Quick Transmigration: Reversing the Life of a Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character

"By the way, tell the people below to make preparations. We'll be returning to the capital in a few days," Cui Yao instructed.

"Yes." Granny Cui was somewhat surprised. When the marshal had just passed away, the eldest princess was worried about the princess and wrote several letters hoping that the princess would take her two unmarried children back to the capital. She even sent her trusted steward and nanny to the border town to persuade the princess to return.

However, the princess couldn't bear to leave her deceased husband's presence and refused to leave the Marshal's Mansion.

"Madam, how many months will you be staying? How much luggage will you be bringing?"

"Bring all your usual things, since we might be staying for a while." Cui Yao didn't know how long she would stay. These days, she repeatedly sorted through the original owner's memories and plot, and vaguely felt that the destruction of the Xiao family in the original owner's life could not be due to the superficial reasons.

The Xiao family had a long list of crimes: the eldest young mistress leaked the defense plan, the eldest young master disregarded social norms and etiquette, insulted his wife, divorced her and remarried, and the Xiao family made mistakes in decision-making on the battlefield. Each of these crimes alone would not be enough to warrant the confiscation of the Xiao family's property and exile, but all the crimes combined were enough.

The biggest problem is that all the crimes combined don't involve treason or rebellion. In this situation, it means they were targeted.

For a military family like the Xiao family, which has been stationed there for many years, and a princess who is the matriarch of the Xiao family, to be successfully targeted and have the entire clan exiled, it can be basically determined that the mastermind behind it is someone from the royal family, and even involved in the struggle for the throne.

She even suspected that the Emperor wanted to kill the Xiao family.

That's why she decided to return to the capital, where information would always be more readily available, and she also had the protection of her mother, the Princess.

"Where are the young master and young lady?"

"Lan'er must be taken along, and Huaizhi should also be taken back this time. As for where he will live in the future, it will depend on his own wishes." Children in ancient times mature early, especially children like Xiao Huaizhi, so they must be allowed to have autonomy.

During dinner, Cui Yao left her two children behind: "Huaizhi, Lan'er, we'll be returning to the capital in a few days."

Xiao Lan had no objections and nodded directly: "Okay, Mother, I'll arrange to pack my luggage right away."

Xiao Huaizhi thought more deeply: "Are you planning to return to the capital and live there permanently?"

Cui Yao nodded: "I should be going to the capital soon. Your sister will also be living with me in the capital. As for you, I'm afraid you can't stay in the capital all the time. The Xiao family are military families. As the eldest son of the direct line, you still can't leave the battlefield for too long."

"I understand, son. I'll come back after I've taken my mother and sister home."

"Yes, I'll talk to your second aunt and ask her to look after you."

"My son is all grown up now and doesn't need his elders to take care of him anymore."

"You have so much schoolwork, how can you have time to deal with the affairs of the inner quarters? After I leave, the Marshal's Mansion will be empty. Leave some servants to look after the houses, and when you come back, you can stay at your second uncle's mansion." Cui Yao arranged the follow-up. Xiao Wuyuan and his wife were both very upright people who had no interest in the title, so she was quite at ease entrusting her son to them.

"All right."

"Once you get married, the household will have a mistress, and you can move back to your own home. I'll finalize your marriage arrangements when I return to the capital this time," Cui Yao said, outlining her future plans.

In the original owner's previous life, because he did not give up on Xiao Qingzhi, Xiao Huaizhi, as the second son of the main wife, married the legitimate daughter of a second-rank civil official. She was beautiful and her status matched that of the Xiao family, but she was somewhat weak-willed.

But now that Xiao Huaizhi has become the eldest son, he can no longer marry someone with such a temperament; his wife must be able to shoulder the responsibilities of a matriarch.

Actually, it was Xiao Qingzhi and his wife who strongly advocated for this marriage, especially Zhou Yan, who was worried that her sister-in-law was too domineering and would bully her.

Although the original owner had investigated, the current Cui Yao still felt that Zhou Yan was somewhat out of place and had been sending people to keep an eye on her.

Xiao Huaizhi touched his nose and said softly, "I'll listen to Mother."

Xiao Lan, standing to the side, looked at her shy brother, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and laughed at him.

"We should also consider Lan'er's marriage. Girls are delicate, so we need to choose our sons-in-law carefully."

Xiao Lan, who had just laughed at her brother, blushed and said, "Mother, I'm still young."

"I know you're still young, and we'll have to wait until you're eighteen, but that won't stop us from choosing now," Cui Yao teased the little girl.

"Mother~," Xiao Lan said to her mother in a coquettish tone, "I need to go back and tell them to pack my luggage."

After saying that, he quickly walked out.

Xiao Huaizhi watched his younger sister walk out, then turned to his mother and said solemnly, "Mother, you must be very careful about my sister's marriage. Our family doesn't need the help of in-laws. The future of the Xiao family will be achieved by our sons. It doesn't matter if the families are of lower social standing. The most important thing is that the people are of good character and have clear minds."

It absolutely cannot be someone like Xiao Qingzhi!

"I understand, don't worry."

Half a month later, Cui Yao, with her son and daughter and dozens of carriages, left the northwestern frontier where she had lived for more than 20 years, escorted by Xiao family soldiers.

Outside the city gate, Lin, Xiao Wuyuan's wife, who came to see him off, held her elder sister-in-law's hand and said, "Elder sister-in-law, don't worry. When Huaizhi comes back, he will stay at home. His second uncle and I will educate him as the eldest son. Please also help me take care of Sui'er."

Xiao Wuyuan's youngest daughter was born with poor health. When she was three years old, she was sent back to the Marquis's mansion in the capital to be cared for by the still-living old lady of the Marquis's mansion.

"Okay." Cui Yao leaned closer to Madam Lin and whispered, "I've asked his second uncle to keep an eye on Xiao Qingzhi, to prevent him from having any wild ideas that could harm the Xiao family. But I still feel that Zhou Yan is a bit off. I've arranged for people to keep an eye on her, but the capital is far away and news travels slowly. If there's an emergency, I've asked them to come to you."

"Okay, don't worry, it's just Qingzhi."

Cui Yao understood her unspoken meaning, and her expression was cold: "Second sister-in-law, even if Zhou Yan is not right, it is Xiao Qingzhi's own choice to end things this way. I said I would expel him from the family, and that means I will. When I return to the capital this time, I will personally tell the Emperor that what has been decided will not be changed."

Lin patted her eldest sister-in-law's hand, saying that the person who must have suffered the most from making this decision was her own mother.

The eldest sister-in-law has a high status, and Xiao Qingzhi's actions are too outrageous. It's easy to persuade the Xiao family clan. The most difficult hurdle is the old Lady Hou, who lives far away in the capital. She was once a straightforward woman, but unfortunately, she is getting old and somewhat confused. Otherwise, Madam Lin would not have asked her eldest sister-in-law to take care of her daughter. She was afraid that her mother-in-law would spoil her daughter.

"I understand, elder sister-in-law. Have a safe journey. I'm here for you."

Cui Yao bid farewell to each member of the Xiao family who came to see her off, got into the car, and left.

Inside the carriage, Xiao Lan's eyes were red from crying. She was born and raised here and had deep feelings for this place.

"Alright, our Xiao family is still here, and your brother will also be stationed here. You can come back anytime you want," Cui Yao comforted her.