Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

Chapter 948 Arrangement
In fact, who did this masked organization kill? They specialized in killing demons lurking in the mansions of the major aristocratic families in the capital!

As for his Qian family, just like other top families in the capital, he kept non-human creatures in his mansion to assist him.

When the masked man first appeared, Qian Chongyue paid no attention to him, thinking he was just some ignorant and arrogant young man trying to attract attention.

However, the situation developed far beyond expectations, and it is now getting worse and worse. Even a behemoth like the main family has been affected. The great demons hidden in the mansion have been killed, and not even a trace of the masked man has been left!
Only then did Qianjia truly feel the panic.

Today, I have invited several influential officials to a private meeting, ostensibly to discuss countermeasures, but in reality, to test the waters and find out the court's true attitude and bottom line on this matter.

To his surprise, however, those high-ranking officials did not seem to take the masked man who threatened the foundation of the Qian family seriously.

"Things will turn into their opposites when they reach an extreme."

They left him with only these four words, spoken in a somewhat mysterious tone, which put him at ease and told him not to worry too much.

Qian Chongyue was filled with doubts, but he couldn't get any more useful information out of him, so he had no choice but to see his guest off in a huff.

After seeing the guests off, the worry did not subside; instead, it weighed even heavier on my mind.

Just then, his wife barged in and threw a rather spoiled tantrum, which only made him more irritable.

Fortunately, he has calmed her down.

"Since an adult has promised, it must be resolved. Why is the master still frowning?"

Shen Xinlian caught the lingering worry in his eyes and spoke again cautiously.

"Sigh," Qian Chongyue sighed, adopting a compassionate and sympathetic demeanor.

"Isn't this because I'm worried about the other families in the capital? Some families are small and their foundations aren't as deep as the Qian family's. What if they can't hold out until the higher-ups take action against the masked men, and their homes are attacked by those thugs... that would be..."

He shook his head, putting on an air of profound understanding and sympathy.

Shen Xinlian's eyes instantly lit up with admiration, like a dazzling star fallen to earth. She gently nestled her soft body into Qian Chongyue's arms, her tone utterly sincere: "My lord is truly wise and farsighted! Even at such a time, you still care about the world and the safety of other families. Such magnanimity fills me with the utmost respect!"

"Hahahaha!" Qian Chongyue's chest heaved violently as he laughed heartily, his worries instantly replaced by triumph.

Who in this world doesn't love to hear flattering words? Especially someone like Qian Chongyue.

Shen Xinlian's second special skill is that she can accurately capture and satisfy Qian Chongyue's emotional needs anytime, anywhere, providing extremely high "emotional value".

Even if he just casually complains about the weather or mentions a trivial achievement, she can instantly transform into the most devout believer, casting the most fervent gaze of worship upon him.

Although such flattery can also be done by trusted confidants.

But some words, when spoken by a subordinate, are flattery; when spoken by one's beloved woman, the sense of satisfaction and the vanity of being admired are completely different experiences.

Qianchongyue was extremely pleased with this and became so engrossed in it that he was unaware of it.

Shen Xinlian nestled against his chest, feeling his relaxed body and pleasant mood, but her eyes were subtly shifting.

Knowing that the opportunity was too good to miss, she took advantage of the warm atmosphere and spoke in a gentle and charming voice: "Master, speaking of which, our Xiao'er has reached the age of coming of age and is ready to take on responsibilities. Do you think... we should arrange a proper job for him so that he can gain some experience? Staying at home all the time might ruin him."

The Qian family had many descendants.

Thanks to Chijutsu's vigorous energy, almost every one of his wives bore him at least one son.

However, fortunes change.

The ironclad rule of the Sen family inner quarters is that only the sons born to the current matriarch can enjoy the Sen family's most core resources and the highest honors.

As for the "remnants of the previous dynasty" left behind by the former wives, if they cannot quickly convert this "legitimate son advantage" into real power or property while their mothers still have influence or they themselves are exceptionally talented, then once their mothers fall out of favor, they will soon fall to the margins where no one cares about them. It would be a blessing if they could barely maintain a quiet and unemployed job.

According to Shen Xinlian's private inquiries, among the many "orphans of the previous dynasty," the one who is doing the best is a young master named Qianjin Xun.

This young man is not only exceptionally talented, but more importantly, at a young age, he has secured a position as a hall master in the Foolish Land Palace through his own strength and some family background!
This position is extraordinary, meaning that he can almost be independent of the protection of the Thousand Families and form his own power in the Foolish Underworld, with a bright future ahead.

Therefore, Qian Jinxun was highly valued and loved by her father, Qian Chongyue.

In general, within a wealthy family, "a son's status depends on his mother's"—whether a son is prominent or not depends entirely on the mother's position in the father's heart.

However, in Qianjinxun's case, this rule was completely overturned, turning into the extremely rare phenomenon of "a mother gaining status through her son"!
Although Qian Jinxun's birth mother had long been forgotten by Qian Chongyue and was no longer favored, she still managed to get a share of several profitable pawnshops and silk shops as the nominal manager in the Qian family's vast business empire because of her son's prominence.

Nominally managing the family's business, it was essentially equivalent to allocating the profits to her personally, allowing her to live an extremely carefree and comfortable life.

What's even more astonishing is that it's said this former lady kept several young male lovers in her outer residence, indulging in nightly revelry, her promiscuity no less than in her prime.

When these rumors reached Qian Chongyue's ears, he merely scoffed and didn't bother to pay attention, turning a blind eye and letting them run their course.

There is such a living, ready-made example right in front of us.

How could Shen Xinlian not be moved?
How can I not plan for my own future and my son's future?
She had long coveted this enormous benefit. Therefore, several years ago, she had been scheming, taking advantage of Qian Chongyue's drunken revelry to coax him into promising that he would definitely secure a bright future for their precious son, Qian Xiao.

Now that Qianxiao has come of age, it's time to fulfill this promise!

Shen Xinlian felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.

On the one hand, my son is getting old, and it's a crucial time for him to lay a foundation and find a way out.

If the delay continues and the window of opportunity is missed, it will be much more difficult to obtain a high position in the future.

On the other hand, and what worries her the most, is that she clearly feels that her attraction to her husband, Chichō, is no longer what it used to be.

His gaze towards her was no longer so intense, and the number of times he stayed overnight in her room gradually decreased.

Those women she had so carefully guarded and kept outside the mansion were probably eyeing her covetously.

If she doesn't find a way to quickly place her son in an important position that would allow him to "defy fate" and thus "protect" his mother, her future position in the Qian family will be in grave danger.

The thought of those tragic ends sent chills down Shen Xinlian's spine.

She vividly recalled that among her former husband's wives, one met the most tragic end. Serving as a gardener in her own garden was like being a deposed concubine banished to the cold palace, confined to a limited area, completely fading from the master's sight, becoming a mere decoration, a showpiece.

Shen Xinlian absolutely does not want to end up in such a state one day.

With such an outstanding talent as Qianjinxun as a precedent, Shen Xinlian had already prepared a clear and ambitious plan for her son's future: to enter the Foolish Underworld!

Like his adopted brother, he wanted to become a powerful and influential leader!

Only in this way can we ensure her safety for the rest of her life.

"Ah? Ah! This matter..."

Qian Chongyue seemed to be suddenly reminded, and was somewhat dazed, before laughing.

"Yes, yes, time flies! In the blink of an eye, Xiao'er has grown up. Hmm... let me think..."

He stroked his short beard, pretended to ponder for a moment, then clapped his hands as if he had come up with a brilliant idea.

"I've got it! Didn't a new martial arts school just open in the north of our city? It even uses our Qian family's name. How about we send Xiao'er there as an instructor? He can be responsible for teaching martial arts techniques. It'll be impressive and practical! I'll invite a few of my old friends from the martial arts world to come and support him, to give him face and broaden his horizons. It's always good for young people to see the world!"

Martial arts...school?

Instructor...?
Shen Xinlian's smile froze almost instantly!

Her heart felt as if it had been doused with ice water, and her whole being sank.

Is this... is this how you treat a beggar?!
Was the bright future she had painstakingly planned for her son all these years just so he could end up in a chaotic martial arts school, surrounded by crude boxers and thugs, teaching a bunch of hooligans or low-level bodyguards martial arts?
She went to great lengths to get that promise back then, not so much to secure a position for her son that even a respected steward in the household could arrange!

"Master..." Shen Xinlian took a deep breath, her signature weak and helpless expression about to be displayed again, her beautiful eyes instantly misting over.

Unexpectedly, Qian Chongyue seemed to have anticipated her reaction and immediately raised his hand to stop her, his face displaying an expression that said, "Listen to me."

"My lady, don't be anxious, don't be anxious! This is just the first step in Xiao'er's rise! I know your good intentions and your eagerness for our son to succeed. But my lady, everything must have a plan, and we must take it one step at a time. Back in my day, when I was struggling..."

He planned to use his tried-and-tested trick—telling his story of the hardships of starting a business, as if enduring hardship would eventually lead to an end.

"Master!" Shen Xinlian didn't want to hear him reminisce this time, and hurriedly interrupted him, her voice carrying a suppressed sorrow and confusion.

“Things are different now! Master, you are now the head of the family, with power over the capital! Our Xiao’er is also your beloved son, whom you cherish dearly. Can you really bear to send him to such a place where all sorts of people gather, to suffer such hardship?”

She tried to make her voice sound concerned rather than complaining.

"Ah! Only by enduring hardship can one rise above others! How could we, the sons of the Qian family, possibly..."

Before Qian Chongyue could finish speaking, he saw that the tears in Shen Xinlian's eyes had already condensed into beads, about to fall but not quite. The grievance and accusation in her eyes were almost a silent cry, which was extremely powerful.

"Oh dear! Madam! You...you've done this again..."

Qian Chongyue sighed helplessly, showing some signs of being overwhelmed. "Alright, alright, it's not a big deal! It's understandable that Madam feels sorry for her son. So tell me, where do you want Xiao'er to go?"

Shen Xinlian had been waiting for these words!

The tears in her eyes stopped instantly, and almost impatiently, she clearly uttered the answer that had lingered in her heart for many years: "After much thought, I believe that only the Foolish Underworld is the most suitable place for Xiao'er to make achievements and display her talents!"

“Foolish Underworld…” Qian Chongyue’s smile froze, and his brows furrowed slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Arranging for his son to enter the Foolish Underworld is actually not too difficult.

Given Qianjia's status in the capital and the connections he has infiltrated, it wouldn't be impossible for him to place an ordinary team member or even a captain.

The difficulty lies in the fact that Shen Xinlian's goal is clearly not just a small captain's position; Qian Chongyue knows perfectly well what position she wants.

Qian Chongyue tentatively asked, with some difficulty, "Does Madam... want to get Xiao'er a position as the head of a hall in the Foolish Underworld?"

"I knew the master loved us the most! He always thought about our future!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Xinlian was overjoyed and immediately buried her face in Qian Chongyue's broad chest, her shoulders slightly hunched, as if she were about to cry tears of joy, expressing her deep gratitude through her actions.

"This matter...this matter..."

Qian Chongyue felt a burning sensation where she was leaning against him, as if he were being roasted over a fire. He coughed twice, his mind racing.

"It's not that it's impossible... but... as Madam also knows, we are currently in the midst of a leadership transition in the Foolish Land Prefecture, and there is a tense atmosphere within the prefecture, with various forces stirring up trouble. It is the most sensitive time!"

His tone became serious, indicating the gravity of the situation. "To parachute in a hall master at this critical juncture is tantamount to pouring oil on a red-hot iron plate. It's easy for him to become the target of everyone's criticism! The risk is too great, and it may not be a good thing for Xiao'er either."

He paused, looking at Shen Xinlian's disappointed yet hesitant expression, and quickly offered a compromise.

"How about this? I'll use my connections to smooth things over and get Xiao'er in first, starting as a team leader. A team leader is enough to handle things independently and demonstrate the prestige of our Qian family. After some time, once the power struggle within the Yudi Prefecture has settled and the new prefect has stabilized, we can then act accordingly, smoothing things over from top to bottom, and naturally promote Xiao'er to the position of hall master! This way, it's a smooth process, avoids giving anyone grounds for criticism, and prevents Xiao'er from attracting too much jealousy right from the start. Madam... what do you think?"

Shen Xinlian's heart sank.

Captain? He's only one rank below the hall master, but they're not even in the same league!

This is far from what she envisioned.

But she was a woman who understood people's hearts, and after thinking about it carefully, she realized that what Qian Chongyue said seemed to make sense.

The change of the head of the manor is indeed a variable.

If my son were to enter now as a parachuted-in hall master, his foundation would be unstable. In addition, the new mansion master's attitude is unclear. If he were to be eliminated as a thorn in someone's side, wouldn't that be counterproductive?

It seems more prudent to start as the team leader.

This way, it would appear that the son had risen through the ranks based on his own abilities, without seeming too abrupt or glaring, and it would also give the new head of the household enough face and leeway.

If I ask the master to make arrangements quickly... I can be promoted to the position of hall master in ten days or half a month. Wouldn't that be more legitimate and shut up any gossip?
Thinking of this, a satisfied ripple appeared in her eyes again.

(End of this chapter)