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

Chapter 35 Taking Charge

Three days later, in the main hall of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Incense smoke curled from the burner, and the matriarch, Madam Lin Qin, sat regally in the main seat, her dragon-headed cane resting on the ground.

Below the hall, a dense mass of stewards, guards, and servants knelt, their aged faces exuding an imposing authority without anger.

"Listen carefully," the old lady's voice rang out like the clang of metal.

"From this day forward, all matters of the manor, regardless of size, shall be decided by Eighth Master Lin Chen. Anyone who dares to outwardly comply but inwardly disobey will be punished according to family law!"

"Yes!" the crowd responded in unison, their voices filled with reverence.

The situation in the capital has changed dramatically in the past few days, and they have witnessed it clearly.

The second prince was placed under house arrest, the entire Cui family was imprisoned, Liu Kun, the vice minister of the Ministry of War, had his property confiscated, and Wang Chongming, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, was dismissed from his post...

And the source of all this was none other than the "good-for-nothing" Eighth Master in his own household!

What's even more shocking is that Mr. Yuan, one of Eighth Master's subordinates, is actually a peerless master who is half a step into the Celestial Realm.

The scene of three hundred first-rank imperial guards surrounding the Cui family mansion at the birthday banquet that day had already spread throughout the capital.

The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is no longer a pushover.

"Chen'er," the old lady said, looking at Lin Chen.

"From today onwards, you will move into the main residence of 'Zhenwu Hall'. That is where your father lived before his death, and it is time for you to inherit it."

Zhenwu Hall, the core of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, symbolizes the status of the head of the family.

Lin Chen bowed: "Your grandson obeys."

"In addition," the old lady paused, her gaze sweeping over the seven granddaughters-in-law standing in the hall,

"Regarding the matter of 'one person managing eight households,' this old woman..."

"Grandmother," Lin Chen suddenly spoke, a smile on his face.

"There's no rush. My grandson is still five months away from his coming-of-age ceremony."

"With so many affairs to attend to in the household right now, and each of you sisters-in-law having your own responsibilities, perhaps... we should hold off for now?"

A hint of surprise flashed in the old lady's eyes, but seeing Lin Chen's serious gaze, she nodded:

"Very well, so be it. But Chen'er, the continuation of the Lin family bloodline is a major matter, so you must keep it in mind."

"Grandson understands."

The people below the hall looked at each other in bewilderment.

Eighth Master actually refused?

You must know, all seven wives are incredibly beautiful, and each has powerful backers. Marrying them all would be a tremendous boost to the Lin family…

Only Yuan Tiangang, standing behind Lin Chen, had a slight smile on his lips beneath his mask.

My lord probably has some "bold ideas" in his heart.

……

After the meeting, Lin Chen followed the old lady to the back hall.

"Chen'er, tell your grandmother the truth," the old lady dismissed her attendants, her expression stern, "Are you really not in a hurry to get married?"

Lin Chen helped the old lady sit down and said with a smile, "Grandmother, it's not that I'm not in a hurry, it's just... I want to wait for the right opportunity."

"At what time?"

"When my grandson is crowned and inherits the title, when the Lin family is fully established, when my sisters-in-law... are willing," Lin Chen said earnestly.

"A forced relationship won't be happy. What my grandson wants is a complete family, not a transaction."

The old lady gave him a deep look, then suddenly smiled:

"Good, good! Now that you think this way, Grandma is relieved. It seems you've really grown up."

She took a gold hairpin from her hair and handed it to Lin Chen:

"This is a token of love that your grandfather gave me years ago, and now I'm passing it on to you. In the future... give it to your own legal wife."

The hairpin has a simple and elegant design, with a ruby ​​inlaid on the head, making it sparkle.

Lin Chen solemnly accepted it: "Thank you, Grandmother."

"Go on, go and do your work." The old lady waved her hand. "The mansion is in dire need of rebuilding right now, you'll have plenty to do."

After leaving the back hall, Lin Chen went to the Zhenwu Hall.

This is a three-courtyard house with blue bricks and gray tiles, simple yet grand.

The front yard has a study and a reception room, the middle yard has a bedroom and a practice room, and the back yard is a small garden.

"Eighth Master, this place has been rearranged according to your instructions," a steward said respectfully.

"All the original guards have been transferred to various properties. The guards now protecting Zhenwu Hall are the 'Tiangang Guards' arranged by Mr. Yuan."

Lin Chen looked up and saw eight silver-armored guards standing in the courtyard, their auras deep and their gazes sharp.

They were the elite among the three hundred Heavenly Guards summoned by the system, at the peak of the first rank.

"Very good." Lin Chen nodded.

"Pass down the order: from today onwards, the Heavenly Guards will be divided into three teams: one team to guard the main residence, one team to guard the women of the inner courtyard, and one team to conduct mobile patrols."

In addition, fifty Heavenly Guards were dispatched, dressed in civilian clothes, to secretly protect the main members of the mansion when they went out.

"yes!"

After the steward left, Lin Chen went into the study alone.

The study was spacious and bright, with bookshelves on all four walls reaching to the ceiling, filled with military books, historical records, and martial arts classics.

In the center is a rosewood desk, and on the wall behind it hangs a portrait of Lin Tianxiong, the Duke of Zhenguo.

The father in the painting is dressed in military uniform, holding a long spear, gazing into the distance, exuding an imposing aura.

Lin Chen stood in front of the portrait for a long time before speaking softly:

"Your revenge is half complete; I will continue with the rest."

He walked behind the desk and sat down, a thought suddenly occurring to him.

"System, claim your clan achievement reward."

"Ding! Detected that the host has completed the following major family events: [Cleansing the House], [Finding the Truth (Phase One)], [Family Unity], and [Restoring Family Prestige]. Overall rating: Grade A!"

"Rewards being distributed..."

"Received: [Cultivation Initiation - Grandmaster Perfection]"

"Obtained: [Character Summoning Card - Dugu Qiubai] (Peak of Celestial Realm, Divine Swordsmanship)"

"Acquired: [Faction Summoning Card - Eight Sword Attendants] (All are mid-stage Grandmasters, proficient in combined sword formations)"

"Obtained: [Item - Marrow Cleansing Pill] x8 (Low-grade Heavenly Rank, can reshape physical constitution and enhance talent)"

"Acquired: [Martial Arts - Myriad Swords Return to Origin] (Low-grade Heaven-rank sword technique, automatically perfected)"

boom!

The immense true energy surged like a river overflowing its banks, flooding into Lin Chen's limbs and bones.

Meridians, acupoints, dantian... all the barriers were broken through as if unstoppable!

The insights into martial arts were like a sudden awakening, instantly elevating my understanding of the laws of heaven and earth to a whole new level!

Grandmaster level achieved!

Lin Chen opened his eyes, his divine light contained, his aura as deep and boundless as the sea.

Even without using the system's trump card, he is already a top expert in this world!

"Invincible..." Lin Chen's lips curled slightly. "This is getting interesting."

He glanced at the summoning cards of the eight sword servants, but did not summon them immediately.

The Marrow Cleansing Elixir is a good thing; it's perfect for my seven sisters-in-law and mother.

As for the Myriad Swords Return to One... this Heaven-rank sword technique is enough to serve as a clan's ultimate secret art.

Just as I was pondering this, a soft voice came from outside the door: "Chen'er?"

It was her mother, Su Wanqing.

Lin Chen quickly got up and opened the door: "Mother, what brings you here?"

Su Wanqing wore a plain-colored long dress and had a gentle demeanor, but her eyes were slightly red, indicating that she had just been crying.

She was holding a tray with a bowl of lotus seed soup on it.

"I heard you moved into Zhenwu Hall, so I came to see you." Su Wanqing entered the study and placed the lotus seed soup on the table.

"This was your favorite food when you were little, and I made it myself."

Lin Chen felt a warmth in his heart: "Thank you, Mother."

Looking at the portrait on the wall, Su Wanqing's tears flowed again:

"If only your father could see you now... how wonderful that would be."

Lin Chen helped her sit down and said softly:

"Mother, I have avenged half of Father's death. The Cui family, the Second Prince, Liu Kun, Wang Chongming... none of those who harmed him will escape."

"I know." Su Wanqing wiped away her tears.

"These past few days, the capital has been buzzing with talk of my son, saying he has inherited the spirit of our ancestors and is reviving the Lin family's prestige. Mother... is so proud of you."

She grasped Lin Chen's hand, her voice choked with emotion:

"But Chen'er, you must be very careful. Although those people have fallen, their cronies are still around."

Moreover... there seems to be some kind of "Purple Robe Pavilion" behind that Mr. Yin...

"Don't worry, Mother," Lin Chen said with a smile.

"With Mr. Yuan and Mr. Li around, Ziyi Tower can't cause any major trouble."

"What you need to do now is take care of your health, watch your child be crowned and inherit the title, watch the Lin family regain its former glory, and wait to hold your grandson."

Su Wanqing smiled through her tears: "Okay, Mother will wait."