Chen Shi arrived at Houde Palace just as Empress Houtu was walking out of it. She had changed her attire into a pale yellow Daoist robe with golden borders and a cyan inner lining, looking very simple.
Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders and she wore no makeup, though her earlobes bore earrings woven from bead strings, giving her a very fresh appearance. In her hand she carried a golden shovel that was only three feet long and rather compact.
"Where is Godmother heading?" Chen Shi inquired.
"Always cooped up in the palace tallying accounts is quite dull. Better to seize a moment of leisure and plant a Purple Sky Vine."
The Empress smiled. "Your Majesty, come along."
Chen Shi followed her to a high ridge. The Empress searched for a suitable place to plant the Purple Sky Vine and said, "The Purple Sky Vine is truly overbearing. It must be kept some distance from little Willow, lest it entangle him to death."
Weighing her words, Chen Shi said, "Following Godmother's instructions, I planted the Witch Covenant and the gourd seeds, and the Witch Covenant has already grown. Only, when I checked it today, two Witch Covenants grew out."
"Only two?"
Empress Houtu asked in surprise, "Is the Witch Covenant so formidable? It only produced two. Could he have been a Primordial Unity Golden Immortal in life?"
Chen Shi's heart gave a jolt. Could there be new Witch Covenants waiting to grow out?
Empress Houtu selected a spot, intending to dig the yellow earth. Chen Shi snatched the golden shovel and volunteered to do the work.
The Empress had changed into this fresh clothing with the intention of personally planting the Purple Sky Vine, but with Chen Shi taking the labor upon himself, she was quite happy to take