In the council room, after Li Lu and Baowu left, the place became quiet. Huang Rang only felt the wheelchair turn, and she was once again facing the window.

Di Yiqiu still sat behind the desk, concentrating on sewing rabbit fur.

Outside, snow had begun falling at some unknown time—not heavily, like powder and salt, falling like fine rain.

Huang Rang stared out the window, recalling what Baowu had said earlier—that Xie Hongchen had sent people to inquire about the whereabouts of one of her younger sisters. Of course, he was looking for her, but Xie Hongchen was the kind of person who always concerned himself with the sect’s reputation.

The matter of his wife’s disappearance was not something he would publicize.

Outside the window, the falling snow rustled. Huang Rang began to drift into a daze, as if seeing the first snow at Qilu Terrace. Every year at this time, Bailu Pool would begin to freeze. She would often take bits of crushed ice to prepare exquisite delicacies for Xie Hongchen.

But Xie Hongchen didn’t actually come often. Those delicacies—sometimes she would have people send them to Dianicui Peak where he resided. More often, she would distribute them to the disciples below. Back then, the disciples of Yuhu Xuanzong looked forward to winter.

They would present all kinds of ingredients, asking their sect mistress to create various pastries and dishes.

Sometimes when disasters struck among the common people, Huang Rang would also lead disciples down the mountain to distribute porridge and medicine. These activities naturally spent Yuhu Xuanzong’s silver, while she earned a good reputation. So naturally Xie Hongchen wouldn’t look at her any differently for this, and might even feel annoyed.

It was just that he forcibly suppressed his displeasure—after all, what Huang Rang did ultimately helped quite a few people. It wasn’t anything bad.

Thus in everyone’s eyes, the sect master and sect mistress of Yuhu Xuanzong had always been deeply in love. Only Huang Rang knew of the contempt Xie Hongchen harbored in his heart. This was the ice wall between her and him, which eventually became an unspoken understanding between them.

If he didn’t come, she could not go invite him.

At Qilu Terrace, she could be seductive and charming, but outside Qilu Terrace, she had to be the dignified and proper sect mistress.

Dianicui Peak—she could not enter without reason.

Old memories yellowed page by page. After Huang Rang had been lost in thought for a while, Di Yiqiu had already pieced together several rabbit furs. He came before Huang Rang and draped the thin blanket sewn from rabbit fur over her legs. Huang Rang wasn’t actually cold, but there was a kind of cold called “Qiu Shifu thinks she’s cold.”

Di Yiqiu pushed her to the window and opened that pile of bottles and jars just bought today.

Earlier when Huang Rang had seen Li Lu bring them in, she hadn’t known what they were. Now as Di Yiqiu opened them and she caught their fragrance, she realized that this entire pile of things was actually rouge and powder!

Qiu Shifu pulled over a chair and sat down opposite her. Huang Rang watched helplessly as he opened a powder box, then took a teacup, added some water, and mixed the powder evenly.

“???” Huang Rang’s mind was full of question marks.

Then Di Yiqiu applied the mixed powder to her face.

What are you doing?! Huang Rang’s pupils quaked—that egg-white powder isn’t used like that!! Stop! You’re plastering a wall!

But Qiu Shifu worked very seriously.

So when he had applied all the colors from the powder box to Huang Rang’s face and examined his work for a moment, his body suddenly shook. Then he had someone bring hot water. When the servant brought in the hot water and glanced at Huang Rang, he was also startled into a daze.

Fortunately, his usual training held firm, and the basin didn’t drop to the ground.

Di Yiqiu wrung out a silk cloth and carefully washed Huang Rang’s face.

After washing it clean, the Jianzheng continued using rouge and powder to mix colors and paint.

Huang Rang’s heart was trembling, but she had no recourse! Most of the time, Di Yiqiu used his fingertips to pat on powder. Later, presumably finding it inconvenient, he picked up the writing brush on the table. There were thick and thin brushes, and he tried them all one by one.

This is my face!! Huang Rang was so angry her hands and feet went cold.

The Jianzheng had completed another masterpiece. He applied lip rouge, stood up, and solemnly examined Huang Rang’s face.

Huang Rang would bet anything that she saw the corners of Di Yiqiu’s mouth curve up—this damn bastard, he was smiling!

Though the servant beside them was bowing, he ultimately couldn’t hide his curiosity. He raised his head to glance at Huang Rang, then immediately lowered his head, his shoulders shaking wildly. Huang Rang had no recourse whatsoever.

Outside, the snow was growing heavier, and the ground was beginning to turn white.

A brazier burned in the room. Di Yiqiu washed her face again, then dipped rouge and applied it all over her face again. Finally, truly at his wit’s end, Qiu Shifu dipped his brush tip in lip rouge and drew three whisker marks on each side of Huang Rang’s mouth.

To salvage some dignity.

—I once had an old friend as damaging as you, and now the grass on his grave is fifteen feet tall.

Huang Rang could only curse away in her heart.

Sure enough, the Jianzheng was learning makeup by the window. After busying himself industriously all afternoon, he called for the tool-person maid who had done her hair last time.

That maid, her lips twitching, re-did Huang Rang’s makeup. The Jianzheng held a cup of hot tea, sitting beside to observe. Huang Rang felt this person was quite bored, truly.

The capital, inner city. Duke Zhongguo’s manor.

Duke Zhongguo was a veteran minister at court who had always followed Shi Wenyu in conquering the realm. Now that Shi Wenyu was obsessed with longevity arts, he showed him considerable favor. Thus although he was already one hundred and twenty years old, he only looked about sixty.

He was someone who had been on the battlefield. Though he had laid down his arms for many years, his bearing remained upright.

He practiced a set of boxing forms in the courtyard, his punches still vigorous and powerful. Duke Zhongguo was very satisfied.

Suddenly, he felt his head grow dizzy, and a person was already standing before him.

This person wore white like clouds, with a water-blue collar guard and a jade-fastened waist sash. He nodded slightly toward Duke Zhongguo and said gently, “Duke, it has been a while.”

“You…” Duke Zhongguo only felt brilliant colors before his eyes and involuntarily stepped back two paces, then suddenly realized, “Xie Hongchen!”

Indeed, this person was none other than Yuhu Xuanzong’s sect master, Xie Hongchen!

Duke Zhongguo had once protected Shi Wenyu and had visited the immortal sect.

His heart sank, and he instinctively wanted to alert the guards. But he quickly stopped himself from acting rashly. Standing opposite him was Xie Hongchen—what use would his courtyard full of guards be? He simply asked, “Sect Master Xie is an immortal master beyond worldly affairs. What instruction brings you to this humble residence today?”

As he spoke, he carefully observed this paramount figure of the immortal gate. The last time he’d seen him was forty years ago. Forty years of rain, snow, wind, and frost, yet he hadn’t aged even slightly. Still twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with peerless elegance.

He’d heard that these people from the immortal gates had lifespans of easily a thousand or eight hundred years. No wonder His Majesty coveted this so desperately, obsessed and crazed. Duke Zhongguo thought silently.

“Duke need not be alarmed.” Xie Hongchen’s eyes were gentle and calm, yet had a power that penetrated hearts. He spoke reassuringly, “Xie has come today with no ill intent. I merely wish to trouble the Duke for a moment—there’s no need to alert the household.”

This person, Xie Hongchen, held a revered position in the immortal gate not only because of his prestigious lineage and profound cultivation, but more because of his self-discipline, humility, thoughtfulness, and proper conduct.

—Even with different positions, he would not make things difficult for a mere mortal like himself.

Duke Zhongguo had always thought highly of himself, but at this moment, like a firefly before the bright moon, he actually felt a sense of shame. His posture was no longer so straight. He cupped his fists and said, “Please, Sect Master Xie, come inside for tea.”

Xie Hongchen didn’t refuse. He followed Duke Zhongguo inside.

Someone of his stature, with noble feet treading common ground, need not exchange pleasantries with someone like Duke Zhongguo. Yet he chose to do exactly this. He accepted the fragrant tea offered by a servant, took a sip, and said, “This is new tea from Chuwu Mountain, called One Petal Heart.”

“Ah?” Duke Zhongguo was startled. He’d thought Xie would only reluctantly go through the motions of coming inside. He hadn’t expected him to actually taste tea with him. For a moment, he was actually somewhat flustered and said, “Indeed. The sect master’s extensive knowledge is admirable.”

He complimented instinctively, but Xie Hongchen suddenly said, “This tea is a variant my wife personally cultivated sixty years ago. Since I always tasted tea with her, I remember it.”

“Ah.” Duke Zhongguo had a sudden realization. That’s right—Xie Hongchen’s wife was most skilled at cultivating superior varieties, and this One Petal Heart came from his wife’s hands. He smiled and said, “This is truly showing off before an expert. I’ve made the sect master laugh.”

Having said this, he relaxed. Xie Hongchen took another sip of tea and said, “These years the immortal sect and the court have been sparse in contact, inevitably leading to some lapses in consideration. But the immortal gate has always been deeply concerned about His Majesty’s affairs.”

He always spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, giving people a feeling of sincerity and uprightness. He had neither Xie Lingbi’s domineering superiority nor Shi Wenyu’s unfathomable inscrutability. He inspired goodwill.

Duke Zhongguo hurriedly cupped his hands and said, “The sect master’s concern for all under heaven shows great benevolence and righteousness.”

Xie Hongchen finally got to the main point. He said, “I dare not claim great righteousness. But His Majesty has been taking longevity elixirs for many years. Having heard of this, I was curious and once asked an old friend to obtain the formula.”

—Good heavens. Duke Zhongguo was secretly alarmed. The formula for the longevity elixir was such a critical secret? And with one simple request to an old friend, you obtained it? As if you were just asking for a formula for common strengthening pills.

“The formula is excellent. Although time-consuming and labor-intensive, it has miraculous effects. Everyone in the immortal sect also prays that His Majesty will have boundless lifespan and a realm lasting ten thousand years.” His voice rose and fell melodiously, clear to the point of being pleasant. Duke Zhongguo knew that the next words would be the key point. He hurriedly pricked up his ears to listen.

Sure enough, Xie Hongchen’s expression grew slightly grave as he said, “Only this year’s longevity elixir—when I observed its elixir energy from afar, it was very wrong. Because it was inconvenient to inquire of Si Tianjian, yet I remained worried, I could only ask Duke Zhongguo to convey this to His Majesty.”

“Wh-what?!” Duke Zhongguo froze—what did he mean the elixir energy was wrong? He frowned and said, “The formula for the longevity elixir has not been altered.”

Xie Hongchen said, “If it hasn’t been altered, that makes it even more suspicious. It’s just that this concerns the court and His Majesty, so Xie dares not interject. Duke Zhongguo should perhaps pay careful attention to this matter.” With those words, he stood up and very politely cupped his hands, saying, “Xie can only speak this far. The formula is no small matter, much less when it concerns His Majesty’s dragon body. The Duke may carefully observe, and if necessary, Yuhu Xuanzong is willing to verify the elixir for His Majesty.”

Having finished speaking, he added, “Today I received a cup of the Duke’s fragrant tea, for which Xie is most grateful.” He seemed to have something weighing on his mind, his expression rather melancholy. “It’s only a pity that my wife is unwell. When her health recovers, Xie will certainly invite the Duke to taste new tea again.”

With that, he gave a slight bow. Duke Zhongguo only felt the clear light before his eyes shatter. When he came to his senses, snow was falling profusely.

It was snowing. He was still standing in the courtyard, maintaining the closing stance of his boxing form. Where was any Xie Hongchen?!

“Master? Master?” His wife from under the eaves had been calling for quite a while before he finally came to his senses. Yet the events just now were vivid before his eyes—how could they be false?

Duke Zhongguo couldn’t believe it—he had actually had a dream?!

He returned to the flower hall, still distracted. But when he looked at the table again, he immediately froze.

In the flower hall sat two teacups—one at the host’s table, one at the guest’s table. Duke Zhongguo tested with his finger—the tea in the cups had not yet cooled. Duke Zhongguo turned to ask his wife, “Have you heard of One Petal Heart?”

The duchess came forward, reproachfully brushing the fallen snow from his body. “Chuwu Mountain’s One Petal Heart is a famous tea. Each year it produces no more than two catties and is very rare. How could Master forget even this?”

Duke Zhongguo asked, “Who cultivated this One Petal Heart?”

His wife said casually, “The wife of Yuhu Xuanzong’s Sect Master Xie, named Huang Rang. Before her marriage, she was renowned for cultivating variants. After marrying into the immortal sect, she no longer personally worked the fields. This One Petal Heart—I heard it was because the sect master loved tea that she personally cultivated it. Because it was only for her husband’s consumption, she didn’t consider yield. Later, because the tea was truly famous, people begged for saplings, and only then did it spread among the common people.”

Duke Zhongguo’s face remained composed, but he asked again, “Is Madam Xie unwell?”

“How does Master know this?” His wife looked puzzled. “Right now Madam Xie is indeed unwell. She hasn’t received visitors for quite some years.”

Duke Zhongguo listened to his wife speak while secretly alarmed.

It wasn’t a dream. Xie Hongchen really had come! That these immortal gate people had a method of dream visitation wasn’t strange. Moreover, since the longevity elixir was refined by Si Tianjian, he probably couldn’t come in person.

But… could the longevity elixir really be counterfeit?

“That’s impossible.” He muttered to himself. Jianzheng Di Yiqiu was His Majesty’s own flesh and blood. How could the longevity elixir personally refined by him possibly be fake?!

Immediately after, he was deeply alarmed. Even if what just happened was only an illusory dream, he was absolutely certain—as revered sect master, if Xie Hongchen wasn’t completely certain, he would never specially inform him.

This is very bad… very bad indeed. Duke Zhongguo clutched his chest and began to contemplate countermeasures.