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

Chapter 4: The Lu royal family should stay away from the Lin family, or they will suffer misfortune.

"So, it's because of the good deeds these predecessors did that I have to be married off to pay off their debts?" Lin Shiming stared at his older brother sitting next to him with a resentful look in his eyes.

Lin Shihe coughed awkwardly, "Well, His Majesty has already brought it up, how could I refuse? He showed me the Imperial Records, page by page, asking how the Lin family could possibly repay these debts. How could I possibly repay them? So when he proposed that you marry the Crown Prince, I really had no face to refuse."

“Fine,” Lin Shiming gritted his teeth, “Even if that’s the reason, this is all from our great-grandparents’ generation, decades ago. Back then, the royal family didn’t say anything, did they? And our family hasn’t tried to steal royal brides or princes in the last two generations, right? Why are we suddenly being asked to pay off a debt now?”

Is this even bringing up old grievances?

"Um..."

Lin Shiming looked at his older brother, whose eyes were darting around and who had been humming for a long time without saying a word, and suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Brother, I've hardly been home these past few years. Tell me honestly, are you hiding something from me?"

"this..."

Stop with the rambling and just tell me!

"Tell me, tell me!" Forced into a corner, Lin Shihe got up and walked to the bookshelf opposite, pretending to browse through it. "It's...it's your sister-in-law..."

Lin Shiming's unease grew. "What happened to my sister-in-law?"

Lin Shihe stopped what he was doing, took a deep breath, and said, "She is the Crown Princess whom His Majesty has been looking for for the former Crown Prince for three years, and she is only one imperial decree away from becoming his wife."

"..."

Pretty!

Lin Shiming opened his mouth, but remained silent for a long time. After a long while, he finally managed to sort out a single thought amidst his chaotic thoughts.

The Lu family members should stay away from the Lin family, or they will suffer misfortune.

*

"So, His Majesty settled all the scores and set conditions for me to marry the Crown Prince?"

"hold head high."

Lin Shiming was at a loss for words. He didn't know whether to praise his brother for his ability and courage, and for his "family tradition of learning," or to be angry that his brother had gotten himself into trouble.

"Brother, so now I'm the one taking the blame for you."

Lin Shihe couldn't keep up the act any longer. He turned around, took a few steps, and sat back down. "I didn't do this on purpose. When I met your sister-in-law, neither of us knew she was the former Crown Prince's future Crown Princess. By the time we realized it after we had confessed our feelings for each other, it was too late!"

"Ah."

"Forgive your elder brother this once," Lin Shihe offered his younger brother another cup of tea.

Lin Shiming gave a long hum before accepting the cup of tea with feigned modesty.

Knowing Lin Shiming's temperament, accepting this cup of tea would be considered the end of the matter. Lin Shihe breathed a sigh of relief, "Don't worry, brother also tried his best to negotiate with His Majesty."

"What are the conditions?" Lin Shiming took a sip of tea, but couldn't help asking out of curiosity.

"His Majesty is also aware of the Lin family's rule that 'a man can only take a concubine if he has no sons after thirty.' After you marry the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince's posthumous child will be entrusted to you for upbringing and will be considered your heir. Therefore, His Majesty promises the Crown Prince that he will only have you in his life." As he spoke, Lin Shihe's expression became inexplicably serious.

"The Crown Prince is willing too?" This Crown Prince position is quite interesting!

“I am willing.” Lin Shihe nodded. “After His Majesty spoke with me, I went to see the Crown Prince. He had no objection to these matters.”

That's good. I can't just go through the motions of being mistreated after we get married. Although he doesn't really care, it's still better to have a better life than to argue every day.

However, "what if he fails to seize the throne?"

Lin Shiming was never a completely ignorant person. His lack of understanding of politics was simply due to his dislike of it, but that did not mean he was dull-witted or ignorant.

At the same time, he understood his brother; his brother would never send him away simply to "pay off a debt." What his brother was saying to him now was likely half true, and half just a reason his brother and the Emperor wanted others to know.

For the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and His Majesty to pull out so many things as a cover, there must be other motives behind my marriage to the Crown Prince. However, since they haven't said anything, it probably means it's not the right time yet.

Don't worry, you'll find out eventually.

Although he knew his younger brother wasn't stupid, his question did confirm Lin Shihe's belief in his brother's abilities. Lin Shihe's expression became more solemn. "What I just said was His Majesty's sincerity. As for the question you asked, I've already considered it for you."

"His Majesty and I have discussed that after the new emperor ascends the throne, whoever sits on the throne, you will be given a choice: continue the marriage or divorce. If you divorce, you will receive a marquis title as compensation. There is also a will regarding this, which was sent to our family along with the imperial decree of marriage."

"This is the choice your brother fought for for you."

After he finished speaking, Lin Shiming didn't rush to reply. He rubbed the teacup in his hand until the tea inside had gone cold.

"Brother, send a message to the palace at dawn." Lin Shiming downed his tea in one gulp. "I agree."

"Alright." Lin Shihe was not surprised. He got up and summoned the servant. "I've been talking to you for most of the night. I should listen to you and go back to fulfill my husbandly duty to your sister-in-law by warming her bed. You should also go back early, eat something, and get a good night's sleep. As for any other specific matters, we can discuss them after the imperial decree is issued tomorrow."

Lin Shiming nodded, "I think I'll sleep until the afternoon. Remember to ask your wife to save me lunch then."

"You'll get your share!"

Lin Shihe laughed and cursed, then put on his cloak and left the study.

*

Lin Shiming was awakened by the exclamations outside.

"Wilderness? Come in!"

With a creak, Yuan Ye pushed open the door and quickly appeared in front of Lin Shiming's bed. "Young Master."

Lin Shiming pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "What's going on? What's all the noise outside?"

"It's the little wolf cub that the young master brought back last night. It must have been hungry, so it escaped from the bamboo basket and started gnawing around, which scared the maids who were going in to sweep and clean as usual."

"..."

He always felt like he'd forgotten something before going to sleep! He came back too late and didn't even want to eat, so he just gave the food to the guards on night watch and went to sleep, completely forgetting about feeding the wolves.

"What time is it now?"

"It's already noon, lunchtime is just around the corner."

"Go prepare some water, I'll get up and wash right away. Also, prepare another batch of goat's milk."

Yuanye accepted the order and left.

"I've lost more than half an hour of sleep!" Lin Shiming rolled around on the bed in anger. He had only gone to bed at the end of Yin hour last night!

"Never mind," Lin Shiming suddenly sat up. "I should get up. Feeding the wolves is the priority."

*

The wolf cubs had already been returned to the bamboo basket by the arriving guards, but without their master's orders, they didn't know whether they should be fed or not, so one of them had to stand guard by the side, listening to the cubs howling incessantly.

Seeing Lin Shiming finally step into the side room, the guard breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and left.

The little ones started crawling out again, and Lin Shiming stretched out a finger to push them back down. They would crawl again, and he would push them again, enjoying it immensely.

"Young Master." Yuan Ye came in carrying a can of goat milk and a bowl and spoon. "This is the goat milk you ordered. I had the small kitchen prepare it."

Lin Shiming then withdrew his hand, took the bowl of goat milk that Yuanye had poured out, and began to feed him spoonful by spoonful, while confidently spouting nonsense, "Hurry up and drink, if you don't drink now, there will be no one to feed you when I go to eat, be careful not to starve to death."

He completely forgot about everyone else serving him.

The three poor wolf cubs were covered in milk stains from his clumsy feeding, and they angrily added many red marks to his hands before he let them go.

When Lin Shiming stood up, having finished his "raising of children" with great interest, he discovered that his clothes were still covered in splatter stains from the bed and the floor.

Yuan Ye sighed and stepped forward to rescue Lin Shiming, who was feeling awkward and alone.

"Young master, please go and change your clothes. The young master and his wife have already sent word that they are waiting for you to have dinner in the side hall. I will take some people to clean up here."

Lin Shiming immediately went down the steps when he saw them. "Okay. Remember to find someone to make them a nest and put them in the side room."

After saying that, he slipped away without waiting for Yuanye's response.

When he changed his clothes and went to the side hall, Lin Shihe and his wife Ji Tiao were already seated.

"Brother, sister-in-law."

"Shiming, sit down quickly." Ji Tiao was holding Lin Anji, who was just one and a half years old, in her arms and feeding him rice cereal. When she saw Lin Shiming come in, she looked up from her busy schedule. "Why are you dressed so lightly? Even if you're healthy, you don't have to dress like this."

"I'm not cold, sister-in-law." Lin Shiming smiled ingratiatingly at Ji Tiao, but kicked Lin Shihe's leg with his foot, signaling him to save him.

Lin Shihe, after being kicked, glared at Lin Shiming without showing any emotion before turning to pick up a piece of food for his wife. "Ignore him. He'll regret it when he's old!"

"Can't you speak properly?" Ji Tiao kicked him in the leg in anger. "This is your brother. If you don't take care of him, who will?"

Lin Shihe: "... " So angry! I'm being bullied from both sides!

After scolding Lin Shihe, Ji Tiao ignored him and turned to Lin Shiming, "Shiming, I'm not saying this to criticize you, but just ask your one-year-old nephew if he knows that it's cold and he should wear more clothes?"

Little Anji in her arms clapped his hands in agreement: "Cold! Uncle is cold!"

Lin Shiming chuckled awkwardly, "I'll go put on more clothes in a bit."

Ji Tiao nodded in satisfaction, then without saying a word, directly placed the child in Lin Shiming's arms. Lin Shiming immediately became restless, unsure of what to do with his hands. "Sister-in-law, you, you quickly take him away! I'm scared!"

"What are you afraid of? From today onwards, you'll be in charge of taking care of An Ji." I'll take care of your wedding preparations!

Lin Shihe suppressed the smile that was about to come out of his mouth, lowered his head to eat, and pretended that he was not there.

Lin Shiming's eyes widened immediately. "Sister-in-law, are you kidding me? How could I possibly take care of a child?" He was lucky if he could even keep himself from starving!

Ji Tiao felt relieved as soon as she sent the child out. "Your brother has already told me. You're getting married soon and will be taking care of a four-year-old child right away. Why don't you practice at home first, so you won't be caught off guard after the wedding?"

"But I..."

"It's settled then, Shiming, your sister-in-law believes in you!"

Help me! Someone please help me!

*

Lin Shiming found the meal difficult to swallow. By the time he finally managed to fill Xiao Anji's stomach under his sister-in-law's instructions and his brother's laughter, and then filled his own stomach, more than half an hour had passed, and he was exhausted both physically and mentally.

Originally, they thought they could be free after finishing their meal, but to their surprise, Ji Tiao grabbed his brother and left without looking back, as if he really intended to hand the child over to Lin Shiming.

Fortunately, a guard suddenly came in to report, "Your Highness, Madam, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived outside. He says he's here to discuss the marriage with the Second Young Master."

"Where is he?" Lin Shiming had never heard such good news in his life. He immediately shoved Xiao Anji into Lin Shihe's arms. "Take me to see him quickly!"

Let alone discussing marriage, he'd be happy to marry her right now!

The guards were taken aback by the scene and didn't know how to react. They looked to Lin Shihe for help.

Lin Shihe shook his head helplessly, "Take him with you."