Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 29 Sister-in-law's Care

The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, a secret room.

Zhao Yuan was chained up, his face ashen.

Lin Chen sat opposite him, slowly brewing tea.

"Prince Zhao, do you want to live?"

Zhao Yuan gritted his teeth: "Lin Chen, if you dare to touch me, His Majesty will not let you off!"

"Your Majesty?" Lin Chen smiled.

"You colluded with the Cui family and the Underworld, smuggling the Bone-Corroding Spirit Stone and causing the deaths of the Duke of Zhenguo and his son. Do you think His Majesty will protect you?"

Zhao Yuan's face turned even paler.

"However," Lin Chen changed the subject, "if you are willing to be a witness and testify against Cui Yongnian and Liu Kun... I can consider sparing your life."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Zhao Yuan's eyes: "You...you're serious?"

"I, Lin Chen, keep my word," Lin Chen said.

"But you have to be sincere—write down everything you know, down to the last detail. Then sign and put your fingerprint on it."

"I'll write it! I'll write it!" Zhao Yuan said repeatedly.

Lin Chen gestured to Lin Wu to bring paper and pen.

With trembling hands, Zhao Yuan began to write his confession, detailing everything from smuggling the Corrosive Spirit Stone to colluding with Bei Shuo, and then framing the Duke of Zhenguo... each and every one of these incidents was shocking.

He suddenly looked up while writing:

"Lin Chen, I also know a secret—in the Cui family's secret room, besides the evidence, there is something else."

"What is it?"

"Copies of all the secret letters exchanged between the Cui family and Bei Shuo, and... a list of all their spies planted in the court," Zhao Yuan said in a low voice.

"Cui Yongnian was afraid of being silenced, so he left a backup plan. That list was in the innermost hidden compartment of the secret room."

Lin Chen's eyes narrowed: "The list..."

"Yes," Zhao Yuan said. "With that list, you can uproot the Cui family's influence in the court."

Lin Chen was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled:

"Prince Zhao, your sincerity is more than enough."

"Don't worry, after it's all done, I'll send you away from Dayan and give you some money so you can live out the rest of your life in peace."

"Thank you... thank you, Young Master Lin!" Zhao Yuan kowtowed repeatedly.

Lin Chen got up and left the secret room.

Outside the door, Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were waiting.

"My lord, this man must not be allowed to live," Yuan Tiangang said in a low voice. "He knows too much and will surely become a hidden danger later."

"I know," Lin Chen said calmly.

"But it's still useful for now. Once we get the list, we'll send him on his way—make sure it's done cleanly."

"Yes."

Li Chunfeng stroked his beard and said, "My lord, although we won the battle at Black Wind Forest, it has alarmed all sides. I fear there may be unforeseen circumstances at the Cui family's birthday banquet."

"Change is good." A cold glint flashed in Lin Chen's eyes. "Only when the water is murky can you catch the big fish."

He looked up at the sky; the moon was already high in the sky.

"Get ready. The day after tomorrow is the Cui family's birthday banquet; it's time to close the net."

The night wind carried the stench of blood from afar.

The situation in the capital is about to change.

……

It was drizzling in the early morning.

Lin Chen looked out the window and saw the banana leaves in the courtyard pattering under the raindrops.

Today is the last day before the Cui family's birthday banquet, and the undercurrents between various parties have reached a boiling point.

"Ding! Daily check-in successful! (This is a monthly check-in)"

"Received: 5000 taels of silver"

"Obtained: [Item - Concealing Aura Talisman] x3 (Celestial Rank, Low Grade; can perfectly conceal one's aura for three hours; cannot be detected by those below the level of a Land Immortal)"

"Obtained: [Faction Summoning Card - Great Snow Dragon Rider] x1000 Riders (All are Rank 1, unparalleled in mounted combat)"

The system notification made Lin Chen's eyes flash with a sharp light.

A thousand riders of the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry! All of them are of the highest rank!

This is already an elite cavalry force capable of changing the course of the battle!

What's even more interesting is that the Dayan Law stipulates that the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion originally had the power to command three hundred iron cavalry private soldiers, but in recent years the family has declined and the mansion exists in name only.

Now, these thousand cavalrymen can gradually make their appearance under the guise of "restoring their organizational structure."

"The timing is perfect." Lin Chen's lips curled up slightly.

He changed into a plain brocade robe and carefully put the concealment talisman close to his body.

The Great Snow Dragon Riders—this force should be saved for the most crucial moment.

As soon as I stepped out of the room, I saw Seventh Sister Murong Xue standing in the corridor, holding an oil-paper umbrella.

She wore a light blue palace dress, with white magnolias adorning her temples, her gentle face carrying a touch of exotic charm.

"Good morning, Seventh Sister-in-law," Lin Chen greeted her with a smile.

Murong Xue turned around, a hint of worry in her eyes: "Eighth Brother, are you going to the Heavenly Mystery Academy today?"

"Okay, go get the Seven-Leaf Resurrection Grass."

"I'll stay with you." Murong Xue stepped forward and whispered:

"The manager of the Myriad Medicines Pavilion at the Heavenly Mystery Institute is an old acquaintance of mine. With me here, perhaps I can do something convenient for him."

Lin Chen was taken aback: "Seventh Sister-in-law has this kind of relationship?"

Murong Xue smiled bitterly:

"Before I got married, I accompanied my father on a mission to Dayan and stayed at the Tianji Academy for half a month."

He had some connection with Yao Chenzi, the elder in charge of the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion.

Lin Chen's heart stirred slightly.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Seventh Sister-in-law."

Just as the two were about to leave, their sister-in-law, Liu Ruyan, walked quickly over, carrying a black soft armor in her hands.

"Eighth Brother, wait a moment." Liu Ruyan handed over the soft armor.

"This is the 'Mysterious Scale Armor' that Father wore years ago. It's a low-grade Earth-rank armor, capable of withstanding a Grandmaster's attack. Wear it when you go out today."

Lin Chen took the soft armor; it felt cool to the touch, like scales.

The armor has a subtle shimmering sheen, indicating that it is in excellent condition.

"Sister-in-law, I have a tortoise shell from the Heavenly Mystery Institute..."

"No matter how much, it's not a small amount," Liu Ruyan said solemnly.

"Eighth brother, you are now the Lin family's only hope. You must not be allowed to die."

She paused, then lowered her voice:

"With the array set up by Mr. Li, the mansion is safe and sound. You can go and do your work with peace of mind."

Lin Chen nodded emphatically: "Thank you, sister-in-law."

Third Sister-in-law Qin Shuyan also came from the direction of the accounting room and handed over a brocade pouch:

"Eighth brother, here are thirty thousand taels of silver notes, for emergencies."

In addition, the renovation of Zuiyue Pavilion is progressing smoothly, and Fifth Sister personally went to supervise the work this morning.

Fourth Sister-in-law Xiao Yulou then floated down from the roof and tossed over a small porcelain bottle:

"Qingfeng Powder is used to detoxify. In a place like Tianji Academy, one must always be wary of others."

Lin Chen looked at the items in his hands, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

This family has finally come together as one.

It's only a matter of time before one person takes charge of eight households.

"Don't worry, sisters-in-law," he said solemnly, "today, I will definitely bring back the Seven-Leaf Resurrection Grass."

……

Tianji Academy, Wanyao Pavilion.

This is a nine-story wooden pagoda with upturned eaves and copper bells hanging from the eaves, which make a clear and melodious sound when the wind blows.

The tower is filled with a rich medicinal fragrance that is refreshing to the mind and body.

Lin Chen and Murong Xue dismounted in front of the tower and presented their visiting cards.

The tower was guarded by two young apprentices who looked respectful after reading the visiting card.

"Could it be Princess Murong of Nanzhao?"

Murong Xue nodded: "Indeed. I'm sorry to trouble Elder Yao Chenzi to inform him that an old friend has come to visit."

The young apprentice went in to report, and soon an old man in a green robe came out quickly.

The old man, with white hair and a youthful face, held a pestle in his hand; he was none other than Yao Chenzi, the elder steward of the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion.

"Murong girl?" Yao Chenzi's eyes lit up. "It really is you! It's been years, you've grown into a beautiful young lady."

Murong Xue bowed gracefully: "Greetings, Elder Yao. This is Lin Chen, the eighth young master of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, my...family member."

Her face flushed slightly when she spoke of "family".

Yao Chenzi sized up Lin Chen, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes:

"The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion... Is Young Friend Lin the one who won the treasure appraisal competition yesterday?"

"It is indeed this junior." Lin Chen bowed.

"The younger generation is truly formidable," Yao Chenzi said with a smile, stroking his beard. "Come in and let's talk."

The three of them went up to the third floor of the Wanyao Pavilion and sat down in a tea room.

Outside the window, the rain pattered softly, while inside, the aroma of tea filled the air.

"Murong girl, you've come today not just to visit this old man, have you?" Yao Chenzi asked bluntly.