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

Chapter 42 Listening to Music in a Brothel When Nothing's Going On

Qin Xin sat down in front of the qin stand, her jade fingers lightly plucking the strings, producing a gorgeous and cheerful melody that was indeed pleasing to the ear.

Lin Chen listened with his eyes closed, tapping his fingers on the armrest, looking completely absorbed.

This is life.

In my previous life, I toiled like a corporate slave. Now that I've finally transmigrated into a nobleman, am I not allowed to enjoy myself?

When the song ended, Lin Chen opened his eyes:

"Well played, a reward!"

Lin Wu handed over a silver note, worth five hundred taels.

Qin Xin accepted it, her hand trembling slightly—this reward was far too generous.

For ordinary customers, a tip of ten or twenty taels was already considered generous, but five hundred taels... was enough for her to sell herself.

"Thank you... thank you, Your Excellency!"

"No need to thank me." Lin Chen waved his hand, then looked at Qi Yun, "I heard you're quite good at chess?"

Qi Yun quickly replied, "This humble woman knows a little bit about this."

"Then forget it," Lin Chen shook his head.

"Playing chess is mentally taxing. I'm here to relax today and not use my brain."

His gaze shifted to the words and images in the book:

"Forget about calligraphy and paintings. Those flowery things are tiring to look at. You can just keep me company, chat and have a drink."

The four women were stunned. This... this Duke was indeed, as rumored, a playboy who only cared about pleasure.

But that's alright, it's still better than those hypocritical intellectuals.

Qi Yun stood up and gracefully walked to Lin Chen's side, pouring him wine: "Lord Duke, please."

"Hmm." Lin Chen took the wine glass, drank it all in one gulp, and then patted Qi Yun's waist lightly. "Good wine, good person."

Qi Yun blushed, but did not flinch.

Shuyu and Huayi also gathered around, one picking up food and the other fanning themselves.

Qin Xin played the zither again, this time choosing a lighter, more cheerful tune from the Jiangnan region.

Lin Chen, with women on his left and right, listened to a tune and drank fine wine, feeling extremely content.

This is the kind of life a spoiled brat should live!

Just as I was enjoying myself, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the door.

"...Someone from Tianyin Pavilion? Who has such great influence? I'd like to see them!"

It was a young man's voice, tinged with arrogance.

Granny Li's voice of persuasion rang out:

"Your Highness, please calm down. Inside is Lord Lin, the Duke of Zhenguo. How about I arrange for you to stay at the Diyin Pavilion? The scenery there is quite nice..."

"The Duke of Zhenguo?" The voice paused, then grew louder.

"Lin Chen? That纨绔 (spoiled brat)? Does he even deserve to sit in the Heavenly Sound Pavilion? Tell him to get out here!"

Lin Chen opened his eyes, a hint of impatience flashing in them.

The music stopped, and the four women tensed up.

"Keep playing," Lin Chen said calmly.

Qin Xin hesitated for a moment, then plucked the strings again.

Outside the door, Granny Li's voice trembled with tears: "Your Highness, this...this is against the rules..."

"Rules? I am the rule!" The door was violently pushed open.

A young man in brocade robes barged in. He was about twenty years old, with a handsome face but puffy eyes, clearly indicating excessive indulgence in wine and women.

He was followed by four guards, all of whom were third-rank martial artists and possessed considerable strength.

Lin Chen looked up and recognized him—Kang Wang Zhao Rui, the youngest son of the late emperor, the half-brother of the empress, and a notorious playboy prince.

"Who do we have here?" Lin Chen laughed, his hand still on Qi Yun's waist.

"So it's His Highness Prince Kang. What brings you here to listen to music, Your Highness?"

Zhao Rui stared at him, then glanced at the four beauties beside him, a flash of jealousy in his eyes:

"Lin Chen, you have quite the airs! Why don't you rise and bow before me?"

"Bowing?" Lin Chen leaned back in his chair and said lazily.

"According to etiquette, a duke should pay respects to a prince. However, I am currently serving as the deputy commander of the Imperial City Guard, and have the power to supervise all officials and members of the imperial family."

"Your Highness, would you like to guess whether I should bow to you, or you should explain to me—what is the punishment for trespassing into my private room and disturbing my enjoyment?"

Zhao Rui's face stiffened.

He then remembered that the纨绔 (playboy) in front of him was not only the Duke of Zhenguo, but also a member of the Imperial City Guard!

The Imperial City Guard was directly under the Emperor's command. Even a prince, let alone a leisurely prince like him, would have to treat them with great respect.

"You...you're trying to scare me with the Imperial City Guard!" Zhao Rui said, his tone fierce but his voice weak.

"I'm here to listen to music. I'll take this Tianyin Pavilion. You can go somewhere else."

"What if I don't change it?" Lin Chen picked up his wine glass and slowly took a sip.

"Then don't blame me for being impolite!" Zhao Rui waved his hand. "Please escort him out!"

Four guards stepped forward and placed their hands on the hilts of their swords.

The four women, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, turned pale with fright, and the music stopped again.

Lin Chen sighed, "You've ruined such a beautiful piece of music."

He put down his wine glass, stood up, and walked to Zhao Rui, the two of them no more than three feet apart.

"Your Highness Prince Kang," Lin Chen said softly.

"Here's a piece of advice—take your men and get out of here now, and I'll pretend nothing happened. Otherwise…"

"Otherwise what?" Zhao Rui glared.

Lin Chen smiled, a playful smile:

"Otherwise, I wouldn't mind having the Imperial City Guard check the accounts of the Prince Kang's residence."

I heard that Your Highness recently bought a manor outside the city for 300,000 taels of silver.

"I wonder if Your Highness's salary is sufficient for this expense?"

Zhao Rui's expression changed drastically.

He bought that manor with embezzled land tax money; if it's found out, he'll be punished.

"You...you're spouting nonsense!"

"Whether it's slander or not, we'll find out by investigating." Lin Chen patted his shoulder.

"Your Highness, know your place. I'm in a good mood today and don't want to see blood. Get out of here!"

Zhao Rui was trembling with anger, but looking into Lin Chen's unfathomable eyes, for some reason, a chill ran through him.

He recalled the rumors circulating in the capital these past few days—Lin Chen had a half-step Celestial under his command, three hundred first-rank armored cavalry, and even the Second Prince and the Cui family had fallen…

"Fine...fine!" Zhao Rui gritted his teeth. "Lin Chen, I'll remember you!"

After saying that, he left in a disheveled state with his guards.

Granny Li hurriedly came in to apologize: "Your Excellency, please calm down, Prince Kang..."

"It's alright." Lin Chen waved his hand. "Keep playing the music, keep dancing."

Qin Xin resumed playing the zither, but her technique was noticeably erratic.

Lin Chen didn't mind, sat back in his chair, put his arm around one of them, and continued to enjoy himself.

It was just a minor incident.

Given his current status and strength, someone like King Kang isn't even qualified to be his opponent.

……

As dusk fell, Lin Chen stood up: "We've had our fun today, let's come again another day."

"Respectfully seeing off the Duke." The four women bowed gracefully, their eyes filled with reluctance.

Although this Duke was a playboy, he was generous and straightforward, much better than those hypocritical scholars.

As they exited Tianyin Pavilion, Granny Li greeted them again: "Lord Duke, are you satisfied?"

"Not bad." Lin Chen handed over a silver note. "The four young ladies served you well; this is a reward for you."

Granny Li took it and saw it was one hundred taels! She immediately beamed with joy.

"Lord Xie! Please come often!"

As soon as we left the Jiaofangsi, the lanterns were already lit.

Lin Chen sat in the carriage, closing his eyes to rest.

"My lord," Yuan Tiangang's voice rang out in the carriage, "After Prince Kang left, he went to the old residence of the Second Prince and met with several former servants."

"Oh?" Lin Chen opened his eyes. "He still dares to contact the Second Prince's people?"

"There must be some old lingering affection," Yuan Tiangang said. "Should we...?"

"Ignore him," Lin Chen said calmly. "He's just a clown; he can't cause any real trouble."

"yes!"