Duke of Zhenguan

Why wasn't this mentioned earlier in Chapter 124?

Li took Er Ya to deliver things to the Wang family.

After eating, Lin Chuan personally carried some food back to the east wing.

Mei Xiang had just woken up when she saw Lin Chuan bring in the food. She looked ashamed and forced herself to get out of bed despite feeling unwell.

After getting up, she realized that she was only wearing a bellyband and underpants, and hurriedly searched for clothes everywhere.

Lin Chuan put down the tray, handed over the shawl draped over the chair, and comforted him, "Take your time!"

A moment later, Meixiang, having washed her face and combed her hair, sat at the table, eating her food in small bites, occasionally stealing a glance at Lin Chuan, her face always flushed as if painted with rouge.

After finishing her meal, seeing Lin Chuan about to clear the dishes, she said with a look of fear, "My lord, I'll do it!"

After clearing away the dishes and making tea for Lin Chuan, Mei Xiang asked softly, "Didn't my lord go to court today?"

"After a long night, you should definitely get some rest!" Lin Chuan joked with a smile.

Fortunately, Meixiang had grown up in a brothel, so although she hadn't experienced it firsthand, she wasn't too shy because of what she'd seen and heard. She blushed and glared at Lin Chuan, saying, "It was my fault—"

"It's my fault!" Lin Chuan reached out and pinched Mei Xiang's cheek, saying with a smile.

Lin Chuan didn't attend the morning court assembly, nor did he go to the Ministry of War in the afternoon; he stayed home with Mei Xiang.

Around noon, Li returned with Er Ya.

Hearing the commotion, Lin Chuan led Mei Xiang to the central courtyard and asked with a smile, "Mother, has Madam Wang taken everything from the east wing?"

"What do you mean, Madam Wang? You should call her Master's Wife!" Madam Li glared at her son and said softly, "She wasn't going to accept it at first, but I told her it was because of your filial piety, so Madam Wang accepted it!"

When we left back then, the Wang family also suffered from the disaster, and most of their grain was used for disaster relief. The clothes you are wearing were sewn by Madam Wang herself!

If you hadn't gotten sick, you might have been able to find them sooner!

"Now that we've found it, you can visit the Wang family more often from now on!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Um!"

Li nodded, then her gaze suddenly fell on Mei Xiang, who was following behind Lin Chuan.

Meixiang lowered her head guiltily, her face full of unease.

Li Shi subtly withdrew her gaze, then summoned Lin Chuan to the flower hall under a pretext, and asked softly, "Eldest son, should we give Mei Xiang a formal title?"

Lin Chuan looked at Li Shi with surprise and subconsciously asked, "Mother, how did you know?"

"You silly child, Meixiang herself styled her hair in the way a newlywed should, I'm not blind, of course I could tell!" Madam Li said irritably.

"I was just about to tell Mother, do you know of any suitable maids? Arrange one for her to serve! As for her official title, I'll ask the Ministry of Personnel first!" Lin Chuan nodded.

At this point, his noble title became very useful. Lin Chuan was an earl, and in addition to his principal wife, he could marry four concubines recognized by the court. These were not concubines, but rather consorts with official titles.

However, Mei Xiang's background is a big problem, and we need to ask her about it.

Mei Xiang dared to climb into Lin Chuan's bed, and it was Li Shi who gave her the courage. However, Li Shi's standards had risen considerably, and she said softly to her son, "Chu Rou and the sixth daughter of the Yan family haven't even entered the family yet. You need to be aware of some things!"

"Don't worry, Mother!" Lin Chuan nodded awkwardly.

After sitting in the courtyard for a while, Lin Chuan was preparing to take Mei Xiang back to the east wing when Lin Jiu strode in and said to Lin Chuan, "Brother, several captains from the Left Guard want to see you!"

Lin Chuan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Let's go see him!"

Upon arriving at the front yard, they indeed saw a dozen or so men dressed in long robes waiting in the main hall. Judging from their uncomfortable appearance in the robes, they were clearly fierce generals from the army.

Upon seeing Lin Chuan, more than a dozen men immediately bowed and greeted him, saying, "Greetings, Lord Lin!"

"sit!"

Lin Chuan waved his hand, gesturing for the group to sit down.

These were all seasoned warriors who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, yet their faces were now filled with humility. Lin Chuan felt a lump in his throat and said irritably, "You're all heroes of the army, why are you behaving like this? Just say what you have to say!"

"Lord Lin, I heard that your academy is recruiting students, but you have two good-for-nothing sons who won't go to other schools—" a man in his thirties said awkwardly.

"That's what the Right Guard group spread yesterday, right? They should all know the rules by now: those aged eight to thirteen who meet the requirements will be sent to the academy!" The Left Guard's Grand General is still Qin Qiong, so we have to give the old man face. Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"We know, we know, thank you, Lord Lin!" The group of burly men had already found out, and upon hearing this, they all stood up and bowed to Lin Chuan to express their gratitude.

These people all came carrying valuable gifts, so they couldn't just be sent away like that. Lin Chuan then asked Lin Jiu to prepare food and drinks to entertain them.

Just like yesterday, the group of burly men couldn't say anything nice, they could only desperately offer Lin Chuan toasts.

And so Lin Chuan got drunk again!

When I woke up the next day, there was another delicate beauty in my arms.

He took the shy beauty for a morning exercise, and before dawn, without even having time to eat, he changed his clothes and rode off to attend the court assembly.

After the court session ended, he wanted to sneak home for a nap, but Li Shimin called him back.

Still in the side hall of Xiande Hall, high-ranking officials from the three provinces and six ministries were all present, but Lin Chuan, a mere secretary from the Ministry of War, stood out as particularly out of place.

"Liu Min and Liu Lancheng have successfully seized the eastern city of Shuofang, but scouts have reported that the Turks are preparing to send a large army south. Take a look!"

Li Shimin never liked to talk nonsense. After he finished speaking, he had Zhang Anan hand the secret report to Fang Xuanling.

"Your Majesty, the Turks' reinforcements to Liang Shidu were already part of the plan. General Chai and General Xue are both veteran generals, so there shouldn't be any problems!" Fang Xuanling said.

"Your Majesty, if the Turks really send a large army south to reinforce Liang Shidu, the number will certainly be considerable. General Chai and General Xue have less than 40,000 soldiers under their command. I believe we should send a large army to reinforce them to ensure a safe outcome!" Du Ruhui said.

Li Shimin nodded and ordered in a deep voice, "Send word to Yanzhou, ordering Duan Decao to immediately gather the soldiers of all the chariot and cavalry units in Yanzhou and have them proceed to Shuofang before the fifteenth of March!"

It was already certain that the Turks would advance south and conquer the land. Sending reinforcements and supplies was necessary. Although the people in the hall had confidence in Chai Shao, Xue Wanche, and their 40,000 soldiers, they still needed to send reinforcements.

Lin Chuan remained silent throughout the entire meeting. He finally waited until the small court assembly ended and thought he could leave, but Li Shimin kept him there again.

Only Lin Chuan and Li Shimin, along with a few palace maids and eunuchs, were in the side hall. Seeing Li Shimin looking at him with a strange expression, Lin Chuan bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Since you have a connection with Wenzhongzi and are also a disciple of Wang Ji, why didn't you say so earlier?" Li Shimin asked irritably.

If Lin Chuan had said earlier that he was neighbors with the Wang brothers, Wang Tong and Wang Ji, and had studied under Wang Ji, why would he have suspected Lin Chuan?