Quick Transmigration: The Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character's Revenge

"I know."

Even without system reminders, Qi Ning knew that she had an excellent memory and had memorized the original plot after reading it once.

Despite this, there was no sign of panic on her face.

Seeing Qi Ning's calm demeanor, the system knew she had a plan and said no more.

After a while, Qiu Lu walked in with a smile: "Your Majesty, the reward money has been distributed."

"Mm," Qi Ning replied.

Qiu Lu was still somewhat confused. She leaned closer to Qi Ning and whispered, "Your Majesty, since you didn't serve the Emperor last night, why did His Majesty still promote you?"

Qi Ning reached out and pinched Qiu Lu's chubby cheeks: "Young lady, don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

She sat up straight and said, "Help me change my clothes. His Majesty should be free now. I want to go to the Imperial Study to express my gratitude in person."

Since Eunuch Wu had already said so, she couldn't very well not go; otherwise, it would seem too insincere.

"Oh." Qiu Lu rubbed her face.

She was indeed still a naive young woman, only vaguely aware of such matters. After hearing Qi Ning's words, she belatedly felt embarrassed.

After all, it was a private matter between the Empress and her family, so it was not convenient for her to ask too many questions. With that in mind, Qiu Lu busied herself helping Qi Ning change her clothes.

Upon hearing Qi Ning say she was going to the Imperial Study, the system reminded her, "Host, Xiao Yu is in the Imperial Study. You might run into him if you go now."

Qi Ning was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and then said, "Isn't that perfect? ​​I haven't seen him in a long time."

Xiao Yu was indeed in the Imperial Study at that moment.

Xiao Jin was asking him, "Your mother has been ill for so long, has her condition improved? Why don't we have the imperial physician take another look?"

The old princess fell ill while at the palace, supposedly from catching a cold, but the imperial physician said it was from a shock and an acute illness.

Now, more than a month has passed, and the old princess has returned to the palace, but her condition does not seem to have improved. Therefore, the emperor summoned Xiao Yu to inquire about the situation.

Xiao Yu looked at the emperor sitting behind the imperial desk and replied respectfully, "Uncle, there's no need. The imperial physicians have already seen her several times. My mother's illness requires quiet rest. Seeing more imperial physicians won't help."

"Rest in peace? In my opinion, it's a mental illness. I heard that your mother had an argument with you the day before she fell ill at the palace?" Xiao Jin asked, looking at Xiao Yu.

It wasn't difficult for the emperor to find out this information, and Xiao Yu didn't deny it either. He only said, "It's all my fault."

"What are you arguing about? Is it about marrying the princess?" Xiao Jin asked again.

Xiao Yu paused for a moment, then replied, "Yes."

"Are you dissatisfied with the three candidates chosen by me and your mother?"

Xiao Yu did not answer the question immediately, but remained silent.

Seeing his reaction, Xiao Jin knew she had guessed correctly.

Although he was only a few years older than Xiao Yu, his nephew, he was, after all, the emperor and an elder, so he couldn't help but give him a few earnest words of advice.

Xiao Jin stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked down. He paced around the imperial study and said slowly, "Your mother is getting old, so you should be careful with your words and not anger her."

"There are still several months until next year's general election. Since the dispute is about the selection of the princess, you and your son have time to discuss it slowly. You can bring up any ideas you have to me."

Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Jin, who had his back to him and could not see the complex emotions in Xiao Yu's eyes.

Only when Xiao Jin walked up to him did Xiao Yu lower his eyes and speak: "Uncle, now that Mother is ill, I dare not bring up these things again and make her angry. Why don't we wait until she is better before discussing it? There is no rush to marry the princess. We can postpone it for a while. Nothing is more important than Mother's health."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin thought about it and agreed with Xiao Yu's statement.

He patted Xiao Yu on the shoulder: "You're right, nothing is more important than your mother's health. Since that's the case, then do as you say. Just make sure you know what's good for you."

"Yes, nephew understands."

Having finished discussing this matter, Xiao Yu took his leave.

The emperor watched Xiao Yu leave, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Eunuch Wu had been serving nearby and naturally overheard the conversation between the emperor and Xiao Yu.

Seeing the emperor's expression, he tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, would you like to investigate Prince Yu?"

Xiao Jin could certainly tell that something was off about his imperial nephew lately.

He only knew that Xiao Yu and his mother had argued about the selection of a princess, but since only the mother and son were in the room that day, he did not know the specific content of their argument.

Xiao Jin guessed that Xiao Yu had probably taken a fancy to some unsuitable woman, which had been opposed by the old princess.

After listening to Eunuch Wu's words, Xiao Jin considered for a moment, but refused: "Forget it, there's no need to investigate his private affairs."

Xiao Jin already knew of Xiao Yu's loyalty to her when Xiao Yu nearly lost his life saving the emperor.

Since Xiao Yu wouldn't do anything major to betray him, Xiao Jin wouldn't hold it against him even if there were some minor personal issues.

After all, most of those princes, nobles, and scions of prominent families have some flaws in private; who can truly be completely innocent and without any shortcomings?

Compared to others, Xiao Yu is one of the few people who makes him worry less and is someone he can trust.

If you investigate every little thing, it will inevitably damage your relationship.

As Xiao Yu left the imperial study, Xiao Shunzi hurriedly stepped forward: "Your Highness, are you leaving the palace now? This servant will see you off."

In the past, when Xiao Yu entered and exited the Imperial Study, it was always Xiao Shunzi who greeted and saw him off.

He would occasionally and unintentionally reveal some palace news to Xiao Yu, and Xiao Yu would always give him some rewards without saying a word.

Xiao Yu glanced at Xiao Shunzi and nodded indifferently.

The two had barely stepped out of the imperial study when they saw a group of people approaching from the palace road ahead. Several eunuchs were carrying a palanquin, followed by several palace maids.

Xiao Yu recognized Qiu Lu, who was following beside the palanquin.

"Who is that?" Xiao Yu asked knowingly.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shunzi immediately replied with a smile, "Your Highness, that is Consort Ning."

"Consort Ning?"

Xiao Yu's expression changed, and he looked at Xiao Shunzi.

Xiao Shunzi nodded in agreement: "That's right, it's normal that Your Highness doesn't know yet. Last night, His Majesty stayed in Consort Ning's Yongning Palace. This morning, the decree to promote Consort Ning to Consort Ning was just issued, and the news hasn't had time to spread outside the palace yet."

Xiao Yu's face suddenly turned pale: "You mean, she served the emperor in bed?"

Xiao Shunzi thought Xiao Yu's words were a bit strange, but he didn't think much of it, assuming that Xiao Yu was just too surprised.

"Yes, Your Highness must be surprised too, right? His Majesty actually had a concubine other than Consort Yao serve him, and even promoted Consort Ning's rank. Now, Consort Ning is on par with Consort Yao in terms of rank."

"In addition, His Majesty also issued an edict promoting Consort Ning's father from Assistant Minister of Revenue to Vice Minister of Revenue. Such great favor is probably beyond even Consort Yao's reach."

After all, everyone in the palace knew that Consort Yao had gained the Emperor's favor because she had saved his life.

In fact, she came from a poor family. She was not only a poor girl from a small town, but also an orphan without parents and no maternal family to rely on.

Although Consort Ning's family was not particularly prominent in the capital, she was still a proper daughter of an official.

Not to mention that His Majesty has now promoted Consort Ning's father to a high-ranking official of the third rank.

Therefore, it is understandable that people are now saying that Consort Ning has surpassed Consort Yao to become the most powerful woman in the harem.

After Xiao Shunzi finished speaking, he noticed that Xiao Yu's expression was a little off, and he seemed somewhat dazed.

"Your Highness? Your Highness, are you alright?"

Xiao Yu then came to his senses and shook his head: "It's nothing."

As they spoke, Qi Ning and his group had already arrived nearby.

Xiao Yu looked at the palanquin. Now that the weather was cold, a curtain was placed around the palanquin to block the wind, so he could not see Qi Ning sitting inside.

Xiao Shunzi whispered, "Your Highness, Consort Ning's palanquin is approaching."

This was a reminder for Xiao Yu to bow.

Xiao Yu stood by the palace road, stiffly performing a hand salute, and his greeting was extremely awkward: "Greetings, Consort Ning."

Qi Ning's palanquin stopped in front of Xiao Yu.

A moment later, Qi Ning's voice came from inside the palanquin: "Your Highness Prince Yu, there is no need for such formalities."

Then she added, "I am in a hurry to express my gratitude to His Majesty. It is freezing cold and inconvenient to dismount from the palanquin, so I will take my leave first."

His tone remained cold and indifferent throughout.

After saying this, without waiting for Xiao Yu's response, Qiu Lu signaled the eunuchs carrying the palanquin to continue towards the Imperial Study.

As Xiao Yu watched the palanquin gradually disappear into the distance, he felt a tightness in his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Xiao Shunzi thought Xiao Yu was angry, and awkwardly advised, "Your Highness, Consort Ning's status has risen so much that it's normal for her to become a little arrogant. Please don't mind."

Xiao Yu replied numbly, "I don't mind."

Xiao Shunzi kept talking, but Xiao Yu couldn't hear a word he said.

He glanced at Xiao Shunzi's constantly opening and closing lips and interrupted him: "I want to walk by myself, you don't need to see me off."

After saying that, he turned around and left.

Xiao Shunzi stood there, scratching his head, wondering what he had said wrong that had upset Xiao Yu.

After a long pause, he finally replied, "Your Highness, please take care."

Xiao Yu walked alone on the palace road, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

He wondered if Qi Ning had truly become his concubine.

The next moment he felt ridiculous. If he hadn't actually served the emperor, why would His Majesty have promoted him?

But if she really did serve the emperor, how could she prevent him from noticing that this wasn't her first time?

Xiao Yu didn't know how Qi Ning did it, but he was certain that she didn't let His Majesty find out, otherwise she wouldn't have been promoted, but would have been punished.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yu couldn't help but feel a little fortunate that His Majesty hadn't discovered it; otherwise, he would have been the one to harm her.

Fortunately she's fine.

Xiao Yu kept telling himself that he should be happy for her now that she was doing well.

Xiao Yu's heart remained heavy, as if tightly bound by silk threads, making it difficult for him to breathe.

He subconsciously raised his eyes, wanting to look at the sky, but found something floating past his eyes.

Xiao Yu looked closely and realized that it was snowing.

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