The wedding was livestreamed by the sister, revealing his identity as a Taoist priest.

Jiangcheng, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Presidential Suite.

On the rosewood chessboard, black and white pieces are locked in a fierce battle.

Zhou Dechang held a black chess piece, hesitating to put it down, his cloudy eyes glancing at the person opposite him.

"Old Ji, you've been out for a while now. If you don't go back and let those precious scraps of paper air out in the sun, they're going to grow mushrooms."

Ji Jingshan held a cup of Pu'er tea, not even lifting his eyelids.

"Don't worry about it. But you, without you, can those young people keep things in order at the Palace Museum?"

"Hey! My grand-apprentices have all graduated!"

Zhou Dechang slammed the chess piece heavily onto the chessboard.

"I think you should go back. I'll keep an eye on things for you here. If that Chen kid sends any more good stuff, I'll record it for you."

Ji Jingshan put down his teacup and smiled.

"How could I? You're getting old, your eyesight isn't what it used to be. What if it's some rare and precious wood, and you're mistaken?"

Zhou Mingyuan and Ji Yunzhou sat far away, each holding a cell phone, their expressions blank.

Zhou Mingyuan sent Ji Yunzhou a WeChat message: "Isn't your grandfather going a bit overboard with this performance?"

Ji Yunzhou replied instantly: [Same here. My grandpa dragged me out last night to analyze the hotel price trends in Jiangcheng for the next month, saying he wanted to book a month's stay.]

Zhou Mingyuan: [...My grandfather asked me to find out Miss Shen's daily schedule so we could arrange a chance encounter.]

The two young people looked at each other and simultaneously revealed expressions of utter despair.

Ever since witnessing that "divine betrothal ceremony" at the Jianglan Center, these two national treasure-level masters seem to have taken root in Jiangcheng, and neither of them mentions going back.

They keep telling each other to leave, but their actions betray their words.

They knew perfectly well that such a gesture could not possibly involve only one betrothal gift!

Just then, Ji Jingshan's phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, answered, and put the call on speakerphone.

"Hey, Lao Fang."

A cheerful voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Jingshan, where are you now? There's an ancient lantern exhibition in Qingcheng. They just unearthed some bronze lanterns from the Han Dynasty. They're in excellent condition. Would you like to come and take a look?"

"Qingcheng?"

Ji Jingshan frowned.

"It's too far, I'm not going, I have something important to do here."

No antique lamp can compare to the fragrance of "Taiyi Star Letter".

Even if the Heavenly King himself came, he wouldn't be allowed to leave Jiangcheng.

"Really not coming? There are quite a few good things this time, including a lamp that's supposedly a Taoist ritual artifact..."

"I'm not going!"

Ji Jingshan was about to hang up the phone with a resolute expression.

"grandfather!"

Ji Yunzhou, who had been engrossed in scrolling through his phone, suddenly looked up, shoved the phone screen at him, and his voice trembled.

"Look at this! It's fourth on Weibo's trending topics!"

On the screen, a bolded word pierced my eyes.

[#Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain to Qingcheng#]

Below are a few blurry nighttime photos.

A group of people dressed in dark blue Taoist robes walked in formation against the backdrop of the city nightscape, their postures upright and their aura solemn.

"A Taoist priest descends the mountain? These days, anything can trend on social media."

Ji Jingshan didn't take it seriously.

"No, Grandpa!"

Ji Yunzhou zoomed in on the image.

"Look at the Taoist robes they're wearing! The pattern, the style... aren't they exactly the same as those of the nine Taoist priests who delivered the betrothal gifts that day!"

"Snapped!"

Zhou Dechang dropped the chess piece in his hand to the ground.

Ji Jingshan was also stunned. He snatched the phone and brought it close to his eyes.

The expressions of the two old men changed from disdain to shock, and then to fervor, within just three seconds.

Xuanqing robe!

That's a "lost craft" that even Marco Bellini admired!

The exact same clothes appeared in Qingcheng, and it was a "Taoist priest descending the mountain" kind of event!

Zhou Dechang and Ji Jingshan exchanged a glance, both seeing four words in each other's eyes: Something big is about to happen!

"Old Fang!"

Ji Jingshan suddenly picked up his phone and yelled into the microphone.

"Qingcheng, right? The ancient lantern exhibition, right? Wait for me! I'll be right there!"

Without waiting for a response, he hung up the phone, stood up, and moved with a speed that belied his 79 years. "Yunzhou, book the tickets!"

"No," Zhou Dechang also stood up, "Old Ji, what are you going to Qingcheng for?"

Ji Jingshan glanced at him, speaking with self-righteous indignation.

"Invited by a friend for academic exchange! But what are you doing here?"

Zhou Dechang slapped his thigh.

"I suddenly remembered I have a distant relative in Qingcheng that I haven't seen for decades. I have to go visit them! Mingyuan, book the tickets! We'll be on the same flight as Lao Ji!"

Zhou Mingyuan: "..."

Ji Yunzhou: "..."

The two old men were efficient and quick; they packed their luggage in three minutes, walked to the door, and then stopped at the same time.

"Just like that?"

Zhou Dechang frowned.

"Otherwise what?"

Ji Jingshan asked.

"This matter is most likely related to the Chen family boy."

Zhou Dechang stroked his chin, a sly glint in his eyes.

"If we just run there in complete darkness, why don't we..."

He looked at Ji Jingshan.

"Would you like to come along, Miss Shen?"

Ji Jingshan's eyes lit up.

Yup!

Who is Shen Nianqing?

Chen Shidu's fiancée!

If she goes, wouldn't that mean the main character has arrived?

Then you won't have to worry about not seeing a good show.

"Walk!"

The two national treasures exchanged a glance and immediately hit it off.

"Let's skip the hotel and go straight to the Shen family's!"

……

The back garden of the Shen family villa.

The sun was shining brightly, and the aroma of tea wafted through the air.

Shen Nianqing, Chen Xiaoyu, and Lin Keke sat around a table, enjoying a rare afternoon tea.

Chen Xiaoyu held a glass of lemonade, still a little reserved, but much more relaxed than when she first arrived.

Lin Keke, on the other hand, has completely let loose and is taking a 360-degree photo of an expensive French dessert with her phone, ready to post it on her WeChat Moments.

"Xiaoyu, what does your brother... usually like to do?"

Shen Nianqing asked, seemingly casually.

"My brother?"

Chen Xiaoyu thought for a moment.

"He doesn't have any particular hobbies. He just likes to stay in the mountains, read books, and grow herbs and such."

"Reading? What kind of books?"

"The Tao Te Ching, the Book of Changes, the Classic of Mountains and Seas... basically, they're all books I don't understand."

Shen Nianqing nodded thoughtfully and silently made a note of it.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached.

"Read it clearly! Read it clearly! Big news!"

Gu Xinglu rushed into the garden like a gust of wind, her high heels leaving two deep dents in the grass.

She held the phone up to Shen Nianqing, her face beaming with barely suppressed excitement.

"Look, look! Today's trending topics are more exciting than a TV drama! Even Taoist priests are coming down from the mountain! This generation of netizens is so creative!"

Shen Nianqing glanced at the screen.

It was that trending topic: "#Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain to Qingcheng".

She smiled, just about to say something.

Gu Xingluo suddenly zoomed in on the picture and looked at it closely.

"Wait... Nianqing, don't you think... the clothes they're wearing look a little familiar?"

Shen Nianqing's gaze froze.

The dark blue Taoist robe, embroidered with silver threads, still reveals its extraordinary texture and unique style even in the blurry night scene photo.

Isn't this the same outfit the leading disciple wore when he delivered the first betrothal gift that day?

Did they...go to Qingcheng?

What are we going to do?

Could it be... related to the second betrothal gift?

Just as her mind was racing, the housekeeper, Uncle Liu, strode out of the house.

"Young Miss".

"Professor Zhou Dechang and Professor Ji Jingshan came to visit."

"They said they would like to invite you to go to Qingcheng with them."