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

Chapter 198 Blue Phoenix's Heart-to-Heart Talk

The Imperial Study.

Empress Zhao Lingyang looked at the stack of memorials on the table and rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.

These were all delivered this morning; they are all impeachments against Lin Chen.

"The Prince of Zhenbei's indiscriminate killing of innocent people violates the laws of Heaven..."

"The curfew is disturbing the peace, and the people are full of complaints..."

"Unauthorized deployment of private troops into the city demonstrates a blatant disregard for imperial authority..."

Each and every one of them was written with righteous indignation and force.

The Empress sneered and pushed the memorial aside.

"Azure Phoenix".

"Yes, ma'am," the personal maidservant replied.

"Issue the imperial decree: Tomorrow morning at court, I wish to personally meet these ministers who are so concerned about the country and its people."

"Yes."

……

Thousands of miles away.

Nanzhao Temple

Inside an ancient hall built against the mountain, several elders sat together.

"Blue Phoenix has sent word that Lin Chen has agreed to help the Holy Temple return to its ancestral lineage," a white-haired elder said slowly.

"The condition is... she must completely submit."

"Submit?" another black-robed elder sneered.

"The holy maiden of my Nanzhao Temple is going to become a concubine for a prince of a dynasty?"

"Not a concubine," the white-haired elder corrected, "but... one of the wives."

"Is there a difference?" The black-robed elder slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "This is a disgrace! The Temple has lost all face in its thousand-year history!"

"Then what do you think should be done?" the high priest, seated at the head of the table, suddenly spoke, his voice aged yet authoritative.

"Send someone to capture Lan Fenghuang? Or go to war with Lin Chen?"

The elder in black robes paused.

"Lin Chen has a terrestrial immortal under his command, and a cavalry force of at least one thousand men of the lowest rank," the High Priest said slowly.

"What does our temple have? The strongest among us is only at the peak of the Celestial Realm. How can we possibly fight him?"

Everyone fell silent.

"That girl Phoenix... has her own ideas." A complex look flashed in the high priest's eyes.

"Since she has chosen this path, let her go."

"But the High Priest..."

"Enough," the high priest waved his hand.

"There's no need to discuss this further. Issue the order: from this day forward, Lan Fenghuang is no longer the Holy Maiden of the Nanzhao Temple... and is free to marry."

"Also, remove the Gu worms from her body that have caused the backlash, and then select a batch of rare items from the treasury... I will personally deliver them to the capital of Dayan..."

"The High Priest?!" The elders were shocked, as the High Priest never left the temple.

The high priest, however, did not leave the group; he simply waved his hand and departed.

……

Lin Chen stayed in the study until noon when Lin Wu came to report.

"Your Highness, after Miss Lan and Madam Qi had breakfast, they have been sitting in the small pavilion in the west wing."

She changed into new clothes, combed her hair, put on a white jade hairpin, and brewed a pot of tea, but hasn't touched it yet.

Lin Chen chuckled lightly: "Who are you waiting for?"

"It looks like they're waiting for you." Lin Wu paused, "but... they're dressed up a little too elaborately."

Lin Chen put down the letter, stood up, and said, "I'll go take a look."

……

The small pavilion in the west wing courtyard overlooks the pond, where the lotus flowers are in full bloom right now.

Lan Fenghuang sat on a stone bench, wearing a light blue long dress with silver threads on the hem swaying in the light.

She sat upright with her back straight, her hands folded on her knees, her eyes fixed on the pond, but a closer look revealed that her gaze was unfocused.

Lin Chen deliberately made his footsteps heavy.

Lan Fenghuang turned around abruptly, saw that it was Lin Chen, and immediately stood up.

"Your Highness."

"Sit down, sit down." Lin Chen waved his hand, sat down opposite her, and glanced at the teapot on the stone table.

"Oh, top-quality Yunwu tea? You brewed it but didn't drink it, are you waiting for me?"

Lan Fenghuang's ears turned slightly red. She didn't reply and sat down again.

Lin Chen poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip:

"Speak, what is it? You dressed up like this all the way, you can't possibly regret our appointment tonight, can you?"

"No..." Lan Fenghuang took a breath, "I have some things I don't know how to say to Your Highness."

"What did you say?"

Lan Fenghuang didn't answer, but instead asked, "Does Your Highness think I look good in this outfit today?"

Lin Chen was taken aback, then smiled:

"It looks beautiful, especially beautiful. This blue suits you perfectly, and the hairpin matches too. What's wrong?"

"Does Your Highness like it?"

"I like it." Lin Chen put down his cup and leaned forward slightly.

"But Miss Lan, what are you up to? Just talk to me directly, no need to beat around the bush."

Lan Fenghuang bit her lip and suddenly reached out to touch Lin Chen's hand on the stone table.

Her fingertips gently rested on the back of Lin Chen's hand.

Lin Chen didn't move.

"The holy maidens of the Nanzhao Temple cannot marry." Lan Fenghuang's voice was soft, but every word was clear.

"You must not have any private affairs. If you are discovered... you will be subjected to the torture of having your heart devoured by ten thousand poisonous insects."

"So?" Lin Chen turned his hand and grasped Lan Fenghuang's fingers.

Blue Phoenix's fingers trembled, but she didn't pull them back.

"That's why I wore this outfit and styled my hair this way today, and I'm waiting for you here." She looked up and stared straight at Lin Chen.

"The backlash from the Gu worms in my body was relieved half an hour ago."

The High Priest of the Temple must already know about us and have tacitly approved of it…”

Lin Chen chuckled, "Isn't this a good thing?"

"Yes." Lan Fenghuang nodded, "But this also means I am no longer the Holy Maiden, I no longer have this identity, Your Highness, you..."

"Do you think I care about that?" Lin Chen's lips curled slightly, his thumb stroking the back of Lan Fenghuang's hand.

"I don't care about the temple's plans, and I won't break my promise to you."

But let me make this clear from the start: this is not a charity. Once you're in, don't expect to leave easily.

"And I have quite a few women, and there might be even more in the future. Can you accept that?"

"able."

"So straightforward?"

Blue Phoenix chuckled softly:

"Your Highness, we women of Nanzhao, once we've made up our minds, we don't do anything coy or hesitant."

Lin Chen stared at Lan Fenghuang for several seconds, then suddenly reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his embrace.

Lan Fenghuang stiffened for a moment, then softened and obediently leaned on Lin Chen's shoulder.

"So you've... finally figured it out?" Lin Chen asked, looking down.

"I've already figured it out," Lan Fenghuang's voice muffled inside Lin Chen's clothes.

"From the moment I made that request, from the day you said you wanted to see my sincerity, I knew what I had to do."

"What do you understand?"

"I understand that sincerity isn't just about words, it's about actions." Lan Fenghuang looked up at Lin Chen, her eyes sparkling.

"So I will first show my sincerity. As for whether Your Highness believes me or accepts it... that is your business."

Lin Chen laughed and pinched Lan Fenghuang's cheek: "You're quite the general."

"Will Your Highness accept this offer?"

"Answer it, why don't you answer it?" Lin Chen hugged her tighter.

"But Blue Phoenix, I need to confirm one more time, are you really not going to regret it?"

It's not too late to regret it now, but after today...

Before Lin Chen could finish speaking, Lan Fenghuang tilted her head back and kissed him on the chin.

Very light, very fast.

After the kiss, she buried her face back, her ears turning bright red.

Lin Chen was slightly taken aback, then laughed even harder:

"Okay, I understand."

……

After a long while, Lan Fenghuang asked softly, "Your Highness, where will I live from now on?"

"I'll stay in the west wing," Lin Chen said. "If you don't like it, we can move."

"As Your Highness wishes." Lan Fenghuang paused, "Then... tonight?"

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, thought for a moment, and said:

"Since you've made up your mind, there's no rush. When the time comes, you and Liu Shengxue will enter together, and then we'll do our good deed!"

Lan Fenghuang was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then a warm feeling washed over her, and she whispered:

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!"

"No need to be so polite!" Lin Chen chuckled. "I always cherish my women!"

If you follow me, you won't have to abide by those ridiculous rules of Nanzhao anymore.

Wear whatever you want, dress however you want, without having to worry about anyone else's opinion.

Lan Fenghuang's nose suddenly felt a little sore.

"And another thing," Lin Chen continued:

"Once things are settled in the manor, I'll take you to Zhongzhou. Don't worry, just wait patiently!"

"Hmm," Blue Phoenix responded softly, then asked in a low voice:

"Your Highness, from now on... how should I address you?"

"Whatever you like." Lin Chen closed his eyes. "You can call me Your Highness, you can call me by my name, or you can call me husband like Xue'er does."

"Lin Chen," Lan Fenghuang called out tentatively.

"Um."

"Lin Chen".

"I'm here."

Blue Phoenix stopped chirping and leaned against Lin Chen, a slow smile curving her lips.

Outside the pavilion, a young maidservant brought over some snacks. Upon seeing the scene inside, she quickly shrank back, covering her mouth and giggling.

The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of the Prince's residence.

From this day forward, the girl in blue in the guest room will be different.