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

Chapter 2 The Bad Commander and the Bad People

The old lady remained unfazed: "Face? The Lin family is about to die out, what face do we need!"

She looked around at the women, her tone softening slightly: "I know you've all suffered. But you're all so young, do you really want to spend your whole lives guarding memorial tablets?"

Chen'er is the only male heir in the Lin family, and his bloodline is pure.

"If you marry him and have children who will be registered under your deceased husband's name, you can continue the family line and have someone to rely on in your later years."

"Grandmother!" Lin Chen finally found his voice, "This...this isn't quite right, is it?"

In his heart, he was screaming: Perfect! Absolutely perfect! Seven sisters-in-law, each one more beautiful than the last, what a perk…

But reason told him that things weren't that simple.

Sure enough, the old lady glared at him: "Shut up! You spend all your time in brothels, and now you're pretending to be virtuous?"

Lin Chen: "..."

"I have already made up my mind about this matter," the old lady said firmly.

"I'll give you three months to get to know each other and adjust. After three months, we'll officially start planning the wedding."

"Grandmother!" Liu Ruyan trembled with anger. "I'd rather remain a widow for life than..."

"You don't want to?" the old lady interrupted her, her eyes sharp.

"Then tell me, what will become of Nian'er? How can a daughter without the support of her father's family stand on her own two feet in the capital? If the Lin family falls, who will protect you and your daughter?"

Liu Ruyan was struck dumb, her lips trembling, but she couldn't utter a word.

Lin Nian'er seemed to sense her mother's sadness and burst into tears.

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

After a long silence, the old lady wearily waved her hand: "All of you, go down and think it over. Chen'er, stay."

The goddesses departed with varying expressions, only Lin Nian'er's cries fading into the distance.

Only the grandmother and grandson remained in the waiting hall. The old lady stared at Lin Chen and suddenly asked:

"Were you secretly pleased with yourself just now?"

Lin Chen jumped in surprise: "Your grandson wouldn't dare!"

"Hmph," the old lady chuckled, a smile revealing a cunning and calculating nature.

"Your little schemes may fool others, but they can't fool me. But Chen'er, let me tell you, this matter isn't as simple as you think."

She stood up with her cane, walked to Lin Chen, and lowered her voice:

"Your seven sisters-in-law are all proud and arrogant. If it weren't for this great calamity befalling the family, which one of them would be willing to suffer such injustice? If you really think you can enjoy the blessings of having multiple wives, then you are sorely mistaken."

"Grandma means..."

"You have to get them to do it willingly," the old lady said with a deep gaze. "And that depends on your own ability."

Lin Chen's heart stirred slightly: "Did Grandmother bring this up truly only to continue the family line?"

The old lady gave him a deep look: "It's been three years. There are too many suspicious points about the deaths of your father and brothers."

Some in the imperial court want the Lin family to die out, while others in the martial arts world want to share in the Lin family's resources.

If the Lin family doesn't even have a decent heir, those wolves and tigers will pounce on them.

"Shouldering responsibility for eight branches of the family seems absurd, but it's actually a risky move. It can both unite the family and declare to the outside world that the Lin family still exists and hasn't fallen!"

She patted Lin Chen on the shoulder: "Your grandmother used to turn a blind eye to your misbehavior."

But now, you must grow up. Over the next three months, I will gradually delegate authority to you. As for whether you can seize the opportunity…”

The old lady didn't finish speaking, but her meaning was clear.

Lin Chen took a deep breath and bowed solemnly: "Grandson understands."

As Lin Chen left the main hall, he had already made up his mind.

Transmigrated into the body of a spoiled brat, wielding a system, facing a family crisis, and having seven beautiful sisters-in-law...

This is an exciting start!

Back in the West Garden courtyard, Lin Chen closed the door and, with a thought, ordered, "Summon Yuan Tiangang."

In the shadows of the corner of the room, a figure silently emerged.

The newcomer wore a long black robe, and his face was partially covered by a metal mask, revealing only his chin and thin lips.

He was tall and straight, with an aura as deep and boundless as the ocean, yet he blended perfectly into his environment, so much so that one would not even notice his presence unless seen with one's own eyes.

"The Bad Guy Commander Yuan Tiangang greets His Majesty." His voice was deep and hoarse, carrying a weighty sense of having experienced many hardships.

Lin Chen sized him up; half-step Celestial Realm—this was already top-tier combat power in the world.

Throughout the entire Dayan Dynasty, no celestial beings were out in the open, and there were only a handful of Grandmasters.

"No need for formalities." Lin Chen sat down. "The system said you have a backstory?"

Yuan Tiangang lowered his head: "I was the Imperial Advisor of the previous dynasty. I suffered a backlash from deducing heavenly secrets. My physical body was reshaped by the system when it was on the verge of death, and I pledged my loyalty to the Lord. All that has happened in the past is now like smoke in the wind."

A few simple sentences, but a lot of information.

Lin Chen didn't delve into the details and cut straight to the point: "Are you aware of my current predicament?"

"I know a little," Yuan Tiangang said.

"My lord must maintain the facade of a playboy while secretly consolidating the family's power, uncovering the truth behind the Duke of Zhenguo's death in battle, and gradually winning over the seven ladies."

"Madam?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.

"Since the Old Madam has already established her title, I shall address her accordingly." Yuan Tiangang's tone was calm, but Lin Chen felt that there was a smile on the corner of his mouth behind the mask.

This old guy is interesting.

"What about the hundred bad guys?" Lin Chen asked.

"We've infiltrated the capital, broken into smaller units, and are ready to be deployed at any time," Yuan Tiangang said.

"Thirty of them have already infiltrated the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, serving as servants and guards."

Lin Chen nodded in satisfaction.

A first-rank martial artist is already a well-known expert.

"There are a few things I need you to do right now." Lin Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"First, secretly investigate all the details of the war in the North three years ago. I need to know exactly how my father and brothers died."

"Second, find out the background of the people in the mansion, especially those spies who may have been bribed by outsiders."

"Third, pay attention to the movements in the imperial court, especially the attitudes of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue towards the Lin family."

"Fourth..." Lin Chen paused, "Help me keep track of the preferences and habits of my seven sisters-in-law, as well as the attitudes of their families."

Yuan Tiangang nodded: "Understood."

"Oh, right," Lin Chen remembered something, "I'm currently at the peak of the Grandmaster level, but can I completely hide this strength? There should be experts in the court who are skilled at investigation."

"Rest assured, my lord," Yuan Tiangang said.

"The cultivation level imparted by the system has a built-in concealment feature. Unless a terrestrial immortal arrives in person, no one can see through it."

"Your Majesty may practice the Breath Concealment Technique on ordinary days. This is a secret technique of the Bad People, which I will teach you later."

Lin Chen was finally relieved.

The key to playing dumb to outsmart others is to "play it convincingly".

After discussing for a while, Yuan Tiangang disappeared into the shadows like a ghost.

Lin Chen walked to the bronze mirror, looked at the handsome yet frivolous face reflected in it, and suddenly smiled.

"So be it, a playboy is fine." He straightened his clothes. "But a playboy should be a smart one."