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

Chapter 16 Li Chunfeng and the Heavenly Guards

Over the next hour, Lin Fu wrote down all his crimes on the confession:

Embezzlement, falsifying accounts, colluding with foreign enemies, participating in framing the Duke of Zhenguo... the list went on for more than a dozen pages.

Finally, they signed and pressed their fingerprints on the document.

"Mr. Yuan, take Uncle Fu to a safe place." Lin Chen put away the confession.

"Take those three guys away as well, interrogate them separately, and verify their statements."

"Yes."

Yuan Tiangang picked up the limp Lin Fu, glanced at the three terrified men, and with a flick of his sleeve, all four of them fainted at the same time.

The thugs appeared silently and took the person away.

The tent returned to silence, as if nothing had happened.

Lin Chen looked at the account books on the table with a complicated expression.

The mole was eliminated, but the truth was far more brutal than he had imagined.

Cui Yongnian, Zhao Yuan, Blood Hand... and those mysterious masters, they all have to die.

But he is not yet strong enough to fight against these forces.

It takes time, strength, and strategic planning.

"My lord," Yuan Tiangang returned after leaving.

"Lin Fu's confession basically matches the information provided by Madam Ye."

In addition, he revealed some new information.

Besides requiring the Azure Dragon Key, the Cui family's secret chamber also has a mechanism that only direct descendants of the Cui family can open.

"Cui Yongnian?"

"Yes, so even if we obtain the Azure Dragon Key, Cui Yongnian's presence is still required."

Lin Chen frowned: "This is troublesome."

"There's another way," Yuan Tiangang said.

"Eight days from now, it will be the 80th birthday of the old master of the Cui family, and Cui Yongnian will definitely attend."

Although the Cui family's defenses will be strong at that time, there will be many people around, so there might be an opportunity.

"A birthday banquet..." Lin Chen mused, "It's an opportunity, but we need to plan it carefully."

Just then, the sound of the night watchman striking his clapper came from outside.

It's midnight.

"My lord, what should we do next?" Yuan Tiangang asked.

Lin Chen thought for a moment:

"Let's deal with the Drunken Moon Pavilion matter first. Tomorrow I'll go to the Azure Dragon Gate Martial Arts School to sound them out. You continue investigating Zhao Yuan and Blood Hand's whereabouts."

"Yes."

After Yuan Tiangang left, Lin Chen sat in the accounting room for a while, carefully put away Lin Fu's confession, and then got up to leave.

As he reached the courtyard gate, he suddenly stopped and looked into the shadows in the corner:

"Third Sister-in-law, aren't you tired after listening for so long?"

Qin Shuyan slowly emerged from the shadows, her face pale.

She didn't leave after all.

"Eighth brother..." Qin Shuyan's voice trembled.

"Were Father and Brother really murdered?"

"Yes." Lin Chen did not hide anything.

Qin Shuyan's eyes reddened, but she forced back her tears: "You knew all along?"

"Just confirmed," Lin Chen said softly.

"Third sister-in-law, don't tell anyone else about this for now, especially Grandmother and Mother. They're old and can't handle it."

"I understand." Qin Shuyan took a deep breath. "Eighth Brother, what do you need me to do?"

"Continue with the audit," Lin Chen said.

"Although Lin Fu has fallen, there may still be other spies in the mansion."

Also, we need to hurry up with business matters; we need money, a lot of money.

"Okay." Qin Shuyan nodded, then hesitated for a moment, "Eighth Brother, you... be careful. Those people can harm Father and my brothers, and they can harm you too."

"I will." Lin Chen smiled. "Third sister-in-law, you should also get some rest. Staying up late is bad for your health."

Qin Shuyan watched his departing figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

This eighth brother was more composed and resourceful than she had imagined.

Perhaps, the Lin family really has hope.

She turned and walked toward her own yard, her steps much more firm than when she came.

Lin Chen returned to the West Garden and did not rest immediately. Instead, he took out paper and pen and began to plan.

The Cui family's birthday banquet, the Azure Dragon Key, the Drunken Moon Pavilion, training guards, business expansion... there are countless things to do, and everything needs to be done step by step.

"System," he murmured to himself, "how much available funding do I have?"

"Ding! The host currently possesses: 85,000 taels of silver (including gambling proceeds), 20,000 taels of jewelry, and 1,300 taels of silver in the system space."

Current family system task:

1. [Clean House]: The internal traitor Lin Fu has been dealt with (80% completion). You can claim the reward after completely eliminating the hidden dangers within the government.

2. [Revitalize the Family Business]: Increase the profits of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion's industries by 50% within three months. The reward will depend on the completion rate.

3. [Find out the truth]: Collect conclusive evidence of your father's death in battle (current progress 30%). A special reward will be given upon completion.

4. [Family Unity]: Gain the approval of at least four sisters-in-law (current progress: Liu Ruyan, Qin Shuyan, Wen Ruoxi, Chu Yueyao, a total of four). Mission complete.

"Mission 4 complete?" Lin Chen was taken aback. "Claim your reward."

"Ding! Quest [Family Unity] complete, rewards being distributed..."

"Acquired: [Character Summoning Card - Li Chunfeng] (Early stage of Celestial Realm, close friend of Yuan Tiangang, proficient in formation deduction)"

"Obtained: [Faction Summoning Card - Three Hundred Heavenly Guards] (All members are at least Rank 3, proficient in combined attack formations)"

"Obtained: [Item - Qiankun Array Plate] (Can be used to set up a small protective array)"

"Obtained: [Martial Arts - Bagua Palm] (High-grade Earth Rank, automatically perfected)"

Lin Chen's eyes lit up.

Li Chunfeng! He was a figure on par with Yuan Tiangang.

With the early stage of the Celestial Realm and Yuan Tiangang, who is at the half-step Celestial Realm, he now has two top-tier combatants under his command!

Although the three hundred Heavenly Guards are only of the third rank, they are proficient in combined attack formations and their actual combat strength is no less than that of a Grandmaster.

The Qiankun Array Plate is an even better item; it can be used to set up protective arrays within the mansion, increasing security.

"Summon Li Chunfeng. The three hundred Heavenly Guards are temporarily placed in the system space and will be called up when needed."

"Ding! Summoning successful!"

Inside the study, the space rippled slightly.

A scholar in blue robes appeared out of nowhere. He was about forty years old, with a refined and shrewd face, holding a whisk in his hand, and exuding an otherworldly air.

"Li Chunfeng greets Your Majesty." His voice was gentle, like a spring breeze.

Lin Chen sized him up and indeed saw the demeanor of a master.

"Mr. Li, there's no need for such formality." Lin Chen cupped his hands in greeting. "I look forward to your guidance in the future."

"You're too kind, my lord." Li Chunfeng smiled. "Brother Yuan has already told me the general situation. I may be able to help with the Cui family's birthday banquet."

"Oh? Mr. Li has a solution?"

"Besides the Azure Dragon Key and bloodline verification, the Cui family's secret chamber also has a protective array," Li Chunfeng said.

"That formation is the 'Nine Palaces Spirit Locking Formation,' which is difficult to break using ordinary methods, but I happen to be skilled in this art."

Lin Chen was overjoyed: "Then I'll have to trouble you, sir!"

"It's my duty." Li Chunfeng paused.

"However, my lord, I have observed the celestial phenomena and see dark energy swirling around the Ziwei star, which suggests that something untoward is about to happen in the capital. Your lord must proceed with extreme caution."

"An unexpected turn of events?" Lin Chen frowned. "What exactly do you mean?"

"The secrets of heaven are obscure and cannot be clearly seen," Li Chunfeng shook his head.

"But it must be related to the royal family. If His Majesty enters the palace in the near future, he must be extra cautious."

Lin Chen kept it in mind: "Thank you for the reminder, sir."

The two discussed some more details, and then Li Chunfeng hid in the shadows and went to meet up with Yuan Tiangang.

Lin Chen stood alone by the window, gazing in the direction of the palace.

Empress Zhao Lingyang... What is this legendary young emperor, known for her beauty and cunning, plotting now?

He had a vague feeling that he was being drawn into an even bigger vortex.

But once you've stepped in, there's no turning back.

"Come on," Lin Chen murmured, "let me see just how deep the waters of this capital city really are."

The night grew darker, and the stars disappeared.

Storm is coming.