Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 568: Let’s do something big together!

Chapter 568: Chapter 568: Let’s do something big together!

Before long, the little maid brought over two sets of clean bowls and chopsticks. Zhan Lan took them and placed them on the main seat.

Zhan Beicang thought of his deceased father Zhan Xinzhang, his eyes gradually reddening. Zhan Lan was a child with a very soft heart.

Today, she returned home for a reunion and set aside bowls and chopsticks for her deceased grandfather and grandmother.

Zhan Lan noticed the atmosphere among the family was quite oppressive. She smiled and said, "Big brother, during these negotiations with Eastern Wei, your identity as a military officer serves to intimidate them. Be cautious in all matters; this is a peace talk, not a time for fighting. If we resort to fighting, we’ve already lost."

"Yes, big brother understands." As Zhan Hui spoke with Zhan Lan, he quickly picked up a piece of braised pork for Chu Yin.

Zhan Lan clicked her tongue, "Big brother, if you’re going to pick dishes for my sister-in-law, do it openly. What’s there to be shy about!"

With one sentence from Zhan Lan, the atmosphere instantly became lively.

Zhan Hui’s face turned beet red, and Chu Yin secretly glared at Zhan Lan.

Qin Shuang pursed her lips and smiled, Zhan Beicang shook his head with a smile, and Zhan Rui and Zhan Heng giggled.

"Big brother, shame, shame!" Zhan Rui put down the shrimp cake in her hand, holding her belly as she laughed.

Zhan Hui’s gaze pressed over, and Zhan Rui stuck out her tongue and shut her mouth.

After the family finished eating, Qin Shuang prepared many of Zhan Lan’s favorite foods to take with her.

Zhan Beicang also had a chat with her for a while.

Zhan Lan brought back some trinkets from the people for Zhan Rui and Zhan Heng, who excitedly went to play with them.

Zhan Lan finally entered Chu Yin’s room for a private meeting.

The two sat side by side. Chu Yin, wearing a lotus-colored jacket, took off her shoes, curled one leg with a foot pressed beneath her thigh, and the other foot casually placed on the redwood stool in front, leaning lazily on the nanmu chair, without a care in the world.

Zhan Lan understood Chu Yin’s personality. Marrying into the Zhan Family, she surely wouldn’t have the same freedom as she did in her own home.

She was pampered by Chu Xiong growing up, daring to no ends in her youth, or else she wouldn’t have dashed into the palace to save her in the previous life.

That impulsiveness, that fervor, risking life and limb for a friend without considering the consequences, also harmed her, implicating her family.

Chu Yin chuckled, "Zhan Lan, only you wouldn’t mind me sitting improperly or without decorum."

Zhan Lan shot her a glance, "Actually, I do mind. Did you wash your feet?"

Chu Yin’s round eyes widened, "Hey, of course, I did. Your brother..."

Zhan Lan tilted her head to look at her, "Did my brother wash your feet?"

Chu Yin’s face turned red, denying, "No, he didn’t."

Zhan Lan knew Chu Yin was just trying to uphold Zhan Hui’s dignity, so she didn’t expose her.

Chu Yin explained, "When you’re pregnant, your feet tend to swell. Your brother was worried about my feet swelling, so he brought foot-washing water for me."

Zhan Lan laughed. Zhan Hui was indeed very considerate of Chu Yin, but male pride often got in the way, making him reluctant to show it.

"Alright, I get it. Is your body doing well?" Zhan Lan gently touched Chu Yin’s belly with her hand.

"Yes, quite well. Haven’t you noticed I’ve put on weight?" Chu Yin pointed to her own cheek with her fingers.

Zhan Lan pinched her already somewhat chubby cheek, "Mm, you’ve gained weight, and gotten fairer too."

Chu Yin dejectedly said, "No wonder people say ’white and chubby, black and skinny,’ turns out it’s because my skin is puffed up by the flesh!"

Zhan Lan casually leaned on the nanmu chair, listening to Chu Yin talk about her reactions since becoming pregnant.

"Why can’t I see your belly yet?" Zhan Lan was too curious. She wanted to lift Chu Yin’s clothes to have a look. Chu Yin promptly pressed down on Zhan Lan’s hand, "Don’t look, it’s embarrassing."

Zhan Lan rolled her eyes at her.

Chu Yin’s cheeks had a rosy tint, appearing very joyful, "It takes about four months for the pregnancy to show. After the New Year, it will be noticeable."

Speaking of which, Chu Yin thought about Zhan Lan’s difficulty conceiving, and quickly comforted her, "It’s alright, I’ll pass on my good pregnancy luck to you."

Zhan Lan lowered her eyes with a smile, "I’m not in a hurry. Perhaps it’s because I’m not yet ready to become a mother, and heaven has seen that."

Chu Yin patted Zhan Lan’s arm, "Nonsense, I’ve prayed three times to the Child-giving Guanyin for you, if the next generation of the Zhan Family only has Zhan Chuxiao, how lonely he would be!"

"The child’s name is already decided?" Zhan Lan marveled.

Chu Yin raised her eyebrows, "Zhan Hui named him."

Chu Yin had the air of a proud hen that had laid a golden egg.

Zhan Lan smiled gently, Big Brother was very considerate, even including Chu Yin’s surname in the child’s name.

Chu Yin held Zhan Lan’s hand, "Father and Mother didn’t object to having my surname in Zhan Chuxiao’s name!"

Zhan Lan said with a smile, "How do you know if the baby inside is a boy or a girl?"

Chu Yin wiped her hands with a handkerchief and ate a piece of dried sour plum, "I particularly crave sour foods, it should be a boy. If after birth it’s a girl, she’ll be called Zhan Chuchu! Either way, they’re my children, and I love them all!"

Zhan Lan shared Chu Yin’s joy, Big Brother and Chu Yin had even thought out the names of their future son and daughter.

"I’m going to be an aunt, how unreal this feeling is!" Zhan Lan murmured, leaning on Chu Yin’s shoulder.

"What’s so unreal about that? Isn’t everything just naturally falling into place..." Chu Yin didn’t understand why Zhan Lan was so sentimental.

Leaning on the shoulder of Chu Yin, who had grown up with her, Zhan Lan’s eyes were full of happiness; the more painful the previous life, the more precious this life’s happiness.

She fervently loved her family, her loved ones, and her friends.

Suddenly, Zhan Lan remembered something.

"Take good care of your pregnancy, I have something to do." Zhan Lan popped a sugar hawthorn into Chu Yin’s mouth and pushed the door open to leave.

Chu Yin, like a hamster, held the candied fruit in one cheek, "Hey, you’re just leaving like that!"

She still had a bellyful of words to share with Zhan Lan. Who knows when she’d see her next time?

With her back to her, Zhan Lan waved as she left the General Mansion.

...

Ministry of Industry.

Huang Gun’s subordinates were somewhat excited, "Reporting to Mr. Vice Minister, the Empress has come to the Ministry of Industry."

Everyone knew that Huang Gun had once served under Zhan Lan, and the two had a good relationship.

Huang Gun was having his meal. He put the pickled radish back into the bowl and immediately washed his hands and rinsed his mouth to meet Zhan Lan.

Zhan Lan saw Huang Gun smiling brightly as he came out to greet him, raising an eyebrow, "Eating pickled radish again?"

Huang Gun scratched his head, "It’s already deep winter, and there aren’t many good vegetables to eat, just cabbage and radishes."

Zhan Lan curled her lips, "I’m here to deliver an edict from His Majesty. There’s a big task for you."

As the two walked inside, Huang Gun curiously asked, "Main General, what’s the matter?"

He still liked to call Zhan Lan "Main General," just like he fondly recalled his military days, as if calling out "Main General" transported him back to those thrilling and heart-pounding days.

Zhan Lan’s hand patted Huang Gun’s shoulder, "Let’s do something big together!"