LOT – Chapter 86 I Want to Hold My Birthday Banquet in a Brothel!

As for her upcoming birthday banquet, Lin Mo was surprisingly chill.

After living in the capital for so many years, she understood very well what these events were really for.

First, it was about building relationships and expanding networks. The second, equally important reason—matchmaking.

“So you’re planning to turn my birthday party into a blind date event?”

Lin Mo looked at her mother with an innocent expression as she asked the question.

Madam Lin: “…”

“It’s not a matchmaking banquet, it’s your birthday banquet! Can you not change the topic? Where do you want the banquet to be held—at home or at a restaurant?”

When it came to her youngest daughter’s way of thinking, Madam Lin had long given up trying to make sense of it.

What does a birthday banquet have to do with matchmaking? And the guests aren’t coming to matchmake either—they must have their own motives!

(Everyone else: We’re all just here to watch the drama unfold!)

Lin Mo silently thought to herself: 【I want to go somewhere with good wine, good food, and beautiful people… if only I knew where that place is.】

The system sneakily replied: 【I know just the place! If you host it there, it’ll be a huge hit!】

Lin Mo instantly perked up. 【Where? Do you know of a great restaurant?】

Even Madam Lin was curious to hear what good venue the system might suggest.

The system replied excitedly: 【A brothel! They’ve got good food, good wine, beautiful people! And it’s spacious too. The beauties there can sing and dance! Host it at a brothel!】

Hearing this, Lin Mo fell silent for a long time, then screamed internally: 【Are you insane?! You want me to host my birthday at a brothel?!】

The system answered innocently: 【You said you wanted good wine, good food, and beautiful people. A brothel is the only place that checks all those boxes! Plus, they have performances!】

Everyone present: “……”

Your idea is outrageous, but annoyingly, it also kind of makes sense.

Lin Mo actually started thinking seriously—could she book out a brothel for the day?

She looked at her mother with shining eyes. “Mother! Can I host my birthday banquet at a brothel? Can our family book it for the whole day?!”

Madam Lin closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The next moment, Lin Mo was kicked out of the room.

“In your dreams! What kind of noble young lady hosts her birthday at a brothel?! Do you want to ruin your reputation completely?!”

Not that her reputation was in great shape to begin with.

Lin Mo, now standing outside in confusion, mumbled: 【Didn’t she say I could choose? I made my choice—so why did I get kicked out?】

Could it be… Mother thinks it’s a bit difficult to arrange?

The system sighed. 【I knew your mother wouldn’t agree. But if you had done it at the brothel, it definitely would’ve been lively!】

Lin Mo sighed as well. 【Ugh, I no longer have a say in this. I’ve already been kicked out of the decision circle. Whatever they decide is fine… as long as there’s good food and drink.】

In the end, after discussion, the Lin family decided to hold the banquet at home.

As for Lin Mo’s opinion—after she said she wanted to host it at a brothel, she completely lost her right to choose.

“Hosting a birthday at a brothel… she really dares to dream,” Lin Qi muttered, unable to imagine what that would even look like.

A gathering of Da Yong officials at a brothel, seriously?

If the court historians recorded that, it’d be talked about for generations!

Lin Ran also wanted to open Lin Mo’s head and see what kind of strange things were inside.

Why does this girl think so differently from everyone else? What kind of brain comes up with this nonsense?

Once the location was settled, everything else was much easier to organize.

Madam Lin had the invitations sent out.

Since their daughter was already infamous in the capital, and all the officials knew her, they simply invited everyone—better that than to seem like they were excluding anyone and giving offense.

On the morning of Lin Mo’s birthday, she was dragged out of bed early to get dressed.

Seeing her sister’s eyes still barely open, Lin Ran patted her cheek and said: “Wake up! You’re the star today. You need to look your best.”

Lin Mo, still half-asleep, nodded vaguely and mumbled, “Mmhm, pretty, pretty… Sis, you’re the prettiest… you’re the most important…”

The system sighed helplessly. 【Your brain short-circuited. Your sister said you need to dress up and wake up, not to flatter her!】

Lin Ran looked at her groggy little sister and sighed, motioning for two maids to hold her up and start dressing her properly.

By then, guests had already started arriving outside the Lin residence.

“Oh, Lord Zhou! What a coincidence! You brought your wife and children too?”

“Hahaha, yes indeed. Lord Zhang, the same to you! May I ask what kind of birthday gift you prepared for Little Lord Lin?”

“Hahahaha, oh nothing expensive—just some trinkets that young ladies tend to like.”

Standing at the entrance to receive guests, Lin Qi’s mouth twitched hearing these officials chat. He was extremely speechless inside.

Anyone who didn’t know better would think his little sister held some powerful position, seeing all these high-ranking officials personally show up for her birthday.

You could say that everyone on the court who had nothing to hide showed up, while those who did have skeletons in the closet all found excuses to avoid it.

Emperor Xuande, looking at the list of those who made excuses, chuckled coldly: “Guilty consciences, huh? Well, fair enough. Must be tough showing up to court every day under pressure.”

Indeed, Lin Mo’s birthday banquet had turned into a screening event. Those who came were mostly clean, and those who didn’t clearly had something fishy going on.

Of course, some people really were unwell—that was easy enough to confirm. But others? Not so much.

Eunuch Li glanced at the emperor, dressed in plain clothes, and was left speechless inside.

“If you’re going to go incognito, at least wear something decent! This outfit is from twenty years ago! The edges are fraying!”

“Your Majesty, how about changing your clothes? Wearing this to Lord Lin’s banquet doesn’t seem appropriate,” someone advised. “People who don’t know you might think you’re here just to mooch off the food and drinks.”

Emperor Xuande put down the guest list and looked at his outfit.

What’s wrong with it? It’s perfectly low-profile! He had even disguised his face—no one would recognize him!