Chapter 92: Offering Herself

When Li Lin arrived at the main hall, he saw Huang Qi and Huang Qing sitting in the guest seats, chatting and drinking tea.

The maid Hongluan stood nearby, looking around curiously.

Then she spotted Li Lin immediately and exclaimed with delight,

“Young Master Li... Young Master Li has returned.”

Huang Qi cast Hongluan a half-smiling glance before standing and cupping his hands slightly toward Li Lin.

“We’ve been waiting for you for quite a while. Why are you back so late?”

Huang Qing, meanwhile, was very polite. She gave a slight curtsy and softly called out,

“Brother Li.”

Li Lin noticed that the silver hairpin he had given her was in her hair.

Around her wrist was what appeared to be the silver bracelet he had also given her.

Li Lin smiled.

“Fortunately I came back. I was actually planning to head to the village.”

“Looks like we got lucky.”

Huang Qi was smiling quite happily.

Li Lin invited the two to sit and then asked,

“You’ve waited so long. Is it something important?”

At that moment, the servant Xing’er had already served the tea and departed.

Only the four of them remained.

Huang Qi said,

“The Third Prince has already made major moves in Jin City.”

Li Lin nodded.

“Zhao Hao already told me about it.”

“Patrol Hunter Zhao is ambitious. He really likes gathering this sort of information.”

Huang Qi laughed.

“He’s a talented fellow.”

Hearing such an evaluation, Li Lin said nothing.

He did not like discussing his friends behind their backs.

Huang Qi continued,

“So then, Brother Kunge, what are your thoughts?”

“I’ll remain in Yulin County.”

Huang Qing’s expression darkened.

Her hands clenched tightly.

“It seems you already know what I wanted to say.”

Li Lin nodded lightly.

“The County Magistrate was always destined to become a prefect. It’s merely happening earlier.”

“Not exactly earlier.”

Huang Qi smiled.

“The previous prefect was originally supposed to be transferred three years from now. So in that sense it is early. But the official procedures still have to be followed. There must be a recommendation from the supervisory office, submission through the Secretariat and Chancellery, and finally the imperial seal must be affixed by His Majesty. Only then can he take office in Jin City. This whole process will take at least three months, perhaps as long as half a year.”

“Then how will the vacant prefect position be handled?”

“It will be managed temporarily by the Assistant Magistrate of Jin City.”

Li Lin nodded to show he understood.

Previously, he truly had not known much about these governmental positions.

At this point, Huang Qi lowered his voice.

“After Father goes to Jin City, he will definitely take the Fourfold Wonder True Lord with him.”

Li Lin froze.

“Aren’t these True Lords... fixed in place?”

“Of course not!”

Huang Qi lowered his voice as well.

“Aristocratic families like ours usually have one or two True Lords that have been worshipped by the family for generations.”

Li Lin immediately understood.

The old ghost of the Qin Family was clearly the same sort of case.

If the opportunity existed, naturally a family would want its own worshipped True Lord to enjoy more incense offerings.

Curious, he asked,

“Then what will happen to the Bi Fang True Lord?”

“He’ll become an ordinary local True Lord, probably reassigned to some county.”

Huang Qi’s tone was indifferent.

“Aren’t you worried he’ll cause trouble?”

Going from receiving the incense offerings of hundreds of thousands of people to only tens of thousands, or even fewer, was an enormous drop.

Most people would not be able to accept that.

“As long as the altar remains in our hands, he wouldn’t dare.”

Huang Qi snorted.

“Allowing him to keep an altar to rest within and continue receiving incense offerings is already giving him plenty of face.”

Li Lin nodded.

It seemed that altars truly were a major restraint upon the True Lords.

“After the County Magistrate leaves with the Fourfold Wonder True Lord, which True Lord will take the primary seat in this county’s temple?”

“Normally, Eunuch Qi chooses.”

Li Lin immediately thought of the thin elderly man with a pale, beardless face and a whisk in hand.

Huang Qi looked at Li Lin encouragingly.

“If you have a recommendation... that’s perfectly acceptable.”

“The Tree Immortal Lady.”

Li Lin answered without hesitation.

Li Lin was no longer a complete novice.

Although there were still many secrets of the Spirit Hunters that he did not understand, he already knew just how important incense offerings and popularity were to True Lords.

As a “friend” of the Tree Immortal Lady, he naturally wanted to help her secure such a rare opportunity.

A knowing smile appeared on Huang Qi’s face.

“That’s no problem. But if you’re recommending the Tree Immortal Lady and refusing to go to Jin City, then you must take the position of County Lieutenant.”

Li Lin fell silent for a moment before nodding.

“Alright.”

In any case, he already had a home in Yulin County.

Living here in the future would not be a problem.

At that moment, Huang Qi’s expression became serious.

“Now that official business is finished, it’s time to discuss personal matters.”

Personal matters?

Li Lin instinctively glanced at Huang Qing beside him.

“If you’re staying in Yulin County, then what about my eldest younger sister?”

The hidden blade had finally been revealed?

No.

It was more like a blow straight to the head.

Li Lin froze and looked at Huang Qing again.

At that moment, Huang Qing was extremely shy, yet equally nervous.

She was afraid of hearing an answer she did not want.

Huang Qi stared fixedly at Li Lin, carefully observing every change in his expression.

After thinking for a moment, Li Lin cupped his hands and said,

“I am willing to grow old together with Eldest Sister Huang in this lifetime.”

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

Her hands twisted together nervously.

Beside her, the maid Hongluan cried out excitedly,

“Wonderful...”

Then she hurriedly covered her mouth.

Huang Qi snorted.

“You want to remain in Yulin, but in three months my eldest younger sister will follow Father to Jin City for a long-term stay. What are you going to do? How are you going to marry her?”

“Naturally, she will marry into my family.”

Li Lin’s tone was calm.

“You truly think so?”

Huang Qi’s expression darkened slightly.

“When a woman marries, she follows her husband. Isn’t that perfectly normal?”

Li Lin remained completely composed.

Huang Qi stared at him for a long moment.

Then he burst into laughter and repeatedly slapped Li Lin on the shoulder.

“Good, good! That’s exactly the attitude you should have.”

Having obtained the answer he wanted, Huang Qi stood up.

“Eldest Sister, let’s head back. Hongluan, you’ll stay here tonight.”

Hongluan’s face immediately turned bright red.

She bowed slightly.

“Yes.”

Stay here tonight?

Li Lin was quite curious.

Before he could ask, Huang Qing pulled Hongluan aside and whispered something to her.

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

After a while, Huang Qing cast Li Lin a deep look before leaving together with Huang Qi.

Because it was already dark, it would not sound proper for an unmarried young lady to remain behind any longer.

Once the two had departed, Hongluan lowered her head and did not dare move around.

Li Lin asked,

“Why did your young lady leave you here?”

Hongluan glanced quickly at Li Lin before speaking softly.

“To offer myself... and test the future husband’s... physical condition.”

Li Lin froze for a moment before finally understanding.

So it was a trial marriage arrangement.

Before the daughters of great families married, a maid who had grown up alongside the young lady would often be sent to live with the prospective husband for a period of time.

First, it was to determine whether the future husband was physically capable of producing heirs.

Second, it allowed the maid to observe his character.

If he proved unsuitable, the daughter would still have an opportunity to change her mind.

If the trial marriage succeeded, the maid would later become a concubine and continue living alongside the young lady, ensuring that she would not be too lonely or helpless.

Li Lin looked Hongluan over.

She was quite pretty.

Although her appearance lacked Huang Qing’s refined elegance, she still possessed a delicate charm.

And her figure was exceptionally good.

“Are you hungry?”

Li Lin smiled.

“No matter what, eating comes first.”