Huang Rang immediately sent a letter to Qu Manying, informing her that her mother was in the capital.

When Qu Manying and He Xijin discovered Xi Yin was missing, they immediately made inquiries to Xiānchá Town.

Subsequently, the couple learned that Huang Shu had been brought back to the Bureau of Celestial Oversight to “recuperate from illness,” and Xi Yin had also been taken away. Knowing this matter was related to Huang Rang, they naturally didn’t ask further questions.

However, Qu Manying sent back a letter stating that Xi Yin had ailments of the heart and to not hold it against her.

When Huang Rang received the letter, she didn’t pay it much mind.

After so many years, the estrangement was like an ocean. It wasn’t that she didn’t hold grudges—she just let it go.

Hard to say from when, all those matters of owing or being owed, gradually were just let go.

If all people and matters could ultimately be forgiven, then what of the mistakes made back then, those people who were harmed—what did they amount to?

Xi Yin seemed to know this too, so she didn’t go to the capital again to disturb Huang Rang.

She only sent a letter to the He Xijin couple, then silently lived at this small manor, tending to the ten acres of poor farmland.

The manor was newly purchased and had no male laborers.

Xi Yin had left in haste on this trip and hadn’t brought much silver with her. She couldn’t afford to hire anyone, so she had to do everything herself.

Huang Rang naturally didn’t concern herself with these matters, but Di Yiqiu ordered Bao Wu to help out when he was free.

On this day, Xi Yin carried a water bucket to draw water from the courtyard well.

She was born a young lady and had been ill for so many years. Even with recuperation, she truly had little strength.

So even drawing a bucket of water was clumsy and not smooth.

She bent her head to fill the bucket with water and was about to pull it up when suddenly a hand reached over from behind and grasped the bucket.

Xi Yin was startled and abruptly turned her head.

She saw a robust man effortlessly lifting the water bucket. He asked: “Where’s the water vat?”

“Ah?” Xi Yin was slightly stunned and pointed toward the courtyard.

This burly man was naturally Bao Wu. He carried the bucket in a few steps to the stone vat and poured the water in.

But this bucket was too small—wouldn’t it take half a day?

Master Bao decided this small manor needed to acquire water buckets.

Trip after trip, he soon filled the water vat. Afterward, Master Bao tossed down the bucket and left without a word.

Xi Yin was quite fearful of him and wasn’t accustomed to having such a strange man in her home.

But before long, he returned carrying a tree.

Good heavens, he was truly carrying a whole tree.

Bao Wu tossed the tree into the courtyard and searched around for quite a while before finally finding a saw and axe. He sawed what needed sawing and chopped what needed chopping.

Soon he had the firewood split.

Bao Wu’s blade technique was superb, so the firewood was also split neatly.

He efficiently stacked it outside the kitchen.

Xi Yin stood not far away silently watching him, and he paid her no mind at all.

After finishing splitting the wood, only then did Bao Wu ask: “Can you cook?”

Xi Yin was startled and after quite a while said: “I… I can do some.”

Bao Wu said: “That’s good then.”

Having said this, he turned to leave. Passing by the vegetable garden in the courtyard, he saw that Xi Yin had already planted small vegetables inside.

—Earth spirits truly loved farming by nature.

Master Bao impatiently watered the ground again.

Then he asked: “What does the household lack?”

“Nothing else is lacking.” Xi Yin said softly.

Bao Wu then nodded and strode away.

Bureau of Celestial Oversight.

The Director was eating breakfast, and eating breakfast with him was naturally also Huang Rang.

The two sat facing each other, the dishes on the table exquisite. Di Yiqiu asked: “How is the liang rice?”

Huang Rang said: “It can be harvested soon. The day before yesterday, wasn’t one corner burned by arsonists? But the loss wasn’t great.” After speaking, she praised: “That fire-extinguishing magical treasure of yours is quite good.”

Di Yiqiu frowned: “Arson?”

“Arson, and they also dispatched a group of assassins.” Huang Rang didn’t take it seriously.

Seeing her speak so casually, Di Yiqiu couldn’t help but ask: “You drove them all back?”

“I didn’t even have time to make a move. Xie Hongchen arrived in time and dealt with them all. Ah, the people were all handed over to the Baihu Division. Didn’t Tan Qi tell you? Though even if he did, it would be pointless—you don’t need to think to know who sent them.” Huang Rang said while eating.

But the Director clearly heard a name.

“Xie Hongchen?” he asked.

Huang Rang said: “That’s right, Xie Hongchen.”

“Hmph, truly a hero saving a beauty.” The Director said sarcastically. “Then Auntie Huang must have delicately thanked Sect Master Xie for his life-saving grace?”

Ha, so you want to be unreasonable? Huang Rang stared at Di Yiqiu, staring until he was uncomfortable all over, before asking: “You’re actually not concerned whether I was injured?”

The Director immediately knew things were bad!

He hurriedly asked: “Then were you injured?”

Huang Rang pointed at him and said: “If I hadn’t said anything, you wouldn’t have thought to ask at all, would you?”

“I…” The Director panicked and hurriedly argued: “You’re standing before me whole and intact. Naturally I know you weren’t injured!”

“Whole and intact? I couldn’t have been frightened? Couldn’t have internal injuries?” Huang Rang said righteously, loudly accusing: “You really don’t care about me at all!”

The Director took a deep breath, trying to salvage the situation: “Should I get Qiu Shengbai to examine you?”

“Who cares?!” Huang Rang was being unreasonable and even used a line of toxic chicken soup: “Belated concern is cheaper than grass!”

The Director’s scalp tingled: “Then what do you want?”

“What kind of attitude is that?!” Huang Rang blinked twice, and tears fell one by one down her cheeks.

The Director was at his wit’s end. After a long while, he finally said: “Yes, yes, yes, it’s all my fault. Eat first!”

Huang Rang sobbed and said: “I forgot to get the dipping sauce.”

The Director didn’t dare say more and immediately said: “Sir, please sit. This subordinate will fetch it for you right away!”

Before the words fell, he had already left his seat.

Huang Rang wiped her eyes and continued eating.

Hmph, trying to fight with me?

And things seemed to be just this coincidental.

Di Yiqiu had just returned with the dipping sauce when someone delivered a small wooden box: “Miss Huang, Sect Master Xie sent someone to deliver this item and told this humble one to hand it to Miss personally.”

These words were like a basin of tung oil, causing the Director’s anger that he had barely suppressed to blaze up again.

“Is that so?” The Director extended his hand and said: “Let me see what gift Sect Master Xie has prepared for Miss Huang.”

The servant had no choice but to present the wooden box. The Director casually opened it. Inside the box was a bracelet. Only it had a formation carved on it—clearly it was a storage magical treasure.

“Sect Master Xie is truly generous and magnanimous.” The Director held the bracelet in his hand, his face truly full of sourness.

Huang Rang buried her head in her meal. Seeing she didn’t respond, the Director couldn’t help but huff left and huff right.

“Tell Sect Master Xie that the kind intention is appreciated. But Miss Huang doesn’t accept unearned rewards. This item truly cannot be accepted.” He tossed the bracelet back into the box, turned to glance at the servant, and said: “Miss Huang is my honored guest. From now on, anything outsiders send her must first be submitted for my inspection to prevent villains from causing harm.”

That person acknowledged with a yes, also seeing his expression was wrong, and could only hold the wooden box and retreat anxiously.

Huang Rang worked hard at eating, not saying a word.

The Director stood up, snorted coldly again, and turned to leave. But walking to the doorway, he suddenly turned back and took away a thousand-layer scallion pancake.

…

The next day, amidst a chorus of people’s complaints, the liang rice seeds were finally harvested.

The Director ordered people to spread them out to dry, bag them, seal them, then register and distribute them one by one.

Common folk who believed in Di Sanmeng actively collected them, while some people were reluctant.

But this time the court’s methods were tough, requiring each household that registered their land acreage to plant over two-thirds of it.

So amidst a chorus of complaints, the second batch of liang rice seeds was distributed successively.

Huang Rang had been busy for many days. This batch of liang rice seeds was particularly abundant. But fortunately, the court also had many officials handling affairs, so compared to usual, she wasn’t that exhausted.

Finally returning to her dormitory, she had just collapsed on the bed when she suddenly discovered a small wooden box placed by her pillow.

Huang Rang opened the box and found a gold filigree bracelet lying inside. The back of the bracelet was carved with magical formations—clearly a storage magical treasure. On top was also a small ring. The two were connected by a chain, and the chain clasp was inlaid with four rubies.

Beautiful and flamboyant.

Huang Rang put on the bracelet and ring one by one, then fastened the chain clasp. The four rubies shone brilliantly on her fair hand.

It had a kind of almost exaggerated beauty.

Huang Rang held up one hand, examining it from all angles, finally finding that person’s craftsman’s seal on an extremely hidden side.

Di Yiqiu.

Huang Rang covered her mouth with her hand. After a long while, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

The Director had truly spent lavishly this time.

Huang Rang accepted this grand gift, and the two had a tacit understanding not to mention it again.

Only she wore this item on her hand and never took it off, even when cooking or breeding seeds.

On this day, the Director returned to his bedchamber and discovered an extra pair of boots under the bed platform.

A pair of black boots with a small maple leaf embroidered in gold beads.

Di Yiqiu lifted these boots and examined them from all angles. Naturally there wouldn’t be any craftsman’s seal on them. Only thousands of stitches, threads upon threads, speaking volumes in silence.

Yuhu Immortal Sect.

Xie Hongchen received the returned gift.

His brow furrowed slightly—clearly, given Sect Master Xie’s status, having a gift returned was a first.

Sect Master Xie pondered for a long time. Recently, the thoughts he had devoted to this person were truly too many.

Anlei Peak, Luofu Hall.

As soon as Xie Hongchen arrived outside the hall, Xie Lingbi’s voice came from inside: “Come in.”

Sect Master Xie entered directly. Xie Lingbi poured him a cup of tea and asked: “What matter?”

Xie Hongchen cupped his hands toward him and said: “Master, these years your disciple has met a very good young lady. I want to… seek to marry her.”

Xie Lingbi’s brow furrowed tightly. After a long while he said: “Huang Rang.”

His tone was certain. Xie Hongchen’s heart jumped. After a long while he said: “Master knows?”

Xie Lingbi said: “When you succeeded as sect master, I could guess from your eyes. But…” His expression here was quite displeased. “Yuhu Immortal Sect doesn’t prohibit marriage. If you want to marry, it should be a joyous occasion. But this woman… for some reason, I always feel something inauspicious.”

Xie Hongchen said: “Master, why do you say this?”

Xie Lingbi sighed: “Just a premonition. I can’t explain it.”

Xie Hongchen said: “Though she is Huang Shu’s daughter, these years she was raised by Sect Leader He and his wife. She’s innocent and romantic, with a chivalrous heart. She’s a very good young lady.”

“Forget it.” Xie Lingbi didn’t want to dispute with him over such small matters. “Since you like her, just seek to marry her. But Hongchen, as the master of Yuhu Immortal Sect, you cannot let romantic feelings delay your cultivation.”

“This disciple respectfully follows Master’s teachings.” Xie Hongchen bowed again.

The next day, Sect Master Xie Hongchen personally went to Ruyi Sword Sect to propose marriage to Huang Rang.

When the He Xijin couple received the news, they were both somewhat dazed.

“Xie, Xie Hongchen personally came to propose marriage?” Sect Leader He was astonished.

“Seeking to marry our Arang?” Qu Manying confirmed again.

The husband and wife looked at each other and could only go out to receive him.

Yuhu Immortal Sect was the foremost of the immortal sects. When the sect master proposed marriage, naturally the scene was grand, drawing the attention of all immortal sects.

He Xijin welcomed Xie Hongchen into the main hall but couldn’t agree.

He could only say: “Sect, Sect Master’s kind, kind intention, He, He certain is grate, grate, grateful. But, but, but this, this matter, still, still must, must ask, ask Arang first.”

“Naturally it should be so.” Sect Master Xie remained refined and elegant as the moon, smiling as he said: “I will quietly await Sect Leader He’s good news.”

This was truly an enormously fortunate matter.

In less than half a day, it spread until everyone knew.

All eyes turned to Ruyi Sword Sect. Some envied He Xijin and Qu Manying for having such a good niece. Some envied Huang Rang for this heaven-sent fortune.

Almost everyone was waiting for this wedding celebration wine.

After all, Yuhu Immortal Sect’s Sect Master Xie Hongchen, at such a young age, was already the immortal sects’ First Sword Immortal.

Unparalleled appearance, unparalleled spiritual roots, unparalleled cultivation, unparalleled virtue.

For such a person to personally come to propose marriage—which woman in the world would refuse?!