537: Chapter 537 Who's on Duty?

"Husband... are you laughing at me in your heart?"

Xiao Qingxuan noticed the teasing in the man's eyes and immediately looked shy.

She regretted saying it out loud.

"How could I?"

Lin Xiao composed himself and said: "There is nothing shameful about respecting someone better than yourself. My dear, as a princess, your ability to admit that so openly makes your humility all the more precious."

"If it were possible, I would love to hear you tell me everything about your life from childhood to now, so that I can better understand my own wife."

Xiao Qingxuan was delighted; only a man who values his wife would want to know her past.

She gently buried her head in his chest and whispered: "I would also love to hear more about your youth, Husband..."

"That is a long story. For the rest of our lives, I will tell you slowly..."

Lin Xiao felt it was far from the time to explain his true identity to the women.

"Since you are interested in this Princess Lanyi, then I will leave this matter entirely to you."

"Although most of the Northern Trade Alliance is managed by Su Wansha, involving the Prince of Wu from Baiyue is a different matter entirely."

Xiao Qingxuan's expression turned serious: "Does my husband have any instructions?"

"Everything else is fine, but remember one thing: I am determined to have Baiyue."

Lin Xiao knew even with his eyes closed what the Prince of Wu was plotting by sending his daughter over.

It was nothing more than wanting to test the waters to see if he could keep his fiefdom as a vassal king by feigning submission, just like a hundred years ago.

Lin Xiao even suspected that sending Princess Lanyi was a calculated move, guessing that Princess Lanyi had many 'little fan girls' and wanting to use her influence to persuade Su Wansha and the others to whisper sweet nothings in his ear.

"Rest assured, Husband. Although I admire Princess Lanyi, you are my sky, the most important person to me."

Xiao Qingxuan said softly: "I will definitely make Princess Lanyi understand that when it comes to the unification of the world, there is no room for negotiation."

"I have always been at ease with how you handle things, my dear."

Lin Xiao said no more; after all, she was born into the imperial family and understood the weight of these matters better than he did.

By dinner time, the women had returned one after another.

Lin Xiao noticed that the dining table had been changed to a large round table that could seat over a dozen people.

"My dear, there are only a few of us. Is such a big table necessary?"

Xiao Qingxuan said as if it were obvious: "Husband, although we don't need it now, once the other sisters return from outside, we will definitely need it. We have to prepare in advance."

"That's right. Rongying is in E Prefecture, Liuer is in Qi Province, and there is also Big Sister Gu who hasn't come from Baiyue yet."

Su Wansha covered her mouth and laughed: "Our Princess Consort is truly thoughtful to have specially changed the table."

"Sister, you missed a few. There are also the two on the grasslands—one Queen, one Grand Shaman—who are both dying to move into our Prince's mansion," Xie Juner teased.

Lin Xiao counted on his fingers. Good heavens, two hands were not enough!

"It really was time to change to a bigger table. You did the right thing."

The women giggled endlessly. This family was getting bigger and livelier.

Although there was some regret in not being able to monopolize Lin Xiao's affection, for the women, their current life was already very satisfying.

After all, Lin Xiao did not restrict them from appearing in public and allowed them to pursue their own careers, which was already far better than most men in this world.

Of course, they also understood that if there weren't a group of sisters to help, who could really withstand the man's affection...

During the meal, Lin Xiao mentioned going to the northern highlands to harvest potatoes.

Since it was the first big harvest, Lin Xiao planned to "supervise the battle" in person.

In addition to some officials from the Agriculture Department in the North, Lin Xiao also planned to have over a hundred teachers and students from Northern University go along.

Since the establishment and opening of "Northern University," Lin Xiao hadn't visited much, so he wanted to take this opportunity to see the results.

The women were very interested upon hearing this and naturally wanted to go.

But Su Wansha and Xie Juner were too busy, and Xiao Qingxuan had to stay behind to meet Princess Lanyi.

"It seems only Caiwei and I can accompany you, Husband."

Mu Wanying said happily: "Sisters, don't worry, we will take good care of Husband."

"You two sisters should keep an eye on that Princess Meng Xi. That Queen of Western Qiang is very wild. I'm afraid the two of you won't be able to handle her alone, and that would be a disgrace to the women of our Central Plains," Xie Juner teased.

"Isn't it just being flirtatious? Who can't do that?" Mu Wanying retorted unconvinced.

"Cough, cough!..."

Lin Xiao was eating when he choked on his rice. What a disaster!

As expected of the former mountain bandit leader, Mu Wanying, her fiery temper hadn't changed one bit.

"Husband, why are you so agitated? You wouldn't really be thinking about Princess Meng Xi, would you?" Xie Juner put on an innocent look.

This girl, he hadn't "dealt with" her in over two months; was she itching for it?

"Who is on duty tonight?" Lin Xiao asked.

"It seems to be Wanying," Su Wansha said.

"Change it. Wanying is accompanying me out for a few days anyway, so let it be Juner today!" Lin Xiao made the decision directly.

"Great, great! I have no objections!" Mu Wanying gloated.

Xie Juner's body trembled, and she pitifully grabbed Su Wansha's sleeve, "Sister Su, will you be with me?"

"I... my father has been out for too many days, I have to go back to accompany my mother tonight," Su Wansha said, stifling a laugh.

Seeing all the sisters looking at her with teasing eyes, Xie Juner gritted her teeth and said: "Hmph, serving my husband is my duty; I'm too happy to have it! When I get pregnant first, don't be envious!"

As the saying goes, talk the toughest talk, take the hardest beating.

Late at night, Xie Juner was almost crying, begging Lin Xiao to let her go.

Lin Xiao was quite proud; the tricks he learned from Gu Zhiyao were truly effective.

Xie Juner's cloud-like hair was scattered over her back, and she lay limp like mud on the man, trembling from time to time.

"Husband... there is one thing... I forgot to say during the day," the woman said, slurring her words from exhaustion.

"What is it? If you're tired, just go to sleep."

"It's Lady Hu. She has been waiting for many days. See her before you go to dig up the potatoes..."

"Is she the widow of Feng Yuzhang?" Lin Xiao recalled.

"Yes... didn't you say you would grant her one request..."

Lin Xiao remembered that there was such a thing. "Very well, I will go visit her. After all, she is pregnant."

After breakfast.

Lin Xiao and Xie Juner arrived at a quiet courtyard in the city.

When the maid saw that the Prince of Zhenbei had arrived, she was pleasantly surprised and hurried to announce it.

Before long, Lady Hu walked out, supported by Hu Xinyi, her face pale, and she seemed to have lost a lot of weight.

Lady Hu was about to bow, but was stopped by Lin Xiao.

"No need. What's wrong, Lady? Are you unwell?"

As soon as Lin Xiao asked, the women nearby showed strange expressions.

"Husband, when a woman is pregnant, the fetus moves a lot, and it will be like this," Xie Juner whispered.

Lin Xiao realized. If one didn't know he was young and inexperienced, it was pregnancy symptoms. How embarrassing.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. The doctor has already seen me; it's nothing. Perhaps this child is just too naughty."

Lady Hu smiled, "It is very kind of you to come and visit this commoner in your busy schedule, Your Highness."

"Xinyi, go brew a pot of tea. The maids are not as dexterous as you."

Hu Xinyi knew her aunt was sending her away, but she didn't say much and walked into the room silently.

When the girl went in, Lady Hu got straight to the point:

"Your Highness, I heard from the Princess Consort that you were willing to grant me a request out of respect for my late husband who died defending the city. Is that true?"