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

Chapter 50 Why not let the prince take a concubine?

Upon hearing Mu Zixuan's voice, Chu Yuqin, whose mind had been in a state of confusion and infatuation, instantly came to her senses.

She quickly pushed Lu Chen away, anxiously saying, "Chen'er, let go of Auntie! Zixuan is coming in!"

Lu Chen felt like crying but had no tears left.

My dear princess, why didn't you come at this time?

Lu Chen then had no choice but to release Chu Yuqin.

However, Chu Yuqin did not run away immediately. She looked at Lu Chen and asked with concern, "Chen'er, are you feeling better now?"

Lu Chen nodded and said, "Yes, much better. It seems that doing this really works."

"Aunt Chu, you'll have to help me take care of my health regularly from now on."

Chu Yuqin said, "Can't you ask Zixuan and the others to help you?"

Lu Chen said, "Zi Xuan and the other two are not martial artists and do not have internal energy, so it won't work. As for Qing Ci, she doesn't seem to have any feelings for me, so she doesn't meet the conditions for dual cultivation."

Hearing Lu Chen's words, Chu Yuqin felt like her brain was about to explode. She quickly said, "Alright then, if you feel unwell in the future, come find me. I'll go out now."

At this point, Chu Yuqin immediately walked towards the door.

When Mu Zixuan saw Chu Yuqin open the door, she was stunned for a moment.

Chu Yuqin quickly explained, "I checked Chen'er's health. You two chat, I'll be going now."

As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Yuqin quickly ran away.

Seeing Chu Yuqin's flustered back and her flushed face, Mu Zixuan instantly realized what had just happened.

She turned to Lu Chen and apologized, "Your Highness, it's all my fault for disturbing your good time. I will definitely be more careful in the future."

Hearing this, Lu Chen smiled slightly and then said, "It's nothing. Aunt Chu and I just chatted and didn't do anything shameful."

"By the way, my beloved concubine, what brings you here?"

Mu Zixuan immediately entered the study and replied, "Your Highness..."

Just as Mu Zixuan was about to speak, she suddenly smelled a pungent odor. As Lu Chen's princess, how could Mu Zixuan not know what this smell was?

Mu Zixuan glanced at Lu Chen speechlessly, saying that she hadn't done anything shameful, yet the room smelled so strong.

Seeing that Mu Zixuan suddenly stopped talking and seemed to have a strange expression on her face, Lu Chen knew that Mu Zixuan must have misunderstood, so he immediately added, "Oh, right, Qingci came by earlier."

Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, Mu Zixuan finally realized that the smell in the room was caused by Wang Qingci.

Lu Chen continued, "My dear consort, please speak freely."

Mu Zixuan immediately said, "Your Highness, I took over the business of the Prince's Mansion today and found that our sales of soap and perfume in the capital have dropped significantly recently. I don't know why this is happening."

Lu Chen was stunned for a moment. He immediately went to Mu Zixuan and hugged her, saying, "My dear consort, you just gave birth. Why aren't you resting properly? You've already taken over the business of the Prince's mansion so soon."

Mu Zixuan said, "Your Highness, I'm just idling around in the palace anyway, and Feng'er already has someone to look after her."

In ancient times, when the wives of high-ranking officials and nobles gave birth, they would usually hire wet nurses, and royal palaces were no exception.

After Mu Zixuan gave birth, although she would take care of the child, most of the time it was the wet nurses and maids of the Prince's mansion who took care of the child, so she herself was relatively relaxed.

Mu Zixuan is a restless person. She had been staying in the Prince's mansion for so long because of her pregnancy, and she was already a little tired of it. So, as soon as she gave birth, she took over the business of the Prince's mansion again.

Mu Zixuan continued, "Your Highness, I've heard that you've established an intelligence-gathering organization. Do you know what's happening in the capital?"

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guards have not made a public appearance, Mu Zixuan has frequently seen some of them reporting intelligence to Lu Chen at the Prince's Mansion in the past few days. Therefore, she has some understanding of the Embroidered Uniform Guards and knows that Lu Chen has established an intelligence agency.

Since Mu Zixuan had just given birth, Lu Chen would definitely not tell her about the affairs of the Mu State Duke's Mansion.

Lu Chen then said, "The capital has been quite turbulent lately. I've heard that the commander of the Imperial Guards has changed several times. The poor business of the Prince's Mansion may also be related to the current situation."

Mu Zixuan looked thoughtful, then said, "So that's how it is. I was wondering why the business of the Prince's Mansion had declined so quickly."

Lu Chen basically knew the reason why the Wangfu's business had declined, and it was definitely not just due to the turbulent times.

Soap, perfume, and scented soaps are all new products, and they sell very well and make a lot of money in the capital. It's impossible for no one to covet them.

Previously, with the Duke of Mu's mansion watching over them, no one dared to covet the shops of the Prince of Bei's mansion. But now that the entire Duke of Mu's mansion is about to be exiled, who would be afraid of the Duke of Mu's mansion?

Moreover, the Northern King was far away in the Northern Commandery and had no jurisdiction over the capital.

The shops owned by the Northern Prince's Mansion in the capital have probably been looted or vandalized, and some people are even starting to covet the methods for making soap and perfume.

The management strategy of the Prince's Mansion must be changed in the future. It would be best to find local merchants or high-ranking officials to cooperate with and share some of the profits with them, otherwise they will always be eyeing it.

Thinking of this, Lu Chen said to Mu Zixuan, "My dear consort, from now on, our business will not only be conducted in the capital, but will also expand to other fiefdoms."

"When doing business in the future, try to send some gifts to the feudal lords of those fiefdoms, especially shares in shops, otherwise others will keep eyeing them."

Upon hearing Lu Chen's reminder, Mu Zixuan instantly understood what he meant.

Doing business requires understanding human relationships and social dynamics; some profits should be waived.

Mu Zixuan then said, "This concubine will remember Your Highness's reminder."

Suddenly remembering something, Mu Zixuan said, "Your Highness, there is something I am not sure if I should say."

Lu Chen smiled slightly, then gently stroked her delicate nose. "What can't we, husband and wife, say? What is it?"

Mu Zixuan said, "Your Highness, I have just given birth, and the two sisters, Xiaoxiao and Xiaoxiao, are also pregnant. So, it will be just Miss Wang serving Your Highness."

"His Highness's health has been improving lately, but Miss Wang seems to be struggling. Perhaps His Highness should take a concubine?"

Hearing Mu Zixuan mention Wang Qingci, Lu Chen felt a little angry. Of course, he wasn't angry at Mu Zixuan, but at the thought that Wang Qingci had actually suppressed his feelings.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Chen said, "Since you've put it that way, my beloved consort, then I'll find some time to take a concubine."

"However, it seems that there are not many beautiful women in the Northern County. My dear consort, you know that although I am a womanizer, I only like exceptionally beautiful women. I am not very interested in ordinary women."

Upon hearing this, Mu Zixuan thought for a moment and then said, "Your Highness, how about this? We issue a summons for concubines, openly inviting all households in the Great Xia Dynasty to take concubines."

"At that time, many families will send their daughters to the Northern Prince's mansion to choose concubines. As long as there are enough people, there will always be a woman who can capture the prince's heart."

(End of this chapter)