NOVEL NEXT Chapter 473 Lu Chen's Decision_1
Mu Zixuan didn't care who Lu Chen chose to share his bed with, or who would be the next Empress, not because she didn't love Lu Chen, nor because she was very open-minded, but mainly because she had been through too much, and she didn't want to be entangled in the struggle for royal power as she had been in the past.
If it weren't for Lu Chen that year, the Mu Family might have been destroyed, and she knew what kind of person Lu Chen was. If she got involved in the fight for the position of Empress, a huge rift would inevitably form between her and Lu Chen.
Now, she didn't need to do anything, just quietly wait for Lu Chen to confer who would be the Empress.
Soon, Lu Chen arrived at Chu Yuqin's chamber. Just as Chu Yuqin had entered her chamber, Lu Chen came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her soft, graceful body.
With a slight sigh, Chu Yuqin said, "Your Majesty, you should have let Zixuan serve you tonight."
Although Chu Yuqin knew she held an important place in Lu Chen's heart, she was also a sensible person. Mu Zixuan was Lu Chen's official wife, the rightful future Empress by all accounts.
Lu Chen had just returned from the Capital city; naturally, he should spend the night with his future Empress, not only to reassure Mu Zixuan.
If Lu Chen now ran off to another woman, Mu Zixuan might overthink, feeling that her position as Empress was unstable.
Upon hearing Chu Yuqin's words, Lu Chen, still embracing her waist and pressing against her bottom, began pushing her towards the bed while saying, "Madam Chu, I've noticed you've become much colder towards me. Haven't I always said that when we're alone, you should call me Chen'er?"
Though Lu Chen said this, Chu Yuqin still replied, "Your Majesty, you're now the Emperor, and things can't be the same as before."
Lu Chen blew gently into Chu Yuqin's ear, then whispered beside it, "If you keep calling me 'Your Majesty,' I might just get angry."
Chu Yuqin inwardly sighed; she certainly knew about Lu Chen's preferences, and so she reluctantly said, "Chen'er, you having me serve you as soon as you return must mean there's something on your mind, right?"
Lu Chen smiled and responded, "Can't it be that I simply missed my wife, and that's why I sought you out?"
As Lu Chen's words ended, they had reached the edge of the bed. Lu Chen's hands found their way to Chu Yuqin's waistband, and soon her belt was easily untied, revealing her white undergarments.
Chu Yuqin said, "If you had only missed me, you wouldn't have called only me tonight."
The night before Lu Chen left Yan County, he had Mu Zixuan and her accompany him together; yet upon his return, he had sent for only her.
Being so affectionate, how could Lu Chen possibly think only of one woman? In Chu Yuqin's view, he surely thought of every woman.
So, upon his return, it was only natural for him to spend the night with as many of his wives and concubines as possible.
Hearing Chu Yuqin's words, Lu Chen gave a slight smile, not expecting that Chu Yuqin had indeed sensed his ulterior motives.
At that moment, Lu Chen fell into silence. He gently slid off Chu Yuqin's outer garment, then undid his own belt.
Then, while embracing Chu Yuqin's slender waist, he said, "I do have a question I want to ask Madam Chu."
Chu Yuqin promptly asked, "What is it?"
Lu Chen spoke directly, "Today, after the court session, several officials approached me, saying that now I have returned to Yan County, for the stability of Great Sum, I should confer the Empress and establish the Crown Prince as soon as possible."
Chu Yuqin was taken aback by these words; she hadn't expected Lu Chen wanted to talk about this matter with her.
At this point, Lu Chen continued to ask, "Madam Chu, do you think Zixuan is suitable to be the Empress?"
Faced with this question, Chu Yuqin didn't answer directly. She quickly said, "Your Majesty, I am now your consort, and it's not appropriate for me to touch upon such matters. If I were not your consort, you could ask for my opinion. But by asking me now, if I were to answer, that would be political interference."
On the matter of establishing the Empress, Chu Yuqin dared not speak carelessly.
Moreover, she was now one of Lu Chen's women, and if she spoke out of turn, she very well might get herself entangled as well.
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Although Lu Chen still occasionally calls her Madam Chu, Chu Yuqin is very clear in her heart that it's just to add a bit of pleasure in the boudoir; she can no longer speak without a care as she used to.
Seeing how cautious Chu Yuqin was being, Lu Chen said with a smile, "Madam Chu, since when have you become so careful and cautious?"
Chu Yuqin let out a slight sigh, then replied, "Your Majesty, even though I've watched you grow up since you were little and you trust me very much, after all, I have become your woman now, and I am involved in certain interests. If I speak carelessly, sooner or later I will be impeached by the ministers."
Lu Chen also heard the worry in Chu Yuqin's voice, and felt some emotion in his heart, realizing how the identity of the Emperor indeed often led to a lonely existence.
In Lu Chen's eyes, Chu Yuqin was the person in this world most worthy of his trust; yet now, even she had grown distant because of their statuses.
If distance had arisen, then the best method was to close that distance, and Lu Chen soon found a solution.
Lu Chen's hand began to roam across Chu Yuqin's voluptuous body while he spoke, "My lady, you have changed, now even intentionally keeping your distance from me."
"It seems I must find a way to close the distance between us."
Hearing those words, Chu Yuqin's cheeks flushed crimson, for she clearly understood the implication of Lu Chen's words.
After a moment, Chu Yuqin felt a burning heat all over her body—for she had not seen this little rascal for so long, and nearly a year's worth of longing had accumulated in her heart.
Just being near her, Lu Chen was already stirring her body and soul.
At that moment, Lu Chen whispered in Chu Yuqin's ear, "My lady, you're being naughty."
At the sound of Lu Chen's deep and magnetic voice, Chu Yuqin's face grew even hotter, and just then, a whimper escaped her throat.
After almost a year without doing bad things with this bad guy, he just...
However, at this time, Lu Chen didn't continue further but maintained that state. He then said, "Actually, I don't really want to establish an Empress. After all, you are all my ladies, and you are equally important in my eyes. If an Empress were established, there would be a difference in status."
"And once there is an Empress, it's very likely that harem struggles will ensue, as everyone would want the position of Empress."
Hearing Lu Chen's words, Chu Yuqin struggled to stay rational. She took a deep breath and said, "If you do not establish an Empress, there will be even more people coveting the position, and then everyone will feel they have a chance."
"Moreover, without an Empress, how would the position of Crown Prince be determined? Surely you don't plan to select the Crown Prince using the old methods of Great Xia?"
The old method Chu Yuqin referred to was, naturally, the survival of the fittest, the winner becomes the king and the loser the bandit.
Chu Yuqin believed that Lu Chen, as a father, would not want to see his children kill each other.
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Upon hearing Chu Yuqin's words, Lu Chen pondered for a moment, then shifted his body slightly, prompting Chu Yuqin to clench her teeth tightly. Lu Chen continued, "In fact, establishing or not establishing a Crown Prince will both lead to struggles for imperial power. Take my father, the Emperor, as an example; he appointed two Crown Princes, but in the end, both Crown Princes met with unfortunate fates, and the one who ended up becoming the Emperor was me, the Prince who was last in line."
"The temptation of power is immense. The solution I can think of is to support one child to become the Emperor while I am still alive, and under my supervision, to let him have absolute control over the court and its officials. In this way, even if other children have ideas, they will have to weigh whether they have the ability to compete for power."
After hearing Lu Chen's words, Chu Yuqin considered them for a moment and found his reasoning not without merit.
However, she found it hard to think rationally right now, only wishing that Lu Chen would hurry up and get on with it.
At this moment, Lu Chen's hand encircled Chu Yuqin's abdomen, and he lowered her body saying, "I've thought it over, and I've decided not to establish an Empress after all. I'll directly appoint Feng'er as Crown Prince, and how about bestowing the title of Noble Concubine on you and Zixuan? What do you think?"
Chu Yuqin was stunned for a moment, when suddenly Lu Chen made a move, causing her to let out another whimper, and she quickly replied, "That's not possible, how can I become a Noble Concubine? That would put me on equal footing with Zixuan. I'm just a servant girl, how would the ministers view you then?"
Lu Chen said with a smile, "I am now the Emperor, and one who has absolute control over the court at that. Do I still need to look at others' faces when appointing a Noble Concubine?"
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