Chapter 247 - 185 Chu Qingli’s Inner Decision 1
Lu Chen and Chu Xiong talked for an entire afternoon, only returning to North Prince Mansion when dusk fell, while Chu Xiong still stayed at an inn opened by Mysterious Moon Palace.
By the time Lu Chen came back to North Prince Mansion in the evening, it was already completely dark. It was winter now, and night fell early.
At this moment, Chu Yuqin stood at the entrance of Prince’s Mansion, seeming to wait for someone.
Upon seeing Lu Chen’s return, Chu Yuqin became incredibly nervous, and her pretty face flushed with heat.
She quickly turned her head, pretending not to see Lu Chen, ready to leave the entrance of Prince’s Mansion in a hurry.
Lu Chen had already noticed that graceful figure at the entrance. Seeing that Chu Yuqin wanted to dodge him, he immediately coughed and then said, ‘Madam Chu, wait a moment, I have some good news to tell you.”
Hearing Lu Chen’s words, Chu Yuqin was taken aback for a moment, then she still pretended that she hadn’t seen Lu Chen return moments before and said, “Oh? Chen’er, how come you’re coming back from outside?”
” What is the good news you speak of?”
Seeing Chu Yuqin’s clumsy acting, Lu Chen burst into laughter, as she was clearly waiting at the entrance for his return, and yet she pretended not to have seen him.
Lu Chen immediately dismounted, handed the reins to a guard, and then approached Chu Yuqin.
Seeing this grown young man draw ever closer to her, Chu Yuqin’s heart throbbed uncontrollably. If it had been before, she wouldn’t have been nervous even if they were close, let alone if she touched Lu Chen’s body.
But times had changed. Ever since Lu Chen had openly expressed his desire for her body, every time she saw Lu Chen, she became so nervous. Whenever he came near, she remembered the words she had said in the study not long ago. As soon as she thought about having to serve Lu Chen with her body, that little rascal, she couldn’t help but shiver uncontrollably.
After Lu Chen approached Chu Yuqin, he noticed her face was flushed, and he said with a smile, “Madam Chu, why are you so red? You’re not running a fever, are you?”
As he spoke, Lu Chen raised his hand to touch Chu Yuqin’s forehead. She instinctively wanted to step back but was caught by Lu Chen by the wrist and had to stand still.
After touching Chu Yuqin’s forehead, Lu Chen muttered, “As I thought, very hot. You must have a fever.”
Chu Yuqin gave Lu Chen a faint look, then spoke up, “Chen’er, what are you doing? This is still at the entrance of Prince’s Mansion; it’s not good to be seen by others. How can a prince behave so frivolously?”
Lu Chen said with a smile, “All, I forgot about that. It’s just that I was too worried about your health, Madam Chu. That’s my fault.”
Chu Yuqin, with a face full of tender resentment, said, “Didn’t you say you had some good news? Why’d you walk over and not say it?”
Lu Chen then said, “My grandfather came to North City to see me, and we talked for an entire afternoon.”
Hearing this, Chu Yuqin’s eyes fixed on Lu Chen’s, asking in disbelief, “Really? How did he come to North City?”
Chu Yuqin had a general understanding of the current situation of Chu Family. With the Sum Emperor and the Aristocratic Family at loggerheads, it surprised her that Chu Xiong would leave the Chu Family and run to North City.
Lu Chen replied, “He said he wanted to come to North City to see his grandson.”
Hearing this, Chu Yuqin said, “That does match his way of doing things.”
At this point, Chu Yuqin asked, “Then where is he staying now?”
Lu Chen answered, “He’s staying in an inn opened by Mysterious Moon Palace.”
“But I’ve already planned to give him a residence to live in, and he can move to a different place tomorrow.”
Then Lu Chen, holding Chu Yuqin’s smooth and delicate hand, said, “The wind is strong outside, let’s go in and talk, Madam Chu.”
As Lu Chen’s hand caressed hers, Chu Yuqin immediately felt a tingling sensation, as if a strange feeling was spreading throughout her body.
Lu Chen, regardless of the servants’ eyes, directly pulled Chu Yuqin by the hand into the courtyard of the Prince’s Mansion.
Chu Yuqin quickly said, “Chen’er, let go of your aunt, it won’t be good if others see.”
What Chu Yuqin meant by ‘others’ was not the servants of Prince’s Mansion, but specifically Chu Qingli. She wouldn’t have minded being seen by the servants at the entrance of the mansion, but it would be problematic if her sister saw it.
Lu Chen, holding Chu Yuqin’s hand tightly, said, “So what if they see? My aunt’s hand is so cold, what’s wrong with me warming it for my aunt? I’d like to see who dares to gossip.”
As he spoke, Lu Chen not only didn’t let go, but he also raised his other hand, holding both of Chu Yuqin’s hands in his palms.
As the cold wind blew, Chu Yuqin didn’t feel cold in the least. Instead, she only felt her body becoming hotter and hotter.
At that moment, Chu Yuqin suddenly remembered something and then said with a flushed face, “Chen’er, I forgot to tell you, Miss Chen has come to North City again. I arranged for her to stay in the same room as last time.”
Lu Chen said, “Oh, if she has come, let her be.”
After entering the courtyard of Prince’s Mansion, the two stood in the snow without moving forward, as Chu Yuqin’s hands were both held by Lu Chen, which also made it inconvenient to walk.
Chu Yuqin felt this was improper, so she said again, “Chen’er, you’ve been busy with reform work these days, and you’re tired. You should go back to your room and rest early.”
“Your aunt is going on patrol now, you… you let go of your aunt…”
Chu Yuqin’s voice grew softer as she spoke. Seeing her blush and feel her warm hands, and witnessing this beautiful woman’s expressive demeanor, Lu Chen couldn’t help feeling restless.
Lu Chen then said, “Madam Chu, have you forgotten what you said to me in the study not long ago?”
Hearing Lu Chen bring up the study, Chu Yuqin’s heart began to beat even faster, and her breathing became labored. She quickly whispered, “Your aunt remembers, it’s just that…”
Pausing for a moment, she looked into Lu Chen’s eyes and said, “Chen’er, can you give your aunt some more time?”
Lu Chen said, “Madam Chu, winter is about to pass, and before the spring warmth blossoms, you should be ready. As you know, when spring arrives, men get rather restless. Now that Zixuan and the other two are pregnant, and Qingci and Bai are often not in the Prince’s Mansion during this time, only Nanyan and Yaoyao are serving me. I’m afraid those two won’t be able to handle it.” When Lu Chen brazenly spoke these words, Chu Yuqin was so embarrassed she wished she could crawl into a crevice in the ground.
At this moment.
Behind a rockery in the outer courtyard.
Someone was staring intently at the two people at the entrance of the outer courtyard
Chu Qingli watched the pair from a distance with a cold expression, and said icily, “I knew those two were having an affair; today, I finally caught them in the act.”
After finishing her patrol, Chu Qingli had intended to find Chu Yuqin in her room, but discovered she wasn’t there. She thought Chu Yuqin might have gone to Lu Chen’s study, so she checked there too, but still didn’t see Chu Yuqin.
Just as she was about to ask the guards at the entrance if her sister had left the Prince’s Mansion, she found her sister being pulled around by that lecherous man in the outer courtyard of the Prince’s Mansion.
Seeing her sister’s flushed face and shy expression, she looked completely like a new bride.
Previously, she had only been suspicious without evidence, but today she finally caught them red-handed.
Her sister must have been hypnotized by that lecherous man.
Otherwise, how could her sister have such an expression?
She has always regarded herself as Lu Chen’s aunt! As his aunt, would she be pulling and dragging with Lu Chen?
Clearly, her sister was completely confused now, utterly unaware of what she was doing!
No, this couldn’t go on any longer!
She had to rescue her sister!
But…
How should she rescue her?
Her sister was hypnotized, at least she’s willing to stay in the Prince’s Mansion for now. Until the hypnosis was lifted, even if she used various means to take her sister out of the Prince’s Mansion, her sister would eventually return to the North Prince Mansion.
So if she wanted to take her sister away from the Prince’s Mansion, there was only one way to do it: deal with Lu Chen and make him voluntarily lift the hypnosis on her sister.
Only then would her sister come to her senses and be willing to leave with her.
Thinking this, Chu Qingli silently made up her mind.
After Lu Chen and Chu Yuqin pulled and tugged at each other in the outer courtyard for a while, Lu Chen let Chu Yuqin go. Then he did not return to the inner courtyard, but instead headed to his study; he had some government affairs to deal with.
No sooner had Lu Chen entered the study and closed the door than he heard the young maid at the entrance speaking to someone.
“Chief Chu, the Prince has just arrived at the study.”
“I have something to discuss with him, let him know.”
“Certainly, Chief Chu, please wait a moment.”
Then the maid knocked on the door and said, “My lord, Chief Chu is seeking an audience.”
Hearing this, Lu Chen immediately opened the door of the study again. Looking at Chu Qingli standing at the doorway, he asked with confusion, “Qingli, what’s the matter?”
Chu Qingli did not immediately answer Lu Chen’s question, but instead told the maid at the door of the study, “Stand guard at the entrance of the courtyard. I have important matters to discuss with the Prince, and no one is allowed to come in.”
Upon hearing these words, the maid hesitated.
Generally speaking, Chu Qingli was not in a position to send her away; only the Prince had that right.
The maid then turned to look at Lu Chen to see what he would say.
Upon hearing Chu Qingli’s words, Lu Chen was filled with puzzlement. Important matters to discuss with him? What could be so important coming from her? She spent her days aimlessly wandering the inner courtyard and was unlikely to have any important matters.
Nevertheless, Lu Chen still told the maid, “Xiao Huan, listen to Chief Chu and stand guard at the courtyard entrance.”
Seeing Lu Chen say so, the maid promptly replied, “Yes, my lord.”
The maid then left the entrance to the study.
After sending the maid away, Chu Qingli walked straight towards the study.
Lu Chen promptly stepped aside to let Chu Qingli enter the study.
Once she was inside, Lu Chen closed the door again and continued to ask, “Qingli, what is this important matter you mentioned?”