More Children, More Blessings: Starting My Conquest by Marrying Wives - Chapter 4

Mu Changtian didn’t explicitly promise to help Lu Chen, as there are certain things in politics that can’t be said openly.

However, since he guaranteed that Lu Chen’s journey to the Northern Territory would go smoothly, it was clear that he would send people to protect the Northern Prince and make arrangements with the military.

Even though Lu Chen was politically inexperienced, he understood what Mu Changtian was implying and said, “Thank you, Father-in-law.”

Mu Changtian glanced around the hall at the servants and then said, “You may all leave. I have something to discuss with the Northern Prince in private.”

“Yes,” the servants replied and quickly left the hall.

Once they were gone, Lu Chen curiously asked, “Father-in-law, what is it that you wish to speak with me about?”

Since Mu Changtian had sent the servants away to speak privately, it was clearly something important.

Mu Changtian said, “Your Highness, I need to remind you that even if you arrive safely in the Northern Territory, you will not be completely free of danger.”

Lu Chen asked, “Why is that?”

Knowing that Lu Chen was inexperienced in politics, Mu Changtian decided to be more direct.

“Your mother was the eldest daughter of the Chu family, and by default, the Chu family supports you.”

“Even though you’ve left the capital, to most of the other princes, you still pose a significant threat.”

“And it’s very likely that the Chu family still holds high hopes for you. Even I think this way, so the other princes will certainly believe the same.”

“As long as you’re alive, the Chu family may continue to support you. But if you were to…”

Mu Changtian left the sentence unfinished, knowing that the rest was too disrespectful to say out loud. He trusted that Lu Chen understood what he meant.

Hearing Mu Changtian’s warning, Lu Chen immediately grasped the situation, especially since Chu Yuqin had given him a similar reminder earlier in the morning.

He sighed inwardly.

It seemed his situation was indeed quite dangerous.

If he remained alive, the Chu family might continue to harbor hopes for him. As a powerful family from Jiangnan, the Chu family’s support was highly coveted by any prince.

If Lu Chen were to die, the Chu family would lose their primary candidate and would then support another prince.

Thus, any prince seeking to win the Chu family’s favor would likely see eliminating Lu Chen as their first priority—to completely sever the Chu family’s ties to him.

What a headache.

When Lu Chen first came to this world, his plan had been to live a laid-back life and avoid any involvement in the struggle for the throne.

But it seemed that his very identity had brought him so much trouble.

There was nothing he could do about his birthright, though—it was predetermined and couldn’t be changed.

Now, he had only two options.

The first was to find a way to completely sever ties with the Chu family and make people believe that he had broken off all relations with them.

The second option was to eliminate anyone who wanted to kill him. That would be the only way to ensure his safety.

Choosing the second option would mean stepping onto the path to becoming the emperor.

From a personal standpoint, Lu Chen couldn’t bear the thought of breaking ties with the Chu family.

First of all, his grandfather had always treated him well, and the Chu family had been protecting him since childhood. Even his first love, Chu Yuqin, was a member of the Chu family.

There was no way he could bring himself to completely cut ties with them.

Moreover, even if he did break off relations with the Chu family, the other princes might not believe him. They could think it was all a ruse—he and the Chu family putting on an act to deceive others.

Therefore, eliminating him would still be the safest course of action for them.

That left him with only one choice.

To walk the path of the emperor!

Lu Chen thought about it. In the past, it would have been nearly impossible for him to compete with the other princes for the throne.

But now things were different.

He had the [Many Children, Many Blessings] system.

As long as he took more concubines and had more children after arriving in the Northern Territory, he could quickly increase his strength.

That throne might not be out of reach after all.

With that in mind, Lu Chen said to Mu Changtian, “Thank you, Father-in-law, for your reminder. I understand now.”

…

After leaving the Mu residence, Mu Zixuan cautiously asked from inside the carriage, “Your Highness, what did my father say to you?”

Lu Chen smiled and pulled Mu Zixuan into his arms.

“Nothing much. He just told me to treat you well.”

At that moment, Mu Zixuan hesitated. She wasn’t sure if she should tell Lu Chen about the Zhou sisters’ sensitive backgrounds.

As Lu Chen gently stroked her hair, he continued, “My dear, when we get to the Northern Territory, you must give me many children.”

Hearing his straightforward words, Mu Zixuan’s face turned bright red. Even though she was now a married woman, she was still inexperienced in such matters.

Seeing her shy expression, Lu Chen was tempted to tease her, but he eventually restrained himself.

Meanwhile…

In the imperial palace.

In the imperial garden, a middle-aged man in a yellow dragon-embroidered robe stood in a pavilion by the lotus pond, watching the fish swim about with his hands clasped behind his back.

A man wearing black armor suddenly appeared behind him.

“Your Majesty, the Northern Prince just visited the Mu residence. During his visit, Mu Duke dismissed the servants from the hall and had a private conversation with him.”

Hearing this, the Emperor of Xia muttered to himself, “It seems Mu Changtian values Little Nine quite highly.”

The emperor then turned to the red-robed eunuch standing nearby.

“Grand Eunuch Liu, do you think the Chu family will give up on Little Nine now that he’s left the capital?”

Upon hearing this question, the red-robed eunuch immediately replied, “Your Majesty, this servant wouldn’t dare presume to know.”

The emperor frowned, displeased. “Speak your mind.”

Grand Eunuch Liu hurriedly said, “In this servant’s opinion, it’s very likely that the Chu family will abandon the Northern Prince and throw their support behind another prince.”

The emperor, intrigued, asked, “Oh? And who do you think the Chu family would choose?”

Grand Eunuch Liu trembled with fear.

Having served the emperor closely, he knew things that others didn’t. The emperor harbored a deep hatred for the Chu family and had long dreamed of getting rid of them.

If he were to suggest which prince the Chu family would support, it could put that prince in danger.

The emperor continued, “Speak boldly. I will not punish you.”

Grand Eunuch Liu immediately knelt down and said, “Your Majesty, this servant believes the Chu family will most likely support the Eighth Prince.”

The Eighth Prince’s mother also hailed from Jiangnan, so if the Chu family were to seek a new prince to support, they would naturally turn to him.

Hearing this, the emperor smiled faintly and murmured, “Supporting Little Eight, huh? Then it seems Little Nine’s journey won’t be peaceful.”

At that moment, the soldier in black armor asked, “Your Majesty, should we send someone to protect the Northern Prince?”

The emperor coldly replied, “No need. Someone else will protect him. If he truly meets misfortune, he can only blame it on his lack of fate.”

…

That night.

Lu Chen had wanted to have a heartfelt conversation with his beloved wife, but remembering that he had already worn her out the day before and earlier that morning, he decided against it.

Noticing that her husband seemed a bit uncomfortable, Mu Zixuan finally mustered the courage to say, “Your Highness, why don’t you take Youyou and Xiaoxiao as concubines?”

Hearing this, Lu Chen’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t expected his wife to be so generous.

However, he still teased, “My dear, how could you bear to push me toward other women?”

Blushing, Mu Zixuan replied, “Your Highness, you were staring at them all morning.”

She could easily guess what Lu Chen had been thinking.

Mu Zixuan continued, “Besides, they are my dowry maids. Serving you is their duty.”

Lu Chen embraced her and said, “With such a wife, what more could a husband want?”

At that moment, Mu Zixuan called out, “Youyou, Xiaoxiao, come over here.”

Soon after, the candlelight in the room flickered softly…