Hearing Chu Yuqin's words, Lu Chen naturally understood what she was referring to.
With a helpless smile tugging at his lips, he replied in a low voice, "Aunt Chu, I am a man. Any man with blood running hot and a beautiful woman in his arms—how could he possibly remain indifferent?"
The moment Chu Yuqin heard him call her a beautiful woman, her heart skipped a beat, and her face instantly flushed a deeper red.
She had barely managed to calm herself earlier, but now, just those few words from Lu Chen sent ripples through her already chaotic mind. No matter how much she tried to suppress her emotions, her pulse quickened uncontrollably.
"I am your aunt!" Chu Yuqin emphasized once more, her tone flustered yet firm. "You are not allowed to have any improper thoughts about me!"
Lu Chen raised his eyebrows slightly, his tone casual but sharp with underlying meaning. "Aunt Chu, we aren't related by blood. And besides… you're only about eleven years older than me."
Her eyes widened in surprise. That hadn't occurred to her.
What Lu Chen said was true—they truly weren't related by blood. At best, she and Lu Chen's mother were sworn sisters. There was no familial bond that made things improper—at least, not in the strictest sense of the world.
As for the eleven-year age difference… it sounded like a lot, but when one considered how some men in their seventies or eighties married girls barely in their teens, what was eleven years?
Thinking along those lines made the situation seem… less unreasonable.
But no! She shook her head fiercely. How could she even entertain such thoughts?
She was a widow! She had been married before! How could she, as a woman with a past, possibly be involved with someone like Lu Chen?
He was now a prince—the noble King of the North. And she? She had once been someone else's wife, now living with the status of a widow. How could she ever be fit to stand by his side?
As these stormy thoughts swirled in her head, Chu Yuqin's voice trembled slightly as she said, "Chen'er, I don't care what you say. You mustn't harbor such thoughts toward your aunt. If Sister Yue finds out that I've… I've seduced her son's body, how will I ever face her in the afterlife?!"
But Lu Chen simply smiled, his eyes gleaming with playful cunning. "Then… how about just the body? Let me 'cheat' that, at least?"
Chu Yuqin immediately snorted, flustered yet unable to hide the helplessness in her expression. "Don't even think about it."
Her tone was stern, but Lu Chen could hear the subtle waver in her voice.
He knew then that her inner defenses had already started to crumble. Though she still resisted on the surface, her heart had already been shaken. A few more intimate moments, a few more close encounters, and her resistance would collapse entirely.
Time would do the work for him.
After some time passed in silence, Chu Yuqin's voice softened as she asked gently, "Chen'er, how's your condition now? Are you feeling better?"
Lu Chen nodded slowly, stretching his limbs slightly. "Yeah, my Dantian feels a lot better. The blockage's gone, and my Qi is circulating normally again. Though… I am still feeling a bit uncomfortable elsewhere."
Hearing this, Chu Yuqin's cheeks turned bright red, and she spat lightly. "You little rascal. Don't think I don't know what you mean. If you're still uncomfortable, go find Mu Zixuan to fix those… other problems yourself."
After saying that, she gently pushed Lu Chen away. Her eyes avoided his as she took several steps back to create distance between them again.
"Chen'er, since you're fine now, I'll take my leave."
Lu Chen smiled faintly. "Alright."
He knew it was time to stop here. Matters like these couldn't be rushed. They needed to unfold naturally—step by step.
As Chu Yuqin turned and walked out of the room, her graceful, curvaceous figure swayed ever so slightly with each step. Lu Chen's eyes followed her unconsciously, his will nearly collapsing again. But he quickly turned and strode away.
His body was burning with desire, and with nowhere to vent it, he headed straight to Mu Zixuan's courtyard. Without any hesitation, he scooped her up and entered the side room—to "cultivate their relationship."
---
The Next Morning
Before the sunlight even filtered fully through the palace windows, a group of important officials from Beijun had already arrived at the palace gates.
Governor Li Rui furrowed his brows deeply as he stood in the palace's martial training ground, watching the numerous generals and lieutenants, all clad in full armor.
Why had the palace summoned them so early in the morning?
Since the Northern King had taken residence in Beijun, he had barely involved himself in regional affairs. Every time they tried to report to him, he would find some excuse to push them away.
But now…
This was the first time the Northern King had actively summoned them to the palace grounds. And this many officials, no less.
Could it be… that the Northern King was preparing to personally take control of Beijun's administration?
A chill ran down Li Rui's spine.
If so, then it might not just mean new policies or reforms—it might also mean dismissals. What if the King of the North planned to replace him with someone more loyal to his cause?
That possibility made Li Rui sweat nervously.
He immediately leaned toward Li Feng and whispered, "General Li, do you know why the prince summoned us?"
Li Feng shook his head. "I only received the notice from the prince this morning. I don't know the reason either."
Li Rui's anxiety only grew. If even Li Feng—one of the closest generals to the King of the North—was unaware, then today's matter must be of significant gravity.
Just then, a middle-aged man in armor entered the martial training ground, flanked by two young men. His presence was calm yet dignified, exuding the aura of a seasoned warrior.
Li Feng and the few soldiers who had followed Lu Chen to Beijun were visibly shocked.
Li Feng immediately walked over, recognition flickering in his eyes. He stepped forward to salute, but the man lifted his arm to stop him.
"General Mu… why are you here in Beijun?" Li Feng asked in confusion.
But the man gave a small smile and corrected him, "General Li, you've got the wrong person. My surname is Mo, not Mu."
Li Feng froze for a second—then realization struck like lightning.
He understood.
This man was undoubtedly Mu Changtian—and the two behind him were his sons. As one of his former subordinates, Li Feng knew them well.
So why the name change?
Li Feng's expression turned serious. "General Mo… did something happen in the capital?"
Mu Changtian gave a bitter smile and nodded. "The Duke Mu's Mansion was accused of colluding with the remnants of the Chen Kingdom. His Majesty exiled us. On the way to exile, we were ambushed by assassins. Fortunately, the prince sent people to save us and brought us to Beijun."
Li Feng stood dumbfounded.
He had already noticed the palace's changes recently—many ninth-grade experts had appeared. There was even a presence suspected to be master-level.
He had long known the King of the North wasn't simple—but this…
To rescue the Mu family during their exile?
That wasn't just ability. That was boldness.
Many might have the power to act, but very few had the courage to intervene in something so politically dangerous.
The Duke Mu's Mansion had been crushed due to direct conflict with the Emperor himself. Any other prince would have avoided involvement at all costs to preserve themselves.
But Lu Chen?
He had not only intervened—he had saved them.
Li Feng's heart surged with a mixture of awe and loyalty. This… was a true king.
As he pondered the implications, a palace maid arrived and addressed the gathering.
"The prince invites all officials to proceed to the study."
The group exchanged glances and immediately made their way to Lu Chen's study.
After waking and having a light breakfast, Lu Chen finally arrived.
Inside the study, all the officials stood quietly, still wondering why they had been summoned.
Then, a figure appeared at the door.
Clad in a simple yet regal robe, Lu Chen, the King of the North, entered with quiet authority.
Everyone stood up and bowed deeply. "We greet the King of the North!"
Lu Chen waved a hand casually. "No need for formalities."
He walked straight to the desk and unfurled a large map across its surface. His fingers traced a path along a particular border—eyes sharp and calculating.
Li Rui stepped forward slightly, clearing his throat. "My Lord… may I ask, why have you summoned us today?"
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