Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

The clamor of the banquet faded, leaving only the cool moonlight filling the courtyard. Huangfu Ling half-carried the "stumbling" Zhang Jingwei, finally dragging him back to the inner courtyard.

The gate of the courtyard is closed.

"Okay, stop pretending, we're home now." Huangfu Ling let go of his hand unhappily and patted him lightly on the back.

The drunken exterior faded in an instant, and Zhang Jingwei stood up straight. He heaved a long sigh, rubbed his forehead, and looked terrified. "That bastard Gao Jiong! If I don't pretend, he'll really get me drunk to death at the table! Those yamen runners joined in the fun, toasting me like a round-the-clock battle. If I hadn't been smart, I would have been carried back tonight!"

Huangfu Ling covered her lips and chuckled, her eyes moving with a hint of mischief: "You are also a serious scholar, but you can't even make up such a simple couplet. You are really... useless!" She deliberately dragged out the last word.

"What did you say?" Zhang Jingwei turned around suddenly, his eyes narrowed dangerously, and he grabbed her wrist. "Try to say it again?"

"What's wrong with you?" Huangfu Ling was not afraid at all. She raised her delicate chin and repeated provocatively, "It's useless!"

"It seems... your husband must show some real skills tonight, so that you can experience what 'awesome' means!" Before he finished speaking, Zhang Jingwei's hand had restlessly reached into her clothes, wandering around with the scorching temperature to ignite the fire.

"Oh! Stop it..." Huangfu Ling's breath was a little disordered, and he refused with a red face, "I have to go iron your official uniform. If you make trouble again, I will make you wear a wrinkled and ragged robe to court tomorrow. I will see how you, as an official, can put your face to rest!"

Zhang Jingwei, however, was like a sticky plaster. He bit her sensitive earlobe and said vaguely, "Let the maids do it. You... should go and warm the bed for your husband."

"They've been living in fear these past two days, and they're exhausted," Huangfu Ling finally broke free from his embrace and straightened her disheveled clothes. "I should give them a half-day off to relax." With that, she turned and walked into the study, expertly taking out the iron and the indigo-colored official uniform. By the bright candlelight, she began carefully ironing it. The fabric sizzled softly under the hot iron, emitting a distinct, washed-out scent.

Zhang Jingwei leaned against the doorframe of his study, his gaze gently following his wife's focused silhouette. The candlelight cast a warm glow over her. "My Ling'er, you are truly kind-hearted," he sighed sincerely.

"Here, look, is it ironed flat?" After a moment, Huangfu Ling picked up the official uniform and spread it out in front of him proudly. The fabric was straight without a wrinkle.

Zhang Jingwei approached, stretched out his hand and stroked the smooth material, his fingertips feeling the residual warmth left by the iron, but his brows slightly frowned: "Wait..."

"What's the matter?" Huangfu Ling was puzzled.

"This official uniform..." Zhang Jingwei pinched the shoulder line and measured the length, a look of doubt on his face. "Why does it look... too small to me?"

Huangfu Ling laughed and spread out his official uniform in front of him, measuring it: "What nonsense are you talking about? It's exactly right, not a single mistake."

"No..." A sly light suddenly flashed in Zhang Jingwei's eyes, and a wicked smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Why do I feel more and more that...it just fits you?"

"Huh?" Huangfu Ling subconsciously looked down at her waist and pinched it, feeling a little uncertain. "Could it be... that I gained weight?"

"It's better to be a little fatter," Zhang Jingwei came closer and said seductively, "But, when you put on this official uniform... you will definitely look different. Try it?" His eyes were full of anticipation.

Under Zhang Jingwei's half-inducing, half-expecting gaze, Huangfu Ling finally gave in. With a touch of shyness and curiosity, she truly shed her outer garment and donned the indigo official uniform that symbolized the county magistrate's majesty. The wide sleeves and calming hue of the robe, draped over her exquisitely sculpted figure, strangely blended a unique sense of heroism and charm. She spun lightly on the spot, the hems of her robe fluttering, and the thin, cicada-wing-like wings of her black gauze hat trembled gently. The candlelight illuminated her bright face, a truly heroic and radiant presence.

Feeling playful, Huangfu Ling walked to the desk and sat upright on the main chair. She imitated Zhang Jingwei's usual trial posture, put on a stern face, slammed the desk with her slender fingers, and shouted, "How dare you! Kneel down before me!"

Zhang Jingwei cooperated extremely well. He knelt on his knees with a plop, pinched his throat, and acted like a woman about to cry: "Oh my God, Your Majesty, I have suffered a great injustice. I beg you to help me." The exaggerated and awkward posture immediately broke Huangfu Ling's composure. She laughed so hard that she shook with laughter. The two of them made a mess and the study was filled with a happy atmosphere.

Huangfu Ling looked awe-inspiring and solemn in his official uniform, but his curves were faintly visible as he was only wearing an undershirt underneath. The interweaving of seriousness and temptation created a fatal attraction.

Zhang Jingwei's Adam's apple rolled, his eyes darkened, and he slowly approached.

Huangfu Ling was still immersed in the fun of role-playing, and was completely unaware of the approaching "danger". He kept shaking his head mischievously, causing the gauze wings of his black gauze hat to tremble constantly.

"Husband..." She was about to open her mouth to tease him, but the next second, all her words were blocked by a passionate and domineering kiss. This kiss, with the lingering smell of alcohol from the banquet and unquestionable possessiveness, instantly drained all her strength, leaving her limply clinging to his arms.

After finally separating, Huangfu Ling's cheeks were flushed, a translucent silk thread hung from her lips. Her breath was unsteady, and her eyes were filled with anger. "You...you are so bold..."

Zhang Jingwei chuckled, the flames of desire burning in his eyes: "Then I... have to be bolder!" After that, he exerted force with his arms and easily picked her up sideways.

……

In the yard, beside the stone table, Zhang Liu was sitting with a grin on his face, while Mu Tou carefully changed the bandage on his head.

"Hiss..." Zhang Liu suddenly took a breath of cold air.

Mu Tou paused and said, "What? Did it hurt you?"

"It's not the wound that hurts..." Zhang Liu rubbed his eyes, his face full of disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost. "Just now... I seemed to see the young mistress carrying the young master... back to the room? The young master was still wearing his official uniform."

Mu Tou chuckled, "Sixth Master, you must be dazzled. You haven't recovered from the knock yet. It must be the Young Master who carries the Young Madam back."

"But I clearly saw someone in official uniform being hugged..." Zhang Liu scratched his uninjured temple in confusion, and accidentally touched the wound again, causing him to cry out in pain.

"Okay, it's changed." Mu Tou tied the knot neatly. "It's a pity Jiu'er is not here. Her bandaging skills are so meticulous and careful."

Zhang Liu nodded in agreement. "Yes, Jiu'er was staying by the young mistress's side yesterday. How come she hasn't been seen all day today? It's strange..."

……

The bedroom is filled with spring.

Zhang Jingwei placed his "delicious wife" in his arms on the large rosewood desk, and couldn't wait to cover her with his body, with hot kisses falling like raindrops.

"Wait... wait a moment..." Huangfu Ling breathed slightly, with his hands resting on his strong chest.

"Wait? I can't wait even a little bit..." Zhang Jingwei responded vaguely, his lips and tongue lingering on her slender and sensitive neck, leaving some bright red marks.

"Don't... don't wrinkle your official uniform again..." she protested in a soft voice.

"It's okay if it's wrinkled. Let Douya iron it tomorrow..." His fingers deftly reached into the hem of his official uniform and untied the laces of his undershirt.

Huangfu Ling's body trembled slightly, but she suddenly held down his rebellious hand, with a hint of uncertainty: "Wait... I always feel... something is not right."

Zhang Jingwei raised his head, his eyes shimmering with lust, and with a look of confusion at being interrupted: "This is so exciting, this is called... uniform temptation..."

"It's not that..." Huangfu Ling frowned, trying hard to recall, "It's just... I feel uneasy, as if I've missed something..."

"Never mind!" Zhang Jingwei kissed her delicate collarbone all the way down, "No matter how big the matter is, we can talk about it after we finish the 'real business'..."

"Hmm..." Huangfu Ling twisted under him, her voice sweet and coquettish, "I... I'm not feeling well on the table... It's so uncomfortable... Let's go to the bed... ok?"

"It's so exciting here..." Zhang Jingwei smiled evilly and gently tickled the sensitive part of her waist with his fingers.

"Well~ don't~" Huangfu Ling hugged his neck, pouting her red lips and looking at him seductively, "Let's go to bed~"

"Okay, okay, I'll do as you say. Everything you say is up to you." Zhang Jingwei couldn't resist the sweet voice, so he picked her up again and strode towards the large carved bed covered with a brocade quilt.

Just a few steps away from the bed, Zhang Jingwei suddenly stopped! He narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze fixed on the bed - he saw a place in the middle of the thick brocade blanket, strangely and slowly... wriggling!

"Hiss..." Zhang Jingwei gasped and pointed at that spot, his voice filled with extreme surprise, "Ling'er, look! When did such a big 'maggot' crawl onto our bed? And it's still moving!"

"Huh?" Huangfu Ling looked in the direction he pointed, confused at first. Then her pupils suddenly shrank. Suddenly she remembered something and screamed, "Huh?! Oh my God! Sister Jiuer!!!"

Before he finished speaking, the "maggot" seemed to be frightened and squirmed even more violently! Zhang Jingwei took a step forward and opened the quilt without hesitation!

The scene in the bed petrified them both instantly!

Jiu'er was curled up in the far corner of the bed, wearing only a thin nightgown with the collar slightly open, revealing a small patch of snow-white skin. Her hair was slightly disheveled, a few strands of black hair sticking to her sweat-soaked forehead and flushed cheeks. Her large eyes were filled with tears, and a soaked scarf was stuffed in her mouth. She stared at them with tears in her eyes, a mixture of extreme grievance, shame, and a hint of accusation.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment, three pairs of eyes stared at each other, the air was deathly silent, with only Jiuer's suppressed sobs and heavy breathing remaining.

Zhang Jingwei turned his head stiffly and extremely slowly and looked at Huangfu Ling, who was also petrified in his arms.

Huangfu Ling was already mortified, her entire face flushed red like a cooked shrimp. She suddenly buried her face in Zhang Jingwei's shoulder and whimpered in frustration.

Jiuer looked at the two "culprits", especially Huangfu Ling who had completely forgotten her, and her grievances and anger finally burst out.

Zhang Jingwei looked at Jiuer, then at the cotton wool scattered on the bed. "You two are having a lot of fun."

"Ahhh! Shut up right there!!" Huangfu Ling screamed in shame and anger in his arms, struggling with her hands and feet, "Put me down!!"

Jiuer was filled with shame and anger. She burst into tears and climbed out of bed in a hurry. She didn't even bother to put on her shoes. She ran towards the door barefoot, crying and stumbling like a frightened rabbit.

The room fell into an eerie silence again.

After a moment, Zhang Jingwei's chest shook, and he finally couldn't help but burst into earth-shattering laughter: "Hahahaha...hahahaha...two days...hahahaha..."

Huangfu Ling was both embarrassed and annoyed. She raised her fist and punched him wildly: "It's all your fault! It's all your fault! You insisted on playing with the official uniform! This is so embarrassing! Sister Jiuer must hate me to death!"

"How can this be entirely blamed on me?" Zhang Jingwei dodged while laughing breathlessly, "It was clearly you who tied her up like a maggot... Hahahaha..."

Huangfu Ling couldn't argue any more and struggled to get out of his arms, "Let me go! This tattered official uniform is strangling me! I want to take it off!"

Zhang Jingwei suddenly tightened his arms, stopped laughing, and looked down at his wife in his arms, whose face was flushed, embarrassed and annoyed, and whose official uniform made her even more charming. A dangerous fire rekindled in his eyes, and his voice was low and seductive: "What's the rush? The uniform temptation hasn't even started yet."

……

The flickering candlelight illuminated the disheveled official uniform on the bed and the overlapping figures between the curtains. Outside the window, the bright moon quietly retreated into the clouds, as if unwilling to disturb this night of joy.