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

The emperor was followed by many servants, and Consort Yao was by his side.

Xiao Yu glanced at it and quickly stepped forward to bow.

"Greetings, Your Majesty; greetings, Consort Yao."

"Flat body."

Xiao Jin held Chu Yiyao's hand tightly and pulled her behind him, blocking half of her body.

Although Xiao Yu was his nephew, the emperor considered him an outsider.

During the autumn hunt, the emperor focused his attention on Chu Yiyao, taking her with him almost every time he went hunting, and paid little attention to Xiao Yu.

Upon seeing him today, he immediately noticed the scar on Xiao Yu's eyebrow.

"What happened to the injury on your face?" the emperor asked.

Xiao Yu's heart tightened.

These scars were inflicted when saving Consort Ning. After all, she was His Majesty's concubine, so this matter could not be told the truth, otherwise it would cause a lot of trouble.

"Your Majesty, this was caused by accidentally being scratched by a tree branch while hunting."

The emperor did notice the fleeting strangeness in Xiao Yu's eyes, but he didn't think much of it, assuming that Xiao Yu was just embarrassed because he was injured.

"You get injured even while hunting now. Where have all your skills gone?"

Xiao Yu lowered his eyes: "Your Majesty's horsemanship and archery skills are inferior to mine. I apologize for making you laugh."

The emperor didn't ask any more questions, and after saying a few words, he let him go: "Alright, go and take your seat."

After saying that, he pulled Chu Yiyao to the bonfire banquet and took their seats.

All the concubines in the harem came to the autumn hunt, but the position of empress is now vacant. Chu Yiyao has the highest rank and is the most favored in the entire harem.

At the banquet, she was seated next to the emperor, sharing the table with him.

Although the concubines and officials below had some complaints, they only dared to discuss it privately, and no one dared to say anything at this time to spoil the mood.

Qi Ning sat below Chu Yiyao, with the other concubines below her.

Xiao Yu and other members of the imperial family sat in the opposite seats.

Qi Ning's attire today was the same as the previous times they met, not particularly eye-catching. She didn't even wear any fancy jewelry, but inexplicably, Xiao Yu saw her as soon as he took his seat.

The banquet featured various song and dance performances, and the atmosphere was lively with clinking glasses and bustling activity. However, Qi Ning remained quiet, simply drinking and eating alone, hardly speaking or interacting with anyone around her.

The Emperor and Consort Yao, sitting side by side, looked very affectionate. Qi Ning glanced at them from time to time, her eyes revealing a hint of envy and loneliness, her brows furrowed with a touch of melancholy.

There's a rumor in the palace that Consort Ning is the most favored concubine of His Majesty, besides Consort Yao.

Now it seems that this does not conform to the rumors.

Seeing the sorrow in Qi Ning's eyes, Xiao Yu felt a pang of pity.

"Xiao Yu?"

"Your Highness, His Majesty is calling for you," Fang Ping secretly tugged at Xiao Yu's sleeve from behind to remind him.

Xiao Yu's heart skipped a beat.

He then realized what mistake he had made: he had actually been eyeing his concubines in front of his imperial uncle.

How can the affairs of the emperor's harem be speculated upon by others?

Fortunately, his gaze was fixed on his wine glass and he wasn't staring directly at Consort Ning.

He stood up: "Your Majesty."

Xiao Jin looked at him: "What are you daydreaming about?"

"Your Majesty, I am just a little tired and sleepy for a moment. Please forgive me."

All eyes turned to Xiao Yu.

Qi Ning glanced at Xiao Yu and slowly picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks.

Xiao Jin waved his hand: "Alright, sit down. I just wanted to ask about your mother's birthday."

The old princess did not accompany the king on this autumn hunt.

Xiao Yu then sat down: "Your Majesty, my mother's birthday is next month, but she doesn't like extravagance or joining in the festivities, and has already said that there will be no banquet."

The old prince has been gone for many years, and the old princess has always lived a secluded life, keeping a very low profile. She hasn't held a birthday banquet for several years, which is not surprising to the emperor.

"I naturally respect my sister-in-law's wishes. It's fine if we don't hold a birthday banquet this year, but I heard that next year is her big birthday, so we should still hold one."

Xiao Yu nodded: "Your subject understands."

He finally breathed a sigh of relief after dealing with the emperor.

Xiao Yu was alarmed. He knew he could no longer pay too much attention to the concubines in his uncle's harem, whether it was Consort Yao or Consort Ning. Otherwise, if His Majesty found out, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Therefore, during the second half of the banquet, Xiao Yu never glanced at Qi Ning again.

During her autumn hunt, Chu Yiyao was constantly monitored by the emperor's men. Even when it seemed like no one was watching her, someone was secretly keeping an eye on her and setting traps to test whether she would try to escape.

This was Chu Yiyao's first time leaving the palace after being brought there by the emperor. Although she disliked Xiao Jin's methods of surveillance and probing, it was a rare opportunity to leave the palace, and with Qi Ning's prior instructions, she tried her best to comply with the emperor and did not think about running away.

She was in a pretty good mood after traveling for a few days.

However, such days of freedom were exceptionally short-lived. The following day, after the autumn hunt, the emperor returned to the palace.

The day after returning to the palace, Chu Yiyao stormed into Changning Palace in a rage.

She dismissed all the servants, saying, "Sister Ning."

Seeing Chu Yiyao's expression, Qi Ning teased, "Weren't you having a good time when you went out a few days ago? Why are you so angry today? Who upset you?"

"Who else could it be?"

Chu Yiyao sat down opposite Qi Ning without ceremony and poured herself a cup of tea.

Qi Ning asked, "What's wrong with Your Majesty now?"

Chu Yiyao put down her teacup: "Sister, he actually asked me to prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Don't you think that's ridiculous?"

The autumn hunt has just ended, and there are only a few days left until the Mid-Autumn Festival feast.

"It's normal for His Majesty to ask you to prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, since you have the highest rank."

Qi Ning put the book in her hand aside: "But don't worry, the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is just around the corner. At this time, the Imperial Household Department must have almost finished preparations. You can just give a few pointers and check if there are any mistakes in their arrangements. There won't be much trouble."

"Guide?"

Chu Yiyao smiled self-deprecatingly: "I've heard that in every dynasty, the Empress has always been in charge of preparing palace banquets, so how could it be the turn of other concubines?"

"So what if I have the highest rank? Do you know how the concubines and palace servants talk about me in private? They say I am not worthy of my position, that I am of lowly status, and that I am not qualified to sit in this position."

"If it weren't for me saving Xiao Jin's life, how could I have entered the palace as a concubine, with a rank even higher than other daughters of officials?"

"Now that Xiao Jin has asked me to prepare for the palace banquet, even if those people listen to me on the surface, they won't be convinced in their hearts. Besides, I really don't know how to do it, so how can I have the ability to guide them?"

Qi Ning pondered for a moment: "This, perhaps His Majesty wants you to learn how to manage these affairs, so that in the future..."

"Make me empress in the future? Do you think that's possible, sister?"

Qi Ning was interrupted by Chu Yiyao before she could finish speaking.

Actually, that wasn't what she meant, but Xiao Jin's behavior was indeed very misleading, so it's not surprising that Chu Yiyao would think that way.

Qi Ning fell silent.

In the original storyline, Chu Yiyao and Xiao Jin tormented each other their entire lives. Indeed, she never became empress, and her highest position was that of a Noble Consort.

Later, although Chu Yiyao's son ascended the throne and she could have become the Empress Dowager, she didn't care at all.

Of course, Xiao Jin does have an empress. If the original storyline is followed, Xiao Jin will marry Zheng Qinrong, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zheng, as his empress at the end of next year.

This empress is a formidable character. She orchestrated Chu Yiyao's escape from the palace and also caused the death of Chu Yiyao's second child.

After that, she remained empress for more than a decade until the very end of the story, when she was banished to the cold palace.

Chu Yiyao's lips curled into a sarcastic smile: "How could someone like me possibly become empress? I'm just a lowly embroiderer with no parents. Even if Xiao Jin wanted me to be empress, the civil and military officials would never agree."

"Moreover, Xiao Jin also felt that I was not worthy of him. In fact, he looked down on me and thought that it was already a great favor for him to make me his concubine."

"I don't covet the Empress's position, I just feel a little sad."

"The reason he put me in charge of the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was partly because he felt I didn't know the rules and wanted me to learn more about them; on the other hand, he just wanted to keep me busy so I wouldn't have time to think about other things."

"Yi Yao".

Qi Ning took her hand.

It has to be said that Chu Yiyao understands Xiao Jin quite well, and she guesses Xiao Jin's thoughts pretty accurately.

"Sister Ning, he's just teasing me like a bird."

Chu Yiyao's eyes were red: "Once you become a concubine, you'll be a concubine for life."

Qi Ning held Chu Yiyao's hand tightly and comforted her, "If you don't want to, you can refuse."

“He is the emperor, how can he tolerate others going against his will? That’s why I had another argument with him.”

At this point, Chu Yiyao seemed to suddenly come to her senses.

She asked nervously, "Sister, did I do something wrong? Should I not have argued with him? Will this affect our plans?"

Qi Ning shook her head: "No, you're overthinking it."

“If you simply obey blindly, that’s not your true nature. On the contrary, not obeying everything reveals your true character. Today you had a quarrel with His Majesty, which can be considered a lucky accident, making it less likely for His Majesty to become suspicious.”

"As long as you ease tensions again in a few days, it won't affect our plans."

"That's good, that's good."

Chu Yiyao's heart finally settled down.

She stayed with Qi Ning for a long time before returning to her own palace.

Qi Ning had just seen her off when the Emperor sent someone to summon her to the Imperial Study.

Qi Ning cooperated and went after changing her clothes.

The emperor sought her out, undoubtedly because of this matter.

Qi Ning went to the imperial study and told the emperor some of Chu Yiyao's thoughts, advising him not to force her and to let it go since she was unwilling.

Although the emperor's expression was not good after hearing this, he eventually restrained his intention to pressure Chu Yiyao.

When Qi Ning came out of the Imperial Study, even the naive Qiu Lu noticed something amiss.

"Your Highness, why do I feel that Consort Yao and His Majesty are using you as a middleman?"

Qi Ning chuckled softly, "You little rascal, you're quite clever; you actually figured it out."

"Did I guess right?" Qiu Lu frowned. "Could it be that His Majesty promoted the Consort and released the Eldest Prince from prison because of this?"

Qi Ning remained silent and did not answer.

Seeing this, Qiu Lu knew that she had tacitly agreed.

No wonder, no wonder His Majesty agreed when His Highness went to the Imperial Study to plead for Qi Rong's life by bringing him soup. He not only released Qi Rong but also promoted His Highness's rank. It turns out that everything was conditional.

No wonder my lady has not yet served me in bed; it turns out that the so-called favor is nothing but a facade.

Qiu Lu said indignantly, "Your Majesty, you are also His Majesty's concubine, and His Majesty is also your husband. Now they are asking you to do this kind of thing. Isn't that the same as asking you to matchmake your husband with another woman?"

"Qiu Lu, watch your words," Qi Ning interrupted her.

“Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, he is the ruler, how can you treat him as an ordinary husband? As for this matter, it was of my own free will.”

She sighed softly, "Qiu Lu, if you want to survive well in the palace, you have to find a suitable way. In any case, our lives are much better now, aren't they?"

As Qi Ning spoke these words, a faint smile appeared on her face, but the sorrow in her eyes could not be concealed.

Qiu Lu looked at Qi Ning with eyes full of heartache.

It's one thing to share her husband with other women, but she even tries to mediate his relationships with other women.

My lady used to be a proud woman, and now she's being asked to do this kind of thing? It's an insult!

Qiu Lu felt that Qi Ning was pretending to be strong, but in reality, she must be extremely aggrieved.

"Your Majesty, this is too much of an injustice for you..."

Qi Ning patted Qiu Lu's hand and didn't say anything more.

The system suddenly appeared: "Host, how could you even lie to Qiu Lu? Look at how heartbroken she is."

Qi Ning said calmly, "What do you mean by lying? Isn't that what she thinks herself? I'm just letting her continue to misunderstand."

It cannot be denied that Qi Ning did intentionally guide Qiu Lu to speculate in this direction.

Even if Qiu Lu is loyal and trustworthy, Qi Ning cannot tell her the whole truth.

Sometimes it's not so bad to live a simple and carefree life.

Of course, Qi Ning didn't explain much to the system.

Instead of wasting time on these trivial matters, I should think about how to take things further with Xiao Yu.

Fortunately, the time for our next meeting is not far off.

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