4: Chapter 4 Su Wan's discerning eye leads her to select two concubines.

The Jiang Family was making a grand display of taking concubines for their sixty-year-old Second Master.

When the news spread, Jiangyuan City was abuzz with discussion.

At the Wang Family mansion in the east of the city, in the deliberation hall.

The Patriarch Wang sat upright in a grand armchair.

Listening to the report from the steward below, the Patriarch Wang let out a cold laugh.

"Is that old immortal Jiang Yuan of the Jiang Family crazy?

"They're using the entire Family's resources to extensively search for marriageable women, just to breed with that sixty-year-old Level 5 Qi Refining Trash, Jiang Feng?"

The Wang Family Elder beside him also looked disdainful.

"Jiang Feng's Qi and blood have long declined; half his body is already in the grave."

"He'll probably die on a woman's belly just a few days after taking them in."

"The Jiang Family is desperately trying anything, thinking they can produce a Heavenly Spiritual Root by having children to save the Family? What a huge joke."

The Patriarch Wang waved his hand.

"Pass down the order: suitable young women of the Wang Family, even those from collateral branches, are strictly forbidden from going out these next few days."

"Lest they be bitten by those mad dogs from the Jiang Family and needlessly tarnish their reputation."

At the Li Family in the west of the city.

The Li Family Head stood on the pavilion, looking in the direction of the Jiang Family.

"The Jiang Family is preparing for its own demise."

"Jiang Yuan's Lifespan is almost exhausted, and Jiang Feng is on his last legs."

"Once these two die, the Jiang Family should be removed from the list of the three great Families."

"Give orders to just observe with cold eyes; treat it as a joke."

The Wang Family and Li Family, two of Jiangyuan City's three great cultivation Families, held the Jiang Family's actions in great contempt.

Openly, they declined; secretly, they mocked.

No cultivation Family was willing to marry their daughter to a dying old man.

However, while cultivation Families were unwilling, the Mortal Families and merchants in the city eagerly sprang into action.

No matter how much the Jiang Family had declined, it was still a cultivation Family.

Even a small amount of cultivation resources would be enough for Mortal Families to use for generations.

For Mortals, being able to send their daughter into a cultivation Family, even as a concubine to a sixty-year-old man, was a great stroke of fortune.

In just three days.

Within a hundred-mile radius of Jiangyuan City, crowds surged.

Several streets leading to the Jiang Family courtyard were blocked by various carriages.

Portraits of those Mortal women and Young Misses from merchant and official families were continuously sent into the Jiang Family courtyard in brocade boxes.

Many wealthy merchants directly brought carts of gold, silver, and jewels as dowry, just to have Jiang Feng glance at their daughter's portrait.

Inside the Jiang Family great hall.

Paintings covered an entire room.

Several servants were sorting and organizing them.

Jiang Feng sat in the main seat.

His back was straight.

After several days of nourishment from the spirit gathering pill, his previously declining Qi and blood showed signs of recovery.

His eyes shone brightly.

He casually flipped through a few of the best portraits selected on the table.

He frowned slightly.

The women in the paintings were indeed beautiful and charming, in various shapes and sizes.

But most were like flowers in a greenhouse, lacking any worldly experience.

He would take hundreds, even thousands, of concubines in the future.

If the back courtyard didn't have a few women who could manage the situation and understood the rules, it would eventually fall into chaos.

Mere beauty was not enough.

"Husband, please rest for a moment; let me help you look."

A gentle voice came from behind and to the side.

Su Wan walked over slowly, holding a freshly brewed Spirit Tea.

She had changed into a dark red long dress, her figure graceful.

Her long hair was coiled up, adorned with a buyao hairpin.

The apprehension and inferiority from a few days ago had faded from Su Wan.

Now, Su Wan was the Jiang Family's officially married Second Madam.

With Jiang Feng's backing and the Family's resources tilting towards her, Su Wan naturally developed a calm and composed demeanor.

Jiang Feng took the teacup.

The tea temperature was just right.

He looked up at his wife.

After Awakening the System on their wedding night, Jiang Feng immediately told Su Wan about his plan to widely accept Dao Companions.

Jiang Feng not only gave her status but also promised to bestow her with a mortal shedding pill in the future, helping her embark on the Immortal Path.

Su Wan did not cry or act jealous.

She merely bent her knees slightly and bowed to Jiang Feng.

"Husband trusts this concubine and entrusts the great Family plan to me."

"This concubine will surely guard the back courtyard for Husband throughout this life, never allowing any messy affairs to disturb Husband's cultivation."

Facts proved that Jiang Feng had not misjudged her.

Although Su Wan was a Mortal widow, she had endured scorn and hardship for many years.

Her judgment of people was far more accurate than that of ordinary sheltered young ladies.

"Come and see, among all these portraits in the room, which ones are pleasing to the eye?" Jiang Feng pointed to the pile of paintings.

Su Wan rose and walked to the pile of paintings.

Her gaze quickly swept over them, and she deftly tossed the unqualified ones aside.

"This woman is from a farming Family, beautiful and gentle, but illiterate, making it difficult to educate offspring in the future. She can be a backup."

"This Loose Cultivator's granddaughter has a four-element mixed Spiritual Root and demands fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones monthly; she's insatiably greedy."

"This official's Young Miss, whose father holds real power in the city defense, is highly likely to get involved in Imperial Dynasty disputes; eliminate her."

Su Wan was clear-headed and methodical.

In just the time it takes an incense stick to burn, she had eliminated most of the useless portraits.

Finally, Su Wan walked to a corner and pulled out two portraits from it.

She handed them to Jiang Feng with both hands.

"Husband, these two are the most suitable."

Jiang Feng looked down.

The first portrait depicted a white-robed woman. Her appearance was cold and aloof, her eyes showing stubbornness.

Even as a painting, one could discern the pride in the white-robed woman's bones.

The origin column read: Daughter of the Lin Family's third branch, Lin Yueyao.

"Lin Yueyao?" Jiang Feng tapped the table with his finger.

He had an impression of this name.

Five years ago, Lin Yueyao was a famous Genius around Jiangyuan City.

She possessed a Gold-Water Dual Spiritual Root.

At only fifteen years old, she had already broken through to Level 4 Qi Refining and was exceptionally admitted into the Qingyun Sect, a great Sect.

The Lin Family also benefited from this, their status rising, subtly showing signs of entering Jiangyuan City's fourth great cultivation Family.

Su Wan spoke softly, sighing.

"It is that Lin Yueyao."

"Two years ago, she encountered a powerful enemy during her Secret Realm training in the Qingyun Sect."

"Not only was her cultivation completely destroyed, but even her Spiritual Root was forcibly shattered."

"The Qingyun Sect does not keep cripples and expelled her from the Sect on the spot."

"The Lin Family, seeing her lose her value, not only didn't protect her but even regarded her as a Family disgrace."

Su Wan paused, her gaze becoming serious.

"Husband, although Lin Yueyao has become a cripple, she was once a Disciple of a great Sect."

"She is intimately familiar with the operation of Sects in the cultivation world, the distribution of Secret Realms, and the grades of Cultivation Techniques."

"If the Jiang Family is to venture out of Jiangyuan City in the future, her vision and experience will be invaluable."

"More importantly..."

Su Wan looked at Jiang Feng.

"Husband has Divine Pills."

"Husband can help her reshape the Spiritual Root that Lin Yueyao lost."

"Having fallen from the clouds into the mud, having tasted the coldness of human nature."

"If Husband can pull her out of Hell and back into Heaven at this time."

"This woman will surely be utterly devoted, becoming the sharpest blade in Husband's hand."

Jiang Feng nodded slightly.

Su Wan's analysis was very accurate.

The more tragic Lin Yueyao's current situation, the greater Jiang Feng's favor in helping her.

A Prodigy concubine with great Sect experience and extreme loyalty would be of great help to the Jiang Family.

"What about the second one?" Jiang Feng looked at the other portrait.

The woman in the painting had slightly round cheeks. Her eyes were lively, and a sweet smile played on her lips.

She exuded a clever aura.

Origin: Only daughter of Zhangs Cloth Shop, Zhang Yuniang.

"Zhang Yuniang is the daughter of a merchant."

"She grew up surrounded by abacuses, is extremely sensitive to numbers, and is skilled in financial management and accounting."

"I heard that most of Zhangs Cloth Shop's business in recent years has been managed by her behind the scenes."

Su Wan pointed to the portrait.

"Husband will expand the Family and have many descendants in the future, and the Family's industries will surely expand rapidly."

"The expenses of the back courtyard, the allocation of resources, and the incoming and outgoing accounts of various Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts will require someone extremely knowledgeable and meticulous to manage."

"This concubine can help Husband manage the people and uphold the rules of the back courtyard."

"But when it comes to managing accounts and industries, this Zhang Yuniang is the unparalleled choice."

"With Zhang Yuniang managing the accounts and this concubine managing the people, the back courtyard will be as solid as a fortress, never holding Husband back."

Jiang Feng slapped the two portraits onto the table.

These two could indeed manage different affairs.

Su Wan's eye for people truly had its unique insights.

"These two are decided."

Jiang Feng stood up, his gaze sweeping towards the door.

"Someone, please invite the Family Head."

That afternoon.

The Jiang Family's main gate opened wide.

This was the first time the Jiang Family had opened its main gate so conspicuously in nearly ten years.

Family Head Jiang Nan personally oversaw and directed.

Two teams of guards, wearing armor and carrying weapons, marched out in neat formation.

Dozens of wooden chests were carried out, tied with red silk.

Inside were Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills. Many Magical Artifacts and rare treasures from the Mortal world were also placed within.

Jiang Nan stood on the steps, his gaze sweeping over the guards below.

"Second Master taking concubines is the most important matter for my Jiang Family."

"Beat gongs and drums along the streets; make the procession as grand as possible."

"Let everyone in the city see the sincerity of my Jiang Family in welcoming the Second Madam."

Although it was merely taking concubines, the specifications Jiang Nan set were even higher than what other families used for marrying a main wife.

The procession split into two routes.

One headed towards Zhangs Cloth Shop in the south of the city.

The other went straight to the Lin Family mansion in the north of the city.

Horses moved, and gongs and drums sounded loudly.