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

Chapter 164 Blue Phoenix

Although it was at a post station, Lin Chen's pomp and circumstance were never lacking.

The Thirteen Protectors quickly set up the table, filling it with delicacies from land and sea, as well as fine vintage wines.

Since his three sisters-in-law were pregnant and couldn't drink, Lin Chen pulled Li Bai, Wen Tianli, and others into a drinking session.

"Come on! Fill it up!" Lin Chen raised his glass. "We're so happy today, let's drink until we drop!"

After a few drinks, Wen Tianli and the other two relaxed.

"Your Highness's journey has truly broadened my horizons," Wen Tianli remarked.

"Decisive in killing, yet with the people at heart."

"Don't flatter me." Lin Chen chuckled. "I just don't like those people."

Li Bai took a swig of wine, and his poetic inspiration surged: "My lord, I have a poem..."

"Stop!" Lin Chen quickly stopped him.

"Mr. Li Bai, if you're going to drink, then drink. Don't write poetry. Leave some room for the writers of this world to survive!"

Li Bai choked, then sullenly took a swig of wine.

Everyone burst into laughter.

Just as they were enjoying their drinks, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from outside the post station.

The sound was urgent, coming closer as it approached.

The Heavenly Guards came in to report:

"My lord, a group of about twenty people has arrived outside. The leader is a woman who claims to be Lan Fenghuang, the Holy Maiden of Nanzhao. She has come to pay her respects to you."

The noisy banquet instantly fell silent.

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow slightly: "Blue Phoenix?"

Eighth on the Rouge List, the Holy Maiden of Nanzhao, mentioned by Seventh Sister-in-law Murong Xue as her close confidante.

But the Holy Maiden usually doesn't leave the Nanzhao Holy Temple, so why did she come here?

"Let her in."

Before long, a group of people entered the courtyard of the post station.

The leader was a woman dressed in blue, her silver ornaments jingling and sparkling in the torchlight.

She was in her early twenties, with the fair skin typical of women from southern Xinjiang.

Her features were so exquisite they looked like they had been painted on, especially her eyes, which had a slight upturn at the corners.

She has a touch of allure when she looks at people, yet her expression remains dignified and pure.

This contrast adds to its charm.

Blue Phoenix bowed gracefully, her voice as melodious as a nightingale's.

"Blue Phoenix greets the Prince of Zhenbei. I have heard of Your Highness's great victory over Beishuo and your triumphant return to the capital, and have come to offer my congratulations."

Lin Chen didn't stand up, but simply raised his hand, "Holy Maiden, you're too kind, please sit!"

Lan Fenghuang didn't mind, and gracefully took her seat, her gaze sweeping across the table.

Upon seeing Qin Shuyan and the other two women, his gaze lingered on them for a moment before he smiled and spoke:

"These must be the prince's wives, right? They are all stunningly beautiful; no wonder the prince dotes on them so much."

Qin Shuyan said softly, "You flatter me, Holy Maiden. I've heard Seventh Sister mention you before, and seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved."

"Sister Xue'er mentioned me?" Lan Fenghuang's eyes lit up.

"I haven't seen her in a long time either. I came to Dayan this time specifically to catch up with Sister Xue'er."

Lin Chen poured himself a glass of wine and asked casually:

"Didn't the Nanzhao delegation just pay tribute a few days ago? Why has the Holy Maiden come in person again?"

Lan Fenghuang smiled sweetly: "Last time it was a state tribute mission, this time it's a private visit..."

She paused, her gaze drifting almost imperceptibly towards Lin Chen:

"The Temple also wishes to establish a relationship with Your Highness. Your Highness is now renowned throughout the world, and although the Temple does not easily engage with the world, it also hopes to befriend you."

Lin Chen's mind stirred slightly. In Nanzhao, the status of the Holy Temple was above that of the king.

This saintess's sudden appearance is definitely not just about "befriending" someone.

However, he didn't expose it, and chuckled lightly:

"Since she is Seventh Sister-in-law's sister, then she is one of us. Let us add a seat and invite the Holy Maiden's people to dine together."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The banquet continued.

Lan Fenghuang is very good at talking.

One moment he was chatting with Qin Shuyan about parenting, the next he was talking to Xiao Yulou about the affairs of the martial arts world.

He then told Ye Qingying about interesting things in the Southern Frontier, and quickly became familiar with the three women.

Lin Chen drank while secretly observing.

There are at least dozens of different kinds of Gu worms hidden in the silver ornaments around Lan Fenghuang's waist.

Lin Chen sensed that one of them posed a threat to the Celestials.

However, the celestial beings are no match for him now.

After the banquet, Lan Fenghuang was arranged to stay in the west wing of the post station.

Lin Chen returned to the main house, and Ye Qingying whispered:

"Eighth Brother, this Saintess Lan probably has ulterior motives. The way she looks at you... is not right."

"Something's not right?" Lin Chen teased her.

"It's just... I can't quite put my finger on it." Ye Qingying frowned. "It seems like I'm very interested, but it's more than just interest."

Lin Chen chuckled and embraced Ye Qingying, saying:

"As long as she doesn't cross my bottom line, let her be. Your most important thing right now is to take care of your pregnancy. Don't worry about anything else."

Ye Qingying leaned against Lin Chen's chest and softly hummed in agreement.

……

The convoy continued its journey the following day.

Lin Chen arranged for Lan Fenghuang to ride in a separate carriage, right behind Qin Shuyan and the other two women's carriages.

Along the way, she would occasionally lift the carriage curtain and chat and laugh with the three women in the carriage in front.

Lin Chen could clearly sense that Lan Fenghuang's gaze was directed at his carriage for at least a third of the time.

Jing Ke transmitted his voice, saying, "My lord, the way this holy maiden looks at you is as if she's looking at some rare treasure."

"Let her watch if she wants," Lin Chen said, leaning back on the cushions and closing his eyes to rest.

"Being handsome means I can't even look at him?"

Jing Ke remained silent.

The convoy moved forward slowly.

As they drew closer to the capital, Lin Chen's feelings became increasingly complicated.

I'm happy to be home, after all, my sister-in-law... my seventh sister-in-law, Su Xiaoxiao and the others are all waiting for me.

But the thought of returning to the capital and facing the challenges ahead is giving me a headache.

Although he won a great victory in the Northern War, he also revealed his Celestial Realm cultivation level.

Think of the Empress, the imperial court, and the various factions...

Although he wasn't afraid, dealing with those people's intrigues and social obligations every day was quite tiring.

He can't just start killing people for no reason, can he?

He's not a superhero; if others don't provoke him, he's still quite kind.

Lin Chen shook his head to dispel the impending troubles, and then thought of his sisters-in-law at home.

It's been more than three months since we last met, and I've really missed it.

In addition, I also thought of the pure and innocent eldest princess with a strong sense of womanhood and the third princess of Dongli, plus this suddenly appearing blue phoenix...

Oh, and there's that high and mighty empress.

Lin Chen's lips curled into a wicked smile as he muttered to himself:

"It's better for it to be lively; it's not fun if it's too quiet."

Inside the convoy, the curtain of Lan Fenghuang's carriage was lifted again.

She looked in the direction of Lin Chen's carriage, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

His fingers gently traced a silver bell at his waist, but the bell rang silently.

An extremely tiny Gu worm was trembling slightly in the direction of Lin Chen's carriage.

Lan Fenghuang parted her red lips slightly and said in a voice only she could hear:

"Sister Xue'er, your little husband... is much more interesting than you described."

She lowered the carriage curtain, leaned against the carriage, and looked wistful.

This trip to the Central Plains was ostensibly to visit Murong Xue, but in reality...

Lan Fenghuang touched her lower abdomen, where a natal Gu was hidden.