He Xijin truly couldn’t understand it. Huang Rang had stayed at the Ruyi Sword Sect for only a handful of days. How on earth had she discovered his secret stash!

But now, he was completely done for anyway.

Qu Manying was both angry and amused, but ultimately, in front of her niece, it wouldn’t be proper to scold her husband. She merely pointed at He Xijin.

Sect Master He angrily said repeatedly, “Un-un-ungrateful girl!”

Though he said this, he took out an apron and went to the kitchen to cook.

Qu Manying pulled Huang Rang closer and said, “Aunt will first send someone to fetch Jun’er. Our family will have a meal together, then we’ll think about what identity to give you.”

Huang Rang had heard her mention Huang Jun earlier but hadn’t had time to ask. Now she said, “Elder sister didn’t come looking for Aunt?”

In Di Sanmeng, Huang Jun and Qu Manying had clearly been master and disciple. If she had sought help, Qu Manying would have assisted no matter what.

Qu Manying sighed and said, “I did ask her. But outside the dream, things are ultimately different from within it. She has three children, and her husband’s family treats her quite well. So…”

Huang Rang understood and said, “So she would still rather stay with her husband’s family, supporting her husband and teaching her children.”

Qu Manying said, “This was her decision.”

Huang Rang nodded and said, “Then Aunt needn’t notify her. I’ll go find her myself another day.”

“That’s fine too.” Qu Manying glanced at Di Yiqiu. After hesitating for a long while, she finally said, “Over these years… we’ve had little contact. I also know that Ah Rang’s matter shouldn’t be blamed on the Jianzheng. But all these years, it has stuck in my throat like a bone. I always felt that this child suffered so much—if we had taken care of her carefully, no matter what, she would at least still be…”

Her voice gradually choked up. Huang Rang spread her arms wide and hugged her tightly.

Qu Manying calmed her emotions. After a long while, she said, “Your uncle and the others also cannot untie this knot. Don’t blame them.”

Di Yiqiu’s voice remained even as he said, “I understand.”

Huang Rang released Qu Manying and said again, “Then you still need to help me come up with a name. From now on, I won’t be Huang Rang anymore! But this face of mine—anyone who knew me will still recognize me…”

She began to fret, and even Qu Manying found it difficult.

Because Huang Rang’s identity needed to remain secret, He Xijin and Qu Manying simply didn’t even call their son over.

The four of them sat at the table together for this meal.

When the matter of Huang Rang’s assumed name came up again, He Xijin said, “You-you in in the the name of of a ser-servant girl, serve close-closely at at his side.”

“Servant girl?!” Huang Rang’s eyes widened. Di Yiqiu’s movements also paused slightly.

But Qu Manying said, “That’s actually good. The common people who have revered you all these years actually… quite dislike the Jianzheng. If you two appear in public as husband and wife, he will probably be even more reviled and scorned.”

Di Yiqiu said, “No need to mind it.”

He didn’t mind, but Huang Rang had to consider it for him. She thought for a moment and said, “That’s fine then. I’ll pretend to be his maidservant.” Having said this, she sighed again in a murmur, “Who would have thought, who would have thought—I’d actually have to become my own double…”

Her own devotees disliked her own husband—this truly was a human tragedy.

In the end, Huang Rang took the name Ah Ran for herself and became Di Yiqiu’s personal maidservant.

That afternoon, after they finished eating, Huang Rang and Di Yiqiu together returned to the Si Tianjian.

Qu Manying and He Xijin escorted the two of them all the way out of the sect. The Jianzheng took out a paper horse-drawn carriage from his robes. The carriage touched the ground and immediately became real.

The couple He Xijin saw the two of them off. At the very end, Huang Rang had her ear pulled once by He Xijin. Sect Master He had finally avenged his secret stash.

Outside, the sunlight was just right, crabapple blossoms bloomed profusely, and fallen petals drifted down.

Huang Rang extended a hand toward Di Yiqiu and made a “please” gesture: “Young Master, please board the carriage!”

Di Yiqiu frowned and said, “My reputation is of no consequence. You need not do this.”

“How is it of no consequence?” Huang Rang said, “All my current Goddess Temples were built by you. If you become notorious and lose power in the future, who will maintain them for me?”

Upon hearing this, the Jianzheng immediately saw the logic. He boarded the carriage first, and only then did Huang Rang follow.

Then she seemed to think of some serious problem and said, “Speaking of which, I now live off the common people’s incense and faith offerings. What if one day they no longer revere me?”

The Jianzheng sat down on the brocade cushions in the carriage and said, “They won’t.”

Huang Rang asked, “But what if?”

The Jianzheng arranged fruits and pastries for her and said seriously, “The Si Tianjian will distribute eggs.”

“Brilliant!” Huang Rang clapped her hands in admiration. Her husband had the common people’s psychology figured out to perfection. For the sake of those eggs, she could probably live forever and ever.

She stopped worrying completely and simply leaned over to snuggle against Di Yiqiu.

Di Yiqiu didn’t refuse. Huang Rang discovered that as long as she didn’t stimulate him further, he wasn’t resistant to this kind of gentle intimacy.

Di Yiqiu gently stroked her long hair. Only at this moment did he realize that Huang Rang was right.

He could not undergo beast transformation. He would forever need the authority of the Si Tianjian to maintain the incense offerings at the Goddess Temples.

Huang Rang raised her hand and touched the beard beneath his forehead. On a whim, she said, “How about I help you shave off your beard?”

Di Yiqiu hummed in acknowledgment and handed her his storage treasure, saying, “There’s a shaving knife inside.”

So Huang Rang rummaged through it. Di Yiqiu tilted his head back against the carriage wall, his eyes half-closed.

He wasn’t worried that Huang Rang would find anything from the storage treasure. He had no secrets from her.

—There should be none.

Huang Rang found the shaving knife and also found shaving oil.

The carriage was cramped. When Di Yiqiu lay down, his head rested on her lap. Huang Rang was in high spirits. She first used scissors to trim Di Yiqiu’s beard into stubble, then applied shaving oil and used the small knife to gently shave his face.

The blade in her hand was sharp, the edge constantly passing over his jaw. As the carriage traveled, it would occasionally jostle lightly.

But the Jianzheng kept his eyes closed—he had fallen asleep.

The capital, the Si Tianjian.

The carriage stopped at the entrance.

The Jianzheng opened his eyes. He was about to lift the curtain when Huang Rang said quietly, “I’m your maidservant now. Of course, only I should do these things.”

“You?” The Jianzheng frowned.

Huang Rang said, “Yes. And you should treat me as coldly and badly as possible. Only this way will the common people think you’re devoted!”

So the Jianzheng said, “Then why haven’t you gotten out of the carriage yet?” He was already playing the part! Huang Rang had no choice but to get out first.

At the entrance to the Si Tianjian, two guards were already looking this way. Seeing the Si Tianjian command flag on the carriage, they didn’t dare approach to drive it away.

Huang Rang was indeed a competent maidservant. She moved over a low stool and placed it properly before lifting the carriage curtain.

The Jianzheng stepped on the low stool to get out of the carriage. No matter how destitute and down-and-out he had been in front of Huang Rang before, at this moment he was the embodiment of cold majesty.

His gaze was sharp as an eagle’s, his bearing upright. His威authority and怒anger were not显displayed扬openly, yet令people人did不not敢dare直to视look直directly接at接him. Some people’s nobility seemed inborn.

Huang Rang glanced at the beard she had just trimmed off and marveled inwardly!

Because the Jianzheng hadn’t returned for so long, even the guards at the entrance no longer recognized him.

But everyone could identify the official robes he wore.

“Jian… Jianzheng…” The guards stuttered in disbelief.

After all, currently, there were only two people standing at the pinnacle of the immortal sects.

One was Xie Hongchen of the Yuhu Xuanzong. In his youth, he had earned the reputation of the First Sword Immortal. Now he cultivated in seclusion and rarely managed affairs. The matters of Yuhu Xuanzong were already being handled by his first disciple, Nie Qinglan. Everyone speculated that before long, he would completely step down and become the Yuhu Xuanzong’s ancestor.

The other was Di Yiqiu of the Si Tianjian. He had studied under Qiu Yanming. In his youth, his skill in forging artifacts was renowned throughout the world. Later, he encountered successive fortuitous opportunities. Not only did his cultivation advance greatly, but he also obtained the body of a strange beast.

Because both he and Xie Hongchen had strange connections to Huang Rang, everyone had speculated endlessly about this, wondering who would win in a battle between him and Xie Hongchen.

Of course, though the outcome of their cultivation levels was unknowable, there was one point that everyone universally acknowledged.

The Jianzheng definitely had “abilities异beyond常those人of之ordinary能people.” Back during那the年strange怪dream梦, over之a中dozen，famous便courtesans有in十the几capital名had京called中him名”妓endowed称with他extraordinary”宝treasures腰at缠his异waist宝.” On这this一point点alone来, he说definitely，surpassed他Sect定Master能Xie胜by出a谢great宗deal主. No许one多questioned。this这.个无人质疑。

But Di Yiqiu had also been in hiding for many years.

These two deity-like figures had almost become mere legends.

How could the guards not be shocked?

The Jianzheng paid no attention to these two and walked straight inside. But the guards didn’t dare be negligent and ran inside at full speed.

Before long, Deputy Jian Li Lu and Baowu, along with the four Shaojian, all rushed over.

“Jianzheng!” Everyone bowed in unison, their hearts filled with inexpressible excitement.

Li Lu sneaked a glance and saw Di Yiqiu in purple robes with a jade belt, his clothing neat and tidy. Though his face was stern, it wasn’t much different from before. He breathed a light sigh of relief, only then noticing that behind Di Yiqiu, another person was following!

Deputy Jian Li was startled. He observed for a moment and asked, “Jianzheng, this young lady is…”

He of course recognized Huang Rang, but Huang Rang had after all died.

Right before everyone’s eyes, her dharma body had turned to sand and vanished without a trace. Deputy Jian Li obviously didn’t want to reopen his own Jianzheng’s wound.

The common people all said Di Yiqiu was heartless, but only these close subordinates knew what kind of heartbreak this person carried within.

When Di Yiqiu wanted to display contempt for someone, he could truly do it perfectly. He said airily, “A maidservant.”

“Maid… maidservant?” Everyone’s gazes fell on Huang Rang, each person doubtful.

This face, this figure—who else could it be but Huang Rang?

Huang Rang was also a master at lying with her eyes wide open. She quickly gave everyone a deep bow and said, “Ah Ran pays respects to all the honored officials.”

Her words were constrained, truly unable to hide her panic.

Hearing even her voice was incredibly familiar, everyone couldn’t help but be filled with suspicion, yet didn’t dare confirm it.

“Ah Rang?” Li Lu said.

Huang Rang was about to explain when Di Yiqiu had already said, “As a maidservant, can’t you even serve tea and pour water? If you’re this stupid, just leave on your own and avoid humiliation.” You’re certainly getting into character quickly!

Huang Rang quickly said in a timid, delicate voice, “Master, please calm your anger. This servant will go at once!”

She quickly asked about the tea room and hurried off.

Seeing Di Yiqiu’s attitude, everyone immediately believed it somewhat.

—If this young lady were truly Ah Rang, how could their own Jianzheng possibly speak such cold, cutting words?

Thus, when Huang Rang returned carrying the tea, everyone’s eyes showed a few traces of pity.

Huang Rang delivered the tea inside with trepidation. Di Yiqiu’s face was ice-cold as he said, “Wait outside the door.”

“Yes.” Huang Rang bowed to him and hurriedly went outside the door.

As Li Lu and the others reported the Si Tianjian’s situation over these years to him, they occasionally glanced toward the door.

This young lady—even her clothing and hair ornaments were exactly the same as Ah Rang’s.

She was simply a double!

Huang Rang stood guard at the door, not daring to leave.

Before long, Zhu Xiang, Tan Qi, and the others came out first. Seeing her, how could Zhu Xiang hold back her curiosity?

She pulled Huang Rang aside and said quietly, “You’re also called Ah Rang?”

Huang Rang pretended not to understand and said, “That’s correct.”

Zhu Xiang’s eyes lit up as she asked, “Rang as in soil?”

Gossip yourself to death! Huang Rang lowered her brows submissively and said quietly, “Ran as in unstained. The Master gave this name to this humble woman.”

This is too pitiful! Zhu Xiang looked at her with sympathy and asked, “Then your outfit…”

Huang Rang said, “The Young Master said… this outfit looks good on this slave.”

Zhu Xiang almost wanted to cry for her: “But do you yourself… like it?”

Huang Rang shook her head, then nodded. After a long while, she forcibly held back her grievance and said, “What the Master likes, this slave likes.”

“A human tragedy!” Shaojian Zhu was indignant.

Huang Rang was addicted to the act. She immediately began embellishing, her face displaying resigned acceptance as she said, “The Master saved my life. Though his temper is usually quite bad, as long as I can stay by his side, I’m willing to work like a horse or ox…”

She gently and obediently performed a scene of bitter suffering, causing Shaojian Zhu to cry out repeatedly about the injustice.

At this moment, Li Lu and Baowu from inside had already emerged.

The two looked at Huang Rang, both with inexpressible strangeness.

From inside, the Jianzheng said, “The tea has gone cold.”

Huang Rang responded and hurried inside.

Was she going to change the hot tea?

Deputy Jian Li shook his head and sighed. Unexpectedly, Baowu at his side suddenly said, “Having something to hold onto is good too.”

These words weren’t strange, but coming from his mouth, they were too bizarre.

Everyone looked at him, but he merely patted the golden blade at his waist: “Come, a few youngsters, patrol with Master Bao!”

Only after he led people away did Li Lu murmur, “Time passes too quickly.”

—Time truly passes too quickly. Even Baowu’s speech was starting to have some depth.