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

Chapter 11 The Sister-in-Law's Change of Heart

Night falls.

Qianjinfang is located in the busiest area in the west of the city, brightly lit and bustling with people.

This is one of the Wang family's cash cows, bringing in a fortune every day.

As planned, Liu Ruyan changed into men's clothing, put on a bamboo hat, and walked into the gambling den alone.

She went straight to the table where they played Sic Bo, placed ten bets in a row, and won every single one, quickly earning over a thousand taels of silver.

This unusual winning strategy quickly attracted attention.

A middle-aged man who looked like a manager walked over and said with a forced smile:

"This guy's got good luck, wanna play for something bigger?"

"Not interested," Liu Ruyan said in a low voice. "I just like playing dice."

He placed another bet, and won again.

The surrounding gamblers erupted in uproar.

The manager's face darkened: "Friend, cheating is not a good habit."

"You're accusing me of cheating?" Liu Ruyan sneered. "Where's the evidence?"

"Evidence?" The manager waved his hand, and four thugs surrounded them. "A body search is the evidence!"

This was the moment Liu Ruyan had been waiting for.

She slammed her hand on the table, leaped back, and shouted, "Who dares to touch me!"

The woman's clear voice immediately silenced the gambling den.

The manager was taken aback: "A woman?"

Just then, a chilling voice came from the second floor:

"How dare you cause trouble in Qianjinfang? You have some nerve."

An elderly man dressed in black slowly walked down the stairs.

His hair and beard were all white, but his steps were steady and his eyes were like an eagle's.

He was a first-rank martial artist, a retainer of the Wang family, nicknamed "Iron Palm" Liu Ying.

Liu Ruyan felt a chill run down her spine, but remembering the three moves Lin Chen had taught her, she calmed down again.

"So what if I cause trouble?" She drew her longsword. "I've heard that Qianjinfang bullies people with their power. Today I'll see just how they do it!"

A cold glint flashed in Liu Ying's eyes: "This little girl is ignorant of her own limitations!"

Before he finished speaking, he pounced like a roc spreading its wings and struck Liu Ruyan's face with a palm!

The palm strike was fierce, accompanied by a whistling sound.

Liu Ruyan neither dodged nor evaded; with a flick of her longsword, she thrust it straight into Liu Ying's palm.

It was the first move Lin Chen taught him, the "Breaking Palm Stance"!

This sword strike was delivered at a tricky angle and with precise timing. If Liu Ying hadn't withdrawn his palm, it would have been pierced through!

"Excellent swordsmanship!" Liu Ying exclaimed in surprise, abruptly changing his move and dodging to the side.

But just as he regained his footing, Liu Ruyan's second sword arrived, aiming straight for his vulnerable ribs!

Liu Ying retreated again.

The third sword strike followed immediately, its light like a rainbow, enveloping all the vital points on his body!

The three swords were linked together in one smooth motion.

Although Liu Ying was a first-rank official, he was forced to retreat repeatedly and was in a sorry state.

The gambling den was in an uproar.

"Who is this woman? Her swordsmanship is amazing!"

"Even Liu Gongfeng couldn't handle her!"

Liu Ying was both shocked and furious.

He, a dignified first-rank martial artist, was forced into this state by a second-rank girl; he has completely lost face!

"You're courting death!" he roared, unleashing both palms with a surging wind, aiming to completely suppress Liu Ruyan.

However, Liu Ruyan remained calm and her swordsmanship became even more fierce.

She became more and more proficient in using the three moves Lin Chen taught her, and even began to subtly suppress Liu Ying!

The two men fought fiercely in the gambling den's main hall, causing tables and chairs to fly and gamblers to scatter in all directions.

No one noticed that several dark figures had taken advantage of the chaos to sneak into the backyard of the gambling den...

After a cup of tea, Liu Ruyan forced Liu Ying back with a sword and leaped out of the gambling den.

That's all for today, see you another day!

After a few moments of ups and downs, he disappeared into the night.

Liu Ying's face turned ashen, but he didn't chase after them; he couldn't bear the humiliation.

The steward approached tremblingly: "Old Liu, should we...?"

"Investigate!" Liu Ying gritted his teeth. "Find out who this woman is! And immediately assess the losses!"

However, it was too late.

The 30,000 taels of silver and a batch of pawned jewelry that were once piled up in the backyard storeroom have now vanished.

The four guards watching the warehouse were all knocked unconscious.

A line of words was left on the wall: "An eye for an eye."

Upon seeing these words, Liu Ying slammed his fist on the table, shattering it in anger: "The Lin family! It must be the Lin family!"

But he had no evidence.

The gambling den was robbed; it would only be more shameful if word got out.

Moreover, the other party was clearly prepared, as they didn't even leave any footprints.

That night, the Wang family suffered a loss they couldn't speak of.

……

The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, West Garden.

Lin Bao led his men to carry more than a dozen large boxes into the courtyard. When they were opened, the gleaming silver and various jewels were dazzling.

"Eighth Master, a total of thirty-two thousand taels of silver, and the jewelry is estimated to be worth about five thousand taels," Lin Bao said excitedly.

"And these ledgers contain evidence of the Wang family gambling den's usury and forced prostitution!"

Lin Chen flipped through the ledger and smiled, "Good stuff. Keep it safe, it'll be useful later."

Liu Ruyan also returned, looking somewhat tired, but her eyes were shining:

"Eighth Brother, your three sword techniques were amazing! Liu Ying was completely suppressed by me!"

"It's because my sister-in-law is so talented," Lin Chen said with a smile. "But tonight is just the beginning; the Wang family won't let this go."

"What's there to be afraid of!" Lin Bao said boldly, "With Eighth Master here, we're not afraid of them!"

Everyone echoed this sentiment.

Lin Chen's actions tonight completely changed their views, and they secretly sighed that the Duke's mansion had a worthy successor.

Lin Chen waved his hand:

"You've all worked hard. Each of you will receive a reward of one hundred taels of silver. Go back and rest. Remember, keep tonight's events to yourself."

"yes!"

After everyone received their rewards and left, only Lin Chen and Liu Ruyan remained in the courtyard.

The moonlight, like water, shone down on the two of them.

Liu Ruyan looked at Lin Chen and suddenly said:

"Eighth brother, tell me honestly—what level are you at in martial arts?"

Lin Chen blinked: "Sister-in-law, guess?"

"At least third-grade, or even second-grade," Liu Ruyan affirmed. "Otherwise, I couldn't teach such swordsmanship."

Lin Chen remained noncommittal: "Does sister-in-law think it's enough?"

"It's enough, but not enough," Liu Ruyan said seriously. "The Wang family has a Grandmaster in charge, and the Second Prince's residence has an even greater Grandmaster. If you want to deal with them, you'll need at least..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Lin Chen smiled: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

He looked up at the moon, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Tonight's events were both retaliation and a test.

Now he knows the Wang family's reaction speed and their hidden strength.

I also learned about the Empress's attitude towards the Lin family.

Now, it's time to get down to business.

"Sister-in-law," he suddenly said:

"Would you be willing to help me train an elite force? Not many, thirty will suffice."

Liu Ruyan replied without hesitation, "Okay."

"Furthermore," Lin Chen paused, "regarding what Grandmother said... I won't force you. If you're unwilling, I'll find a way to persuade Grandmother."

Liu Ruyan remained silent for a long time before whispering:

"Eighth brother, do you know what your eldest brother told me before he went to war?"

Lin Chen was taken aback.

"He said that if I were to die on the battlefield, he would let me remarry so I wouldn't suffer so much." Liu Ruyan's voice choked with emotion.

He said that the men of the Lin family could die on the battlefield, but the women of the Lin family should not live as widows.

She looked up, her eyes filled with tears yet a smile: "I used to think that this was all there was to my life, but now... I feel like there's a glimmer of hope."

Lin Chen was shocked. He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Liu Ruyan wiped her eyes, regaining her usual decisiveness:

"Alright, let's get down to business. You need to train the guards, and I have a suggestion: go find Fourth Sister."

She's skilled in agility and adept at assassination and infiltration; there are some things I can't teach her.

"Fourth Sister-in-law?" Lin Chen recalled Xiao Yulou's dashing figure. "Would she agree?"

"I'll go and talk to her," Liu Ruyan said. "Fourth Sister is straightforward, but she values ​​loyalty the most. She'll appreciate it if you stand up for the Lin family tonight."

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

Liu Ruyan nodded, turned to leave, then stopped: "Eighth Brother."

"Um?"

"Thank you," she said softly. "Thank you for standing up for the Lin family and preventing them from being bullied."

After saying that, he quickly left.

Lin Chen stood in the moonlight, motionless for a long time.

The night wind carried the sound of a night watchman striking his clapper in the distance.

It's past midnight.

A new day is about to begin.

But the undercurrents in the capital were only just beginning to stir.