C10 Heartache

The tension in the room was palpable, so much so that even the matriarch dared not speak.

Perhaps feeling her pride wounded, the matriarch huffed as Tiange walked out. "What a worthless remedy. I don't care for it at all!"

"Mother, Tiange meant well..." Feng Qing, unable to hold back, defended his own flesh and blood.

"Ha! If she stops causing trouble, I'll count my blessings!" The matriarch, knowing Tiange hadn't left the courtyard, raised her voice deliberately. "Speaking of duty, you should hurry up and remarry. Look at your younger brother—one wife, two concubines, and three kids. And you? Not even one to see you off in your old age!"

Outside, Tiange paused with Crescent by her side.

Feng Qing's remarriage was something she couldn't ignore. Silver Mask had once said he believed her mother would return, and she needed to keep the title of Marchioness for Chu Yue.

As for the matriarch, she was beyond hope, cursing even her own son just to provoke him.

"Mother, I still have Junli and Tiange..." Feng Qing said, a hint of displeasure in his voice.

"Don't mention that outsider! I even doubt whether Tiange is truly one of our family!" The matriarch glanced at the figure outside the window, speaking loudly.

"Mother!"

Seeing Feng Qing's anger, the matriarch coughed lightly. "Fine, fine, I've already found a few young ladies for you to consider. One of these days, you should..."

"Mother, I have military duties to attend to. I must take my leave," Feng Qing said, rising before the matriarch could finish her sentence. In this life, Feng Qing would love only one person. Even if Chu Yue didn't love him back, he would never marry another.

As Feng Qing stepped out of the hall, the courtyard was already deserted. It was, after all, his and Chu Yue's child...

After entering the Silk Garden, Feng Tiange instructed Crescent to rest and hand over the medicine brought back from the Virtue Helping Hall. It should be prepared and delivered by dinner.

Returning to the room, Feng Tiange moved to the east wall, recalling the mechanism. With a click, a hidden door opened, revealing an exquisite scroll. Everyone in the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion believed the Grand Yin Scripture to be a rare treasure. When Chu Yue married, the only dowry from Empress Dowager Chu was this scripture, though no one had ever seen it.

The more elusive it was, the more they desired it. That was why Feng Xueyao had manipulated Dugu Jin to help her search for the Grand Yin Scripture. Now, Feng Tiange held the scripture in her hands and returned to the table.

Unrolling the scroll, a breathtaking ink landscape unfolded. Peaks layered in varying shades, distant mist and clouds, a nearby waterfall rushing down, and cottages nestled close by under the slanting moonlight from the west window.

Silver Mask had once claimed this was a set of unparalleled martial arts secrets, asking her to study it with him. She had declined at the time.

This was meant to be Silver Mask's future glory, and she didn't want to interfere. But now, to contend with Beiming Yuan, who had nearly the entire court's support, she needed to become powerful. Powerful enough that at the mere mention of Feng Tiange's name, every person in the land would tremble with fear and reverence. She aimed to reach the center of power, to become a pivotal figure in the court, and to be the nightmare that Beiming Yuan could never shake off. The Grand Yin Scripture was the beginning of it all.

During dinner, Crescent brought in the meal, along with a bowl of herbal medicine. The night was cool, and the moon hung like a hook. Its gentle light spread over the Prince Mansion in the southwest of the capital, covering the ground in silver frost. In the study, Rong Qi, dressed in white, lounged lazily in a finely carved chair made of pear wood. His eyes were gentle, yet they always concealed emotions that were hard to discern. "What did she say?"

"The Third Princess said she owes her position as Noble Consort to your foresight, and she inquired about your health and whether everything is progressing smoothly. And then..." Lei Yi hesitated.

Rong Qi raised an eyebrow slightly, "And then what?"

"The Third Princess wants to know where you hid her jar of peach blossom wine the last time you visited Zhao Country."

"If she weren't so fond of drinking, she would already be the queen of Zhao Country..." Rong Qi raised a hand to his forehead, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. "Tell her, if she doesn't want to be sent back to Chu Country by the Zhao King, she should drink less."

Lei Yi received the order and swiftly departed.

The room fell silent as Rong Qi retrieved a purple porcelain bottle from his pocket. His mind involuntarily conjured the image of Feng Tiange's extraordinarily unattractive face.

"Feng Tiange, don't let me down..."

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, when Feng Tiange woke up, Crescent had already prepared warm water.

Initially, Feng Tiange didn't know Crescent well and wanted to test her. The previous day at the Silk Garden, she told Crescent she was going to the Nether Market but instructed her not to tell anyone. As it turned out, even when two servants dragged Crescent away, she didn't reveal Feng Tiange's whereabouts.

Having been given a second chance at life, she couldn't afford to trust anyone lightly.

"Miss, you're awake?" Crescent noticed Feng Tiange sitting up and quickly placed the towel she was holding on the copper rack before heading to the wardrobe. "The day after tomorrow is the winter solstice, and it's getting colder. You should wear more layers."

Crescent pulled a cashmere jacket from the wardrobe and walked to the bedside, but when she saw Feng Tiange, her eyes widened in shock, and her voice changed, "M-Miss!"