Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 169 Palace Banquet

Empress Zhao Lingyang entered the main hall, followed by Princess Zhao Mingyue.

Both sisters changed into palace attire; one looked dignified, the other gentle.

"Don't be shy, please sit down!"

The Empress sat down on the dragon throne and waved her hand in acknowledgment.

The banquet officially began.

Palace maids brought out fine wine and delicacies to the table one after another.

The musicians played elegant music, and the dancers danced gracefully.

The Empress glanced around, then her gaze returned to Lin Chen. She raised her cup and said:

"The first cup is offered to the King of Zhenbei and the soldiers of the Northern Frontier, to glorify our nation's prestige, and for their everlasting achievements!"

"A toast to Your Highness!" All the officials raised their cups in unison.

Lin Chen stood up and retorted, unusually serious, saying:

"Thank you, Your Majesty, and thank you, my colleagues."

The credit for this battle does not belong to me alone, but to the entire army's soldiers who risked their lives and the support of the court.

This toast is to all those who fought for the Great Evolution!

Having said that, he raised his head and drank it all in one gulp.

"Good!" the generals roared in approval.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually became lively.

The Empress looked at Lin Chen and suddenly smiled, saying:

"Prince Zhenbei, I've heard that you and my elder sister are deeply in love. Is this true?"

The hall fell silent immediately.

Everyone looked at Lin Chen and Zhao Mingyue.

Zhao Mingyue's cheeks flushed slightly, but she looked at Lin Chen calmly.

Lin Chen inwardly criticized the Empress for her pretentious act, but without changing his expression, he put down his wine cup and smiled:

"Your Majesty, I do indeed admire Princess Eldest. If Your Majesty grants my request, I wish to marry her."

"Wife?" The Empress narrowed her eyes slightly. "Then the legal wife?"

"Your Majesty, my family's circumstances are special, therefore we do not have a principal wife; all are wives," Lin Chen could only say again.

"In my family, we treat all women equally, regardless of their status."

Upon hearing this, the officials were immediately in an uproar.

Eight, no, nine, all wives, regardless of rank? Treated equally?

This is unheard of!

Several senior officials opened their mouths, as if to say something.

But after glancing at Lin Chen and then at the Empress, he ultimately swallowed his words.

The Empress pondered for a moment, then smiled:

"Since the Prince of Zhenbei has this intention, I grant it. Choose an auspicious day for the marriage, and everything shall be in accordance with the rites for a prince."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lin Chen cupped his hands in thanks.

Zhao Mingyue also stood up and gave a graceful bow: "Thank you for your kindness, Imperial Sister."

The marriage was settled just like that, leaving the ministers somewhat dazed.

Then, the Empress brought up the matter of a marriage alliance with Dongli.

When they heard that Yagyu Yuki was willing to become a concubine, there was another murmur in the hall.

Lin Chen pretended not to hear and continued drinking and eating.

The banquet continued.

Lin Chen, slightly tipsy, leaned back in his chair, gazing at the bustling scene in the hall, but his mind was elsewhere.

Beishuo...

Eastward...

Netherworld Sect...

Zhongzhou...

"My lord," Yuan Tiangang called out in a low voice.

Lin Chen snapped out of his daze, raised his glass, and said, "Mr. Yuan, have a drink with me."

"Respectfully, my lord."

The two drank together.

The banquet lasted until late at night before it ended.

When Lin Chen led the four women and Lan Fenghuang out of the palace, the moon was already high in the sky.

The carriage moved slowly along the quiet street.

Su Xiaoxiao leaned on Lin Chen's shoulder and asked softly, "Husband, does the Princess... really want to?"

"I'm willing." Lin Chen chuckled lightly. "The Princess is a sensible person."

"That Princess Dongli..."

"Just a tool," Lin Chen said calmly. "Once she's in, if she behaves herself, I won't mistreat her. But if she tries anything funny..."

He didn't go on.

The carriage entered the palace.

Liu Ruyan and the other girls were still awake, waiting for them to return.

"How was it? Was the palace banquet lively?" Qin Shuyan greeted her.

"It's lively, but tiring." Lin Chen took off his outer robe. "It's still more comfortable at home."

The women surrounded him as he returned to his room, asking him all sorts of questions about what he had seen at the palace banquet.

While dealing with the situation, Lin Chen glanced at his sisters-in-law.

Second sister-in-law Chu Yueyao, fifth sister-in-law Wen Ruoxi, seventh sister-in-law Murong Xue...

The three women's eyes and expressions were filled with resentment and longing.

"Ahem," Lin Chen cleared his throat, "Um... Eldest sister-in-law, third sister-in-law, fourth sister-in-law, and sixth sister-in-law are pregnant, so they should get some rest."

Liu Ruyan and the others exchanged glances and then smiled.

"Then let's go back to our room first." Qin Shuyan pulled Ye Qingying out, and when they reached the door, she turned back and winked at Chu Yueyao.

Liu Ruyan and Su Xiaoxiao smiled and then left.

In an instant, only Lin Chen and Chu Yueyao remained in the room.

The atmosphere suddenly became subtle.

Chu Yueyao lowered her head and played with the hem of her clothes, while Murong Xue pretended to study the calligraphy and paintings on the wall.

Wen Ruoxi, being the most outspoken, gave Lin Chen a reproachful look: "What are you looking at?"

Lin Chen smiled, walked over and picked her up in his arms: "Look how beautiful my fifth sister-in-law is getting."

"Hey! Put me down!" Wen Ruoxi gently punched Lin Chen.

Lin Chen carried her into the inner room, then turned back to Chu Yueyao and Murong Xue and said:

"What are you standing there for? Come in."

Chu Yueyao's face turned even redder.

Murong Xue bit her lip and followed.

The inner room was Lin Chen's bedroom, with a bed large enough for five or six people to lie down.

Lin Chen placed Wen Ruoxi on the bed, then turned and embraced Chu Yueyao:

"Second sister-in-law, have you missed me?"

Chu Yueyao leaned against Lin Chen's chest, her voice barely audible: "I want to..."

"Where is Seventh Sister-in-law?" Lin Chen looked at Murong Xue.

Murong Xue walked over and hugged Lin Chen, saying, "I miss him."

"Then tonight..." Lin Chen grinned mischievously, "no one will be able to escape."

The candlelight flickered.

The clothes fell to the ground one by one.

Wen Ruoxi leaned against the headboard, smiling as she watched Lin Chen treat Chu Yueyao gently.

"Fifth Sister-in-law," Lin Chen suddenly called out.

Wen Ruoxi snapped out of her daze. Lin Chen had already come to her side, reached out and pulled her, teasingly saying:

"What are you spacing out for?"

"No..." Wen Ruoxi leaned into Lin Chen's arms.

Chu Yueyao and Murong Xue also came over.

"My husband," Murong Xue said softly, "we... also want to have a child."

(Sometimes, the girls would change how they addressed Lin Chen. Of course, Lin Chen always did things his own way.)

Lin Chen kissed Murong Xue's forehead: "It will happen."

"real?"

"When have I ever lied to you?" Lin Chen hugged the three of them tightly.

"The Lin family bloodline still depends on us to carry on its branches and leaves."

Chu Yueyao pinched Lin Chen: "You're being indecent."

"Why be so serious with your wife?" Lin Chen chuckled mischievously.

"Time is of the essence, we need to hurry..."

"You... um..."

The flickering candlelight illuminated the room with the colors of spring.

……

Meanwhile, in the east wing guest rooms.

Lan Fenghuang sat cross-legged on the couch, closing her eyes to regulate her breathing.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes wide, her pupils contracting.

The natal Gu within his body was trembling.

It was a fear akin to facing a life-threatening situation.

From the moment she stepped into the Prince's mansion during the day, the Gu worms had been restless and agitated.

Now, the late night is far more intense than the daytime.

"What exactly is hidden in this palace?" Lan Fenghuang murmured to herself.

She could sense a powerful aura swirling in every shadowy corner of the Prince's mansion.

Deep within the backyard, two more subtle yet powerful auras emanated.

According to her special spiritual perception, the owners of those auras were at least at the peak of the Grandmaster level.

Lan Fenghuang guessed that one of the people in the deepest part was Guan Yu, a peak-level terrestrial immortal.

"Lin Chen..." Lan Fenghuang licked her lips, her eyes flashing with excitement.

How many secrets do you hold?

She came to the capital with the help of Lin Chen to return to the Central Plains Holy Land and reclaim the glory that belonged to the Holy Temple lineage.

In retrospect, this choice... may have been more valuable than she had imagined.

"Just wait," Blue Phoenix clenched her fist.

"I will definitely make you willingly become my helper."

She closed her eyes again and continued to regulate her breathing.

In a courtyard deep within the Prince's mansion, Yuan Tiangang stood by the window, gazing towards the east wing, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"The Temple Gu Maiden... Interesting."

He counted a few things with his fingers hidden in his sleeve, then shook his head:

"Too much obsession might breed inner demons, but... if it can be used by the lord, it would be a fine weapon."