ATPnovel Chapter 45 Full Moon Over the West Tower
Chapter 45 Full Moon Over the West Tower
Seven days later, at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, in the Ningxiang Courtyard of Fifth Sister-in-law Wen Ruoxi.
The moonlight, like water, streamed through the carved windows and onto the bluestone floor.
An old plum tree in the courtyard casts a swaying shadow and exudes a subtle fragrance.
Inside the room, red candles burned brightly.
Wen Ruoxi sat in front of the dressing table, her face flushed in the bronze mirror.
She had removed her hairpins and ornaments, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, wearing only a thin, lotus-colored nightgown with the neckline slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbone.
Lin Chen stood behind her, gently pressing his hands on her shoulders, and whispered in her ear:
"Fifth Sister-in-law looks so beautiful today."
Wen Ruoxi trembled slightly as she grasped his hand: "Eighth Brother... are you really sure?"
"I've thought it through." Lin Chen turned her around, making her face him.
"From this day forward, you are no longer just my fifth sister-in-law, but my woman."
These words were quite blunt, and Wen Ruoxi's blush deepened, but she bravely looked up at him:
"Then Eighth Brother, you must remember this: I, Wen Ruoxi, am not a woman who clings to power and wealth."
Today's events are because I love you, and not because of anything else.
"I know." Lin Chen smiled and pulled her into his arms.
"If Fifth Sister-in-law were greedy for wealth, she wouldn't have used all of her dowry to supplement the family income in the first place."
Wen Ruoxi leaned against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, and her heart gradually calmed down.
The red candles flickered gently, and the gauze curtains hung down.
The boudoir is warm and cozy, but the spring night is fleeting.
……
The next morning.
When Lin Chen woke up, Wen Ruoxi was no longer by his side.
He sat up and found a brand-new brocade robe on the bedside table, with exquisite cloud patterns embroidered on the hem.
"woke up?"
Wen Ruoxi pushed open the door and came in. She had already washed and dressed herself, changed into a pale yellow dress, and her hair was neatly styled.
But with a flicker of her eyes, she exuded a touch of allure.
She walked to the bedside and naturally bent down to tie Lin Chen's shirt belt: "I asked the kitchen to make some blood ginseng soup for you to nourish your body."
Lin Chen grasped her hand: "Fifth Sister-in-law..."
"Still calling me Fifth Sister-in-law?" Wen Ruoxi said reproachfully. "In private, just call me Ruoxi."
"Ruoxi," Lin Chen readily agreed, "last night..."
"What happened last night, you know and I know," Wen Ruoxi interrupted him, a sly glint in her eyes.
"Once we leave this courtyard, I will still be the Fifth Madam, and you will still be the Eighth Brother. As for Grandmother... we will formally pay our respects after the coming-of-age ceremony."
This is for Lin Chen's sake.
After all, the "one person in charge of eight households" arrangement has not been officially finalized yet, and if it gets out now, it will not be good for their reputations.
Touched, Lin Chen pulled her into his arms: "I'm sorry you had to go through all this."
"I'm not wronged." Wen Ruoxi shook her head. "Since I chose you, I'm willing to wait for you, but..."
She paused, her voice lowering:
"You need to give an explanation to the other sisters, especially the eldest sister-in-law, who has a strong personality and values rules the most."
"I understand," Lin Chen nodded.
As they were talking, a system notification suddenly sounded in their minds:
"Ding! A breakthrough in the relationship between a core member of the clan has been detected, triggering clan rewards!"
"Acquired: [Character Summoning Card - Dongfang Bubai] (Half-step Celestial Realm, attains Dao through the zither, proficient in the Sunflower Manual, unparalleled speed in the world)"
"Received: [Item - Youth Preservation Pill] x10 (Can preserve youth for ten years)"
"Received: 100000 taels of silver"
Dongfang Bubai! A near-celestial being! And a speed-type one at that!
Lin Chen's eyes lit up.
With the addition of Yuan Tiangang, Li Chunfeng, and Dugu Qiubai, he now has four top-tier combatants at the half-step Celestial Realm level or above under his command!
This lineup, while not necessarily capable of sweeping across the world, is more than enough to protect the Lin family.
"Ding! Daily check-in successful!"
"Received: 1000 taels of silver"
"Obtained: [Item - Body Tempering Pill] ×20 (High-grade Yellow Rank, can strengthen physique, no side effects)"
"Received: [Item - Spirit Nourishing Pill] x10 (Low-grade Profound, can nourish the soul)"
Just then, a maid's voice came from outside the door:
"Fifth Madam, Third Madam has arrived. She says she has accounts to check."
"Third Sister is here?" Wen Ruoxi quickly stood up and straightened her clothes. "Eighth Brother, you..."
"I'll go out the back door," Lin Chen understood.
He dressed neatly, kissed Wen Ruoxi, and then quietly left.
……
Half an hour later, in the main hall of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
All seven sisters-in-law gathered together, as did the matriarch and Lin Chen's mother, Su Wanqing.
Today is the monthly family meeting, where the third sister-in-law, Qin Shuyan, reports on the household's income and expenditure.
"...Last month, the total expenses of the household amounted to 39,200 taels, and the income..."
Qin Shuyan paused for a moment, her voice trembling slightly:
"Zuiyuexuan's revenue for the seven days last month... was 4,875,000 taels!"
"How much?!" Liu Ruyan exclaimed in disbelief.
The hall fell silent; everyone was stunned by the number.
Wen Ruoxi coughed lightly and said:
"The main source of income for Zuiyuexuan is membership fees, which amount to 3.65 million taels."
This includes one Supreme Member with 100,000 gold taels, twenty-three Gold Card Members with 1,150,000 silver taels, one hundred and five Silver Card Members with 525,000 silver taels, and three hundred and twenty Ordinary Members with 1,600,000 silver taels.
"The remaining income of 1,225,000 taels came from members' annual fees, tea, meals, and fees for using the meditation hall."
"After deducting all costs—labor, ingredients, maintenance, profit sharing, etc., the net profit is approximately 3.4 million taels."
"Three million four hundred thousand taels..." the old lady murmured. "Even at the height of the Lin family's power, they didn't earn more than that in a year."
Su Wanqing exclaimed in shock, "This Drunken Moon Pavilion... it's so profitable?"
"It's mainly a membership model," Lin Chen explained.
"Zuiyuexuan is not only an entertainment venue, but also a resource platform."
Gold card members and above enjoy privileges such as being accompanied by a first-class iron cavalry and receiving emergency shelter—all things sought after by the powerful and wealthy.
Qin Shuyan closed the ledger, her expression complex:
"At this rate, it's not a dream for Zuiyuexuan to earn 20 million taels a year. Eighth brother, your business acumen is truly terrifying."
Lin Chen smiled and said, "It's because Third Sister-in-law manages the accounts well, and Fifth Sister-in-law is good at business."
The old lady sighed:
"Good, good! The Lin family will finally have enough money."
Shuyan, Ruoxi, make proper arrangements for these incomes: deposit part in a money exchange, invest part in businesses, and use the rest for household expenses.
"My granddaughter-in-law understands."
Next, each room reported on its own situation.
Each household had its own dowry property, which was managed by the individual.
Liu Ruyan had two estates and shops as part of her dowry from the Liu family.
Chu Yueyao receives dividends from several pharmacies.
Qin Shuyan comes from a family of scholars and has a business dealing in ancient books and paintings.
Xiao Yulou owns shares in the escort agencies of various martial arts sects.
Wen Ruoxi's business goes without saying, Ye Qingying has an intelligence exchange, and Murong Xue has channels for Nanzhao's specialty products.
This is the foundation of a large family.
Even if the main family declines, each branch of the family has its own livelihood, so they won't all suffer the same fate.
After listening to the report, the old matriarch nodded in satisfaction: "Good, each branch of the family has its own strengths, and the Lin family's revival is promising..."
The old lady paused, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Chen'er, I know about your affair with Ruoxi."