Having many children brings many blessings; the struggle for power begins with marriage.

Chapter 118 So you've already climbed into the Northern King's bed, haven't you?

Upon hearing the maid's words, Chu Yuqin, who was sitting on the stone bench, was slightly stunned, and a look of confusion appeared on her face.

younger sister?

Chu Yuqin immediately realized what was happening.

"Qingli? Could it be Qingli?"

She then rose from the stone bench and walked swiftly toward the gate of the mansion with light steps.

When Chu Yuqin arrived at the door, she saw Chu Qingli, dressed in a light blue robe, tall and with a cold expression, standing outside the door holding a sword.

Chu Yuqin asked curiously, "Qingli, what brings you here?"

Although Chu Qingli and Chu Yuqin were both raised by the Chu family, their upbringing methods differed.

Chu Yuqin was trained from a young age to be Chu Yue's personal maid, and then as she grew up, she was to protect Chu Yue and act as a tool to shield Chu Yue from swords.

Chu Qingli's training is geared towards becoming a family assassin, a tool to do dirty work for the Chu family.

Unlike Chu Yuqin, who has now completely broken away from the Chu family, she doesn't return to the Chu family now, and the Chu family won't say anything about her.

But Chu Qingli is different.

Logically speaking, Chu Qingli should not leave the Chu family unless she has a mission.

Chu Yuqin was taken aback.

Yes, Chu Qingli won't leave the Chu family unless she has a mission.

Does she have some kind of mission?

The fact that Chu Qingli is here proves that her mission is likely related to the Northern Prince's Mansion.

Just as Chu Yuqin was lost in thought, Chu Qingli asked expressionlessly, "Sister, why don't you go back to the Chu family?"

Hearing this, Chu Yuqin came to her senses and then said, "My sister is married now and is no longer considered a member of the Chu family."

Chu Qingli then continued, "Now that you're married, why do you still follow the Northern Prince and stay in his residence?"

"What can you gain by following that incompetent man?"

Chu Qingli is an assassin, and assassins must suppress their emotions. However, Chu Qingli placed all her emotions on Chu Yuqin, the person she had been closest to since childhood.

Therefore, in Chu Qingli's eyes, Chu Yuqin's happiness is her happiness.

Chu Yuqin no longer needs to stay in the Chu family; she can pursue what she wants. However, she still chooses to stay with Chu Yue's child.

In Chu Qingli's eyes, Chu Yuqin is now just the Northern King's maid.

She was Chu Yue's maid back then, and now that Chu Yue is dead, she has taken Chu Yue's son as her master. This is servility.

Chu Qingli felt extremely disgusted by Chu Yuqin's servile nature!

In fact, Chu Qingli also loathed herself for her lack of resistance, but she projected her feelings onto Chu Yuqin.

Hearing Chu Qingli say that Lu Chen was an incompetent man, Chu Yuqin was slightly taken aback, then said somewhat unhappily, "Qingli, did you come to Beijun just to tell my sister this?"

Chu Qingli said coldly, "You are still the same as before, utterly loyal to your master."

Chu Yuqin then said:

"The situation in Beijun is currently turbulent. If you don't have anything important to do, sister, you should leave Beijun as soon as possible."

Chu Yuqin didn't want to argue with Chu Qingli too much. She knew very well that Chu Qingli had always looked down on Lu Chen and thought that Lu Chen was just a good-for-nothing.

When Chu Yuqin returned to the Chu family before, Chu Qingli advised her to leave Lu Chen and pursue the happiness she wanted.

However, she did not do so, which created a rift between the two sisters.

Chu Qingli asked expressionlessly, "Sister, are you going to abandon me too?"

This……

Upon hearing this question, Chu Yuqin paused for a moment, then asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Chu Qingli said directly, "The patriarch thinks I'm useless and sent me to find you. I thought you would consider our relationship and leave Beijun with me. Now it seems you have completely submitted to that incompetent man."

Upon hearing Chu Qingli's explanation, Chu Yuqin instantly understood what was going on.

Chu Xiong granted Chu Qingli her freedom and sent her to Beijun, most likely because he wanted her to stay by Lu Chen's side and protect him, since Lu Chen is Chu Xiong's grandson and they are related by blood.

Chu Xiong was different from most people; he didn't have a strong preference for sons over daughters, and he always doted on Chu Yue.

Perhaps because his son was disappointing, Chu Xiong actually liked Chu Yue more. After Chu Yue married Empress Xia, Chu Xiong regretted it countless times, thinking that he had ruined his daughter's happiness.

After Chu Yue passed away, it was Chu Xiong who sent Chu Yuqin to Lu Chen's side to take care of and protect him.

Even though Lu Chen had no hope of winning the throne, Chu Xiong still told Chu Yuqin not to leave Lu Chen.

In Chu Yuqin's view, the reason why Chu Xiong valued Lu Chen so much was because after Chu Yue's death, Chu Xiong's love for his daughter was transferred to his grandson Lu Chen.

At this moment, Chu Yuqin sighed and said, "Qingli, have you ever considered that the patriarch sent you to Beijun actually to have you protect the Northern King?"

Chu Qingli asked in a completely emotionless tone, "Why should I protect that useless man?"

"The head of the family has given me my freedom. From now on, I can do whatever I want."

Chu Yuqin understood why Chu Qingli had such thoughts. Chu Qingli had been locked in a "cage" for too long, and now that she had suddenly gained freedom, she naturally wouldn't carry out the tasks given to her by the Chu family.

Chu Qingli then said, "Sister, let's leave Beijun together, leave that man. The world is vast, there will always be a place for us sisters to stay. We will no longer be bound by anyone, no longer be anyone's servants. We are free now."

Hearing Chu Qingli's words, Chu Yuqin sighed again, and then said earnestly, "Qingli, I cannot leave Beijun with you. I have already found a place to stay."

Chu Qingli questioned, "So, your so-called place of residence is the Northern Prince's mansion? Do you really enjoy being someone else's maid?"

"You are now a married woman, and you've been staying in the Northern Prince's residence. Do you know how others will see you and what they will say about you?"

"Rumors have already circulated in the martial arts world that you are the Northern King's concubine, and that you are an unfaithful and shameless woman."

Hearing Chu Qingli's words, Chu Yuqin was stunned again. She had actually thought that this day would come.

After all, the Northern King is no longer a child, and she is no longer Chu Yue's maid. She has now married into the Wang family, and her position by the Northern King's side has always been illegitimate.

It's normal for some people to suspect that she has some kind of relationship with the Northern King.

Seeing Chu Yuqin fall silent, Chu Qingli thought she was wavering, so she pressed her advantage and continued, "Sister, come with me. The barbarian cavalry of 300,000 has already marched south. If you stay with the Northern King, you will only face death."

Chu Yuqin snapped out of her daze, and the seriousness on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a slight smile.

"Qingli, I am very happy that the patriarch has given you your freedom, but I cannot leave with you. I have decided to stay in the Northern Prince's Mansion for the rest of my life. No matter what people say about me, I will accept it."

"I promised Sister Chu Yue that I would take good care of Chen'er. Chen'er is everything to me now, and I will never leave him."

"Qingli, you should leave!"

Seeing that Chu Yuqin still wouldn't leave with her, Chu Qingli's expression remained unchanged. She coldly said, "Are the rumors circulating outside true? You really have already slept with the Northern King, haven't you?"

Chu Yuqin remained unperturbed. She simply said, "The innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty. There's no point in me saying anything more."

"Qingli, live a good life from now on, and just pretend you don't have a sister like me."

At this point, Chu Yuqin was about to turn around and return to the mansion when Chu Qingli suddenly said, "Since you refuse to leave with me, then I won't leave either. I want to see what's so good about that man that he can bewitch you so much."

This……

Chu Yuqin was stunned.

To be honest, if it were in the past, Chu Yuqin would have been very happy to have a ninth-rank expert protecting Lu Chen.

But it is different now.

Lu Chen is now surrounded by many experts, including not only ninth-rank masters but also grandmaster-level powerhouses.

Whether he has one more or one less ninth-rank official, it doesn't make much difference to Lu Chen.

Moreover, Chu Qingli harbors a prejudice against Lu Chen, and Chu Yuqin is very afraid that Chu Qingli might suddenly be provoked and attack Lu Chen one day.

Thinking of this, Chu Yuqin said, "Qingli, everyone has their own life. You have gained your freedom now, so you should cherish this hard-won freedom. You don't need to follow your sister."

Chu Qingli remained expressionless and said, "You're so reluctant to let me follow you because you're afraid I'll discover your affair with the Northern Prince?"

Chu Yuqin sighed deeply.

Having had her emotions suppressed since childhood, Chu Qingli has always been a bit slow on the uptake; once she's made up her mind about something, it's very difficult to change it.

"If you want to follow your sister, I won't object. But I must warn you, if you try anything to harm Chen'er, then we will no longer be sisters, but enemies!"

Chu Qingli remained silent at this point.

Chu Yuqin then said, "Come with me, I'll arrange a room for you."

With that, Chu Yuqin headed towards the mansion, and Chu Qingli followed behind.

As the two entered the courtyard, Mu Zixuan noticed a stunningly beautiful woman with an icy demeanor behind Chu Yuqin and asked, "Aunt Chu, who is this young lady?"

Chu Yuqin said, "Zixuan, this is my younger sister from the Chu family."

Upon hearing this, Mu Zixuan immediately said, "So you are Aunt Chu's sister, Miss Chu. Please come and sit here."

Chu Yuqin had originally planned to arrange a room for her, but since the princess had invited her for tea, she wasn't in a hurry.

Chu Yuqin then turned to Chu Qingli and said, "Qingli, this is the Princess Consort, and Chen'er's two wives."

Chu Qingli then bowed and said, "This commoner greets the Princess and the two ladies."

Mu Zixuan said with a smile, "Miss Chu, please don't be shy, come and sit down."

Chu Qingli did not hesitate and went straight to the stone table in the pavilion to sit down.

Mu Zixuan subconsciously poured Chu Qingli a cup of tea, then asked curiously, "Miss Chu, what brings you to Beijun?"

Chu Qingli replied, "Your Highness, I intend to take my sister away from the palace."

Upon hearing Chu Qingli's answer, Mu Zixuan, Da Zhou, and Xiao Zhou were all stunned. After regaining her composure, Mu Zixuan looked at Chu Yuqin and said, "Aunt Chu? Are you leaving the Prince's Mansion?"

They knew what kind of relationship Lu Chen and Chu Yuqin had, so how could Lu Chen possibly let Chu Yuqin leave?

Chu Yuqin quickly replied, "I have no plans to leave the Prince's residence yet, and I have already refused her."

Hearing Chu Yuqin say this, Mu Zixuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, Chu Yuqin said to Chu Qingli, "Qingli, the tea from the Prince's Mansion has a refreshing effect and can also relieve fatigue. You have come from afar and must be a little tired. Why don't you try the tea from the Prince's Mansion?"

As soon as Chu Yuqin finished speaking, Chu Qingli picked up the cup of tea that Mu Zixuan had poured for her and drank it.

Seeing Chu Qingli drink the tea, Mu Zixuan's heart skipped a beat.

Oh no! She forgot to change the tea!

The tea they are drinking now is Longfeng tea brought from Yancheng!

Others may not know the effects of Dragon and Phoenix Tea, but Mu Zixuan does.

This is troublesome!

At this moment, Mu Zixuan glanced at Chu Qingli.

She was as cold as ice, with skin as smooth as jade, a cold and elegant temperament, and a graceful figure, like a goddess from the heavens. She was very similar to Bai Qingqing, the maid Lu Chen had just taken in when they left the palace.

Mu Zixuan thought to herself, "The prince must like a woman like this, right?"

Mu Zixuan only hoped that Lu Chen wouldn't be angry with her when she returned to Yancheng.

After drinking the Dragon and Phoenix Tea, Chu Qingli discovered that the tea from the Prince's Mansion did indeed have the effect of refreshing the mind and calming her emotions.

Despite her cold expression, she had been feeling quite depressed ever since she heard that Chu Yuqin was unwilling to leave the palace with her.

But after drinking the Dragon and Phoenix Tea, that dull feeling instantly dissipated, and I felt much more relaxed.

This tea is truly amazing.

Chu Qingli then said to Mu Zixuan, "Thank you for the tea, Your Highness."

Mu Zixuan said somewhat awkwardly, "You're welcome."

Mu Zixuan then continued, "Miss Chu, given the current turmoil in Beijun, what are your plans for the future?"

Chu Qingli replied expressionlessly, "Your Highness, wherever my sister is, that's where I am."

This……

Mu Zixuan glanced at Chu Yuqin.

Chu Yuqin then quickly said, "Zixuan, I'm planning to make her the deputy commander of the guards in the inner courtyard of the Prince's mansion. What do you think?"

Mu Zixuan replied without hesitation, "No problem. By the way, Miss Chu, I still don't know your name."

Chu Qingli then said, "My name is Chu Qingli."

Mu Zixuan said enthusiastically, "Then from now on we'll call you Qingli."

Just as Mu Zixuan was about to continue speaking, a maid from the Prince's residence suddenly rushed in, shouting, "Your Highness! Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!!!"

Seeing the maid's pale face and panicked expression, Mu Zixuan immediately asked, "What happened?"

The maidservant quickly replied, "Your Highness, the garrison of Anping City just spotted a cavalry force of about five thousand men rapidly approaching the city! They appear to be the vanguard of a barbarian tribe!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Zixuan felt her mind go blank and almost fainted.

Zhou Youyou and Zhou Xiaoxiao quickly helped Mu Zixuan up.

Mu Zixuan trembled as she said, "How...how is this possible...with Yancheng here, how could the barbarians have reached Anping City so quickly? Could it be...that Yancheng has already..."

At this point, Mu Zixuan became even more agitated, her face turning deathly pale, devoid of any color.

(End of this chapter)