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

The news that the second prince had been poisoned caused a great uproar in the palace.

Faced with the emperor's investigation, the concubines, remembering the example of Consort Shu, were all in danger. After all, it didn't matter whether they were the ones who poisoned the body or not; as long as His Majesty determined who had done it, that person would be in deep trouble.

Feng Ke didn't know if he could find out who poisoned him, so he didn't focus on that matter and instead concentrated most of his attention on Qi Ning.

Even though Qi Ning's poisoning was not serious and she had taken the antidote prescribed by Physician Sheng, Feng Ke still told Qi Ning not to do anything and just to rest in bed.

He took Qi Ning's hand and said in a serious tone, "Ning'er, you are not allowed to do such dangerous things again."

"Your Highness need not worry, I am perfectly fine."

Qi Ning revealed a sly smile: "Actually, this servant doesn't need to rest in bed. It's just to make it seem more serious so that His Majesty and the Empress would take this matter seriously and find out who poisoned His Highness as soon as possible."

"I know." Feng Ke lowered his eyes, his eyes slightly reddening. "But I don't want you to take such a risk."

Seeing Feng Ke's expression, Qi Ning knew that she had achieved her goal. She smiled and said, "Your Highness, rest assured. The most urgent task now is to find out who poisoned you."

The person who poisoned the body will naturally remain undetected.

The Emperor and Empress were furious about this and reprimanded everyone in the harem, saying that if anyone was found to be the poisoner, or if anyone dared to harm the Second Prince again, they would not be forgiven.

This had one advantage: it made those who originally wanted to harm Feng Ke back down and dare not easily hurt him.

On the other hand, in order to protect her nominal son, the Empress also strengthened the protection of Feng Ke.

And so, Feng Ke lived peacefully in the palace for five years.

In the blink of an eye, Feng Ke was already fifteen years old.

For the past five years, Qi Ning has stayed by Feng Ke's side, and the two have spent every day together.

Feng Ke didn't treat Qi Ning as a servant at all; he relied on her a lot. Almost everyone in the harem knew that Qi Ning was the closest person to the Second Prince.

On this day, Feng Ke came out of the Imperial Study.

Ji Qing followed behind Feng Ke and looked up at the sky.

The sky was overcast, and it looked like it was about to rain.

"Your Highness, it looks like it's about to rain. Please wait a moment while I have someone prepare a palanquin for you to return."

"No need. It's only a few steps from the Imperial Study to Xiyuan Palace. Why would we need a palanquin?"

Having said that, Feng Ke strode away, and Ji Qing had no choice but to follow immediately.

As Feng Ke hurried toward Xiyuan Palace, he spotted Qi Ning's figure on the palace path ahead.

However, Qi Ning was not alone. A guard was standing in front of her, and the two were talking and laughing about something.

Feng Ke paused, his face suddenly turning cold.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Ji Qing asked, puzzled, when he saw Feng Ke suddenly stop walking.

When he followed Feng Ke's gaze and looked ahead, he also saw Qi Ning in front of him.

"Isn't that Ning'er?"

Without thinking much, Ji Qing called out loudly to Qi Ning, "Ning'er."

Qi Ning looked over at the sound and saw Feng Ke and Ji Qing. He quickly said something to the guard and walked towards them.

The guard bowed to Feng Ke from afar, then turned and left.

Qi Ning smiled and walked up to Feng Ke: "Your Highness."

Feng Ke merely glanced at her, ignored her completely, and walked away.

"Your Highness?"

Qi Ning watched Feng Ke's retreating figure, then turned to look at Ji Qing, her eyes asking, "What's wrong, Your Highness?"

Ji Qing shook his head: "It has nothing to do with me. I don't know what happened. His Highness is always happy when he sees you. He was fine just now. I don't know why he suddenly became like this."

Qi Ning didn't ask any more questions: "Let's go, let's follow them first."

The two quickly followed behind Feng Ke.

Feng Ke has grown up and taller in the past five years, and has completely grown into a teenager.

Five years ago, when Qi Ning first came to Feng Ke's side, she was taller than Feng Ke. Now, Feng Ke has grown a head taller than her.

He was tall and had long legs, and he walked quickly and hurriedly, so Qi Ning and Ji Qing couldn't catch up with him.

"Your Highness!"

Qi Ning called out to him again.

Feng Ke then stopped and turned to look at Qi Ning.

Qi Ning jogged up to him: "Your Highness, why are you walking so fast?"

Feng Ke remained expressionless, his face still cold, and asked, "Why aren't you in the palace? What are you doing here?"

Normally, Qi Ning would have pastries prepared in advance and wait for him to return to Xiyuan Palace.

Every time Feng Ke walked to the entrance of Xiyuan Palace, he would see Qi Ning waiting for him there.

But today, Qi Ning did not wait for him in the palace. Instead, he appeared on the palace road, chatting and laughing with a guard. Feng Ke was naturally displeased.

"I saw that the sky was overcast and it looked like it was going to rain soon, so I came here to bring Your Highness an umbrella."

Qi Ning explained, raising the oil-paper umbrella in her hand.

Feng Ke then noticed that Qi Ning was holding an oil-paper umbrella.

His expression softened slightly, and after hesitating for a moment, he asked somewhat stiffly, "What were you talking about with that guard just now?"

Qi Ning looked around and, seeing that no one was around, lowered her voice and said, "That's a guard of the Emperor. I want to ask him something."

Hearing Qi Ning say this, Feng Ke roughly guessed what was going on.

He didn't press the matter further, softening his tone: "I understand, let's go back."

The two walked together toward Xiyuan Palace, with Jiqing following behind.

However, after returning to Xiyuan Palace, Feng Ke still seemed unhappy. He went into his bedchamber by himself, collapsed onto the couch, put one hand behind his head, and closed his eyes.

Qi Ning followed him in and, seeing his appearance, went up to the bedside.

Is Your Highness feeling unwell?

She bent down and reached out to touch Feng Ke's forehead.

"It's not hot. Should I have someone go and invite Physician Sheng to come and take a look at Your Highness?"

After saying that, Qi Ning turned to leave.

Before Qi Ning could turn around, Feng Ke grabbed her wrist and opened his eyes to look at her.

Qi Ning looked at him: "Your Highness?"

"There's no need to summon the imperial physician."

Feng Ke sat up from the couch, reached out and hugged Qi Ning's waist, pressing his cheek against her abdomen.

"Ning'er."

"Ok?"

"Will you always stay by my side?" he asked softly.

Upon hearing this, Qi Ning remained silent and did not answer immediately.

Feng Ke grew anxious and looked up at her: "Why aren't you answering? Don't you want to stay with me forever?"

"Of course not," Qi Ning denied vehemently. "As long as I am in the palace, I will always be with Your Highness."

"What do you mean by that?" Feng Ke frowned.

Qi Ning smiled and said, "Your Highness, have you forgotten? Palace maids are required to leave the palace at the age of twenty-five. I am already twenty years old this year."

"I won't let you leave!"

Feng Ke hugged Qi Ning even tighter.

"You are not allowed to leave the palace. You must stay in the palace and stay with me."

Qi Ning chuckled and patted Feng Ke's head: "Alright, Your Highness, stop being childish and let me go."

"Who's throwing a tantrum? I'm not a child anymore."

Feng Ke released Qi Ning, got up and walked to the desk by the window to sit down. He had his back to Qi Ning and looked like he was sulking.

Just then, someone knocked on the door from the outside.

Qi Ning guessed that it was a palace maid who had brought in snacks and tea, so she went out to check.

When Feng Ke saw that Qi Ning not only didn't come to coax him, but actually went out, his expression became even more unpleasant.

A moment later, Qi Ning came in carrying a food box, took out the contents one by one, and placed them on the desk in front of Feng Ke.

"Your Highness, you must have had a long day in the Imperial Study. Have some snacks to fill your stomach. Look, there are osmanthus cakes, dragon beard candy, and pine nut and lily cakes that you mentioned wanting yesterday. I've had the Imperial Kitchen make them for you."

Feng Ke is currently at an age where he is growing and has a large appetite, so having a snack won't prevent him from having dinner later.

Feng Ke crossed his arms and contradicted, "I'm not hungry."

"Your Highness." Qi Ning sat down in front of Feng Ke, looking at him with a helpless expression.

Feng Ke recalled what Qi Ning had said earlier, accusing him of acting like a child, and he was very indignant.

To prove he wasn't throwing a tantrum, he acted as if nothing had happened and started eating the snacks in front of him.

He only ate osmanthus cake and dragon beard candy, but didn't touch the plate of pine nut and lily cake.

"Didn't Your Highness say yesterday that you wanted to eat pine nut and lily cakes? This was specially made by the Imperial Kitchen by this servant. Why doesn't Your Highness eat them?" Qi Ning asked, as if coaxing a child.

Feng Ke, however, gave an irrelevant answer: "Didn't I already tell you that you're not allowed to refer to yourself as a servant in front of me in private?"

"Alright." Qi Ning changed her mind. "This was specially prepared by the Imperial Kitchen. Your Highness, please try it."

Feng Ke pushed the plate of pine nut and lily pastry in front of Qi Ning: "You eat it."

Qi Ning looked at the plate of pine nut and lily pastries, her face showing confusion.

Feng Ke glanced at her: "Don't you like it?"

Qi Ning raised the corners of her lips: "Your Highness actually remembers that I like to eat pine nut and lily cakes."

"Of course I remember," Feng Ke said matter-of-factly.

He paused, then added, "Don't you know I have a very good memory?"

"Yes." Qi Ning nodded.

She picked up a piece of pine nut and lily pastry, looked up at Feng Ke, and said, "Your Highness knew I liked to eat pine nut and lily pastry, so you said you wanted to eat it?"

Feng Ke's ears felt slightly hot, but he did not deny it.

If he hadn't said he wanted to eat it, Qi Ning wouldn't have asked the Imperial Study to prepare it.

Seeing that Feng Ke did not answer, Qi Ning did not press the matter further and lowered her head to eat her snacks.

"The imperial chefs in the imperial kitchen are indeed very skilled; these pine nut and lily bulb pastries are both fragrant and crispy."

Qi Ning picked up another piece and handed it to Feng Ke, saying, "Your Highness, please try some as well."

Feng Ke did not reach out to take the pastry from Qi Ning's hand. Instead, he grasped her wrist, lifted her hand, brought the pastry to his lips, and then took a bite of it.

He performed these actions with remarkable naturalness, which surprised Qi Ning for a moment.

Seeing Qi Ning's stunned expression, Feng Ke slightly curled his lips, his mood gradually improving.

He nodded seriously and praised, "It really is delicious."

Qi Ning picked up her teacup and took a sip: "If it's good, eat more."

Feng Ke then asked Qi Ning about what had just happened: "Do you know that guard?"

“Yes,” Qi Ning said. “I’m from the same hometown as that guard, so of course I know him.”

"Oh," Feng Ke replied, "Fellow townsman."

He chewed on those two words.

Why doesn't Your Highness ask what we said?

"What?" Feng Ke asked cooperatively.

"Just now, on my way to the Imperial Study, I happened to run into him. He told me that several ministers had entered the palace today and were discussing matters with His Majesty in the Imperial Study, seemingly about the establishment of a crown prince."

"You're just from the same hometown, yet he's risking his life to tell you these things?"

"That's not important. What's important is that the ministers are discussing the matter of establishing a crown prince with His Majesty. Did Your Highness hear that?"

"I heard."

Feng Ke said casually, "What's the rush? The Empress is definitely more anxious than I am."

Feng Ke knew very well that the Empress recognized him as her son in order to support him as the Crown Prince, let him inherit the throne, and then rely on him to become the Empress Dowager.

Over the years, the Empress had been trying to persuade the Emperor to appoint Feng Ke as Crown Prince, but each time the Emperor refused, citing that he was still young and the other princes were still young, and that they should discuss it again in a few years.

Of course, these were all excuses. The main reason the emperor refused was that his preferred candidate for crown prince was the fourth prince, born to Consort Chen, but the fourth prince was still too young, only five years old.

Now that the eldest prince is sixteen, the second prince is fifteen, and the third prince is eleven, the ministers have frequently brought up the matter of establishing a crown prince.

Behind this, the Empress and the Liang family must have been instigating it.

That's why Feng Ke said the Empress was more anxious than he was.

Even so, Feng Ke still said to Qi Ning, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Qi Ning knew that Feng Ke was sensible. Over the years, he had indeed lived up to the three words she had mentioned: "patience," "lying low," and "leveraging power." While striving to improve himself, he had also secretly begun to cultivate his own influence.

Don't be fooled by Feng Ke's occasional childish behavior in front of Qi Ning; he only acts this way in front of her. In front of others, Feng Ke is no longer the easily bullied second prince he once was.

However, things might take an unexpected turn now.

According to the original plot, Empress Liang Yuewu would become pregnant unexpectedly during this period of the year.

Qi Ning had discussed this matter with the system, asking if it could provide an infertility drug to prevent Liang Yuewu from conceiving.

However, the system said that in order to suppress the power of the Empress's faction and prevent her from conceiving a prince, the Emperor had long ago given her a drug that would prevent her from having children.

Logically speaking, Liang Yuewu should not be able to conceive, whether in the original story or now. However, the Liang family has always wanted Liang Yuewu to have their child, and has been sending her various fertility-enhancing drugs over the years.

Although Liang Yuewu had Feng Ke as her nominal son, she never gave up her wish to have a biological son and continued to take fertility-enhancing drugs.

The fertility-enhancing drugs actually worked, and even though the emperor gave her a drug to prevent her from having children, she still unexpectedly became pregnant.

In other words, Liang Yuewu is destined to have a child, and ordinary infertility drugs cannot affect her pregnancy.

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