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Lu Chen said, "If Princess Junwan feels compelled by courtesy, then why not agree to the terms proposed by the North Country?"

Hearing Lu Chen's words, Wu Junwan immediately responded, "No wonder the North Prince was willing to share such precious tea with me, it turns out this was his intention. I'm afraid that's not possible; the tea may be delicious, but there are some principles on which I will not compromise."

Lu Chen said indifferently, "Since Princess Junwan has no intention of yielding, then why bother meeting with me alone? Could it be that Princess Junwan has had a change of heart and intends to send Miss Qian to be my concubine?"

Hearing this, Wu Junwan scoffed coldly, then responded, "To make Miss Qian your concubine, the North Prince would need the capability to do so."

Seeing Wu Junwan seemingly angered, Lu Chen said with a smile, "Whether I have that capability, Princess Junwan will come to know in time."

Just as Wu Junwan was about to continue, Lu Chen suddenly interjected, "I can agree to sign the trade agreement, but Princess Junwan must consent to the terms we initially proposed."

Seeing Lu Chen agree so readily, Wu Junwan was momentarily stunned. Her main purpose for coming today was related to this matter, and she had thought Lu Chen would put forward some conditions before agreeing. But before she even spoke, Lu Chen had already consented.

From the outset, her plan had been to use the treaty of the trade agreement as leverage to exchange for her signature. On this diplomatic mission to the North Country, the entire delegation was her people, and they would only agree to the terms proposed by the North Country if she nodded in approval. If the delegation did not agree, then any conditions the North Country offered would be in vain.

Noticing Wu Junwan seemed not to have fully grasped the situation, Lu Chen said with a smile, "Didn't Princess Junwan come to seek an audience for this very matter? Why do you seem so surprised?"

Hearing Lu Chen's words, Wu Junwan regained her composure and smiled, then said, "I'm curious, why didn't the North Prince simply ask me to sign the trade agreement from the start instead of wasting over ten days?"

Lu Chen, gazing into Wu Junwan's beautiful eyes and smiling, said, "Who said I've wasted these past ten days?"

"If I had asked Princess Junwan to sign the trade agreement from the start, wouldn't Miss Qian, whom I admire, have left the North Country promptly? I was hoping Miss Qian could stay in the North Country a little longer."

At these words from Lu Chen, the smile on Wu Junwan's face instantly froze, and she promptly retorted, "North Prince, that joke isn't funny at all."

Lu Chen said plainly, "The most significant trait of mine is that I don't like to joke."

Hearing this, and looking into Lu Chen's eyes that were fixed on her, Wu Junwan seemed to truly feel Lu Chen's naked love for her. However, she didn't grow angry but rather smiled again.

"It seems the North Prince is doomed to unrequited love. Miss Qian will never marry you."

Lu Chen, unconcerned, said, "Princess Junwan, some words shouldn't be said so prematurely."

Wu Junwan said, "I am curious, where does the North Prince find such confidence? Does the North Prince believe that one day the North Country could bring down the entire Great Wu Dynasty?"

Lu Chen's lips lifted slightly as he replied, "It might not be necessary to conquer the entire Great Wu. Once the North Country's strength reaches a certain level, naturally someone from the Great Wu Dynasty will bring Miss Qian to the North Country."

Wu Junwan said, "Oh? Is that so? Well, let's see just how strong the North Prince can make the North Country."

With that, Wu Junwan rose from the stone bench and said, "If the North Prince has nothing else, I shall take my leave."

Lu Chen said, "Very well, Princess Junwan, please take care."

Wu Junwan then left the Prince's Mansion.

As Wu Junwan sat in the carriage on her way back, her heart rate quickened as Lu Chen's earlier words echoed in her ears.

Wu Junwan couldn't help but wonder, could it be that the North Prince wasn't joking, and his intentions were truly set on her?

After all, the Seignior was a man who had managed to strengthen the North Country to such an extent in a short amount of time; would he resort to petty schemes for a woman?

Or was he keeping her waiting for another reason?

Wu Junwan pondered for a long while but still couldn't understand why Lu Chen had stalled her for more than ten days.

Upon arriving back at her lodging, just as Wu Junwan stepped into the courtyard, a member of the delegation came in and said, "Princess Junwan, the North Prince has sent a pound of tea leaves."

Hearing this, Wu Junwan was taken aback, suddenly recalling the tea she had drunk at the North Prince Mansion.

Wu Junwan then commanded, "Bring it in."

The next moment, the delegation member brought in the tea leaves sent from the North Prince Mansion. Wu Junwan took the tea leaves and opened them to take a whiff.

Even without being steeped in hot water, the leaves exuded a subtle fragrance that made her feel entirely relaxed. Her realm also felt slightly loosened.

Wu Junwan was well aware that these tea leaves were extremely precious. Still, to be on the safe side, she said to Pei Hong, "Pei, check these tea leaves for me and see if there's anything amiss with them."

Hearing this, Pei Hong approached her, picked up a bit of tea leaves, smelled them, and said, "Princess Junwan, there's nothing wrong with these tea leaves. But why would the North Prince send you such precious tea leaves?"

Wu Junwan said, "The tea I just drank at the North Prince Mansion was made from these leaves. As soon as the tea touched my lips, I felt a sense of relaxation wash over me, my entire body lightened, the flow of True Qi within me became much smoother, and I even vaguely felt on the cusp of a breakthrough."

Startled by her account, Pei Hong was amazed that there could be tea leaves with such effects; the leaves were indeed exceedingly valuable.

Curious, Pei Hong inquired, "Princess Junwan, why would the North Prince give you such precious tea leaves?"

Hearing Pei Hong's question, Wu Junwan fell silent for a moment, once again recalling Lu Chen's words from before.

Wu Junwan couldn't help but think again, could it be that this young man from the North Palace really wanted her? Otherwise, why would he send her such a precious gift?

However, it was unfortunate for him; she was destined to never marry such a young man. She was someone who would walk the path of an empress, how could she possibly marry the North Prince.

Not only would she not marry the North Prince, but she would even become his enemy in the future.