After dealing with today's troublesome conservatives, Bibi Dong, dressed in a black robe with gold patterns and wearing a nine-curved purple-gold crown, returned to her room under the deep night.

After waving away the maid whose gaze seemed to hold back unspoken words, Bibi Dong, with an indifferent and dignified expression, removed her mask of papacy behind the door. Her brows were furrowed with exhaustion as she sat down on the soft and springy bed, letting out a long sigh, a hint of gloom rising in her eyes.

Although she had long known that the papacy was not an easy position, she really did not expect that in less than two months since taking office, those troublesome conservatives and those with their own agendas would be keeping such a close eye on her, causing her a lot of trouble every now and then.

Making things difficult, being sarcastic, subtly mocking, embezzling money...

Bibi Dong recalled the various problems she had faced over the past month, and even with her meticulous mind and resourcefulness, she felt quite troubled.

But these are all minor incidents. The biggest problem is that she's not strong enough to shut those guys up, which is why so many things have happened.

Thinking of this, Bibi Dong closed her eyes, suppressing the negative emotions that had accumulated in them. Her tense shoulders relaxed, and she remained in this relaxed state for a while before opening her eyes again, preparing to get up and remove her heavy formal attire.

However, when Bibi Dong walked to the dressing table placed in the corner of the room, her gaze suddenly sharpened and her aura became fierce.

Because in front of her dressing table were two small gift boxes, with different packaging but equally exquisite, displayed openly.

One gift was a flat, square piece tied with a crimson ribbon. The other was rectangular, about half the length of a quill pen, and tied into a three-dimensional bow with a festive red ribbon. A light blue letter was folded in half, the back half tucked into the seam where the ribbon met the gift box; on it was written a line of neat characters:

Happy birthday.

There was no signature; only two round smiley faces were drawn in the lower right corner of the letter.

birthday...

Bibi Dong's gaze wavered for a moment before she realized that today was her birthday.

She pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on the congratulatory paper with two simple smiley faces drawn on it.

Although the letter wasn't signed and no one was in charge, she could roughly guess who it was from the two childish smiling faces.

The atmosphere in the room fell silent.

Bibi Dong stared intently at the two gift boxes of different lengths and widths, her eyes dark. Finally, she reached out her hand towards them...

A hair accessory made of blue crystal.

another...

Bibi Dong paused, staring at the few thin pages that looked rather insincere. Her gaze settled on the four crooked characters on the first page—"The Heart Sutra of the Dead Tree".

What is it? A mental cultivation technique?

Bibi Dong frowned, her heart filled with complicated emotions, and picked up the few thin sheets of paper. Her expression changed from blank to surprised, and finally she carefully read every sentence written on them, her face showing undisguised astonishment.

What was written on it was actually the content of a spiritual cultivation technique she had never seen before!

How is that possible?!

Out of caution, Bibi Dong carefully read through the pages again and again, and then took the first step in trying it out, following the steps on the pages to begin circulating her mental energy.

With this attempt, she immediately entered a meditative state, immersing herself in another mysterious realm.

She could feel that, in coordination with this mental technique, her spiritual power seemed to have transformed into a sapling, with a cool sensation like a clear, living spring, nourishing the sapling.

It was as if I were standing under the shade of a tree, with a gentle and comfortable spring breeze on my face. All the fatigue in my body disappeared as I circulated the mental technique. My sluggish mental energy began to become unusually active, like a branch sprouting. The mental energy that had been sluggish due to the busy period began to sprout and rise.

Although it's slow, you can definitely feel your mental strength improving. And when you're practicing, it's no longer as tedious and boring as when you're cultivating your mental strength normally, which can make you feel tired.

Her exhaustion would dissipate on its own with each repetition of the mental cultivation technique, like a withered tree coming back to life, perfectly matching its name, the "Withered Tree Heart Sutra"!

[Beep—Faith value +20, current faith value: -942]

Qian Yuelong, who was located on the mountain behind the Spirit Hall, opened her eyes from her meditation, a hint of a smile in them.

It seems that Bibi Dong has already seen the gift she sent her.

Such a large increase in faith points at once, that's impressive. You have the talent to be a sucker.

It seems that the gifts she and her sister delivered together this time will all be kept.

Thinking this, Qian Yuelong closed her eyes and continued cultivating.

Before she knew it, after Bibi Dong's spiritual energy had completed a full cycle, the sky outside was already faintly showing a hint of dawn.

Having stood in the same position all night, Bibi Dong reluctantly withdrew from her cultivation state, looking refreshed and without even the redness from staying up all night in the whites of her eyes.

With a "clucking" sound, the stiff neck turned twice.

When Bibi Dong looked down at the papers again, her attitude had changed dramatically.

The handwriting is a bit ugly and needs improvement.

[Beep—Faith value +5, current faith value: -937]

Bibi Dong held the few thin sheets of paper with crooked handwriting, thinking with disdain. She didn't even notice that her cold and hard features had softened, no longer sharp like icy spikes, but much calmer.

"Your Holiness, Cardinal Moore has something to report from the Papal Palace."

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

Bibi Dong frowned, replied in a low voice, "I know," and then her expression returned to its coldness. Deep purple soul power surged from her palm, and the immense pressure squeezed the thin sheets of paper, crushing them into dust inch by inch. The dust then fell to the ground through the gaps between her fingers, becoming an inconspicuous part of the dust.

The rest...

Bibi Dong looked at the blue crystal hair accessory, and finally, she put the blue crystal hair accessory on her lotus root-colored hair. Looking at the unexpectedly matching hair accessory in the mirror, she breathed a sigh of relief.

...Consider it a thank you for this generous gift, but this is the last time I'll have any contact with them.

Next time, I'll return the gift on their birthday.

She could repay favors from anyone else slowly, but she didn't want to owe them anything.

From now on, let's go our separate ways and treat each other like strangers.

This is the best option for both of them.

After adjusting her mindset and tidying her clothes, Bibi Dong regained her former dignified and authoritative pope demeanor.

......

Spring goes and autumn comes; time flies.

Qian Yuelong, who spent her sixth birthday with Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue during the day, unsurprisingly saw a familiar yet unfamiliar gift at her doorstep that evening.

Qian Yuelong looked left and right, but on her birthday night this year, she still didn't see the person who gave her the gift.

Pretending not to notice the figure hiding around the corner, Qian Yuelong reached out and grabbed the exquisitely packaged gift box, closed the door, and opened the gift.

This year's birthday gift is a custom-made, exquisite palace-style gown.

The color scheme is a new platinum and gold combination that is a hallmark of the Spirit Hall.

886 clicked its tongue and teased, "[Host, it seems you'll have to return the favor again this year.]"

Qian Yuelong looked at this sweet burden and recalled the four-year-long gift-giving journey, and her eyelids twitched.