C69 Kill the Chicken

"Thanks, but if Empress Dowager Chu hadn't summoned Bai Yushuang to the Happiness Prolonging Hall, she would have been a sitting duck after what she said in the Yonghe Hall," Rong Qi remarked, impressed by her audacity to be so bold on someone else's turf.

"No need to thank me, just remember to repay the fifty million taels," Feng Tiange replied coolly, shifting the mood with a composed expression. "You can leave now."

Rong Qi turned his head and lifted the side curtain. "Aren't we at my place yet?"

"Take a left after you get out, then another left, and a right at the second alley. You'll find it," Feng Tiange instructed, familiar with every corner of the city like she knew the types of people who rode in different colored and shaped carriages.

The carriage they just passed wasn't one from the city, neither in its roof nor its drapes. It likely came from the southern region, an important district on the southwest border.

Recently, the only person who might have returned from there was Feng Ranxiu, the eldest son of the second branch. Since the curfew was in effect, he couldn't have just arrived from outside the city, which meant her brother had been back for a while, yet no one at the house had mentioned it.

After ushering Rong Qi out of the carriage, Feng Tiange instructed the driver to follow the carriage they had just seen. Left, right, and they ended up at the back door of the Golden Jade Tower.

Ah, the allure of a gentle haven is indeed where heroes meet their end!

Without further delay, Tiange instructed the driver to head back while she quietly made her way to the Marquis Mansion. Persistence pays off.

The next morning at court, Qin Chun accused Xie Jin of misconduct. Coupled with the news of Soong Yu's victory over the bandits at Linxi, Beiming Yuan had no choice but to take a stand. Xie Jin was demoted to Deputy Minister of War, while Soong Yu was promoted to Minister of War.

When the news broke, Tiange received an invitation from Qin Luoyi for a small gathering at the Drunken Immortal Tower.

At the Virtue Helping Hall, in the stone chamber, Chu Ping was busy as ever. Rong Qi, on the other hand, had his legs propped up on the table, leisurely munching on some medicinal beans.

"Are you trying to become immortal?" Chu Ping looked up and snatched the porcelain bottle away. "Did you know Pei Qing has entered Qi?"

Rong Qi nodded nonchalantly. "Yeah, I know. I've already sent Lo Yu to intercept him."

Chu Ping was stunned, every hair on his body standing on end with shock. "Lo Yu never gives anyone the time of day, except Jiao Zhong. How did you manage that?"

"Well, you see how much love the miracle doctors have, and then look at you and Pei Qing. That guy knows you're protected by the Merchant Alliance, yet he still traveled miles to hunt you down. What kind of grudge is that?" Rong Qi tried to pry for more information.

"It's none of your business," Chu Ping said, picking up several packets of herbs from the medicinal table and tossing them into the iron grinder. "There's an order from the court. Yanzhi wants to know if Feng Ranxiu can be released."

"Release him," Rong Qi replied, knowing that Feng Tiange intended to cultivate Soong Yu and was naturally inclined to lend a helping hand. Unfortunately, that ungrateful scoundrel had swindled him out of eighty million taels! No, only the medicinal beans could soothe his troubled heart...

At the Drunken Immortal Tower, in a private room on the second floor, Feng Tiange had just entered when Qin Luoyi approached and dropped to her knees.

"What are you doing?" Feng Tiange quickly helped her up, puzzled.

"If it weren't for you, I could never have married Soong Yu. I wanted to thank you."

Qin Luoyi insisted on kneeling, but Feng Tiange didn't let go. "Friends don't need to do this, unless you don't consider me a friend."

"Before you, I never truly considered anyone a friend. After you, I'm willing to go through fire and water for you. Just say the word, and I'll do my best," Qin Luoyi declared, almost making a vow, unsure how to express her gratitude.

Feng Tiange believed in Qin Luoyi's character and knew there would be times in the future when she could rely on her. But that wasn't her reason for helping Qin Luoyi; she simply didn't want a moment's negligence in her past life to harm this woman.

Across the rosewood table, Feng Tiange noticed the excitement on Qin Luoyi's face and offered a word of caution, "Soong Yu may have been promoted to Minister of War, but whether he becomes the grandson-in-law of the Martial Peace Marquis is still uncertain."

"You've paved the way this far. If I can't win over Soong Yu, then I must be foolish," Qin Luoyi replied confidently, pouring tea into Feng Tiange's cup. "Soong Yu's recent success wasn't just a fluke..."

Feng Tiange caught the probing tone in Qin Luoyi's voice and smiled slightly. "Be wary of Xie Ruxuan. Keep your distance from her these days."

"When Soong Yu returns..." Qin Luoyi decided not to press for details Feng Tiange seemed unwilling to share. "I might even let her take a shot at me."

Feng Tiange understood, "You truly love him."

"He's truly worth loving," Qin Luoyi admitted, a rare blush coloring her cheeks.

After experiencing a lifetime of heartbreak and betrayal, she vowed never to love anyone again...

Leaving the Drunken Immortal Tower, Feng Tiange hurried to the palace. She hoped Bai Yushuang and her Royal Grandma had a restful night, praying nothing went wrong.

Feng Tiange was mainly concerned that Bai Yushuang might not know how to behave. If she upset her Royal Grandma, who else in the entire royal city could protect her?

When Tiange arrived at the Happiness Prolonging Hall, it was unusually quiet.

"Nanny Sunn?" Tiange called out as she saw Nanny Sunn emerge from the main bedroom, quickening her steps to meet her.

"Shh—" Nanny Sunn gestured for silence. "You came at a bad time, Miss. The Empress Dowager just fell asleep."

Tiange nodded in understanding. "Grandma took her nap earlier today. She must not have rested well last night."

"It wasn't just a nap. The Empress Dowager spent the entire night playing strategy games with General Bai. They played ten rounds before she finally went to sleep," Nanny Sunn explained, leading Tiange to the courtyard. "I blame myself. I dozed off and when I woke up, it was already morning. You wouldn't believe it, Miss, but if I hadn't stopped them, General Bai would have kept going."

Tiange was incensed. "I'm going to find her!"

"What for, Miss?" Nanny Sunn exclaimed, pulling Tiange back in alarm.

"To avenge Grandma! She's too old to be kept up all night. Does General Bai think it's honorable to win like that? And to keep going after one win—what's the point?"

Tiange was mostly upset that Bai Yushuang didn't have the sense to see that Grandma was protecting her. Why show off in front of an elder?

"She didn't win. Not even once. When General Bai left just now, her eyes were red. She looked like she was about to lose it," Nanny Sunn said, pulling Tiange closer. "I watched the whole thing. The Empress Dowager even gave her chances, but she just couldn't see it... As soon as General Bai left, the Empress Dowager told me, 'No wonder she keeps losing. She deserves it.'"

Nanny Sunn spoke in her usual tone, as if she had seen it all before. But Tiange was startled, realizing she had overthought the situation.

Back in the day, Empress Dowager Chu was a formidable woman. Even when Tiange was at her best, she could only hope to match her. Bai Yushuang, on the other hand, didn't even come close.

Oh no!

Tiange suddenly remembered her rival's peculiar habit—every time she lost a battle, she would take it out on a chicken...