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

Chapter 211 The Eldest Princess's Appointment

The next day.

In the backyard of the Princess's residence, a faint fragrance wafted from the embroidery room.

Zhao Mingyue stood in front of the bronze mirror, while two embroiderers were adjusting the waist of her wedding dress.

The bright red brocade was embroidered with phoenixes in gold thread, and the neckline was adorned with fine pearls, making it dazzlingly luxurious.

"Your Highness's waist is so slender, it needs to be shortened by another inch here," the embroiderer muttered, pinching the fabric.

The door creaked open.

Lin Chen leaned in halfway, his eyes lighting up: "Oh, trying on your wedding dress?"

Zhao Mingyue blushed slightly, and subconsciously wanted to pull up an outer garment to put it on, but then felt it was pretentious, so she just stood there without moving.

"Why are you here so early? We agreed to meet in the front hall around 1-3 PM..."

"I can't wait any longer." Lin Chen slipped in, closing the door behind him, and waved to the embroiderer.

"You all go out first, I want to have a private word with His Highness."

The embroiderers smiled and withdrew.

There were only two people left in the room.

Lin Chen circled around Zhao Mingyue, stroking his chin:

"It looks good, but..."

"What is it?" Zhao Mingyue asked nervously.

"She's just wrapped up too tightly." Lin Chen reached out and touched the pearl button on Zhao Mingyue's collar.

"This thing is so difficult to remove on the wedding night."

"You!" Zhao Mingyue's ears burned as she glared at Lin Chen. "Be serious."

"What did I do wrong?" Lin Chen asked innocently.

"I'm talking about a practical problem. Look, there are twelve buttons in a row here. It'll be pitch black in the dark, unless you like having a light on..."

"Stop talking." Zhao Mingyue reached out and covered Lin Chen's mouth, her palm touching his lips, then she pulled back as if burned.

Lin Chen laughed out loud and grabbed Zhao Mingyue's wrist.

"What's there to be shy about? We've already held hands and hugged each other several times."

Speaking of this, Zhao Mingyue felt somewhat helpless and said softly:

"Let go."

Lin Chen not only didn't let go, but also put his other hand on Zhao Mingyue's waist.

"Don't move, let me check if the size is right."

"The embroiderer just took my measurements..."

"Their measurements are inaccurate." Lin Chen placed his palm on Zhao Mingyue's waist, his thumb gently stroking the fabric.

"I have to personally oversee it."

Zhao Mingyue's body felt a little weak.

Lin Chen's hands felt like they were on fire; they were so hot they burned through several layers of clothing.

"Lin Chen..." Her voice trembled.

"Hmm?" Lin Chen leaned closer, his breath brushing against Zhao Mingyue's earlobe.

"It sounds nice when you call me by my name, but I still prefer to hear you call me husband."

"Don't push your luck," Zhao Mingyue said, turning her head away. "We're not even married yet..."

"It won't be long." Lin Chen smiled, his hand sliding from her waist to her back, loosely encircling Zhao Mingyue.

"Ninth Madam, are you nervous?"

Zhao Mingyue remained silent.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous. Although she was a second-time bride, she had never been this close to a man before.

"Are you shy?" Lin Chen squeezed Zhao Mingyue's palm.

Zhao Mingyue composed herself and looked into Lin Chen's eyes.

"Lin Chen, I'm willing to marry you, even though there are political factors involved."

Lin Chen was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "I know, otherwise would I have let you try on the wedding dress? I would have disobeyed the imperial decree long ago."

"You're really bold." Zhao Mingyue rolled her eyes.

"Is it difficult for me to marry you?" Lin Chen released Zhao Mingyue, took two steps back, and then looked at the wedding dress again.

"But seriously, isn't this dress heavy? I think the phoenix crown is even more frightening, it's covered in pearls."

"Royal weddings are conducted according to these regulations." Zhao Mingyue turned to face the mirror, gently stroking the lines on her cuffs.

"When I first wore my wedding dress, it was even heavier than this."

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

Lin Chen walked up behind Zhao Mingyue and put his hand on her shoulder: "This time is different."

The two figures were reflected in the bronze mirror.

Lin Chen was only half a head taller than Zhao Mingyue, and standing behind her made it seem like he was holding her in his arms.

"What's different?" Zhao Mingyue asked softly.

"You weren't happy last time, this time—" Lin Chen rested his chin on the top of Zhao Mingyue's head and said seriously:

"I promise to make sure you enter the Lin family in style and honor, and that you will be happy for the rest of your life."

Zhao Mingyue felt a warmth in her heart: "As long as you don't mind, that's enough!"

"How is that possible?" Lin Chen's hand slid down a little, wrapping around Zhao Mingyue's waist.

"I like it so much I don't even have time to think about it!"

As he spoke, he turned his head and quickly kissed Zhao Mingyue on the cheek.

Zhao Mingyue froze, her face turning bright red.

"You, you..."

"What do you mean, 'what ...' Lin Chen retorted confidently.' 'Can't I get a little advance on my marital rights?'"

Zhao Mingyue covered the spot where Lin Chen had kissed her, her heart pounding.

He wanted to call him a lecher, but the words that came out were: "...Improper manners."

"We won't discuss anything between us," Lin Chen said solemnly, turning Zhao Mingyue around.

"Mingyue, there are some things I need to say first."

Although you entered the family as the Ninth Madam, in my household, there is no distinction between senior and junior wives.

"You can take on the household affairs if you want, or enjoy flowers and tea if you don't. It's up to you, just one thing—"

Lin Chen paused for a moment, then continued, "Don't treat yourself like an outsider."

Zhao Mingyue's eyes were a little sore.

She was the eldest daughter of the late emperor and the elder sister of the empress. Her name sounded prestigious, but in reality, she lived a life like a painting in the palace.

Exquisite, but devoid of warmth.

Lin Chen's words treated her as a living, breathing person.

"And another thing," Lin Chen suddenly grinned mischievously, "the Empress said something to me yesterday..."

Zhao Mingyue's eyes flickered slightly: "What did Lingyang say?"

Lin Chen chuckled and lowered his voice, saying:

"She wants to choose a royal consort and has her eye on your husband. But don't worry, she just wants to use him as a sperm donor!"

Zhao Mingyue was slightly taken aback, opened her mouth but couldn't say a word.

"You're unwilling?" Lin Chen chuckled lightly.

"If you're not willing, I'll just refuse. Anyway, you're ahead of her."

"I have no objections!" Zhao Mingyue quickly replied.

"Although Lingyang is the emperor, she is also a woman, and sooner or later she will have to choose a consort."

"You...you're quite suitable, besides, sisters sharing a husband isn't uncommon, but..."

Zhao Mingyue paused, then hesitated and said:

"But Lingyang is, after all, the ruler of a country. If she has an heir, what about the continuation of the family line..."

"We've already discussed this," Lin Chen interrupted Zhao Mingyue.

"I don't care if the child takes the mother's surname. Whatever his surname, he's still my child!"

"You're so carefree!" Zhao Mingyue gave Lin Chen a deep look.

"I've always been carefree!" Lin Chen chuckled.

"So, should we give them a reward?"

As he spoke, he moved closer to Zhao Mingyue's lips.

This time, Zhao Mingyue didn't dodge; she closed her eyes.

But the kiss never came.

She opened her eyes and saw Lin Chen staring at her neckline, teasingly saying:

"These buttons are really troublesome. Why don't we have the embroiderer alter them? We could replace them with concealed buttons, so they can be easily pulled open."

"Lin Chen!" Zhao Mingyue punched Lin Chen in anger.

Lin Chen laughed heartily and grabbed her hand:

"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore. I'll savor it slowly after the wedding!"

"How indecent!" Zhao Mingyue muttered to herself.

Lin Chen chuckled: "This is nothing. You'll see how frivolous I can be later."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Zhao Mingyue's chest.

Zhao Mingyue followed Lin Chen's gaze and looked down, unable to see her toes.

Suddenly, I remembered that silly saying from the common folk, and my face flushed again.

"What are you looking down at?" Lin Chen winked teasingly.

"It's nothing," Zhao Mingyue said calmly. "It's just... I'm eight years older than you."

"So what?" Lin Chen frowned. "A woman three years older than you is like a gold brick. You've already got more than two. I've made a killing, okay?"

Zhao Mingyue burst out laughing.

With that smile, even the last bit of restraint vanished.

She reached out and took Lin Chen's sleeve, saying, "Then... Your Highness, please be kinder to me in the future."

"Call me by my name." Lin Chen grasped Zhao Mingyue's hand in return.

"It will definitely hurt, but you have to promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Don't wear this on your wedding night," Lin Chen said, pointing to the wedding dress.

"I'll have someone make another lightweight one, just red will do, no need for all these odds and ends."

Zhao Mingyue was so embarrassed that she couldn't lift her head, but she softly hummed in agreement.

Just then, a maid's voice came from outside the window:

"Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived. His Majesty has bestowed upon you some osmanthus wine that he personally brewed, saying that you and the Prince...should have a cup first."

The two exchanged a glance.

Lin Chen chuckled softly, "The Empress is even more anxious than I am."

Zhao Mingyue pinched Lin Chen's palm and replied to the outside:

"Understood, please have someone wait a moment."

She turned to change her clothes, but Lin Chen stopped her:

"Wear this, it looks good."

"That's too grand..."

"It's festive." Lin Chen tidied her sideburns.

"Let's go, let the people in the palace see how well-matched we are."

Looking into Lin Chen's bright eyes, Zhao Mingyue suddenly felt that this political marriage might actually be quite enjoyable.

As for the Empress's matter of borrowing a seed, she didn't take it to heart.

"Come on! What are you spacing out for?" Lin Chen pinched Zhao Mingyue's cheek.

"I'm thinking," Zhao Mingyue looked up at Lin Chen, her smile gentle and charming.

"Your Highness, you must visit my courtyard often in the future."

"Absolutely." Lin Chen put his arm around Zhao Mingyue's shoulder.

"I'm really curious about what good things the palace maids taught you."

"You're really... never serious."

"Can a decent man really marry you?"

The two walked out talking, the hem of their wedding dress sweeping across the threshold, shimmering softly in the sunlight.

The embroiderer watched from under the eaves, muttering to herself:

"When Her Highness the Princess smiles, it's like she's a completely different person."

"He's favored by the Prince of Zhenbei."

"Tsk, good thing."

In the distance, a palace maid waited with a wine pot in her hand, on which a pair of mandarin ducks, their necks intertwined, stood.