In the main hall, Huang Rang walked to the center and bowed to Huang Shu.

Huang Shu’s skin was yellow with a dark tinge, but his build was quite robust. This made him lack refinement even when dressed in silk and satin. Seeing Huang Rang, he was rather pleased and said, “Ah Rang, quickly pay your respects to the Eighty-Sixth Your Highness!”

He thought this address of “Your Highness” was flattering, but didn’t see Di Yiqiu’s furrowed brow.

The current emperor, Shi Wenyu, had many children, and to prevent them from coveting the throne, he simply expelled all his children from the imperial family, forcing them to change their names and surnames. The current Di Yiqiu had the reality of a father-son relationship with him, but not the name.

Huang Rang felt that the identity of imperial prince probably didn’t make Di Yiqiu feel honored.

She smiled slightly, gracefully walked before Di Yiqiu, and performed a curtsy, saying, “This common woman Huang Rang pays respects to the Jianzheng.”

When commoners paid respects to imperial family members, they should perform the grand ceremony. But she performed the lady’s courtesy. The lady’s courtesy was gentle and elegant, and with her slender frame, when she gracefully bowed down, she was even more like a weak wind supporting a willow, like delicate leaves concealing flowers.

Because of this elegant bearing, over these years, no one had ever found fault with her.

Sure enough, Di Yiqiu didn’t either. He extended his hand in a gesture of support, saying, “Miss, please rise.”

Huang Rang lifted her head, across more than a hundred years of time, and looked at Di Yiqiu. At this age, the smile on his face reached his eyes, still very sunny and handsome. The him from one hundred and fifteen years later in the Chengyuan era often feigned this kind of warmth.

So sometimes, he seemed rather passive-aggressive.

Standing beside him were none other than Li Lu and Baowu.

It seemed that at this time Si Tianjian had just been established, and he didn’t have many people he could use. So the two who would later become famous Deputy Jians could only serve as attendants, following him on this trip.

Huang Rang sat down beside Huang Shu. Only then did Huang Shu say, “This is my Little Ten, and also my, Huang’s, most beloved daughter.”

He acted like a loving father, and Huang Rang immediately stood up, gave him a gentle curtsy, and said bashfully, “Father exaggerates. How can one praise one’s own daughter so in front of outsiders?”

Huang Shu laughed heartily and said, “This time the Eighty-Sixth Your Highness has come personally because Si Tianjian has calculated that next year there will be a great drought. Your Highness wishes to cultivate the most drought-resistant seeds.” Every sentence he spoke couldn’t leave the words “Your Highness,” almost as if he was rushing to slap Di Yiqiu in the face.

Sure enough, Di Yiqiu’s smile was already quite forced.

Huang Rang picked up the conversation, saying, “The growth of all things follows its own way. Even the most drought-resistant seeds, if facing scorched earth for thousands of miles, would likely find it extremely difficult to grow. For the Jianzheng to request such drought-resistant seeds, I’m afraid it won’t be easy.”

This address of “Jianzheng” at least won her some favor. Di Yiqiu obviously preferred to talk with her. He said, “Precisely because it’s not easy, I’ve been searching everywhere for famous breeders. I’ve heard that the Huang family of Immortal Tea Town are also skilled at breeding. Can we not give it a try?”

At this moment, Huang Shu quickly said, “Try, of course we must try. Ah Rang, these days you must set aside all matters at hand. Carefully cultivate this drought-resistant hybrid for the Eighty-Sixth Your Highness!”

As he spoke, his tone was already becoming heavier. Huang Rang knew her father’s temperament and immediately said, “Your daughter obeys.”

Only then did Huang Shu smile and say, “Eighty-Sixth Your Highness can rest assured, the Huang family will definitely spare no effort to share Your Highness’s worries.”

He kept saying “Your Highness” with every breath, yet Di Yiqiu remained very patient. He said, “Then I’ll trouble Miss Ah Rang. In ten days, I’ll come again.”

Saying this, he stood up to leave.

Huang Shu saw him all the way to the door, watching him mount his horse and depart before turning back and saying, “Listen carefully, the imperial court has promised a handsome reward this time. This matter, no matter what, cannot fail!”

Huang Rang’s face was wreathed in smiles as she said, “I spoke of difficulty earlier only to let Your Highness know Father’s struggles. After all, the entire Huang family, from top to bottom, is supported by Father’s efforts alone. Seeing Father work so hard, how could your daughter not share Father’s worries?”

Her appearance was unmatched, her voice sweet and soft, and every word she spoke was pleasing to the ear. Huang Shu naturally withdrew his anger. He grasped Huang Rang’s hand and gently patted it, saying, “Among all my children, only you are the most sensible.”

Huang Rang supported him back to the inner chamber, where his two concubines had already been waiting. Seeing him enter, the two concubines hurried forward to help him remove his outer robe and attended to him as he sat in the reclining chair. One concubine removed his shoes and began massaging his feet.

With a gesture from Huang Rang, a maid brought over a pipe. She skillfully rolled tobacco made from immortal grass, saying, “Your daughter will roll a pipe of tobacco for Father.”

Huang Shu nodded with satisfaction, saying, “Ah Rang still understands Father’s heart best.”

Huang Rang quickly rolled the tobacco and handed the pipe to him. After Huang Shu took several puffs, his two beloved concubines began massaging his legs and shoulders. Before long, Huang Shu was as if sinking into clouds and mist. He closed his eyes, his entire body going limp.

Only then did Huang Rang stand up and quietly left the inner chamber.

Immortal Tea Town.

Di Yiqiu, Li Lu, and Baowu rode their horses together. Now spring was in full bloom, all things sprouting.

Baowu said, “That old man Huang Shu, when I, Old Bao, hear him speak, it’s truly like carrying manure into the city—stinking to the point of suffocating people.”

Li Lu laughed and said, “But his daughter is quite good—gentle and polite, with a pair of watery eyes that are quite alluring.”

Di Yiqiu didn’t participate in such conversation, only saying, “They all say the Huang family are famous breeders of fine varieties, but I see Huang Shu has lecherous eyes, a weak and frail body, and no real brains. He doesn’t seem like a person of genuine talent.”

He was young, so Li Lu inevitably took extra care of him and thus explained, “Over these years the Huang family has indeed cultivated quite a few famous varieties. Perhaps there are other capable people in the family, only their achievements are claimed by him, so their fame isn’t prominent. In a few days, let’s see what he says.”

Di Yiqiu made an affirmative sound. Seeing villagers passing by the roadside, he dismounted and stopped the villager to ask, “They all say the Huang family excels at breeding famous varieties. Is this true?”

That villager looked at him and cursed, “Who are you? Don’t you understand the principle that good dogs don’t block the road…”

He had just said this much when Li Lu had already caught up and very quickly passed over a small piece of silver. The villager looked at that ingot of silver, and what he’d just said became, “Hey, this humble one blocked the lord’s road—truly not a good dog. My lord, this Huang family is indeed skilled at breeding famous varieties, but their family head Huang Shu is just a worthless bag of wine and rice. If you want to breed varieties, you still need to find the Huang family’s Tenth Miss. Hehe.”

He pocketed the silver and ran off in a flash.

The Huang family’s… Tenth Miss?

Di Yiqiu looked thoughtful. Li Lu said, “Huang Rang?”

The three exchanged glances, silent for a long while.

They continued to ask several more people, but all gave similar accounts.

Meanwhile, at the Huang family, in Huang Rang’s small courtyard.

Before long, over a dozen villagers came running. They didn’t enter but just stood at the courtyard gate. Huang Rang looked at these dozen or so people, stunned for quite a while before remembering—back in the day, she had found many town villagers to secretly give them fine varieties, only requiring that when people inquired, they subtly boast about her.

So these people were actually her… shills.

“Hehe, Tenth Miss.” The villagers smiled very ingratiatingly, “The matter you entrusted to us has been done well. You can rest one hundred and twenty percent assured, not a single flaw!”

Huang Shu absolutely would not allow his children to make any name for themselves. Only this way could all the credit of the Huang family归 entirely to him. And these unambitious children would be more obedient to his control.

Back then, Huang Rang had pulled this move.

Those fine varieties used to “support the shills,” to the villagers were life-saving goods. But to her, they were just a little bit leaked through the cracks of her fingers. Her past self was truly clever! Huang Rang sighed while saying, “This year’s fine varieties for you all, this young miss will distribute separately.”

The dozen villagers were overjoyed and thanked her repeatedly before leaving happily.

In Immortal Tea Town, Di Yiqiu asked many villagers and indeed only received this one result.

That day, he remembered a name—Tenth Miss Huang Rang.

After all the villagers had left, Huang Rang returned to the courtyard.

She raised her hand to touch the tea needle worn at her temple. Only this thing constantly reminded her this was just a dream. She began to understand somewhat—it was as if everyone had entered her dream, accompanying her back to the beginning of the Chengyuan era.

And in the entire dreamscape, only she maintained awareness. Other people would only possess memories after waking from the dream.

If that’s the case… Huang Rang gracefully stroked the tea needle at her temple—Ancestor Lingbi, then I shall present you with another layer of surprise!

“Miss!” Beside her, the maid Daiyue looked uneasy, “Your smile just now was quite frightening.”

“Is that so?” Huang Rang turned to look at her. After a long moment, she suddenly asked, “Daiyue, do you want to become famous throughout the realm?”

Daiyue was a pitiful child. Her mother was a mortal woman, a servant of the Huang family. One day, Huang Shu invited several minor demons over to drink, and his fair-weather friends naturally weren’t decent people either.

Those several minor demons encountered a mortal woman sweeping in the back courtyard and violated her. Afterward, that mortal woman had Daiyue.

Daiyue was born half-human, half-demon. She had two fox ears on her head. Everyone joked that her father must be that male fox spirit.

Of course, the male fox spirit naturally wouldn’t acknowledge her. Her mother soon died of illness, old and sick. Daiyue was born beautiful. If she wanted to serve Huang Shu, becoming a concubine in the Huang family wouldn’t be difficult.

But she often kept herself dirty and disheveled, not showing off her beauty.

Huang Rang’s courtyard needed a maid, so she actively showed initiative and worked hard for the position. Huang Rang liked that she kept a low profile while being quick and efficient, so she took her in. After she came to Huang Rang’s side, no filthy person coveted her. Otherwise, she would probably have met the same fate as her mother.

So she served Huang Rang very devotedly, to the point that later Huang Rang never avoided her when doing anything.

Over time, she became Huang Rang’s confidante.

But later… heh, later Huang Rang latched onto Xie Hongchen and wanted to marry into Yuhu Xuanzong.

Xie Hongchen wasn’t muddle-headed though. He conducted a meticulous investigation of Huang Rang. And the one who “contributed” the most was this personal maid of Huang Rang. The condition was that Xie Hongchen would take her away from the Huang family, remove her slave status, and allow her to enter an immortal sect.

For these tempting conditions, Daiyue revealed Huang Rang’s secrets completely. Of course, to prevent Huang Rang from finding out and retaliating, for some matters she embellished and exaggerated, telling seventy percent while hiding thirty percent.

She had thought that no matter what, Huang Rang couldn’t possibly marry Xie Hongchen. Who knew, Huang Rang still married as she wished. For this, Daiyue was quite anxious for a while, but fortunately Xie Hongchen always kept his word. After verifying from multiple sources, he indeed redeemed her from the Huang family, removed her slave status, and recommended her to join the Illusory Butterfly Sect.

At first, Daiyue was constantly fearful and uneasy, afraid Huang Rang would retaliate. But Huang Rang never made a move, and the two never saw each other again.

With Xie Hongchen’s recommendation, and having been Madam Xie’s personal maid, Daiyue did well in the Illusory Butterfly Sect. She even heard that she married a young master from a wealthy family.

—After all, Madam Xie’s virtue was famous throughout the immortal sects. Her personal maid naturally couldn’t be too bad either.

And many years later, Huang Rang saw her again. Time truly cannot flow backward, otherwise many words would sound ridiculous when heard again.

Like now, Daiyue seemed very hesitant: “Miss is teasing me again. I’m just a maid serving Miss. How dare I think about becoming famous throughout the realm?”

Huang Rang didn’t mind, saying, “Now, you can think about it.” She paused here, then suddenly said, “In ten days, you’ll go receive the Eight… Eight… what number prince was it?”

Daiyue looked helpless: “The Eighty-Sixth Imperial Prince.”

“Right.” Huang Rang found this ranking incredibly amusing. She said, “I want to congratulate you in advance.”

Huang Rang knew very well just how sensational the matter of beam rice had been back then. Now that she was giving this matter to Daiyue, she was naturally also transferring all the fame, profit, and honor. Daiyue naturally didn’t understand. She asked, “I, I? I can’t do it, Tenth Miss!”

Huang Rang said, “I naturally have ways to make you capable.”

Daiyue asked, “Tenth Miss, then what about you? What will you do?”

Huang Rang carefully examined her pair of delicate jade hands, saying, “This young miss is going to switch to cultivating the martial way.”

“Wha, what?!” Daiyue’s eyes widened as if she’d heard some shocking nonsense.

But from that day on, Huang Rang truly began switching to cultivate the martial way.

She used her own savings to buy many spirit pills and began tempering her physique, laying the foundation for her martial cultivation path.

Daiyue looked at her as if seeing a ghost.

—When had Tenth Miss ever been interested in these things!

The ten-day deadline Di Yiqiu had agreed upon quickly arrived.

Huang Rang had already cultivated beam rice before, so cultivating it again now was naturally effortless. She handed the flower pot to Daiyue and quietly whispered a few words in her ear. Daiyue was still uneasy, but Huang Rang impatiently said, “Leave immediately, don’t disturb my cultivation practice.”

With no choice, Daiyue could only carry this flower pot out.

When Di Yiqiu arrived at the Huang family, he didn’t go to see Huang Shu—he truly disliked this person.

He went directly to Huang Rang’s small courtyard. Obviously, the batch of shills Huang Rang had hired last time had left a deep impression on him.

However, just as he entered the small courtyard, he saw a maid crouching by a flower pot in the corner. He walked over and suddenly discovered that the soil in the flower pot was so dry it had cracked into blocks, yet a small green sprout had emerged from the soil.

“What is this?” Di Yiqiu suddenly spoke. That maid was naturally Daiyue. She was startled, looked up to see him, and quickly knelt, saying, “Daiyue pays respects to Your Highness.”

Your Highness again… Di Yiqiu frowned. Why did everyone like this form of address so much? But he didn’t plan to fuss with a woman about it. He only asked again, “What is this?”

“Ah… this!” Daiyue recalled her Tenth Miss’s words and quickly said, “In response to Your Highness, this is… is a grain hybrid variety that Daiyue cultivated. Last time after hearing the Jianzheng’s words, Daiyue… secretly cultivated one.”

“You?” Di Yiqiu moved the flower pot before his eyes. He saw the soil in the pot was cracked and split like tortoise shell, completely without moisture. But that small sprout was glossy green and very plump. He said, “Even a maid of the Huang family has such ability. It seems I underestimated Huang Shu.”

Daiyue, for the first time in her life being affirmed by someone, immediately blushed bright red: “Your Highness overpraised. I, I only followed Tenth Miss from a young age, and through constant exposure, learned some things.”

Di Yiqiu made an affirmative sound and said, “You cultivated this thing, does your Tenth Miss know?”

Daiyue’s heart hesitated slightly, then she said, “Tenth Miss… doesn’t know.”

Di Yiqiu nodded and said, “Then you continue cultivating on your own. These next few days I’ll be staying in Immortal Tea Town. If you need anything, send someone to report to me.”

Daiyue raised her head slightly and met Di Yiqiu’s gaze. Her heart felt weak, and even her head began to feel dizzy. For the first time in her life, such a handsome and noble figure spoke with her. And in such a pleasant and warm, gentle and approachable manner.

“I… alright… alright.” She spoke almost in a fluster.

Di Yiqiu didn’t see Huang Rang again. He stepped out of the small courtyard, and Li Lu and Baowu came to meet him. Li Lu asked, “Won’t the Jianzheng see Tenth Miss again?”

“No need.” Di Yiqiu recalled what had just happened and said, “Perhaps this maid called Daiyue beside Tenth Miss is the truly gifted person in the Huang family. To be able to produce such a fine variety on the tenth day after we made the request—this person is extraordinary.”

Li Lu looked back at the small courtyard again and said, “But in terms of appearance, the Jianzheng should prefer Tenth Miss’s style more. This subordinate thought the Jianzheng would see Tenth Miss.”

Di Yiqiu glanced at him, and he immediately bowed and said, “This subordinate spoke out of turn.” As he spoke, he pretentiously gave himself a slap.

Of course, Huang Rang had no intention of seeing Di Yiqiu. She was diligently attacking her books.

“Damn it, what is all this!” Huang Rang scratched her head and ears as she read. After turning just a few pages, she wanted to sleep. But Tenth Miss was also a ruthless person. She pulled out the tea needle from her hair and stabbed it into her thigh. Immediately, her whole spirit was invigorated.

—Suspending one’s hair from the beam, stabbing one’s thigh with an awl—it was just like this.

Xie Lingbi, you just wait and see.