After five basins of water, Di Yiqiu finally lifted Huang Rang out of the bathtub.

Then he was quite troubled. He searched around the room for a long time, clearly not having any clothing that Huang Rang could wear.

In the end, he found one of his own undergarments and dressed her in it.

Huang Rang no longer cared, truly. Right now, even if Di Yiqiu wanted to toy with or humiliate her in any way, it didn’t matter.

Her self-respect had been scrubbed away by five basins of bathwater.

Di Yiqiu carried her back to the bed and began drying her hair.

Huang Rang’s hair was black and smooth, silky as satin.

In the past, she would always coax Xie Hongchen to dry her hair, letting her long dark tresses entwine and linger between his fingers.

Xie Hongchen… Huang Rang sank into memories, the past tearing at her heart piece by piece.

Meanwhile, Di Yiqiu had finally dried her hair sufficiently. He draped Huang Rang’s long hair over the headboard, pulled over a warming brazier, and warmed it from a distance. Then he sat on the edge of the bed, half-removing his undergarments to examine the injury on his shoulder.

Between his collarbones was actually embedded a poisonous leech! This was one of Yuhu Xuanzong’s mountain-protecting venomous creatures. Once it entered the body it would lay eggs, not only feeding on human blood but also containing deadly poison. Without an antidote, an ordinary person would dissolve into bloody water within twelve hours.

Huang Rang was alarmed, but when Di Yiqiu picked out the blood leech, it was already dead.

This creature had extremely vigorous vitality and was difficult to kill through ordinary methods.

Huang Rang couldn’t help but glance at Di Yiqiu’s shoulder. His shoulder was blackened—the sign of poisoning. But when he gently pressed and massaged the wound, that patch of blackness slowly dispersed outward.

Gradually, as if the poison had been absorbed, everything returned to normal.

This person’s constitution was very strange.

Huang Rang felt puzzled. But it was only puzzlement.

Given her current circumstances, how could she possibly care about Di Yiqiu’s constitution?

When her hair was dried, Di Yiqiu helped her lie down. Huang Rang felt thoroughly relaxed, likely because she had just bathed in five basins of hot water.

…Forget it, truly, don’t mention the hot water baths anymore.

She had just settled down when Di Yiqiu suddenly propped himself up and leaned over her.

This… very well. Whatever you want, as long as you’re happy.

Huang Rang stared at the embroidered patterns on the bed canopy, not thinking about what was about to happen. What was there to fear? Back when she was seducing Xie Hongchen, what hadn’t she done? As for you… I’ll just consider it being bitten by a dog.

Huang Rang tried hard to remain indifferent.

And Di Yiqiu reached out to tuck in the blanket on her other side, then turned over and lay down.

…Ahem.

Huang Rang began counting the threads in the bed canopy, trying to figure out how many holes they created in their interwoven pattern.

In her ears was Di Yiqiu’s breathing—at first light and shallow, then gradually deeper, and finally slowly becoming faint. Huang Rang counted his breaths. A hundred years later, she was sleeping beside another man.

But this was no longer something she cared about.

She closed her eyes, wanting to sleep, but darkness immediately gathered around her.

In her mind, it seemed as if millions of people were crying out in despair. She was back in that secret chamber again.

Countless prisoners like her stood silently in place. Everyone looked at each other with hollow eyes and vacant expressions.

That place never saw daylight year-round, only the talisman light of the formation arrays occasionally flickering faintly.

One day, she heard a rustling sound.

This sound in the deathly silent chamber was actually quite pleasant. Huang Rang listened carefully for a long time, until a rat dragged a bloody ear past.

It turned out that the sound was a rat gnawing on a companion’s ear.

Huang Rang opened her eyes and continued counting the threads of the gauze canopy.

The candlelight outside the canopy gradually weakened. Huang Rang began to panic. If the candle went out, the room would be left in complete darkness again. Fortunately, when the candle burned out, the sky was also gradually brightening.

The long night was ending. Into the darkness, it was as if a spoonful of sesame white had been mixed in—both bright and dark. Then this spoonful of white grew increasingly concentrated, and the first ray of daylight entered the canopy.

Huang Rang breathed a sigh of relief, and Di Yiqiu beside her also woke.

When he first woke, his fingertips touched Huang Rang sleeping beside him, and he immediately sat up in alarm. After seeing who was beside him clearly, he seemed to remember her presence.

He got up and got out of bed. Huang Rang only heard rustling sounds—he must be getting dressed.

Before long, he tucked in the corners of the blanket around Huang Rang again and said: “Today you’ll stay in the room. I’ll have someone rush to make you some clothing.”

Ah, this was the first time Huang Rang had heard him speak.

—Of course, the two must have conversed a hundred years ago. It was just that time was as vast as the sea of smoke, and she had long forgotten.

Di Yiqiu’s voice was clear, but his tone was entirely commanding—every word was suppressive, allowing no questioning.

Fortunately, Huang Rang had no way to question him anyway. What else could she do? She could only go along with his wishes.

Di Yiqiu closed the door and left. Outside came someone’s voice, respectfully greeting him.

Huang Rang couldn’t hear his response—perhaps he didn’t respond at all. Well, a hundred years ago, the court had no authority among the immortal sects. During these hundred years, Si Tianjian had become a colossus.

Even Yuhu Xuanzong had to face this opponent seriously.

And as Jianzheng, how could Di Yiqiu be an easy person to deal with?

Huang Rang continued staring at the canopy. After Di Yiqiu left, this small world seemed to fall silent as well.

She actually wasn’t afraid of waiting. During those ten years in the secret chamber, time seemed to have rusted, stuck in place unable to move.

And her current circumstances were already much better. She could lie on a soft bed, covered with a thick warm blanket.

A warming brazier burned in the room, which robbed the sneaking cold wind of its威慑力, making it quite gentle instead.

She waited for time to pass, and unexpectedly even caught a ray of sunlight that secretly entered the canopy!

Today was truly the most wonderful day. Huang Rang thought quietly.

Si Tianjian.

Di Yiqiu went all the way to Zhuque Si and entered his conference room.

Zhu Xiang, the Shaojian of Zhuque Si, hurried over. Though she was a woman, she wore a set of red short jacket with sleeves rolled up to her elbows, looking like a man.

She acted decisively and efficiently, and was also clever and intelligent. She was Di Yiqiu’s capable right hand.

She stood in the subordinate position waiting for instructions, very tactfully not disturbing Di Yiqiu.

Di Yiqiu spread out paper and drew diagrams with a charcoal pencil.

He had many ingenious ideas. Many of Si Tianjian’s magical instruments and treasures came from his hand.

Whenever he forged new magical instruments, Zhu Xiang would make multiple copies of the original drafts to circulate and discuss among the sect’s disciples.

If there was demand, they would mass produce them.

Today Di Yiqiu’s drawing was also very detailed.

Zhu Xiang waited quietly for a while. Finally, Di Yiqiu handed her the diagrams: “Make them immediately and send them right away.”

Good heavens, today was especially urgent.

Zhu Xiang took the diagrams. With just one glance, she froze. There were several sheets, and they were all… women’s clothing. From breast bindings to inner skirts, then to underskirts, outer garments, thick cloaks, waist belts, shoes…

The materials, colors, and embroidery techniques were all clearly marked. The measurements were so detailed—shoulder width, bust, waist, hips—not a single one was missing.

This was…

Zhu Xiang didn’t understand. But when the Jianzheng gave orders, there must be a reason. She didn’t ask further questions. The best subordinate was demonstrated through superior execution!

So early that morning, the disciples of Si Tianjian’s Zhuque Si began sewing this set of dress.

This dress was also very complex—pearls, woven flowers, ties, tassels, fox fur lining the collar, plus intricate embroidery work. Everyone performed their duties and busied themselves for most of the day.

The Jianzheng wasn’t idle either. He personally embroidered the hidden pattern on the outer skirt.

All the disciples of Zhuque Si had very hesitant looks in their eyes. But they didn’t dare ask.

—Who dared meddle in his affairs?

One day’s time actually passed quite quickly for Huang Rang.

Her perception of time had long been wrong. She kept her eyes open, watching the sunlight shift and slowly slip away. The heavenly light lost that golden tint and gradually became pale white.

Someone came in during the interval but didn’t dare lift the bed curtain. So naturally Huang Rang couldn’t see who it was either. She only knew that person added some silver charcoal and quickly withdrew.

But even this tiny bit of activity was enough to delight her for a long time. Holding onto this bit of delight, she could continue waiting peacefully.

When the door opened again, Huang Rang recognized those footsteps.

Sure enough, it was Di Yiqiu. He came to the bedside and lifted the bed curtain. Huang Rang only felt an arm supporting her shoulders, and soon she was sitting up. Not only had Di Yiqiu returned, he had also brought her dress.

Huang Rang felt that this Si Tianjian was indeed highly efficient.

Di Yiqiu removed the undergarment from her body and began dressing her. Only then did Huang Rang see him today. He wore a black official hat with golden thread embroidering double wings like spread wings, and wore purple official robes.

A jade belt bound his waist, below which hung a golden fish pouch. On his feet were black official boots with gold decorations on the surface. Because it was cold outside, he wore a black light fur coat over his clothes.

This outfit, combined with his sharp features, gave him quite a sense of distance, making him seem unapproachable.

Huang Rang completed her assessment of this person’s appearance and allowed Di Yiqiu to dress her.

Starting from the most intimate breast binding, inner layer of cotton, middle layer of silk, outer layer of gauze.

Huang Rang felt uneasy as he dressed her—with so many layers, wouldn’t it really make me look fat?

Di Yiqiu naturally didn’t know what she was thinking. He kept his head down and dressed her all the way to the socks and shoes on her feet. He lifted her feet, eyes not wandering, hands also very proper. In any case, he didn’t look at what he shouldn’t look at, and didn’t touch what he shouldn’t touch.

Huang Rang sat upright on the edge of the bed, occasionally being lifted up by him to adjust the undergarments as thin as cicada wings.

Shame? She felt no shame at all.

She wouldn’t feel ashamed, hmph.

Di Yiqiu quickly finished dressing her, then carried her to sit in front of the bronze mirror.

For the first time in ten years, Huang Rang saw herself again. Her loose black hair was still so smooth it shone.

The pale golden dress made her skin look milky white. The collar of the dress was finely lined with a circle of snow fox fur. Two silk flowers were sewn on the shoulders with pearls adorning the flower centers, and the petals were densely edged with gold thread.

Her face looked even smaller, her expression vacant and lifeless. As Di Yiqiu combed through her long hair, she looked like a fake doll.

Her long hair was originally very smooth, but the comb caught on something.

Di Yiqiu quickly lowered his head to look. Huang Rang of course knew what it was—right on the top of her head, two golden needles penetrated straight into her skull. And the comb teeth had touched the needle ends exposed outside.

Sure enough, Di Yiqiu gently touched those needle ends, and his movements became much lighter.

He seemed to want to bind Huang Rang’s hair into a bun. Huang Rang was also looking forward to it—this Si Tianjian Jianzheng could style hair?

In the bronze mirror, the Jianzheng behind her sometimes piled her hair into a chicken’s nest, sometimes tied it into a bird’s nest.

Master Qiu busied himself for half an hour, and finally called over a maid to comb Huang Rang’s hair into a single spiral bun.

…

There were no hair ornaments, but Master Qiu’s hands were the most dexterous in Si Tianjian. He found an ice silkworm silk ribbon and tied it in Huang Rang’s hair. Using the ribbon as a flower, Huang Rang barely regained a few traces of her former radiance.

It was just that her complexion was too pale, and her lips had no color either.

She looked at the woman in the bronze mirror, and the person in the mirror looked back at her. Both had wooden expressions and hollow eyes. In barely a hundred years, her glorious days had withered truly without warning.

After finishing the grooming, Di Yiqiu dismissed the maid who had been like a tool, fastened a thick cloak on Huang Rang, and carried her out the door.

Huang Rang suddenly saw the courtyard in the evening light and cast aside all her worries completely.

Xuanwu Si was a school, with Si Tianjian’s studying disciples coming and going. Di Yiqiu carrying the elaborately dressed Huang Rang through courtyards and across gardens naturally attracted quite a few people’s gazes.

But all the students stood to the side of the path, bowed their heads in salute, and tried hard to appear composed.

Huang Rang nestled in Di Yiqiu’s arms, the ribbon on her head gently fluttering as he walked.

Di Yiqiu carried Huang Rang to a flower field. In the field lay a huge rock with warning phrases about diligent study written in bold calligraphy.

Huang Rang caught the familiar fragrance from far away.

Ah, orchids. Just from the scent, she could tell how many plants were planted here.

Sure enough, Di Yiqiu set her on the ground and said: “Last year, I bought a packet of orchid seeds, said to have been cultivated by your own hands. I just scattered them here casually, but this year they actually bloomed in succession. The flowering period lasts a full year, the fragrance is extremely strong, and even the dew among the flowers is used as fragrant oil.”

Oh, that one. That one doesn’t bloom for a year—it will wither during the first early snow.

Huang Rang thought silently. How strange—her memory had been disordered for many years, yet she still remembered these orchids’ flowering period.

She leaned against Di Yiqiu, her eyes could only see the fine embroidery on his official robes, unable to see any flowers at all.

Di Yiqiu let her lean against him, his right hand beginning to remove his black fur coat. Uh…

Huang Rang watched helplessly as he removed his outer robe with one hand.

This, this, this… Although you might indeed have some unknown proclivities. But like this in broad daylight, in the bitter cold wind, doing this kind of thing in a flower field, that’s probably too outrageous…

Besides, your Xuanwu Si is full of young students. Aren’t you afraid someone will run into you and leave them with childhood trauma…

Huang Rang’s pupils contracted to pinpoints. Di Yiqiu spread the light fur on the ground, then helped her sit on it.

Uh… ahem.

The orchids before her eyes had thick leaves, and the flowers bloomed brilliantly. Yellow, red, white… colorful and varied.

These orchids were grown very well. Although they certainly couldn’t compare to her doing it personally, but she was an earth spirit after all.

For others to grow them like this, they must have spent a lot of effort. Others didn’t understand, but she had studied orchids for a hundred years—she understood too well.

“Do you like them?” Di Yiqiu sat down beside her, held her hand, and used her fingertips to touch those thick leaves and brilliant petals.

Uh, actually she couldn’t really say she liked them. As an earth spirit devoted to cultivating seeds, Huang Rang had seen too many beautiful flowers. Orchids, when it came down to it, were just one type among them. The outside world’s rumors that she loved orchids passionately were only because…

Only because Xie Hongchen loved orchids. So she exhausted a hundred years cultivating countless orchid variants. These flowers didn’t even need extraction—just crushing their flowers and leaves could be used as fragrance.

Ah, she wondered who was now tending those flowers at Yuhu Xuanzong.

“You disappeared for ten years. In the market, it’s already very difficult to buy seeds you cultivated with your own hands.” His voice was very light, as if melting into the cold wind.

Actually, during the hundred years since marrying into the immortal sect, she had long stopped cultivating grain seeds and medicinal seeds. What she studied were mostly flowers and plants—elegant indeed, but their usefulness was ultimately negligible. What need did common people have for them?

Huang Rang thought silently.

“Jianzheng.” Jianfu Li Lu walked over. He wore scarlet robes with a great cloak draped over them, his entire person lean and spirited. “Baihu Si captured a spy in the inner city and is currently interrogating him. He might be from Yuhu Xuanzong.”

Ah, Yuhu Xuanzong?

Huang Rang’s attention was caught by this statement. But Di Yiqiu pulled her cloak tighter around her and said: “You watch the flowers here. I’ll come get you later.”

Having said that, Di Yiqiu arranged her skirt properly, let her lean against the huge rock among the flowers, then turned and left. Li Lu naturally followed closely behind.

Huang Rang sat alone among the flowers. Outside the flower field, students occasionally chased and played. But no one came this way. The fur coat Di Yiqiu had spread on the ground was like marking out a forbidden zone. Several half-grown children wearing blue scholar’s robes hid outside the flower field, secretly observing her.

“It’s a girl, a living one, right?” someone said in a low voice.

“Nonsense, it’s definitely fake! Have you ever seen a real person this beautiful?” another child argued.

Mm, so young yet such sweet talkers.