C21 Treasure

In the northeast of the city, the once-proud Marshal's mansion still stood in all its glory. It had undergone a name change, now known as the Dugu Residence, home to Dugu Jin.

At this moment, Mo Hua finally welcomed back the Commander, relaying her master's instructions word for word.

"Apart from avoiding Feng Tiange, the Crown Prince Consort also wanted me to remind you that you're engaged. The eldest granddaughter of the Martial Peace Marquis may not be as beautiful as Feng Xueyao, but her status is more distinguished. Don't let a fleeting fancy ruin your future, and certainly don't offend the Marquis. He's been a staunch supporter of the Crown Prince Consort because of this connection..."

"Shut up... just shut up! What do you mean by 'distinguished status'? No one is more distinguished than Yao! My sister knows I like Yao, yet she insists the Crown Prince pair me with someone else! She claims it's for my benefit, but she's only thinking of herself!"

Dugu Jin, having had a bit to drink, was being supported by two maids, struggling to stand steadily. His eyes, bloodshot and clouded, gave him a frightening appearance. The scene earlier at the Drunken Immortal Tower had stoked his jealousy; Yao had shown interest in Rong Qi, a fallen prince whose days seemed numbered. How could he compare to Dugu Jin?

"Are you really planning to marry Xueyao?" Mo Hua was worried. If that happened, her lady would lose the support of the Marquis of Martial Peace and might even become enemies.

The Crown Prince hasn't chosen a consort yet, and there are too many uncertainties. Her lady couldn't take such a risk.

"I won't marry anyone but Yao! If Rong Qi dares to get close to her again, I'll make sure he regrets it! Damn Rong Qi, I'll get him sooner or later... I will definitely get him..." Dugu Jin was drunk, and Mo Hua's words barely registered with him.

Seeing this, Mo Hua quickly instructed two maids to help him rest, then hurried back to the palace.

As they say, in vino veritas. Dugu Jin's feelings for Feng Xueyao were genuine, and she needed to inform her mistress to prevent any major mishaps.

As dusk approached, the moon rose in the east. Feng Tiange, who had been studying the Grand Yin Scripture for a while, put the scroll away in a hidden compartment and called for Crescent.

"How did it go?" Feng Tiange still hadn't grasped the essence of the Grand Yin Scripture, with only vague ideas swirling in her mind, making it hard to sort out.

"Miss, these two lists are the names of candidates for this year's exams at the Wenn Mansion and the Martial Academy," Crescent said, handing over the lists and anxiously watching her lady.

Feng Tiange glanced at the lists, showing her approval.

This morning, she gave Crescent some money, instructing her to go to the Imperial Academy and get the list of candidates for both the Literary Mansion and the Martial Academy, no matter what it took. She didn't provide any other hints.

As it turned out, Crescent was quite capable. In this new life, she sought to defy fate, keeping only the brave by her side.

"Well done," Tiange said, unconcerned with the process, only the outcome.

"Miss, what do you need this list for?" Crescent, reassured by the praise, felt her anxiety melt away, a hint of pride showing on her face.

"Know your enemy and yourself, and you'll never lose a battle," Tiange replied, glancing at the list. Most of the names were familiar, belonging to the direct descendants of noble families, while the rest were promising students from various provinces.

Tiange suddenly recalled the few students from humble backgrounds she had seen outside the Imperial Academy that day. She admired their innate dignity and hoped to recruit them if given the chance.

"Don't worry too much, Miss. As long as you rank in the top twenty, you'll get into the Imperial Academy," Crescent said, her simple wish easily satisfied.

But Tiange couldn't settle for that. Entering the Imperial Academy was her key to making a name for herself! She aimed for the top spot, whether in the Literary Mansion or the Martial Academy.

In the Nether Market, inside the stone chamber of the Virtue Helping Hall, Chu Ping glanced at Rong Qi sitting across the table, full of disdain.

"Have you been visiting a bit too often these days?" Chu Ping was busy mixing herbs while Xue Li had already obtained the prescription from Fong Qi that the Imperial Hospital had prepared for the Emperor.

The prescription was fine, but the lack of effect could only mean one thing: there was an issue with the way the medicine was being brewed. Chu Ping's solution was to tweak the ingredients before they reached the palace, ensuring the medicine retained its potency during preparation.

"I'm here to get something special from you." Rong Qi casually picked up a purple jade bottle from the table, opened it, and took a sniff. The fragrance was overwhelming. "What's this?"

"Aphrodisiac, used by the top courtesan at the Golden Jade Tower for setting the mood. Just a whiff and..." Chu Ping turned around to find someone already in a daze. "The antidote is in the black jade bottle next to it!"

Rong Qi shook his head vigorously and quickly grabbed the antidote, inhaling deeply. "Why do you even have something so improper?"

"Out of hundreds of bottles on the table, you chose that one. Who's the improper one here?" Chu Ping huffed, then added, "I don't have anything special."

"I heard you have a Jade Dew Pill, used for cleansing and enhancing the body's energy flow. Hand it over," Rong Qi said, completely at ease and without a hint of embarrassment.

Later, one day, when Feng Tiange and Rong Qi sat down to discuss the concept of 'thick skin,' Rong Qi looked at her in utter bewilderment. What on earth is 'thick skin'?

"Did I owe you something in a past life?" Chu Ping snapped, tossing aside the pestle and glaring at Rong Qi.

Rong Qi rested his chin in his hand, pondering for a moment before nodding. "Yes, you did."

Chu Ping immediately understood. Yes, I did owe you! After all, in a past life, I gave birth to you, sold you off before raising you, and you ended up in a terrible place. As your father, I failed you!

After indulging in his imagination, Chu Ping handed the Jade Dew Pill to Rong Qi. "Who's it for?"

"Feng Tiange. She's taking the entrance exam for the Imperial Academy. I'm confident she'll top the literary exam, but the martial exam is another story. She's been poisoned, but with your remedy, she should at least make it into the top twenty," Rong Qi said, pocketing the pill with a serious expression.

Chu Ping was puzzled. It was true that Feng Tiange's poisoning affected her inner strength, and even with detoxification, she couldn't fully recover. But he hadn't heard about her being particularly talented in literature. "How do you know she'll top the literary exam?"

Rong Qi stood up with a mysterious smile in his captivating eyes. "Not telling you."

Chu Ping scoffed. "I don't care."

Secrets don't last long in a big household. News of Feng Qing's visit to the Silk Garden quickly reached the second branch of the family.

This unsettled Feng Xueyao. She had casually mentioned to Xie Ruxuan that her uncle would tutor Feng Tiange, but she had made it up. How did it become true?

At that moment, the door opened, and a middle-aged woman in a richly colored satin jacket walked in, carrying a food box. "I heard from Ningxiu that you're not feeling well, so I came to check on you and brought you something to eat."

The visitor was none other than Feng Xueyao's mother, Sunn Hexiang. With her arched eyebrows and slender waist, she carried a rare elegance for someone in her thirties. However, her sharp eyes gave her a rather stern appearance.

A few days ago, Sunn Hexiang had taken a break under the pretense of offering prayers at a temple to curry favor with the matriarch. Upon returning home, she heard about Feng Tiange's situation. "Why get upset over someone like that? It's not worth making yourself sick."

"Mom, ever since Feng Tiange came back from the temple, she's been different. Didn't you hear? Uncle actually went to the Silk Garden to see her. That's not a good sign!" Feng Xueyao said with concern.