ensure the continuation of Your Majesty’s lineage.”

These concubines were even happier.

Everyone now thought Anning had been wronged before. As they saw now, actually, the Empress had no selfish motives; what she did was very fair and just.

”We honor Sister’s teachings.”

The concubines stood up to bow to Anning.

Anning waved them off with a smile: ”Alright, now that we’ve discussed it, I will go back to rest. Sisters, you should also rest well, eat and drink properly, spend time together during the day, and serve His Majesty at night. Hopefully, we will hear good news this year.”

After she finished speaking, she took people back to Changle Palace.

When Anning returned to Changle Palace, she knew Xiao Yuan had arrived.

She waved off the Palace Attendants, leaving herself alone in the bedroom.

As Anning sat on the bed, Xiao Yuan appeared.

”Ningning.”

Xiao Yuan hugged Anning: ”I’m hungry.”

Anning smiled and took a box of pastries: ”Eat quickly. Tomorrow, I’ll have them prepare some good food.”

Xiao Yuan didn’t pick and choose, ate the pastries, consumed half a box, drank some water, and then pressed Anning onto the bed: ”I’m even more hungry.”

Anning pushed Xiao Yuan away: ”Wait a bit more.”

Xiao Yuan knew Anning probably had some matters to attend to, so he lay on the bed, pulling down the bed curtain.

Anning tidied the bed curtain, called the Palace Attendants to give some instructions: ”I’m tired now and want to rest; don’t let anyone disturb me. Any big matters can wait until tomorrow.”

The Palace Attendants received the order to guard outside.

Only then did Anning go to another room to take a bath and return.

When she lay on the bed, Xiao Yuan was idly playing with a Jade Pendant.

Anning snuggled into Xiao Yuan’s embrace: ”In the recent period, Emperor Kang He definitely won’t come to Changle Palace, so we can be together.”

Xiao Yuan just laughed: ”What do you plan to do?”

”Let’s be peaceful. If things can remain stable, let them be stable, without causing chaos everywhere, making the populace suffer.”

With Anning’s words, Xiao Yuan understood her intention.

”Alright, I’ll follow your lead.”