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

Chapter 417 Return to Beijing

Two weeks later, in the evening.

The group finally arrived in the capital region.

The setting sun dyed the sky orange-red, and the city walls of the capital shimmered with golden light in the twilight. From afar, they looked like a golden beast lying on the earth, exuding an aura of dominance.

Yao Yao was the first to press her face against the car window, her eyes wide with excitement.

"We're back! We're back! We're back!"

A-Yue peeked out from behind her shoulder, her face filled with shock: "Is this the capital of Dayan?"

Da Shuang and Xiao Shuang also came over, all four eyes staring at the majestic city wall. Da Shuang whispered, "It's so big."

Xiao Shuang nodded in agreement: "Yes, it's huge."

Yagyu Yuki sat by the window, looking out with a blank expression, but a glimmer of light in her eyes.

Although she disliked the capital very much when she first arrived, she now considers it her home.

Liu Sheng Piaopiao tugged at Shan Lingkongya's sleeve and whispered, "Mother, we've arrived."

As Shan Lingkongya looked out the window at the city gate getting closer and closer, a hint of tension appeared in her eyes.

The thought of facing Lin Chen's wife and family made her feel a little uneasy.

Lan Fenghuang glanced at the lively scene in the carriage, then looked at Lin Chen and said softly, "We're home."

Lin Chen leaned back on the cushion, crossed his legs, and slowly curled up the corners of his mouth.

"Yes, I'm home."

A large group of people stood at the city gate.

The Empress stood at the very front, dressed in a black dragon robe and wearing a phoenix crown, exuding an awe-inspiring majesty.

The setting sun shone on her, making her look as if she were plated with gold, exuding an aura of power.

Behind him followed a dense crowd of civil and military officials, standing in perfect order, their breathing synchronized.

Lin Chen got off the carriage, straightened his clothes, and walked quickly over.

He approached the Empress, clasped his hands in a salute, and said in a loud voice, "Your Majesty, I have returned."

The Empress looked at Lin Chen, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

"Thanks for your hard work."

"It's not hard work." Lin Chen looked up and winked at the Empress.

The Empress looked Lin Chen up and down, her brows furrowing slightly: "You've lost weight."

Lin Chen chuckled: "I haven't lost weight, I've actually gained two pounds."

The Empress gave Lin Chen a reproachful look, which almost made him lose his temper.

Zhuge Liang stood behind the Empress, dressed in a Bagua robe, holding a feather fan, smiling as he looked at Lin Chen and slowly waving the fan.

"My lord, you must be tired from your journey."

Lin Chen nodded: "Thank you for your hard work, sir."

Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "It's no trouble at all, it's my duty."

The two exchanged a glance, and everything was understood without a word.

Lin Chen glanced at him, then at the Empress, and suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

In this life, Zhuge Liang is his "Prime Minister," and the ruler of a country is his woman.

This world is truly amazing.

The Empress's gaze passed over Lin Chen and landed on the group of women behind him. It paused for a moment on Shan Ling Kongya before moving away.

She didn't ask, nor did she say anything.

But Lin Chen noticed a fleeting glimpse of something unusual in her eyes.

Lin Chen turned around and said to Lan Fenghuang, "You two go back to the East Mountain Villa first. I need to go to the palace with His Majesty to discuss some matters."

Lan Fenghuang nodded, led the women into the carriage, and headed towards the East Mountain Villa.

Zhuge Liang also went along.

The Empress's palanquin stopped at the city gate, pulled by eight white horses, with a golden roof and red curtains, looking incredibly grand.

Lin Chen boarded the imperial carriage, and as soon as the curtain was drawn, the noise outside was instantly shut out.

There were only two people in the imperial carriage.

The Empress leaned back on the soft couch, looking at Lin Chen without saying a word.

Lin Chen felt a little uneasy under that gaze: "What's wrong?"

The Empress suddenly reached out and touched Lin Chen's face; her fingers were cool.

"You've lost weight."

"I haven't lost any weight..."

"I said I've lost weight, and that's final." The Empress's tone left no room for argument.

Lin Chen shut up.

The Empress's hand slid from Lin Chen's face to his chin, pinched it, and looked him over as if inspecting a piece of merchandise.

With the Empress pinching his chin, Lin Chen mumbled, "Your Majesty, are you inspecting the goods?"

The Empress released her grip and rolled her eyes: "Smooth talker."

Lin Chen chuckled, reached out and took her hand, rubbing his thumb against the back of her hand.

"Your Majesty, I miss you too."

The empress blushed slightly, but she didn't pull away, letting Lin Chen hold her hand, though the corners of her mouth curved up.

The imperial carriage swayed and wobbled forward, its wheels making a rumbling sound as they rolled over the bluestone pavement.

Lin Chen looked at the Empress and suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, is there something you want to tell me?"

The Empress raised an eyebrow: "How did you know?"

Lin Chen smiled and said, "I could tell from your expression. You look like someone who needs to use the restroom during court but is too embarrassed to leave early."

The Empress glared at Lin Chen: "Can't you be serious for once?"

Lin Chen immediately sat up straight, his face stern: "Your Majesty, please speak."

The Empress was rendered speechless by Lin Chen's sudden change of expression. She took a deep breath, placed her hand on her lower abdomen, and whispered a sentence.

"Lin Chen, I'm pregnant."

Lin Chen was taken aback: "What is it?"

The Empress glared at him: "What do you think?"

Lin Chen's gaze fell on the Empress's lower abdomen, which was slightly swollen and not noticeable unless you looked closely.

He stared at the curve for three seconds, his brain racing.

It's not that I'm not surprised.

Well... how should I put it? He already has several children, so hearing this news was a pleasant surprise, but not a huge one.

It's like you've already drawn a bunch of SSRs, and when you get another one, you're completely calm.

The Empress looked at Lin Chen's expression, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes.

"Are you unhappy?"

Lin Chen snapped out of his daze, grasped the Empress's hand, and squeezed it hard.

"Happy? Of course I'm happy!"

The Empress stared into Lin Chen's eyes: "Really?"

Lin Chen nodded, his expression serious: "Really, I'm just... a little confused. You've kept it well hidden, not letting a word out."

The Empress lowered her head, a slight smile curving her lips: "I want to tell you this to your face."

Seeing the Empress's demure and womanly demeanor, Lin Chen's heart softened, and he reached out to pull her into his arms.

The Empress leaned on Lin Chen's shoulder and said sullenly, "I thought you were unhappy."

Lin Chen rested his chin on the Empress's head and chuckled:

"How could I be? This is my child, how could I not be happy? I'm just wondering, when this little guy is born, will he call me 'Father' or 'Empress'?"

The Empress punched Lin Chen in the chest: "Can't you be serious for once?!"

"Okay, okay, seriously now." Lin Chen tightened his arms around him. "You've worked hard."

The Empress leaned against Lin Chen's chest without speaking, but her fingers gripped Lin Chen's clothes tightly.

After a long while, she raised her head, looked at Lin Chen, and said in a serious tone:

"Lin Chen, I've made up my mind. I'm going to announce your status as my imperial consort."

Lin Chen was taken aback: "The Emperor's Consort?"

The Empress nodded: "Yes, and I will bestow upon you the title of King of the First Rank, to rule the world with me. In this way, the child's origins will not be unknown."

Lin Chen paused for a moment.

To be honest, he had no interest in these empty titles. What were terms like "King of the Same Rank" or "Joint Rule of the World"? Just hearing about them was exhausting.

His biggest dream is to lie flat, sleep until he naturally wakes up every day, and do whatever he wants.

But when Lin Chen looked into the Empress's eyes, he saw a mixture of expectation and a little nervousness.

Various thoughts flashed through Lin Chen's mind, then he smiled and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

The Empress's eyes lit up: "You don't object?"

Lin Chen shook his head: "I don't object, but..."

"But what?"

Lin Chen said seriously, "As a king of equal rank, can I skip court? I'm lazy."

Empress: "…………"

She glared at Lin Chen, gritting her teeth: "You wish!"

Lin Chen chuckled: "Then can I be late or leave early?"

"cannot."

"Could I ask for leave?"

"It depends."

"Then could you—"

The Empress covered his mouth with her hand: "If you keep haggling, I'll make you come to court every day."

Lin Chen immediately shut up and raised his hands in surrender.

The Empress was amused by Lin Chen's words, leaned back into his arms, and drew circles on his chest with her fingers.

The imperial carriage swayed and moved forward, the two of them leaning against each other without saying a word.

By the time they arrived at the palace, it was already dark.

The red lanterns at the palace gate lit up, illuminating the entire palace road like a red river.

The Empress pulled Lin Chen into her bedchamber, and once the door was closed, the outside world was cut off.

That night, the two talked a lot.

The Empress leaned against Lin Chen's chest, tracing circles on his chest with her fingers, asking all sorts of questions—the daily routine of the imperial tour, the strange phenomena in the northern border, the situation in the central region, and the great changes in the world.

Lin Chen replied casually, but his voice gradually lowered as he spoke...

After the storm had subsided, the Empress spoke languidly:

"Lin Chen, tell me, what should we name our child?"

Lin Chen, with his eyes closed, said nonchalantly, "You can get up now."

The Empress paused for a moment: "I'll get up?"

Lin Chen nodded: "You are the child's mother, so he will take your surname. Of course, you can name him."

The Empress looked at Lin Chen, and her eyes suddenly reddened.

She didn't say anything, but leaned back into Lin Chen's arms and buried her face in his chest.

After a long while, the Empress's muffled voice came from his chest:

"I'll have to think about it carefully."

Lin Chen lowered his head and kissed the top of her head.

"No rush, there are still several months to go."

The Empress didn't speak again, her fingers slowly drawing circles on Lin Chen's chest, her movements gradually slowing down.

Lin Chen listened to the Empress's breathing gradually become even, and knew that she had fallen asleep.

Looking at the Empress's peaceful sleeping face, he suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

This woman, who is a majestic empress in public, is a coquettish and nervous little woman in front of him.

Lin Chen pulled the blanket up to cover the Empress's shoulders, then closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.