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

Chapter 267 Chu Yuqin is pregnant

Upon hearing the soldier's words, Wu Junwan took the letter from the soldier, opened it, and glanced at it.

The letter contained a simple statement: Chai Jiliang had persuaded Emperor Wu to send an envoy to the Northern Kingdom to attempt to establish diplomatic relations, thereby further provoking the Great Xia court.

Emperor Wu's idea was to send one of his sons as an envoy to the northern kingdom.

Chai Jiliang meant that since Wu Yunwan had already dealt with the rebels, the opportunity to go on a diplomatic mission to the Northern Kingdom should not be given to someone else.

If they can instigate internal strife in the Great Xia, it will be a huge achievement. If Wu Yunwan wants to compete for that position, she must seize this opportunity to go on a diplomatic mission.

After reading Chai Jiliang's letter, Wu Junwan frowned slightly.

She had just quelled the rebellion in the southeast, and to immediately have her compete with her brothers for credit would likely displease her father, the emperor.

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence could see that the reason his father wanted to select one of his sons to be sent as an envoy to the northern kingdom was so that his son could also accumulate some merits, thus balancing the court.

Now, this eldest princess wields too much power in the court, especially after the rebellion in the southeast was quelled, her influence has expanded further.

Although Emperor Wu made her the eldest princess, which seemed to show that he valued her highly, he may not have really intended to give her his position.

The Great Wu Dynasty was an extremely martial dynasty with a severe preference for sons over daughters. If a female emperor were to arrive, it could very well lead to chaos.

Of course, external conditions are not important; what matters is what the Empress thinks.

If Empress Wu does not want a female emperor to emerge in the Great Wu, then Princess Wu Yunwan will be deposed sooner or later.

Wu Yunwan was afraid that if she went back and competed with her brothers for credit, she would anger Emperor Wu. If she angered Emperor Wu, he would suppress her power in every way and cut off her wings, which would be a loss for her.

However, Wu Yunwan did not believe that someone as intelligent as Chai Jiliang would fail to see that her father was planning to balance the court.

Having just made such a great contribution, she was determined to ensure that her sons also achieved some merit. Otherwise, some ministers might suspect that Empress Wu was intentionally grooming the eldest princess to become empress.

Since Chai Jiliang could also see this, why did he send him back to the capital so quickly to compete with his brothers for credit?

Wu Yunwan was somewhat puzzled, wondering what Chai Jiliang was thinking. Chai Jiliang had not explained in the letter why he wanted her to do this. Only when she returned to the capital and met Chai Jiliang would she know what this guy was really up to.

Wu Yunwan thought for a moment, then decided to go back to the capital first. In any case, she had already quelled the rebellion in the southeast, and she was going to return to the capital to hand over her military power and report back. Once she returned to the capital and met Chai Jiliang, she would know what Chai Jiliang wanted to do.

……

a few days later.

In the northern lands, there is a city called Yancheng.

The Northern Prince's Mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, with large red lanterns hanging everywhere, giving the impression that a festival was about to begin.

Of course, this wasn't to celebrate any festival, but because Lu Chen was going to marry a concubine.

In the past few days, Lu Chen has been keeping an eye on public opinion in the North, trying to see how the people view his marriage to Chu Yuqin and Chu Qingli.

According to the reports from the Imperial Guards, the common people didn't seem to care at all about which women he married. To most of them, Lu Chen was a lecherous prince, so they didn't think it mattered how many women he married.

As for Chu Yuqin's identity, the common people didn't care either. Now that the Chu family and the Wang family in Jiangnan were trapped in Sufeng City by the imperial army, without their interference, who cared whether Chu Yuqin had a husband before?

The Northern King had already married the Queen Consort of the Heavenly Wolf King, so what was wrong with him marrying a widow from the Great Xia Dynasty? The common people didn't care at all.

Lu Chen was so concerned about public opinion not because he cared about his own reputation, but because he was worried that Chu Yuqin would not be able to accept it. Women are more sensitive, and he was afraid that public opinion would affect Chu Yuqin's determination to marry him.

At this crucial moment, there can be no problems whatsoever. Once he and Chu Yuqin have consummated their relationship, no matter what the common people say, the deed will be done, and Chu Yuqin will have no choice but to stay with him. But right now, there can be no problems whatsoever.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and the day of Chu Yuqin and Chu Qingli's wedding finally arrived.

In this era, when a prince takes a wife or a concubine, the sedan chair cannot enter through the main gate. However, it was different at the Northern Prince's Mansion. Mu Zixuan allowed Chu Yuqin and Chu Qingli's sedan chairs to enter the mansion directly through the main gate. Moreover, they were wearing bright red wedding dresses, which looked no different from taking a wife.

However, Lu Chen's wedding was arranged by Mu Zixuan. As the mistress of the royal palace, she didn't care about these things, so others couldn't say much. Of course, some officials in the Northern Kingdom would privately remind Lu Chen that marrying a wife in this way violated the rules of etiquette.

After the wedding ceremony was completed, Chu Yuqin and Chu Qingli went to their bridal chamber, which was the South Courtyard where they had been living.

At this moment, Chu Yuqin sat on the wedding bed, feeling extremely flustered. Her heart was pounding wildly. She had never imagined that she would one day marry Lu Chen.

She feels like she's dreaming, it's all so unreal.

She watched Lu Chen, this little rascal, grow up, and now she's even going to have children with him, which makes her feel a little ashamed.

Although Lu Chen, that little rascal, didn't mind her age at all, and many of his women were also older, Chu Yuqin always felt that marrying Lu Chen was a bit strange.

She had always regarded Lu Chen as her junior, but now that she was suddenly asked to call Lu Chen, this wicked thing, her husband, she really couldn't easily switch her mindset in a short time.

Just as Chu Yuqin was lost in thought, a maid's voice came from the doorway, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yuqin's heart instantly raced, her face flushed, and her entire body felt as if it were on fire. She didn't know whether it was anticipation or she was too nervous.

Soon, the door opened. Although Chu Yuqin was covered by a veil, she could clearly feel Lu Chen gradually approaching the bed, and her delicate body trembled slightly involuntarily.

Just then, she clearly felt the bed sink slightly as Lu Chen sat down beside her. Then, Lu Chen used a jade scale to lift the veil.

When the veil was lifted, Chu Yuqin's flushed cheeks came into view; her face was so red it looked like it was about to burst with moisture.

Chu Yuqin stammered, "Chen...Chen'er, why did you come so quickly?"

Lu Chen was, after all, the groom, and he also had to greet the guests and have drinks with them at the banquet. Even if they were to consummate their marriage, it would be at night. Chu Yuqin was a little surprised that Lu Chen would come to her for their wedding night so soon.

Hearing Chu Yuqin's words, Lu Chen then embraced her voluptuous body, gazing into her eyes and smiling as he said, "Still calling me Chen'er? Shouldn't you be calling me husband now?"

Chu Yuqin was slightly stunned. Her eyes kept darting away, not daring to look Lu Chen in the eye. After a moment, Chu Yuqin whispered, "Husband... Husband..."

When Chu Yuqin heard that title, she felt incredibly ashamed. She wished she could disappear into the ground. She still couldn't change her identity so quickly.

Chu Yuqin then said, "It's...it's still broad daylight, how about we do it tonight...?"

Chu Yuqin hesitated, then stopped speaking.

Seeing the beautiful woman's shy expression, Lu Chen could no longer contain his excitement. He smiled and asked, "What shall we do tonight?"

"Just say what you want to say, my dear wife."

At this moment, Chu Yuqin already felt herself becoming a little strange. Lu Chen hadn't even started to make a move yet, but her body was already restless. She simply lowered her head and stopped saying anything.

Seeing that Chu Yuqin stopped talking, Lu Chen was too lazy to tease her anymore, so he laid her down on the bed.

After glancing down at the woman he had been thinking about for over a decade, Lu Chen leaned down without hesitation, taking her red lips, and then relentlessly conquering her until he finally made Chu Yuqin, this beautiful woman, his own.

……

at the same time.

The next room.

Chu Qingli sat on the bed, listening to the sounds coming from next door, feeling extremely distressed.

She was always worried that her sister would be violated by that villain and trapped in the Northern Prince's Mansion for the rest of her life. She tried her best to rescue her sister, but in the end, that villain still succeeded.

Not only did she let that bad guy succeed, but she also got herself involved.

Hearing her sister's voice, Chu Qingli couldn't help but think that her sister must really like that bad thing, otherwise she wouldn't be making such a sound.

But then again, it seems like every woman who comes into contact with Lu Chen behaves this way; didn't she herself do it before...?

Thinking of this, Chu Qingli recalled the more than one hundred transactions she had made with Lu Chen, and those scenes kept replaying in her mind.

Chu Qingli felt her face burning hotter and hotter than ever. She couldn't take it anymore and took off the red veil from her head.

Seeing this, the maid beside her was terrified. Logically, the veil should be chosen by the prince himself. How could Chu Qingli take it off by herself? The maid hurriedly said, "Madam Chu, you can't lift the veil. If the prince sees it later, he will definitely be angry."

Hearing the maid's words, Chu Qingli snorted coldly and said, "Later? I doubt he'll come to my room tonight."

She knew how terrifying Lu Chen's strength was, and she didn't believe that Lu Chen would come to her room so soon. If Lu Chen didn't come all night, wouldn't she have to wear this veil on her head for an entire afternoon and night? Wouldn't that suffocate her?

The constant noises coming from next door made her feel incredibly hot, and if she wore a veil on top of that, her wedding dress would probably be soaked in no time.

The maid continued to persuade her, "Madam Chu, even if the Prince doesn't come, you can't just tear it up like this. What if someone finds out?"

Chu Qingli said nonchalantly, "If you don't tell and I don't tell, then no one will know."

"This servant..."

The maid was completely bewildered by Chu Qingli's words. Seeing that Chu Qingli insisted on doing it this way, the maid had no choice but to stop talking. Now she only hoped that the prince would not find out about this matter, otherwise she, as the maid, might also be punished.

Time passed second by second.

In the afternoon, Mu Zixuan and Lu Chen's wives and concubines passed by the South Courtyard. After hearing the faint sounds coming from the South Courtyard, the corners of their mouths couldn't help but turn up, revealing a slight smile.

The women in the inner courtyard all knew what Lu Chen wanted to do with Chu Yuqin. Now Lu Chen had finally succeeded, and his wives and concubines were happy for him.

At the same time, Lu Chen's harem has gained two sisters, which is a great thing for them, since there are two more people to share the burden.

……

Happy times always pass quickly, and an afternoon quickly came to an end, but Lu Chen's happiness did not end there.

Mu Zixuan and Lu Chen's wives and concubines were still drinking tea in the main courtyard. After seeing the red glow on the horizon, Mu Zixuan said with a smile, "It should be over by now."

"It seems I'll have to give the Prince a good nourishment tonight."

Upon hearing Mu Zixuan's words, the women naturally understood what she meant. Yelü Nanyan then smiled and said, "Based on my understanding of Your Highness, I'm afraid Your Highness will have dinner in Yuqin's room tonight."

Yelü Nanyan knows Lu Chen's strength best. Although Mu Zixuan was the first to marry Lu Chen and spent the longest time with him, Mu Zixuan, Da Zhou, and Xiao Zhou are all ordinary people. When dealing with the three of them, Lu Chen will not use his full strength to deal with them.

But Yelü Nanyan is different. She is now a half-step Grandmaster, and with Lu Chen's soft and hot body, Lu Chen almost never hides his strength when he goes to her.

Therefore, Yelü Nanyan believed that Lu Chen was most likely still in Chu Yuqin's room and had not come out yet. After hearing Yelü Nanyan's words, Mu Zixuan thought for a moment and then said, "Regardless of whether the prince has come out or not, we should still prepare for him in advance."

At this point, Mu Zixuan said to her maid:

"Xiao Rou, go and tell the kitchen to prepare more nourishing foods for the Prince."

"Yes, Your Highness."

After Xiao Rou left, Mu Zixuan said to another maid, "Qing'er, go to the South Courtyard and see if the Prince has finished."

"Yes, Your Highness."

After giving instructions to the maids, the women continued drinking tea.

A moment later, Qing'er returned and said to Mu Zixuan, "Your Highness, the Prince is still busy."

Hearing the maid's words, Mu Zixuan murmured, "Then it seems that the prince will not leave the South Courtyard tonight."

……

Mu Zixuan was right. Lu Chen did not leave the South Courtyard all night. Not only did he not leave the South Courtyard, he did not even leave Chu Yuqin's room.

Chu Qingli next door wanted to grab a sword and run over to chop Lu Chen up.

She listened in her room all night and felt terrible, but Lu Chen wouldn't come over; he just wanted to torment her sister.

early morning.

After Mu Zixuan got up, she had the kitchen prepare breakfast, planning to have the maid deliver it directly to the South Courtyard after Lu Chen got up.

Mu Zixuan, holding her child, stood in the pavilion enjoying the morning breeze. At this moment, a maid came to her and said, "Your Highness, the Prince is still busy."

This……

Hearing the maid's words, Mu Zixuan was stunned. It had been an afternoon and an evening, and Lu Chen still hadn't finished his work?

Mu Zixuan then said, "Have the kitchen send the prepared food to other courtyards, and also make some for the Prince."

Since Lu Chen is still busy, the food prepared earlier cannot be left for him. As a prince, he should naturally eat the freshest food.

noon.

After finishing lunch, Mu Zixuan thought of Lu Chen again and said to her maid, "Xiao Rou, go and see if the Prince has gotten up yet."

Upon hearing this, the maidservant hurried to the south courtyard, and soon after, the maidservant Xiaorou returned.

Xiao Rou blushed and said, "Your Highness, the Prince is still busy."

Hearing this, both Da Zhou and Xiao Zhou, who were sitting next to Mu Zixuan, were stunned.

Still busy?

It's been a whole day already, hasn't it?

Zhou Youyou whispered, "Sister Zixuan, will something have happened?"

Mu Zixuan thought for a moment, then said somewhat uncertainly, "Your Highness should know his limits, so I don't think anything will happen."

And so, the women didn't take the matter to heart.

night.

During the meal, the women once again thought of Lu Chen, who was still in the South Courtyard.

They usually waited for Lu Chen to return before having dinner together. Looking at the nourishing dishes on the table, Mu Zixuan said to her maid again, "Qing'er, go and see if the Prince has gotten up yet."

As soon as Mu Zixuan finished speaking, Yelü Nanyan entered the main hall from outside. She said with a smile, "Qing'er, you don't need to go see. I just passed by the South Courtyard. The Prince is still busy."

"The prince..."

Mu Zixuan wanted to say something, but swallowed her words back. After a moment, she said, "Since Your Highness isn't coming back tonight, let's eat first. I'll have the kitchen prepare fresh food for Your Highness later."

at the same time.

South Campus.

The South Courtyard had quieted down. After a night and a day of noise, the South Courtyard was now exceptionally peaceful. Lu Chen was lying on Chu Yuqin's back, checking the system notifications.

[Congratulations, host, you have acquired a concubine. Reward: Steel Smelting Technology Version 2.0.]

[The host cultivates affection with his wives and concubines, gaining 1000 experience points for the Qi Refining Technique, the Rejuvenating Hand Technique, the Dragon and Phoenix Yin-Yang Technique, the Absorption Technique, and the Shadow Shift Technique. The host's affection with his wives and concubines explodes, all experience points increase tenfold, the Absorption Technique breaks through to the second level, and the host's strength rises to the Grandmaster Supreme Realm.]

[Congratulations, host, for helping Chu Yuqin conceive. Reward: Steam engine blueprints.]

[Host and wives/concubines are in perfect harmony x20; reward: train manufacturing blueprints; reward: fertilizer production technology; reward: 20 Kaiyuan Pills.]

Seeing the screen full of text, Lu Chen was completely bewildered.

Yesterday he was busy with important matters and didn't hear the system notifications at all. He didn't expect to find so many things when he finished his work.

(End of this chapter)