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

Chapter 190 The Northern King Cannot Be Allowed to Live

Lin Wanyun never expected Lu Chen to say such a thing, which reminded her of what her sworn brother had said to her not long ago.

Her godfather wanted to marry her off to this young man and make her his woman.

After realizing what was happening, Lin Wanyun quickly said, "Chen'er, you can't say things like that."

Seeing Lin Wanyun tremble slightly, looking frightened, Lu Chen continued, "Aunt Lin, I'm not making this up."

"Aunt Lin, you've been at the Northern Prince's residence for a while now, so you should know me quite well. Lately, I've been frequenting Chun Sheng Courtyard, and I spend far more time with Yelü Nanyan than with my other wives and concubines."

"That's because I prefer mature and charming women like Yelü Nanyan."

"And Aunt Lin, you are exactly that kind of woman."

Hearing Lu Chen's blunt words, Lin Wanyun felt her heart was about to jump out of her chest. She even suspected that Lu Chen might have already started to make advances towards her.

Lin Wanyun felt somewhat fortunate. Luckily, she was a sworn sister of Sister Yue, otherwise Lu Chen might have really made a move on her.

Lin Wanyun then said, "Chen'er, let's not talk about these things anymore. Let's talk about the cooperation between Beijun and Xuanyue Palace."

Lu Chen smiled and said, "Okay."

Lin Wanyun asked, "You can tell me what kind of people you need, and I will tell the Palace Master later to send some disciples down the mountain."

Lu Chen thought for a moment, then said, "I need some literate people. I wonder if the disciples of Xuan Yue Palace are literate?"

Lin Wanyun was slightly taken aback when she heard Lu Chen's words.

Literacy?

What does Lu Chen need literate people for?

Now that the heavy cavalry of Beijun is gone, and Lu Chen is carrying out sweeping reforms in Beijun, his reform measures have already affected the interests of many people.

His situation is now very dangerous. As a result, Lu Chen first asked Xuan Yue Palace not for a powerful disciple, but for someone who can read.

A literate person has no way to protect him.

Lin Wanyun asked curiously, "Most of the disciples of Xuan Yue Palace are literate, but what do you need literate people for?"

Lu Chen sighed and said, "I've discovered that the people of Beijun are not very educated. They basically can't read or write. They can't even understand a notice and need someone to explain it to them."

"So I've decided to find some people to teach them to read and write from now on."

This……

Lin Wanyun was speechless.

Do ordinary people need to read and write?

There's absolutely no need for that, okay?

She always felt that Lu Chen was meddling a little too much.

Although she could see that Lu Chen was quite kind to ordinary people, otherwise he wouldn't have exempted them from all agricultural taxes, Lu Chen was being too kind to them. He even hired people to teach the people to read and write.

Lin Wanyun was like other people of her time, believing that ordinary people didn't need to study or learn to read and write. Not everyone could pass the imperial examinations, so they should just be content to live their lives as ordinary people.

Although that's what she thought, Lin Wanyun still said, "Alright then, I'll tell the Palace Master later and ask her to send some disciples who can read and write down the mountain."

This is the first collaboration with Beijun, and also the closest they've ever come to Lu Chen. Therefore, Xuan Yue Palace must seize this opportunity. No matter how bizarre Lu Chen's requests are, they should agree to them.

However, Lin Wanyun still felt that Lu Chen's request was too lenient for Xuan Yue Palace, so she tentatively asked again, "Chen'er, do you need anything else?"

"Like intelligence or something?"

Lu Chen smiled and said, "We don't need that for now. I have my own intelligence network."

Although Xuan Yue Palace has a lot of resources, Lu Chen doesn't plan to rely on it at this stage. He'll wait until he wins over Chen Wanrong first.

At this moment, Lu Chen whispered, "Aunt Lin, I want to pursue Miss Chen. You must help me a lot."

Lin Wanyun smiled slightly, "Don't worry, I will definitely speak well of you to her."

Lu Chen said, "Then I'll have to trouble Aunt Lin."

At this point, Lu Chen felt a little sleepy. He had been practicing shooting all night, and even this grandmaster was feeling the strain. He continued, "Aunt Lin, if there's nothing else, I'll go back to sleep now. I was busy in the study all night last night without getting any sleep."

Lin Wanyun said, "Okay, Chen'er, you should go and rest first."

Lu Chen didn't say anything more and went straight back to the main courtyard. When he returned, he found his wives and concubines kneeling and drinking tea in the main hall. When Lu Chen came back, he found Chu Yuqin looking at him with a resentful expression.

Seeing Chu Yuqin's expression, Lu Chen was a little puzzled. Could it be...?

She found out?

Mu Zixuan smiled and said, "Your Highness, I've had the servants cook some porridge. Would you like some now?"

Lu Chen said, "Drink."

Lu Chen then sat down to the side. As soon as he sat down, he noticed that all his women were staring at him.

At this moment, Chu Yuqin said, "Chen'er, the study is quite cold at night. If you need to do anything, you should go back to the bedroom. No one stays in the study all night. If the cold gets into your body, it might be very harmful to your cultivation."

Lu Chen smiled and said, "Aunt Chu is right, I will definitely pay attention next time."

……

at the same time.

Inside Chu Qingli's room.

Chu Qingli sat in the bathtub, washing her body again and again.

The thought of everything that happened last night made her body tremble uncontrollably.

She actually made such shameful sounds, and even took the initiative to hug Lu Chen. How could she have become like that!

It was all just a transaction, and Chu Qingli couldn't forgive herself for actually enjoying it.

Chu Qingli raised her eyebrows slightly, as if she understood something.

Hypnosis! It must be hypnosis!

If it weren't for hypnosis, how could she have become that kind of shameless woman?

Lu Chen must have hypnotized her.

This devil only knows these despicable methods.

Sooner or later, I will get my revenge on him.

She may not be his match now, but the future is uncertain. She must strive to become stronger, and one day she will make Lu Chen pay a heavy price.

Thinking of this, Chu Qingli felt much better.

Although she lost her virginity, it was all for her sister.

If she serves Lu Chen ninety-nine more times, her sister will regain her freedom.

If she serves Lu Chen once a day, then Lu Chen will have to break the hypnosis on his sister in at most three months.

It's only three months; you can get through it if you just grit your teeth.

The thought of her sister regaining her freedom made Chu Qingli feel that everything she had done was worthwhile.

So what if Lu Chen confronted her? It wasn't anything unacceptable. Although she felt strange sensations in her body, she didn't feel any pain.

Moreover, she discovered that as long as she left Lu Chen, her power returned. Thinking about it this way, although she lost her virginity, she didn't suffer any other major losses.

Thinking of this, Chu Qingli murmured, "Ninety-nine more times, sister, I will definitely restore your freedom as soon as possible!"

……

The reforms in Beijun were quite significant, and news of them quickly reached the capital.

Lu Chen was the first prince whose fiefdom was legally owned solely by him.

Land is a sensitive topic, and once he touched on land ownership, the news quickly became known to everyone.

This news caused a great stir. Once it reached the capital, the discussion about the war between Da Wu and Da Xia decreased, and the common people mainly talked about the reforms in Beijun.

The Eighth Prince's Residence.

Many people from prominent families have come today, including Chu Xiong's unfilial son, Chu Hongfei, who is here on behalf of the entire Chu family.

Although Chu Xiong had lost his position as head of the family, Chu Hongfei maintained a similar status within the Chu family as before because he sided with the Eighth Prince.

This time, they gathered at the Eighth Prince's residence mainly to discuss the war between Da Wu and Da Xia.

The Xia Emperor was already prepared to compromise, and the war was nearing its end; now was the time to discuss terms.

First, for Da Wu to end the war, it will definitely require the mediation of the Chu family, and at the same time, Da Xia will have to pay a heavy price.

If Da Wu agrees to end the war, the next step will be bargaining between the aristocratic families and the Xia Emperor. This war was clearly started by the aristocratic families, and if the Xia Emperor wants to end the war, he will naturally have to show some sincerity.

At this moment, Chu Hongfei was somewhat smug. In the past, when his father was the head of the family, he was never given important positions. Unexpectedly, his father was stripped of his position as head of the family by the Chu family, and he, as the son of the former head of the family, was given important positions.

He came representing the entire Chu family this time; if the Chu family didn't value him, they wouldn't have sent him.

In the past, his father always complained that he was too fond of pleasure and didn't know any better, so he was not allowed to get involved in important family matters, which had long made him dissatisfied.

He was, after all, the son of the family head, yet he held less power than the collateral branches of the Chu family.

Things are different now. Since his father stepped down, he has been involved in almost all the major events in the Chu family.

It's clear that the Chu family values ​​him highly. The thought of having the opportunity to become the next head of the family fills Chu Hongfei with immense excitement.

In order to get closer to Lu Shuyun, the eighth prince, Chu Hongfei suggested, "Your Highness, I think this is a very good opportunity for you. Since His Majesty has already decided to compromise, then our Jiangnan aristocratic families should go further and force His Majesty to make you the crown prince."

"Once you become the crown prince, you will have greater power, and the other princes will be no match for you."

Hearing Chu Hongfei's words, Lu Shuyun smiled faintly and then said, "Brother Chu's idea is certainly good, but the position of Crown Prince is not a good position, especially at this time."

Lu Shuyun also wanted the position of Crown Prince, but after thinking about it, he realized that if he forced his father to make him Crown Prince now, he would not only be standing against his father, but also against all the princes.

This position of crown prince is probably too hot to handle; he likely won't be able to hold onto it securely.

Wang Yong, representing the Wang family, said, "Your Highness is right. At this time, it is absolutely not advisable to mention the position of Crown Prince to His Majesty. If His Majesty really establishes Your Highness as Crown Prince, it would be tantamount to telling others that the war between Da Wu and Da Xia was started by our Jiangnan aristocratic families, and that His Majesty has compromised with our Jiangnan aristocratic families, which is why he established Your Highness as Crown Prince."

At this moment, Wang Chengshuo, the Vice Minister of War, said with a smile, "Actually, it's not that it's completely unacceptable to mention it."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Wang Chengshuo, and Wang Yong asked, "What are your thoughts, cousin?"

Wang Chengshuo said, "Your Highness currently has no merits. If he were to become the Crown Prince out of nowhere, it would definitely cause dissatisfaction among many people."

"However, the war between Da Wu and Da Xia is not over yet. If Your Highness can make great contributions in this war, it would be only right for you to become the Crown Prince."

Upon hearing Wang Chengshuo's words, everyone immediately realized what he meant.

Yes, the war is not over yet, and the Eighth Prince still has a chance to earn military merit.

If the Eighth Prince becomes a key figure in the turning point of the war between Da Wu and Da Xia, then he will have made a tremendous contribution. At that time, proposing him as the Crown Prince will also silence the other forces in the court.

Now Emperor Xia is planning to compromise with the powerful families of Jiangnan. As long as the powerful families of Jiangnan propose to Emperor Xia that they send the Eighth Prince to the front line, Emperor Xia will naturally understand what the powerful families are planning and will have no choice but to agree to their conditions.

Hearing Wang Chengshuo's words, Lu Shuyun was somewhat excited. How come he hadn't thought of that?

If he becomes the one who turns the tide of this war, wouldn't it be only natural for him to become the crown prince?

The thought of that place she had longed for filled Lu Shuyun with immense excitement.

Just then.

Lu Shuyun's personal guard suddenly came up to him, leaned down and whispered something in his ear, and then handed him a piece of intelligence.

Lu Shuyun opened the intelligence report in his hand, glanced at its contents, and his expression changed from curiosity to frowning, before finally revealing a smile.

Immediately afterwards, he handed the intelligence in his hand to Wang Yong, who was standing next to him.

Wang Yong was curious about what intelligence Lu Shuyun had seen that made him so happy.

Upon opening the intelligence report, it turned out to be about the reforms in North County.

After reading the intelligence report, Wang Yong snorted and said, "Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the land, all people are subjects of the king. The Northern King has quite the arrogance! Isn't he afraid of choking himself to death with that?"

At this point, Wang Yong handed the intelligence in his hand to the others in the hall.

The people in the hall were all from aristocratic families. When they saw that the Northern King was going to take back all the land ownership, their expressions were extremely ugly.

The Northern King isn't just taking back land ownership; he's taking the lives of their aristocratic families.

Although Chu Hongfei didn't know much about politics, after seeing the reform plan for Beijun in the intelligence report, he couldn't help but say, "The King of Bei is truly courting death, daring to openly reclaim land!"

At this moment, Wang Yong said, "Your Highness, the Northern King cannot be allowed to live. Once this precedent is set, the aristocratic families will surely suffer."

Although the Northern King is only carrying out reforms in his own fiefdom, and the Northern Kingdom's policies will not affect other parts of the Great Xia for the time being, this is just a spark. Once the spark spreads, it will be a huge disaster for the aristocratic families.

At almost the same time, all the aristocratic families developed a strong desire to kill Lu Chen.

Anyone who dares to challenge the ownership of the land must die!

(End of this chapter)