Chapter 254: Li Shimin: Our County Magistrate's Authority Is No Small Matter

After having a little scuffle with Wushe to warm up the relationship, he helped Gao Yang and Sizi down from the carriage.

The three of them then entered the palace.

Strangely, Gao Yang, who used to be very impatient, today actually watched him chat with a eunuch for so long without saying anything.

Instead, patience waited on the carriage.

Chen Yan thought it over and felt that perhaps Gao Yang was pregnant, having taken on a few maternal traits, which caused many changes in his personality.

He couldn't help but exclaim that motherhood truly is a great and mysterious thing.

Even someone like Gao Yang changed because of it.

"Why do I feel like you're thinking something bad?" Gao Yang looked at him warily.

"No, you're overthinking," Chen Yan denied outright, "This is your Li family's territory; how could I dare think of anything bad?"

"Hehe, you still know?"

Regarding what Chen Yan said, Gao Yang didn't believe a single word, "Let's not even talk about how the whole world belongs to the Li family; just recall the last time you were in the harem, beating me in front of a maid and Wushe, and you didn't seem to mind whose territory it was."

Chen Yan: "......"

"Ahem, well... hasn't that all passed?" he said, a bit embarrassed.

That time not only he beat Gao Yang, but also cursed him terribly; now thinking back, there's a certain nostalgia.

"That's only your notion that it's over; I don't feel that way," Gao Yang snorted coldly, "All the past events are etched in my heart; I haven't forgotten any of them."

"Yes, I can't beat you, and there's nothing I can do to you, but don't forget, I have your Chen family's flesh inside my womb."

"If I can't beat you, does that mean I can't beat the child?"

"When the child is born and grows up, that's when the father's debt is repaid!"

Chen Yan:???

Everyone else was dumbfounded, spouting incomprehensible words: "Li Zhaotang, even a tiger's poison doesn't eat its own cubs!"

"You actually want to harm the child!"

"That's not just my child; it's also your child!"

"Then will you let the child take my surname?" Gao Yang glanced at him lightly.

"Look at how you phrase that," Chen Yan argued logically, "If the child doesn't take your surname, does that mean you didn't father it?"

"Isn't it coming out of your womb?"

"That's the continuation of both our bloodlines!"

"Besides, the father's debt being repaid by the child would have to wait until the father dies, right? I'm alive and well."

"Moreover, what if it's a daughter?"

"No, that's not right!" Chen Yan realized something and said firmly, "It must be a daughter!"

"You really want a daughter?" Gao Yang, seeing this, lost his joking interest and asked curiously.

"Then why not set the crotch on fire, just burn it!" Chen Yan said without hesitation, "How wonderful to have a daughter?"

"Smart, obedient, well-behaved, a close little cotton jacket for an old father."

"Of course!" Chen Yan grinned, moving close to Gao Yang, "Having a daughter, beautiful like you, self-reliant, how great!"

"If she's like me, weighing 140 jin, with 139 jin of rebelliousness, wouldn't that drive me to death?"

"Pfft~" Gao Yang laughed, "You do have self-awareness, knowing what kind of goods you are."

"Hmm?" She suddenly sensed something, her face darkened, "I used to be arrogant and overbearing, now I've become self-reliant, right?"

"Na na na, that's what you said yourself, I didn't say anything," Chen Yan quickly cleared himself, "It has nothing to do with me, ha."

"Bastard, why don't you just die!"

"If I really died, you wouldn't be happy either."

"Hmph, stay away, don't get near me!"

"Look at you, copying my speech, but you don't even sound like me; sigh, I'm really worried for you."

"......"

Wushe walked ahead leading the way, listening to the bickering conversation of the couple behind, a auntie smile appearing on his face.

Lord Bo and Princess Gao Yang really have a good relationship.

At the same time, Wushe felt a genuine respect in his heart.

It still has to be Lord Bo, who actually subdued Princess Gao Yang.

Thinking of the once lawless, willful Princess Gao Yang, and now seeing how much Gao Yang has clearly changed.

How could one not sigh at the impermanence of the world?

"......"

A short while later, Wushe led the two to the back garden, where they saw Li Shimin and his wife, Li Chengqian and his wife, as well as Li Lizhi and Chengyang Little Princess.

"Servant..."

"Yo, isn't this our great County Magistrate Chen?" Li Shimin didn't give Chen Yan a chance to speak, opening with an old hermaphrodite.

"During his tenure he dumped all his responsibilities onto others, and now he quietly returns to Chang'an, leaving Weinan County at will."

"Our County Magistrate... his official authority is quite formidable, ha."

Chen Yan: "......"

He didn't feel embarrassed at all, even bowing to everyone, "Haha, excuse me, excuse me, I have made you all laugh, ha."

Everyone: "......"

"What a laugh is that?"

"You brag about your authority, and you say 'excuse me'?"

"Truly, there's no one like this."

Chen Yan grinned with his white teeth and said casually, "I didn't want this big official prestige either, but unfortunately all the heavy responsibilities the higher‑ups threw down are resting on me alone; there's really no way."

Saying that, he shook his head and sighed, "Sometimes when I see Fang Yizhi and Ma Zhou busy at the county office, I'm so envious—look at them, day after day staying in the county office, untouched by wind or rain; after handling official duties they just go home and take a big nap."

"Unlike me, who has to deal with all sorts of trivial matters every day, care about the people's lives, find ways to develop the county town, running east and west until my feet are worn raw."

"Just when my wife is pregnant, thinking the county won't be busy for a while, I go back home to tell the elders the good news, only to be misunderstood."

"Alas, I'm really too hard‑pressed!"

Empress Changsun listened and was somewhat moved; she had seen all the affairs of Weinan County with her own eyes and knew Chen Yan had poured great effort into them.

"Er Lang, say a little less," Empress Changsun chided, lightly patting Li Shimin, then gesturing to the three, "Good child, come over, come to Mother Empress here."

Li Shimin: "......"

Chen Yan smiled, his eyes twinkling as he stared at Li Shimin.

And after hearing the remark about his wife being pregnant, Li Shimin lost interest in replying to Chen Yan, looking at the two daughters walking over, delighted.

He gave them a good deal of attention.

Chen Yan, feeling awkward, glanced at the somewhat absent‑minded Li Lizhi, said nothing, and made his way to Li Chengqian's side.

"Brother Cheng Qian, long time no see, ha."

"Why are you here?"

Given their relationship, there were few taboos, so he asked casually.

Li Chengqian laughed, "Mother Empress sent us, saying you had returned; this afternoon we will definitely go to the Imperial Palace to pay respects, and she asked me to bring the Crown Princess, saying she'll hold a family banquet later."

"Family banquet?" Chen Yan was startled, looked around, realized someone seemed missing, and whispered, "Since it's a family banquet, what about the Prince of Yue?"

"What, you're excluding him?"

When the Prince of Yue was mentioned, Li Chengqian's expression grew rather odd, and in a lowered voice said, "The Prince of Yue recently displeased the Father Emperor and Mother Empress and was placed under house arrest."

"......"