Reborn As A Villainous Cannon Fodder

Sorry for the delays.

I’ve noticed that many people are going to other websites to read the chapters.As I mentioned before, this ruins the daily release schedule and slows down the uploads.

From now on, we won’t be changing chapters after uploading them—we’ll just publish directly.

So please support us by only reading on and not on any other sites.

Thank you again, and enjoy the mass release!

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Winter solstice brought early darkness to the Dragon Palace in the northern capital.

White cats beneath the eaves had long since curled up under thick snow for hibernation. In the small fireplace cottage behind the Dragon Palace, warm lamplight flickered against the cold night. The silhouette of a dragon-horned girl bent over her desk, writing furiously, cast shadows on the paper windows, a picture of pure dedication.

Recently, Nina had gotten herself into trouble and received a thorough spanking from her master. Since then, she’d been much more obedient around the Dragon Palace. Every day, she dutifully followed her master in handling state affairs, and at night she had to study governance texts and complete practice exams under her master’s watchful supervision.

For a young girl who had just reached adulthood, learning about such grand political and historical matters seemed premature.

But Nina wasn’t just any ordinary young girl.

She was the reigning empress. On that tearful night when her father lay dying, she had promised both the emperor and her master through her tears that she would govern this empire well. Discover more novels at NoveI(F)ire.net

Now, her father had passed away.

Nina could still rely on her master to maintain the Dragon Dynasty for now, but her master couldn’t stay by her side forever, guiding her through every political decision.

So Nina had no choice but to mature as quickly as possible.

She needed not only the extraordinary talents blessed by heaven’s mandate as her iron fist, but also a sharp mind to properly govern this vast empire…

Tap… tap… tap…

Coal burned fiercely in the fireplace. The warm cottage provided comfort against the bitter winter, filled with nothing but the crackling of flames and the sound of the girl’s diligent writing.

“National Advisor! Something terrible has happened! Last night, the Liu mansion faced a major crisis!”

A panicked cry from outside shattered the peaceful atmosphere inside the cottage.

The girl’s concentration broke as she looked up, only to meet the stern gaze of the beautiful woman sitting beside her, reviewing memorials. That single look sent her right back to her work.

Nina puffed out her cheeks but didn’t dare make a sound. She could only obediently lower her head and continue her homework.

In front of her master, she wasn’t some empress, she was more like Changli’s little daughter. One look from her master could instantly remind Nina of getting her bottom spanked.

“Keep working on your assignments.”

Changli rose from her seat.

She watched Nina for a moment, confirming the latter was actually studying seriously, then turned and gestured for the black-clad subordinate waiting outside to enter.

The black-clad man stepped inside, about to speak urgently, but quickly shut his mouth when he saw the white dragon girl obediently doing her homework at the table.

“National Advisor… this is a memorial drafted by the Lin mansion…”

“And this one is from the Liu mansion… two in total…”

The black-clad subordinate lowered his voice while dropping to one knee, presenting two urgent memorials that had traveled far to reach them.

On the sofa by the cottage fireplace, Changli set down her teacup and accepted the memorials, becoming more and more confused as she began reading.

Crack…

Crack, crack…

The sound of bamboo scrolls being unfolded echoed through the room.

Maybe it was Nina’s imagination, but she felt like in the few short minutes she’d been keeping her head down, the imposing aura radiating from her master behind her had been steadily intensifying.

Gradually, Nina grew even more afraid to make a sound.

She kept her head down, pretending to work on her assignments, but curiosity drove her to prick up her ears and eavesdrop on the black-clad man’s report to the National Advisor.

“National Advisor… that’s how things went…”

“That young master from the He mansion went to the Liu mansion last night… then he did this… and then he did that…”

“Later, that boy called He Yino… he actually went and… not only that, but he also…!”

The black-clad man reported in hushed tones while Nina listened intently from the side.

After all, she was at the Tribulation Crossing stage, eavesdropping was child’s play for her.

But as she listened…

She suddenly realized she’d caught a familiar name in the report.

So last night it was Yino causing trouble at the Liu mansion?!

That troublemaker really does cause problems wherever he goes!

Back in Western Province City, he nearly drove me to my grave. I can’t believe he’s been quiet for less than two months before heading south to stir up trouble at the Liu mansion…

Thinking of that young man’s face, Nina couldn’t help but puff out her cheeks.

Though she spoke poorly of him, Nina had actually witnessed all the good deeds Yino had done.

He might be phoenix-born, but Nina knew he was fundamentally a good person with a kind heart.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have thrown himself into battle against the Demon Abyss.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stepped forward when the Demon Abyss came sweeping in, volunteering to close the city gates for everyone.

Otherwise, he definitely couldn’t have risked his life infiltrating the Demon Abyss to battle the evil cult witch and end that demonic tide…

Nina might not trust Yino, but she absolutely believed in his righteous stance.

That idiot better not have used up the jade talisman I gave him in less than two months…

Lost in thought, Nina couldn’t help but sigh with worry.

But just as Nina was getting sentimental, the whispered conversation between the black-clad subordinate and National Advisor nearby reached its conclusion:

“Finally, the Lin mansion elder’s letter… specifically states he personally witnessed… Yino colluding with an evil cult…”

“And the Liu mansion elder also wrote… saying Yino abducted their mansion’s precious young lady…”

At these words, the beautiful woman reclining on the sofa raised an eyebrow slightly, lowering her elegantly crossed black silk-clad legs.

Words like “evil cult” inevitably made Changli think of a certain rebellious disciple imprisoned in an ancient castle in the Demon Abyss.

Changli straightened up, resting her chin on her hand, about to speak, when the white dragon girl who should have been sitting beside her concentrating on homework suddenly slammed the table and shot to her feet.

“That’s impossible! There must be some misunderstanding!”

“Back in the Western Region, it was Yino who saved us from the Demon Abyss! How could he possibly collude with an evil cult and betray me?!”

The crimson-clad woman who’d been listening calmly wasn’t the one who got agitated, instead, it was the white dragongirl beside her who lost her composure first.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the cottage turned strange.

Changli looked at Nina who was inexplicably emotional and determined, and after a moment of bewilderment, sighed with a somewhat mocking smile.

She closed the two memorials in her hands, then stood up and gestured for the shadow guard waiting by the sofa to retreat outside.

The shadow guard bowed his head respectfully and melted back into the darkness.

“Master… you know Yino isn’t a bad person… there must be some misunderstanding here!”

Nina knew she’d messed up again, but even under the pressure of her master’s gaze, she still looked aggrieved as she defended Yino.

“I’ll handle this matter as I see fit.”

Changli spoke coldly, then drew a slender crimson phoenix sword within her robes.

She gave the girl’s bottom a light swat with it, making Nina immediately cover her rear with both hands, looking at Changli with wounded eyes.

“For now, finish tonight’s homework. Once I’ve graded it and you score ninety percent or higher, then you can come discuss other people’s business with me.”

With those words, Changli gave Nina one final warning look, then hugged the two memorials to her chest and pushed through the door to leave.

…

Outside the cottage, the woman in the crimson dress crossed her arms and summoned the black-clad subordinate who had been waiting, signaling him to continue reporting the specific details.

Time ticked by minute by minute.

Changli occasionally asked questions, and the black-clad subordinate carefully repeated everything in detail.

As the description of the Liu mansion’s turmoil grew more detailed, the expression on the beautiful woman’s face became increasingly troubled.

“I suppose we should say ‘Truly Your Blood Phoenix Child’…”

“This boy really is just like you were back then… a fearless newborn calf, completely ignoring social taboos while causing trouble all over the world, isn’t he… Ilya.”

“Hmm?”

“Phoenix child…?”

“Whose child did you just say Yino was?”

Changli’s sigh had barely faded when a curious voice drifted from behind her.

The crimson-dressed beauty startled, making her umbrella tremble.

She tucked the memorials away and spun around. A dragon-horned girl’s head poked out from the cottage window.

Changli clicked her tongue. She snapped the umbrella shut, lifted one silk-clad leg, and materialized right in front of the white dragon girl.

Before Nina could dodge, warm fingers caught her face.

“Getting bold, aren’t we? Eavesdropping instead of doing homework?”

Changli’s eyebrow arched as she puffed out her cheeks.

Nina’s eyes widened. “I did nothing wrong! I finished the test before coming to check on you!”

“Finished?”

Changli blinked.

She glanced at the desk inside, then spotted the fireplace clock and froze.

She’d wandered outside for at least two hours, first discussing with her subordinate, now standing lost in the snow.

“Yes! Look what time it is. No matter how slow I work, I’d be done by now!”

Nina’s hands gestured frantically.

Changli studied her expression, something flickering in her eyes before she snorted and released the girl’s cheek.

“So… is Yino really connected to that legendary ancient phoenix?”