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

Chapter 259 If you want to sleep with her, go shopping with her.

In the study.

When Lin Chen pushed open the door, Yuan Tiangang was already waiting, standing by the window looking at the trees outside. Hearing the noise, he turned around.

"My lord."

Lin Chen walked around the desk, sat down, leaned back in his chair, and raised his chin:

"Speak."

Yuan Tiangang sat down opposite him without saying a word:

"The progress on Dongshan is going smoothly. The Great Snow Dragon Riders have already leveled the mountaintop and started digging into the mountainside."

The craftsmen have also arrived and are digging the foundation. I went to check on them yesterday; they were working very hard.

Lin Chen nodded, tapping his fingers on the armrest:

"When will Mr. Zhuge and the others be back?"

"There are about ten more days." Yuan Tiangang paused. "Things over there are being finalized, so there won't be any delays."

"Okay." Lin Chen thought for a moment, "We'll start setting up the formation when they get back. You should gather all the materials first, so we don't end up scrambling later."

"Okay." Yuan Tiangang agreed, then changed the subject, "By the way, there's been some movement from Mei Jiu Niang's side."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow: "What's that noise?"

Yuan Tiangang lowered his voice:

"She sent someone to say that several groups of people have recently arrived in the capital. They are all from the Central Plains Righteous Path. They are dressed quite discreetly, but they can't hide it from her eyes."

Lin Chen's eyes narrowed: "Do you know which faction it belongs to?"

"It's still unclear." Yuan Tiangang shook his head.

"Mei Jiu Niang said that those people are hiding very well, and her men dare not follow them too closely for fear of alerting them. However, she asked us to tell the master to be careful."

Lin Chen remained silent for a while.

News of the great changes in the world had already spread, and various forces began to infiltrate different regions.

Those old guys from the Central Plains Righteous Path, who usually put on airs, are getting restless now.

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the armrest.

Yuan Tiangang waited quietly.

Lin Chen suddenly asked, "How is Mei Jiu Niang doing lately?"

Yuan Tiangang was taken aback, then laughed: "It's fine. I've been playing around every day, and I've ruined a few furnaces. It's just... I miss my lord quite a bit."

Lin Chen glanced at him.

Yuan Tiangang quickly suppressed his smile: "She said that Your Majesty should come and visit when you have time."

Lin Chen didn't respond to that, waving his hand: "Keep an eye on it, and report back immediately if there's any news."

"Yes."

Yuan Tiangang withdrew.

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, staring blankly out the window.

He recalled Mei Jiu Niang's fox-like eyes and her bewitching appearance.

This woman—

Pity.

……

in the afternoon.

After finishing the last document, Lin Chen threw down his pen and stretched.

Ling'er's words suddenly popped into my head: "Your Highness, you absolutely must come!"

He smiled, stood up, and walked out.

Anyway, there's nothing much going on.

As I approached the entrance of Yao Yao's courtyard, before even entering, I could hear the sound of a zither coming from inside.

Lin Chen stopped.

This zither music is different from that of Su Xiaoxiao, Liu Shengxue, and Dongfang Bai.

Su Xiaoxiao's zither playing makes you want to fall asleep.

Listening to Liu Shengxue's koto makes you want to lie down in bed.

Listening to Dongfang Bai's zither makes you want to drink.

Yao Yao's zither—

How so?

Softer, gentler, like someone whispering in your ear, saying things you can't say aloud.

Lin Chen stood at the door and listened for a while.

The music stopped.

Ling'er's excited shouts came from inside:

"Sister Yao Yao! You play so well! Better than anything I've ever heard before!"

Then came Yao Yao's voice, soft and gentle:

"If you want to learn, I can teach you."

Lin Chen pushed open the door and went in.

Several people were sitting in a circle in the courtyard, with a zither on the stone table.

As soon as he came in, they all stood up at once.

"Your Highness."

Lin Chen waved his hand: "Sit down, sit down, everyone, don't be so formal."

He sat down on the stone bench next to him and looked at Yao Yao: "What was that song called just now?"

Yao Yao said softly, "The Returning Geese."

Lin Chen nodded: "It sounds good, it really sounds good."

Yao Yao blushed slightly and lowered her eyes.

Xi'er leaned closer, her face full of anticipation:

"Your Highness, Sister Yao Yao said she's going to cook something delicious for us tonight. Are you coming?"

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow at Yao Yao: "You can cook?"

Yao Yao nodded: "I know a little."

"How much is one point?"

Yao Yao thought for a moment: "Enough to eat."

Lin Chen laughed: "Okay, then I'll come over for dinner tonight. But let me make it clear, if it's not good, I won't give you any face."

Everyone laughed, and Ling'er clapped her hands:

"Great! I'll go help Sister Yao Yao wash the vegetables!"

……

night.

Lin Chen appeared in Yao Yao's courtyard right on time.

Several dishes were laid out on the table, looking quite appealing, steaming hot, and their aroma wafting into the air.

Lin Chen sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and took a bite.

Ok?

He took another bite.

Yao Yao looked at Lin Chen nervously.

Lin Chen swallowed, then looked up at her: "You call this a little bit?"

Yao Yao blinked: "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Lin Chen picked up another piece of food with his chopsticks.

"It tastes better than what the chefs in the manor make. Did you specialize in this?"

Yao Yao blushed and smiled with her head down.

Qing'er and the others chuckled to themselves.

While eating, Lin Chen asked, "What about you guys? Does anyone know how to cook?"

Qing'er shook her head, shaking it like a rattle: "I can't, I can only eat."

Dale shook her head: "I don't know how either. I can't even start a fire."

Xi'er raised her hand: "I can do it a little! I can cook noodles!"

Su'er replied coldly and indifferently: "No."

Ling'er whispered, "I can cook porridge... but sometimes it burns."

Lin Chen laughed: "Okay, we'll take turns cooking from now on, and whoever cooks the best will get a reward."

Several people's eyes lit up: "What reward?"

Lin Chen thought for a moment: "The reward... is to go shopping with you guys, buy whatever you want."

Several people cheered and chattered about what to buy.

Yao Yao sat to the side, watching them smile, and the corners of her mouth also curved up.

Lin Chen looked at her, and a thought suddenly popped into his mind—

What would this girl be like if you made her cry?

He quickly put the thought to rest.

Damn it, what are you thinking?

……

After finishing his meal, Lin Chen didn't rush to leave but sat in the courtyard.

The moon rose, illuminating the entire courtyard in a silvery light.

Qing'er and the others chattered away on the side, laughing so hard they were doubled over.

Lin Chen leaned back in his recliner, squinting at the moon.

He suddenly remembered Zhao Mingyue's words:

"If you like someone, keep them; if you don't, leave them."

He smiled.

The way he says that makes it sound like he's some kind of emperor.

but--

feel good.

He stood up, patted his clothes, and said, "Alright, I'm leaving. You guys should get some sleep."

Several people quickly stood up: "Your Highness, please take care."

Lin Chen waved his hand and walked out.

As he reached the door, he suddenly turned back: "Oh, right, Yao Yao."

Yao Yao looked at him.

Lin Chen chuckled, "If you're free tomorrow, how about we go out for a stroll?"

Yao Yao paused for a moment, then asked, "Get out?"

"Yeah, let's take a walk in the street and see what's going on. It's so boring staying cooped up in the yard."

Yao Yao nodded: "Okay."

Lin Chen smiled, pushed open the door, and went out.

The moonlight shone on him, casting a long shadow.

Yao Yao stood in the courtyard, looking at the door.

After a while, she suddenly smiled.

……

the next day.

Lin Chen led Yao Yao out of the mansion.

They didn't try to hide anything; they just walked away openly.

Yao Yao changed into a light blue dress today, and her hair was combed neatly. Walking next to Lin Chen, she attracted a lot of attention.

Lin Chen introduced the products to her as they walked:

"This is the East Market, the liveliest place in the capital. Over there they sell food, over there they sell jewelry, over there they sell fabric..."

Yao Yao listened attentively, her eyes darting around, finding everything new and interesting.

She grew up in the Hehuan Sect and rarely left the sect.

They had come to the Eastern Region by stealth, traveling at night and hiding during the day; they had never seen anything like this before.

"Your Highness, what's that?" she asked, pointing to a small stall.

Lin Chen glanced at it: "Candied hawthorn."

What is candied hawthorn?

Lin Chen walked over, bought a skewer, and handed it to her: "Try it."

Yao Yao took it and took a bite.

His eyes lit up immediately.

"tasty!"

Lin Chen laughed: "Eat more if you like it, there's even better food ahead."

Yao Yao nodded, eating as she followed him, her eyes fixed on the candied hawthorn as if she had found some treasure.

After walking for a while, she suddenly asked, "Your Highness, why are you so good to me?"

Lin Chen turned to look at her: "Because you're mine."

Yao Yao was stunned.

Lin Chen continued walking forward: "If you're following me, you have to treat me well, otherwise what's the point of following me?"

Yao Yao stood there, watching Lin Chen's back.

The sunlight shone on him, making him look golden.

She suddenly smiled and jogged after him.

……

I spent the whole day sightseeing.

I ate candied hawthorns, bought sugar figurines, looked at jewelry stalls, visited fabric shops, and even ate a bowl of wontons.

Yao Yao was holding a bunch of things, laughing like a child.

Looking at her, Lin Chen suddenly felt that if this girl had been born into an ordinary family, she would probably be just like this.

Carefree and happy, their eyes light up when they see candied hawthorns.

He shook his head, dispelling the thought; ordinary people aren't necessarily happy either.

"Let's go back."

Yao Yao nodded and followed Lin Chen back.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the two of them, one in front of the other, overlapping each other.

Yao Yao suddenly asked, "Your Highness, will we be able to come out tomorrow?"

Lin Chen turned to look at her: "Want to come out?"

Yao Yao nodded, her eyes sparkling.

Lin Chen smiled: "Then come out."

Yao Yao's eyes lit up even more: "Great!"

She carried the sugar figurine and skipped along.

Lin Chen watched from behind and suddenly felt—

This girl is qualified to be his twelfth wife.