C55 Courting Death

"Yeah, Yao got third place, which isn't bad..." Sunn Hexiang said as she helped Feng Xueyao up. "Mom, your bracelet..."

Feng Tiange watched coldly as the second branch of the family flattered the old lady, then turned to leave the mansion.

"Hold on. Don't think that just because you got first place, you can do whatever you want around here. Without the Marquis Mansion, you're nothing!" The old lady, still smarting from her earlier embarrassment, tried to regain some dignity.

"Without the Marquis Mansion, I'm still Feng Tiange. As for the honor I earned today at the Imperial Academy, it has nothing to do with the Marquis Mansion. Grandmother, don't forget, I didn't use the Marquis Mansion's name when I signed up." Feng Tiange stopped and turned, speaking calmly.

"Tiange, is that how you speak to your grandmother?" Feng Yan scolded angrily.

"By the way, this is Feng Qing's Marquis Mansion, not ours. Uncle, maybe you should stop referring to it as if it belongs to us." If you're kind to me, I'll be kind to you. If you treat me coldly, I don't mind cutting ties.

Feng Yan was taken aback, not expecting Feng Tiange to speak so sharply, each word hitting its mark.

"You!" The old lady, understanding the underlying message in Feng Tiange's words, pointed shakily towards the door.

Feng Tiange just smiled calmly and, with Crescent Moon by her side, walked towards the Silk Garden.

The old lady's hand trembled, and the sapphire bracelet slipped back onto her wrist. Nearby, Sunn Hexiang was about to speak but was silenced by a sharp look from Feng Xueyao.

"Mother, maybe I should find a place to stay for a few days and move out..."

"What nonsense are you talking about? This mansion isn't going to be run by that ugly... She's just a little girl!" The old lady was so angry she was gasping for breath. Nanny Sunn came over to gently pat her back. "Help me back to my room. I'm about to be driven mad by that useless girl."

While the words were said without much thought, they struck a chord with Feng Xueyao. The term "useless" used by her grandmother was particularly grating.

Outside the mansion gates, Feng Yan glanced at his daughter, paused for a moment, and then turned to leave.

"Don't worry, your grandmother and father do care about you," Sunn Hexiang reassured her daughter, fearing she might be upset. "Besides, what’s so special about Feng Tiange being top of the class at the academy? If Rong Qi hadn't helped her... Hey, do you think Rong Qi might have leaked the exam questions to her? If so, we could..."

Sunn Hexiang was getting carried away with her speculation when she saw Feng Xueyao's eyes flash with anger. "Shut up!"

Rong Qi was just an instructor at the academy, and at most, he could access the first exam's questions. Even if Rong Qi had helped Feng Tiange, she wouldn't expose it.

Who is Rong Qi?

To Feng Xueyao, he's a sanctuary in her heart, her only hope in this lifetime!

In the courtyard, the old lady sat slumped in her chair, having endured several blows in a row. Her teeth chattered with frustration.

Nanny Zhou wanted to comfort her but didn't know where to start.

"Where's Feng Qing? Where did he run off to?" The old lady suddenly thought of her eldest son and his troublesome offspring, and her anger flared up again.

"Madam, after leaving the court, the Marquis should have..." Nanny Zhou hesitated, realizing she might have said too much, and glanced nervously at her mistress.

The old lady caught on immediately. "Court? What court?"

Nanny Zhou knew she couldn't hide it any longer. "Earlier, I sent Cui'er to find out. It turns out Feng Tiange took Mrs. Zhao to the Ministry of Punishments. Mrs. Zhao tried to expose County Princess Chu Yue's affair with Li the Cripple, but it backfired, and she lost her life in the process. The Marquis was there too..."

Initially, Nanny Zhou had seen the old lady eagerly awaiting Feng Xueyao and didn't want to dampen her spirits. Who could have predicted such an outcome?

"Good for nothing!" The old lady slammed the table in anger.

Nanny Zhou was taken aback. "Madam, are you referring to..."

"Sunn Hexiang! I gave her a clear path, and she turned it into a dead end! Now, where am I supposed to find another Mrs. Zhao?"

When Sunn Hexiang married Feng Yan, County Princess Chu Yue had already expelled Mrs. Zhao from the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion, so Sunn Hexiang was unaware of the previous events. It was the old lady who, upon hearing Sunn Hexiang's intent to tarnish County Princess Chu Yue's reputation, voluntarily recounted the past, hinting that if Sunn Hexiang followed this lead, she could ensure Chu Yue's downfall.

The old lady suddenly fell silent, clutching her chest, overwhelmed with a heartache that made her question everything...

As night deepened, the sky was filled with stars, resembling scattered silver beads on a dark canvas, casting a gentle, distant glow. When Crescent Moon entered the room with a tray of tea, Feng Tiange was at the desk, pen in hand, writing.

On the paper, the names of forty new students from the Martial Academy and Wenn Mansion were vividly listed, with a few names circled: Tang Siyan, Shangguan Jing, Su Hu, Hsiang Yan...

"Miss, just now when I was out, someone slipped a note into my hand..." Crescent Moon set down the tray and handed over the note from her sleeve.

Feng Tiange unfolded it and smiled knowingly, "It's from Qin Luoyi. She wants to meet me for tea at the Drunken Immortal Tower tomorrow at noon."

"She should invite you, Miss. You jumped into the lake to save her in such cold weather; the least she could do is say thank you." Crescent Moon poured the tea, stating the obvious.

Feng Tiange had never entertained such thoughts; her assistance to Qin Luoyi wasn't entirely selfless. Since they both had something to gain, there was no need for thanks.

"Has Lee Lin returned to the woodshed?" Feng Tiange put away the note and took the teacup from Crescent.

Crescent seemed to remember something. "I didn't see Lee Lin at the woodshed, so I asked the steward. He said Lee Lin was sent to the military camp by the Marquis. Apparently, they needed someone to tend the fires there."

Hearing this, Feng Tiange paused with the teacup in her hand. The military camp needed people? They lacked many things, but people weren't one of them.

"Alright, it's getting late. You should go rest," Feng Tiange dismissed Crescent and turned her attention back to the rice paper. The names she had circled were those of candidates who had impressed her at the Imperial Academy earlier that day. Most of them came from humble backgrounds.

The term "humble backgrounds" didn't mean they were impoverished; it simply meant they applied to the Imperial Academy with recommendations from local counties. Some of them were from well-off families. Of course, there were also talented young scholars and martial artists who were specially recommended by local officials.

Compared to the direct descendants of noble families, Feng Tiange preferred dealing with those from humble backgrounds. They lacked the complex entanglements of noble lineage and were more genuine in their interactions.

Virtue Helping Hall, secret room.

Chu Ping was pounding a mortar while glancing at someone who looked utterly dejected, slumped over the table, eating medicinal beans.

"Feng Tiange, you aced the entrance exam to the Martial Academy, just like you wanted. So why the long face?" Chu Ping couldn't stand it any longer and snatched the porcelain bottle from Rong Qi's hand.

"These medicinal beans are incredibly valuable!"

"Don't mention that ungrateful person," Rong Qi said, straightening up. "Bai Yushuang is coming, and I finally figured out what Zhou Ru's plan is."

"Using Beiming Yuan to get rid of Bai Yushuang," Chu Ping understood immediately.

Rong Qi nodded. "Bai Yushuang supports the Zhao King and is a close ally of the Third Royal Elder Sister. She's a thorn in Ping King's side from every angle. Yet, she insists on coming here. If Ping King doesn’t take her out, I’d be surprised."