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

Chapter 287 Trip to Dongshan

Murong Xue and Su Xiaoxiao came out together.

Murong Xue, who was more than two months pregnant, was dressed in a pale yellow palace dress and had her hair styled in an exquisite updo. She walked gracefully, like a lady who had stepped out of a painting.

She looked at the scene at the door with a smile, speaking softly.

"My husband has really gone to great lengths, making such a grand spectacle."

Su Xiaoxiao, also two months pregnant, wore a light green dress and a sweet smile, her eyes crinkling into crescents.

"Seventh Sister is right, I've never seen such a big scene before."

Lin Chen waved his hand: "It's nothing, it's nothing. Safety comes first when you're traveling."

Next up are Lan Fenghuang and Liu Shengxue.

Today, Lan Fenghuang changed into a moon-white long dress, with silver chains jingling. Standing there, she looked like she had stepped out of a painting, with a bewitching smile on her face. She glanced at Lin Chen and winked.

Yagyu Yuki was still dressed in a simple white kimono, looking aloof and cool, but the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, indicating that she was in a good mood.

The two walked over, and Lan Fenghuang whispered:

"My husband, it's so lively today."

Lin Chen chuckled: "It's lively, it's lively."

Yao Yao followed behind, her face slightly flushed, holding Qing'er's hand.

Qing'er and the others giggled and chattered incessantly:

"Wow, so many guards!"

"That guy in the gold shirt looks so handsome!"

"Stop swooning, those are the Eighteen Arhats, highly accomplished monks!"

Yao Yao was pulled along by them, and the blush on her face never faded.

Qin Xin and the other three walked with elegance, befitting their status as courtesans. Every step seemed measured, and they wore appropriate smiles on their faces.

But their eyes were sparkling, clearly showing they were looking forward to today's outing.

The last one to come out was Zhao Mingyue.

She had a slightly protruding belly—just a month along, so it was barely noticeable.

Wearing a light purple ruqun (a traditional Chinese dress), with her hair styled in a gentle updo and a smile on her face, she radiated a soft glow, like a new mother.

As soon as Lin Chen saw her, he quickly took two steps forward and took her arm.

"Why are you alone? Where is your maid?"

Zhao Mingyue smiled helplessly.

"I'm not some delicate little woman; don't forget, I'm a celestial being."

Lin Chen supported her carefully:

"This has nothing to do with cultivation level. You're still in your early stages, so you need to be careful."

Zhao Mingyue glared at Lin Chen, then gently patted her belly.

"Now you know how to be nervous, last night..."

Lin Chen quickly reached out and covered Zhao Mingyue's mouth, letting out a dry laugh:

"What nonsense are you talking about? I didn't do anything reckless. It's all your fault... Anyway, you're now a top priority for protection in our family, on par with Ruyan!"

Liu Ruyan heard this from ahead, turned around, and chuckled.

"Husband, are you saying that I wasn't someone who needed special protection before?"

Lin Chen: "..."

Oh no, I said the wrong thing.

He quickly tried to salvage the situation: "Of course you are! You're a top-tier protected individual, and Mingyue is a first-tier one—both are key personnel!"

Liu Ruyan snorted and didn't pursue the matter further, but the corners of her mouth curled up even higher.

Xiao Yulou muttered to himself:

"Top-tier, first-tier... Is my husband classifying us like military supplies?"

Qin Shuyan calmly replied, "It's arranged by month, which is very reasonable."

Wen Ruoxi laughed: "So, does that mean my appointments for the next two months will be at the very bottom of the queue?"

Lin Chen was at his wit's end: "Ruoxi, stop messing around! In my heart, you'll always be a top student!"

Wen Ruoxi rolled her eyes: "Come on, your special grade is worthless. You only came to see me once in half a month."

Ye Qingying rarely spoke, but she coldly added another blow:

"That's probably the wholesale price."

Lin Chen: "..."

The ladies burst into laughter.

Lin Nian'er appeared out of nowhere and tugged at Lin Chen's clothes:

"Uncle Ba! Uncle Ba! Where should I sit?"

Lin Chen looked down at her. The little girl was wearing a bright red coat today, with two little pigtails, and her cheeks were rosy, like a New Year's picture doll.

Lin Chen picked her up in one swift motion:

"Would you like to ride in the same car as me?"

Lin Nian'er clapped and cheered:

"Okay! Okay! I want to go with Uncle Ba!"

Liu Ruyan watched from the side, smiling gently:

"Nian'er, stop bothering your Eighth Uncle."

Lin Nian'er pouted:

"I wasn't making a scene, Uncle Ba told me to sit down."

Lin Chen waved his hand:

"It's alright, it's alright, let her sit with me."

He looked up at the sky, then at the dense crowd of people.

The twenty-one ladies, each with their own unique charm, stood together like a hundred flowers vying for attention.

Everyone's face was rosy, radiating a moist and healthy glow.

Lan Fenghuang is both holy and alluring, Liu Shengxue is both charming and aloof, Qin Xin and her four companions are elegant and intellectual, Qing'er and her friends are lively and captivating, and Yao Yao is both pure and seductive...

In addition, there's Liu Ruyan's composure, Chu Yueyao's gentleness, Qin Shuyan's intelligence, Xiao Yulou's valor, Wen Ruoxi's shrewdness, Ye Qingying's aloofness, Murong Xue's gentleness, Su Xiaoxiao's sweetness, and Zhao Mingyue's elegance...

Lin Chen stared, his eyes wide with amazement.

The old lady coughed from the side:

"Chen'er, what are you looking at? Your eyes are about to pop out."

Lin Chen quickly snapped out of his daze and chuckled:

"Nothing, nothing, I just think that all the women in our family are quite beautiful."

The old lady rolled her eyes at him:

"Of course! If it weren't good-looking, would it be allowed in our house?"

Su Wanqing shook her head helplessly beside her:

"Chen'er, be more composed. You're about to become a father, don't be so irresponsible."

Lin Chen spoke with conviction:

"Mother, I'm just appreciating beauty, how is that being out of touch?"

Zhao Mingyue gently pinched him and whispered:

"Alright, stop joking around and hurry up and get on the bus. Standing for too long is tiring."

Lin Chen then realized what was happening and quickly greeted them:

"Yes, yes, get on the bus! Everyone get on the bus!"

He helped Zhao Mingyue up, and then called to Liu Ruyan.

"Ruyan, you and Yulou will ride in a stable car. I've had someone prepare a soft cushion for you."

Liu Ruyan nodded and, with Xiao Yulou's help, boarded the largest carriage.

Chu Yueyao and Qin Shuyan were in one car, Wen Ruoxi and Ye Qingying were in another, and Murong Xue and Su Xiaoxiao were in yet another.

Lan Fenghuang and Liu Shengxue rode in one car, Yao Yao and Qing'er and a few others rode in another car, and Qin Xin and her three companions rode in yet another car.

Lin Chen carried Lin Nian'er and helped Zhao Mingyue into the most luxurious carriage at the front.

The old lady and Su Wanqing rode in a car, bringing up the rear in the middle of the procession.

Zhuge Liang, mounted on his horse, waved his feather fan:

"Set off!"

Three hundred Snow Dragon Riders led the way, one hundred and eight Hidden Dragon Guards were scattered around, and eighteen Arhats guarded them from the air.

The entire procession, like a long silver dragon, snaked its way out from the gate of the Prince's Mansion and headed towards Dongshan.

The people on the street were stunned:

"My goodness, whose funeral is this... ptooey, whose outing is this?"

"Didn't you see that flag? It belongs to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, this spectacle is even more grand than His Majesty's departure from the palace!"

"How can that be compared? The Prince of Zhenbei is now the top dog of our Dayan Dynasty, and even the Central Plains Holy Land doesn't dare to provoke him."

"That makes sense."

Lin Chen listened to the discussions outside from inside the carriage, shaking his head and smiling bitterly.

Zhao Mingyue raised an eyebrow slightly. "What's wrong?"

Lin Chen waved his hand: "It's nothing. I just feel lucky that I'm a playboy, otherwise, if I were this high-profile, your sister would probably kill me."

Lin Nian'er lay on Lin Chen's lap, tilting her little face up and asking:

"Uncle Ba, what does '纨绔' (wan ku, meaning a spoiled brat) mean?"

Lin Chen patted her head:

"A playboy is someone who doesn't have to work, plays all day, and still has money to spend."

Lin Nian'er's eyes lit up:

"Then I'll be a spoiled brat when I grow up!"

Zhao Mingyue chuckled.

Lin Chen said in a serious tone:

"No, you're a girl, you should be a little princess."

Lin Nian'er tilted her head and thought for a moment:

"Then I'll be the little princess, and Uncle Ba will be the playboy, and we'll go play together!"

Lin Chen laughed heartily:

"Okay! It's a deal!"

The carriage swayed and rattled out of the city gate and headed towards Dongshan.

The sun is just right, the breeze is not dry.

Lin Chen lifted the carriage curtain, looked at the scenery outside, and then looked back at the long line of carriages behind him. He suddenly felt a little sentimental.

Having transmigrated for so long, he has gone from a纨绔 (a spoiled, dissolute young man) ridiculed throughout the capital to a man with many wives and concubines, a prosperous family, and immense power.

Although the process was a bit outrageous and bizarre, it was all something he deserved for his "efforts".