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

Chapter 256 A Promise Under the Bright Moon

Zhenbei Palace.

When Lin Chen led five people through the door, the gatekeeper's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"Your Highness, this..."

Lin Chen waved his hand.

"Don't ask. They're our guests. Let Lin Fu make arrangements for them to stay, eat and drink well, and don't neglect them."

The servant nodded repeatedly and ran off in a flash.

Lin Chen turned around and looked at the five people.

"You guys go with us first, get some rest, we'll talk about it tomorrow."

The five people bowed in unison:

"Yes, Your Highness."

Lin Chen waved his hand and turned to walk inside.

The five people stood still, watching Lin Chen's retreating figure.

Xi'er suddenly smiled and said, "This prince is really interesting."

Ling'er whispered, "I like him."

The group exchanged glances and then all laughed.

……

Yao Yao's courtyard.

When Lin Chen pushed the door open, Yao Yao was sitting by the window, lost in thought.

Moonlight streamed in through the window and fell upon her.

Her plain white clothes and clean face made her look like a painting.

Hearing the noise, she turned around and saw Lin Chen. She quickly stood up.

"Your Highness."

Lin Chen walked over and sat down next to her:

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Yao Yao lowered her eyes. "I can't sleep."

Lin Chen looked at her: "What are you thinking about?"

Yao Yao didn't say anything.

Lin Chen didn't urge him, and just sat there.

After a long while, Yao Yao suddenly spoke:

"Your Highness, has my master... abandoned me?"

Lin Chen was stunned for a moment.

Yao Yao lowered her head and spoke softly:

"She asked me to come to the prince's side, saying I didn't need to go back anymore. I wonder if she's tired of me?"

Looking at Yao Yao, Lin Chen suddenly realized that his understanding of Mei Jiu Niang might be somewhat one-sided.

With his extensive experience and keen eye for women, he could tell that although Yao Yao was in her early twenties, she was still as childlike as a child.

Of course, it's also possible that Yao Yao was too good at disguising herself.

But Lin Chen didn't care; he had plenty of time and confidence.

Even without looking, Yagyu Yuki has been changed a lot by him, completely taking on his shape.

A flurry of thoughts flashed through his mind. Lin Chen reached out and patted Yao Yao's head, saying earnestly:

"Your master doesn't abandon you; he just wants to find you a good home."

Yao Yao didn't say anything.

Lin Chen continued:

"She raised you for twenty years, and she wouldn't even touch you herself, but she gave you to me so that you could live a good life, understand?"

Yao Yao stared blankly at Lin Chen, but still didn't say anything.

Lin Chen smiled:

"Your master is tough on the outside but soft on the inside. Don't be fooled by her harsh words; she actually cares about you."

Yao Yao's eyes suddenly reddened.

She lowered her head and whispered:

"I know... I'm just... a little scared."

Lin Chen asked, "What are you afraid of?"

Yao Yao pursed her lips: "I'm afraid the prince... won't like me."

Lin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, then he chuckled and said:

"If I don't like you, I won't accept you."

Yao Yao's eyes lit up, and for a moment Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat.

Lin Chen quickly coughed and said in a serious tone:

"Yao Yao, remember, you don't need to be afraid when you're with me."

Do whatever you want, go out and play if you want, and have the kitchen make whatever you want to eat. Nobody will bully you.

Yao Yao looked at Lin Chen, her eyes reddening again.

Lin Chen inwardly cried out that he couldn't take it anymore and quickly said:

"Don't cry, don't cry, you'll look ugly if you cry."

Yao Yao chuckled, but couldn't hold back her tears.

She wiped her face with her sleeve and whispered, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Lin Chen waved his hand.

"Alright, go to sleep early. Qing'er and the others will come and play with you tomorrow."

Yao Yao was taken aback. "Qing'er and the others are here too?"

"Yes, I just brought it back." Lin Chen stood up.

"You'll all be staying in the mansion; you'll have company from now on."

Yao Yao nodded, a smile appearing on her face.

Lin Chen walked to the door, then suddenly turned back and said:

"By the way, Yao Yao."

"Um?"

"If you've thought it through and want to be with me..." Lin Chen paused.

"It's that... I can give you a formal status."

Yao Yao's face turned bright red.

Lin Chen smiled and said, "But not now. Wait until you've thought it through yourself."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and went out.

Yao Yao sat there, staring at the door.

The moonlight shone on her face.

She suddenly smiled.

……

At the entrance of Zhao Mingyue's courtyard.

Lin Chen stood there for two seconds, adjusting his expression.

Then push the door open and go inside.

The lights in the courtyard were still on, and a slender figure was reflected in the window.

Lin Chen walked over and pushed open the door.

Zhao Mingyue was sitting in front of the dressing table, combing her hair in front of the mirror.

Her long hair cascaded down, jet black and shiny, like a waterfall.

Hearing the noise, she smiled without turning her head.

"You're here?"

Lin Chen walked over and stood behind Zhao Mingyue, looking at her face in the mirror.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Zhao Mingyue shook her head. "It's okay, I just finished combing my hair."

After saying that, she put down the comb, stood up, and turned to look at Lin Chen.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds.

Lin Chen suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Zhao Mingyue leaned against Lin Chen's chest and whispered:

"I heard you brought someone back again tonight?"

Lin Chen coughed lightly: "That... was a gift from Mei Jiu Niang."

Zhao Mingyue looked up at Lin Chen with a smile.

"Was it a gift?"

Lin Chen nodded. "Five, plus Yao Yao from before, that makes a total of six."

Zhao Mingyue was silent for two seconds, then smiled.

"Husband, you're not really going to open that kindergarten you mentioned, are you?"

Lin Chen was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Mingyue, you're getting better and better at picking up on jokes."

Zhao Mingyue chuckled a few times and leaned back into Lin Chen's arms.

"What are you going to do with those six girls?"

"Let's raise them for now!" Lin Chen shrugged. "Anyway, we don't lack food at home."

Zhao Mingyue looked up at Lin Chen, blinked, and asked, "Not touching?"

Lin Chen said seriously, "I won't touch it, at least not now."

Zhao Mingyue paused for a moment, her expression becoming somewhat complicated.

"Husband, if you do this... they'll overthink it."

Lin Chen smiled nonchalantly, "Then let them think it over slowly, and we'll talk about it when they've figured it out."

Zhao Mingyue remained silent.

Lin Chen looked down at her: "What's wrong? Are you jealous?"

Zhao Mingyue rolled her eyes: "Eat your big head, my foot!"

Lin Chen smiled and picked her up:

"Alright, forget about them, I'll stay with you tonight."

Zhao Mingyue wrapped her arms around Lin Chen's neck and whispered:

"I've been waiting for you for days."

……

The night is deep.

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

Zhao Mingyue lay in Lin Chen's arms, drawing circles on his chest with her fingers.

"My husband."

"Um?"

"What do you think our child will look like?"

Lin Chen thought for a moment, "It must look like you, beautiful."

Zhao Mingyue smiled: "And what about their personality?"

"Like me, carefree and heartless."

Zhao Mingyue laughed out loud: "That would be terrible."

"What's so great about it? I've got your back."

Zhao Mingyue leaned against Lin Chen's chest, remained quiet for a while, and then suddenly asked:

"My lord, what exactly does that Mei Jiu Niang want?"

Lin Chen thought for a moment: "She wants to find an ally. With the world about to change drastically, she also wants to find a way out."

Zhao Mingyue looked up: "You believe her?"

Lin Chen shook his head: "I don't completely believe it, but I don't completely disbelieve it either. Let's see how it goes. There's no rush."

After saying that, he looked down at Zhao Mingyue and asked with a smile:

"What? Are you worried?"

Zhao Mingyue said softly, "It's not that I'm worried, it's just that I feel... this woman is not simple."

Lin Chen smiled. "Of course it's not simple. How could an old monster over three hundred years old be simple?"

Zhao Mingyue was amused.

Lin Chen hugged her tighter, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Zhao Mingyue hummed in agreement.

There was a moment of silence.

Lin Chen suddenly asked, "Mingyue, do you think I should give Dongshan a name?"

Zhao Mingyue shifted to a more comfortable position and murmured:

"Didn't you already make a comeback? Make another one."

Lin Chen shook his head and chuckled, "That was a joke, we need to be serious now."

Zhao Mingyue thought for a moment: "Then it's called... Qifeng Mountain?"

"Qifeng? Why?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.

Zhao Mingyue laughed and said, "Didn't you want to keep so many women? This is perfect for you."

Lin Chen was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Mingyue, your mouth is even more scathing than mine."

Zhao Mingyue laughed so hard she was shaking, and after she had laughed enough, she continued:

"Actually, it doesn't matter what it's called, as long as you come up with it, it's fine."

Lin Chen lowered his head and kissed Zhao Mingyue on the forehead.

"Then let's call it... Guiyun Mountain."

Zhao Mingyue read it aloud once.

"Guiyun Mountain...where the clouds return, where people return, a good name."

Lin Chen smiled and said, "Once it's built, I'll take you to see the clouds."

Zhao Mingyue hummed in agreement.