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

Chapter 165 The Third Princess of Dongli? Either be a concubine or forget it!

The sun shone brightly that day.

The convoy strolled leisurely along the official road.

When they were still twenty miles from the capital, the scouts from Yanyun reported back.

"Your Majesty, a large army has arrived at Shili Pavilion ahead. His Majesty and his officials have come in person!"

Lin Chen was lying in the carriage eating an apple when he heard this. He raised an eyebrow and scanned the area with his divine sense.

"Wow, such a grand display? Her Majesty the Empress personally came out of the city to welcome us ten miles away?"

Qin Shuyan lifted the carriage curtain and said softly:

"My eighth brother is now the Prince of Zhenbei and has made unparalleled contributions. It is only natural that His Majesty values ​​him."

"It's important, but it's also troublesome." Lin Chen casually tossed the apple core out the car window.

"Speed ​​up the march, everyone stay alert, don't embarrass me."

He saw that his sisters-in-law had also arrived, and he couldn't keep his pregnant eldest sister-in-law waiting any longer.

The convoy sped up, and about 15 minutes later, the scene ahead came into view.

Outside the Shili Pavilion, a dark mass of people and horses stretched out.

The most eye-catching thing is the royal procession.

Thirty-six bright yellow dragon flags flanked the 500 golden-armored imperial guards, with the Empress's imperial carriage in the center.

The civil and military officials were arranged according to their ranks, with civil officials on the left and military officials on the right, and there were probably over a thousand of them.

But Lin Chen's gaze first fell on the few beautiful figures at the front of the procession of officials.

The eldest sister-in-law, Liu Ruyan, with her pregnant belly showing, held her waist with one hand and held the hand of three-year-old Lin Nian'er with the other.

Second sister-in-law Chu Yueyao, fifth sister-in-law Wen Ruoxi, seventh sister-in-law Murong Xue, and Su Xiaoxiao stood by his side.

Behind them stood Yuan Tiangang, and behind him were five female sword attendants.

"Tsk, they're all here."

Lin Chen felt a warmth in his heart, but he still maintained his lazy demeanor.

The carriage stopped a hundred paces away from the ceremonial procession.

Lin Chen straightened his robes, jumped off the carriage, and Qin Shuyan and the other two women followed suit.

Empress Zhao Lingyang stepped out of the imperial carriage.

Today she was not wearing a dragon robe, but a bright yellow palace dress, with a phoenix crown on her head. She looked less imposing in the imperial court and more radiant with feminine charm.

Beside her followed a woman in a light purple dress, whose appearance bore a striking resemblance to the Empress.

But with a more gentle and refined temperament, she was none other than Princess Zhao Mingyue.

"Your subject, Lin Chen, pays respects to Your Majesty." Lin Chen casually cupped his hands, without even bending his waist.

The Empress didn't mind; instead, she smiled and raised her hand in greeting.

"Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities! This great victory over the Northern Shuo has enhanced our national prestige, and I am deeply gratified. Therefore, I have led all civil and military officials to welcome you ten miles outside the city."

"Your Majesty is too kind." Lin Chen grinned. "I was just doing my duty."

At this moment, Lin Nian'er finally couldn't hold back any longer and called out in her childish voice:

"Uncle Eight! Uncle Eight!"

The little girl broke free from Liu Ruyan's hand and started to run over with her short legs.

"Nian'er, slow down!" Liu Ruyan hurriedly tried to chase after her, but it was inconvenient with her pregnant belly.

Seeing this, Lin Chen flashed and appeared in front of Nian'er, bent down to pick her up, and pinched her little cheek:

"Do you miss Uncle Ba?"

"I want to!" Nian'er hugged Lin Chen's neck and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Then, blinking her big eyes, she looked at Qin Shuyan and the other two girls not far away and waved her little hands.

"Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt, Sixth Aunt!"

Qin Shuyan and the other two women gave the Empress a slight bow, then quickly walked over.

At this moment, Liu Ruyan and the other girls quickly stepped forward.

"Eighth Brother!" Liu Ruyan's eyes were slightly red as she looked Lin Chen up and down.

"You've lost weight... The North is bitterly cold; you must have suffered a lot."

Lin Chen helped Liu Ruyan up and said softly:

"Sister-in-law, slow down, you're heavily pregnant. I'm fine, I'm eating and drinking well, I've even gained a few pounds."

Chu Yueyao said softly, "It's good that Eighth Brother is back safe and sound."

Her gaze shifted to the three women, Qin Shuyan and the others, who were approaching, lingering particularly on their lower abdomens.

"Third sister, fourth sister, and sixth sister, you've worked hard too."

When Qin Shuyan and her two sisters met with their friends, they naturally greeted each other warmly.

Su Xiaoxiao walked to Lin Chen's side, gave a graceful bow, her eyes slightly red: "Husband."

Lin Chen held her hand: "Xiaoxiao, you've had a hard time at home."

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head: "It's not hard work, but I miss my husband who is away fighting. I worry about him day and night."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the Empress finally spoke:

"Prince Zhenbei, I will recommend someone to you."

The Third Princess of Dongli Kingdom, Lady Liusheng Xue. The Dongli delegation has come to congratulate Your Highness on your great victory.

Lin Chen looked to the other side of the procession of officials, where a group of people dressed in Dongli attire stood.

The girl in the lead was about eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing a cherry blossom-colored kimono. She had delicate features and a bewitching yet noble air about her.

She was Liu Shengxue, ranked ninth on the Rouge List.

Liu Shengxue stepped forward and said in slightly awkward Dayan Mandarin:

"Liu Shengxue greets the Prince of Zhenbei and congratulates Your Highness on your great victory over Beishuo and your triumph beyond the borders."

The words were polite, but the tone was flat, and there was a hint of detachment in his eyes.

It's normal for them to be unhappy, since they were forced into this marriage alliance.

Lin Chen glanced at Liu Shengxue a few times and nodded:

"Your Highness is too kind. The King of Dongli is very considerate."

The chief envoy of the Eastern Li delegation, a middle-aged scholar, stepped forward and said with a smile:

"Your Highness, the King of Dongli has heard of your heroic deeds and has specially ordered me to come here."

Firstly, to offer my congratulations; secondly... to express my desire to form a marriage alliance with the Prince.

The Third Princess is both beautiful and talented; she and the Prince are a match made in heaven.

There was a moment of silence after those words were spoken.

Liu Ruyan and the other girls all looked at Lin Chen with complicated expressions.

There are already so many sisters in the family, do we need to add more?

They weren't jealous, but worried that Lin Chen's body couldn't handle it.

The Empress's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes were obscure.

Lin Chen smiled casually:

"A marriage alliance? That's a good thing, but..."

He paused, then looked at Liu Shengxue: "Your Highness is willing to marry?"

Liu Shengxue pursed her lips and remained silent.

Lin Chen then looked at the envoy: "Does your king intend for the princess to be his principal wife or a concubine?"

The envoy was taken aback, but forced himself to speak:

"Well... the Third Princess is the apple of our Emperor's eye, so naturally..."

"To be a concubine." Lin Chen interrupted him directly and said calmly:

"I do not have a principal wife in my household. All eight of my wives are secondary wives. If the princess wishes, she may enter the household, but only as a concubine."

"You!" Liu Shengxue suddenly looked up, her eyes flashing with anger.

The envoy from Dongli also looked grim:

"Your Highness, this...is far too humiliating to our country..."

"Humiliation?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow slightly.

"What, do you think marrying me as a concubine is an insult? Or do you look down on my Zhenbei Prince's Mansion?"

"This..." The envoy was speechless, unsure how to respond.

Liu Shengxue turned pale with anger, staring intently at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen didn't care at all and continued, "Either be my concubine, or forget it. You choose."

The scene became awkward at one point.

Li Bai appeared beside Lin Chen at some point, took a swig from his wine gourd.

Then he glanced indifferently at the Dongli delegation.

Just one glance.

Everyone in the Dongli delegation, including the Celestial Realm retainer in the delegation.

They all felt a chill run through their bodies, as if they were being stared at by a prehistoric beast, and even their breathing stopped.

Even a trace of the pressure from a terrestrial deity is something they cannot withstand.

Remembering her father's instructions, Liu Shengxue gritted her teeth and finally lowered her head:

"This matter... I must report to my father, the Emperor."

"Whatever you want." Lin Chen waved his hand.

"But let me give you a word of advice—get married sooner rather than later, because in a while I might not even have any spots left for concubines."

That's... infuriating.

The members of the Dongli delegation were all ashen-faced, but dared not retaliate.