Baihu Si.

Di Yiqiu followed Li Lu into the dungeon and immediately saw the spy shackled to the wall.

In previous years, Yuhu Xuanzong didn’t take Si Tianjian or even the entire court seriously. The disciples they sent to the inner city even appeared in the image of immortal masters, receiving enthusiastic welcomes from the common people lining the streets—very high-profile.

Thirty years ago, Emperor Shi Wenyu personally issued an edict: immortal sect disciples entering the inner city of the capital must hold travel permits issued by the court, or they would all be captured and imprisoned without exception.

But implementing this law was actually quite difficult—to arrest these immortal sect people, one had to first be stronger than them. So this rule had never been properly enforced.

Di Yiqiu walked before this spy. Tan Qi, the Shaojian of Baihu Si, had already come forward. He said: “Jianzheng, this bastard’s mouth is very stubborn. He refuses to say anything.”

On the wall, that spy had already been stripped down to his undergarments and looked like he’d taken a few lashes. But he was clearly defiant, saying: “I haven’t committed any crimes. By what right do you arrest me?”

Di Yiqiu clasped his hands behind his back, walked before him, and asked: “As an immortal sect person entering the inner city, do you have a travel permit?”

That spy seemed to hear something laughable and said: “What a joke! We immortal sect people seek freedom and lack of restraint in body and mind. We enter the city to deliver salvation to the common people—what travel permit do we need?”

Di Yiqiu nodded and said: “You don’t have one.”

That spy snorted angrily: “I’ve never heard of any travel permit! You’d better release me quickly. Otherwise, if my masters pursue this matter, even your Si Tianjian won’t be able to handle the consequences!”

Di Yiqiu ignored his threats and turned to Tan Qi, saying: “Without a travel permit, privately entering the capital’s inner city—strip his cultivation.”

The prison fell silent. Even Tan Qi was shocked.

“Jianzheng…” Tan Qi wanted to speak but stopped himself. The court did have this law, true. But it hadn’t been enforced these years. Moreover, immortal sect disciples cultivated with great difficulty. Whipping him was one thing. But to truly strip his cultivation—that would create a huge grudge.

Di Yiqiu paid no attention and turned to leave. Unexpectedly, that spy suddenly shouted: “Di Yiqiu, you dare do this! Aren’t you afraid my sect and masters will come for revenge! With your Si Tianjian’s ability, can you really protect the common people of the inner city?”

Di Yiqiu had originally been expressionless, but hearing these words, he showed a smile. Yet when he didn’t smile, it was better—once he smiled, his expression became even more frigid.

“Let Xie Hongchen come personally and see if this seat can defend the capital!” he said.

This statement, he said lightly and casually.

But both Tan Qi and Li Lu reacted—he truly wanted to tear off all pretenses with Yuhu Xuanzong.

“Jianzheng.” Li Lu still wanted to try to smooth things over and said: “This person hasn’t confessed yet. Should we wait until he…”

Before Li Lu finished speaking, that spy said angrily: “Despicable villain! If you truly had ability, our sect master’s wife wouldn’t have rejected you back then and married into Yuhu Xuanzong! A petty scoundrel—are you even worthy of seeing our sect master?”

Li Lu immediately shut his mouth and didn’t persuade further.

The matter of Huang Rang rejecting Di Yiqiu back then and marrying into Yuhu Xuanzong was a thorn in Si Tianjian’s heart.

For a hundred years, Si Tianjian had been stuck with this thorn in its throat—unable to swallow it, unable to spit it out. It seemed to be proof that Si Tianjian was inferior to Yuhu Xuanzong.

Also proof that Di Yiqiu was always inferior to Xie Hongchen.

Now, this small spy had picked at this sharp thorn again.

Di Yiqiu slowly walked before him, gazed at him for a moment, and said: “Provoking this seat, showing contempt for the court—one hundred strokes of the rod.”

Li Lu had thought this spy would surely die, but hearing this, he breathed a sigh of relief. If it was only one hundred strokes, the problem wasn’t big. He quickly responded: “Yes.”

But Di Yiqiu added another sentence: “Tomorrow at noon, drag him to the vegetable market and strip him for the beating.”

Li Lu’s heart immediately cried out in anguish—this wasn’t hitting this spy’s backside, it was slapping Yuhu Xuanzong’s face!

“You… you dare!” This time, the spy on the wall was truly panicked. Under everyone’s eyes, receiving punishment naked. For immortal sect people, this kind of humiliation was worse than death. He roared: “Di Yiqiu! If you dare treat me like this, I will slaughter all you court lackeys and running dogs…”

The shouting in the dungeon gradually became hoarse, but Di Yiqiu paid no more attention.

Leaving that prison cell, outside was a rosewood tree. This tree wasn’t suited to the capital’s cold, but a hundred years ago, a woman had cultivated a variant. Allowing it to survive in this soil and climate.

Now it had grown for nearly a hundred years with excellent wood quality.

Di Yiqiu stood beneath the tree, looking up at it thoughtfully. Li Lu followed over. Seeing his expression, he feared he had just acted in a moment of anger and might regret it now but have no way to back down.

So Li Lu, both considerate and dutiful, asked: “If the Jianzheng wants to interrogate that spy further, this subordinate will prepare immediately.”

Unexpectedly, Di Yiqiu suddenly pointed at that rosewood tree and said: “Chop it down.”

“Ah?” Li Lu froze.

Di Yiqiu added another sentence: “Send the wood to Zhuque Si.”

Having said that, he strode away.

Li Lu stared at that tree, feeling that even with his clever heart, he truly couldn’t fathom this superior’s thoughts.

How had this rosewood tree offended him?

Forget it. He turned and called over his subordinates, ordering them to fell the tree while pondering his superior’s thinking.

Xuanwu Si.

Huang Rang still leaned against the huge rock. The people observing her had rotated through several groups, and Di Yiqiu still hadn’t returned. Now it was after-school time. Students passing by the flower field couldn’t help but stop and linger. More and more people began gathering to observe her.

Most were convinced that the Jianzheng had forged some new magical treasure. The reasoning was that the dress on her body had been hastily made by Zhuque Si just today. Everyone commented and critiqued. Some literary types even took out brushes and inkstones and began painting on the spot.

Fortunately, no one approached. Huang Rang was publicly punished with an expressionless face.

—Forget it, just treat me as a fake person.

Her current circumstances left nothing to complain about.

—It wouldn’t be worse than that secret chamber in Yuhu Xuanzong. At least here, she didn’t have to worry about rats gnawing on her face.

She examined the orchids before her eyes. In such cold weather, she could sometimes see ants hurrying past, seeming anxious to get home.

Outside, the sky grew later and later. So much so that someone asked: “This… magical instrument of the Jianzheng’s, should we put it away for him? It’s about to frost soon.”

They said this, but no one stepped forward.

Fortunately, before long, these people scattered like birds and beasts. Di Yiqiu’s footsteps approached from far to near. He walked into the flower field, picked up Huang Rang, and returned to his own bedroom.

Huang Rang discovered that as a figure of equivalent status to Xie Hongchen, his living arrangements were pitifully simple.

He didn’t even have his own separate courtyard. His bedroom was just a room in Xuanwu Si.

So that going out he would encounter students—truly, no privacy at all.

Huang Rang let him carry her back to the room, thinking to herself—perhaps being in the court, one had to put on this appearance of clean and devoted public service to gain a good reputation.

Di Yiqiu placed Huang Rang on the bed. After changing her clothes, he still tucked her into the blankets.

Then he said: “Sleep first.”

Having said that, he closed the door and left. After he left, Huang Rang’s world lost sound again. All things didn’t speak or move, as if time had stopped.

Zhuque Si.

Shaojian Zhu Xiang was already preparing to leave when she suddenly saw Di Yiqiu come in. She hurriedly went forward and saluted: “Jianzheng.”

Di Yiqiu made a sound of acknowledgment and walked straight toward the courtyard. Zhu Xiang was very conflicted—the top boss has come, should I still leave or not?

She thought about it and still hurried to follow.

Fortunately, before long, other colleagues also arrived—Li Lu, Tan Qi, and others transported that variant rosewood tree over. At this time, Di Yiqiu was drawing diagrams.

Li Lu, Tan Qi, and Zhu Xiang exchanged glances—both puzzled and not daring to ask.

—What object was so important that it had to be rushed at this hour?

Were Si Tianjian and Yuhu Xuanzong finally going to war?

After a quarter-hour, Di Yiqiu’s diagram was drawn. He looked up at the three and said indifferently: “If you three have nothing else, you may leave first.”

But how could the three just leave like that? They weren’t brainless warriors like Baowu.

Li Lu said: “Objects that the Jianzheng personally rushes to make must be critically important. We are willing to stay and assist.”

Di Yiqiu was slightly stunned. Actually, this thing wasn’t important to that degree. But he still said: “Come forward.”

The three gathered around and discovered that diagram… it seemed to be a wheelchair.

Zhuque Si.

The Jianzheng, one Jianfu, and two Shaojian worked busily until midnight, making an exquisite wheelchair.

The wheelchair was carved with flowers and inlaid with jade, very gorgeous. Uh, it also looked a bit effeminate—in any case, it didn’t really look like something an iron-blooded man would use.

Zhu Xiang sucked her teeth, feeling that today her superior’s behavior was very abnormal.

Tan Qi stared at that wheelchair, similarly mystified. Only Li Lu raised both eyebrows, softly going “ah” in his heart.

At the fourth watch, the Jianzheng pushed the wheelchair away, satisfied.

Zhu Xiang and Tan Qi both gathered around Li Lu. Tan Qi really couldn’t help it: “Boss, what’s the Jianzheng doing?”

As if Li Lu would tell. He affectionately patted Tan Qi’s head—good child, figure it out yourself. But Zhu Xiang murmured: “The Jianzheng also rushed to make a set of women’s clothing today.”

Meeting Li Lu and Tan Qi’s gazes, her expression was dazed. She gestured at her own chest, “From top to bottom, from inside to outside… even socks were included.”

“Women’s clothing?” Tan Qi’s eyes went round. “Who, who is it for?”

Zhu Xiang said weakly: “Don’t know, but the figure…” She gestured at her own chest, then wildly drew circles outward, “What you’d call smoking hot!”

Li Lu felt he should leave. Digging up dirt on the boss was too dangerous.

But he didn’t leave. He wanted to hear!

Sure enough, Tan Qi asked: “How do you know what smoking hot means?”

Zhu Xiang got anxious and rebuked angrily: “Scoundrel! Although this young lady doesn’t have it, those measurements—the Jianzheng marked them clearly and plainly. Can’t I read?!”

The three formed a group. This gang secretly snuck in and found the diagrams the Jianzheng had personally drawn today. Even someone as rigorous as Li Lu couldn’t help but glance a few times.

It had to be said, if the measurements were accurate, then this woman’s figure was truly…

Tsk tsk tsk.

While digging up dirt on his boss, Li Lu suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and a person surfaced in his mind—Huang Rang, the sect master’s wife of Yuhu Xuanzong!

Speaking of this person’s connection with Si Tianjian, that was a long story.

Li Lu dared guarantee that all of Si Tianjian had heard this woman’s name.

—That woman who abandoned their Jianzheng and married Xie Hongchen! Although no one had been fortunate enough to see her, she had made Si Tianjian unable to hold its head up for a hundred years. The woman seen during the day didn’t speak or move, looked exquisite and beautiful, simply didn’t seem like a real person.

Could it be that the Jianzheng himself couldn’t get over this hurdle and had gone mad with longing? So he imitated Madam Xie… and made a fake one?! The more he thought, the more reasonable it seemed. What real person had measurements like these? How smoking hot would that have to be?

Only a straight man’s imagination would be this perfect.

He had discovered some incredible secret! Would this official be silenced?

Jianfu Li—in danger!!