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

Chapter 184 Lu Chen's Winning Over

Upon hearing Chu Xiong's words, Lu Chen thought about it and realized that his grandfather's considerations were not unreasonable.

The fact that such a powerful weapon was handed over to his mother proves that Xuan Yue Palace is unlikely to be afraid of this weapon falling into the hands of ordinary people.

He doesn't dare let others use his Barrett or Desert Eagle, for fear that someone might accidentally lose them and he wouldn't be able to get them back.

Thinking about it this way, it was actually the right choice for Chu Xiong to have his mother return that terrifying weapon.

Such a terrifying weapon remaining in the Chu family will inevitably attract the covetous eyes of many forces in the martial arts world, and even the person in the capital will have his eye on it. At that time, the Chu family will become the target of everyone's attacks, and it will probably be only a matter of time before the Chu family is wiped out.

However, doing this will definitely cause dissatisfaction among some people within the Chu family.

Some people believed that acquiring such a powerful weapon would make them stronger. However, Chu Xiong not only didn't keep the weapon, but also returned it to Xuan Yue Palace, causing the Chu family to miss the opportunity to become even more powerful.

At this moment, Lu Chen spoke up, "Grandpa, I have another question. How exactly did my mother die?"

Lu Chen had the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate many things about his mother, and he roughly knew that his mother's death was likely related to his father, the emperor. However, the Embroidered Uniform Guard could not find out how she died, whether she was poisoned or killed.

All he knew was that one morning he woke up to find the palace maids in his courtyard weeping, and then his mother in this world was gone.

Chu Xiong replied, "I don't know the details of your mother's death either, but it's most likely related to your father, the Emperor."

At this point, Chu Xiong hesitated, glancing at Lu Chen's reaction, wanting to know what Lu Chen was thinking.

If Lu Chen is truly Emperor Xia's pawn, he will definitely be dissatisfied with me after hearing these words.

Since the Xia Emperor wanted to use Lu Chen as a pawn, he would inevitably try to cultivate a good relationship with Lu Chen in secret. Therefore, when Lu Chen heard that his father was being slandered, he would definitely defend his father.

However, Chu Xiong then realized that Lu Chen didn't seem to care at all about what he had just said.

Lu Chen then said, "I know it's related to my father, but I'd like to know more about the details."

Chu Xiong said, "Your Highness, the past is the past. Your mother, even in the afterlife, would not want you to be trapped in what happened back then."

"Now that you are the ruler of a country, you should look forward more."

Lu Chen said, "That's true."

At this point, Lu Chen asked with a smile, "Grandpa, how long do you plan to stay in Beijun this time? How about I give you a house so you can retire here in Beijun? Anyway, the Chu family has stripped you of your position as head of the family, so there's no need for you to go back to the Chu family."

Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, Chu Xiong understood that Lu Chen intended to recruit him. Chu Xiong did indeed want to stay in Beijun for a while, but only for a short time, as he would eventually have to return.

Chu Xiong then said, "I came to Beijun this time mainly to see you, and then I will stay for a month or two before returning to the Chu family. Although I am no longer the head of the Chu family, I am still a member of the Chu family. I cannot stand idly by when the Chu family is in trouble."

Upon hearing Chu Xiong's answer, Lu Chen frowned slightly. It seemed that his maternal grandfather was still on the side of the aristocratic families, which conflicted with his own attitude towards them.

His maternal grandfather was, after all, from a prominent family, while he himself belonged to the same kind of people as the Xia Emperor; their positions were opposed.

Lu Chen then said, "Grandpa, you should be well aware of the current situation of the Chu family. If you return to the Chu family, you will probably be eliminated by my father, just like the Chu family. Why would you do this?"

Chu Xiong did not respond to Lu Chen's question, but instead said, "Your Highness, I would like to ask you a question."

Lu Chen said, "Go ahead."

Chu Xiong then asked directly, "In the eyes of the aristocratic families, the 50,000 heavy cavalry of Beijun are the Xia Emperor's private army, and you are the Xia Emperor's pawn. So I want to know if this is the truth?"

Lu Chen didn't beat around the bush and answered directly, "Grandfather, please rest assured, I am not my father's pawn. As for how those 50,000 heavy cavalry came about, I can't tell you that for now. I can only tell you that there is a very mysterious and powerful force behind me. Even the Xuan Yue Palace is just a small player in front of this force."

Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, Chu Xiong was stunned.

Is there another powerful force behind my grandson?

This……

real or fake?

However, judging from his grandson's tone and expression, he didn't seem to be lying.

Could it be that there is another mysterious force behind him?

But there probably aren't many forces in this world stronger than Xuan Yue Palace, right?

Lu Chen actually said that Xuan Yue Palace was just a small player in front of the mysterious force behind him?

After regaining his senses, Chu Xiong asked with certainty, "Your Highness is not lying to me?"

Lu Chen said, "Of course. It's impossible for my father to build 50,000 sets of heavy armor under the noses of the powerful families. How could the powerful families think that the 50,000 heavy cavalry of Beijun are my father's private army?"

After hearing what Lu Chen said, Chu Xiong thought about it and felt that it made a lot of sense.

The entire Great Xia Dynasty is now under the control of aristocratic families. The Xia Emperor only has military power in his hands. Whether it is the court or the economy of Great Xia, it is basically under the control of aristocratic families.

If the Xia Emperor wanted to forge heavy armor, they couldn't possibly have been completely unaware of it, especially since it was 50,000 sets, not 500.

There might be some hidden possibility with 500 sets, but once the number reaches tens of thousands, it's impossible for there to be no signs at all.

Moreover, forging 50,000 sets of heavy armor is not something that can be done overnight. Under the surveillance of aristocratic families, the news that the Xia Emperor was forging 50,000 sets of heavy armor was not leaked at all, which is obviously somewhat illogical.

Chu Xiong frowned, then said, "Your Highness, that mysterious force suddenly gave you 50,000 heavy cavalry. I'm afraid they have ulterior motives."

The entire Great Xia Dynasty only had 20,000 heavy cavalry, yet that mysterious force was so kind to a nominally useless prince, sending 50,000 heavy cavalry in one go. If there wasn't some other ulterior motive, probably no one would believe it.

Lu Chen said calmly, "Grandpa, there are some things I can't tell you in detail, but you can rest assured that this mysterious force has no designs on me, at least not at the moment, and I have absolute control over this mysterious force."

Hearing Lu Chen say this, Chu Xiong was stunned again.

Does his grandson have absolute control over that mysterious force?

real or fake?

That's a massive force capable of fielding 50,000 heavy cavalry!

If Lu Chen has absolute control over that mysterious force, wouldn't that mean he himself is an important figure in that force?

But Lu Chen is only seventeen years old this year, right?

How did he manage to secretly connect with such a powerful force in just over a decade?

Chu Xiong could hardly believe it.

However, he also felt that Lu Chen really didn't mean to lie to him.

He's no longer the head of the Chu family, so there's nothing left for him to be fooled.

Lu Chen then continued, "Grandpa, I've heard that a large portion of the Chu family actually supports you. Why don't you let those people come to the Northern Kingdom as well?"

"I have a premonition that once the war between Great Xia and Great Wu ends, a civil war will inevitably break out in Great Xia. The reason my father has been able to endure for so many years is mainly because he did not have military power. But now he has military power, and with the aristocratic families secretly provoking the war, he has most likely been enraged. I'm afraid he can no longer tolerate it."

The divided Chu family poses no threat to Lu Chen, and once the Chu family comes to the Northern Kingdom, Lu Chen will be able to rightfully marry Chu Yuqin and Chu Qingli.

Chu Yuqin and Chu Qingli are ostensibly members of the Chu family. As for Chu Yuqin's marriage to the Wang family, all that's needed is for Chu Xiong to publicly annul the marriage. Whether the Wang family acknowledges it or not is none of their business. Chu Yuqin never even saw what the man she was supposed to marry looked like, so how can such a marriage be considered valid?

If Chu Xiong brings another member from the Chu family, the marriage can be easily annulled. Besides, Chu Yuqin and Chu Qingli are nominally Chu Xiong's adopted daughters.

After hearing Lu Chen's words, Chu Xiong thought for a moment and then said, "Your Highness, let me think about it some more. I will give you an answer in half a month."

Chu Xiong wavered somewhat. He didn't really want to have a direct conflict with the Xia Emperor. If a civil war broke out, it would not benefit the Chu family or the Great Xia.

Most of his supporters initially opposed starting a war, but his two brothers secretly instigated a war between the Great Wu and the Great Xia.

Chu Xiong even sensed that their true purpose might not be simply to provoke a war between Da Wu and Da Xia, but rather to force the Xia Emperor to abdicate.

Following the Wang family's reckless actions will inevitably lead to their downfall.

However, Chu Xiong could not completely trust his grandson. He wanted to see how things were in the North before making a decision. If the North had no potential, then the Chu family might as well move to Da Wu or Da Yue.

Anyway, it's better than Daxia.

Thinking about this, Chu Xiong felt extremely conflicted. When did his thoughts become the same as his unfilial son's?

That was what his son had been thinking: if a civil war broke out in the Great Xia, he would take Chu Yuqin and run away to the Great Wu or another dynasty.

As a result, I've now developed the idea of ​​escaping from Daxia.

Seeing that Chu Xiong was interested, Lu Chen smiled and said, "No problem. Whenever Grandpa wants to settle down in the North, he can tell me anytime. The gates of the North will always be open to him."

(End of this chapter)