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

Chapter 158 Third and Fourth Sisters-in-Law are Pregnant

Three days later.

The General's Mansion in Dingbei City.

Lin Chen hosted a banquet to celebrate his victory, and all the generals gathered together.

Zhao Zilong, the Eight Great Vajras, Zhuge Liang, Li Chunfeng, Wen Tianxiang, and others were all present.

Even Li Bai, who had just recovered from serious injuries, came, still carrying his wine gourd.

After Guan Yu finished his business, he returned to the capital, which was Lin Chen's main base.

The banquet was lavish, and after several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became lively.

Lin Chen raised his glass and said loudly:

"Thank you all for your hard work in this battle. A salute to you all!"

"To the Lord (the Duke)!" Everyone raised their glasses in unison.

After three cups, Lin Chen looked at Zhao Zilong and said, "Zilong."

"Your subordinate is here."

"You broke through to the Celestial Realm in the heat of battle and repeatedly achieved extraordinary feats in this war. I intend to appoint you to command the military affairs of the three northern continents. Are you willing?"

Zhao Zilong was taken aback, then knelt on one knee:

"This humble general obeys your command, sir!"

"Get up, get up," Lin Chen chuckled.

"From now on, the northern border will be in your hands. I will ask His Majesty to bestow titles upon you."

Mr. Kongming will stay and assist you for three months, helping you to streamline government affairs.

Three months later, he will be coming back to Beijing with me.

Zhuge Liang smiled and nodded: "It is my honor to share General Zilong's burdens."

Lin Chen then looked at the Eight Vajras:

"You eight will each lead ten thousand border troops to guard the strategic locations of the three northern continents."

"Zhou Zhenshan".

"Your subordinate is here!" Zhou Zhenshan stood up excitedly.

"You are familiar with the northern border. I hope you will assist Zilong. I will gladly grant His Majesty the title of 'General Jingbei' and command the defense of Dingbei City."

"This humble general obeys! Thank you, Your Excellency!"

Next, Lin Chen rewarded the meritorious soldiers, from the Tiger Legion to the border troops, everyone received a reward.

He still has the right to handle such trivial matters, and I believe the Empress won't say anything more.

The banquet lasted until late at night.

After the banquet, Lin Chen took Qin Shuyan and the other two women back to the backyard.

"Finally, some peace and quiet." Lin Chen collapsed onto the bed, letting out a long sigh of relief.

"I'm exhausted every day."

Qin Shuyan helped him take off his outer robe and said softly:

"Eighth Brother, today you bestow rewards upon the soldiers, and everyone is grateful for your kindness."

"Whether it's gratitude or not, it's not important." Lin Chen pulled her into his arms.

"The important thing is that the war is over, and we can finally enjoy a few days of peace."

He looked at Xiao Yulou and Ye Qingying:

"Fourth Sister-in-law, Sixth Sister-in-law, come here too."

The two girls walked over, blushing, and Lin Chen put his arm around one of them.

The candlelight flickered, and the silk curtains hung lightly.

That night, the lights in the backyard of the general's mansion stayed on until dawn.

……

The next morning.

When Lin Chen woke up, the three women were still fast asleep.

He looked at the three beautiful faces beside his pillow and felt satisfied.

Qin Shuyan is gentle and graceful, Xiao Yulou is heroic and spirited, and Ye Qingying is aloof and cool; each has her own unique charm.

Just as she was about to get up, Qin Shuyan suddenly woke up with a "hmm".

Then he frowned slightly, covered his mouth, and began to dry heave.

"Third Sister-in-law?" Lin Chen quickly helped her up. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Xiao Yulou and Ye Qingying also woke up and came over with concern upon seeing the situation.

Qin Shuyan waved her hand, looking shy, "It's nothing, I was probably just tired yesterday..."

Before he could finish speaking, he gagged again.

Xiao Yulou suddenly thought of something, and his eyes lit up:

"Third sister, is your period late this month?"

Qin Shuyan was taken aback, then did some quick calculations with her fingers, her face turning even redder: "It seems... we're seven or eight days late."

Lin Chen's eyes lit up: "Could it be...?"

"I'll go get the army doctor!" Xiao Yulou jumped out of bed, hurriedly dressed, and went out.

Before long, Sun Bu'er was invited in.

The celestial-level ghost doctor took his pulse and a smile appeared on his face:

"Congratulations, Your Excellency, and congratulations, Third Madam—this is a pregnancy test, and it has been more than half a month."

"Really?!" Lin Chen exclaimed with delight, "I'm going to be a father again?!"

Qin Shuyan was both surprised and delighted. She stroked her lower abdomen, tears welling up in her eyes.

Sun Bu'er then took the pulses of Xiao Yulou and Ye Qingying, and said with a smile:

"The Fourth Madam is also pregnant, about a month or so ago."

"The sixth wife... is not yet here, but she is in good health and will be sooner or later."

Xiao Yulou was both surprised and ashamed, while Ye Qingying lowered her head, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes.

Lin Chen laughed heartily, with one arm around Qin Shuyan and the other around Xiao Yulou:

"Great news! The Lin family is going to have a new member!"

Then he looked at Ye Qingying, saw her dejected, and pulled her to his side:

"Sixth Sister-in-law, don't worry, we have plenty of time."

Ye Qingying blushed and nodded gently.

Sun Bu'er tactfully withdrew.

Only Lin Chen and the three women remained in the room.

Qin Shuyan leaned against Lin Chen's chest and said softly, "Eighth Brother, let's give the child a name."

"If it's a boy, let's name him Lin Nianbei, to commemorate the great war in the Northern Frontier," Lin Chen thought for a moment.

"If it's a girl... I'll name her Lin Siqing, hoping she understands my feelings for her mother."

"Lin Nianbei, Lin Siqing..." Qin Shuyan murmured, "Good names."

Xiao Yulou also touched her lower abdomen, her eyes full of tenderness, but she did not let Lin Chen name her.

As a member of the martial arts world, she wasn't as sentimental as Qin Shuyan.

Ye Qingying looked at the two women, moved closer to Lin Chen's ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Eighth brother... I also want to have a child as soon as possible."

Lin Chen was slightly taken aback, then smiled as he looked at Ye Qingying's envious and expectant expression.

"So...shall we start working on it now?"

"Now...now?" Ye Qingying glanced at Qin Shuyan and Xiao Yulou.

"My third and fourth sisters are still alive..."

"They're pregnant and need to rest." Lin Chen picked up Ye Qingying in his arms.

"Let's go to the next room."

Ye Qingying gasped in surprise, her face turning even redder, but she did not struggle.

Lin Chen carried her into the next room and closed the door.

……

Beijing.

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

Empress Zhao Lingyang looked at the victory report in her hand with a complicated expression.

The memorial detailed the course of the Battle of Blackstone Plains.

From battles between two armies to a war between gods.

From Zhao Zilong's breakthrough in battle to Jing Ke's assassination of the enemy chieftain, every word is chilling.

"Of the 250,000 elite troops of Northern Shuo, 150,000 were killed, and the rest scattered... The Iron Wolf Guard was completely wiped out, the Blood Eagle Cavalry was crippled, and 70% of the heavy infantry were lost..."

The Empress murmured, "Wanyan Honglie and Tuoba Lie are dead... Of the three terrestrial immortals of the Netherworld Sect, two are dead and one escaped..."

She put down the memorial and looked at the Imperial Advisor standing below her: "Imperial Advisor, what is your opinion?"

The Imperial Advisor said with a solemn expression: "Your Majesty, although we have won this battle, Lin Chen's strength was too astonishing."

He must have at least reached the peak of the Celestial Realm; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to stop a terrestrial immortal.

It was already astonishing enough that Li Bai was an early-stage terrestrial immortal.

Now another Guan Yu has emerged, and he's at the peak of the land-based immortal realm.

Even Li Chunfeng truly revealed his array formation skills, capable of trapping terrestrial immortals.

Zhao Zilong even broke through to the mid-stage of the Celestial Realm during the battle...

And this is only what's on the surface.

Who knows how many more masters he might be hiding in the shadows?

"I know," the Empress sighed softly, a bitter smile on her face.

"But things have come to this point, so we can only try to win them over, not make them our enemies."

The imperial decree bestows upon Lin Chen, the Duke of Zhenguo, the title of "Prince of Zhenbei," a hereditary title, granting him command over the military and political affairs of the three northern states.

Furthermore, a reward of 10,000 spirit stones, 100,000 gold coins, 1,000 jars of imperial wine, and 10,000 bolts of brocade will be bestowed upon him.

"Your Majesty's generous reward will surely move Lin Chen to gratitude," said the Imperial Preceptor.

"Grateful?" The Empress shook her head. "A man like him wouldn't be grateful for such a reward."

I was merely stating my position to reassure him.

She paused for a moment, then said, "Furthermore, send a secret decree to Mr. Wen, instructing him to remain in the Northern Border, secretly observe Lin Chen's movements, and report back at any time."

"Yes."