Douluo: Martial Soul White Tiger, I am the White Emperor of Heaven

Chapter 476 Feeling unwell?
The next day.

The first rays of morning sunlight had not yet completely dispelled the chill of the night; a sliver of light barely pierced through the gaps in the heavy curtains, casting a narrow strip of light on the opulent carpet of the Papal Palace.

The bedchamber was still filled with an ambiguous atmosphere, mixed with a faint, cool fragrance and a subtle, unique scent belonging to Dai Chengfeng.

Bibi Dong was curled up in the warm, soft quilt, her cheeks still flushed from a good night's sleep.

Her usually aloof and dignified features were now completely relaxed, revealing a rare and unguarded gentleness.

Just then, a soft yet persistent knocking broke the tranquility of the bedchamber.

"Your Majesty, it is getting late. It is time to get up and prepare for today's court assembly."

A maid's respectful voice came from outside the door.

"Ok?"

Bibi Dong's long eyelashes trembled a few times, and her delicate brows furrowed slightly, as if she was extremely reluctant to be awakened from her sweet dream.

She uttered a faint nasal sound, her consciousness struggling to break free from the quagmire of slumber.

Several seconds passed before she managed to open her heavy eyelids, her eyes filled with a hazy, watery light, not yet fully focused.

She took a deep breath, trying to straighten her somewhat weak body, preparing to fulfill her daily duties as pope.

However, just as she made a move, a strong arm reached out from the side, pulling her back into a warm and broad embrace with irresistible force.

"Um……"

Bibi Dong let out a muffled protest, turned her head, and met Dai Chengfeng's eyes, which were inches away from hers.

Those eyes showed no trace of drowsiness from just waking up; instead, they shone with an astonishing brightness, filled with a clear smile and affection, as they stared at her intently.

He shook his head slightly, tightening his grip on his arm.

"let go……"

Bibi Dong's voice was heavy with sleepiness and a little hoarse, sounding utterly intimidating: "The court assembly cannot be delayed."

Dai Chengfeng gently rested his chin on her smooth bangs, inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair, his voice deep and resonant.

"Teacher... I'm leaving tomorrow."

Such a simple sentence was like a key, instantly unlocking a soft spot in Bibi Dong's heart.

Tomorrow we part ways, and it will be months before we meet again.

An indescribable emotion welled up in her heart, mixed with reluctance, indulgence, and a trace of melancholy that arose because he was about to leave, which she herself did not want to delve into.

She remained silent for a moment, and the maid outside the door, seemingly having received no response for a while, called softly again:

"His Majesty?"

Bibi Dong closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, her eyes had regained some clarity, but the decision she made went against her usual principles.

She cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound calm, and gave the order to the person outside the door:
"Pass on my message: I am feeling unwell today, so the morning court session is canceled."

The maid outside the door was clearly stunned.

Having served His Holiness the Pope for many years, they knew all too well how diligent and self-disciplined this supreme being was.

Except for necessary military expeditions or inspection tours, the court assembly never stopped, regardless of wind, rain, heat, or cold.

Feeling unwell?
In the maid's memory, this was almost unprecedented.

His Majesty's immense power has long since kept her free from ordinary ailments.

After a brief silence, a maidservant replied respectfully from outside the door, her voice filled with disbelief yet a reluctance to ask further questions: "Yes... Your Majesty, please rest assured, this servant will go and convey the order immediately."

"Well, let's go."

Soon, the maid's footsteps faded into the distance, and the bedchamber returned to silence.

A smug smile silently crept onto Dai Chengfeng's lips, but his arms remained tightly wrapped around Bibi Dong.

He lowered his head, his gaze lingering tenderly on Bibi Dong's face. Suddenly, he reached out the thumb of his other hand and gently brushed it across the corner of her soft lips, where there seemed to be a tiny, inconspicuous, dried mark.

Bibi Dong noticed his movement, and her gaze followed his finger to the mark he had wiped away. She instantly understood what it was.

Her cheeks flushed uncontrollably, and she glared at Dai Chengfeng with a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance, her eyes filled with obvious disdain...

But beneath this disdain lay no real anger; rather, it seemed more like a coquettish complaint.

She slapped his hand away in annoyance, but didn't say anything more. She simply relaxed her body again under the strength of his embrace, slid into the warm quilt, and adjusted herself into a more comfortable position.

With her back to him, she rested the back of her head against his firm chest.

Dai Chengfeng let out a low, pleasant chuckle and pressed himself against her with satisfaction.

He pulled Bibi Dong into his arms from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head, inhaling her reassuring scent, and whispered:

"Teacher, go back to sleep a little longer."

"……Um."

Bibi Dong responded almost inaudibly and closed her eyes.

The warmth from behind her dispelled the last chill of the morning and strangely soothed the slight unease she felt due to the unusual cancellation of the morning assembly.

In his arms, exhaustion washed over her again, and she quickly let down her guard and drifted back into a peaceful sleep.

As Dai Chengfeng listened to the gradually even and deep breathing of the person in his arms, the smile on his lips lingered for a long time.

He closed his eyes, savoring this precious moment of tenderness before parting.

They slept soundly until late afternoon, when the sun was high in the sky, before finally waking up.

After waking up, they naturally engaged in another round of tender intimacy until Bibi Dong's stomach began to rumble slightly in protest. Only then did Dai Chengfeng smile and call for someone to serve the meal.

Bibi Dong had a simple dinner in her bedchamber. Although she cherished this rare moment of leisure, as the Pope, the pile of official duties did not allow her to truly slack off.

She ordered someone to deliver the documents that needed her review to her bedchamber, and then, wearing a loose robe, sat on a soft couch by the window, enjoying the warm sunlight of the setting sun as she began to handle official business.

Her expression returned to its usual focus and aloofness, as if the woman who had overslept and canceled the morning assembly was just an illusion.

After informing Hu Liena, Zhu Zhuqing, and the High Priest that they would be leaving the Spirit Hall the next day to obtain a spirit ring in the Star Dou Great Forest, Dai Chengfeng hurriedly returned.

Upon entering the room, he lazily sidled up to the soft couch and sat down next to Bibi Dong quite naturally.

Then, with a long arm, he pulled Bibi Dong, who was engrossed in reading the document, into his arms.

Bibi Dong stiffened slightly, glanced at him sideways, and seeing that he was just holding her without making any further moves, she let it go and continued to focus her attention back on the documents in her hands.

The soft couch was spacious, and his embrace was warm, so it didn't really bother her.

The only sounds in the room were the rustling of papers turning and the steady breathing of the people mingling together.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on the two of them, creating a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere.

However, this tranquility did not last long.

(End of this chapter)