The Wounded Stamen

"Then let's just call it a 'rehearsal' in advance."

Yan Lingji teased, her tone carrying a hint of mischievous amusement.

"Oh my—! Stop saying such things..."

Bibi Dong gently patted Yan Lingji's palm, the force so light it felt like a tickle, yet the blush on her face deepened.

"Alright, I won't say any more."

Yan Lingji replied softly, reaching out to pull Bibi Dong into her arms and patting her back gently.

"It's late, let's rest."

"I won't leave tonight; I'll sleep here with you."

"Thank you, Sister Lingji, for being willing to stay with me so late..."

The scene flashed, and it was already morning.

Yan Lingji had returned home.

"It's settled," she said while sitting on the edge of the bed, undressing. "Dong'er had too much to drink and got up in the night, and being half-asleep was the only reason she caused such a scene."

She draped her outer robe over the back of a chair and pulled out her hairpins. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, spilling over her shoulders and shimmering with a soft luster in the morning light.

"I've already made it clear to her, telling her to follow you and be your little wife from now on."

"She agreed?" Zhao Linchuan leaned against the headboard, his hands behind his head. "Given her personality, would she just agree like that?"

"She didn't say yes outright."

Yan Lingji placed the last hairpin on the vanity, shook out her hair, and combed through it with her fingers, her movements languid and casual.

"But she didn't say a single word of refusal, so she must have just been too shy."

She turned to look at Zhao Linchuan. The morning light fell upon her face, and her dark eyes held a hint of a gentle smile.

"Just find an opportunity to bring it up with her later."

As she spoke, she rose and straddled Zhao Linchuan's waist, bracing her hands on either side of his chest. Her long hair fell forward, forming a soft, dark curtain between them as she said with a playful tone:

"Let me check and see what you did during those days you were away."

Her fingertips traced circles on his chest, her tone filled with deliberate scrutiny.

"Did you give everything away to others? Did you even think about your wife back home?"

"I didn't do anything..."

Zhao Linchuan's voice carried a helpless smile.

"Liar!"

Yan Lingji lowered her head, burying her face in the crook of his shoulder, her lips nearly brushing his ear.

"When you came back yesterday, I smelled more than one woman's scent on you!"

Her fingertip poked his chest lightly.

"Pay your dues! Then I'll let this slide!"

"I really didn't..."

"I don't believe you!"

Yan Lingji lifted her head, looking down at him with a slight curl of her lips and a seductive tone:

"Let me inspect you; I'll know the quality once I check..."

For the next few days, Bibi Dong kept avoiding Zhao Linchuan.

She acted just like a mouse dodging a cat; the moment she saw Zhao Linchuan's silhouette from afar, she would turn and leave.

If she heard his voice, she would take a detour.

If she truly couldn't avoid him, she would lower her head, blush, mumble a vague response, and then scurry away.

Zhao Linchuan sought her out several times, but each time he came up empty-handed.

As for Qian Xunji, no one seemed to know where he had gone either.

Attendants at the Pope Hall said that His Holiness the Pope had been feeling unwell these past few days and was not receiving guests.

No information could be gathered from the Consecration Hall, either; all that was known was that Qian Xunji had gone to drink with Golden Crocodile Douluo that day, and somehow, things had gone awry.

It wasn't until the evening of the third day that Zhao Linchuan heard a piece of gossip from a young attendant.

It was said that Qian Xunji had somehow blacked out while drinking at the Consecration Hall and had been bedridden for three days before recovering.

At this moment, the sunset glowed.

The clouds on the horizon were dyed a deep, intense orange-red, and the entire Spirit City was bathed in a warm twilight.

The distant eaves and treetops were gilded with a golden halo, beautiful as an oil painting.

Zhao Linchuan carried two jars of wine in his left hand and a food box in his right, striding toward the Saintess Hall with long, purposeful steps.

In front of the Saintess Hall, two attendant maids on duty saw him and exchanged a glance, both lowering their heads and pretending they had seen nothing.

Zhao Linchuan stepped over the threshold, walked straight through the front hall, and arrived at the door of Bibi Dong's room.

At that moment, Bibi Dong was just about to head out. She had changed into a pale purple dress, her hair pulled up into a simple bun, and with only a light touch of makeup on her face, she looked fresh and elegant.

However, there were faint dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept well for the past few days.

"Why are you here?"

Seeing Zhao Linchuan, her expression changed in an instant.

She dodged left, then right; she tried to move left, but was blocked, then tried to move right, only to be blocked again.

She was like a small deer trapped in a cage, flustered and desperately looking for a way out, but Zhao Linchuan was like a moving wall that she simply could not get around.

"What exactly do you want?!"

Bibi Dong's face was flushed red, her gaze darting around; she looked left and right, but she dared not meet Zhao Linchuan's eyes.

"Why do you keep blocking me?!"

Her voice was hurried and shy, carrying a hint of exasperation.

"Move aside! I have official business to attend to!"

"I've come to invite my good friend for a drink."

Zhao Linchuan lifted his hands, the wine jars swaying in the air as the dishes inside the food box clinked softly.

"It's been a few days since I've seen you, and I missed you, didn't I? I came specifically to check on you."

"I, I have things to do..."

Bibi Dong's gaze grew even more evasive, her fingers twisting at her sides, her voice trailing off.

"How about next time?"

"No! It has to be now."

Zhao Linchuan put away his smile, his tone turning serious.

"If you leave today, I won't step foot in this place ever again."

"You—!"

Bibi Dong gritted her teeth, her expression shifting several times before finally settling into a vague mutter.

"Hmph! You scoundrel!"

She turned around, walked to the table, and sat down, crossing her arms over her chest and lifting her chin slightly, putting on a look that said, "I am very angry."

"Let's get this straight: we only drink, and you are not allowed to say those things that make me embarrassed."

"What things?"

Zhao Linchuan followed her over, placed the wine jars and the food box on the table, and asked with feigned ignorance while setting out the dishes.

"Don't you dare!"

Bibi Dong was somewhat agitated; she slapped the tabletop with both hands, her voice rising a few notches.

"You are not allowed to say that anymore!"

"Alright, alright, I won't."

Zhao Linchuan quickly agreed, arranging the dishes one by one before pouring her a cup of wine.

The liquid swayed slightly in the cup, clear and bright, emitting a mellow fragrance.

"Here, try this. I 'picked' this up from my teacher's place this morning."

"You certainly know how to pick things up." Bibi Dong picked up the wine cup, clearly not believing him. "To think you could actually find something in the Consecration Hall."

With that, she downed it in one gulp.

"Hmm?" Bibi Dong savored the taste, licked her lips, and said with some surprise:

"Tsk tsk... This wine picked up from the Consecration Hall really is different; the taste is even better than the special supply at my teacher's place."

"Then you should drink more." Zhao Linchuan filled her cup again. "Tonight, we won't stop until we're drunk..."