The Holy Maiden Still Gave Herself Away

"...We'll drink until neither of us can stand."

And so, Zhao Linchuan and Bibi Dong drank cup after cup.

Outside the window, the sky shifted from orange-red to gray-blue, then from gray-blue to deep, inky black.

The moon climbed above the treetops, its cool light spilling across the courtyard. The stars glittered like someone had scattered a handful of diamonds across the sky.

Bibi Dong drank more and more. Her cheeks turned from faintly pink to crimson, then flushed red. Her clear gaze grew hazy, then dissolved into a muddle.

Her words began to slur, her movements grew clumsy, and she swayed from side to side like a young tree bent beneath the wind.

Zhao Linchuan drank quite a bit too. Every so often, he served Bibi Dong food and poured her another drink. Now and then, he cracked a joke, making her laugh so hard she nearly fell out of her chair.

After Bibi Dong had gotten thoroughly drunk, Zhao Linchuan suddenly changed the subject.

"Dong'er, earlier you said that if I ever needed your help, you'd do everything you could for me, right?"

"Y-yes!"

Bibi Dong's face was flushed with drink, and she could barely keep her eyes open, yet she still tried to sit up straight and patted her chest, speaking so loudly that it seemed she was afraid no one would hear her.

"What is it?"

"You need this Holy Maiden's help?"

"There's a big thing I need your help with."

Zhao Linchuan leaned closer. Bibi Dong leaned in to listen, and he whispered mysteriously,

"I need you to help me have a child..."

"Hmph!" Bibi Dong let out a soft gasp and shot Zhao Linchuan a scornful look. "I knew you wouldn't come to me for anything good!"

"Then... my Holy Maiden..." Zhao Linchuan's tone turned coaxing. "You wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"

"Of course not!"

Bibi Dong abruptly stood up. She swayed and nearly lost her balance, only managing to steady herself by gripping the edge of the table.

She patted Zhao Linchuan on the shoulder, then thumped her own chest and declared in a booming voice,

"This Holy Maiden's word is as good as gold!"

"It's just having a child, isn't it?"

"Leave it to me!"

"Just tell me..."

Before Bibi Dong could finish speaking, Zhao Linchuan had already risen. He slipped one arm around her waist, the other beneath her knees, and swept her into his arms.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

Bibi Dong thumped Zhao Linchuan's chest, her voice urgent and bashful.

"Put this Holy Maiden down!"

"Didn't you agree to help me have a child?" Zhao Linchuan raised an eyebrow on purpose, a teasing glint in his voice. "Don't tell me you're going to welch on the deal?"

"Who's welching?!"

Bibi Dong withdrew her hands and buried her face against Zhao Linchuan's chest, too embarrassed to look up. Her voice was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.

"Whatever you want to do... this Holy Maiden will listen to you..."

"Good." Zhao Linchuan spoke gently as he carried her toward the bedroom. "Let's go to your room. I'll teach you properly..."

After a long while, a tearful voice came in fits and starts from Bibi Dong's room.

"Waaah... Zhao Linchuan, you bastard... Using your finger to poke my 'brow' last time was one thing, but this time you hit me with a 'stool leg'..."

Her voice grew fainter and more garbled.

"Just you wait, this Holy Maiden will get you... Once this Holy Maiden gets her strength back... I-I'll make you regret it!"

"Waaah—!"

As she spoke, Bibi Dong suddenly let out a strangled sob. Her eyes bulged slightly as she stuck out her tongue and said,

"Waaah... Zhao Linchuan... you son of a bitch... you're so mean..."

The next day, the sun was already high in the sky.

Sunlight poured through the lattice window. Outside, the osmanthus tree swayed gently in the morning breeze, and a few sparrows chirped noisily on its branches.

"Argh!"

A scream suddenly burst from Bibi Dong's bedroom, startling the sparrows into flapping into the air.

Zhao Linchuan sat propped against the headboard, clutching the fresh bite mark on his chest, which had begun to seep blood. He grimaced in pain.

He looked up at the murderous Bibi Dong and spoke first.

"Are you trying to murder your own husband?!"

"You bastard!"

Bibi Dong grabbed a pillow and started pounding Zhao Linchuan with it, again and again, fast and hard. Its corners landed with muffled smacks.

Her hair was a mess, and she was completely naked. Her cheeks and the rims of her eyes were red. Furious and mortified, she looked like a little cat with its fur standing on end.

"You took advantage of this Holy Maiden while I was drunk and tricked me into having a child with you!"

She pounded him hard, ranting all the while.

"And you made me pose in such an embarrassing way! You made me say such shameful things!"

It wasn't that Bibi Dong resented Zhao Linchuan for taking her.

On the contrary, she had sobered up in the middle of the night.

When she woke, she found Zhao Linchuan taking liberties with her. Yet she hadn't immediately flown into a rage. Instead, she continued pretending to be drunk and let him do as he pleased.

She didn't know why she'd done that. Maybe she had craved the sensation, or maybe she was afraid to face the awkwardness of being sober.

But now it was daylight, and she had no idea how to face Zhao Linchuan.

So she'd chosen the most foolish option—getting angry...

"Be gentle!"

Zhao Linchuan caught Bibi Dong's flailing arms and tugged her into his embrace.

"You know your husband will get fed up with you if you keep acting like this, right?"

"Just you dare!"

Bibi Dong's teeth itched at his words. She spoke through clenched teeth, her voice full of venom.

"If you dare get fed up with me... I-I'll seduce you! Then I'll bite it right off!"

Zhao Linchuan shuddered involuntarily. Holding Bibi Dong tightly as she struggled in his arms, he looked at her fierce yet timid, furious yet embarrassed expression and barked,

"Impudent! Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson."

"What are you going to do now?"

Bibi Dong slowly stopped struggling, looking terrified.

"I'm warning you... don't make me hold up both hands in a 'V' again!"

Her voice softened, a hint of pleading creeping into it.

"And my body is in terrible shape right now. I can't take any more of your torment!"

"Really?" Zhao Linchuan's voice held a teasing smile as his gaze slowly roamed over her face. "Then should I examine you?"

As he spoke, he had just begun to raise his hand—

"Darling!"

Yan Lingji's voice came from outside the room.

"Are you there?"

"The Pope sent someone with a message. The Pope wants you and Dong'er to go over."

Zhao Linchuan's hand froze in midair—

"I'm here!"

He called toward the window.

"I'll be right there!"

Then he lowered his head and looked at Bibi Dong in his arms, his tone turning gentle.

"Stay home and get some rest. I'll go explain things to the Pope."