Chapter 309: Chapter 223: This Servant Will Definitely Cooperate with the Prince’s Inspection_2

The reason they hesitated for a few more months before daring to implant the Love Worm in Lu Chen was precisely due to Lu Chen’s sudden absence from the musical gatherings, which left Chen Wanrong uncertain whether Lu Chen had truly fallen in love with her or not.

If Lu Chen had really fallen for her, it wouldn’t make sense for him to suddenly stop attending her music sessions for over two months.

Lin Wanyun frowned upon hearing Wang Qingci’s voice primarily because she felt Wang Qingci had diverted Lu Chen’s attention away from herself.

Lu Chen’s original method of relaxation was listening to Chen Wanrong play the qin, but lately, his way of unwinding had turned to doing that sort of thing with a woman in the bedroom. Lin Wanyun had heard sounds coming from Wang Qingci’s room several times.

Lin Wanyun could tell that Lu Chen had a particular fondness for Wang Qingci, whom he treated like a so-called female slave. Almost every time the two of them were together, they would spend a long time without parting.

Thinking this, Lin Wanyun felt that this situation could not continue. That Wang surnamed woman was too annoying, always monopolizing Lu Chen’s time. Now, she even prevented Lu Chen from visiting the Palace Master to listen to the Palace Master play music. A plan was needed to redirect Lu Chen’s gaze back to the Palace Master.

After what seemed like an eternity, the noise inside the study gradually ceased. Lu Chen sat in the chair with Wang Qingci straddling his legs, embracing his neck.

At that moment, Lu Chen said with a smile, “Mr. Wang, now do you realize what kind of consequences betrayal brings?”

Hearing this, Wang Qingci chuckled and then spoke in a coquettish tone, “The Prince is really mean, always bullying me. I really thought the Prince was angry with me.”

By this time, Wang Qingci had basically come to understand that Lu Chen had never doubted her, nor did he believe that she had betrayed him. Lu Chen had simply used it as an excuse to unnerve her and then confront her.

Just when she was about to leave the study earlier, she had thought that Lu Chen had changed, become more serious and mature.

Now, it appeared that the Young Prince hadn’t changed one bit; it was just that there might have been no time to deal with her before.

At this thought, for some reason, a subtle, uncontrollable smile appeared on Wang Qingci’s lips.

Not changing was good! She wished this Young Prince would always stay mischievously the same, always confronting her.

Wang Qingci continued, “Prince, how did you know I met with the head of Qianhai Commercial Association alone? Could it be that you do not trust me and ordered the Brocade Guard to follow me?”

Lu Chen said, “That’s not the case. However, the Qianhai Commercial Association has been a bit too active in Yan County lately, and I worried they might act against Yan County’s interests. So, I had the Brocade Guard keep an eye on them, especially their chairman Qian Dahai.”

“I never expected that yesterday, the Brocade Guard who was watching Qian Dahai would spot you meeting with him alone.”

Wang Qingci said, “So, that’s how it was. I thought the Prince had stopped trusting me.”

Lu Chen breathed into Wang Qingci’s ear and said in a deep voice, “Darling, your body and soul have long been branded with my mark. How could I possibly not trust you?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Qingci felt her whole body involuntarily shudder, and goosebumps rose all over her skin. Shifting the subject, she said, “Recently, that Qian Dahai has sent me quite a few gifts. He is desperately trying to win me over, and I’ve noticed he seems to be very interested in North Prince Mansion’s affairs, constantly trying to glean information about it.”

“Yesterday, he even praised you in my presence, calling you a virtuous prince, friendly to merchants. He wants to move the entire Qian Family to North Country and then stay in North Country for good after that.”

“I wasn’t sure if he was testing my relationship with North Prince Mansion with those words. Since I haven’t obtained any useful information, I haven’t thought to report this matter. But it turns out the Prince already knew I met with him alone.”

At this point, Wang Qingci’s tone clearly carried a hint of grievance.

Lu Chen slapped Wang Qingci’s buttocks and said, “What, Mr. Wang, are you dissatisfied with the punishment I just gave? Do you want me to continue punishing you?”

Hearing this, Wang Qingci tightly wrapped her arms around Lu Chen’s neck and subtly moved her waist as she said, “How dare I be dissatisfied with the Prince. Thunder and rain are all your graces.”

Lu Chen chuckled and then said, “Good, you understand. Next time you dare to meet alone with another man, see if I don’t kill you when you return.”

Wang Qingci pouted and said, “Prince, you’re so domineering. I’ll pay more attention from now on.”

Lu Chen said, “You little enchantress, if this prince doesn’t keep you in line, who knows how many cuckolds you will make for me? From today onwards, you must return to the Prince’s Mansion every five days. I need to personally check your body.”

Wang Qingci coyly responded, “This humble woman understands. I will cooperate fully with the prince’s inspection.”

Although her tone seemed somewhat reluctant, deep down Wang Qingci felt extremely happy. The Young Prince was still the Young Prince, the same man with an intense possessive desire over her. He hadn’t changed at all.

Lu Chen said, “By the way, keep an eye on the Qianhai Commercial Association. They have suddenly become so active lately, there must be a reason.”

Since the last time Wu Junwan signed a business agreement with Rain­listening Pavilion under the identity of Miss Qian, the Qianhai Commercial Association had been quietly doing business in Yan County, rarely as active as they had been recently. For the past few months, they had almost not probed any intelligence from the North Country.

However, in the past two months, the Qianhai Commercial Association suddenly showed a lot of interest in the comings and goings of the North Prince Mansion, even attempting to curry favor with Wang Qingci. Lu Chen couldn’t help but suspect that the Qianhai Commercial Association was planning to stir up trouble in North Country.

Lu Chen was highly suspicious whether the Qianhai Commercial Association wanted to probe into the manufacturing secrets of the Prince’s Mansion, such as the methods of coal production, the brewing process of white liquor, and so on.

But this seemed a bit far-fetched. If the Qianhai Commercial Association really wanted to probe the secrets of the North Prince Mansion, winning over Rain- listening Pavilion would seem useless; after all, Rain-listening Pavilion seemingly had no open ties with the North Prince Mansion, unless the Qianhai Commercial Association already knew that Rain-listening Pavilion was the intelligence agency of the North Prince Mansion.

While Lu Chen was speculating about what the Qianhai Commercial Association might be up to, a shy voice of a maidservant came from outside, “Prince- Prince, General Mu and the others have arrived.”

Hearing the maidservant’s voice, Lu Chen then remembered that today was the day the army would display their firearms.

Lu Chen immediately responded, “Let them go to the Hall of Political Affairs first. I’ll be there shortly.”

The maidservant at the door responded, “Yes, Prince.”

Afterward, Lu Chen gave Wang Qingci’s buttocks a pat, then said, “Alright, get up. I’ve fed you well; now it’s time for me to attend to serious matters.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Qingci slowly stood up and cast a lingering look at Lu Chen, wondering what he meant by having ‘fed her well,’ when it was clear that he had been the one to take advantage of her.

After they parted, they quickly adjusted their clothes. Once Wang Qingci had straightened herself out, she said, “Then this humble woman shall take her leave.”

Lu Chen gave a hum of acknowledgment. The next moment, as Wang Qingci turned to leave, Lu Chen said, “From now on, don’t be so full of wild thoughts. You are my woman; I detest others touching my belongings the most. I would rather confine you in the mansion than abandon you. I am not the type of man who likes to wear the green hat.”

Wang Qingci was stunned upon hearing Lu Chen’s words.

Although she didn’t know what ‘wearing the green hat’ meant, she understood that Lu Chen had figured out what she had been thinking about. No wonder he had been so fierce with her just now.

Thinking about what had just happened, Wang Qingci’s face grew hot. She had not expected her little schemes to have been so transparent to Lu Chen.

This little man was truly formidable; with him, she had no privacy at all.

At that moment, Wang Qingci’s heart was wildly thumping. She suddenly realized that this man cared about her more than she had imagined. In an instant, Wang Qingci’s love for Lu Chen deepened again.

If it weren’t for the system’s upper limit of favorability set at a hundred, the favorability displayed for Wang Qingci in Lu Chen’s system interface would likely be skyrocketing.

In this life, she no longer had any ambitions; she just wanted to stay by this man’s side, doing things for him.

Wang Qingci then said, “This humble woman understands.”

As her words fell, Wang Qingci left the study.

After Wang Qingci departed, Lu Chen went to take a bath and changed into fresh clothes before heading to the Hall of Political Affairs.