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

Chapter 112 The Coming-of-Age Ceremony

After adding three, we take the character.

Su Wenyuan solemnly said, "To give a courtesy name upon coming of age is to show respect for one's given name. Lin Zichen is coming of age today, and a courtesy name should be given to him to honor his given name."

When your father, Lin Tianxiong, was alive, he once said that if he had an eighth son who came of age, his courtesy name should be "Shouzhuo".

Those who embrace simplicity and truth possess profound skill that appears clumsy. I hope you will uphold this principle, safeguard the Lin family's legacy, and protect the people of the world.

Lin Chen bowed: "I will remember your teachings."

From then on, he had a formal courtesy name – Lin Shouzhou.

Although he felt the characters were a bit old-fashioned, it was his father's last wish, so he had no choice but to accept it.

After selecting the characters, pay respects to your elders.

Lin Chen first bowed deeply to the old lady, who accepted the bow with tears in her eyes and said a few words of encouragement.

He bowed to his mother, Su Wanqing, who also urged him to shoulder important responsibilities.

Next, we bowed to our uncle, Su Wenyuan, who was the master of ceremonies and also our elder.

As he bowed, Su Wenyuan whispered:

"Chen'er, from today onwards, you are the true head of the Lin family. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility."

"The nephew will always remember his uncle's teachings."

After paying respects to elders, accept congratulations from guests.

This is the most tedious part.

Starting with the prime minister, dukes, marquises, ministers of the six ministries, officials from various government offices, heads of prominent families, and renowned figures from the martial arts world... one by one they came forward to offer their congratulations.

Lin Chen had to return each greeting and say polite words, his face stiff from smiling.

When Zhan Tianqiong, the Grand Elder of the War God Temple, stepped forward, he gave Lin Chen a sharp look and then clasped his hands in greeting:

"The Duke of Zhenguo is a young and talented man, and I admire him greatly. If you have time in the future, you are welcome to visit the Temple of the God of War."

"Thank you very much, Elder Zhan. I will definitely pay you a visit," Lin Chen replied politely.

The Azure Dragon Sect Master, the Old Man of the Azure Dragon, laughed:

"Lord Lin, we're old friends. If you ever need anything in the martial world, just let me know."

"You're too kind, Master Canglong."

The congratulatory ceremony lasted for almost half an hour before finally ending.

Lin Chen's legs were numb from standing, but the ceremony wasn't over yet—the next thing was the banquet.

At noon, the banquet began.

Hundreds of seats were filled with fine wine and delicacies, and the ceremonial music was replaced by joyous banquet music.

Servants bustled about serving dishes, and guests clinked glasses, creating a lively atmosphere.

As the main character, Lin Chen naturally had to go around toasting each table.

He started with the throne—the table where the Empress and the eldest princess sat.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully thank you for your presence." Lin Chen raised his cup.

The Empress raised her glass in a gesture of respect:

"The coming-of-age ceremony of the Duke of Zhenguo is a great joy, and I naturally have to come. I hope that you will be loyal to your duties in the future and live up to the name of the Duke."

"Your subject will remember this."

She then offered a toast to the Princess, and Zhao Mingyue returned the greeting with a smile:

"Duke, Mingyue will always remember the kindness shown to me at Jingxiu Hall. If you ever need anything in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."

"Your Highness is too kind."

After toasting the royal family, it was the time for the prime minister, the dukes and marquises, the ministers of the six ministries... By the end of the round, Lin Chen had already drunk dozens of cups.

Although he possessed cultivation and was not afraid of getting drunk, he still had to pretend to be slightly tipsy.

Halfway through the banquet, the entertainment arranged by Wen Ruoxi began.

First, dancers performed, their colorful sleeves fluttering, a truly breathtaking sight.

Next came a ensemble of musicians, with the qin and xiao playing in harmony, creating a refined and moving atmosphere.

Then, the main event begins.

Dressed in white, Dongfang Bai walked onto the stage carrying a zither, nodded slightly to the throne and the main guest seats, then sat down and began to play the zither.

The sound of the zither begins, like a clear spring flowing over stones, like the wind rustling through pine trees.

Everyone fell silent.

Dongfang Bai's piano skills were already famous throughout the capital, but today's piece seemed particularly different.

The music carries a mysterious and enchanting quality, captivating listeners.

Lin Chen realized that this was not an ordinary zither piece, but the "Pure Heart and Universal Benevolence Mantra" infused with the essence of martial arts.

The sound of the zither can calm the mind and spirit, which is of great benefit to martial arts practitioners.

Sure enough, many guests closed their eyes and immersed themselves in the music.

Even the Empress nodded slightly, clearly showing her appreciation.

The song ended, but the lingering melody still resonated.

Dongfang Bai rose, gave a slight bow, and withdrew. Thunderous applause erupted.

"This Mr. Bai truly lives up to his reputation," the Princess exclaimed.

"His zither playing has reached a state of perfection, and what's even more remarkable is that the music contains the essence of martial arts, which is beneficial to cultivation."

The Empress nodded: "Lin Chen's subordinates are truly full of talent."

The banquet continued, and the atmosphere became even more lively.

……

The banquet was lively, but things were not peaceful behind the scenes.

Among the guests, a middle-aged man sat at the Cui family's table—Cui Yongsheng, Cui Yongnian's younger brother.

He appeared to be drinking and chatting, but his gaze kept sweeping over the altar and the throne.

"Second Master, are we really going to make a move?" his trusted aide asked in a low voice.

"Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back." Cui Yongsheng gritted his teeth.

"Lin Chen forced my elder brother to his death; this grudge must be avenged. Today is his joyous occasion, and it is the perfect opportunity."

"But the mansion is heavily guarded..."

"Even the most stringent security measures have loopholes," Cui Yongsheng sneered.

"People from the Underworld have already infiltrated; as soon as the time is right..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a gaze sweep over him.

Turning my head, I saw a scholar in a blue robe looking in my direction from the guests' seats, his eyes calm yet profound.

Li Chunfeng.

Cui Yongsheng felt a chill and quickly looked away.

This seemingly ordinary scholar gave him the feeling that he was even more dangerous than Yuan Tiangang.

On the other side, the seats in the Temple of War.

Zhan Tianqiong whispered to his young master, Zhan Fengyun, "Fengyun, what do you think of Lin Chen?"

"Unfathomable," Zhan Fengyun said in a deep voice.

"On the surface, he is only at the first-grade cultivation level, but his aura is as obscure as an abyss."

Moreover, his subordinates... Yuan Tiangang, Li Chunfeng, Zhao Zilong, the Eight Vajras, each of them is a powerful figure.

Not to mention how many hidden forces might be lurking in the shadows.

Zhan Tianqiong nodded:

"That's why the Palace Master sent us to show goodwill. This boy is not to be an enemy, but only to befriend him. In the future, he will surely have a place in the Tianyuan Continent."

"The elder is right."

The heads of the five families were also talking in hushed tones.

"The Lin family is about to rise to power completely..."

"Eight wives, this is meant to have many children and grandchildren."

"In the future, there will be another powerful force in the imperial court."

Everyone had their own thoughts, but on the surface they all appeared to be on good terms.

Deep within the mansion, Guan Yu and Dugu Qiubai were playing chess in the forbidden area of ​​the backyard.

"There are spies in the front yard." Guan Yu placed a piece on the board and said calmly:

"Five Celestial Realm experts, twelve Grandmasters, four from the royal family, and one whose origins are unknown."

Dugu Qiubai also made his move: "They're just clowns jumping around. The lord has his own arrangements. We just need to keep an eye on the manor."

"Too."

The two continued their game of chess, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil outside.