C11 Merchant Alliance

Feng Tiange frowned, "What?"

Crescent was too shocked to speak, tossing the clothes onto the bed and pressing her face close, her eyes darting around. "Miss, your birthmark... it seems to have faded a lot!"

Feng Tiange couldn't help but raise a hand to her cheek, immediately getting out of bed and heading to the dressing table. In the mirror, the red mark on her face had indeed lightened.

Could it be last night's herbal remedy?

"Thank heavens! Without the birthmark, Miss, you'll be the most beautiful woman in the entire city! Everyone will admire you, and no one will ever call you ugly again!" Crescent exclaimed, wiping her tears and choking up.

"Bring me a light veil," Feng Tiange said, her expression cold as she looked at her reflection. The years of ridicule and scorn she endured were all because of this birthmark. She had thought it was natural, but it turned out to be man-made!

I will make sure to repay this grudge tenfold!

Feng Tiange instructed Crescent to keep the birthmark's fading a secret. After breakfast, she left the mansion through the back gate of Silk Garden. She needed to visit Virtue Helping Hall to get some medicine.

Due to the unique nature of the Nether Market, it wasn't under the jurisdiction of the local government. Any disputes or conflicts here had to be resolved by the Four-sea Merchant Alliance.

The Merchant Alliance had intricate ties with the government, each benefiting from the other, ensuring the market's enduring prosperity.

At this moment, Tiange had already changed outfits and arrived at the Virtue Helping Hall. The shop assistant, recognizing her as a familiar face—especially after yesterday's scolding—kept a respectful distance.

"Here to pick up your medicine?" The shopkeeper, Xue Li, smiled as he handed over the package.

"Besides picking up the medicine, I'd like to discuss a business deal with you," Tiange said, leaning on the counter and glancing around the shop. "The Director of the Imperial Hospital, Fong Qi, has a grandson suffering from a mysterious illness. They urgently need a thousand-year-old Polygonatum to save him. In desperation, Fong Qi has used up the hospital's supply, and it can't be replenished quickly."

Xue Li frowned, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Becoming a royal supplier would be incredibly beneficial for Virtue Helping Hall," Tiange replied, casting a glance towards the inner hall. "It would make many things much easier."

Xue Li, being a smart man, understood her implication. "But as far as I know, the current supplier to the palace is Apricot Hall, and they seem to be aligned with the Crown Prince."

"That doesn't matter, as long as Fong Qi isn't aligned with Beiming Yuan," Tiange said. In a previous life, due to pregnancy, she had interacted with Fong Qi and learned about this situation. Since Fong Qi wasn't connected to Beiming Yuan, he hadn't dared to seek help from Apricot Hall.

Xue Li hesitated, but after a moment, his eyes lit up. "What do you want in return, miss?"

Since it's a business deal, giving something means getting something back.

"Invest in Virtue Helping Hall and take a ten percent share of the net profits," Tiange replied. She needed money. To become an influential figure, she required not only strength but also her own resources.

Military, politics, and finance were crucial, and given her current situation, she could only start by accumulating wealth.

"This is a bit..."

While Xue Li hesitated, Tiange picked up her medicine pouch. "I’m confident I can get a twenty percent share for the same information at those pharmacies down the street, so there's no need to trouble yourself, Mr. Xue. Goodbye."

Seeing Tiange about to leave, Xue Li gritted his teeth, "Deal!"

Tiange had bluffed. She wouldn't sell the same information to any pharmacy other than Virtue Helping Hall because, with the Ghost Doctor Chu Ping involved, Virtue Helping Hall was different from the rest.

After leaving Virtue Helping Hall, Tiange intended to change clothes at the Silk Garden but ran into some thugs at the Nether Market.

Before she could make a move, several men in black descended from above, sending the thugs running for their lives, not even recognizing their own mothers.

On the street, Tiange coldly eyed a golden sedan chair across from her. The men in black now stood respectfully behind it, awaiting orders.

Beside the chair, an elderly man in fine clothing approached with a cane. "Miss, my young master said that if you ever encounter trouble in the Nether Market, you can come to the Four-sea Merchant Alliance and find him."

Feng Tiange frowned, "Who is your master?"

"The Four-sea Merchant Alliance, Wen Yu," the old man replied respectfully, causing a slight chill in Feng Tiange's heart.

If she remembered correctly, Wen Yu was the leader of the Four-sea Merchant Alliance. In her past life, she had tried to expand the influence of the Thirteen Sects into the Nether Market, but Wen Yu's refusal had halted her plans.

After all, there was an agreement between the court and the Four-sea Merchant Alliance, and she couldn't be too forceful.

What puzzled Feng Tiange now was why Wen Yu was treating a woman he had never met with such generosity.

"Are there any conditions?" Feng Tiange asked coolly.

"None," the old man replied.

If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. In her past life, she would have investigated further, but in this life, she accepted it gladly. "Thank you."

The old man seemed quite satisfied as he turned back, then ordered the bearers to lift the sedan chair and continue on their way.