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: “Young Master Li.”

Li Lin noticed she wore the silver dangling hairpin he had given her, and faintly saw 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, smiling broadly.

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

The retainer 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 already heard about it from Zhao Hao.”

“Zhao Xun is ambitious—he’s always eager to gather 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: “So, Kun Ge, what are your thoughts?”

“I’ll stay in Yulin County.”

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

“So you already know what I’m getting at.”

Li Lin nodded slightly: “The County Magistrate was due for promotion anyway—this is just an early move.”

“Not exactly early,” 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—only then can he take up his post in 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 such official positions before.

Here, Huang Qi lowered his voice: “After Father goes to Jincheng, he’ll take the Four Marvels True Lord with him.”

Li Lin froze: “Aren’t these True Lords… fixed in place?”

“Impossible!” Huang Qi whispered. “Every prominent family has one or two True Lords they’ve served for generations.”

Li Lin instantly understood—like the Qin family’s old phantom, this was the same situation.

If the chance arose, naturally one would want one’s own venerated True Lord to receive more incense offerings.

He asked curiously: “Then what of the Bi Fang True Lord in Jincheng?”

“He’ll become an ordinary local True Lord—perhaps 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—would be immense.

Most couldn’t bear it.

“With the altar in our hands, he won’t dare,” Huang Qi snorted. “We’re already being generous by letting him keep his altar and still receive incense energy.”

Li Lin nodded. Clearly, altars were a powerful restraint on True Lords.

“If the County Magistrate takes the Four Marvels True Lord away, which True Lord will take the main seat in our county temple?”

“Usually, it’s chosen by Eunuch Qi.”

Li Lin’s mind conjured the thin, beardless 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 popularity were to True Lords.

As the Tree Immortal Lady’s “friend,” he naturally seized this rare chance to fight 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: “Fine.”

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

At this, Huang Qi’s expression turned serious: “Official matters are done. Now for private matters.”

Private matters?

Li Lin instinctively glanced at Huang Qing beside him.

“If you stay in Yulin, what about my elder sister?”

The mask falls?

No—it was a direct blow.

Li Lin froze and looked again at Huang Qing.

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

Huang Qi’s eyes locked onto Li Lin, studying his expression.

After a moment’s thought, Li Lin bowed and said: “I vow to spend this life with Huang Da’s sister.”

Hearing this, Huang Qing blushed deeply, lowering her head, twisting her hands nervously.

The maid Hong Luan cried out excitedly: “That’s wonderful—”

Then she clapped her hand over her mouth.

Huang Qi snorted: “You’ll stay in Yulin, but my elder sister leaves for Jincheng with Father in three months—how will you marry her?”

“She’ll come to live with me,” Li Lin said calmly.

“You truly believe that?” Huang Qi’s expression darkened.

“A wife follows her husband—isn’t that normal?” Li Lin remained composed.

Huang Qi stared at Li Lin for a long moment, then burst into laughter, clapping his shoulder repeatedly: “Good, good—this is the right attitude.”

Having gotten his answer, Huang Qi rose and said: “Da Mei, let’s go. Hong Luan, you stay tonight.”

Hong Luan’s face flushed red as she bowed slightly: “Yes!”

Why was Hong Luan being left behind?

Li Lin was curious.

Before he could ask, Huang Qing pulled Hong Luan aside and whispered to her.

The more she spoke, the redder Hong Luan’s face became.

After a while, Huang Qing gave Li Lin a deep look, then followed Huang Qi out.

It was dark now; as a maiden of virtue, she could not remain any longer.

After they left, Hong Luan stood with her head bowed, not daring to move.

Li Lin asked: “Why did your mistress ask you to stay?”

Hong Luan shot him a quick glance, then whispered: “To serve your body… to test your vigor.”

Li Lin paused, then understood.

It was a trial marriage.

Before marrying off their daughters, prominent families would send a maid who had grown up with the girl to live with the groom for a time.

First, to verify whether the groom was physically capable of continuing the family line.

Second, to observe his character—if he proved unworthy, the daughter still had time to withdraw.

If the trial passed, the maid would become a concubine, staying with the bride to ease her loneliness.

Li Lin studied Hong Luan—she was quite beautiful, though not as refined or elegant as Huang Qing, she was a delicate, charming girl.

And her figure was excellent.

“Are you hungry?” Li Lin smiled. “Regardless, eating first is the priority.”

(End of Chapter)