The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 188: Chapter 187: Slapping the Green Tea Empress Dowager (Part 4)

Anning proceeded to Shoukang Palace at an unhurried pace.

By the time she arrived, Shoukang Palace was already bustling with many people.

Empress Dowager He Yiqiu was seated upright, smiling pleasantly as she conversed with the several ladies seated below her.

When a palace maid announced Anning’s arrival, He Yiqiu’s face brightened with a smile: ”Quickly, let her in.”

Guided by the palace maid, Anning entered the room.

As she was about to pay her respects to He Yiqiu, the Empress Dowager gestured dismissively: ”No need for formalities, take a seat quickly.”

Anning indeed refrained from further courtesies and sat directly down on the chair at the front left side, not far from He Yiqiu.

With her status, it was indeed the appropriate seat for her to take.

The ladies all smiled ingratiatingly at Anning, each appearing exceptionally friendly.

Yet, in He Yiqiu’s eyes flashed a hint of jealousy.

Her face bore a smile, and her speech was unhurried and approachable in appearance.

But Anning still sensed an unsettled feeling within her.

Deliberately, Anning chuckled, ”I just happened to encounter Your Majesty, and I asked if he was coming from Shou’an Palace to head to Jiyuan Palace. He got angry, even bickered with me a few words. Considering his young age, I’m afraid he was truly upset.”

Having said this, Anning looked carefully at the Empress Dowager, ”Could it be that Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager had a quarrel? When I met him, his face was full of anger. In my opinion, after all, he is young and inevitably mischievous. The Empress Dowager shouldn’t be too hard on him. When it’s time for children to play, they should be allowed to play.”

Upon finishing her words, the smile on the Empress Dowager’s face seemed a bit forced to maintain.

She gave a strained laugh, ”You’re right. In a while, I shall send someone to inquire what made him angry.”

”An inquiry is indeed necessary.”

Anning rose to her feet, bowed, and said, ”In today’s matter, I too was at fault. But at that time, His Majesty was already furious, and he wouldn’t listen to anything I said, so I didn’t apologize to him. I’ll take this moment to apologize to Your Highness. Both you and His Majesty are magnanimous, please do not take offense at my actions.”

Anning’s words sounded pleasing, but they only made the Empress Dowager angrier.

She wanted to say something but did not expect that before Anning could straighten up from her apology, she collapsed to the floor with a thud.

”Princess, Princess.”

Xiangming, who had accompanied Anning inside, was alarmed to see Anning fall, ”Princess, please don’t frighten this servant, what has happened? Where is the Imperial Physician...”

The Empress Dowager was also in a panic, insisting that palace maids and eunuchs summon the Imperial Physician, while others were instructed to carry Anning into the room to rest.

Soon, an Imperial Physician was brought in, and after cautiously checking Anning’s pulse, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, ”There’s no serious illness; it’s just that her qi and blood are weak. It might be due to catching a cold recently, or perhaps not eating well, which led to fainting suddenly.”

The Empress Dowager also began to relax at this time.

She held no fondness for Anning and resented her ability to marry Prince Kang.

Back when the late Emperor was still alive, the Empress Dowager had already held a grudge against Anning.

After all, there were many concubines in the late Emperor’s palace, and the Empress Dowager was just one among them, not the Empress but merely a favored concubine.

Yet in Prince Kang’s household, there was only Anning, and all of Prince Kang’s children were borne by her.

This fact left the Empress Dowager feeling deeply aggrieved.

Although she knew that Prince Kang’s heart was only with her, showing affection towards Anning only for appearances’ sake, hearing others speak of the couple, mentioning Prince Kang’s deep affection and significant regard for Anning, it choked her with discomfort.

Sometimes, the Empress Dowager would indulge the thought that if she had been the one to marry Prince Kang, she would be the object of admiration.

However, back then, the household of Prince Kang Mansion was just that of an ordinary prince with no significant power.

And He Yiqiu’s family background was also somewhat humble. She could be selected to enter the palace, but marrying into Prince Kang Mansion as the legitimate wife was out of reach for her.

At that time, the previous Prince Kang and his wife were still alive, the current Prince Kang had no say in it, and she had no means to marry Prince Kang as his main wife. Since she was going to be a concubine either way, she preferred to enter the palace to become one of the Imperial concubines.

He Yiqiu had always believed that she made the best choice and was always proud to have become the favored concubine.

But as Prince Kang became more and more capable, eventually controlling so many military powers, and the late Emperor’s health worsened day by day, He Yiqiu started to feel envious of Anning.

Until the late Emperor passed away, He Yiqiu, for various reasons, had been flirting with Prince Kang, and her hatred for Anning grew even deeper.

Sometimes, she truly wished Anning would just drop dead.

However, the persona she had cultivated in front of Prince Kang was that of a particularly frail, kind-hearted, talented, slightly aloof little fairy, and if she revealed those dark thoughts in her heart, she feared her persona would collapse, and Prince Kang would be greatly disappointed in her. Therefore, these words, Empress Dowager truly dared not say.

Not only did she dare not say them, but she even had to appear especially considerate and magnanimous in front of Prince Kang, and constantly urged Prince Kang to treat Anning better.

In this way, Empress Dowager’s psychology became even more twisted.

Every time she saw Anning, she wished she could just stab her to death.

This time, Anning had actually embarrassed Emperor Jianwu at the palace and even dared to faint in front of her, which Empress Dowager saw as a challenge to her authority.

Anning probably thought that since Prince Kang was the Regent King, he might replace the Emperor any day now, so she no longer regarded her, the Empress Dowager, as important.

The more Empress Dowager thought like this, the angrier she became inside.

But she still had to hold it in, still had to visit Anning, still had to show concern and warmth to her.

When Anning woke up and saw the darkness in Empress Dowager’s eyes, she couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

”My health...”

She weakly sat up: ”I really have worried Your Highness.”

Empress Dowager asked with concern: ”What’s been wrong with you these past days? Just now the Imperial Physician said you’re not eating well, is there something troubling you, you can talk to me about it.”

Her thought was that if you have troubles, then I’ll have peace of mind.

Little did she know that Anning’s face suddenly turned red.

She grabbed Empress Dowager’s hand, looking particularly shy, and whispered softly, ”It’s nothing else, just... these past few days, Prince has been resting in my room, I... I’m too tired, and I don’t feel like eating. Your Highness also knows my health has never been great since I was a child, how can I withstand...”

As she spoke, Anning became speechless, covering her face with her hand like a shy young girl.

Empress Dowager felt an instant sourness in her heart, almost shedding tears.

She thought about how these past days Prince Kang hadn’t been visiting the palace, it turns out he’d been in his mansion being affectionate with Princess.

Prince Kang also told her that he was wholeheartedly devoted to her, then turned around to be so sweet with Princess; it seems the words he said to her were all lies.

Empress Dowager was both angry and sad, really not in the mood to continue with this hypocritical act with Anning anymore.

She rubbed her forehead: ”I’m a bit tired, you rest first.”

Anning got up: ”I’m all right now, I’ll hurry back, so as not to trouble Your Highness any further.”

Empress Dowager waved her hand: ”Very well, you probably can’t rest well here in the palace, better go back to the mansion and take a good rest, from now on you should be more careful, don’t let your health weaken so much.”

”Thank you for your concern.”

Anning, with a smile on her face, had her maids help her out from Shoukang Palace, got into her palanquin and swayed out of the palace.

On the way home, Anning’s expression cooled down.

This time, she had instigated discord among Prince Kang, Emperor Jianwu, and the Empress Dowager, and it was likely that misunderstandings would arise between these three people. Perhaps there would be quite a drama to watch.