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

Chapter 226 Various Forces that Know When to Adversity

Five days later.

Zhenbei Palace.

In the study.

Lin Chen leaned back in the armchair, tapping the armrest with his fingertips.

Yuan Tiangang stood in front of his desk, the stack of battle reports in his hand so thick it could be used as a brick.

"The direct descendants of the Cui family number 13,754," Yuan Tiangang read calmly, as if reciting a list of dishes.

"Twelve thousand one hundred and thirty-two have been executed, and the remaining one thousand six hundred and twenty-two are being held captive."

Those among the collateral relatives and servants who were found not to have been involved were all released.

Lin Chen hummed in response, without even looking up.

"Seventy-eight collateral branches," Yuan Tiangang continued his report.

"More than 35,000 core members were killed, and the rest... their dantian was destroyed, but their lives were spared."

"What about the spoils?"

"More than 100,000 spirit stones, 88.7 million taels of gold, and 133 million taels of silver."

The antiques, calligraphy, paintings, land deeds, and other items were all a jumbled mess; after deducting the cost, it would amount to almost another hundred million gold.

"It's all sealed off, just waiting for your word."

Lin Chen then looked up, took the battle report, and scanned it.

"How many people were stopped?"

"One hundred and eighty-seven, buried them all," Yuan Tiangang said.

"The unruly guards from Zhongzhou intercepted three groups, totaling fifty-four people, and left no survivors. The direct bloodline of the Cui family... is wiped out."

Lin Chen tossed the battle report back onto the table and laughed.

"Well done."

Yuan Tiangang asked, "My lord, what should be done with those prisoners?"

"Follow the rules." Lin Chen picked up his teacup and blew on it.

"Kill those who deserve to die, exile those who deserve to be exiled... Keep Cui Yuanming in solitary confinement for the Empress."

"Yes."

Yuan Tiangang paused, then continued:

"My lord, the news of the Cui family's annihilation has spread like wildfire. The Heavenly Mystery Institute, the War God Temple, the Three Temples, the Four Gates, the Four Families... all are making moves."

"Oh?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. "What were their reactions?"

"The Heavenly Mystery Institute and the War God Hall sent congratulatory gifts, saying, 'Congratulations, Your Highness, on eliminating the treacherous officials.'" Yuan Tiangang smiled with a hint of amusement.

"The three temples are closed. Among the four gates, the Azure Dragon Gate sent people to offer congratulations, while the Black Tortoise Gate and the Vermilion Bird Gate sent messages of goodwill. As for the four families..."

Yuan Tiangang deliberately dragged out the sound.

Lin Chen laughed and scolded, "Stop keeping me in suspense."

"The Zhou family, the Wang family, the Lu family, the Zhang family," Yuan Tiangang chuckled lightly.

"The gift lists were getting thicker and thicker, and the letters were getting more and more sincere, all saying that they had absolutely no connection with the Cui family."

They even voluntarily handed over the Cui family daughter who had married into their family, along with her children.

Lin Chen chuckled. "Are you afraid I'll go berserk and wipe them all out?"

"I'm afraid they're truly afraid." Yuan Tiangang nodded.

"Especially that Bai Xiaotian from the White Tiger Sect, the sect leader came in person, saying it was to apologize for what he had done to us regarding our mine."

Lin Chen remembered this and tapped his fingers on the armrest.

"He's good at reading the wind."

Just then, Lin Wu's voice came from outside the door.

"Your Highness, Bai Xiaotian, the leader of the White Tiger Sect, requests an audience, saying... he wants to kowtow and apologize in person."

Lin Chen and Yuan Tiangang exchanged a glance and chuckled.

"Let him in," Lin Chen waved his hand. "Let's see what this sect leader is up to today."

……

A short while later, a burly, middle-aged man entered, hunched over.

He was wearing the imposing black robe with tiger stripes that belonged to the White Tiger Sect.

But as soon as she came in, she was all smiles, so much so that her eyes almost disappeared, making her look like a big cat pretending to be well-behaved.

"Bai Xiaotian of the White Tiger Sect pays respects to the Prince of Zhenbei!"

He bowed deeply, his waist almost folded in half.

"Sect Leader Bai, don't be so polite." Lin Chen raised his hand. "Sit down."

Bai Xiaotian dared not sit; he stood like a pillar, presenting a gold-embossed gift list with both hands, his voice trembling:

"Your Highness, our White Tiger Sect was blinded by greed and dared to covet your property... We have come here today to apologize!"

This is a list of apologies; please take a look!

Lin Chen took it and slowly unfolded it.

I glanced at it twice and smiled.

"Sect Leader Bai, you've really gone all out with this gift..." Lin Chen said with a smile.

"Thirty thousand spirit stones, three million taels of gold, ten thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum mushrooms and ten thousand-year-old ginsengs, three Breakthrough Pills... Wow, and the deeds to three mines?"

Bai Xiaotian was sweating profusely, but he didn't dare wipe it away.

"Of course! Of course! I only beg Your Highness to be magnanimous and treat my White Tiger Sect like a fart... just let it go!"

There was a moment of silence in the study.

Yuan Tiangang remained expressionless, but the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Lin Chen put down the gift list, leaned forward, rested his elbows on the desk, and stared at Bai Xiaotian:

"Sect Leader Bai, do you know why I took action against the Cui family?"

Bai Xiaotian swallowed hard: "Because the Cui family colluded with foreign enemies, they deserve to die..."

"That's right." Lin Chen nodded, his voice not loud, but every word was impactful.

"I hate betrayal the most."

"Your White Tiger Sect's previous petty actions didn't cross my line, so I'll let you off the hook."

Bai Xiaotian's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down: "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you—"

"But," Lin Chen interrupted him, pointing to the gift list with his finger.

"From now on, keep your eyes open. I won't stop you from earning money you're entitled to, but as for what you shouldn't be doing—"

Lin Chen looked up and smiled as he spoke.

That laugh sent chills down Bai Xiaotian's spine.

"Every time you reach out, I'll chop it off," Lin Chen said calmly. "Understand?"

"Understood! Understood!" Bai Xiaotian nodded vigorously.

"Your Highness, rest assured! From this day forward, the White Tiger Gate will follow Your Highness's every command! If you point east, we will never go west!"

Lin Chen leaned back and waved his hand:

"Alright, I'll accept the gift. Go back now."

Bai Xiaotian felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and after bowing deeply, he backed out of the study.

The way they were so careful was as if they were afraid of stepping on an ant.

Once his footsteps faded into the distance, Yuan Tiangang chuckled softly:

"This guy is honestly a coward."

"It's better to be a coward." Lin Chen smiled calmly. "Being a coward means you'll live longer, saving me the trouble of dealing with them one by one, which is exhausting."

Lin Chen stood up and walked to the window.

The sky outside the window was just right, and the old locust tree in the courtyard was a vibrant green.

"This matter concerning the Cui family is now considered closed." Lin Chen said, his hands behind his back.

"When you're counting the congratulatory gifts from the Heavenly Mystery Institute and the Temple of War, keep a close eye on them."

Yuan Tiangang's eyes flickered: "Does Your Majesty think there's a hidden meaning in their gifts?"

Lin Chen turned around, a playful glint in his eyes.

"They say it's to congratulate me on eliminating treacherous officials... but who decided on the term 'treacherous officials'?"

Today they congratulate me on eliminating the Cui family, but what if someone thinks I'm a "treacherous villain" tomorrow?

Yuan Tiangang's expression hardened slightly. "Understood. I will investigate carefully."

"No rush," Lin Chen waved his hand.

"Let's focus on the happy occasion first, as for those furtive glances we're getting..."

Lin Chen paused, a playful look on his face:

"Let them watch. The longer they watch, the less they'll sleep. As for us, let's eat and drink as we please."

Yuan Tiangang smiled as well:

"Yes."

Outside the study, the faint sounds of laughter and chatter from the servants preparing for the wedding in two days could be heard.

It was really lively.

But beneath this bustling scene, countless eyes are fixed on this royal palace—

Who can say for sure?