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

Chapter 276 Lin Chen's Arrangements

In the dining room.

Chu Yueyao and the others were sitting around eating, with seven or eight side dishes laid out on the table, steaming hot.

Hearing footsteps, they all looked up.

Upon seeing Lin Chen enter, Chu Yueyao was the first to stand up, followed by Qin Shuyan, Xiao Yulou, and the other women.

Lin Chen waved his hand, "Sit down, sit down, no need to get up. We're family, there's no need for such formalities."

He sat down in the main seat, while Lan Fenghuang sensibly sat in the last seat.

The maidservant quickly brought over a bowl of hot porridge, along with several plates of refreshing side dishes.

Lin Chen took a bite, then looked up and glanced around: "Where's Ruyan?"

Chu Yueyao chimed in, "Eldest sister and Mingyue are having dinner at Grandmother and Mother's place. It seems they're discussing the ancestral rites next month."

Lin Chen nodded without asking any further questions.

After shoveling a couple more mouthfuls of porridge, she suddenly remembered something and looked at Ye Qingying diagonally across from her:

"Qingying, have Mr. Yuan and Mr. Zhuge returned?"

Ye Qingying, who was picking up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks, put down her chopsticks and nodded upon hearing this.

"I got back early this morning and have been waiting in the study for almost two hours."

Lin Chen was taken aback: "Two hours? Why didn't you call me?"

Ye Qingying smiled and said, "Mr. Yuan said you should get some more sleep, since you were up so late last night."

Lin Chen put down his bowl and wiped his mouth: "Okay, I'll go over there."

As he stood up to leave, Chu Yueyao tugged at his sleeve.

"Just a couple more bites, I've only had a few bites."

Lin Chen looked down at her eyes, then sat back down, ate a couple of bites, and scraped the bottom of the bowl clean.

"Is that enough?"

Chu Yueyao then released her grip, a smile curving her lips.

……

In the study.

Yuan Tiangang and Zhuge Liang chatted leisurely.

Upon seeing Lin Chen enter, the two stood up and bowed.

Lin Chen waved his hand: "Sit down, sit down, don't bother with all this formalities."

After saying that, he plopped down behind the desk, picked up the teapot in front of Yuan Tiangang, and took a sip.

Yuan Tiangang's eyelids twitched, but he didn't say anything.

Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan, keeping his eyes down and pretending not to see anything.

After Lin Chen finished pouring the tea, he slammed the teapot down on the table:

"You've heard about what happened last night, haven't you?"

Yuan Tiangang nodded: "I've heard about it. Your Highness played that move brilliantly."

Lin Chen smiled and said, "What's so impressive about it? It's just a last resort. If we don't reveal our true strength, we won't be able to intimidate them."

He paused, then looked at Zhuge Liang:

"Sir, how's the progress on the Dongshan side?"

Zhuge Liang, waving his feather fan, slowly began to speak:

"Progress is going smoothly. The main framework of the mountaintop complex has been erected, and the beams and pillars of the main hall have been set up."

The excavation on the mountainside is almost complete. Master Li is currently setting up the defensive formation, and it is estimated that the outer defensive formation will be finished in another half month.

He paused, then added:

"The location of Dongshan is naturally a place where energy gathers. Once the formation is complete, the concentration of spiritual energy will be at least three times that of the city."

Lin Chen's eyes lit up: "That powerful?"

Zhuge Liang nodded.

Lin Chen pondered for a moment, then said:

"From now on, you will be in full charge of Dongshan. You don't need to ask me about everything. If you think it's okay, then do it."

Zhuge Liang paused for a moment, then asked, "Does my lord mean...?"

Lin Chen looked at him and said seriously:

"I want you to turn Dongshan Villa into a real fortress."

"It's not just a place to live, it's the foundation of our Lin family. If something happens to us one day, we need a place to retreat to."

He paused, then emphasized:

"With a major upheaval imminent, who knows what might happen? Having a way out is always a good thing."

Zhuge Liang remained silent for a few seconds, then solemnly cupped his hands in greeting:

"I understand, my lord. Rest assured, I will do my utmost."

Lin Chen nodded and looked at Yuan Tiangang:

"Old Yuan, you'll have to handle things in Songshan."

Yuan Tiangang was taken aback: "Songshan?"

Lin Chen recounted what happened last night.

After saying that, he looked at Yuan Tiangang:

"Songshan City will become the stronghold of the major powers in the Central Plains in the Eastern Region."

All visitors must be registered and managed in a unified manner.

This matter needs to be kept in mind by a reliable person.

"You know, I don't trust people I don't feel at ease with."

Yuan Tiangang was silent for a moment, then nodded:

"Rest assured, my lord, I will certainly live up to your expectations."

Lin Chen waved his hand: "Don't make it sound so serious. Just keep an eye on them and make sure they don't cause any trouble. If anything happens, report it immediately."

If anything serious happens, we'll know immediately.

He paused, then suddenly smiled:

"By the way, those old guys with White Eyebrows should be coming to talk to me about the details in the next few days."

"You'll come with me then, so they can get to know who's in charge of this."

Yuan Tiangang nodded: "Yes."

Lin Chen stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sky outside.

The sun was shining brightly outside, and several old locust trees in the yard had sprouted new buds, which were lush and green.

He glanced at it twice, then suddenly turned around:

"There's one more thing."

The two looked at him.

Lin Chen looked at Zhuge Liang:

"Sir, do you have enough manpower? We need to speed things up in Dongshan, so we probably don't have enough staff right now, do we?"

Zhuge Liang thought for a moment and said, "It's enough for now, but if we want to speed things up, we might need to bring in some more people."

After all, excavating the mountain's interior and setting up multiple layers of formations are all meticulous tasks.

Lin Chen nodded: "Okay, I'll send five hundred elite Shu soldiers to you later."

Zhuge Liang was taken aback: "Isn't it a bit troublesome to make them reveal themselves now?"

"It's alright!" Lin Chen waved his hand.

"Just be careful. Although there are all sorts of immortals flying around these days, five hundred grandmasters are still a considerable force."

Zhuge Liang took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and said, "I understand, thank you for your trust, my lord."

Lin Chen waved his hand and looked at Yuan Tiangang again:

"Old Yuan, have the Thirteen Protectors and the Thirty-Six Heavenly Generals follow you."

This is a good opportunity for them to gain experience; their current cultivation level is a bit insufficient.

Yuan Tiangang nodded: "Yes."

Lin Chen walked back to his desk and plopped down on the chair.

"Alright, you guys go ahead and get busy. Come find me if you need anything. Don't try to handle it all by yourself."

The two men rose and took their leave.

As they reached the door, Lin Chen suddenly called out to them:

"By the way, where's Li Bai?"

Yuan Tiangang turned around: "Mr. Li has been drinking in the courtyard since this morning."

Lin Chen was both amused and exasperated: "Have him come over."

……

A moment later, Li Bai strolled in.

He carried a wine jug in his hand, walked with a breezy air, his clothes fluttering, looking just like a crane that had just descended to earth—except for his slightly unfocused gaze.

"Did my lord summon me for something?"

Lin Chen's lips twitched as he looked at him:

"Drinking in broad daylight?"

Li Bai said with righteous indignation: "I drink wine with a bosom friend and recite poetry to a kindred spirit. It's a pity that there isn't a single person in this mansion who can discuss poetry with me."

He paused, then added, "My lord, you may be able to write a few lines, but you don't drink."

Lin Chen rolled his eyes: "Alright, alright, we have important business to attend to."

Li Bai sat down opposite him, put the wine pot on the table, and dropped his nonchalant attitude:

"Please speak, my lord."

Lin Chen looked at him and said seriously:

"Mr. Taibai, I need you to do something for me."

Li Bai raised an eyebrow: "What is it?"

Lin Chen said, "Enter the palace and await His Majesty's orders."

Li Bai was taken aback: "Enter the palace?"

Lin Chen nodded: "After Songshan City is established, people from Zhongzhou will come over one after another, and we will need someone who can keep things in check."

His Majesty also needs a skilled person to oversee things; in case anything goes wrong, there can't be no one left unattended.

He paused, then added, "After thinking it over, you're the most suitable."

"You're good at fighting, good at talking, and good at drinking. His Majesty should like someone like you."

Li Bai was silent for a moment, then smiled.

"Is my lord sending me away?"

Lin Chen rolled his eyes: "What do you mean send them out? I just want you to go and help out. It's not like you're not coming back."

Li Bai picked up the wine jug, took a swig, and wiped his mouth:

"Alright, whatever you say, my lord."

He stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Lin Chen:

"Bai will go to the palace now."

Lin Chen called out to him, "Wait a minute."

Li Bai turned his head.

Lin Chen looked at him and said seriously:

"Please keep an eye on His Majesty. Report anything that happens promptly, and don't just keep drinking."

Li Bai smiled and said, "Don't worry, my lord, drinking won't cause any trouble."

He turned around and strode out.

He reached the doorway, then suddenly stopped, turned around, and said:

"By the way, my lord, what about the money for the wine...?"

Lin Chen laughed and cursed, "Get lost!"

Li Bai laughed heartily and disappeared out the door, his robes fluttering in the breeze.

Lin Chen looked at the doorway and shook his head.