Chapter 403: About to Give Birth?

"You few brats... you really have some skill, huh."

On the second floor of the Money Shop, Li Yuan gave a half‑smile as he looked at the three youths before him: "Your ancestors left you some protection, right?"

"Useless, right?"

"All you can do is survive on interest, right?"

"What's the matter? Your ancestors all dead?"

Li Yuan said that, and the three in front of him turned pale; when the last sentence fell, Chen Yan shivered.

It wasn't a big deal, really—no one in Weinan County knows Prince of Yue Li Tai, so it was just a casual ploy.

Who the hell could've imagined that the old man would show up in Weinan County? Even if he did, it would be fine, but he ran into Li Tai's outrageous remarks.

Who can we reason with about this?

"Grand Emperor, please hear your grandson explain..."

"Fine, I'll give you a chance to argue."

Li Tai: "......"

Li Yuan tapped his chin lightly, "Come then, let me see what flowers you can spit out."

Li Tai's scalp tingled, and he cast a pleading glance at the two beside him.

Chen Yan and Li Chengqian shifted their steps in sync, putting a few paces between themselves and Li Tai.

The two stared ahead as if they hadn't seen Li Tai's plea at all.

"No, you... how could you do this?"

Li Tai looked dumbfounded, "Didn't we say last night we'd become great and strong together?"

"What about the grand oath of drinking three massive cups? The promise to watch all the blossoms of Chang'an together?"

Chen Yan lowered his head and cleared his throat dryly, "Um... Prince of Yue, as the saying goes, drunken words—please don't..."

"Besides, we don't seem that familiar."

Li Tai: "......"

"Alright, alright, you three." Li Yuan, not wanting to listen to their rambling, tapped the three, "None of you are presentable."

"Crown Prince, Prince of Yue, Marquis of Weinan?!"

"Just drop it."

The three dared not retort, and after Li Yuan lectured them, when his temper cooled, Chen Yan seized the moment to ask indirectly, "Retired Emperor, why didn't you tell us you were coming in advance? I could have prepared your reception."

"By the way, did you bring any guards when you came?"

"It's not very safe outside."

Li Yuan gave him a casual glance, as if he knew what he was thinking, "What? You hope I run into danger?"

"No!" Chen Yan dared not admit it, quickly denying, "Am I not worried about your safety? Your golden body, with the crowd and noise downstairs, if something happened it would be bad."

Li Yuan, irritated, said, "Are you really worried about my safety? I don't even want to expose you."

"Fine, I know Er Lang is out, there are hidden guards."

Upon hearing that, Chen Yan and the other two immediately felt relieved.

As long as Li Shimin knows about this, there's no problem.

Chen Yan, unembarrassed, grinned, "Retired Emperor, it's noisy here and crowded; why not come with me first? We can check on Sizi and Cheng Yang."

"The two kids said they missed you a couple of days ago."

Li Yuan had intended to refuse, but hearing Sizi and Cheng Yang softened his gaze.

"Fine, as you wish. Since you're here, it'd be improper not to see my beloved granddaughter."

The three rejoiced; Chen Yan signaled Li Chengqian and Li Tai to quickly escort the old man back to the County Magistrate's Office, then meet Du Gou and Xu Lianyue waiting outside.

"I'm afraid I must leave; the Money Shop is now yours."

Xu Lianyue gave no comment, nodded in agreement, and Du Gou hesitated, "Brother Chen, this gentleman came here and heard the Prince of Yue's words—could that affect us?"

"No!" Chen Yan asserted, "He's no longer involved in affairs; he probably came to Weinan County out of boredom, just taking a walk."

"Even if he heard the Prince of Yue, at most he'll scold us for being undisciplined; nothing to worry about."

"When we get back I'll get the two kids to cheer the old man up; it might even be a good thing."

"Alright then!" Du Gou, reassured, said, "Since that's the case, you go ahead and entertain that gentleman; we'll handle things here."

"Hmm, just keep things stable; everything proceeds as we previously decided." Chen Yan reminded, then hurried out the back door.

After he left, Xu Lianyue finally asked curiously, "Lord Du, who exactly is that gentleman...?"

"Why do I feel even the Prince of Yue and the Crown Prince are afraid of him?"

"Could it be...?"

"Don't ask further," Du Gou whispered, "He's not the current Son of Heaven, but even the Son of Heaven would bow to him; think it over yourself."

Retired Emperor?!

Xu Lianyue instantly fell silent.

Who would have thought that the old man in coarse hemp robes held such a status; no wonder even Chen Yan and the Crown Prince were scolded like children.

Watching Chen Yan's departing direction, Xu Lianyue sighed inwardly, once again feeling the gap.

Inside the County Magistrate's Office, Sizi and Princess Chengyang stood on either side, holding Li Yuan's hand, coaxing the old man endlessly.

While the three elders talked, Li Lizhi pulled Chen Yan out, whispering, "Grand Emperor, why did you suddenly come? Nothing wrong?"

"There is and isn't," Chen Yan replied helplessly, "But it's ultimately not a big issue; just keep him company later."

"It's not easy for the old man to come out; you should keep him company. When Gao Yang just met the old man I felt something was off; I'll go check on her."

Li Lizhi recalled Gao Yang's expression when she saw Li Yuan earlier, indeed off, and urged, "Then go check on her first; we'll handle things here."

"Good!" Chen Yan felt worried inside, and quickly walked toward the master bedroom.

Upon entering the room, he saw Gao Yang lying on the bed, looking in considerable pain, while Xiang Lan stood anxiously by her side.

"What's wrong?" Chen Yan hurried forward to ask.

"Lord Bo!" Xiang Lan, seeing him arrive, as if seeing her mainstay, hurriedly said: "The Princess doesn't know what's wrong; she says her stomach hurts. Do you think the Princess is about to give birth?"

"My stomach hurts......"

Chen Yan's heart tightened, he immediately examined Gao Yang, and the final result let him breathe a sigh of relief.

He turned back, gave Xiang Lan an annoyed glare, and said: "Give birth? It's not time yet!"

"You can go out now; there's nothing wrong, I'll keep her company."

"...... Oh oh." Upon hearing there was nothing wrong, Xiang Lan also relaxed in her heart and slowly retreated out.

Chen Yan gently placed his hand on Gao Yang's rising belly, feeling distressed, and asked: "Is it very painful?"

"What do you say?"

Gao Yang rolled her eyes, "You...... hiss, your son is tossing and turning inside, it's worn me out."

"Once he's born, I'll definitely whip him."

Chen Yan: "......"

He laughed helplessly and said: "You're already like this, how can that dead mouth still be so stubborn?"

"Then what can I...... ah~" The baby in her belly suddenly gave her a big jolt; the pain made Gao Yang suck in a breath of cold air: "Then what can I do?"

"I can't whip him through the belly right now."

"......"