Having children earns benefit, start competing for dominance in the world by marrying a wife

Following the Eastern Newspaper Agency's article on the Martial Arts Realm distinctions, nearly everyone in Yan County came to believe that the North Country didn't have anyone in the Celestial Realm and had always been bluffing.

For a time, spies from various countries were overjoyed, and they immediately relayed the news that Zhuge Zhongguang had not broken through to the Celestial Realm back to their respective forces or nations.

Murong Xue'er also read the article published by the Eastern Times at the first opportunity. Although she too felt that it might be true that the North Country lacked a Celestial Realm powerhouse, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Lately, indeed, many in the Great Xia Dynasty had been spreading the word that Zhuge Zhongguang had failed to break into the Celestial Realm and had only entered the Pseudo Celestial state, needing to pass some Heavenly Dao test to become a true Celestial.

Their evidence was that neither of the two old ancestors from Fixed Wind Mountain and Four Directions Mountain had managed the breakthrough either.

It appeared that nobody from the Great Sum royal family had reached the Celestial Realm as well.

Facing the same phenomenon, and with three of them failing to break through to the Celestial Realm, by what reasoning could Zhuge Zhongguang have succeeded? Thus, more and more people doubted the authenticity of Zhuge Zhongguang's realm.

But those were still just rumors, and whether Zhuge Zhongguang had broken through was something people could only guess at.

Now the Eastern Times from the North Country had suddenly published an article on the classification of the Martial Arts Realm. Wasn't it telling the people that the previous report from the Eastern Times about Zhuge Zhongguang's breakthrough was just because he reached the Zenith Realm of a Grandmaster, and not the Celestial Realm?

Murong Xue'er was puzzled, for articles in the Eastern Times had to be reviewed by the North Prince Mansion, and the fact that this piece on the Martial Arts Realm distinctions was published meant it had been approved by the North Prince Mansion. Why would the North Prince Mansion release such material that seemed disadvantageous to the North Country?

Even if people harbored doubts about Zhuge Zhongguang's breakthrough to the Celestial Realm, as long as the North Prince Mansion didn't officially clarify the matter, people wouldn't dare to bet on it.

But now that the North Prince Mansion had allowed the Eastern Times to release the article on realm distinctions, weren't they indirectly telling people that Zhuge Zhongguang indeed hadn't become a true Celestial?

The North Prince couldn't be unaware of the impact this would have. For a country like the North Country, with its rapid growth, enormous potential, and immense threat, the moment it was without a Celestial to stand guard, other dynasties would never tolerate its continued existence.

For these reasons, Murong Xue'er felt even more that something was amiss. In her view, this article on the Martial Arts Realm distinctions shouldn't have appeared in the newspaper at all; the North Prince Mansion wouldn't have allowed the Eastern Newspaper Agency to publish such a thing.

For a moment, Murong Xue'er sensed the aroma of conspiracy.

Luckily, Lu Chen had asked her to come see him in the afternoon, which would provide her with an excellent opportunity to inquire. Perhaps she might uncover some intelligence about Zhuge Zhongguang.

The afternoon arrived.

Lu Chen was busy in his study, handling official documents. Since the news about Zhuge Zhongguang not being a Celestial was out, the North Country would soon face various challenges, so Lu Chen had to prepare in advance. The next few days were bound to be hectic for him.

As Lu Chen was immersed in his paperwork, the voice of a maid came through, "Prince, Miss Murong requests an audience."

Lu Chen put down his pen and stretched lazily before responding, "Let her in."

The next moment, the door to the study opened, and Murong Xue'er entered. Seeing her cool and stunningly beautiful face, the corners of Lu Chen's mouth lifted slightly.

In the past, whenever he was tired from dealing with documents in the study, it had been Wang Qingci who would come to ease his fatigue and help him relax.

Now that Wang Qingci was pregnant, she rarely visited the study, and it seemed that Murong Xue'er was the one who relieved his stress.

Whenever Lu Chen considered that Murong Xue'er was a high-ranking minister next to the Empress and was known as the Inner Palace Prime Minister, a conquering desire stirred in his heart.

To Lu Chen, identity was an asset. For instance, the identity of Chen Wanrong as Princess of the Defeated Country, the status of Wang Qingci as a Female Slave, or the title of Yelv Nanyan as a Prince's wife—all these identities were thrilling to him.

Upon seeing Lu Chen, Murong Xue'er greeted him politely, "This commoner pays respect to the North Prince!"

Lu Chen immediately walked over to her, took her arm, and said, "Miss Murong need not be so formal. In the future, when you come to the Prince's Mansion, consider it as your own home."

Upon hearing this, Murong Xue'er inwardly sneered. The North Prince truly regarded her as his concubine.

At this moment, Lu Chen asked, "Miss Murong has come to the Prince's Mansion this time, surely to have me restore the Virgin Mark, right?"

Murong Xue'er replied, "Indeed, I wonder if the Prince has prepared the pigment? I must return to Great Jue to report in a few days."

Lu Chen said, "I have had it prepared long ago. Rest assured, Miss Murong. Today I will fully restore your Virgin Mark, ensuring that once you return, the Yue Emperor will not detect anything."

Having said this, Lu Chen headed toward the rest area beside the study, speaking as he walked, "Please follow me, Miss Murong."

Watching the broad back of Lu Chen, Murong Xue'er hesitated for a moment, her mind instantly recalling what had happened in that rest area some time before.

Apprehension began to grow in Murong Xue'er's heart. She feared that in a moment's time, she might again forget her true concerns; this man was very skilled in dealing with women. Once she fell into his hands, it wasn't certain that she could remain lucid.

She had to find out the information she was seeking before Lu Chen did that sort of thing with her. With this thought, Murong Xue'er made up her mind that before she obtained the intelligence she sought, she absolutely could not let the North Prince touch her.

Afterward, Murong Xue'er followed Lu Chen into the rest area.

Entering the rest area, Lu Chen picked up the teapot from the table and poured Murong Xue'er a cup of tea, then asked, "Miss Murong, after you return this time, when will you come back to North Country again?"

Murong Xue'er answered, "I'm not certain; it depends on whether His Majesty is still angry with me."

Hearing Murong Xue'er's reply, Lu Chen said with a smile, "I would rather hope that the Yue Emperor continues to be angry with you; that way, you would return to North Country once more."

Murong Xue'er grinned and then said, "It seems the North Prince really does consider me your concubine."

Looking into Murong Xue'er's eyes, Lu Chen said, "Concubine? Miss Murong misunderstands; I have never regarded you as a concubine. In my eyes, Miss Murong can now be counted as my wife."

These words stunned Murong Xue'er.

Wife?

Did this man really think this way?

Laughing, Murong Xue'er said, "That may not be the case. If the Prince truly considered me your wife, why then would you have anything to hide from me?"

Murong Xue'er saw an opportunity; she could continue along this line of conversation and meanwhile take the chance to gather some information about Zhuge Zhongguang from Lu Chen.

Lu Chen asked, "Hide? Miss Murong, what do you believe I have concealed from you?"

At this, Lu Chen approached Murong Xue'er, and she immediately felt the pressure. She was very worried that Lu Chen would suddenly make a move on her.

If she didn't acquire the information she sought before Lu Chen made any moves, there was a high chance that she would, like last time, lose herself and then be unable to stay lucid afterward.

Just then, Lu Chen suddenly whispered into Murong Xue'er's ear, "Miss Murong, I know that you were sent by the Yue Emperor to approach me on purpose."

"Speak, whatever you want to know, I can tell you."

...