Page 45

Shunde had to remind him that he was running out of time before Shi Changyuan finally went to court. And that morning's court had only one topic—

"I shall soon take an empress," Shi Changyuan announced.

The moment Shi Changyuan finished speaking, the Golden Luan Hall erupted in congratulations.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations!"

"A perfect match ordained by heaven—congratulations to Your Majesty on having your wish fulfilled!"

Every civil official exerted the full extent of his literary talent, citing classics and historical precedents. Several even composed poems on the spot, leaving the military officials—red-faced and capable only of squeezing out "May you grow old together"—shut out entirely.

"The imperial wedding is no trivial matter. Moreover, Your Majesty is marrying the one you love, so there can be no carelessness. Does the Ministry of Rites have any thoughts?"

An elderly minister stepped forward with a genial smile, immediately shifting the pressure onto the Ministry of Rites.

"Oh, surely we can offer plenty of excellent ideas and ensure everything is flawless. The question is whether our colleagues at the Ministry of Revenue can keep up."

The Minister of Rites smiled as he deftly deflected the matter.

In an instant, the court returned to its usual liveliness.

The spring rain had fallen for several days straight. When Lin Ling woke, Shi Changyuan had presumably just left court and was still speaking privately with various ministers.

Peeking through the crack in the door, Lin Ling saw an unfamiliar minister speaking with him. Though it was called a conversation, it looked as if Shi Changyuan did all the talking while the other party recorded it with pen and paper.

Lin Ling circled the Imperial Study, then secretly poked half his head out through the window beside Shi Changyuan's desk.

The moment Shi Changyuan saw those furtive eyes darting about, he waved the minister away. He walked behind the window where Lin Ling was hiding, tapped the sill, and said, "Did mushrooms grow here?"

Shi Changyuan lowered his gaze and watched that jet-black little head shake messily. "No."

"No Little Mushroom grew here."

Shi Changyuan chuckled. "Then where did my Mushroom go?"

Lin Ling blinked, realizing that the mushroom Shi Changyuan meant was him. With a swish, he sprang up, clung to the window, and leaned half his body inside, his eyes sparkling.

"Right here!!!"

Shi Changyuan wrapped an arm around Lin Ling's waist and lifted him inside with one hand. Lin Ling did not know whether he had been caught in the rain or brushed by rain blown in on the wind, but his body was damp.

"Go change your clothes." Shi Changyuan led Lin Ling into the inner chamber and took a towel to dry the ends of his hair.

Though he had told Lin Ling to change, Shi Changyuan was the one who ended up doing it.

Ever since the two had fully confirmed their relationship, many things Lin Ling ought to have done himself had been taken over by Shi Changyuan.

As Shi Changyuan changed his clothes, Lin Ling said, "When I walked over just now, I saw lots of spring bamboo shoots growing in the courtyard."

"Mushrooms grow in spring too. But mushrooms aren't like spring bamboo shoots—we might grow anywhere."

When Lin Ling paused, Shi Changyuan smilingly continued, "For example, on the roof beams, or outside the window?"

Knowing Shi Changyuan was teasing him, Lin Ling huffed. "And what else?"

"What else?" Shi Changyuan played along perfectly.

Lin Ling suddenly grabbed Shi Changyuan's hand and placed his chin on it—

He blinked and stared straight at him, deliberately asking, "Could I grow here?"

Shi Changyuan paused, then lowered his head with a smile and kissed Lin Ling's forehead.

"You could."

Mushroom actually loved spring rain. He loved the feeling of being soaked through. Before he gained consciousness, Lin Ling had grown in the Imperial Study, so it had been difficult for him to get rained on even once.

The next morning, Lin Ling carried his flowerpot outside early and found a secluded palace. After picking a good spot, he placed the pot in a crack between stones beneath a large tree, behind a thicket of brambles.

Dark, damp, and hidden! It was simply the best possible place for a mushroom.

After telling Shi Changyuan about this wonderful spot, Lin Ling often returned to his original form and lay in his flowerpot. Once Shi Changyuan finished court, he would come pick him up and take him back.

The endless rainy weather made Mushroom feel refreshed all over. The gentle rain was fine and light, like a veil draped over the entire world.

While Lin Ling was sleeping soundly, he suddenly heard someone calling him in a familiar, tiny voice.

"Little Mushroom, wake up."

Was the big tree above his head talking? Lin Ling drowsily opened his eyes and saw the familiar Little Fat Chirper.

"Little bird."

Mushroom raised his head, looked at Little Fat Chirper on the branch, and asked, "Why are you here?"

"Why am I here? Shouldn't I be asking you that?!" Little Fat Chirper stomped his little claws and flapped his wings.

"How could you run back alone without even saying a word?" Little Fat Chirper said. "Everyone at the Dragon Vein was worried about you, so they specifically sent me back to check on you."

"They all said you were lured away by some ill-intentioned human and were preparing to come down the mountain to find you. The Imperial City is far away—I flew for five days without rest before I made it back."

Lin Ling felt terribly sorry upon hearing that.

A little awkwardly, he said, "Actually, I missed my partner, so I secretly came back on my own. I'm truly sorry for making everyone worry."

"Partner?!!" Little Fat Chirper shrieked, nearly falling from the tree. "You're so young—how did you already find a cultivation partner?"

"Not a cultivation partner. Shi Changyuan doesn't cultivate; he's just an ordinary human."

Mushroom swayed his cap and explained seriously, "I had already reached adulthood when I was still an ordinary mushroom. Then I gained spiritual intelligence, began cultivating, and took human form."

"But the Great Elder said only old demons who have lived for thousands of years can avoid being deceived by humans' sweet talk."

Little Fat Chirper spun anxiously in circles. "Who is this Shi Changyuan you mentioned? I want to see what this human looks like!"