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

Chapter 185 Chu Qingli's Inner Decision

Lu Chen and Chu Xiong chatted for an entire afternoon, and it wasn't until evening that they returned to the Northern King's Mansion, while Chu Xiong remained at the inn run by Xuan Yue Palace.

When Lu Chen returned to the Northern Prince's Mansion in the evening, it was already completely dark. It was still winter, so it got dark early.

At this moment, Chu Yuqin stood at the entrance of the Prince's Mansion, seemingly waiting for someone.

Upon seeing Lu Chen return, Chu Yuqin suddenly became extremely nervous, her pretty face flushing.

She immediately turned her head, pretending not to see Lu Chen, and prepared to leave the gate of the Prince's Mansion as soon as possible.

Lu Chen had already noticed the graceful figure at the door. Seeing that Chu Yuqin wanted to avoid him, Lu Chen immediately coughed and then said, "Aunt Chu, wait a moment, I have some good news to tell you."

Hearing Lu Chen's words, Chu Yuqin was taken aback for a moment, then pretended not to have seen Lu Chen return and said, "Eh? Chen'er, why are you back from outside?"

"What's the good news you mentioned?"

Seeing Chu Yuqin's clumsy acting, Lu Chen chuckled. She was clearly standing at the door waiting for him to come back, but she pretended not to see him.

Lu Chen immediately dismounted, handed the reins to the guard, and then walked up to Chu Yuqin.

As Lu Chen, this big boy, got closer and closer to her, Chu Yuqin's heart pounded wildly. If it were before, she wouldn't have been nervous at all, let alone being this close, or even if she touched Lu Chen's body.

But things are different now. Ever since Lu Chen made it clear to her that he was lusting after her body, she gets incredibly nervous every time she sees him. Whenever Lu Chen gets close to her, she thinks of the words she said in the study not long ago.

The thought of having to use her body to serve Lu Chen, this little rascal, made her delicate body tremble involuntarily.

When Lu Chen approached Chu Yuqin, he noticed her face was flushed. Lu Chen smiled and said, "Aunt Chu, why is your face so red? Do you have a fever?"

At this point, Lu Chen raised his large hand to touch Chu Yuqin's forehead. Chu Yuqin subconsciously wanted to take a step back, but Lu Chen grabbed her hand, so she had no choice but to stand still.

After touching Chu Yuqin's forehead, Lu Chen muttered to himself, "She's really hot; she must have a fever."

Chu Yuqin glanced at Lu Chen and then said, "Chen'er, what are you doing? We're still at the entrance of the Prince's mansion. It won't look good if others see us like this. How can a prince be so frivolous?"

Lu Chen said with a smile, "Oh dear, I forgot about that. I was just too worried about your health, Aunt Chu. It's my fault."

Chu Yuqin said with a resentful look, "Didn't you say you had some good news? Why didn't you say anything after we got here?"

Lu Chen then said, "My maternal grandfather came to visit me in Beijun, and I chatted with him for an afternoon."

Hearing Lu Chen's words, Chu Yuqin stared into his eyes, her face filled with disbelief, and asked, "Really? Why would he come to Beijun?"

Chu Yuqin had a general understanding of the current situation of the Chu family. The Xia Emperor and the aristocratic families had reached a point of irreconcilable conflict, and Chu Xiong had actually left the Chu family and come to Beijun.

Lu Chen replied, "He said he wanted to come to Beijun to see his grandson."

Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, Chu Yuqin said, "That does fit his style."

At this point, Chu Yuqin asked, "So where does he live now?"

Lu Chen replied, "I'm staying at an inn run by Xuan Yue Palace."

"However, I've already decided to give him a house, so he can move to a different place tomorrow."

Lu Chen then took Chu Yuqin's smooth and delicate hand and said, "It's windy outside, Aunt Chu, let's go inside first."

As Lu Chen's large hand caressed her, Chu Yuqin suddenly felt her hand itch, as if a strange sensation was spreading throughout her body.

Lu Chen ignored the servants' stares and directly pulled Chu Yuqin into the courtyard of the Prince's Mansion.

Chu Yuqin quickly said, "Chen'er, let go of your aunt! It won't be good if others see us."

When Chu Yuqin was referring to others, she wasn't referring to the servants of the Prince's mansion, but specifically to Chu Qingli. She didn't think anything of being watched by servants at the entrance of the Prince's mansion, but if her younger sister saw her, it would be a huge problem.

Lu Chen held Chu Yuqin's hand tightly and said, "So what if she saw it? My aunt's hands are so cold, what's wrong with me warming them up? Let's see who dares to gossip."

At this point, Lu Chen not only didn't let go, but instead raised his other hand and held Chu Yuqin's hands in his palm.

A cold wind blew by, but Chu Yuqin didn't feel cold at all; instead, she felt her body getting hotter and hotter.

Chu Yuqin suddenly remembered something, and then she said with a blush, "Chen'er, I forgot to tell you, Miss Chen has come to Beijun again. I arranged for her to stay in the same room as last time."

Lu Chen said, "Oh, well, you're here."

After entering the courtyard of the Prince's Mansion, the two stood in the snow and did not go any further. Chu Yuqin's hands were being held by Lu Chen, making it inconvenient for her to walk.

Chu Yuqin felt that this was not quite right, so she said again, "Chen'er, you've been busy with the reforms these past few days, you must be tired. Why don't you go back to your room and get some rest?"

"Auntie has to go on patrol, you...you must let go of Auntie..."

Chu Yuqin's voice grew softer and softer. Seeing her flushed face and hot hands, Lu Chen couldn't help but feel a little restless at the sight of this beautiful woman's affectionate expression.

Lu Chen then said, "Aunt Chu, have you forgotten what you said to me in the study not long ago?"

Upon hearing Lu Chen mention the study, Chu Yuqin felt her heart pounding even faster and her breathing becoming labored. She quickly whispered, "Auntie remembers, but..."

At this point, Chu Yuqin paused, then looked into Lu Chen's eyes and said, "Chen'er, can you give your aunt some more time?"

Lu Chen said, "Aunt Chu, winter is almost over. You need to be prepared before spring arrives. You know, men tend to get restless in the spring. Now, Zi Xuan and the other two are pregnant again. Qing Ci and Xiao Bai are often away from the palace these days, so Nan Yan and Yao Yao are taking care of me. I'm afraid they won't be able to handle it."

Seeing Lu Chen say such things so bluntly, Chu Yuqin was so ashamed that she wished she could disappear into the ground.

……

At this moment.

Behind a rockery in the outer courtyard.

A figure was staring intently at the two people at the outer courtyard gate.

Chu Qingli coldly looked at the two people not far away and said coldly, "I knew they were having an affair, and today I finally caught them in the act."

After Chu Qingli finished her patrol, she went to Chu Yuqin's room to look for her, but found that Chu Yuqin was not there. She thought that Chu Yuqin had gone to Lu Chen's study, so she went to the study to check, but still did not see Chu Yuqin.

However, just as she was about to go to the gate to ask the guards if her sister had left the palace, she found her sister entangled with that lecherous man in the outer courtyard of the palace.

Looking at her sister's flushed face and shy expression, she looked exactly like a timid young wife.

Before, she only had suspicions and no evidence, but today she finally caught her red-handed.

My sister had indeed been hypnotized by that lecherous man.

Otherwise, why would her sister have that expression?

She's always considered herself Lu Chen's aunt! As Lu Chen's aunt, would she ever get involved with him like that?

Clearly, her sister was completely confused and had no idea what she was doing!

No, this can't go on any longer!

She had to rescue her sister!

but……

How should we save him?

Her sister is hypnotized, and at least for now she is willingly staying in the Prince's Mansion. Before the hypnosis is lifted, even if she uses various means to take her sister out of the Prince's Mansion, her sister will eventually return to the Northern Prince's Mansion.

Therefore, the only way for her to take her sister away from the palace is to win over Lu Chen and get him to voluntarily lift the hypnosis spell on her sister.

Only in this way can her sister come to her senses and be willing to leave with her.

With this in mind, Chu Qingli secretly made a decision.

……

After Lu Chen and Chu Yuqin tugged around in the outer courtyard for a while, Lu Chen let Chu Yuqin leave. He then went to his study instead of returning to the inner courtyard, as he had some official business to attend to.

As soon as Lu Chen entered the study and closed the door, he heard the maidservant at the door talking to someone.

"Commander Chu, the Prince has just arrived at the study."

"I need to speak with him. Please inform him."

"Okay, Commander Chu, please wait a moment."

Then a maid knocked on the door and said, "Your Highness, Commander Chu is looking for you."

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen immediately opened the study door again. He looked at Chu Qingli standing in the doorway and asked in confusion, "Qingli, is something the matter?"

Chu Qingli did not answer Lu Chen's question immediately, but instead said to the maid at the door of the study, "Go and guard the courtyard gate. The Prince and I have important matters to discuss, and no one is allowed to enter."

Upon hearing this, the maid was taken aback.

Generally speaking, Chu Qingli is not qualified to let herself leave; only a prince has that right.

The maid turned to look at Lu Chen, wanting to see what he would say.

Lu Chen was puzzled after hearing Chu Qingli's words. Did Chu Qingli have something important to discuss with him? What could be so important?

She spends all day wandering around the inner courtyard of the Prince's mansion; there's no way she could be doing anything important.

However, Lu Chen still said to the maid, "Xiao Huan, listen to Commander Chu and go to guard the courtyard gate."

Seeing that Lu Chen had said so, the maid immediately replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

The maid then left the study.

After sending the maid away, Chu Qingli went straight to the study.

Lu Chen immediately stepped aside to let Chu Qingli enter the study.

After she came in, Lu Chen closed the door again and continued to ask, "Qingli, what is this important matter you mentioned?"

(End of this chapter)