C12 Accept

Inside the carriage, Lei Yi was puzzled. "Aren't you worried she'll suspect your direct help?"

"She might suspect, but she won't refuse," Rong Qi replied, lifting the side curtain. Through the golden mask, his eyes fell on Tiange by the roadside. Even through the sheer fabric, he could feel her piercing gaze. "She's too weak now. Without some help, who knows when she'll get her revenge."

The curtain fell back, and Rong Qi closed his eyes slightly. "Go ask Xue Li if Tiange mentioned anything else besides picking up medicine from the Virtue Helping Hall."

Lei Yi nodded and swiftly departed.

In this life and the last, it was her first time seeing the leader of the Merchant Alliance, and unexpectedly, he wore a mask...

After changing clothes at the boutique, Tiange headed straight back to the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion. Just as she arrived at the gate, she noticed several brightly decorated carriages.

When she returned to the Silk Garden through the back entrance, she learned from Crescent that the old lady had indeed invited a few young women over, intending to find a concubine for Feng Qing.

Since it was about finding a concubine for herself, Tiange felt it would be a shame not to at least take a look at the old lady's efforts.

The path from the Silk Garden to the main house passed through the entire back garden. As Tiange approached, she heard the old lady's laughter from inside. But the laughter abruptly stopped when Tiange appeared.

"What are you doing here?" In front of the guests, the old lady didn't speak too harshly.

Feng Tiange entered the room, her face veiled, and glanced at the young ladies gathered there. The youngest was barely sixteen, two years her junior—perhaps a bit too youthful for this.

"I heard Grandma plans to find a concubine for Father, so I thought I'd join the fun," Tiange said casually, seating herself at the table and pouring a cup of tea. "Make yourselves comfortable."

The young ladies exchanged knowing looks, understanding the situation perfectly. The matchmaker standing behind them also recognized Tiange as the notoriously plain eldest daughter of the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion, and none of them paid her much mind.

The old lady shot Tiange a glare before continuing, "Feng Qing is the South Suppressing Marquis, and joining our household means you'll enjoy endless wealth and honor. Once you're in, you'll be concubines, but since there's no wife above you, there aren't many rules. I only ask for one thing—a son to carry on the family name."

The young ladies blushed, both embarrassed and shy.

"Since the old lady has met them and finds them suitable, shall we set a date?" the matchmaker asked eagerly.

Just as the old lady was about to agree, Tiange coughed lightly, "No rush on the date, right? Perhaps one day, Matchmaker Huang could take them to the palace to meet my Royal Grandma?"

The atmosphere was a bit awkward. Mrs. Huang, the matchmaker, didn't understand why this matter of taking a concubine for the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion had anything to do with the palace.

Feng Tiange smiled, "With Mother not around, it's naturally up to Grandmother to decide on taking a concubine for the main house. But we should at least inform the Royal Grandma, so she doesn't hear about it later and get upset."

"Feng Tiange, what nonsense are you spouting? The main house has been gone for years. This matter of the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion doesn't concern the Empress Dowager unless she demands it..."

If Nanny Zhou hadn't given the old lady a sharp tug, who knows what else she might have blurted out! Asking the Empress Dowager for someone—how could she even say that out loud?

If it weren't for someone in the mansion poisoning County Princess Chu Yue, Silver Mask wouldn't have suffered a miserable life. With County Princess Chu Yue's fate still unknown, the entire mansion should be grateful the Empress Dowager isn't demanding accountability.

Feng Tiange ignored the old lady and turned to the young women, slowly unveiling her face. The scarlet birthmark on her face made the girls scream in fright.

Before coming, she had deliberately asked Crescent to apply makeup, intending to scare them.

"Marrying into the mansion, you won't lack food or clothing, but don't expect luxury. Besides my father, my uncle's family also resides here, so expenses are naturally tight. As for rules, with Mother not around and Father often at the military camp, daily greetings aren't necessary."

Feng Tiange looked at the group of girls in front of her, their faces pale with fear, and smiled. "As Grandma said, I don't have many demands. Just come by the Silk Garden to chat with me daily. If it's inconvenient for you, I'm more than happy to visit you for a little gossip. After all, winter days are long, and it doesn't matter where we spend them."

"Sniff... You told me I wouldn't have to see this ugly creature more than once a year after I got married! How come..." The youngest of the ladies had already been scared to tears by Feng Tiange.