A month flew by. Every day, Madam Shui brought a small pouch of pills and spiritual decoctions to ensure Tang Yue took them. Some were for healing, others to aid in Qi induction. Tang Yue had started to develop a psychological aversion to the sight of medicine.
She began self-studying basic pharmacology and negotiated with Madam Shui to reduce the dosage of her supplements. This lessened the burden on her body and surprisingly made the medicines more effective, better suiting her condition. The original doses had been too strong—her body was too weak to handle them.
In the novel, the original Tang Yue had also taken many supplements, reaching the Qi Refining stage in a short time. It seemed impressive but actually harmed her physical development and cultivation foundation.
This wasn't the fault of Master Shang, head of the Divine Farmer Pavilion, who prescribed the medicine. Without such forced acceleration, Tang Yue's poor talent would have left her unable to reach Qi Refining even by age thirty. Given the original character's pride, she would never have accepted that.
But cultivation ultimately relies on personal insight. No matter how skilled the Divine Farmer Pavilion's master was, he couldn't cultivate on her behalf. It required individual exploration. Fortunately, Tang Yue now had a biological mother who was the wife of the City Lord. She was given many books and herbs to experiment with. With no fear of waste, she discovered the most suitable medicinal dosage.
She also found that Taoist fitness techniques used by mortals could help her absorb medicinal energy and improve her physique. After consistent practice, she gradually became aware of her inner and outer breath, even learning to circulate Qi throughout her body to dispel cold and pain.
Aside from her diligent cultivation, Tang Yue also accompanied Madam Shui in handling city affairs or shopping and having tea, deepening their mother-daughter bond. Madam Shui was her golden thigh now, and earning her favor was an easy decision.
One day, upon arriving at her mother's flower hall, Tang Yue saw a petite young woman speaking there. Upon closer inspection and recalling the original's memories, she realized this was her father's concubine, Zhuang Qiaohui, who was quite favored and had caused Madam Shui no end of trouble.
Tang Yue immediately guessed this concubine wasn't here for anything good. Madam Shui didn't look happy either. Smiling, Tang Yue walked over and asked, "Mother, are you dealing with something important?"
Madam Shui's expression relaxed slightly. "Aunt Qiaohui came to request some money from me."
Tang Yue turned to size up the concubine: petite and pitiful-looking, barely older than herself by appearance. In reality, Zhuang Qiaohui was at the Golden Core stage and older than Madam Shui. Her youthful looks likely came from plenty of beauty-preserving pills gifted by Tang Yue's father.
"Aunt Qiaohui, has something troubling come up recently?" she asked sweetly. No way was she going to call her "Second Madam" — she stood firmly on her mother's side.
Zhuang Qiaohui winced at being called "Aunt." She always believed she was the City Lord's true love and deserved the title of Madam. But on the legitimate wife's turf, she had to endure for now.
"Little Yue, it's for Wan'er. She's going out with her senior brother for some experience training. She's only mid-stage Qi Refining, so I wanted to ask the Madam for a defensive artifact."
She was secretly smug—her daughter Tang Wan was already mid-stage Qi Refining. Meanwhile, the legitimate daughter Tang Yue hadn't even inducted Qi. So what if she was the official daughter? Her talent was pitiful.
Tang Yue caught the hidden barb but just smiled. "Aunt Qiaohui, you're so thoughtful. Tomorrow is the Duobao Pavilion auction. Why don't we all go and have Father bid for a few artifacts for us juniors?" She had zero interest in letting her mother foot the bill to support a concubine.
"The City Lord is probably too busy for that," Zhuang Qiaohui hedged. She never asked the City Lord directly for gifts—keeping up the image of a considerate woman—and instead turned to Madam Shui.
Madam Shui was prideful. Usually, Zhuang Qiaohui just had to poke a little, and she'd get something good. She assumed today would be no different.
Tang Yue didn't want to waste more time. She called out to Chunlan, the servant waiting outside: "Sister Chunlan, please inform Father that we'll all be attending the Duobao Pavilion auction. Aunt wants to pick out a magical item for my elder sister."
Chunlan hesitated, looking toward Madam Shui.
Tang Yue raised her brow—was Chunlan reluctant?
She continued, "Tell Father that our harmonious City Lord family showing up together will reflect unity and strength."
Madam Shui, seeing her daughter so insistent, gave in. "Chunlan, go tell the City Lord. It's true we haven't gathered as a family since the new year."
In truth, they never met as a group. Madam Shui and Zhuang Qiaohui didn't get along, Tang Wenhua favored Zhuang Qiaohui, and Tang Yue constantly clashed with Tang Wan. It was always a mess.
Chunlan left. Tang Yue happily snuggled up to her mother, chatting about dinner plans while ignoring Zhuang Qiaohui, who stood awkwardly to the side.
Soon, Chunlan returned: the City Lord had agreed. Zhuang Qiaohui could only force a smile and take her leave.
After she left, Madam Shui sighed, "I wasn't short on magical items. I could have just given her a middle-grade one. Why stir things up?"
"Mother, giving gifts should bring us joy, not resentment," Tang Yue replied firmly. Even after receiving so much, Zhuang Qiaohui still schemed. No point in being generous.
Besides, in the original story, Zhuang Qiaohui was the one who exposed Tang Yue's unique Six Ding Jade Maiden destiny to Xuan Yuan Mountain—making her a target for dual cultivation. Elder Liu Yangcheng, stuck at the Fusion Stage, saw Tang Yue as his last chance to ascend.
He already had a partner, a core member of Xuan Yuan Mountain, so he pressured the City Lord to give up Tang Yue as his concubine. Persuaded by Zhuang Qiaohui, Tang Wenhua agreed. This crushed Tang Yue and led her to curse Tang Wan with the dark spell ring.
Tang Yue looked solemnly at her mother. "Promise me you won't give anything else to that mother-daughter pair. If you do, I'll be heartbroken, and it'll hurt my Dao heart."
Madam Shui was startled but quickly promised. "Alright, alright, no more gifts."
Tang Yue was pleased. Then Chunlan stepped forward and whispered, "Madam, I saw the Second Madam wearing the Morning Glow Dress from Tiangong Pavilion—they only made one. It's exquisitely embroidered, infused with runes. It's a top-grade magical artifact. Did the City Lord—"
Madam Shui slammed her chopsticks down. That dress was meant for her. She had agreed on it with Tang Wenhua, who had praised it repeatedly. She thought he'd give it to her for her birthday. And now Zhuang Qiaohui had it?
Tang Yue grabbed her mother. "Don't get upset. I have a way to make Father come to us."
"What way? He hasn't visited in half a month. So busy, huh? Buying dresses for someone else?"
Tang Yue poured her a cup of tea and turned to Chunlan. "Sister Chunlan, you have a sharp eye. You even recognized the Morning Glow Dress from Tiangong Pavilion. Mother and I didn't catch it."
Chunlan panicked. She had been trying to stir up trouble at Zhuang Qiaohui's request. After Tang Yue's injury, Madam Shui had focused all her energy on her daughter, leaving no room for backyard drama. If she didn't act, she'd fail her task and be punished.
"I just pay attention because I help Madam make clothes," Chunlan said hurriedly.
Tang Yue praised her, "Sister Chunlan, we've overlooked your talents."
"No, I only know the basics," Chunlan replied, increasingly nervous.
"Father often says our disciples wear shabby clothes that hinder cultivation. Mother, with Chunlan's skill, shouldn't she oversee the clothing bureau? Father will be thrilled."
Chunlan paled. The clothing bureau handled outer sect uniforms, often rushed and under-resourced. It was basically exile.
"I-I can't—"
"You can. Mother, let Chunlan take this post."
Madam Shui, having cooled off, now saw through Chunlan's schemes and readily agreed.
Chunlan was horrified but had no choice. She would have to figure something out with Zhuang Qiaohui.
"Mother, just wait. Father will be here soon," Tang Yue said with a sly wink.
"You've gotten crafty," Madam Shui noted, half-joking.
That spooked Tang Yue a little. If anyone suspected she wasn't the original soul, she'd be punished for soul-snatching.
"I just figured some things out," she said quietly. "We should take care of ourselves."
Madam Shui assumed she was still hurt over her father abandoning her and hugged her tightly. "You have me. I won't let anything happen to you again."
"And I'll take care of you too, Mother," Tang Yue replied sincerely. Since she had inherited the love meant for the original, she would protect the mother who gave it. But Tang Wenhua? He was excluded.
To the City Lord, love and family didn't matter—only usefulness. The talented male lead, Chu Tianshu, was treated like a son; the untalented daughter was sold as a concubine. Tang Yue had no intention of being a pawn. One day, she would sever all ties. For now, she had to endure.