The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Lu You hid in the shadows, watching as the people from Duke Cheng’en Mansion took Hongyu away. He clenched his fists, his teeth grinding with a creaking sound.

He saw Hongyu walking with the people from Duke Cheng’en Mansion, her face adorned with a genuine smile. Even though he was unwilling, for Hongyu’s sake, he could only watch helplessly.

Xiao Yuan stood behind Lu You, giving him a pat: ”Now you can be at ease.”

Lu You turned around and bowed deeply to Xiao Yuan: ”Master.”

Xiao Yuan chuckled softly.

He knew that Lu You had already abandoned Emperor Kang He and had fully defected to him and Anning.

”Good, once my great plans succeed, I’ll set you and Hongyu free.”

Xiao Yuan promised.

In the palace

Consort Rou had been washing her face with tears during this time.

She wanted to see Emperor Kang He, but even though he was so close, she hadn’t seen him for several days.

Indeed, Anning had arranged Emperor Kang He’s time so tightly that every night was decided upon which palace he would stay. If Emperor Kang He didn’t go, the concubines would request him repeatedly, and if he still didn’t go, Anning would lead people to kneel at the palace gate of Qianyuan, forcing him with their pleas, leaving Emperor Kang He almost without temper.

And Consort Rou, due to her poor health and her family’s sparse offspring, was arranged to be the last to serve in the bedchamber.

This made Consort Rou, who nearly met Emperor Kang He every night before, unable to bear it.

This day, Emperor Kang He finally managed to spare some time to visit Consort Rou.

Upon seeing Emperor Kang He, Consort Rou burst into tears: ”Your Majesty, I can’t take it anymore, I don’t want to see Your Majesty loving others, nor do I want other women to bear Your Majesty’s child. I... I would rather cut my hair and become a nun.”

Emperor Kang He felt distressed, comforting Consort Rou: ”Good Rou’er, bear with it a little longer. Once I hold power, I shall make you Empress so you can have authority in the palace, and I will exclusively favor you, I will...”

Consort Rou covered her ears: ”I don’t want to hear it, I don’t want to hear it, how long have you made me endure, why always make me endure, I don’t want it, I only want Your Majesty by my side, I don’t want anything else.”

Emperor Kang He felt even more troubled: ”I’m sorry to you, I am helpless in this.”

Consort Rou said hatefully: ”It’s all because of the Empress meddling. Why does she do such things, Jiulang, you should depose her earlier.”

Emperor Kang He nodded: ”I’ll think about it, find an opportunity, then I will depose her.”

Changle Palace

Anning received a reply from the Gao family.

The letter was personally written by Gao Bin, stating that after much consideration, he understood the danger Anning was currently in. To protect the entire Gao family and to help Anning escape, Gao Bin agreed to Anning’s request. The Gao family would fully support Anning and also support Xiao Yuan in replacing Emperor Kang He.

Anning burned the letter after reading it.

After waiting a few days, Xiao Yuan visited the Gao family.

Afterwards, Gao Bin personally took people to investigate the matters regarding the Empress Dowager’s childbirth back then.

Thus, more than a year passed, and the harem appeared harmonious, yet privately, the concubines were full of gossip, and even the ministers in the court were increasingly skeptical.

Primarily because during this year, Emperor Kang He lingered in the harem, but after more than a year, none of the women were pregnant.

Previously, when the Empress didn’t give birth, people might have said she was unable to bear children, but now Emperor Kang He no longer exclusively favored the Empress, yet still no one conceived, leading to suspicion about Emperor Kang He’s health.

The Empress Dowager was worried, too, frequently sending the Imperial Physician to feel Emperor Kang He’s pulse, trying to determine if there was any issue with Emperor Kang He.

No matter how much they checked, they found nothing.

The Empress Dowager’s anxiety grew.

Emperor Kang He was nearing twenty or thirty years old, unable to produce children, posing a problem for the entire court. Continuing without offspring for several years might stir trouble in the court.

Not to mention the Empress Dowager, Emperor Kang He was also anxious.

This time, he didn’t take measures nor did he have the concubines take the sterility drug, yet was still unable to produce offspring.

This time, without Anning’s repeated pleas, Emperor Kang He himself began to linger in the harem.

Previously, Emperor Kang He appeared devoted to Consort Rou, seemingly in true love, but when it concerned his interests, Consort Rou was cast aside.

Previously, Emperor Kang He intended to let Consort Rou bear his heir once he held power, but now his plans were being shattered.

After all, not wanting to conceive and being unable to conceive are vastly different.

Emperor Kang He continued to stay with the concubines, but after half a year, still no movement.

He was truly anxious.

Consort Rou stopped crying and began to worry with him.

Over the year and a half, Consort Rou had stopped using medicines. She even sought out the Imperial Physician to condition her body, wishing to give birth to the Eldest Imperial Prince, yet after more than a year and a half, Consort Rou’s belly still showed no signs of movement.

Consort Rou started to wonder if Emperor Kang He was unable to conceive.

That day, the Empress Dowager specially called Emperor Kang He to Deqing Palace.

”Emperor, I know you’re anxious, but you can’t rush this. You’ve been staying in this palace and that palace for a year and a half, but what about the Empress? Emperor, the Empress is your rightful wife. Although she may be magnanimous and uncomplaining, you shouldn’t neglect her too much.”

Emperor Kang He could only agree.

That night, he went to Changle Palace.

He didn’t want to go, but he couldn’t not go.

Unable to find a substitute, he could only go himself. Emperor Kang He figured he would just talk to Anning, definitely not staying overnight in Changle Palace.

Despite his good plans, once he went, he never came out again.

Anning and Xiao Yuan had long been waiting for this day.

When Emperor Kang He entered Anning’s palace, she led him to the bedroom.

Upon entering, Emperor Kang He instructed his followers to wait outside, and Anning also dismissed the serving Palace Attendants.

When only Emperor Kang He and Anning were left in the room, Anning smiled and led him to sit by the bed, while Xiao Yuan, who had been waiting, suddenly appeared behind Emperor Kang He, knocking him unconscious.

Anning smiled and sat aside, turning her face away, not looking at Emperor Kang He.

Xiao Yuan dragged Emperor Kang He to the other side of the bed, stripping his clothes, exchanging them with his own.

After changing clothes, Xiao Yuan imitated Emperor Kang He’s manner, speaking softly: ”Lu You, come out.”

Lu You appeared.

Xiao Yuan pointed to the unconscious Emperor Kang He on the ground: ”I didn’t expect this thief to be hiding in Changle Palace, almost hurting me. Quickly take him away and imprison him, and I’ll interrogate him when I have time.”

”Yes.”

Lu You bowed in salute, then carried Emperor Kang He away.

After Lu You left, Xiao Yuan smiled at Anning: ”It’s done.”

That night, Xiao Yuan naturally stayed overnight in Changle Palace.

Early the next morning, he led the people to attend the morning court.

Having practiced as Emperor Kang He’s substitute for a long time, Xiao Yuan seamlessly handled the court affairs, returning to the harem after dealing with the political matters in the court.

Emperor Kang He had been locked away by Lu You in the dark room where Xiao Yuan had previously stayed.

After waking, Emperor Kang He was on the verge of frenzy, shouting to be released, insisting that he was the Emperor, claiming that he had been harmed by evildoers.

But now the Hidden Guards watching the dark room were loyal subordinates of Lu You. They were devoted to Lu You.

Moreover, they couldn’t believe anyone would be bold enough to impersonate the Emperor, assuming this was just the substitute spouting nonsense. None of them wished to acknowledge Emperor Kang He, and when his shouting became too annoying, they would open the door to beat him up, naming it teaching him discipline.

Emperor Kang He truly felt he had hoisted himself with his own petard, truly bringing it upon himself.