Mu Zixuan had always been open-minded when it came to Lu Chen taking concubines. She never objected to it.
However, Lu Chen's standards were exceptionally high, and that left Mu Zixuan with no room to intervene.
Hearing her speak, Zhou Xiaoxiao leaned in and whispered, "Sister, isn't there someone in our palace who fits the prince's taste?"
Mu Zixuan paused, stunned for a moment, but quickly caught on—Zhou Xiaoxiao was referring to her.
She responded calmly, "Xiaoxiao, Aunt Chu's affairs aren't ours to meddle in. That depends on both her will and His Highness's intentions."
Everyone in the palace knew that the relationship between Chu Yuqin and Lu Chen wasn't simple.
From the way Lu Chen looked at her, one could tell he was burning with desire.
But Chu Yuqin's situation was complicated, and it wasn't going to be easy for Lu Chen to win her over.
She had once been married. Though her husband died before they could consummate the marriage, her name was already tied to that household. She was considered a widow.
If it had been any regular family, things could have been handled quietly—Lu Chen, being the King of the North, could pressure them to annul the union.
But Chu Yuqin had married into the Wang family—the second most powerful clan in Jiangnan, just after the Chu family. Worse still, they were the maternal family of the Eighth Prince, Lu Shuyun. Forcing their hand wasn't an option, even for someone of Lu Chen's standing.
And beyond that, the real obstacle was Chu Yuqin herself.
Everyone at the Northern Prince's Mansion could see that she treated Lu Chen like a younger brother or worse as son. She was gentle, reserved, and unlikely to accept the feelings he harbored for her.
Zhou Xiaoxiao pursed her lips and said nothing more.
Mu Zixuan's thoughts drifted to Wang Qingci from Baihua Tower. If Lu Chen could bring her under control, Zhou Youyou wouldn't have to suffer so much.
Still, it wasn't something she could push.
She let out a soft sigh.
By now, the noises from the pavilion had quieted. Mu Zixuan and Zhou Xiaoxiao entered the courtyard.
Zhou Youyou was lying weakly in Lu Chen's arms, her hair disheveled, her robe barely hanging on.
She'd fallen for Lu Chen at first sight, and was initially thrilled by his growing affection.
But lately, with neither Mu Zixuan nor the princess able to "share the burden," and with Lu Chen becoming inexplicably more intense, Youyou had been pushed to her limits.
Seeing Mu Zixuan and Zhou Xiaoxiao arrive, Lu Chen assumed they'd heard everything. He didn't care.
The palace was split between inner and outer courtyards, and the inner courtyard was guarded by female soldiers. Zixuan and Xiaoxiao were already his concubines. So what if they heard?
Mu Zixuan stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, we've completed the perfume according to your instructions."
The maid beside her carried a wooden box into the pavilion and placed it on the stone table.
Lu Chen gently set Zhou Youyou aside, helping her sit on a bench.
Her maid hurried forward to assist her.
Lu Chen approached the box, removed a small porcelain vial, and opened it.
He took a sniff.
Thanks to the method he provided, the perfume was rich yet natural—no cloying or overwhelming scent.
Lu Chen nodded with satisfaction. "Well done, my darlings. You've worked hard."
Zhou Xiaoxiao asked, "Your Highness, how do you plan to sell it?"
Wangfu's perfume was leagues ahead of ordinary sachets. Its scent lingered, and it could be applied drop by drop when needed.
Lu Chen pondered for a moment before replying, "Unlike soap, perfume isn't a daily necessity. Let's price it a bit higher—one tael of silver per bottle."
Mu Zixuan and Zhou Xiaoxiao were momentarily stunned.
But they quickly understood. Though the price was steep, as women themselves, they knew it would be irresistible once it hit the market.
Mu Zixuan, curious, asked, "Prince, where did you learn how to make this perfume?"
The instructions Lu Chen provided had illustrations and clearly explained steps. It was easy to follow.
So much so that even servants weren't needed—Zixuan and Xiaoxiao had prepared the perfume themselves.
Lu Chen smiled shamelessly and said, "I came up with it when I had nothing better to do."
The women stared at him in surprise.
The outside world thought the King of the North was a crude brute, but here he was—coming up with brilliant ideas one after another.
Just then, Mu Zixuan had a thought.
"Your Highness, I'd like to invite Miss Wang from Baihua Tower to the mansion. We could discuss letting the girls there try the perfume in advance. What do you think?"
She believed Lu Chen had been spending too much time with Zhou Youyou. Since he already had his eye on Wang Qingci, it was time to create more chances for her to appear before him.
Besides, letting the courtesans test the perfume would be great for marketing.
Once those men started coming home from Baihua Tower, reeking of fragrance, their wives would no doubt become curious.
Lu Chen's mind immediately conjured the seductive image of Wang Qingci.
A surge of heat rushed through his body.
Ever since he'd taken the Dragon-Tiger Pill, controlling himself had become harder by the day. If he didn't "cultivate" with Zhou Youyou daily, he couldn't even sleep properly.
This couldn't go on.
Mu Zixuan and Zhou Xiaoxiao were both pregnant. At the current pace, Zhou Youyou would be next.
What would happen if all of them got pregnant at once?
He regretted ever taking that damn pill. It was supposed to help, but all it did was stir up trouble.
At that moment, a system prompt rang in his mind:
[Host, rest assured. The reason you're unable to suppress the Dragon-Tiger Pill's effects is due to your current low cultivation. Once you reach Ninth Rank, your body will be able to regulate the medicinal properties with ease.]
Lu Chen's mouth twitched.
Ninth rank?
His entire cultivation method relied on intimate dual cultivation. At this rate, Youyou would be pregnant long before he reached that level.
There were so few women in Yancheng with compatibility scores over 90. When the hell was he supposed to reach Ninth Rank?
No. It was time.
Time to take down Wang Qingci.
She was already a Ninth Rank martial artist. Her physique and cultivation far exceeded those of ordinary women.
If he could win her over, his Qi Refining Technique would definitely break through to the second layer.
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