Chapter 92: Fulfilling the Body

Li Lin entered the main hall and saw Huang Qi and Huang Qing seated as guests, chatting and sipping tea.

The maid Hong Luan stood beside them, glancing around.

She immediately spotted Li Lin and exclaimed in delight: "Li Lang… Young Master Li has returned."

Huang Qi gave Hong Luan a half-smiling glance, then rose and slightly bowed to Li Lin: "We've been waiting a long time. Why are you back so late?"

Huang Qing politely bowed and softly called out: "Li Shixiong."

Li Lin noticed she wore the silver dangling hairpin he had given her, and faintly glimpsed a silver bracelet on her wrist—likely also his gift.

Li Lin smiled: "Good thing I came back—I was about to head to the village."

"Looks like we're lucky," Huang Qi said cheerfully.

Li Lin invited them to sit, then asked: "You waited this long—is there something important?"

The servant Xing'er had already served the tea and left.

Only the four of them remained.

Huang Qi said: "The Third Imperial Prince has made major moves in Jincheng."

Li Lin nodded: "I've already heard about it from Zhao Hao."

"Zhao Xunshou is ambitious—he truly enjoys gathering such news," Huang Qi laughed. "A fine talent."

Li Lin said nothing at this praise.

He disliked speaking of his friends behind their backs.

Huang Qi added: "Brother Kunge, what do you think?"

"I'll stay in Yulin County."

Huang Qing's expression darkened; her hands clenched tightly.

"So you already know what I'm about to say."

Li Lin nodded slightly: "The Prefect was due for promotion anyway—this just moves it forward."

"Not exactly forward," Huang Qi said with a smile. "The former Prefect was scheduled to be reassigned in three years. Now it's accelerated, but the proper process still applies: recommendation by the Surveillance Office, review by the Central Secretariat, imperial seal approval, then appointment to Jincheng. That process takes at least three months, possibly half a year."

"Then how is the Prefect's vacancy filled?"

"The Assistant Prefect of Jincheng will temporarily assume duties."

Li Lin nodded, acknowledging this—he had never truly understood these official positions before.

Here, Huang Qi whispered: "After Father goes to Jincheng, he'll take the Four Marvels Zhenjun with him."

Li Lin froze: "Aren't these Zhenjun… fixed in place?"

"Impossible!" Huang Qi whispered. "Like our family, most prominent clans have one or two Zhenjun they've served for generations."

Li Lin immediately understood—like the old ghost of the Qin family, this was the same situation.

If the chance arose, naturally one would want one's own Zhenjun to receive more incense offerings.

He asked curiously: "Then what happens to Jincheng's Bi Fang Zhenjun?"

"He becomes an ordinary local Zhenjun—say, reassigned to some county," Huang Qi said casually.

"Won't he cause trouble?"

The drop from receiving incense from hundreds of thousands to just tens of thousands—or even tens of thousands—is enormous.

Most couldn't bear it.

"With the altar in our hands, he won't dare," Huang Qi snorted. "We're already being generous letting him keep an altar to sustain his body and receive incense."

Li Lin nodded—clearly, altars were a powerful restraint on Zhenjun.

"With the Prefect and the Four Marvels Zhenjun gone, which Zhenjun will take the main seat in our county temple?"

"Usually, it's chosen by Eunuch."

Li Lin's mind conjured the pale, beardless, frail old man holding a flywhisk.

Huang Qi now looked at Li Lin with an encouraging gaze: "If you have a recommendation… it's no problem."

"The Tree Immortal Lady," Li Lin said without hesitation.

Li Lin was no longer a complete novice—he still didn't know many hunting-spirit secrets, but he understood how vital incense and public devotion were to Zhenjun.

As the Tree Immortal Lady's "friend," he naturally wanted to secure this rare opportunity for her.

Huang Qi gave a knowing smile: "That's acceptable. But if you recommend the Tree Immortal Lady and refuse to go to Jincheng, you must take the position of County Captain."

Li Lin fell silent for a moment, then nodded: "Alright."

After all, he now had a home in Yulin County—he could live here without issue.

At this moment, Huang Qi's expression turned serious: "Official matters are done. Now for personal ones."

Personal matters?

Li Lin instinctively glanced at Huang Qing beside him.

"If you stay in Yulin County, what about my big sister?"

The mask falls?

No—it was a blow to the head.

Li Lin froze and looked again at Huang Qing.

Huang Qing, now blushing and tense, feared hearing a bad answer.

Huang Qi's eyes locked onto Li Lin, watching his expression closely.

Li Lin thought for a moment, then bowed: "I wish to spend this life with Huang Damei."

Hearing this, Huang Qing blushed deeply, lowered her head, and nervously twisted her hands.

The maid Hong Luan cried out excitedly: "That's wonderful—"

Then she clapped her hand over her mouth.

Huang Qi snorted. "You want to stay in Yulin, but in three months Damei will be going with her father to live permanently in Jincheng. What are you going to do? How will you marry her!"

"Naturally, she'll marry over here," Li Lin said in a calm tone.

"You really think so?" Huang Qi's expression darkened somewhat.

"A wife follows her husband — isn't that perfectly normal?" Li Lin's expression remained perfectly calm.

Huang Qi stared at Li Lin for a moment, then burst out laughing, patting Li Lin's shoulder repeatedly. "Not bad, not bad — that's exactly the attitude you should have."

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Huang Qi stood up and said, "Damei, let's head back first. Hongluan, you're staying tonight."

Hongluan flushed crimson and said softly with a slight bow, "Yes!"

What was Hongluan staying for?

Li Lin was very curious.

Before he could open his mouth to ask, Huang Qi pulled Hongluan aside and spoke to her in a low voice.

The more they talked, the redder Hongluan's face became.

After a while, Huang Qi took one deep look at Li Lin, then left with Huang Qi.

Because it had grown dark, as a maiden she could no longer stay without giving rise to gossip.

After watching the two of them leave, Hongluan hung her head as well, not daring to move about.

Li Lin asked, "Why did your Young Lady have you stay behind?"

Hongluan shot a quick glance at Li Lin, then said softly, "To offer her body… to test the young master's… constitution."

Li Lin was stunned for a moment before he caught on.

So it was a trial marriage.

When a daughter of a great clan was to be married off, she would always send a maidservant who had grown up with the Young Lady since childhood to live at the fiancé's home for a period of time first.

First, to see whether the fiancé's 'thing' was functional and capable of continuing the family line.

Second, to observe the fiancé's character as well — if he proved unsuitable, the daughter would still have a chance to back out.

If the trial marriage passed, this maidservant would also become a concubine, continuing to live with the Young Lady so the latter would not be too lonely and helpless.

Li Lin sized up Hongluan… she was quite pretty. Though her looks weren't as refined and striking as Huang Qi's, she was still a delicate little beauty.

And her figure was quite nice.

"Are you hungry?" Li Lin said with a smile. "Whatever the case, eating first is what's important."

(End of chapter)