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

The young eunuch guarding the gate thought he had misheard.

Anyone would probably think that after what happened yesterday, it's unlikely that someone else would be sent to their death so soon.

"Send soup?" the young eunuch confirmed.

"That's right," Qiu Lu replied, slipping a purse into the eunuch's hand. "Thank you for your trouble, sir."

The young eunuch took the purse, secretly weighed it in his hand, and then casually slipped it into his sleeve.

He glanced at Qiu Lu and Qi Ning, and said with a smile, "Your Highness, please wait a moment, this servant will go and inform Eunuch Wu."

Eunuch Wu was the chief eunuch who served Xiao Jin personally, and one of Xiao Jin's most trusted people. All the concubines in the harem had to go through him to see Xiao Jin.

After the gatekeeper finished speaking, he turned and went inside to find Eunuch Wu.

"Eunuch Wu!"

Upon seeing the young eunuch rushing over, Eunuch Wu glared at him irritably: "Keep your voice down! What are you shouting about? If you disturb His Majesty, you'll be in big trouble!"

The young eunuch hurriedly lowered his voice and apologized, "This servant knows his crime! Please calm down, Your Excellency!"

Only then did Eunuch Wu ask, "What happened?"

The young eunuch replied, "Eunuch Wu, Consort Ning has arrived. She says she wants to bring His Majesty some soup. What do you think of this…?"

"Here to deliver soup?"

Eunuch Wu asked in surprise.

"That's right, they're waiting at the door right now."

Eunuch Wu glanced in that direction and flicked his whisk: "Wait."

Xiao Jin was sitting at his desk reviewing memorials when he noticed Wu Zhong enter. He looked up.

"Your Majesty, Consort Ning requests an audience, saying she has come to deliver soup to Your Majesty."

"Consort Ning?"

Xiao Jin wasn't very familiar with the concubines in the harem. The name Ning Jieyu sounded somewhat familiar, but he still couldn't remember who she was.

Knowing the Emperor's heart well, Eunuch Wu reminded him, "Your Majesty, Consort Ning is the legitimate daughter of Qi Shanhai, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. She currently resides in Yongning Palace and has a close relationship with Consort Yao."

Upon hearing that she was a concubine who was close to Consort Yao, Xiao Jin finally had some recollection of her.

After all, not many of the women in the harem were close to Chu Yiyao.

Seeing the knowing look on Xiao Jin's face, Eunuch Wu said, "This Consort Ning is usually very well-behaved, but I don't know why she came to deliver soup to His Majesty, especially at this time. I heard that she was so frightened by the scene of Consort Chen's execution yesterday that she fainted."

This piqued Xiao Jin's interest, and he put down his imperial brush, saying calmly, "Let her in."

"Yes."

Qi Ning waited outside for a short while before a young eunuch came out and told her that His Majesty wanted her to go in.

Qi Ning was not surprised by this; she knew Xiao Jin would see her.

She led Qiu Lu inside.

Upon entering the imperial study, Qi Ning lowered his head slightly, walked quietly to the imperial desk, and then knelt down to pay his respects.

"Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, pay my respects."

Xiao Jin glanced at the pair of master and servant kneeling before her, her tone completely indifferent: "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Qi Ning stood up and looked up, only to see Xiao Jin sitting behind the imperial desk, dressed in a black dragon robe, casually picking up a sword from a shelf and wiping it.

He was indeed good-looking, but he was too aloof and cold, exuding an aura of authority that made him unapproachable.

Qiu Lu was so frightened that she trembled.

Qi Ning naturally also showed a fearful look, and said timidly, "I heard that Your Majesty has been busy with state affairs lately and is working very hard. I specially asked the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a chicken soup for you. Would Your Majesty like to try it?"

As she spoke, she gestured for Qiu Lu to bring over the bowl of chicken soup.

Xiao Jin focused on wiping the sword in his hand, without even looking up: "You drink it for me."

"His Majesty……"

Do I need to repeat myself?

"Yes, Your Highness."

Qi Ning indeed took the soup bowl from Qiu Lu's hand and took a small sip with a spoon.

As soon as she put down her spoon, she saw Xiao Jin looking at her with a meaningful expression.

Qi Ning handed the soup bowl to Qiu Lu and said directly, "Your Majesty, there is no medicine in this soup, it is just an ordinary chicken soup."

"Oh?"

That's true, surely no one would be that brainless.

It seems that Consort Ning only wanted to see him, but actually had ulterior motives.

"You came to the Imperial Study just to bring me a bowl of ordinary chicken soup?"

"Of course not."

Qi Ning turned around and gestured for Qiu Lu to go out first.

Qiu Lu glanced at Qi Ning with concern, then had no choice but to put away the soup bowl, pick up the food box, and go out.

Only when she and Xiao Jin were the only two left in the Imperial Study did Qi Ning kneel down before Xiao Jin again.

"Your Majesty, I have come here today to pledge my allegiance to you."

"To surrender?" Xiao Jin raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

Qi Ning clenched the handkerchief in her hand, as if she had mustered up all her courage before speaking.

"I have been in the palace for over a year and have never served the emperor. I used to hope that I would one day gain his favor, but in the past year, I have witnessed several concubines in the harem die one after another because of their struggle for the emperor's favor. In addition, I personally witnessed Consort Chen being executed yesterday. Therefore, I have come to a deep understanding..."

Qi Ning paused at this point.

"What insights have you gained?" Xiao Jin asked casually.

Qi Ning replied, "I understand. His Majesty only has Consort Yao in his heart and cannot accommodate anyone else."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin's eyes darkened instantly.

He didn't refute her, but just stared at the woman in front of him, as if trying to guess what she wanted to say.

Qi Ning continued, "Therefore, I do not wish to follow in the footsteps of Consort Chen and others. I have no desire to compete for favor and only wish to live peacefully in the harem."

"Is this what you call surrendering?"

"No." Qi Ning shook her head. "What I meant by surrendering was that I could help His Majesty ease the tension between you and Consort Yao."

"Ah."

No sooner had Qi Ning finished speaking than Xiao Jin let out a cold laugh.

"You've got some nerve. What business is it of yours how I am with Consort Yao?"

Xiao Jin was well aware of the significant problems between him and Chu Yiyao, but it was not up to others to say.

The system was also shocked by Qi Ning's words. It popped up in Qi Ning's mind: "Host, what are you doing? Be careful not to anger this madman!"

Qi Ning lowered her eyes and said to the system, "Shut up, don't affect my performance!"

System: "Okay!"

Qi Ning raised her head and crawled forward two steps on her knees: "Your Majesty! Please forgive this concubine for speaking so frankly!"

"Others may not dare to say it, but everyone in the harem knows that His Majesty's relationship with Consort Yao is not very good. Some even say that Consort Yao did not stay in the palace willingly..."

"shut up!"

As if a sore spot had been touched, Xiao Jin slammed his hand on the imperial desk, causing the teacups on it to tremble.

Qi Ning's body trembled.

But she only paused for a moment, and then continued as if she were not afraid of death: "For example, yesterday, His Majesty ordered that Consort Chen, who had poisoned you, be flogged to death. This is understandable for other people in the palace, but Consort Yao would certainly not be able to accept it."

"If I'm not mistaken, Consort Yao probably had another falling out with His Majesty yesterday because of this matter."

Xiao Jin's expression suddenly changed. He stood up abruptly, picked up the long sword beside him, and pointed it at Qi Ning: "I told you to shut up, didn't you hear me?"

The sword engraved with dragon patterns had been on the battlefield with Xiao Jin and had been stained with human blood. At this moment, the gleaming tip of the sword was half an inch in front of Qi Ning's throat. If she was not careful, the sword would pierce her throat.

Qi Ning trembled as she looked at the sword so close to her, her eyes red with fear.

But after a while, she still stammered, "Your Majesty is so angry, but only because I have spoken your mind!"

"I have a decent relationship with Consort Yao in private, and I know her quite well. Consort Yao is kind-hearted, innocent and romantic by nature. If Your Majesty continues to be so forceful, you will surely drift further and further apart from her!"

Xiao Jin looked down at Qi Ning, and after an unknown amount of time, he finally put his sword away.

He sheathed his sword expressionlessly and sat down again.

"Then tell me, how do you plan to ease the tension between me and Consort Yao?"

The reason Xiao Jin didn't kill the woman in front of him directly was because what she said was all true.

After issuing the imperial decree to have Consort Chen beaten to death yesterday, Xiao Jin went to Chu Yiyao's Chang Le Palace, only to be driven out by her. She even cursed him as cold-blooded and a tyrant.

Their relationship had been relatively harmonious recently, but after this incident, it has become even more distant.

Seeing that Xiao Jin had sheathed his sword and even asked him a question, Qi Ning knew that he had achieved more than half of his goal.

She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief before straightening her limp body: "Does Your Majesty believe that your decree to have Consort Chen beaten to death was justified and that it showed that you only have Consort Yao in your heart, and that she should understand your intentions?"

Xiao Jin did not answer, but that was indeed what he was thinking.

After being kicked out of Chang Le Palace by Chu Yiyao yesterday, he felt that she was ungrateful and that he did all that for her sake.

Qi Ning didn't need Xiao Jin to answer at all: "In my opinion, Consort Yao's thoughts should be exactly the opposite of yours. It is understandable that you beat Consort Chen to death, but such a method will only make Consort Yao feel scared. Most people cannot accept such a bloody scene, let alone a kind person like Consort Yao."

"If His Majesty had dealt with Consort Chen privately without letting Consort Yao know, or had used a different method of punishment, she would not have harbored any resentment towards His Majesty."

"Furthermore, after the incident, His Majesty should explain to Consort Yao the reasons for your actions, so that she understands your good intentions, instead of feeling that the Consort is ungrateful and holding a grudge against her."

Xiao Jin frowned upon hearing this.

Ning Jieyu's analysis was very logical and reasonable. Xiao Jin listened patiently and actually found that it made some sense.

"So, in your opinion, how should this be handled?"

The deed is done, and Xiao Jin is the emperor; there is absolutely no way he would bow down and admit his mistake to Chu Yiyao.

Qi Ning knew Xiao Jin's thoughts and said, "Now that Consort Yao is angry, she certainly won't listen to His Majesty's explanation. But I'm different. I usually have a good relationship with Consort Yao, and as a woman, it's easier for us to talk. Why don't I go and persuade Consort Yao to mediate for His Majesty?"

Xiao Jin did not immediately agree. He scrutinized Qi Ning with a critical gaze and suddenly asked, "What are you planning to do this?"

Xiao Jin was a suspicious ruler. He did not believe that the woman in front of him would risk her life to offer advice just to survive in the harem.

If you just want to live a peaceful life, you only need to be law-abiding and do your job.

She must have had other motives for doing this.

Qi Ning bit her lip nervously: "Nothing can be hidden from His Majesty. What can the women of the harem ask for? They can only ask for a higher position in the harem and glory for their families. But such requests may be wishful thinking. I only ask for one small thing right now..."

At this point, she cautiously raised her eyes, glanced at Xiao Jin's expression, and then continued.

“My mother sent a letter a couple of days ago. In the letter, she said that my brother got drunk at Zuixianlou a few days ago and had a fight with the son of the Minister of Justice. The next day, my brother was found guilty and imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice’s jail.”

This wasn't something Qi Ning fabricated; the original owner did indeed receive the letter. However, she was already afraid of Xiao Jin, and with the Chen Chongyi incident, she dared not ask Xiao Jin for help even more.

Qi Ning wanted to use this incident as a pretext to lessen Xiao Jin's suspicions about her.

"I understand that those in the inner palace are not allowed to participate in politics, and my brother was wrong to cause trouble at the restaurant, but it really doesn't warrant being thrown into the Ministry of Justice's jail... My brother is the only son in the family, and if anything were to happen to him..."

At this point, her purpose is self-evident.

Before Xiao Jin could say anything, Qi Ning continued, "Your Majesty need not rush to grant my request. You may allow me to try persuading Consort Yao first. Once I see the effect, Your Majesty may grant my request."

After saying that, she waited anxiously for Xiao Jin's reply.

Xiao Jin had indeed been suspicious, but after hearing Qi Ning reveal her true purpose, he gradually relaxed his guard.

If that's the case, then her fearless behavior today makes sense.

While she pleaded for her brother's sake, she was probably primarily after her so-called status in the harem and the glory of her family, which is why she took the risk.

Undeniably, Consort Ning is quite clever, having identified what Xiao Jin cares about.

Whether it was his status in the harem, the glory of his family, or the fact that the eldest son of the Qi family had been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice, none of these were major issues for Xiao Jin; it all depended on whether he was willing to accept them.

Xiao Jin narrowed his cold eyes slightly, silently considering the matter.

Letting her try might not be a bad idea; if it doesn't work, we can kill her then.

"I grant your request. Go and try it. If it works, I will certainly grant your wish."

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