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

Chapter 311 Yagyu Yuki's Heart-to-Heart Talk

In the courtyard of the post station, the moonlight was like water.

Lin Chen leaned against the window, looking at the full moon outside, holding a wine pot (for replenishing wine) in his hand, taking sips here and there.

Last night, the Empress's side was in turmoil until late at night. When I got back, Zhao Mingyue and the others talked to me for a long time. I've been feeling a bit out of sorts all day.

So Lin Chen told Lan Fenghuang and the others to get some rest.

I need to rest well tonight.

Even the Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir can't be eaten as food, can it?

……

Late at night.

Lin Chen had just lain down when, in his drowsy state, he heard a soft knock on the door.

He didn't open his eyes, but scanned the area with his divine sense, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.

Liu Shengxue gently pushed open the door and then gently closed it, her footsteps as light as a cat's, and walked to the bedside, where she stopped.

Lin Chen opened his eyes and looked at her.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Yagyu Yuki.

She was still wearing the same plain white dress she had worn during the day, her hair was loose, and her face was expressionless, but her ears were slightly red.

"Can't sleep?" Lin Chen asked.

Liu Shengxue didn't speak, she just looked at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen moved over a bit and lifted a corner of the blanket.

Liu Shengxue then took off her shoes and lay down.

They covered themselves with the blanket and lay side by side without saying a word.

After a long while, Liu Shengxue suddenly spoke up: "I thought you would invite Lan Fenghuang along."

Lin Chen laughed: "What? You want to be with her?"

"No...no." Yagyu Yuki's cheeks were slightly flushed.

Lin Chen reached out and put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

"I'm a bit tired tonight, let's sleep in something vegetarian, or rather, you..."

Liu Shengxue looked at Lin Chen with a hint of reproach in her eyes, then changed the subject:

"Piaopiao...she likes you."

Lin Chen paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I know."

A hint of doubt flashed in Liu Shengxue's eyes, then she asked, "So what do you plan to do?"

Lin Chen didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "What do you think?"

Liu Shengxue pursed his lips and said seriously:

"She has already been given to you by the Emperor, and she can't go back to Dongli, but if you take her in, she will have someone to rely on in the future."

Lin Chen chuckled lightly, "You really want me to take her in?"

Yagyu Yuki lowered her eyes: "It's not that I want to, it's...it's just a matter of time."

Lin Chen was silent for a while, then said softly:

"It's not the right time for Piao Piao yet."

Liu Shengxue frowned slightly: "Why?"

Lin Chen did not answer.

Why?

Because that girl is only sixteen years old!

In this world, getting married at sixteen is normal, even considered late.

However, during his nine years of compulsory education, sixteen years old was still the age of a high school student.

Lin Chen shook his head inwardly and reached out to pat Liu Shengxue's head:

"Don't ask anymore, now is not the time."

Liu Shengxue looked at Lin Chen with a hint of confusion in her eyes, but did not ask any further questions.

She nodded: "Okay."

Lin Chen lowered his head and kissed her forehead:

"Alright, go to sleep."

Liu Shengxue didn't move, still looking at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow: "What? Is there something else?"

Yagyu Yuki paused for a moment, then said softly, "I came... not just to say that."

Lin Chen was stunned for a moment, and then he saw Liu Shengxue...

……

Half an hour later.

Lin Chen leaned against the headboard, with Liu Shengxue lying in his arms, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on his chest.

The candlelight had long since gone out; only the moonlight remained.

Lin Chen looked down at her: "Aren't you going to sleep yet?"

Yagyu Yuki shook his head, then suddenly asked, "What do you mean by 'not the right time'?"

Lin Chen was taken aback. "You're still thinking about that?"

Liu Shengxue nodded.

Lin Chen thought for a moment and said seriously, "It's just... she's too young."

Liu Shengxue frowned: "Sixteen is not young anymore. My mother was already sixteen when I was already born."

Lin Chen looked at Liu Shengxue, unsure how to explain.

Could it be that he's afraid of the censorship god?

After a moment of silence, Lin Chen could only hold Liu Shengxue tighter and whisper:

"I don't care what others do, but for me, sixteen is still young."

Yagyu Yuki blinked. "How big should it be?"

"At least... eighteen, I guess."

Liu Shengxue did the math: "That's two more years."

Lin Chen nodded.

Liu Shengxue didn't say anything more, but simply leaned closer to Lin Chen.

"How about she stays with me for the next two years?"

Lin Chen chuckled softly, "What? Afraid she'll be wronged?"

Liu Shengxue nodded: "She's timid and has never traveled far from home."

She was incredibly nervous the whole way out; if Yao Yao hadn't been with her, she probably wouldn't have dared to say a word.

Lin Chen smiled: "She's quite lucky to have you as her older sister."

"We're all quite lucky," said Liu Shengxue earnestly.

"When my father sent me here, you made me your concubine. I thought... but now I quite like... my current life."

Lin Chen's eyes flickered slightly as he smiled and ruffled Liu Shengxue's hair.

"Alright, stop being so sentimental, let's go to sleep."

Yagyu Yuki hummed in agreement and closed her eyes.

After a while, she opened her eyes again: "Lin Chen."

"Um?"

"Thank you."

Lin Chen looked at Liu Shengxue.

Under the moonlight, her eyes shone brightly, devoid of their usual indifference, and filled with tenderness and longing.

Lin Chen smiled and kissed her on the forehead:

"Go to sleep."

Yagyu Yuki nodded and finally closed her eyes.

Lin Chen put his arm around her and looked at the moonlight outside the window.

Perhaps we can give her a child.

……

Early the next morning.

Lin Chen opened his eyes, but Liu Shengxue was no longer there.

He sat up and stretched.

My back doesn't ache, my legs don't hurt, and I feel refreshed.

Not everyone has the fighting power of an empress.

He got dressed, pushed open the door, and went out.

The sun was shining brightly in the courtyard.

Yao Yao and Liu Sheng Piaopiao were squatting in the corner, looking at something.

The two heads huddled together, chattering away.

Lan Fenghuang stood under the eaves, holding a cup of tea. When she saw Lin Chen come out, she winked at him.

That look in his eyes was full of meaning.

Lin Chen walked over: "What are you looking at?"

Lan Fenghuang smiled and lowered her voice: "How did you sleep last night?"

Lin Chen remained expressionless: "It's fine."

Lan Fenghuang smiled even more brightly: "That's good."

Lin Chen ignored her and walked towards Yao Yao.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the two were looking at an insect.

A green, chubby insect, lying motionless on a leaf.

Yao Yao said excitedly, "Look how fat it is, it must have eaten a lot of leaves."

Liu Sheng Piaopiao whispered, "Will it...will it bite?"

Yao Yao waved her hand: "No, these insects are very docile."

As soon as she finished speaking, the insect stirred, and Liu Sheng Piaopiao shrank back in fright.

Yao Yao laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight.

Lin Chen, standing behind, also smiled.

Liu Sheng Piaopiao turned around, saw Lin Chen, her face flushed instantly, and she quickly stood up and called out softly:

"Your Highness."

Lin Chen waved his hand and said with a smile, "Call me brother-in-law."

Liu Sheng Piaopiao pursed her lips and whispered, "Brother-in-law."

Lin Chen nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Yao Yao:

"Stop playing around, pack up, and get ready to leave."

Yao Yao stood up and clapped her hands: "Okay!"

Lin Chen turned around and walked back.

After taking a couple of steps, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to look at Liu Sheng Piaopiao.

The girl was looking down, lost in thought.

The sunlight shone on her, highlighting her pink dress and round face, making her look quite young.

Lin Chen withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.

Let's talk about it in two years.

……

Breakfast was prepared by the accompanying chef, and since he had the means, Lin Chen was not going to skimp on his own meals.

Lin Chen ate his meal while listening to Yan Da's report on the day's schedule.

"My lord, at the current speed, we should be able to reach Xifeng County, the first stop in the Southwest Road, tonight."

Lin Chen nodded: "Xifeng County? Is there a problem here?"

Yenching University immediately replied:

"According to intelligence gathered by the Imperial City Guard, Ma Defa, the magistrate of Xifeng County, embezzled 50,000 taels of disaster relief funds, which led to the starvation deaths of more than 200 people last winter."

Lin Chen paused with his chopsticks, and the smile on his face faded slightly.

"Okay, we'll arrive in Xifeng County tonight."