Chapter 105 Sleeping on the Dragon Bed? Using the Imperial Study? Sitting...
And... why is the daughter also so bold, daring to call the emperor "sister-in-law"!
Lin Mo's earth-shattering remark, "Sister-in-law," struck Lin Chengji and Wen Yun like a thunderbolt, causing them to nearly faint.
Making the emperor his "sister-in-law"? How many heads does the Lin family have to chop off?
Lin Chengji was sweating profusely, his calves were cramping, and he wished he could rush over and cover his daughter's mouth immediately.
Wen Yun hurriedly spoke up, "Mo'er! Don't talk nonsense! How can you be so presumptuous in front of His Majesty!" Her voice even changed from fright.
However, the emperor's wrath did not come.
Xiao Che was not angry at all. On the contrary, he was even more delighted by Lin Yan's confident statement, "That's right, your sister-in-law is His Majesty," and his own sister's clear "sister-in-law."
He even nodded seriously and said gently to the dumbfounded Lin Mo, "Yes, I am your sister-in-law. In the future, whether in the palace or outside, if you want anything, or if someone bullies you, just tell your brother, or tell me directly. Your sister-in-law will support you."
Xiao Che referred to himself as "sister-in-law" with utmost naturalness, as if he were simply stating a perfectly ordinary fact, and even with a sense of responsibility like that of an "elder sister-in-law who is like a mother."
Lin Chengji: "!!!"
Your Majesty! Are you serious?!
Wen Yun held her forehead, feeling that she needed to see a doctor for treatment.
Lin Yan was overjoyed. She nudged Xiao Che lightly with her elbow and winked, "Did you hear that? You'd better be a good sister-in-law from now on and not let your sister down."
Xiao Che readily agreed and nodded again. His gaze swept over the varied expressions on Lin Chengji and Wen Yun's faces, and he added, "Minister Lin, and Madam Wen, please rest assured. Since we are family, I will naturally take good care of my sister and will not let her suffer any injustice."
Lin Chengji and Wen Yun opened their mouths, but their throats felt like they had a wad of cotton stuck in them, and they couldn't utter a single word.
What else can be said?
His Majesty the Emperor himself has accepted the title of "sister-in-law," so how could they possibly jump up and object, saying, "Your Majesty, you cannot be a daughter-in-law of the Lin family"?
They wouldn't dare even if they had a hundred lives!
Moreover, judging from His Majesty's demeanor, he is clearly enjoying himself.
Lin Chengji was not a believer in ghosts or monsters, but at this moment he wanted to write a letter back to his hometown and ask someone there to check which ancestral grave was not properly buried.
Absurd, utterly absurd!
Yet within this absurdity lies a reassuring power.
His Majesty is willing to go to such lengths for Yan'er, even accepting the title of "sister-in-law" with equanimity and even indulging her. What do we, as parents, have to worry about?
Lin Chengji took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled, as if he wanted to expel all the shock, helplessness, and last bit of entanglement from his chest.
He pulled Wen Yun, who was still in a daze, and bowed deeply again, his voice filled with a resigned weariness, yet also with a hint of relief: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness."
The son found an emperor to be his wife, and the emperor even volunteered to be his "sister-in-law".
This is unique in the entire Chongqing area.
He admitted it!
Wen Yun finally recovered from the huge shock. Looking at her son and the emperor standing side by side, the natural intimacy and tacit understanding between them was undeniable.
She sighed softly, forcing a somewhat stiff but sincere smile: "Your Majesty's favor is a blessing for Yan'er and Mo'er. If there is anything Your Majesty needs in the future, please feel free to give the order."
This demonstrates complete acceptance and a proper attitude towards being "in-laws".
Upon hearing this, Xiao Che's brows relaxed, clearly very satisfied: "Madam, you flatter me."
He glanced again at the dark night outside the window and realized that it was indeed getting late. Although reluctant, he had no choice but to leave.
"It's getting late, I can't stay any longer." Xiao Che said, turning his gaze to Lin Yan with obvious affection, and gently scratched Lin Yan's palm with his finger. "Hanzhang, I'll return to the palace first."
Lin Yan sensed the intimacy in his small gesture and nodded: "Okay, be careful on the road."
Xiao Che nodded slightly to Lin Chengji and Wen Yun before turning around and striding away, surrounded by Li Defu and the others. His pomegranate-colored casual clothes quickly disappeared into the night.
As soon as the emperor left, the tense atmosphere in the front hall instantly relaxed.
Lin Chengji seemed to have all his strength drained away, slumping into a chair and muttering, "My heart is still pounding like a drum."
Wen Yun sat back down, rubbing her forehead, feeling as if she had just had a bizarre dream.
Lin Mo excitedly moved closer to Lin Yan, her eyes sparkling, and asked in a low voice, "Brother! Tell me quickly! How did you and His Majesty get together? When did it happen? What do you usually do? Is His Majesty this easy to talk to in private?"
She simply couldn't find the right words to describe His Majesty the Emperor, who had voluntarily become her "sister-in-law."
Seeing his younger sister's burning curiosity, Lin Yan chuckled and ruffled her hair, saying, "Why are you asking so many questions, you little kid?"
"I've already come of age, I'm not a child anymore." Lin Mo pouted unhappily, "Brother, please tell me, I really want to know."
Wen Yun listened to her children's conversation, shook her head helplessly, but did not stop them.
Since things have come to this point, learning more about them might bring some peace of mind.
She looked at Lin Yan, her tone gentle yet undeniably firm: "Yan'er, now that His Majesty and you have reached this point, there are some things I need to ask him clearly."
Lin Yan put away his joking expression and sat up straight: "Mother, please ask."
Wen Yun carefully considered her words and cautiously asked, "When did you and His Majesty pledge your lives to each other?" She needed to confirm that her son's decision was not impulsive or motivated by power and status.
Lin Yan answered honestly, "It was last year, the night of the welcoming banquet for the Northern Rong delegation."
Wen Yun did the math in her head and realized that almost half a year had passed.
She suddenly realized, "No wonder His Majesty has been showering our family with gifts over the past six months, with such a wide variety of items. It turns out it wasn't all because you handled your official duties so well." It turns out that most of it was for her son.
Lin Chengji also remembered this incident, stroking his beard, his feelings were complicated.
He initially thought the emperor was simply appreciating his son's talent and was very pleased, but he never expected the truth to be like this.
"Then you..." Lin Chengji cleared his throat and asked the most crucial question, "Why His Majesty of all people? Have you thought this through? The bond between the imperial family and the emperor is no small matter. If something changes in the future, do you have a way out?"
He asked cryptically, but the meaning was clear: the emperor is deeply in love with you now, but what about later? Can the emperor only have you for his entire life? What will you do if the emperor is forced by pressure to take concubines and establish an empress in the future?
Lin Yan understood his father's worries. He smiled, his eyes clear and firm: "Father, if it's not His Majesty, do you really want it to be Agula?"
The mere mention of the Northern Rong prince who had publicly proposed to Lin Yan at a palace banquet gave Lin Chengji a terrible headache, and he waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Don't talk nonsense!"
Lin Yan said solemnly, "Father, Mother, I chose His Majesty only because he is Xiao Che, the one who understands my heart, knows all my grievances and ambitions, and will show his true emotions in front of me. We are together only because we are each other, and it has nothing to do with our status."
He paused, then continued, "As for a way out, I have never thought about needing one. I trust him as much as I trust myself. If that day ever comes, it will be the path I, Lin Yan, have chosen, and I will never regret it. Besides, do you think he is the kind of person who would compromise and be manipulated by others?"
Thinking of Xiao Che's iron-fisted methods after ascending the throne, and his vow just now that he would "only wish to be with him for the rest of his life," Lin Chengji and Wen Yun fell silent.
Yes, that was Xiao Che.
Even the late emperor and the entire court could not do anything to him. If he did not wish to, who could force him?
Lin Mo was more curious about something else: "Brother, what's it like when you get along with His Majesty? He's the emperor, so are things very formal when you're together?" She couldn't imagine her brother dating the emperor; she always felt it must be full of elaborate rituals.
However, when she saw her brother and the Emperor together in the south of the city, they seemed closer than ordinary couples.
Lin Yan was amused by her sister's question and replied matter-of-factly, "He's the emperor, but he's also Xiao Che. Why should I treat him like a subject all the time? I've found someone I love, not a god I need to worship all the time. Inside and outside the palace, we're like ordinary couples, dining together, chatting, reading together. Occasionally, while he's reviewing memorials, I'll be reading a book or doing my own accounting..."
He thought for a moment and added some details: "We also have a house outside the palace called Dan Garden, which was his private residence when he was the crown prince. It's very quiet, and we often go there. In the palace, I no longer stay in Qingyi Pavilion. I stay directly in Ziji Hall, sleep on his dragon bed, use his imperial study, and occasionally, when I feel like it, I'll sit on his dragon throne."
As Lin Chengji and Wen Yun listened to their son speak of these "outrageous" things in such a calm tone, their initial fear gradually turned into numbness.
Sleeping on the dragon bed? Using the imperial study? Sitting on the dragon throne?
Okay.
If His Majesty the Emperor himself has no objections, what opinions can they possibly have?
As long as His Majesty doesn't feel offended, they have no choice but to get used to it.
After this in-depth and insightful conversation, the Lin family finally gained a clearer and deeper understanding of the relationship between Lin Yan and Xiao Che.
It was not an emperor's favor towards his subject, but rather an equal and sincere affection between two independent individuals.
Although the form of this emotion transcends worldly understanding, its sincerity cannot be faked.
When Wen Yun saw the light and happiness that unconsciously shone in her son's eyes when he mentioned His Majesty, her last bit of worry disappeared.
She gently held Lin Yan's hand and said softly, "Since you have made up your mind, and His Majesty treats you so sincerely, your mother and father can only offer our blessings. Just don't lose your sense of propriety because of His Majesty's favor and cause trouble for him."
Lin Yan held his mother's hand and solemnly replied, "Mother, don't worry, your son understands."
Lin Chengji also sighed and waved his hand: "Alright, alright, it's getting late, everyone disperse, we have to attend the morning court tomorrow."
As he spoke, Lin Chengji glanced at Lin Yan, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
If the son and the emperor have this kind of relationship, should he look at His Majesty with the eyes of someone looking at a superior, or with the eyes of someone looking at a "daughter-in-law" when he goes to court tomorrow?
Lin Chengji was startled by his own thought and quickly shook his head to dispel this rebellious idea.
I can't think about it, I can't think about it. Your Majesty is still Your Majesty.
One rebellious child is enough for them.
That night, someone in the Lin family was destined to have a sleepless night.
Back in the palace, Xiao Che, after bathing and changing his clothes, lay alone on the large dragon bed, but tossed and turned.
The bed still seemed to retain Lin Yan's refreshing scent. Without that warm, soft body in my arms, I felt a little empty.
This dragon bed is so spacious; it's definitely meant for two people to sleep together.
-----------------------
Author's Note: It's already a miracle Xiao Che didn't do that or that on the dragon throne [doge emoji]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com