Sacrifices, ancestral worship, rituals, feasting...
After a series of ceremonies, Zi Lingling felt utterly exhausted.
It was a mental exhaustion, to be precise.
The feeling was more taxing than fighting nine battles.
As night descended, the onlookers began to leave in trickles.
Having completed the rituals, Zi Lingling returned directly to Zixin Pavilion, leaving the task of seeing off guests to the four elders.
As for Zi Jitian, he had already returned to the ancestral hall with Zi Wenchang the moment the grand ceremony began.
In Zixin Pavilion, Xueying specially brewed a bowl of ginseng soup to refresh Zi Lingling.
Night Lingyuan watched with concern as Zi Lingling, utterly worn out, slumped onto the table, unwilling to move.
"Ling'er, you've worked hard!"
He took the ginseng soup from Xueying's hand and carefully blew on it.
He could have used spiritual energy to cool it down, but he didn't want to.
Blowing on it spoon by spoon until it was cool enough felt like a married couple's intimacy, didn't it?
Indeed, Night Lingyuan was worthy of being the esteemed Prince of the Underworld, his every movement exuding elegance, embodying nobility with every gesture.
Zi Lingling, listlessly propped on the table, gazed at him intently, unconsciously mesmerized.
She silently marveled in her heart: the Creator was truly magnificent to have fashioned such a handsome man as Night Lingyuan. What was rare was that this beauty was neither more nor less, perfectly balanced.
Night Lingyuan, still blowing on the ginseng soup, smirked and teased, "Ling'er, have you seen enough?"
Zi Lingling shook her head and laughed, "Never enough! You are so pleasing to the eye, so delectable, it would be an insult to the heavens not to feast my eyes on your form."
The curve of Night Lingyuan's lips widened, and he said with considerable pride, "It seems I do have my charm. If Ling'er enjoys looking, I shall present myself to you daily! However, you must first finish this bowl of ginseng soup!"
As he spoke, he offered her the soup bowl.
Zi Lingling took it, and their fingertips brushed, instantly causing a blush to creep up her face.
The heat on her cheeks made her heart pound faster.
Shyly, she lowered her head and drank the ginseng soup in one gulp.
The temperature of the soup was just right, neither too hot nor too cold, much like lukewarm water at thirty to forty degrees Celsius, perfectly suitable.
Night Lingyuan smiled gently, "Does it taste good?"
Zi Lingling nodded reflexively and said, "Delicious!"
The curve of Night Lingyuan's lips widened again, and he alluringly asked, "How does it compare to me?"
His voice sent a tickle through Zi Lingling's heart.
She lowered her head, remaining silent, her face flushing even deeper, like a ripe crayfish.
Her shy demeanor caused Night Lingyuan's breath to grow heavy.
"Ling'er, I can't wait any longer. I want to marry you and take you back to my manor right now."
His Ling'er was beautiful, and even more so when she was shy.
Zi Lingling sensed the dazed passion in Night Lingyuan's voice and abruptly lifted her head.
"Mmm!"
Their four lips accidentally met, and a wondrous sensation spread through the room.
The collision was purely accidental.
Yet, time seemed to stand still in that moment.
Night Lingyuan's eyes were filled with tender affection, and his body froze.
Zi Lingling felt as though she had been electrocuted, her earlobes burning.
She suddenly pushed Night Lingyuan, but in doing so, she knocked her stool backward.
"Ah~ Ow!"
Zi Lingling shrieked, followed by a pained groan.
Her backside, now unsupported by the stool, landed heavily on the ground with a resounding thud.
Night Lingyuan blinked in surprise and then burst into laughter.
Zi Lingling's current appearance was simply too comical.
In fact, he had reached out to catch her, but his hand grasped at empty air in his surprise.
Zi Lingling scrambled to her feet, blushing with embarrassment and anger, and snapped, "Night Lingyuan, you scoundrel!"
Then, she stomped her foot and rushed back into her room, slamming the door shut. Seething with indignation, she sat on her bed.
Covering her face! Covering her face! Covering her face!
How humiliating! How humiliating! How humiliating! It was too embarrassing!
She, the renowned ghost-handed poison doctor, had just fallen on her backside in front of the man she loved.
Even more mortifying was that she had stumbled because she had momentarily been lost in a daze.
How could she bear this? How could she face Night Lingyuan?
Moreover, the warmth lingering on her lips made her reluctant to let it go.
From outside the room, there was a rapid knocking.
Night Lingyuan, stifling his laughter, pleaded coaxingly, "Ling'er, please open the door, alright?"
Zi Lingling collapsed onto the bed, burying her head under the quilt, and declared, "No!"
Her demeanor clearly indicated she was sulking.
Whether she was sulking with Night Lingyuan or herself, it was hard to tell.
Night Lingyuan was in an exceptionally good mood!
His Ling'er could also be flustered, shy, and sulky.
What's more, her sulking made her even more captivating.
However, Night Lingyuan dared not overtly display his good mood.
Given Zi Lingling's temperament, if she knew he was delighted by her embarrassment, she would likely ignore him for days.
Thus, Night Lingyuan continued to suppress his laughter and patiently coaxed, "Ling'er, be a good girl and open the door!"
This was Night Lingyuan; if it were Situ Yunfeng, he would have surely suffered internal injuries from suppressing his amusement.
Zi Lingling, under the quilt, shook her head like a rattle drum, "No, no, I won't open it!"
Ah, it had a bit of the "Little Rabbit, open the door, no, no, I won't open it" vibe.
Indeed! It was like the big bad wolf luring the little white rabbit.
"You really won't open it?"
Night Lingyuan's lips curved into a sly smile.
"No!"
Zi Lingling pouted, acting like a little girl.
Ah... no, she was acting like a little girl right now.
Night Lingyuan feigned helplessness and said, "Then forget it. I'm leaving!"
Zi Lingling impatiently retorted, "Go! Hurry and go!"
She was utterly mortified at this moment.
Night Lingyuan replied with feigned hurt, "Alright then. Ling'er, get some rest early!"
The knocking ceased, and silence fell outside.
After a moment, the silence outside persisted.
Zi Lingling murmured softly, "Did he really leave?"
She slowly lifted the quilt, preparing to take a breath of fresh air, only to let out a startled cry, "Ah~"
For standing silently by her bed was a person, gazing at her with a smiling glint in his eyes.
Who else could it be but Night Lingyuan?
Zi Lingling asked with confusion, "You... How did you get in here?"
Night Lingyuan chuckled, "I just wanted to see how long Ling'er could stay cooped up under the covers."
"How did you get in?"
Zi Lingling sputtered with indignant embarrassment.
"Through there,"
Night Lingyuan casually pointed towards the window.
Zi Lingling fiercely flung off the quilt and sat up, her eyes flashing with anger, "Night Lingyuan, you scoundrel! Don't you know this is my private chamber?"