Chapter 15: I Feel Like You're Setting Me Up

As Chen Lin shouted loudly, Empress Ma appeared behind Zhu Yuanzhang like a summoned beast. "Speak properly, don’t keep scaring Lord Chen," she said.

Then Empress Ma looked at Chen Lin. "Lord Chen, not only did you save our grandson’s life, but you also brought me back from the dead. This is an enormous merit."

"So rest assured, Lord Chen, as long as I’m here, no one dares to harm you—not even His Majesty."

"Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?"

Zhu Yuanzhang had nothing to say and could only turn his head to the side in displeasure.

Empress Ma continued, "Lord Chen, I don’t care what His Majesty has promised you, but I will unconditionally grant you two requests to repay you for saving my life twice."

Unconditionally grant two requests!

Chen Lin’s eyes gleamed; Empress Ma’s promise was far more reliable than Zhu Yuanzhang’s.

And two requests at that—this was a huge win.

First, let’s settle the worries.

"Big Sister Ma—no, Your Majesty, since you’ve offered, my first request is..." He pushed Chen Xiaolan forward. "Adopt Xiaolan as my sworn daughter."

!!!

Zhu Yuanzhang abruptly turned his head. "No, we don’t agree."

"This scoundrel has ill intentions. Sister, don’t agree to him."

Empress Ma frowned. "What’s this? You have to interfere even if I adopt a sworn daughter? Step aside."

"This..."

Zhu Yuanzhang stomped his foot and sulked in a corner.

Empress Ma then approached Chen Xiaolan. "Xiaolan, come kneel..."

Watching Xiaolan formally perform the kneeling ceremony, accepting Empress Ma as her sworn mother, Chen Lin smiled happily.

With Empress Ma protecting Xiaolan, the old Zhu Yuanzhang definitely wouldn’t dare lay a hand on her anymore. The worries were settled.

Next, let’s keep going!

"Who just touched my carriage? Haven’t you heard of ‘taking without asking is stealing’?"

"This is the royal family, yet no manners at all."

"What are you looking at? I’m talking to you, old Zhu Yuanzhang. As the family head, you can’t even discipline your children. If I were you, I’d find a tofu block and bang my head against it. And you still have the face to glare here, what a disgrace."

"Ahhh! I can’t take it anymore! Come on, get him, quickly! I’m going to chop him into mince!"

Zhu Yuanzhang’s veins bulged, breathing heavily, glaring fiercely.

Chen Lin remained fearless, "Come on, if you don’t mince me, you’re just a little dog."

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Zhu Xiong. "What are you standing there for? Has my decree become useless?"

Zhu Xiong quickly signaled Zhu Yuanzhang to look behind. Zhu Yuanzhang turned and saw something terrifying!

"Zhu Yuanzhang, is my word useless now? Or do you regret my resurrection? Should I die right before your eyes?"

Zhu Yuanzhang instantly wilted. "But Sister, he just insulted me, and so harshly! As emperor, I must uphold imperial dignity!"

Empress Ma retorted, "Did Lord Chen insult wrongly? Who told you to mess with his carriage?"

"I didn’t—it was Xiong Ying, Xiong Ying did it."

"That’s still your responsibility. As Lord Chen said, as the family head, you should have stopped Xiong Ying’s mistake, but you didn’t and are now fussing."

Zhu Yuanzhang was speechless, hurried inside and dragged out Zhu Xiong, who was crawling into the carriage, along with Zhu Biao holding a can of Sprite.

"A child not taught is the father’s fault. Crown Prince, this is your fault. Apologize to your mother now!"

Zhu Biao was confused but out in public, the father’s authority must be maintained, so he obediently apologized to Empress Ma.

Zhu Xiong was also confused, still holding a statue he had torn off the front of a pickup truck.

Chen Lin glared at Zhu Yuanzhang in warning, then, supporting Empress Ma, led Chen Xiaolan inside.

"Your Majesty, watch your step. Xiaolan, help your mother!"

"Oh, oh..."

Zhu Yuanzhang watched their backs, seething with anger.

"I’ll endure it!"

After a few deep breaths, he followed inside, intrigued by this so-called carriage.

"Father..." Zhu Xiong looked up at Zhu Biao.

"Let’s go in too!"

As the three entered, Chen Lin opened a can with an exasperated sigh and handed it to Zhu Yuanzhang’s inexplicably new sworn daughter.

"Drink, it’s sweet."

"Lord Chen, open another for me, cold and refreshing—I love it."

Hmph~~

Empress Ma also had a can of Sprite. Curious, Zhu Yuanzhang stepped forward without ceremony. "Give me one too!"

Chen Lin squinted at him. "Who are you? Why are you in my house? Careful, I’ll report you for breaking and entering!"

Empress Ma shook her head helplessly. "Lord Chen, I know you two have issues, but give me some face. Can we stop fighting?"

Empress Ma’s face had to be respected, so Chen Lin reluctantly handed a can of Sprite to Zhu Yuanzhang, shaking it deliberately.

Then, in front of everyone, he opened another can. "Learned? If you have, open it yourself!"

Zhu Yuanzhang held the cold can, his resentment easing considerably. He imitated Chen Lin and pulled the tab.

Hisssss~~

"Ah, what’s going on? Why does it spill when it’s in my hands?"

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang drenched in Sprite and looking ridiculous, Chen Lin barely contained his laughter, turning away to hide it.

"Are you the troublemaker!?"

"Sister, look for yourself. I’m not bothering him, but he’s teasing me. That’s rude!"

Empress Ma scolded Chen Lin. "Lord Chen, really, can’t you all get along?"

Chen Lin scratched his head. "This is the last time, Your Majesty."

Then he looked at Zhu Yuanzhang. "We’re even now. From now on, I’ll call you Old Zhu, and you can call me... whatever you like. How’s that?"

Zhu Yuanzhang hesitated but finally reached out and shook his hand.

"Fine. We’re acquaintances through conflict. You stabbed my sister; I chop off your head. That settles it."

"Deal!"

Their hands gripped tightly, but was it really that simple?

They were both holding their breath, gripping hands, secretly testing strength.

One was a robust young man in his twenties; the other, a battle-hardened veteran. It was hard to tell who would win.

"Alright, let go."

At Empress Ma’s command, they finally released their grip.

Chen Lin took out three vape cartridges, handing them to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao as a gesture of goodwill.

"No, these things choke me," Zhu Yuanzhang said frankly.

"Tsk, tsk. You’re given a smoke whether you want it or not. It’s etiquette, like a toast. Understand?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was skeptical. "Really? Why do I feel like you’re tricking me?"