The young general and the prince, who was to be married off, fell in love at first sight!

Chapter 229 Extra (3) Daily Life of Raising a Child 01

Even though Lin Shihe didn't welcome his adorable younger brother, he couldn't stop Her Majesty the Empress from visiting the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. He could only reluctantly open the gate and let Lin Shiming walk in with his head held high.

Out of courtesy, and also because Lin Shiming specially arranged an empress's regalia to show off, he had to personally lead his whole family out to greet him, which allowed Lin Shiming to fully indulge in his petty triumph and swagger.

"Oh, isn't this my nephew An Ji!"

Lin Shiming, "condescending to his status," bent down and picked up the dazed Lin Anji, who was still unaware of what was happening, and without any sense of boundaries, kissed him on the cheek.

Lin Shihe immediately gave him a look of disgust.

Suddenly, he didn't want to send An Ji to the palace anymore. What if Lin Shiming led him astray? Perhaps his resentment was too strong and he didn't hide it at all, so even Lin Shiming, who was usually a fool who couldn't understand people's true intentions, could see through it.

But our Empress is thick-skinned and doesn't care at all.

He even carried Lin Anji to Lin Shihe to provoke him, saying, "Brother, look at us, uncle and nephew, don't we look alike?"

Lin Shi rolled his eyes so hard they almost popped out of his head.

"You're overthinking it. Everyone says An Ji looks like your sister-in-law."

"That's hard to say," Lin Shiming said deliberately. "Kids change every day. If he spends all his time with me, he'll be influenced by what he sees and hears, and sooner or later he'll be influenced by what he's been around!"

Lin Shihe: "..."

Please keep that pen away from us, father and son.

Lin Shihe snatched the child away and went into the main hall without looking back.

"Sister-in-law! Look at him!"

Feeling humiliated, Lin Shiming yelled at Ji Tiao to complain, "My brother bullied me!"

Ji Tiao, still standing there with a forced smile, didn't respond. Clearly, he didn't want his son to grow up to be like Lin Shiming, the troublemaker who constantly bothered his family. One troublemaker like that was enough; any more would be too much to handle.

Seeing Ji Tiao's obvious gaze, Her Majesty the Empress suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and for the second time today, she guessed someone else's thoughts with remarkable accuracy.

Lin Shiming fell silent.

Lin Shiming felt insulted.

"I'm staying here today!" Empress Lin, feeling deeply humiliated and enraged, vowed revenge. "I'll stay here for ten days—no, a month!"

Lin Shiming chased his brother into the main hall and shouted at him, "For a month, I want to eat and live with you, and never leave your side!"

Didn't you say you didn't want to see me? I'll drive you crazy!

Unexpectedly, the so-called bloodline suppression did not threaten Lin Shihe in the slightest. He put Lin Anji on the ground, told the child to go play by himself, and only then did he have time to turn around and look at Lin Shiming.

"I've been in a bad mood lately. I just received a gift from someone—top-quality cowhide, perfect for making a whip. Would you like to check it out for me?"

Whips, oh, they seem to hurt quite a bit.

Lin Shiming's eyes have become clear; he is flexible and adaptable.

"Brother, what are you saying? I was just joking and you took it seriously. Lu Yuxi is so clingy, I definitely won't leave him for long."

Lin Shihe snorted coldly, "Using His Majesty as a shield, you have the nerve to do that."

"Aren't they all my people, no matter how embarrassing?" Lin Shiming grinned and fawned over his brother. "Brother, you can rest assured that An Ji is in my hands. I will definitely not lead him into trouble."

Lin Shihe glanced at him, his expression unreadable, and said, "Speak your mind."

"...I heard you recently got a great horse, brother. The autumn hunt is coming up soon, can I ride it for a couple of days?"

Borrow? Can something that's already in your hands be called a loan?

"Ha. You're quick with your information, aren't you? The royal treasury isn't enough for you to wreak havoc, so you've set your sights on my stuff now?"

Lin Shiming, thick-skinned as ever, was not at all mocked. He remained unfazed and said, "We're like brothers, just lend me your things for a few days! I promise I'll return them to you in perfect condition."

As he spoke, Lin Shiming reached out and tugged at Lin Shihe's sleeve.

"Lend it to me! Lend it to me! Lend it to me!"

"Alright!" Lin Shihe's head was throbbing from his noise. "Here, take it!"

Lin Shiming was overjoyed.

"That's a deal, no backing out!"

*

Lin Shiming happily returned home, bringing a child and a fine horse back to the palace.

Today, Lu Yuxi originally planned to go to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion with Lin Shiming to pick up Lin Anji, but an urgent report came just before they left, so she had no choice but to reluctantly let Lin Shiming go back alone.

By the time Lin Shiming's entourage entered the palace gates in a grand manner, he had just finished dealing with his affairs, called for someone to bring Lu Tingsong, and then personally went to the gate of Huangji Palace to greet his Empress.

The Crown Prince's imperial carriage and the Empress's entourage arrived together.

As soon as Lu Tingsong stepped off the imperial carriage, he met his companion, with whom he would be spending the next few years.

Lin Shiming smiled at Lu Yuxi, first asking Lu Yuxi to arrange for someone to take good care of the horse he brought back, before putting Lin Anji, whom he was holding in his arms, on the ground.

"Come here, Tingsong, let me introduce you. This is Lin Anji, my nephew. From now on, he will live with you in the East Palace, and you will study and practice martial arts together."

Lu Yuxi nodded in agreement, "An Ji is younger than you, and this is the first time he's been away from home for so long. You must take good care of him."

"I understand, Uncle." Although Lu Tingsong tried to control his curiosity and excitement like a little adult, his short legs, which were trying to walk towards Lin Shiming, still revealed his inner expectation. "Hello, I am Lu Tingsong, and I am also Uncle's nephew. I will take good care of you in the future."

He grew up in the palace and, for various reasons, never had any peers around him. When he learned that his uncle's nephew was going to live with him in the palace for a few years, the usually composed Lu Tingsong was so excited that he couldn't sleep most of the night. For the past few days, he had been busy arranging his own bedroom so that his little friend could live there happily.

It would be even better if this little friend could be as funny as the uncle.

Lin Anji did not disappoint him.

Even if Lin Shihe didn't want to believe it, he couldn't change the fact that Lin Anji shared the same blood as Lin Shiming. It wasn't obvious before because he was young, but now that he's grown up, his mischievous and clever nature is exactly like Lin Shiming's.

"My name is Lin Anji." Just like his uncle, Lin Anji was lively and adorable, showing no shyness whatsoever. "But my parents only have me as their child. Where did you come from? How can you call me uncle or father-in-law!"

"Uncle!" Lin Anji looked up and tugged at Lin Shiming's sleeve. "Is my father having an affair? We have to make my mother divorce this heartless man!"

Good heavens! Is this something a four-year-old child would say?

Lin Shiming was dumbfounded.

In an instant, Lu Yuxi's gaze towards him changed. "Shiming, I remember that my brother and sister-in-law are intelligent and gentle women. Surely my brother wouldn't teach the child these things, right? You've only been with him for a short time, and you're already... The child is still young, how can you teach him everything? Aren't you afraid that your brother will hold you accountable?"

"I...this..." Her Highness the Queen was at a loss for words. "It wasn't me! I didn't teach him any of these things!"