The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress-Chapter 1063 - 1039: Glory Amid Chaos 107

Capital

Emperor Jingqing sat on the dragon throne, watching the endless quarrels of the courtiers below.

He felt somewhat sleepy, wanting to yawn, increasingly impatient with the courtiers’ arguments.

"Enough, isn’t it just a flood? Since I ascended the throne, haven’t we had floods before? Handle it as we always have." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Emperor Jingqing patted the armrest of the chair, a trace of anger on his face.

The current Prime Minister is surnamed Li, belonging to the faction of Noble Consort Li, yet he is one with admirable clarity of mind and decency.

He stepped forward: "Your Majesty, the present is not as before. Last year, Your Majesty ordered heavy taxation in Jiangnan, and now is the time when there’s a shortage of food, and at this moment, a flood disaster..."

Before he finished speaking, someone jumped out and started arguing with him.

"Prime Minister Li speaks as if His Majesty is unaware. Since His Majesty wants disaster relief, just hurry to the relief efforts. Why linger here? You delay, and countless people in Jiangnan will starve to death."

This individual is at odds with the faction of Noble Consort Li.

The families of other concubines from the palace also argued endlessly with Prime Minister Li.

Emperor Jingqing was extremely upset: "Enough, do what must be done. Provide disaster relief for disasters, suppress rebellions."

After saying this, Emperor Jingqing stood up: "Court dismissed."

Prime Minister Li felt a chill down his spine.

After the court session, he didn’t pay attention to anyone and walked back alone.

Prime Minister Li had ridden to court and was riding back, but suddenly his horse was startled, and he fell off, breaking his leg.

He was taken home by attendants, who rushed to get a doctor to treat him.

Once his leg was treated, Prime Minister Li told his wife: "Inform them I’m taking leave. Say I broke my leg and can only recuperate at home."

Mrs. Li nodded with reddened eyes and went out to instruct her son to request leave for Prime Minister Li.

She returned and asked Prime Minister Li: "How did it come to this?"

Prime Minister Li sighed: "My lady, this world is about to fall into chaos. Do you know that now... now the court calls Noble Consort Li what? They call her the Evil Concubine, saying if not for her, the world wouldn’t be this way, accusing her of bringing calamity to the nation. Our family, because we are surnamed Li and have a connection to Noble Consort Li, I am isolated in the court. If it continues like this, we will face ruin."

Mrs. Li was frightened.

She hugged Prime Minister Li: "My Lord, what should we do? We may not concern ourselves with our lives, but our household has dozens of servants, and our daughter is still young. If something truly happens, what will become of our son and daughter?"

Prime Minister Li sighed, thinking: "Mei Zhiyuan and I were classmates. Last year, the Mei Family moved to Southern Yi; Mei Boqing has always been astute. Since he went to Southern Yi, it must be because it is where people’s hearts turn. We..."

Mrs. Li interrupted Prime Minister Li: "My Lord, you must know that the Xiao Family was exiled due to Noble Consort’s slanders. If we go to Southern Yi, can the Xiao Family accommodate us?"

Prime Minister Li laughed and waved his hand: "Don’t worry, Mr. Xiao is magnanimous. Besides, Noble Consort Li is Noble Consort Li, and we are us. Since becoming Prime Minister, I have kept upright, never having done anything against my conscience. I have no regrets, so why fear? I plan to write to Mei Zhiyuan during my recovery to inquire about Southern Yi. If it works out... Isn’t my parents’ memorial day coming up? I will let our son and daughter pay respects to their grandparents as an excuse to go south, letting them quietly go to Southern Yi."

Seeing Prime Minister Li determined, Mrs. Li said: "I will start packing early; going south requires bringing some things."

Her meaning was to bring the family’s possessions for the children.

Prime Minister Li nodded: "Go ahead."

In the palace

Noble Consort Li was extremely flustered.

She felt that things were out of control.

In her memory, such a severe flood hadn’t happened in the south in the past, and Da Qi wasn’t as plagued by disasters.

She hid in her room, ignoring everyone.

"System, come out. Explain to me what’s happening? What’s happening?"

A cold mechanical voice responded: "The system only assists the Host in palace contention for favor and acquiring Qi Fortune. Other matters are unrelated to the system."

Noble Consort Li grew more panicked.

"How could this happen?"

In her memory, the previous lifetime’s Da Qi endured years of disaster hardship during this season, becoming stable thereafter, enjoying tranquility for years until the Xiao Family’s daughter entered the palace. It was well then, and even when the Xiao Family girl became the Empress Dowager, it remained fine.

But now...

The successive years of drought and locust disasters, present flooding, and continuous rebellions everywhere is not the scene of a flourishing Dynasty but clearly the end of a Dynasty.

Could it be?

Noble Consort Li couldn’t help but wonder if the Xiao Family girl was truly destined by heaven, the real phoenix fate, ensuring Da Qi’s well-being when she was present, and now that she’s in Southern Yi...

Indeed, it’s heard that Southern Yi is thriving remarkably now, with Mr. Xiao guarding Southern Yi, and the people united, life improving day by day. Southern Yi has taken the territory of Five Prefectures, occupying Da Qi’s South Border, not listening to orders or declarations, becoming a nation within a nation. Thus, the Xiao Family girl in Southern Yi is quite like a Princess there, isn’t she?

Thinking of this, Noble Consort Li was furious.

Why?

Why must every good thing go to the Xiao Family?

In the past lifetime, she monopolized the harem’s favor, and in this life, even when exiled, she helped the Xiao Family rise again, truly is this destiny so powerful?

After venting her anger, Noble Consort Li was again at a loss.

If such disasters continue, Da Qi will fall.

Then what about her?

Where will she, the Noble Consort, go from here?

If Da Qi perishes, how can she dominate the harem, ascend as Empress Dowager?

Moreover, will she survive?

"System, what should I do now?"

Noble Consort Li asked the system.

The system pondered: "Emperor Jingqing hardly has any Dragon Energy left; according to system observation, the Qi Fortune has already moved south, precisely in Southern Yi. If you can stay beside Marquis Zhenan, the system can leverage his Qi Fortune to provide you with more tools, allowing you to monopolize the harem."

"Really?"

Noble Consort Li couldn’t help but ponder.

Southern Yi

The calamity in Jiangnan also affected Southern Yi.

After all, Yuechuan Prefecture and some places in Jiangnan are close, and many refugees from Jiangnan flooded into Yuechuan Prefecture.

Xiao Yuan was extremely busy with Southern Yi’s civil and military officers.

The local government had to settle the refugees, the military officers had to arrange patrols to prevent disturbances, and ensure the residents’ peaceful lives.

Anning was also extremely busy; she led several ladies from the Prefecture City, collecting materials to distribute to refugees in Yuechuan Prefecture. Additionally, she organized several doctors to investigate border areas between Yuechuan Prefecture and Jiangnan to prevent any epidemic from spreading.