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

Gao Yan and the other princes sat on the left side of the table. He glanced at Qi Ning, who was sitting in the seat of honor.

The last time I saw her at the entrance of Mingyue Pavilion, she still carried the aura of someone recovering from a serious illness. But tonight, that lingering illness seemed to have disappeared, and she sat beside her father with a smile on her face.

Although they met, it was still difficult to speak to each other alone. Even if Qi Ning returned to the palace with the emperor after the banquet, there would still be no chance for them to speak alone.

Gao Yan beckoned Cao Dong to come closer and whisper a few words to Gao Xi, who was sitting in the women's section.

Upon hearing the message, Gao Xi glanced at his elder brother.

After a while, Gao Xi stood up and said, "Father, tonight is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I would like to give you a gift."

The emperor asked with some surprise, "Oh? What gift does Xi'er want to give me?"

"It is a sachet that I embroidered myself."

As Gao Xi spoke, she instructed her palace maid to deliver the sachet to the maid.

This sachet was the one Gao Xi had planned to embroider for the emperor before the drowning incident, but it was delayed by the incident. Later, she was sick for more than half a month, and she was able to finish embroidering it after she recovered.

Gao Xi was still hesitant, wondering whether she should present the embroidery to the emperor in front of so many people tonight. Her embroidery skills were mediocre, and she was afraid of being laughed at.

Just now, her brother sent someone to tell her that this was the best time for her to give the sachet, and he also taught her some words to say, so Gao Xi stepped forward.

The emperor took the sachet and glanced at it. He could indeed tell that it was embroidered by Gao Xi herself, but the embroidery was very ordinary, clearly the work of a beginner.

This was certainly not as good as the sachets that the concubines in the harem gave to the emperor, but the emperor still gave them face.

He smiled and said, "I had no idea that Xi'er's embroidery skills were so amazing. When did she learn to embroider sachets?"

"Your subject already knows it, but Father Emperor is unaware of it."

Gao Xi's tone carried a hint of grievance.

Following Gao Yan's instructions, she continued, "The flowers and the full moon embroidered on this sachet represent family reunion, which perfectly matches the meaning of tonight's Mid-Autumn Festival. Does Father Emperor like it?"

Upon hearing Gao Xi's words, the emperor paused slightly as he looked at the embroidered pattern on the sachet, which symbolized reunion.

Qi Ning, standing to the side, remained expressionless, glancing at Gao Yan out of the corner of her eye.

After a moment, the emperor replied, "I like it, of course I like it."

The emperor knew that Gao Xi was complaining that he hadn't visited her and her daughter in a long time.

He then thought that the reason Gao Xi framed Qi Ning last time was because he hadn't visited them for a long time, but instead spent a lot of time with Qi Ning.

The emperor had originally planned to go to Mingyue Pavilion with Qi Ning tonight, but he changed his mind.

So, after the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, the emperor went to the palaces of Consort Shu and Consort Gao Xi.

Qi Ning knew very well that Gao Yan was behind this.

She had indeed kept Gao Yan waiting for several days, and seeing that the time was right, Qi Ning decided to give him a chance to meet.

When returning to Mingyue Pavilion, Qi Ning did not choose to take the palanquin, but said to Ji Mei, "Tonight is the night of the full moon, and the moonlight is so bright, let's walk back slowly."

Ji Mei assumed that Qi Ning was unhappy because the Emperor had gone to Consort Shu's palace, so she didn't ask any further questions and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

The master and servant walked slowly back to Mingyue Pavilion. When they reached a corner, a tall and slender figure appeared in front of them.

Ji Mei was startled by the sudden appearance of the figure. She thought it was some kind of thief and instinctively tried to stand in front of Qi Ning.

However, in the next instant, Ji Mei saw the face of the person in front of her clearly by the moonlight.

Isn't this the Fifth Prince?

Ji Mei was taken aback for a moment, then called out, "Fifth Prince?"

Immediately afterwards, she turned to look at Qi Ning and whispered a reminder: "Your Highness, it's the Fifth Prince."

Gao Yan looked at Qi Ning and said, "Consort Qi."

Qi Ning feigned ignorance and asked, "Fifth Prince, what are you doing here all alone so late at night?"

Gao Yan didn't mince words and said directly, "I'll be waiting for you here."

"wait for me?"

"Yes."

Gao Yan glanced at Ji Mei, then looked at Qi Ning: "May I speak with Your Highness alone?"

"Mother, this..."

Before Qi Ning could speak, Ji Mei looked at her with a worried expression.

Ji Mei still remembers clearly what the Fifth Prince and Consort Qi had talked about alone outside Mingyue Pavilion not long ago.

The Empress is His Majesty's concubine and the Fifth Prince's elder; it is somewhat inappropriate for the two of them to speak like this in private.

That time was one thing, at least it happened in broad daylight, so it was aboveboard.

But at this moment, so late at night, the Fifth Prince is waiting here for the Empress to speak with him alone, which Ji Mei finds really inappropriate.

Qi Ning knew exactly what Ji Mei wanted to say.

She didn't agree immediately, but said, "Fifth Prince, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"What's wrong with it?" Gao Yan asked.

"Doesn't Your Highness know what's wrong with me? Of course, it's my status. I am your father's concubine. What kind of situation is it to be alone with you late at night?"

Gao Yan knew this was inappropriate, but he couldn't find any other opportunity to meet Qi Ning. She rarely left Mingyue Pavilion, so he couldn't see her even if he wanted to.

Now that he finally had a chance, Gao Yan certainly wouldn't let her go easily.

"It's just a few words. Your palace maids can watch from a distance, just like last time."

Qi Ning smiled and said, "I don't understand. What important thing does Your Highness have to say to me now? If it's really important, you can say it in front of my maids."

Gao Yan was silent for a moment.

He didn't want it to be like this, but Qi Ning insisted that he do it this way.

Gao Yan slowly said, "Are you sure you want me to say this in front of your palace maids? Ten years ago in Yangzhou..."

Sure enough, as soon as he mentioned "Yangzhou ten years ago," before he could finish his sentence, Qi Ning stopped him.

"stop."

They actually resorted to this tactic.

Of course, Qi Ning would never allow Gao Yan to tell Ji Mei those things.

Ji Mei seems quite loyal so far, but they are, after all, only servants who came together later in life. It wouldn't be good if Ji Mei intentionally or unintentionally revealed those things. Better safe than sorry.

Qi Ning glared at Gao Yan slightly, then immediately turned to Ji Mei and said, "Go ahead and wait for me."

"Your Majesty, this...this isn't quite right, is it?" Ji Mei said hesitantly.

“Go ahead,” Qi Ning said again.

Ji Mei hesitated for a moment before walking forward, turning back every few steps. When she reached the front, she opened her eyes wide and looked at them from afar.

Ji Mei was seen meeting with Qi Ning and Gao Yan alone, and she kept looking around, naturally gazing at the wind.

“She’s gone.” Qi Ning said.

"It would have been so much better if we had done this earlier." Gao Yan took a few steps closer to Qi Ning.

Qi Ning said with a displeased expression, "What exactly is Your Highness trying to say? What do you mean by 'ten years ago' and 'Yangzhou'?"

“You know what I’m talking about,” Gao Yan said confidently.

"Otherwise, why did you stop me from continuing in front of others?"

"Fifth Prince investigated me? What did he find out?" Qi Ning asked.

“Everything,” Gao Yan said, “from what happened in Yangzhou ten years ago, to the real reason you became the Jiang family’s adopted daughter, and then to your scheming against Gao Yun and the Jiang family.”

"That Fifth Prince is truly capable; he managed to investigate this so thoroughly."

Looking at Qi Ning's cold expression, Gao Yan thought to himself, "This is the real her."

She is not some delicate, weak, and shallow beauty who only knows how to use petty tricks and rely on her looks, but a cold, ruthless, and cunning woman who is single-mindedly focused on revenge.

"Last time you denied praising Gao Yun to death, you won't deny it again now, will you?"

"Hasn't the Fifth Prince already investigated everything? How can I still deny it?"

Qi Ning then said, "Your Highness went to great lengths to stop me, could it be just to expose my lie from last time?"

Her words were barbed, and her demeanor and actions were defensive.

Gao Yan frowned slightly; he wasn't there to argue with her.

He softened his tone and said, "I...I misunderstood you before..."

Gao Yan was a prince who was born into wealth and privilege. He had hardly ever apologized to anyone since he was a child. If you really asked him to apologize, he was quite inexperienced.

But Qi Ning listened to Gao Yan's words as if she had heard a joke.

"Fifth Prince, what are you saying? You haven't misunderstood me. You thought I was a scheming person who would deliberately seduce others. In fact, I am indeed that kind of person."

“I first tried to get close to you, but the Fifth Prince saw through me, so I had to seduce His Majesty instead. There was no misunderstanding at all.”

Gao Yan frowned at her: "That's not what I meant. The misunderstanding I was referring to was your intention in doing this, as well as your relationship with the Jiang family and Gao Yun."

"Then it's none of the Fifth Prince's business," Qi Ning said calmly.

"Since you know that I'm doing this to scheme against them, you should also know that it benefits you. You wouldn't expose me to them or His Majesty, would you?"

Exposed?

Gao Yan had absolutely no need to do that.

He replied, "Of course not."

Gao Yan looked at her and said, "I know you're doing this for revenge, but is it really worth it to ruin your whole life like this?"

"Is Your Highness referring to the matter of me becoming His Majesty's concubine?"

Gao Yan did not answer, but his expression indicated acquiescence.

Qi Ning chuckled lightly: "His Majesty is the most noble man in the world. I am just a commoner. If I could become His Majesty's concubine, others would think that I am climbing the social ladder. How could it not be worth it? Besides, His Majesty dotes on me. Apart from being a little older, there is nothing wrong with me."

“If Your Highness is referring to the fact that His Majesty is older than me…” Qi Ning looked at Gao Yan with a playful gaze, “I did want to seduce Your Highness, who is about my age, but Your Highness didn’t give me the chance, so I had to look for someone else.”

Upon hearing these words, Gao Yan clenched his fist behind his back.

He didn't continue the topic, but instead asked, "What are your plans for the future? Your previous attempt to flatter Gao Yun did have some effect, but now that he's kept a low profile, that tactic is no longer working. And what about the Jiang family? How do you plan to deal with them?"

Qi Ning did not answer directly, but only said, "This is my matter, so Your Highness doesn't need to worry about it."

"If Your Highness has nothing else to attend to, I shall take my leave."

After saying that, Qi Ning didn't need Gao Yan's consent, so he walked around him and went to Ji Mei's side.

Gao Yan had no reason to stop her, so he could only watch her walk past him, stirring up a breeze carrying a faint fragrance.

Ji Mei had been waiting for Qi Ning for quite a while. She had been watching Qi Ning and Gao Yan from a distance and didn't know what they were talking about. Ji Mei was afraid that someone would suddenly appear and witness this scene, which would be disastrous.

Fortunately, they finally finished talking. Seeing Qi Ning walking towards them, Ji Mei breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stepped forward to support Qi Ning.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late, let's hurry back."

Qi Ning nodded and left with Ji Mei.

Gao Yan turned around and saw Qi Ning's figure gradually disappear.

After a long while, he finally moved back to his residence.

As soon as he entered, Cao Dong greeted him: "Your Highness, you're back?"

"Ah."

"Lord Chen has been waiting for you in his study for a long time."

"understood."

Gao Yan strode towards the study.

Chen Song had indeed been waiting for Gao Yan in the study for a long time; he had something to report to Gao Yan.

After finally waiting for Gao Yan to return, Chen Song hurriedly reported the matter to him.

Chen Song talked a lot, but found that Gao Yan was absent-minded the whole time. He seemed to have something on his mind and didn't listen to what he said at all.

Chen Song stopped and called out, "Your Highness?"

Gao Yan then looked up at Chen Song: "Why did you stop talking?"

Chen Song thought to himself, "He said so much just now, but Gao Yan wasn't listening. What good was it?"

However, Chen Song didn't say this aloud. Instead, he asked, "Is something on your mind, Your Highness?"

After a moment of silence, Gao Yan recounted what happened to Qi Ning.

Unexpectedly, Chen Song was very excited when he heard this.

"Oh dear! Your Highness, why didn't you say so sooner? This is such a wonderful thing!"

"Good thing?"

"Yes, Your Highness, do you remember that I once said that it would be great if Consort Qi were on our side? Now that we have learned that Consort Qi is not really a member of the Fourth Prince's faction, and that everything she has done is to scheme against the Fourth Prince and the Jiang family, this is certainly a good thing for us."

Gao Yan naturally knew what Chen Song was talking about, but the problem was that he had tried to get close to Qi Ning tonight, and Qi Ning had rejected him just as he had rejected him before.

“I met her tonight. Although she is scheming against Gao Yun and the Jiang family, she is unwilling to have much contact with me and it is impossible for her to agree to join our camp.”

"Is that so?"

Chen Song asked in bewilderment, "That shouldn't be the case. Since Consort Qi has a grudge against the Jiang family and wants to deal with the Jiang family and the Fourth Prince as well, she should know that Your Highness and she share some of the same goals. She should be actively cooperating with Your Highness. Why would she reject Your Highness?"

Chen Song's question hit the nail on the head, silencing Gao Yan.

Why else could it be? The person Qi Ning initially wanted to get close to was him. It was he who, without any explanation, became wary of her and humiliated her. Only then did Qi Ning give up on getting close to him and instead approach his father, the Emperor.

Qi Ning probably still holds a grudge, and with her father's favor, she's naturally fearless and doesn't care about having any more contact with him.

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