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

Chapter 228 A concubine is just a concubine

End of midnight.

Lin Chen watched as Lan Fenghuang fell into a deep sleep, reached out to wipe away the tear stains still clinging to the corners of her eyes, and couldn't help but shake his head and smile.

The Holy Maiden of the Temple, a being who embodies both holiness and allure, is indeed extraordinary.

Lin Chen tiptoed out of bed, took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, poured out a golden Dragon-Tiger Golden Pill, and swallowed it.

After swallowing the pill, a warm current surged up from his dantian, instantly replenishing the energy he had expended over the past hour.

"They're still young, after all," Lin Chen muttered as he tied his belt.

He felt a certain tenderness and pity for Lan Fenghuang.

After all, even though they had ulterior motives, at least they were open and honest.

But what about Yagyu Yuki...?

Lin Chen pushed open the door, and the night wind rushed in, making his mind even clearer.

Putting aside the woman's intricate schemes, let's just talk about the surname "Yagyu"—

Pity? Not at all.

Lin Chen tugged at his outer robe and strolled over to the small courtyard next to the main house.

That courtyard was newly renovated and is for Liu Shengxue to live in.

"A concubine, after all, must be at your beck and call."

Lin Chen muttered to himself as he scanned the scene of the new house with his divine sense. Then, a playful smile appeared on his lips.

Then, in a flash, he appeared directly at the door of the new house and pushed the door open to go inside.

Liu Shengxue had changed out of her wedding dress and was now wearing a red gauze sword dance costume, sitting quietly by the bed.

The gauze was so thin that, when illuminated by candlelight, the outlines inside were faintly visible.

Hearing the noise, Liu Shengxue raised her head and nodded slightly:

"Your Highness."

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, looked Liu Shengxue up and down, and chuckled:

"Miss Yagyu, you..."

"I was thinking that Your Highness has just worked hard and is exhausted both physically and mentally..."

Liu Shengxue maintained her aloof demeanor, but Lin Chen, with his sharp eyes, noticed that her ears were slightly red.

"So we prepared in advance to dance for the prince, as a way to... add to the festivities."

She paused for a moment when she said the last two words.

Lin Chen walked to the table, sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea.

"To liven things up? Sure, let's dance then, I'll be watching."

Yagyu Yuki got up and took an unsharpened ceremonial sword from beside the bed.

The moment the starting stance was unfolded, Lin Chen paused, his hand holding the teacup.

It's completely different from the one I saw at Zuiyuexuan last time.

That time it was a sword dance, sharp and dashing, carrying the unique killing intent of the Dongli warriors.

this time--

The sword light flowed with a gentle grace, and the sleeves fluttered like butterflies.

With every turn and every glance back, her gaze seemed to beckon, fixed on Lin Chen.

Yagyu Yuki danced with utmost seriousness.

Her waist was so supple it seemed boneless; as she spun around, the red veil billowed up, revealing a section of her fair calves.

The sword tip sliced ​​through the air, not like martial arts practice, but more like... teasing.

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, watching with great interest.

With the final move of sheathing her sword, Liu Shengxue breathed slightly, looked up at Lin Chen, her eyes seemingly veiled with tears.

The room was quiet for a moment.

"Great!" Lin Chen clapped his hands loudly, the sound of his hands striking the ground echoing.

"Great improvement from last time, this dance is really good, wow, it's got style."

Liu Shengxue's eyes lit up for a moment, then she quickly lowered her eyelashes and said softly:

"If Your Highness is pleased, that's good."

"I love it, I really love it." Lin Chen beckoned, "Come here."

Liu Shengxue tightened her grip on the sword hilt, then put the sword down, walked over, and sat in Lin Chen's lap.

Lin Chen held her close, and could feel that her body was a little tense.

"Your Highness," Liu Shengxue spoke softly, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.

"Now that I have married you, you are the only one in my life. Dongli is my hometown, and this is where I will truly return."

Lin Chen looked down at Liu Shengxue.

In the candlelight, this usually aloof girl had slightly red eyes.

Is it an act? Or is it real?

Lin Chen's mind raced, but he tightened his grip on the arm.

"I know, this is your home from now on, so stay here comfortably."

The two drank the nuptial wine.

After finishing his drink, Lin Chen used his finger to lift Liu Shengxue's chin and said with a wicked smile:

"I've long heard that the women of Dongli possess a unique charm and are exceptionally skilled at serving men. I wonder if I might have the pleasure of experiencing it tonight?"

Liu Shengxue's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Lin Chen saw it clearly: a flash of humiliation crossed her eyes, so quick it was almost an illusion, before she smiled.

"I'm glad Your Highness likes it."

That smile looked forced no matter how you looked at it.

"Then..." Lin Chen leaned close to Liu Shengxue's ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.

"Shall we begin?"

……

In the latter half of the night, Lin Chen lay in bed with his hands behind his head.

Yagyu Yuki lay with her back to him, breathing evenly, as if she were asleep.

But Lin Chen knew she wasn't asleep.

After that "lesson," the woman's flattery was impeccable; she did and said everything perfectly, even leaving Lin Chen quite astonished.

But Lin Chen could clearly sense that she was feeling aggrieved.

That deep-seated resentment couldn't be hidden.

"Yagyuu," Lin Chen suddenly spoke.

Liu Shengxue's shoulders trembled slightly as she turned around, her face now displaying a docile expression:

"Your Highness?"

"Don't you feel like you're being wronged by marrying me?"

Liu Shengxue's eyes flickered: "This humble servant dares not."

"I wouldn't dare, it's not that I don't want to." Lin Chen smiled. "Alright, go to sleep. You can go pay your respects early tomorrow morning, no need to wake me."

Lin Chen lost interest in speaking, turned over, and closed his eyes.

After a long while, a very soft voice came from behind: "Your Highness."

"Um?"

"If one day... Dongli and the Prince are in trouble, how will the Prince treat me?"

Lin Chen didn't open his eyes and said lazily:

"That depends on your choice. Choose me, and I'll protect you. Choose Dong Li..."

Lin Chen paused, then chuckled softly:

"Then all the grievances you suffered in the Prince's mansion from now on will have been for nothing."

There was no sound behind me.

Lin Chen knew that Liu Shengxue had taken his words to heart.

This woman is clever, incredibly clever.

But smart people tend to overthink, and overthinking can easily lead to exhaustion.

Lin Chen was a little curious—what did the Emperor of Dongli want from sending her here?

Surely he doesn't really think he can control Lin Chen just by relying on a woman, right?

As Lin Chen pondered, drowsiness crept in.

My last thought before going to sleep was: I need to get Yuan Tiangang to send more spies to Dongli tomorrow.

This woman was putting on such a show tonight, dancing so passionately and professing her loyalty...

It made him almost reluctant to hurt her!

Beside her, Liu Shengxue listened to Lin Chen's breathing gradually become steady and slowly opened her eyes.

She stared at the top of the tent, her hand gently reaching under the covers towards the pillow, where a small jade pendant, the crest of the Yagyu family, was hidden.

My fingernails dug into the edge of the jade pendant, causing a sharp pain.

Is it humiliating?

Of course it's humiliating.

But she had no choice.

Her father sent her here to make a knife and stick it into Lin Chen's pillow.

And tonight's dance, all the pandering, is just to make this knife... even less conspicuous.

She turned her head to look at Lin Chen's sleeping profile.

This man was more difficult to deal with than she had imagined.

Liu Shengxue closed her eyes and pushed the jade pendant deeper into the pillow.

There is ample time.

Let's see who has the last laugh.