CHAPTER 376: CHAPTER 304: ALSO BEING A GIRLFRIEND (ADDED 2 IN 1)

"Husband, would you like... to meet my parents?"

No wonder Yin Weiyin wanted to keep this from him at first.

Chen Yi had contemplated the affairs of the Prince Mansion before.

His grudge with the Prince stemmed from the Lin Party—Infant Tower, Huang Liuqing, You Xu... The various assassination attempts were still vivid in his mind. Among them, the most perilous was You Xu’s attempt, where he had narrowly escaped death.

Chen Yi, known for holding grudges, was not without thoughts of revenge. However, after the Lin Party’s downfall, the Prince Mansion suffered heavy damage—its renowned tribute masters were eradicated, like a toothless tiger. Additionally, the Prince Mansion had steered efforts toward stabilizing the An Party and focusing on court matters. With no further conflicts of interest between them, the two sides had settled into a state where their paths did not cross.

Moreover, after returning from the underground palace, a series of events arose one after another, gradually relegating the Prince Mansion’s affairs to the back of his mind, diminishing their importance.

If not for Yin Weiyin mentioning it today, Chen Yi wouldn’t have thought about the "father-in-law and mother-in-law" residing in the Prince Mansion.

"Why are you bringing this up?" Chen Yi asked impassively.

Yin Weiyin’s gaze lowered. After a long pause, she finally said:

"I returned this time because of matters regarding my father and mother. In the past, while cultivating at home, I was detached from worldly affairs. After all, once arriving at Taihua Mountain, one leaves behind the world of mortals. But now... now I’ve become your... concubine."

She struggled when uttering those two words, pausing briefly and avoiding his gaze:

"You’ve dragged me back into the world of mortals. If my father and mother learn of our relationship, they will surely be shocked and furious..."

Chen Yi sneered coldly upon hearing this:

"And so what if they are shocked and furious?"

The Prince Mansion was powerless against him, like a toothless tiger. It was already magnanimous of him not to settle accounts with them. Their shock and fury would amount to nothing more than simply that.

Yin Weiyin’s gaze dimmed. She sniffled slightly and said:

"I... I would be in a very difficult position."

Chen Yi looked at her. His fingers wandered through the ends of her hair. She did not resist nor did she respond with the docility of a little fox. She simply sat there stiffly, like a puppet.

Seeing him remain silent, Yin Weiyin raised her delicate head slightly and cautiously cast a glance his way.

After pondering for a while, Chen Yi said:

"Go on, I’m listening."

In truth, the reason for the state of mutual non-interference between him and the Prince Mansion was not unrelated to Yin Weiyin.

Adjusting the fiery-patterned green robe around her, the female crown hesitated for a while before continuing:

"They seem to want to invite you to a poetic gathering, to probe the nature of our relationship. Rumors about us appear to be circulating in the capital."

Chen Yi chuckled mischievously and said, "That’s not a rumor."

"..." Yin Weiyin fell into silence once more. The words she had intended to say retreated as soon as they touched the edge of her teeth.

Chen Yi observed her hesitation. Just as he was about to speak, before any words could leave his lips, Yin Tingxue walked over, holding an empty porcelain bowl—the silver ear soup she had finished.

Yin Tingxue approached with small steps and placed the bowl in Chen Yi’s palm.

Chen Yi took it in his hand, glanced at Great Yin, and, after some thought, asked Little Yin:

"Do you have something to say?"

He understood perfectly that Yin Tingxue had chosen this moment deliberately. Since her unfortunate arrival at the mansion as a concubine, this young girl had become adept at observing his moods.

Yin Tingxue nodded gently and feigned casual indifference as she asked:

"Did I really kill you in my previous life?"

Chen Yi chuckled, playing along: "Why else would I have taken you as my concubine?"

Yin Tingxue nodded again and said, "So I became your concubine, allowing you to treat me however you like... As long as I behave well, don’t try to harm you, and don’t attempt to escape, you won’t hurt me. Isn’t that right?"

"You remember well." Chen Yi shifted his hand to hold her close.

Yin Tingxue whispered, "You remember well too."

"And who wouldn’t remember?"

"Only a fool wouldn’t remember," Yin Tingxue muttered.

"Only a fool wouldn’t remember," Chen Yi echoed with a laugh.

As husband and concubine bantered like this, the slightly dazed Yin Weiyin suddenly snapped back to attention.

She turned her head only to catch the flickering candlelight casting faint shadows on Chen Yi’s profile. He also turned to her, his gaze fixed directly on her.

"Do you understand now?" he asked, making the situation crystal clear for this indecisive woman.

Yin Weiyin shivered and stammered, "I... I understand."

Like escaping a close call, she instinctively formed a fleeting thought but stopped herself abruptly.

Chen Yi released Yin Tingxue and rested his chin on his hand, watching this female crown, waiting for her words.

Yin Weiyin steadied herself, her voice gradually clearing as she said:

"I’m caught in a dilemma. My visit this time was to inform you about this matter. Whether you choose to attend the gathering or not, I will still remain your cauldron."

When her voice fell, she did not exhale a breath of relief. Her heart remained suspended in unease.

Chen Yi, however, watched her with a faint smile.

Under his gaze, Yin Weiyin’s breathing gradually grew hurried.

Timidly, she still suppressed her fear and moved closer to him, whispering:

"Husband... though I’m merely your concubine, I am still... someone’s child."

As her words ended, Chen Yi slowly wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

Pulling her closer, he said:

"Yin Immortal..."

Yin Weiyin froze slightly, startled by the term. She hadn’t heard Chen Yi address her like this for a long time.

Caught off guard, she was momentarily bewildered.

Chen Yi calmly said, "Get used to me calling you ’Yin Immortal.’"

Yin Weiyin’s brows widened slightly in shock.

He was implying...

Chen Yi softly added, "I told you, in the eyes of others, you are still the Taichua Goddess."

Candlelight wavered as the faint shadows scattered onto her face. Yin Weiyin’s restless heart finally eased. Her tense body softened as the faint sugar residue from the silver ear soup lingered at the corner of her lips.