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Chapter 172 - 145: Could it be that I was being paranoid?_2
Chapter 172 - 145: Could it be that I was being paranoid?_2
172 Chapter 145: Could it be that I was being paranoid?_2
Translator: 549690339
After spending this period of time lying low in the North Prince Mansion, they had essentially figured out Lu Chen’s daily routine.
Lu Chen would rise early in the morning and go straight to his study to attend to various matters, occasionally leaving the North Prince Mansion to inspect the construction of the military forces.
Once the day had ended, Lu Chen would randomly choose one of his wives or concubines’ rooms to enter, and with that, his day would come to a close.
Lu Chen’s days were almost always like this.
As such, it became even less likely for Chen Wanrong and Lin Wanyun to have any interactions with Lu Chen. They were still in the North Prince Mansion, but whether Lu Chen was in his study or in his inner court with his wives, the two guests couldn’t possibly just barge into his study.
The key issue was that they couldn’t find an excuse to spend time with Lu Chen.
Of course, the most important point was that the North Prince had never personally sought them out.
Logically, given the North Prince’s fondness for beauty, evidenced by his nightly efforts to cultivate relationships with his women, it should be clear that he couldn’t live without the company of women. And yet, Chen Wanrong, a woman with the grace to bring a nation to its knees, failed to stir his heart in the slightest?
Chen Wanrong even began to doubt if she was considered beautiful at all.
If she continued to have no interaction with Lu Chen, how could she deploy the Love Worm? With Great Sum on the cusp of civil unrest, this was the prime time to strike against the Sum Emperor. If they didn’t hurry to develop the Subtle Dragon Spell, they could miss the chance to kill the Sum Emperor.
Chen Wanrong softly said, “We can’t continue to wait like this.”
Instantly grasping Chen Wanrong’s intent, Lin Wanyun realized that she was planning to take the initiative to seek out Lu Chen. However, this was far from an easy method. Lin Wanyun then spoke, “Palace Master, if you personally go to seek the North Prince, he might very well be guarded against you.” “Why not use my relationship with Chu Yuqin to seek her out first and see what the North Prince has been up to lately? If the North Prince has any problems he can’t solve, we from the Mysterious Moon Palace could extend a helping hand. This might allow us to bridge the gap with the North Prince,” she suggested.
By now, both understood all too well that although the North Prince was lustful, he was by no means mindless; his desires were restrained by his rationality.
If he were the type to covet every beautiful woman he saw, he certainly wouldn’t have refrained from actively seeking out the two of them for so long. Clearly, the North Prince was wary of them, so their next move was quite straightforward: they needed to make the North Prince lower his guard against them, against the Mysterious Moon Palace.
Only then could Chen Wanrong truly get close to the North Prince and have a chance to place the Love Worm on him. Otherwise, their presence in the Prince’s Mansion would serve no purpose.
Upon hearing Lin Wanyun’s suggestion, Chen Wanrong thought for a moment, then replied, “Alright, let’s do as Madam Lin said.”
They certainly couldn’t keep waiting; they had to take the initiative to find opportunities to get close to Lu Chen.
At dusk.
Lu Chen, after finishing a day’s work, rose from his chair and stretched, then prepared to head to the main courtyard for dinner.
As he was leaving the study, he noticed under the red glow of the sunset, two beautiful women holding hands, chatting and laughing about something.
Seeing Chu Yuqin and Lin Wanyun talking, the corners of Lu Chen’s mouth lifted slightly in a subtle smile. It seemed the two fairies from the Mysterious Moon Palace finally couldn’t wait any longer.
Then, Lu Chen glanced at Lin Wanyun’s favorability towards him, which had already surpassed ninety, indicating it was almost time for the next step.
With that in mind, Lu Chen walked directly towards Lin Wanyun and Chu Yuqin. Approaching the two women, Lu Chen smiled lightly and asked, “Madam Lin, Madam Chu, what are you discussing?”
Seeing that it was Lu Chen, Lin Wanyun felt a surge of joy within her heart, finally having an opportunity to converse with the North Prince.
Lin Wanyun quickly said, “Greetings, Prince!”
Lu Chen immediately responded, “Hey, Madam Lin, I’ve already addressed you as ‘aunt’. There’s no need for formalities in the Prince’s Mansion, the North Prince Mansion isn’t so strict.”
Lin Wanyun replied, “How can that be? One must not neglect etiquette. You are the Prince, and if a common woman must pay respects, then she should.”
Lu Chen said, “Madam Lin, you wound me with such words. You’re the sister of my mother’s sworn sister, Jin Lan. I consider you my aunt, yet you seem to think we have no such connection. Could it be that my affections are all one-sided?”
Madam Lin was slightly taken aback.
She had not expected the North Prince to say such a thing.
At that moment, Chu Yuqin cast a faint glance at Lu Chen. All this talk about Madam Lin, she didn’t believe for a second that Lu Chen truly saw Madam Lin as an aunt.
Just thinking about what he had done with his so-called Madam Chu, it was clear that the little rascal was always handsy with her, never treating her like an aunt.
Given that even she, a woman who had lived by Lu Chen’s side for so many years, was treated this way, how could Lu Chen possibly treat Madam Lin as an aunt?
However, Chu Yuqin did not interrupt at this time.
Once she came to her senses, Madam Lin said, “It’s the commoner woman’s lack of understanding, failing to appreciate the Prince’s kindness. From now on, in the Prince’s Mansion, I will no longer perform courtesies to the Prince.” Hearing this, Lu Chen replied with a smile, “That’s more like it. Also, stop referring to yourself as a commoner woman in the future. Just calling yourself ‘Aunt’ will do.”
Madam Lin felt somewhat at a loss. Unlike Chu Yuqin, although she too was a close sister to Lu Chen’s mother, she had not lived with Lu Chen for decades. Suddenly having to refer to herself as ‘Aunt’ in front of Lu Chen made her uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, since Lu Chen had said so, she had no choice but to pluck up her courage and say, “Alright then, Aunt understands.”
Lu Chen continued, “By the way, Madam Lin, are you and Miss Chen settling well in the Prince’s Mansion? Is there anything you lack? If you need anything, feel free to inform the staff of the Prince’s Mansion.”
Madam Lin responded, “Thank you for your concern, Prince. The Palace Master and I have settled well into the North Prince Mansion. The servants and maids have been very kind to us and we lack nothing.”
“That’s good,” said Lu Chen.
At this point, Chu Yuqin spoke up, “Chen’er, I was just discussing with your Madam Lin about having her join the inner court’s defenders as well.”
Hearing this, Lu Chen paused for a moment, then turned with a smile to
Madam Lin, “Madam Lin, you belong to the Mysterious Moon Palace. Will becoming my inner court defender affect you?”
Lu Chen had also realized that this was the second time the Mysterious Moon Palace was testing him. If he allowed Madam Lin, an elder from the Mysterious Moon Palace, to become an inner court defender, it would signify his acceptance of the Mysterious Moon Palace. After all, the inner court of the Prince’s Mansion is where his closest confidants and he himself lived.
Once he agreed to let the people of the Mysterious Moon Palace into the inner court of the North Prince Mansion, they could fully commence their collaboration.
Madam Lin quickly said, “It won’t affect me, not at all.”
“The Palace Master has noticed that Yan County has seen an influx of unwelcome guests lately, most aiming for the North Prince Mansion and you, Prince. Since we reside here, it’s only right that we contribute to the security of the North Prince Mansion.”
Lu Chen then showed an innocuous smile, “I’m pleased that Miss Chen has such thoughts. Very well, from now on, the safety of the North Prince Mansion will be entrusted to both Madam Lin and Madam Chu.”
Seeing Lu Chen’s approval, Madam Lin felt a rush of excitement, having made another step forward.
Now, it would be much easier for them to interact with the North Prince. Moreover, the fact that the North Prince had asked her to be an inner court defender also meant that he had accepted assistance from the Mysterious Moon Palace. It looked like their Palace Master would soon have the opportunity to connect directly with Lu Chen.
At this point, Lu Chen said, “Alright, I won’t keep you from your conversation any longer, I’m off to have my meal.”
Madam Lin promptly replied, “Ok then, Prince, take care.”
Lu Chen then headed straight to the main courtyard.
By this time, Mu Zixuan along with Dazhou and Xiaozhou had already been waiting with the children for Lu Chen’s arrival.
Seeing his three beautiful wives and their children in their arms, Lu Chen’s face once again broke into a smile.
After a long day’s work, the feeling of having someone waiting for you at home was truly pleasant, especially when it’s three beautiful wives.