He Xijin’s table was quite lively, but the even livelier place was elsewhere.

Xie Hongchen had always been the bright moon of the immortal sects.

Since childhood, his bones and constitution had been extraordinary. He cultivated diligently, and combined with his handsome appearance, gentle temperament, and noble character, he had virtually no flaws.

Such a person had always been not only the object of admiration for young ladies, but also the dream son-in-law of all future fathers-in-law.

Moreover, now he had smoothly succeeded to the position of Sect Master of Yuhu Xuanzong.

This represented that he had already become the leader of the entire immortal sect world.

If someone’s daughter married him, what a glorious affair that would be!

Therefore, though the banquet seemed harmonious on the surface, in reality the sect masters from families with daughters were all harboring such schemes.

It was just a pity that for many years, Xie Hongchen had no interest in women, and there had never been any romantic rumors surrounding him.

This made everyone both delighted and regretful.

At this time, quite a few people sidled up to Xie Lingbi, inquiring about Xie Hongchen’s marriage prospects.

Of course, Xie Lingbi amiably indicated that this matter needed Xie Hongchen himself to decide.

He Xijin and the others naturally didn’t care about such things.

What everyone was concerned about was whether the court could cultivate drought-resistant improved seeds in time and not delay next year’s spring planting.

Di Yiqiu responded to He Xijin and the others while hearing people at the banquet quietly discussing Xie Hongchen’s life story. This person was truly a goddamn chosen son of heaven. As if he were born noble.

The Jianzheng couldn’t help but glance at Huang Rang. He saw her eating Zhuling Fruits while pulling at Huang Jun, chattering endlessly.

Huang Jun answered one sentence out of every ten, and she didn’t mind at all.

—Judging from Xie Hongchen’s appearance earlier, this salted fish clearly had a chance. Yet she showed not the slightest intention of seizing it.

Didn’t she say she once dreamed of marrying Xie Hongchen?

When everyone was discussing him, why were you bothering your sister?

Really, so carefree and thoughtless.

The Jianzheng felt disdainful in his heart, yet also vaguely liked it.

After all, he’d known this salted fish for a long time now.

Though he’d never liked her, at least he wouldn’t hope she was the type of woman willing to break her head trying to climb to a higher branch.

The ceremony for Xie Hongchen’s succession as Sect Master was held outside Yeyun Hall. The ritual was solemn and grand.

Except for Shi Wenyu who couldn’t attend in person, almost all the famous figures of the immortal sects were present. All the elders of Yuhu Xuanzong also came out of seclusion and attended in full.

The elders led by Qiu Cailing had been in divine seclusion for many years.

But they were the true foundation that allowed Yuhu Xuanzong to firmly hold its position as the first sect.

They had already stopped managing sect affairs, but now they were willing to attend in full, showing they were very satisfied with this choice of Sect Master.

Everyone had prepared congratulatory gifts, naturally various exquisite secret scrolls and profound magical treasures.

Hearing about them made countless eyes light up.

Huang Rang rested her chin on her hand, watching that person stand on the high platform, receiving the blessings of the elders and the adoration of the crowd.

Her heart was perfectly tranquil.

He was originally the moon in the sky that had stirred her greed.

The observation ceremony would last several days. Yuhu Xuanzong clearly placed great importance on this grand event and had prepared many pills, spiritual herbs, pill formulas, technique scrolls and other gift bags.

During each break period, they would set off fireworks to explode them, tossing them into the air for guests to collect.

Of course, the important figures didn’t care about these. It was only the younger generation who laughed and scrambled for them.

This made the entire scene extremely lively—and made Huang Rang insist on staying for the ceremony, refusing to leave.

She could always find the best position to be the first to grab those gift bags.

From the platform, Xie Hongchen looked down. That cluster of pale gold was like warm sunlight, like a lamp returning home at dusk. She pulled Huang Jun along, guarding the best position, snatching the most gift bags.

Because her technique was so skillful, her spoils were abundant.

—How could she not be skillful? She had distributed gift bags at Yuhu Xuanzong for a hundred years. She had already mastered the trick.

Having grabbed too many gift bags and lacking a storage magical treasure, she handed them to Qu Manying.

Qu Manying smiled indulgently and helplessly but didn’t stop her. She never stopped the children from doing what they loved.

Amidst the gift bags scattering everywhere like fireworks, Huang Jun finally couldn’t help but crack a smile too.

“Arang, it’s too much.” She reminded her sister.

“Too much what!” Huang Rang muttered—This is compensation they owe me for a hundred years of distributing gift bags for them!

After grabbing the gift bags, Huang Rang still didn’t rest.

—In the pool nearby, there was a divine turtle. Whenever Yuhu Xuanzong held a grand ceremony, it would spit out gold sand. That was real gold sand that would float in the spring water before quickly sinking, like golden foam on waves.

Huang Rang pulled Huang Jun to scoop that gold sand. Huang Jun frowned and said, “This… isn’t this a bit embarrassing?”

“How so?” Huang Rang raised her eyebrows and gave it a noble name: “On such a wonderful auspicious day, this gold sand must surely be blessed with good fortune. I want to take it all back and make a sachet to wear daily. It will definitely let me absorb some of Sect Master Xie’s immortal spiritual energy and have good luck and great fortune every day!”

Hearing it this way, it suddenly didn’t seem so vulgar!

Several youths nearby scrambled to scoop the gold sand.

The Jianzheng frowned hearing this, glanced at her again, then suddenly sighed.

—Not only a salted fish, but one who could twist words and force reasoning.

Finally, three days later, the ceremony ended.

Yuhu Xuanzong began seeing guests off. Xie Hongchen personally escorted He Xijin, Wu Zichou, Zhang Shujiu and others to the foot of the mountain. Huang Rang was naturally among them.

After everyone exchanged pleasantries, Qu Manying said, “Will Arang return to Ruyi Sword Sect with us, or go back to Si Tianjian?”

Huang Rang immediately said, “Back to Si Tianjian. I still have class tomorrow.”

The Jianzheng rolled his eyes—when had she ever attended school? Now she probably didn’t even know which way the door of the new school opened, did she?

However, Qu Manying didn’t ask further, only saying to Di Yiqiu, “My niece is mischievous. I’m afraid I must trouble the Jianzheng to give her a ride along the way.”

Di Yiqiu hurriedly said, “Madam need not be so polite. It’s my duty.”

Qu Manying nodded, then held Huang Rang’s hand and gave her earnest instructions before taking Huang Jun, crushing a teleportation talisman, and leaving Yuhu Xuanzong.

Huang Rang turned to bid farewell to Xie Hongchen, then followed Di Yiqiu out of the mountain gate.

Xie Hongchen stood beneath the mountain gate, watching her retreating figure gently, without saying much.

Huang Rang followed Di Yiqiu all the way onto the carriage.

Obviously such a “trivial matter” wasn’t worth the Jianzheng using a teleportation talisman.

The carriage began moving forward, and Huang Rang began sorting through her spoils of war.

She had grabbed too many gift bags. Some she’d given to Qu Manying, and the rest she unwrapped along the way.

So the entire carriage was scattered with small items everywhere.

As for the gold sand, she had scooped up a whole bag. Huang Rang looked at it very satisfied—Yuhu Xuanzong wasn’t stingy, these things could definitely sell for a good price.

“Lend me your storage magical treasure.” Huang Rang unceremoniously extended her hand toward Di Yiqiu.

Di Yiqiu’s brow furrowed tightly, but he still removed the sachet from his waist and handed it over. “You… don’t you think you should put more effort into more important places? You might have greater gains?”

The Jianzheng kindly reminded her.

“Other places? What places?” Huang Rang packed away all these unwrapped small items, cupped a handful of gold sand in her hands, and said happily, “When I get back, I’ll melt this gold sand down—perfect for making a gold hairpin to wear.”

Di Yiqiu said, “Hmph, Xie Hongchen is radiant and glorious. Don’t you like him? If you won him over, why would you still covet these trifles?”

“Him?” Huang Rang giggled. “Too much trouble. This young lady can’t be bothered to put in more effort.”

“Can’t be bothered?” The Jianzheng sneered coldly. “Looking at how actively you usually make soup and cook, aren’t you very enthusiastic?”

“You mean that…” Huang Rang rose with a smile and slowly moved closer to him. In that instant, her eyes were like water, her skin white as snow, and her entire being seemed to emanate a captivating demonic charm.

Di Yiqiu’s whole body felt like lightning had rolled through it, his hair standing on end.

His body leaned backward, gradually pressing against the carriage wall.

“What are you doing?” He turned his face away, not forgetting to use his hand to block Huang Rang.

The strange seductive aura on Huang Rang finally disappeared, and she giggled again. “I’m naturally different toward you.”

Though she said this, her heart still felt a bit resentful—Little bastard, if you weren’t so young, this old lady would deal with you right here and now.

She retreated back to her seat and began counting the gold sand again. There was a lot of gold sand, so she began calculating, “Should be enough to make a really nice hairpin ornament. Alas, all my old hairpin and bracelet design drawings are gone.”

She muttered to herself, and Di Yiqiu suddenly said, “I’ll draw one for you.”

Huang Rang was delighted. “You already know how to make hairpins and bracelets at such a young age?”

“I am already not young.” The Jianzheng emphasized with imposing dignity.

“Yes yes, not young.” Huang Rang echoed perfunctorily, while taking out a Zhuling Fruit and suddenly stuffing it into his mouth.

The Jianzheng tasted it for a while, then his expression changed in alarm. “You even smuggled out Zhuling Fruits…”

This old salted fish… was really so stingy… quite similar to himself in this regard!

The Jianzheng was speechless.

The Capital.

The old residence had been peaceful lately.

—Thanks to the Jianzheng, even the most shameless ruffians wouldn’t take this job anymore.

All the improved seeds had been distributed before spring planting.

But new problems had emerged.

The steward couldn’t rent land anymore. Previous tenants had withdrawn their leases on a large scale, so there were no trial fields for the improved seeds.

The parent seeds Di Sanmeng distributed were an extremely small portion.

The steward needed to find larger fields for secondary cultivation before there would be enough quantity to distribute.

But now without trial fields, even if the steward had parent seeds in hand, what could he do?

However, this time the breeding families seemed to have made up their minds.

No matter how much the rent increased, no one was willing to rent land.

Di Yiqiu had just returned to Si Tianjian when he heard about this matter.

“Come with me to select a trial field for the master.” He said to Huang Rang.

Huang Rang pointed at her own nose. “Me?”

“Of course you.” Di Yiqiu frowned and said in a low voice, “Aren’t you helping the master with his work?”

“Oh… oh.” Huang Rang came to her senses and hurriedly followed him out.

—She’d almost forgotten.

The two went out all the way. Huang Rang thought they would get back on the carriage, but the Jianzheng said, “Ride horses.”

“Ride horses…” Huang Rang looked at the two horses at the entrance. The steeds were tall and completely snow-white. Seeing them, Huang Rang’s heart rejoiced, remembering when she was at the Huang family, riding horses wildly through the fields and wilderness.

The wind blowing her clothes billowing and her long hair flying—those were truly the most beautiful times.

Finished reminiscing, she turned to look at Di Yiqiu and said seriously, “I don’t know how to ride.”

“…” The Jianzheng could only share a mount with her.

Fortunately, this horse was indeed magnificent, and even with two riders it wasn’t slow.

Its hooves clattered as it headed toward the outskirts of the city.

Huang Rang pretended she couldn’t sit steady and her body fell backward.

The Jianzheng really couldn’t help it and had to turn around, gathering her hands and clasping them around his waist.

Huang Rang bloomed with joy!

He really was small, a youth’s figure, still quite slender.

But it was already enough to make one happy.

The person behind quietly held his waist, her soft body pressed against his back.

The Jianzheng was secretly amazed—a woman’s body was actually so soft and delicate. Truly very different from a man’s.

It really made one… unable to dislike it.

The steed galloped all the way to the outer city, passing a boundary marker.

This was clearly owned land.

Moreover, the good fields were orderly, the soil fertile. Both paddy fields and dry land were excellent.

Huang Rang frowned. “There’s land available for rent here?”

Di Yiqiu reined in the horse and dismounted, then extended his hand toward Huang Rang. Huang Rang held his hand as she came down, and only then did he say, “Look for the master to see if this land’s soil can be used as a trial field.”

Huang Rang gazed into the distance, almost unable to believe her eyes.

“Such fertile and expansive land—are you sure it can be rented out?” She was half-believing, half-doubting.

But Di Yiqiu was extremely certain, saying, “Yes.”

Huang Rang bent down and grabbed a handful of soil, rubbing it in her hands. “If it’s here, then you can have the drought-resistant improved seeds by April.”

Her words were confident, and in that moment, she seemed like a master expert, not a salted fish.

Di Yiqiu said, “If this can be done, the great matter can be settled.”

But Huang Rang asked again, “Right now all the breeding families are colluding and refusing to rent land to Di Sanmeng. Who does this stretch of good land belong to?”

“Me.” Di Yiqiu said.

Huang Rang was stuck. Only then did Di Yiqiu look at her and say, “It’s my fief.”

“This, this this… you actually even have a fief?” Huang Rang was shocked.

Di Yiqiu frowned and reminded her, “Though I changed my name, I’m still of imperial birth, His Majesty’s legitimate son.”

Huang Rang happily wanted to roll around on the land. After her surprise and delight, she suddenly asked, “So does this land not require rent?”

“…” The Jianzheng was silent for a long while before finally saying helplessly, “No.”

“I really want to marry you, right now immediately on the spot!” Huang Rang hugged him and was about to lift him up and spin in circles.

“Let go! You… are not only a salted fish, you also have salted pig trotters for hands…” The Jianzheng struggled with all his might and only then escaped her clutches.

…