In fifteen years, Di Sanmeng had cultivated many excellent seed varieties. Though not rare or exotic seeds, they were all the main grain crops for the common people nowadays.

Calculating the expenses over fifteen years naturally resulted in an astronomical sum.

Old Master Xi thought it over—now that Di Sanmeng’s reputation was at its zenith, if he could usurp his name, this sum of money seemed worth it.

After all, the Xi family had great assets and wealth that could rival a nation.

He gritted his teeth and actually acknowledged this debt.

He originally thought that by doing so, taking over Di Sanmeng’s identity should have no further obstacles.

However, Old Master Xi clearly underestimated the shamelessness of the Jianzheng.

The Jianzheng, having obtained the silver the Xi family paid out, immediately went to Baiguya to stir up trouble.

“Does Senior Miao know that Old Master Xi has already admitted he is Master Di Sanmeng?” The Jianzheng’s face was full of sighs.

“Xi Huaiyi?!” Miao Yunzhi wasn’t afraid of him and angrily said: “Good! Since he wants to impersonate someone, then this old man also happens to have many questions I want to ask him.”

Miao Yunzhi was not someone who would save face for anyone.

He immediately set out from Baiguya, heading directly to Shangjing.

In the old residence in Shangjing, Old Master Xi was preparing to take over this estate.

Many common people had already gathered outside the residence. Having heard that Old Master Xi was Master Di Sanmeng, everyone knelt and kowtowed, thanking him for his years of great kindness.

Actually, the clan leaders and elders of the breeding families had it clear as a mirror in their hearts. Everyone thought Old Master Xi had already negotiated with Di Sanmeng to buy this “painted skin identity.”

Everyone had used so many sinister schemes, so now they also agreed with this approach.

After all, if they couldn’t deal with the real Di Sanmeng, this was the only option.

Old Master Xi thought the same way. While helping the surrounding common people to their feet, he said: “These years, I’ve seen the people’s suffering with my own eyes, and the other breeding families have all seen it too. This old man originally didn’t wish to expose my identity, only wanting to do things for everyone in secret, but unexpectedly still couldn’t remain hidden.”

He spoke word by word, his voice solemn and moved.

And just as his words fell, someone sneered coldly: “Is that so? Since you, Huaiyi, claim to be Di Sanmeng, then this old man has many questions I wish to consult about.”

Old Master Xi looked over and his heart jumped—it was actually Miao Yunzhi who had come in person!

His pupils constricted, yet he could only brace himself and say: “So it’s Yunzhi. What… what do you have to say?”

Miao Yunzhi strode quickly before him. The surrounding common people had long been stunned. Miao Yunzhi looked around and said: “Some days ago, Master Di Sanmeng personally cultivated the medicine bitter lotus. Since you are Di Sanmeng, I presume you are very familiar with the medicinal efficacy of bitter lotus?”

Old Master Xi said: “Naturally.”

Miao Yunzhi nodded, pressing step by step: “Excellent. Then please, Huaiyi, explain in front of everyone the cultivation method for the medicine bitter lotus. What medicinal materials did you use to crossbreed bitter lotus to enhance its medicinal efficacy to this extent?”

“This…” Old Master Xi’s gaze dropped to the ground, his face unruffled, but his heart was already pounding like a drum. He was indeed a renowned breeding master, but bitter lotus was a medicinal material. The medicinal properties, efficacy, and mutual enhancement and restraint of these medicinal materials couldn’t have the slightest error or omission.

Old Master Xi was, after all, not a physician, and in this dream, he hadn’t obtained Miao Yunzhi’s insights and concepts.

No matter how he rambled and evaded, he absolutely couldn’t fool a medical titan like Miao Yunzhi.

Seeing this, Miao Yunzhi sneered: “Everyone, he is not Master Di Sanmeng. He’s not worthy of your kowtows.” After speaking, he swept a glance at Xi Huaiyi and mocked: “However, Master Di Sanmeng has always acted low-key and indifferent to fame and profit. He probably won’t deign to expose you either. If you truly want to usurp his name, that’s up to you!”

After speaking, he flicked his sleeves and left.

The watching common people looked at each other in confusion.

The Xi family had spent a huge sum, yet not only did they fail to obtain Di Sanmeng’s name, they were publicly humiliated by Miao Yunzhi.

Old Master Xi was simply bursting with rage.

Si Tianjian, Xuanwu Si study hall.

Huang Rang sat on the bed, the Jianzheng sat in the chair.

He distributed the silver extracted from the Xi family to Huang Rang. Huang Rang was so happy her eyes disappeared with laughter.

Di Yiqiu said helplessly: “Master Di Sanmeng’s reputation has been usurped by others—don’t you feel bad?”

“How could reputation be as substantial as silver!” Huang Rang spread the banknotes all over the bed, completely unconcerned. “I didn’t know before, but if I’d known he’d pay out so much silver, I’d have sold it to him long ago.”

“What?” The Jianzheng immediately sensed something wrong in that statement.

“Ah? Nothing.” Huang Rang continued looking down to count banknotes, nonchalantly covering up: “Anyway, Master Di Sanmeng is indifferent to fame and profit, he won’t care about this.”

The Jianzheng made a sound of acknowledgment, his face expressionless, yet his heart still held some suspicion.

No one had seen the real Di Sanmeng, only Huang Rang could contact her. And observing her hands, she was clearly a woman.

Di Yiqiu glanced again at Huang Rang sitting on the bed counting banknotes, still feeling the age didn’t match up.

Master Di Sanmeng appeared in Shangjing over ten years ago—how old was she then?

…Wait!

A flash of inspiration struck the Jianzheng—which year did this woman arrive in Shangjing?

As the Jianzheng of Si Tianjian, he naturally knew very well about this salted fish famous throughout Si Tianjian. The year she enrolled was precisely the year he was born.

Fifteen years.

Coming out of the study hall, the Jianzheng walked along lost in thought.

Baihu Si Vice Supervisor Tan Qi passed by and called out: “Jianzheng.”

The Jianzheng suddenly raised his head and abruptly said: “Go investigate when Master Di Sanmeng cultivated his first batch of excellent seeds in Shangjing.”

Tan Qi didn’t know why he was suddenly interested in this matter.

But he wasn’t someone who would ask too many questions. When the superior gave orders, just do it.

So that very night, all of Di Sanmeng’s intelligence was once again piled on the Jianzheng’s desk.

The Jianzheng opened it. Inside was clearly recorded that the first batch of excellent seeds Di Sanmeng cultivated was at the end of fifteen years ago.

Subsequently, the Jianzheng retrieved Si Tianjian’s first salted fish’s academic records.

He discovered this salted fish never attended classes and never even tended to her own study field. No, one couldn’t say she never tended it—she had gone there once. She planted weeds on it.

—And as for the purpose of those weeds, who could understand better than the Jianzheng?

Just these few simple stalks of grass had kept Si Tianjian free from mosquitoes and insects for fifteen years.

The Jianzheng carefully recalled that when he was young, this salted fish often lay on the wall watching him forge implements.

And one year, Master Qiu Yanming, annoyed beyond endurance, simply ordered people to insert sharp spikes on top of the wall.

This salted fish injured her hand on them.

Three days later, strange vines grew all over the walls and courtyards of the Foundry Bureau. The strange vines were covered in sharp thorns, so hard that even axes couldn’t cut them down.

The entire Foundry Bureau had to halt work for several days because of this.

The more the Jianzheng thought about it, the more wrong it seemed.

And just as the expression on his face gradually darkened, someone outside said: “Jianzheng, I heard that last time, Miss Huang Rang was able to contact Master Di Sanmeng. This subordinate presumes, I wonder if I might have this fortune to meet Master Di Sanmeng?”

Hearing this, the Jianzheng squinted and looked over. He saw the visitor was none other than Zong Zigui, the superintendent of Xuanwu Si’s Breeding Academy.

“Certainly.” The Jianzheng’s face revealed a slight smile as he said softly: “This seat will… inquire for the superintendent.”

The last three words he spoke through gritted teeth.

That evening, Huang Rang brought over a food box as usual.

The Jianzheng also acted as if nothing was wrong and ate dinner with her.

“You know Academy Superintendent Zong Zigui, right?” the Jianzheng said.

Huang Rang picked up a chopstick full of food, equally casual: “Even if I don’t attend classes much, I at least recognize the superintendent, right?”

“So you do know you don’t attend classes much.” The Jianzheng mocked coldly. “He told me today that he wants to ask you to contact Master Di Sanmeng to meet him.”

“Another person wanting to meet Di Sanmeng…” Huang Rang frowned. “Better not. He’s never liked meeting people.”

The Jianzheng said casually: “Is that so? That’s too unfortunate. Superintendent Zong is willing to pay fifty thousand taels of silver.”

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Huang Rang’s eyes lit up. She slowly swallowed the food in her mouth and said: “Alright! For the sake of the sil—uh, for the sake of Superintendent Zong’s sincere heart, I’ll try to arrange a meeting for him!”

The corner of the Jianzheng’s mouth curved in a smile as he said: “That’s truly kind of you.”

“Not troublesome at all!” Huang Rang waved her hand. Thinking of the fifty thousand taels of silver, she was simply sweet to the core.

—Once this silver is in hand, I must buy that dress from Liuxian Pavilion!

That very night, Huang Rang secretly left Si Tianjian.

—Since she said she would contact Master Di Sanmeng, no matter what, she had to put on a show.

The Jianzheng silently followed, but seeing she indeed left through the gates, he didn’t send anyone to tail her.

—In the dense forest outside Kanyue City, he had witnessed Di Sanmeng kill assassins with his own eyes.

If Huang Rang truly was Di Sanmeng, then her swordsmanship must be extremely skilled.

She had manifested a heart sword back then!

Although he couldn’t follow, the Jianzheng still had methods.

Throughout Shangjing’s inner city, there were quite a few Nine-Curve Spirit Eyes distributed.

He opened the Nine-Curve Spirit Eyes. The images weren’t continuous. He could only occasionally see Huang Rang leisurely strolling through the streets.

Judging from this alone, there seemed to be no flaws.

Sure enough, the next day, Huang Rang came running over excitedly.

“Master Di Sanmeng has agreed to meet.” She extended her hand. “Hand over the banknote!”

The Jianzheng kept his word, half-smiling as he handed the fifty-thousand-tael banknote into her hand.

Huang Rang took the banknote, counted it to confirm it was correct, and smiled so broadly she could hardly close her mouth.

“Who would have thought Superintendent Zong would be so forthright. Let’s arrange for him to meet at your fief again.” Huang Rang casually mentioned a location, hugging the banknote and leaving cheerfully.

The Jianzheng said nothing.

That afternoon, at the same place where Miao Yunzhi had met Di Sanmeng, Superintendent Zong got his wish to meet Master Di Sanmeng.

Zong Zigui, the old superintendent of the Breeding Academy.

The moment he saw Di Sanmeng, he knelt on the ground, and disregarding any attempts to stop him, forcibly kowtowed three times. After kowtowing, he clasped his hands together and bowed over his head: “I beg Master Di Sanmeng to accept me as a disciple!”

…

At Si Tianjian.

Through the Nine-Curve Spirit Eyes, the Jianzheng accurately saw the time when Huang Rang left Si Tianjian. The Jianzheng quietly came to Huang Rang’s study hall, directly asked for the key, and opened the door.

Then in a chest, he found Di Sanmeng’s seal.

As well as the records and insights for all the excellent seeds Di Sanmeng had cultivated. There were also some failed parent seeds.

The Jianzheng closed the chest with trembling hands, remembering the three kowtows he had performed on behalf of Miao Yunzhi.

…