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

Chapter 4

The Minister's Mansion was located in Qingpingfang in the east of the city, with its vermilion gates and high walls, exuding an extraordinary air.

Lin Chen only brought two attendants, both of whom were members of the Bad Guys in disguise.

One was named Lin Wu, and the other Lin Wen; both were first-rank martial artists.

Upon arriving at the gate, the gatekeeper glanced at him sideways and said lazily:

"Who goes there?"

Before Lin Chen could speak, Lin Wu stepped forward and said in a deep voice:

"The eighth young master of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has arrived! Why haven't you announced it yet!"

The gatekeeper was startled and quickly put on a smiling face:

"So it's Young Master Lin. Please wait a moment, I'll go and inform him right away."

A short while later, a middle-aged man who looked like a butler came out to greet them, and said with a forced smile:

"Young Master Lin, please. My master and young lady are already waiting in the flower hall."

Lin Chen didn't mind, and swaggered into the mansion, fanning himself with a folding fan.

Inside the flower hall, Li Chongming sat in the main seat, slowly sipping his tea.

Li Yanran sat to the lower seat, dressed in a pale yellow dress, with exquisite makeup and a hint of arrogance in her eyes.

Several maids and servants were standing nearby.

"My dear nephew has arrived," Li Chongming said, putting down his teacup in a lukewarm tone.

Lin Chen bowed and greeted, "Greetings, Uncle Li and Miss Li."

Li Yanran looked up at him, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes, but her tone remained polite: "Young Master Lin, please sit down."

Lin Chen sat down as instructed, and a maid immediately served tea.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Chongming got down to business: "Nephew, I've invited you here today because there's something I need to discuss."

"Uncle, please speak."

"Regarding your engagement with my daughter," Li Chongming stroked his beard.

"When your father and I were betrothed, it was a wonderful thing, but now... alas, life is unpredictable."

Li Yanran continued:

"Young Master Lin, although we are engaged, we have had no contact over the years, let alone any affection. After much thought, I feel that a forced relationship will not be sweet, so perhaps..."

"How about annulling the engagement?" Lin Chen continued, his smile unchanged.

Li Yanran was taken aback; she hadn't expected him to be so direct.

"Since Young Master Lin understands, that's wonderful. I'm willing to return the betrothal gifts from back then and offer an additional one thousand taels of silver as compensation, as a token of my appreciation..."

"Does Miss Li think I'm short of money?" Lin Chen interrupted her.

"That's not what I meant." Li Yanran frowned. "It's just that the engagement is being dissolved, so there should be some kind of acknowledgment."

Lin Chen picked up his teacup and gently blew on it: "Actually, even if Miss Li hadn't brought it up, I'd still be here today to annul the engagement."

There was silence in the hall.

Li Chongming's eyes narrowed slightly: "What do you mean by that, my nephew?"

"What I mean is," Lin Chen put down his teacup and looked directly at Li Yanran, "I also think this marriage is inappropriate."

Li Yanran's expression was somewhat unpleasant. She could have broken off the engagement with Lin Chen, but since Lin Chen had said it first, it felt different.

"In that case, that's perfect," she forced a smile. "Let's part ways amicably."

"A clean break is fine," Lin Chen said, changing the subject.

"However, Miss Li, there's something I need to ask. You and Wang Yun, the son of the Minister of Rites, have been getting quite close lately, haven't you?"

Li Yanran's expression changed: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"I'm talking nonsense?" Lin Chen took a slip of paper from his sleeve and gently placed it on the table.

"On the fifteenth of last month, at the Qixia Poetry Gathering, you and Wang Yun strolled together at the Lake Pavilion and talked for an hour."

On the third day of this month, you bought jewelry at Jin Yu Ge and happened to "bump into" Wang Yun, who paid three hundred taels of silver for you. On the eighth day...

"Enough!" Li Chongming said in a deep voice, "Nephew Lin, some things shouldn't be said carelessly!"

Lin Chen smiled: "Uncle Li, don't be in a hurry, I'm just curious."

Since Miss Li already has someone she loves, why didn't she break off the engagement sooner? Did she have to wait until she got close to the Second Prince and felt the Wang family wasn't important enough before remembering me, her 'former fiancé'?

That's a really hurtful thing to say.

Li Chongming's face turned ashen: "Lin Chen! Watch your words!"

"What's wrong with my words?" Lin Chen stood up, dusted off his sleeves, "Uncle Li, I respect you as an elder, and I've come to annul the engagement with kind words."

But your Li family wants to be a prostitute and also want to maintain a virtuous image; isn't that a bit dishonest?"

"You!" Li Yanran trembled with anger.

"Lin Chen! Do you still think you're the legitimate son of the Duke's mansion? You're nothing more than..."

"What is it?" Lin Chen's eyes suddenly turned cold.

In that instant, a trace of the aura of a Grandmaster at the peak of his power was revealed, and the temperature in the entire flower hall seemed to drop suddenly.

Li Yan then choked on her words, her face turning pale.

Li Chongming also felt that oppressive feeling and was horrified.

How could this spoiled brat have such an imposing aura?

"Miss Li is saying that I'm just a good-for-nothing playboy, unworthy of you, right?" Lin Chen resumed his nonchalant smile.

"You're right, I am a playboy. But at least, I, as a playboy, won't string my fiancé along while flirting with other men."

He walked up to Li Yanran, bent down, and whispered:

"By the way, did you know that the courtesan Wang Yun keeps in his outer quarters just gave birth to his son last month?"

Li Yanran was struck dumb, her eyes widening: "No, impossible..."

"Believe it or not." Lin Chen straightened up and took out half of a jade pendant from his pocket—this was the engagement token from back then.

"The engagement is dissolved, and the tokens of marriage are returned. From this day forward, the two families shall have no further connection."

He placed the jade pendant on the table and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Li Chongming suddenly said, "Nephew, please wait."

Lin Chen turned around: "Is there anything else, Uncle Li?"

Li Chongming looked at him with a complicated expression: "Nephew, do you have any evidence for what you said today?"

Lin Chen smiled: "Uncle Li wants evidence?"

Simple—Wang Yun's mistress's residence is at No. 3 Wutong Lane in the south of the city. The courtesan is named Hongxiu, and her child was born on the sixth day of last month.

As for Miss Li's connection with the Second Prince's residence...

He paused, then said meaningfully:

"That Mr. Zhao under the Second Prince seems to be short of money lately? Uncle Li sent five thousand taels over, but it probably didn't even make a ripple, did it?"

Li Chongming's face turned deathly pale.

He did these things very discreetly, how could Lin Chen know?

"Farewell." Lin Chen cupped his hands in farewell and led Lin Wen and Lin Wu away.

Only after Lin Chen's figure disappeared did Li Yanran speak, her voice trembling, "Father... is what he said true?"

Li Chongming did not answer, staring intently at the doorway, his eyes filled with astonishment and doubt.

This Lin Chen is definitely not as simple as he seems!

……

Lin Chen felt refreshed after leaving the Minister's residence.

"Young Master, that was truly satisfying!" Lin Wu exclaimed excitedly.

"Didn't you see Minister Li's face? He looked like he'd swallowed a fly!"

Lin Wenze was more composed: "Young Master, wouldn't it be... if we offend the Li family like this..."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Lin Chen waved his fan. "The Li family has climbed up to the Second Prince, so they're not on our side anyway. If we tear off the mask today, it'll save us from having to feign politeness in the future."

Just then, a commotion arose from the street corner ahead.

Several burly men who looked like servants were seen punching and kicking an old man.

The old man was curled up on the ground, his head in his hands, with several wooden toys scattered around him.

"You old bastard! How dare you block our young master's path! You're tired of living!"

"Fight! Fight them to death!"

Passersby pointed and whispered, but no one dared to step forward.

Lin Chen frowned: "Go take a look."