The villainous female supporting character in the quick transmigration game is incredibly popular!

Chapter 122 The Female Supporting Character Who Regrets the Arranged Marriage (Part 19)

Qingyu stared at Canghua Yu without speaking, then suddenly smiled, "Aren't you afraid Qi Zhiyu will find out about all this?"

Cang Huayu's expression stiffened slightly, her eyes twitched, and after a long while she said, "He won't be angry."

After all, Cang Huayu already understood Qi Zhiyu's thoughts; he had the same despicable intentions as her, except that he might let the world know someday, while she would never.

Cang Huayu's fingers, which were gripping the handkerchief, gradually turned white, and the smile on her face became bitter.

Qingyu seemed oblivious to her expression, chuckled, and waved her hand, "In that case, you can go back now."

"Then..." Cang Huayu hesitated, wanting to ask if she could come to the Zhou residence every day in the future, but in the end she dared not speak and left step by step.

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"Your Highness, the other princes have been making quite a few moves lately. You should avoid them. I've heard that you've been smoothing things over for a mere scholar... This is far too dangerous!"

Inside the Eastern Palace, an advisor earnestly advised Yan Ning. He was the most authoritative and loyal of the advisors, and he was very worried after hearing about Yan Ning's recent actions.

Yan Ning, dressed in dark attire, sat at the head of the table. The lights in the hall were dim, obscuring his expression. Shadows fell on his face, making him appear gloomy and dark.

He stroked the jade thumb ring in his hand, remaining silent, but his aura grew increasingly fierce, inexplicably making people realize that he was angry.

The strategist felt a chill run down his spine. Thinking of the recent rumors, he gritted his teeth and continued, "I know Your Highness cares about that scholar's wife... Otherwise, it wouldn't be impossible to repay that woman after you've accomplished something great!"

This is already the biggest concession we can make.

However, the next second, Yan Ning threw a cup at the strategist. The cup hit the strategist's feet, and shards of porcelain flew up and cut his face. The strategist knelt down in terror.

"Your Highness..."

"When did it become your place to interfere in my affairs!" Yan Ning roared. "My arrangements are absolutely correct. The person I truly care about is not someone I can manipulate at will. I want to protect her, which is something you mortals can't possibly understand!"

The strategist trembled and dared not utter another word.

Yan Ning stood up, pacing back and forth, his face as cold as ice. "As for that scholar's wife... her intentions are impure, and she is trying to use me to achieve her goals. Such a person... once the debt of gratitude is repaid, it's fine. Besides, that scholar has some talent and can be recruited. Instead of spending time watching how I handle things, you should think more about the situation in the court! Otherwise... don't blame me for being ruthless!"

After he finished speaking, the hall became even quieter.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the door. A servant rushed in to report, "Your Highness, someone has arrived outside. They say they are from the Prefect's side..."

Upon hearing this, Yan Ning's anger vanished instantly, replaced by a gentle expression.

The prefect was already one of his men. While asking the prefect to assist Qi Zhiyu, he also asked him to keep an eye on Qingyu's movements.

The struggle for the throne has become increasingly fierce recently, and he doesn't want anyone to know that his true love is Qingyu.

"Quickly, invite her in."

A moment later, a maid of average appearance entered the main hall. She had come secretly and was slightly taken aback when she saw the scene. Yan Ning nodded slightly and urged, "It's alright, it's just a lesson for someone who doesn't know any better. What do you think?"

The maid glanced at the strategist, shook her head slightly, and said to Yan Ning, "Your Highness would be better off persuading the others to leave."

Yan Ning frowned in displeasure, "These are all my people, you can rest assured!"

The maid was speechless and could only whisper, "Cang Huayu went to the Zhou residence and returned looking rather distraught... Also, several portraits were found in the Qi family's study."

As she said this, the maid took out a piece of paper from her sleeve, and a servant immediately took it and handed it to Yan Ning.

Yan Ning took the portrait, unfolded it, and what came into view was a painting of a beautiful woman—

It was a portrait of Qingyu!

In an instant, his aura turned icy, and his eyes were filled with rage. "Qi Zhiyu!"

That's just asking for trouble! How could you even have such thoughts about that person!

He gripped the portrait tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Seeing this, the strategist standing nearby didn't dare to breathe, and the entire hall seemed to be shrouded in a layer of frost.

Yan Ning took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger. Getting angry at Qi Zhiyu would only disrupt his plans, but he would never allow anyone to covet Qingyu.

"Send people to closely monitor Qi Zhiyu's every move. If he insults the Madam, there's no need to report it; just deal with him directly," Yan Ning coldly ordered.

The lady he spoke of was Qingyu, a fact that his confidants knew perfectly well, and one that terrified them.

After all, coveting another man's wife is hardly the behavior of a crown prince!

No one dared to object, and in the end they all agreed in hushed tones.

No one dares to challenge his methods.

Then, Yan Ning looked at the maid and said, "Let's leave the matter of Cang Huayu aside for now. Go back and keep a close eye on Qingyu. Don't let her know about this, so as not to cause her any more trouble."

The maidservant quickly acknowledged the order and withdrew.

After a long while, Yan Ning stood alone in the main hall, his gaze cold as he stared into the distance, secretly plotting how to eliminate Qi Zhiyu, this potential threat, without making a sound, so as to ensure Qingyu's safety and that his grand plan to ascend the throne would not be affected.

He was determined to have it all—the empire and the beauty.

He wants it all!

"Regarding the recent floods in the west, Father will likely give the information to Fourth Brother. You should all keep an eye on the other princes' movements and react accordingly."

Yan Ning is not valued by the emperor. Such a major event as the flood in the west should be managed by him, the crown prince. Unfortunately, the emperor favors the fourth prince and only wants to build his reputation, so he doesn't care about Yan Ning at all.

This is a pain in Yan Ning's heart!

His current power is not as great as that of the other princes, so he can only wait for an opportunity to act, stir up trouble, and gradually erode the power of the others...

Otherwise, the only option would be to let his good father die.

Concealing the coldness in her eyes, Yan Ning put the portrait away and began to deal with other matters.

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Qingyu noticed that she had been feeling unwell lately, and she keenly sensed that someone was watching her.

"It must be that sickly Yan Ning." Qingyu pouted and threw the flowers in her hand to the ground, her beautiful face full of displeasure.

The system covered its mouth and chuckled, "Serves you right for provoking him... People like him are difficult to deal with in our host world."

Qingyu chuckled and was about to speak when Zhou Hannan came in from outside, looking exhausted. Seeing Qingyu sitting there, he relaxed and sat down.

“Recently, there have been floods in the west, and many refugees have fled here. Qingyu, you should stay home as much as possible. I’m afraid there might be people with ill intentions.”

Western floods...

Qingyu was pondering the timeline of the original plot, which happened to be around this time, when the original owner came up with a plan to deal with Canghua Yu.

Because Qi Zhiyu was becoming increasingly outstanding, Cang Huayu accidentally found a method to treat floods in an ancient book, and asked Qi Zhiyu to present it to Yan Ning, hoping to use it to plan for Qi Zhiyu.

However, Yan Ning was jealous. Not only did he keep the flood control method for himself, but he also helped the original owner when she tried to push Cang Huayu into the refugees. Finally, he came out to save the beauty when the latter was about to be humiliated.