Shang Qingzheng had never seriously considered this question—or rather, she had been unwilling to. But once he laid it bare, she knew Jiang Yang was right.
Then she heard Jiang Yang point out another thing:
"Never mind anyone else. Take Steward Zhou Ying, for instance. Do you think she's closer to you, or to True Person Xuan Xi, whom she serves?"
"Well..."
Shang Qingzheng fell silent. Was there even any question? First and foremost, Zhou Ying was her master's closest and most trusted maidservant. Only after that was she Shang Qingzheng's dear friend and confidante.
This had nothing to do with good or evil, but with knowing where one stood. Li Zhouying had agreed to conceal their relationship for her, but she had never promised to keep the True Person from finding out.
She might genuinely have been unaware at first, but once enough traces appeared, it would be impossible to hide. Li Zhouying would not dare hide it, either.
Now that Jiang Yang had attained divine powers, he no longer regarded the matter as particularly serious. True Person Xuan Xi was enlightened and reasonable, and theirs was no ill-fated union. She would never take a cudgel to a pair of mandarin ducks and break them apart. Besides, he now had the ability to say no.
Looking down and seeing that Shang Qingzheng was still uneasy, he said:
"Think of it this way. You come from Dawn Rain Peak and are the True Person's personal disciple. I come from Fushu Peak and am likewise a direct-line disciple of my peak. Doesn't that make us a well-matched pair? Where's the crime in that?"
Shang Qingzheng thought that made sense. She gradually relaxed, only to ask in puzzlement:
"Then why has Master... why has she never brought it up?"
No sooner had