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

Chapter 92 Taking Su Xiaoxiao to Listen to the Qin

Early in the morning, Lin Chen emerged from his third sister-in-law Qin Shuyan's courtyard, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

The Dragon-Tiger Elixir given by Hua Tuo was indeed effective. After a night of passionate lovemaking, I still felt energetic this morning.

He stretched and strolled slowly toward the West Garden.

In the main courtyard of the West Garden, Su Xiaoxiao was watering the flowers.

Upon seeing Lin Chen arrive, she put down the kettle and gave a graceful bow: "Young Master."

"Watering the flowers?" Lin Chen walked to her side. "Come on, I'll take you somewhere."

"Where to?"

"Drunken Moon Pavilion." Lin Chen took her hand.

"Mr. Bai is playing the zither today. I'll take you to listen, and while we're at it... let her give you some pointers."

Su Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up: "Really? Mr. Bai, would you be willing to give me some pointers?"

"If I say I'm willing, she has to agree," Lin Chen said with a smile. "Let's go."

The two rode in a carriage to Zuiyue Pavilion.

In the carriage, Su Xiaoxiao was somewhat uneasy: "Young Master, Mr. Bai has a cold and aloof personality. If we have to force ourselves..."

"No pressure," Lin Chen said lazily, leaning back in the car.

"Since she plays the zither at Zuiyue Pavilion, she's one of my people. Teaching you a few moves is just a matter of a word."

Su Xiaoxiao was relieved, but she was curious—how could the famous Mr. Bai in the capital be the young master's "person"?

The carriage stopped at the back gate of Zuiyue Pavilion.

Lin Chen led Su Xiaoxiao directly up to the fourth floor, where the faint sound of a zither could already be heard.

Wen Ruoxi came out of the accounting room and greeted the two of them with a smile, "Eighth Brother is here? Little Sister is here too?"

"Fifth Sister." Su Xiaoxiao bowed obediently.

"No need for formalities," Wen Ruoxi said to Lin Chen, taking her hand.

"Mr. Bai is practicing the piano, saying he will play a new piece today."

"Take Xiaoxiao to a private room to wait. I'll go talk to her and give her some pointers on Xiaoxiao's affairs."

After saying that, he walked straight to the music room.

Two maids stood guard outside the music room. Upon seeing Lin Chen arrive, they quickly bowed and greeted him, "Lord Duke."

Lin Chen nodded slightly and pushed the door open to enter.

In the music room, Dongfang Bai, dressed in white, was focused on tuning the strings.

Hearing the noise, she looked up at the doorway, saw Lin Chen, and stood up, nodding slightly.

"My lord."

"Sit down." Lin Chen sat down opposite her. "After playing the zither today, give Su Xiaoxiao some pointers on her zither playing."

"Yes," Dongfang Bai replied readily.

"She is my future wife, so teach her diligently." Lin Chen added, "Don't hold back on your zither skills; teach her as much as you can."

"clear."

Lin Chen nodded in satisfaction before getting up and leaving.

When he returned to the private room, Wen Ruoxi and Su Xiaoxiao looked at him curiously.

"Eighth Brother, has Mr. Bai agreed?" Wen Ruoxi asked.

"I've agreed." Lin Chen sat down on the soft couch. "After she finishes playing the zither, she'll come and teach Xiao Xiao."

Su Xiaoxiao exclaimed in delight, "Really? Thank you, young master!"

"Don't be so polite," Lin Chen said with a smile. "Since we're family, it's an honor for me if your musical skills improve."

Wen Ruoxi smiled, "Eighth Brother certainly knows how to do favors."

As the three were talking, the sound of a zither began to play.

The first piece was "High Mountains and Flowing Water," with a clear and melodious sound from the zither.

Dongfang Bai's piano skills are indeed remarkable; every note is perfectly timed.

Su Xiaoxiao listened with rapt attention.

Lin Chen leaned back on the soft couch, listening to the zither while playing with Wen Ruoxi's hand.

Wen Ruoxi glared at him, but didn't pull her hand away.

When the music ended, applause broke out.

The second piece is "Guangling San," with its stirring and generous zither music.

Dongfang Bai's ten fingers flew across the strings, and the music carried a hint of chilling dread.

"Mr. Bai's zither... has a murderous aura," Su Xiaoxiao said softly.

"You could tell?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm." Su Xiaoxiao nodded, "Although I don't understand martial arts, I can sense it."

Wen Ruoxi smiled and said, "Little sister is indeed very perceptive."

When the second song ended, the applause was even more enthusiastic.

The third piece was an impromptu composition; the piano music was as gentle as a spring breeze and as bright as the autumn moon.

Su Xiaoxiao's eyes welled up with tears as she listened.

When the music ended, the entire hall fell silent.

After a long silence, someone finally sighed, "This music should only exist in heaven..."

Dongfang Bai rose, gave a slight bow, and with his zither in hand, retreated into the inner hall.

A short while later, the door to the music room opened.

Dongfang Bai changed into an elegant dress, still wearing a veil, and came to the private room.

"Mr. Bai." Su Xiaoxiao quickly stood up and bowed.

Dongfang Bai nodded slightly and looked at Lin Chen.

"Sit down," Lin Chen said. "This is Su Xiaoxiao, my future wife. She has admired you for a long time. Please give her some pointers."

Dongfang Bai nodded and sat down opposite Su Xiaoxiao: "Miss Su, what kind of music do you usually play?"

"Mostly folk tunes from Jiangnan," Su Xiaoxiao said nervously, "Occasionally I also play 'Yangchun' and 'Baixue'..."

"Play a tune for me."

Su Xiaoxiao took out her pipa and played a tune called "Spring in Jiangnan".

The music was melodious, though not as masterful as Dongfang Bai's, it was still quite skillful.

As the music ended, Dongfang Bai nodded slightly:

"The basic skills are acceptable, but the artistic conception is lacking. The way of playing the zither is not in technique, but in the heart."

She picked up the pipa and casually plucked a few notes: "Listen."

The same melody, but completely different in her hands.

The music seemed to evoke the misty rain of Jiangnan, the flowing streams under small bridges, and the evening songs of fishing boats.

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned.

Lin Chen leaned back on the soft couch, watching this scene with a slight smile on his lips.

Although Dongfang Bai has a cold personality, he is very serious when it comes to teaching the piano.

Wen Ruoxi leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Eighth Brother, why is Mr. Bai so obedient to you?"

"It's a secret," Lin Chen said with a smile. "Anyway, she's mine, so feel free to use her."

Wen Ruoxi rolled her eyes at him and didn't ask any more questions.

Dongfang Bai taught Su Xiaoxiao for half an hour, explaining everything from finger techniques to artistic conception in great detail.

Su Xiaoxiao studied attentively, nodding from time to time.

"That's all for today." Dongfang Bai stood up. "If Miss Su has any questions, she can come anytime."

"Thank you, Mr. Bai!" Su Xiaoxiao said happily.

Dongfang Bai nodded slightly, bowed to Lin Chen again, and then left.

Su Xiaoxiao excitedly grabbed Lin Chen's hand:

"Young master, Mr. Bai is really willing to teach me. She said I have good talent, and as long as I practice diligently, I will definitely achieve something!"

"Then study hard." Lin Chen smiled slightly.

"I'll have Fifth Sister arrange a music room for you at Zuiyue Pavilion later, so you can come and practice anytime."

"Really?" Su Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up even more.

Wen Ruoxi smiled and said, "Of course it's true. There's a small music room on the third floor of Zuiyue Pavilion, which is usually empty, so it's perfect for the little girl to use."

"Thank you, Fifth Sister!" Su Xiaoxiao said, touched.

The three talked for a while longer. Lin Chen then arranged for someone to take Su Xiaoxiao back to her residence first, while he stayed behind.

"Fifth Sister-in-law," he said, holding Wen Ruoxi's hand, "did you miss me?"

"I miss you." Wen Ruoxi nestled in his arms. "I miss you so much."

After a moment of tenderness, Wen Ruoxi suddenly said:

"By the way, Eighth Brother, the Azure Dragon Sect Master has sent a visiting card, inviting you to meet tomorrow at noon."

Lin Chen took the visiting card and glanced at it: "Understood, I'll go meet him tomorrow."

"Be careful," Wen Ruoxi said seriously.

"I know, I know," Lin Chen laughed. "When have I ever suffered a loss?"

Wen Ruoxi was amused by him, and the two chatted for a while before Lin Chen left Zuiyue Pavilion.

……

On his way back to the manor, Lin Chen thought about the Azure Dragon Gate.

The old man Canglong must have ulterior motives for visiting so hastily. We must be careful; people in the martial arts world are unpredictable.

The carriage stopped in front of the mansion gate.

As Lin Chen entered the mansion, he saw Liu Ruyan walking towards him from the direction of the martial arts training ground.

"Sister-in-law," Lin Chen greeted her with a smile.

"Eighth Brother," Liu Ruyan nodded, "Just returned from Zuiyue Pavilion?"

"Yes, I took Xiaoxiao to listen to the zither," Lin Chen said. "Is Sister-in-law going to practice her martial arts?"

"Hmm." Liu Ruyan wiped her sweat. "I haven't been active for a long time, and my muscles and bones are all stiff."

The two walked side by side into the mansion. On the way, Liu Ruyan suddenly said:

"Eighth Brother, Nian'er has been talking about you a lot lately, saying that your Uncle hasn't played with her in a long time. If you have some free time..."

"I'm free right now," Lin Chen chuckled.

"I've been missing that little girl lately, where is she?"

"In the Plum Garden." A hint of a smile flashed in Liu Ruyan's eyes. "I'll take you there."

The two arrived at Plum Garden.

Lin Nian'er was playing with a wooden sword in the yard when she saw Lin Chen. She dropped the sword and rushed over, crying, "Eighth Uncle!"

Lin Chen picked her up and spun her around: "Nian'er, did you miss your Eighth Uncle?"

"Yes!" Lin Nian'er said in her childish voice.

Lin Chen played with the wooden sword with Lin Nian'er for a while and told her a few stories.

The little girl listened intently, occasionally letting out a giggle.

Liu Ruyan stood to the side watching, her eyes full of tenderness.

After playing for a while, Lin Nian'er was taken to rest by her maid.

Liu Ruyan hesitated for a moment before saying, "Eighth Brother, come in and have a cup of tea."

Lin Chen was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay."

The two entered the main hall, where Liu Ruyan personally brewed tea.

The aroma of tea wafted through the air, creating a somewhat subtle atmosphere.

"Eighth Brother," Liu Ruyan said softly, "you've had a hard time these past few days."

"What's so hard about it?" Lin Chen said with a smile. "It's all what I should do."

"I know." Liu Ruyan lowered her head. "In the past... I had some prejudice against you and always thought you were useless. Now I know that I was wrong."

Lin Chen held her hand:

"Why are you saying these things, sister-in-law? We're family, what's past is past."

Liu Ruyan looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears:

"Eighth brother, I... I have a strong personality and I don't know how to say soft words, but I want to tell you that I am very... gratified that you can support this family."

Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he leaned closer: "Just relieved?"

Liu Ruyan blushed, but didn't dodge: "There are... others."

"What else?"

"You're asking a question you already know the answer to," Liu Ruyan said reproachfully, but her voice softened a bit.

Lin Chen smiled and leaned down to give her a light kiss on the lips.

Liu Ruyan trembled, but did not push him away; she simply closed her eyes.

The kiss was light, fleeting and brief.

Liu Ruyan blushed deeply and whispered, "Eighth Brother...you..."

"Sister-in-law is so sweet," Lin Chen said with a smile.

"You're so unserious!" Liu Ruyan glared at him, but her eyes were filled with amusement.

"Let's go quickly, it won't look good if someone sees us."

"Okay." Lin Chen stood up. "Then I'll come play with Nian'er again tomorrow."

"Okay." Liu Ruyan nodded and saw him to the door.

Lin Chen left Plum Garden in a good mood. He'd finally made progress on getting past his sister-in-law.