Duke of Zhenguan

After returning to the Right Guard Camp from the palace and handing over the salt to the people sent by Changsun Wuji, Lin Chuan's work was officially completed.

Besides the few hundred soldiers left behind, there were only the two thousand soldiers he had brought back in the Right Guard camp. After arranging these soldiers, it was already past midnight.

Holding the waist token of the Right Guard Chief Secretary, even though it was already midnight, the soldiers guarding the city carefully verified his identity and still let Lin Chuan and his personal guards into the city.

Back in Tonghua Lane, the once quiet courtyard suddenly became lively.

Standing in the main hall of the front courtyard, with the help of a group of guards, Li Shi and Er Ya helped Lin Chuan remove his armor.

A strong smell of sweat immediately filled the main hall.

However, no one cared. Apart from Li Shi and Er Ya, a group of the family's guards were gathered in the main hall. Lin Jiu's family and Lin Shier's family were also there. A large group of people surrounded Lin Chuan in the middle.

Lin Chuan smiled and greeted everyone, then told them to go and rest, and that they could catch up again tomorrow.

After everyone left, Li held her son's rough hand, looked at his haggard face and the layers of dead skin that hadn't completely peeled off, and asked with red eyes:

"Are you alright?"

"Mother, I'm not going to war, I'm just going to collect salt. How could I get injured? It's just that the weather is a bit hot! My face got sunburned!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"It's good that you're not hurt, it's good that you're not hurt!"

Li muttered a few words to herself, then whispered to Meixiang, who was standing to the side with her head down, "..."

"Quickly boil some water for Dalang to wash up properly!"

After giving the instructions, he said to Lin Chuan:

"I'll cook you a bowl of noodles, eat first before you go to rest!"

"good!"

Li Shi went to cook noodles with light steps, while Er Ya approached Lin Chuan and frowned, saying:

"Brother, how long has it been since you took a bath? You stink!"

"We were either on the road or preparing to go on the road, so there was no time to take a shower!" Lin Chuan said irritably.

"My brother is just lazy!"

Er Ya muttered something under her breath, then pulled a letter from her sleeve like a treasure and handed it to Lin Chuan, saying with a smile:

"Brother, a letter from Sixth Sister!"

Lin Chuan took the letter and asked with a puzzled look:

"They're only a few hundred steps apart. You can just talk to them face-to-face. Why write a letter?"

"Brother, why don't you read the letter first?"

Er Ya said with a smug look on her face, and then waved to Lin Chuan:

"Brother, take your time reading. I'm going to bed!"

Just as Lin Chuan, completely bewildered, was about to open the letter after watching Er Ya's figure disappear through the door, Li Shi entered with a steaming bowl of noodles, smiling as she said:

"As soon as your aunt received the message you sent back, she killed a chicken and started stewing it. Eat up!"

Lin Chuan quickly tucked the letter into his pocket, took the bowl, and said with a smile:

"All I could think about on the way here was the noodles my mother cooked. Oh, right, Mother, could you tell Aunt Jiu to cook a bowl for Old Xu and the others too?"

"You don't need to tell me that, it's all cooked! Just eat it!" Li said with a smile.

Lin Chuan nodded, picked up the bowl, and began to eat heartily.

Li sat to the side, watching her son eat the noodles with gusto, and only then did she feel completely at ease. She said softly:

"Eat slowly! There's more in the pot!"

Lin Chuan slowed down and ate a bowl. Li Shi then took the bowl to the kitchen and brought it back.

He handed the bowl to Lin Chuan and asked with a smile:

"Should we not go out?"

"I probably won't be going out anytime soon!" Lin Chuan nodded.

"That's good!"

Lin Chuan took a couple of bites, then, remembering the letter Er Ya had just handed him, asked softly:

"Mother, has Er Ya been studying at the Yan family's house all this time?"

"Yes, Er Ya may not say it, but she listens to you very much. You shamelessly went to the Yan family to ask for her, and she took it very seriously. I went twice, and Madam Yan praised her for being diligent and insightful!" Madam Li said with a smile.

Lin Chuan nodded and asked:

"That's good. She and the sixth daughter of the Yan family have a good relationship?"

"It's great! Didn't you have Wang the blacksmith and the others make those soaps, perfumes, and floral waters? Whenever a new scent is made, Er Ya has to get a portion for Yan Liu Niangzi!"

"Sixth Madam Yan comes over occasionally, and she's always very polite to me and your Ninth Aunt. She's from a scholarly family, after all. Your sister wouldn't even be qualified to be a maid standing next to her..." Madam Li sighed softly.

"Mother, Er Ya isn't as bad as you say!" Lin Chuan said with a wry smile.

"That depends on who you're comparing it to. Compared to your Uncle Wang's family, it's naturally better!"

Li said with a wry smile, then remembered Qin Qiong's visit a few days ago, and said to Lin Chuan with a smile:

"A few days ago, the Duke of Yi came to our house with the marriage certificate, saying that he wanted to wait for Lord Cheng to return so that you and I could go to the Cheng family. Then your marriage to Madam Cheng would be considered settled!"

"Uncle Cheng will probably be back in a few days!" Lin Chuan said softly.

"There's no rush. While you were away, Madam Cheng did come by with people twice and brought me some things. She seems to be a very sensible and well-educated woman!" said Madam Li.

Lin Chuan understood the unspoken meaning in Li's words and smiled as he comforted her:

"Uncle Cheng has always spoiled me since I was little. Although I'm a bit pampered, I still learned what I was supposed to learn, so don't worry, Mother!"

Mrs. Li rolled her eyes at her son and sighed softly:

"What do I have to worry about! Even if you, my lord, lose your title..."

"Mother, it's just a viscount title. I'll earn it back sooner or later. Not only will I get the title back, but I'll also get you a titled lady, so you won't feel ashamed in front of Aunt Cheng and Aunt Yan!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Then I'll wait!"

As they were talking, Lin Chuan finished his second bowl of noodles. He patted his stomach and said with a smile:

"It's getting late, Mother, you should go and rest!"

"Alright, Dalang, you should go to sleep early too!"

Back in the east wing, Meixiang had already filled the bathtub with water.

After not seeing her for many days, Meixiang seemed to have returned to the way she was when she first entered the Lin family, blushing and bowing her head as she helped Lin Chuan wash his hair.

Lin Chuan was exhausted. After washing his hair, he told Mei Xiang to go and rest, took a quick shower, and then lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

He slept until noon the next day before Er Ya woke him up.

After being helped by Meixiang to change into clean clothes, Lin Chuan looked at Er Ya sitting in the main hall and asked while yawning:

"Why did you wake me up in such a hurry?"

"Brother, it's already noon! Mother told me to come and call you for lunch!" Er Ya pointed to the sun outside and said speechlessly.

Let's go!

Lin Chuan nodded.

Halfway there, Er Ya glanced at Mei Xiang, who was following with her head down, and asked Lin Chuan softly:

"Brother, have you read the letter?"

"I didn't see it!" Lin Chuan shook his head.

"Brother, how can you be so indifferent? Sixth Sister is still waiting for your reply!" Er Ya said irritably.

"I'm too sleepy, I'll watch it when I get back!" Lin Chuan said irritably.

"You absolutely must read it, and reply to it!"

"good!"