C27 Heart in Chaos

"You won't be happy with me, you know... I can only ever be a deputy minister, but Dugu Jin is different. He has a bright future ahead, and his sister is about to become the Crown Prince Consort..." Soong Yu spoke with difficulty, his hands clenched into fists, palms sweaty with anxiety.

"So what! Soong Yu, you know I don't care about that. What matters to me is..."

"But I care. I can't ruin your happiness!" Soong Yu finally made up his mind. "I'm sorry."

Even as Qin Luoyi held onto his wrist, Soong Yu resolutely turned away...

In the corner, Feng Tiange heard Qin Luoyi's sorrowful sobs and silently turned back.

Leaving the alley, Rong Qi couldn't help but remark, "The Marquis of Martial Peace is getting more and more outdated. Nowadays, Dugu Jin is practically worthless."

Feng Tiange glanced at him. "Yeah, so even you dare to compete with him for a woman."

Rong Qi's mouth twitched, a bead of sweat forming on the back of his head.

He felt like he was being hit with arrows from all directions by Feng Tiange's sarcasm. Enough already!

"Eldest Miss Feng, I swear, there's nothing between me and Miss Qin. I don't even know her," Rong Qi caught up with Feng Tiange, looking earnest.

"You don't know Qin Luoyi, but surely you know Feng Xueyao. Take a left, then another left, and you'll be at the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion. Be my guest."

Feng Tiange turned and walked in the opposite direction, not wanting to engage with Rong Qi, who quickly stepped in front of her. "Eldest Miss Feng, not heading home?"

"Is that any of your business?" Feng Tiange pushed past Rong Qi and strode away so swiftly that he couldn't even catch her shadow.

Rong Qi stood there, stunned for a moment, then touched his cheek thoughtfully. Could it be that Feng Tiange felt embarrassed?

All afternoon, Feng Tiange practiced her swordsmanship in the Silk Garden. With the entrance exam for the Imperial Academy approaching, she needed to be prepared, especially avoiding her old, familiar moves in the ring, as they could be her downfall.

It wasn't until dinner time that Crescent returned with some startling news. Sunn Hexiang had gone to see Mrs. Zhao, who had once served County Princess Chu Yue in the Silk Garden. Mrs. Zhao had been 'sent away' from the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion for dishonesty, and it had been twenty years since then.

"If there's no plot against you in this, I'll eat my hat!" Crescent declared, having only seen Sunn Hexiang come and go without hearing their conversation.

Feng Tiange drank her herbal soup and set down the porcelain bowl. "Don't worry about it. I'll have someone look into it."

Kindness is often mistaken for weakness, and the Silver Mask had been bullied by the second household for too long. Now, as she tried to reclaim what was rightfully hers, the hideous faces of the second household were revealed, making her feel sick.

"Miss, you should be cautious around them!" Crescent could sense that her lady was different this time, so she wasn't particularly worried.

Feng Tiange just smiled without saying anything. She wasn't planning to be cautious; she intended to make the second branch completely leave the Marquis Mansion.

"Oh, I heard from the staff that Prince Rong came looking for the second young lady. Do you think he really likes her?" Crescent picked up a porcelain bowl, ready to leave, but then turned back with a puzzled expression.

Rong Qi, again with Rong Qi!

"What does it have to do with us?" Feng Tiange rubbed her forehead. If she could help it, she'd rather never hear that name again.

"Of course it matters! He clearly likes you, Miss. How could he..." Crescent's words were cut off by Feng Tiange's wide-eyed glare. "Did I say something wrong?"

"It's not just wrong, it's completely wrong. He doesn't like me, and I certainly don't like him. There's no 'us' between us. I'm me, and he's him. Got it?" The disdain in Feng Tiange's eyes made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him.

Crescent nodded, though she thought her lady was just being modest. She believed that one day, when her lady revealed her true self, she'd captivate everyone in the capital!

Turning the page, Feng Tiange took out the Grand Yin Scripture after Crescent left. Although the sword manual she was practicing wasn't extraordinary, with enough inner strength, it could still unleash unimaginable power.

Virtue Helping Hall, Stone Chamber.

Here, there was no black and white; it could be said that Chu Ping didn't need dark days anymore. During his time in the Celestial Prison, he had already lived through all the dark days of his life.

After returning, Xue Li recounted to Chu Ping what had happened at the palace. He couldn't understand why Miss Feng, who had nothing to do with him, would stand up for him. Chu Ping explained that Feng Tiange was the girl who came to Virtue Helping Hall daily to get medicine, her face covered with a delicate veil. Xue Li suddenly understood.

Beside the jade desk, Rong Qi felt a twinge of sympathy for Feng Tiange. "To be fair, she does have reasons to feel self-conscious."

Chu Ping looked up at Rong Qi. "You think she's just self-conscious? Don't you think she might genuinely dislike you?"

"That's why it's better not to be too narrow-minded," Rong Qi shrugged, a helpless expression on his face. "It's not my fault I look like this."

Chu Ping felt like hitting him.

"What do you plan to do about the No-south House at the Fish Market?" Chu Ping carefully poured the green medicinal liquid from the jar, a crucial ingredient to help the Qi Emperor wake up.

Rong Qi shrugged. "They haven't encroached on Nether Market's territory, so what can I do?"

Seeing Chu Ping look up, Rong Qi leaned against the desk. "As far as I know, Xie Jin is already dissatisfied with the No-south House and wants the Azure Jade Sect to replace them. If I deal with the No-south House now, it would only please Xie Jin. I'm not about to do someone else's dirty work."

"You haven't made enough wedding dresses for Dugu Yan!" After Chu Ping's voice faded, the stone chamber fell silent, the quiet so profound you could hear a pin drop.

If it weren't for his secret support in helping Dugu Yan expand and stabilize the influence of the Thirteen Sects, the position of Crown Prince in Beiming Yuan wouldn't be so secure.

Rong Qi even wondered if, without his involvement, Beiming Yuan might not have moved against Dugu Yan so soon!

But in this world, there are no "what ifs," only outcomes.

"Feng Tiange is still too slow!" Rong Qi suddenly stood up and left the stone chamber.

Chu Ping was indifferent to Rong Qi's assessment. In his view, every step Feng Tiange was taking now was the right one, laying a solid foundation for her future success.

Rong Qi was troubled...

Sunn Hexiang had already bribed Mrs. Zhao, and such good news was naturally something she wanted to share with her daughter at the Silk Garden.

Inside, on a soft couch covered with light pink brocade, Feng Xueyao held a lotus-patterned celadon teacup, sitting by the bed rail. Her eyes sparkled with delight, and she occasionally giggled, oblivious to someone entering.

"Xueyao, what are you doing?"

Seeing the empty teacup in Feng Xueyao's hand, Sunn Hexiang instinctively reached to take it, only to be sharply pushed away by Feng Xueyao. "Don't touch it!"

Sunn Hexiang was taken aback, looking at her daughter in confusion. "What's wrong? It's just a teacup."

"Any progress?" Feng Xueyao gently placed her teacup on the table beside her bed, then stood and walked over to the jade desk.

Sun Hexiang, remembering the main issue, turned and followed. "Yes, I've managed to bribe Mrs. Zhao, who used to serve at the Silk Garden. She's agreed to testify that County Princess Chu Yue had an affair with a servant, and that Feng Tiange is their illegitimate child!"