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The Chu Family has sent someone now?

What for?

Could it be that the Chu Family plans to continue supporting me in the succession struggle?

Lu Chen held no great resentment towards his maternal grandfather; after all, Chu Xiong had his own difficulties, and Chu Xiong allowing Chu Yuqin to stay by Lu Chen’s side was a significant favor to him.

What Lu Chen found intolerable were the other members of the Chu Family. He had recently learned through the Brocade Guard’s intelligence of the internal division within the Chu Family. There were now two factions: one led by his maternal grandfather, the North Prince Faction, and the other was the Eighth Prince Faction.

The Eighth Prince Faction currently held the upper hand within the entire Chu Family. If it weren’t for Lu Chen’s rise to power and his defeat of the Barbarian Tribe’s army of three hundred thousand, no one from Chu Xiong’s camp would have been sent to North City so easily.

Chu Xiong’s position in the Chu Family now was essentially equivalent to being a figurehead; his presence or absence as Family Head made little difference to the family.

Lu Chen then asked, “What’s the purpose of the Chu Family’s visit this time?”

Chu Yuqin replied, “It’s not just the Chu Family that’s come, but also people from the Wang Family. They hope that you can reconcile with Prince Lu Shuyun.”

“The Wang Family says that both of you represent the interests of the aristocratic families in the South, and there’s no reason for you two to fight to the death. Moreover, if Prince Lu Shuyun succeeds in the succession, it will be more beneficial for you. The Wang Family even hinted that Prince Lu Shuyun might eventually give you all of Qi Prince’s territory, letting you establish your own nation.”

…?!?

Lu Chen was stunned for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation.

He had thought that the Chu Family had sent someone to continue supporting the succession struggle, yet it turned out to be people from the Eighth Prince Faction of the Chu Family.

“Ha… haha, the Eighth Prince first sends assassins to kill me, and now he says there’s no need for us to fight to the death?”

” What on earth is going on in the minds of these Wang Family people?”

“Even now, the Wang Family actually thinks of helping the Eighth Prince to win me over. Don’t they know that my relationship with the Eighth Prince has reached a point where we’re irreconcilable?”

Lu Chen did not believe for a second that the Wang Family was unaware of the attempt on his life by assassins sent by the Eighth Prince. The Eighth Prince always had the protection of a Grandmaster from the Wang Family by his side, so whatever he did, the Wang Family was sure to know about it.

To send assassins after him several times and then have the audacity to come and suggest reconciliation was nothing short of delusional.

Seeing Lu Chen’s reaction, Chu Yuqin realized that he had no intention of making peace with the Eighth Prince. After all, who would want to be on good terms with someone who had repeatedly sent assassins after them, pretending nothing had happened?

Chu Yuqin continued, “Chen’er, I fear your maternal grandfather has completely lost control over the Chu Family. The people they’ve sent this time not only fail to speak up for you, but their stance actually supports the Eighth Prince in the succession dispute, and they seem to be more interested in persuading you to reconcile with him.”

“If your maternal grandfather still had control over the Chu Family, he certainly wouldn’t hesitate to support you as Crown Prince at this crucial time.”

After all, Chu Xiong is Lu Chen’s maternal grandfather, and considering Lu Chen’s recent military accomplishments in North City, numerous commoners have no idea how much they wish for Lu Chen to be Crown Prince. Chu Xiong would definitely stand up and side with Lu Chen now.

Yet, the people sent by the Chu Family belong to the Eighth Prince faction, which indicates that Chu Xiong has completely lost control over the Chu Family, and now the entire Chu Family is probably dominated by people from the Eighth Prince faction.

Hearing Chu Yuqin’s words, Lu Chen pondered for a moment before saying, “Even if he has lost control over the Chu Family, it has little effect on me, as I had no intention of relying on the Chu Family. Nevertheless, the Wang Family’s rush to have me reconcile with the Eighth Prince probably stems from their fear that their dirty dealings might be exposed.”

The Wang Family and the Eighth Prince had maintained a close cooperation with the Sky Wolf King tribe even before the thirty thousand strong Barbarian Army marched south. The southward advance of the Barbarian Army led by the Sky Wolf King could not be separated from their collaboration.

The Wang Family wanted to take advantage of the Barbarian Army’s push south to force the Sum Emperor to refrain from taking action against the aristocratic families.

The Sum Emperor was no fool; he certainly knew that if turmoil broke out within, the Barbarian Army was very likely to push directly southward, placing the entire Great Sum in jeopardy.

Thus, the Sum Emperor would have to bow his head in the end.

But what nobody expected was that, instead of merely holding North City, the North Prince completely annihilated the Barbarian Army of three hundred thousand.

Now the external pressure on Great Sum had vanished in an instant, and the Sum Emperor, who had sharpened his blade for so long, might soon let it fall.

Once the evidence of the Barbarian Tribe colluding with the Wang Family was transmitted to the Capital City, the Sum Emperor would definitely take action against the Wang Family first. At this time, the Wang Family could only send someone to seek peace with the North Prince.

Thinking of this, Lu Chen’s lips curled slightly upwards. He then said, “It seems the Wang Family does not want me to hand over the evidence of their collusion with the Barbarian Tribe to my father the emperor. That’s why they’re sending envoys to seek peace. However, they’re seriously lacking sincerity. Even at this point, they’re still thinking of supporting Prince Lu Shuyun in the struggle for succession, while offering me pie in the sky, expecting me to establish a nation in the desolate North City?”

“They must take me for a fool.”

At this moment, Chu Yuqin asked, “Chen’er, they are still at the Mysterious Moon Tavern established in Mysterious Moon Palace. Do you want to meet them? If not, I’ll send them away.”

Lu Chen replied, “There’s no need to meet them. I don’t want them to spoil my mood.”

Lu Chen actually couldn’t wait for his father the emperor to make his move, to exterminate the Aristocratic Families within Great Sum, so as to not leave behind a mess for himself in the future.

If the Aristocratic Families were not extinguished, it would be hard to consolidate imperial power, and that would not bode well for Lu Chen who was about to implement reforms.

However, at present, Lu Chen implementing reforms in North City wouldn’t face too much obstruction; fortunately, there were no major Aristocratic Families in North City.

At this point, Chu Yuqin said, “Alright then, I’ll have them leave Yan County now.”

After saying this, Chu Yuqin turned and left.

Watching the charming silhouette of Chu Yuqin as she departed, Lu Chen rubbed his temples, his mind preoccupied with the thought that his father the emperor was about to take action. His opportunity was coming, and perhaps it was time to hasten the reforms in North City.

Shortly after.

In a private room in the Mysterious Moon Tavern,

As soon as Chu Yuqin entered the room, a man dressed in blue immediately came forward and asked, “Madam Chu, may I know if the Prince has agreed to see us?”

Chu Yuqin replied indifferently, “You may all leave. The Prince does not plan to meet with the Wang Family members for the time being.”

Hearing this, Wang Yong was taken aback.

Their main purpose for coming here was to reconcile the North Prince with Prince Lu Shuyun. If they couldn’t even meet with him, how could they help mend their relationship?

This was troublesome.

Wang Yong then said, “Madam Chu, did you not convey our words to the North Prince?”

Chu Yuqin replied indifferently, “I did convey them. The Prince thinks the Wang Family lacks sincerity, therefore he does not wish to see you.”

This…

Wang Yong instantly understood the implication of Chu Yuqin’s words.

They had offered to support Prince Lu Shuyun in the struggle for succession, promising to give the North Prince some territory and let him build his own nation once Prince Lu Shuyun ascended the throne.

If the North Prince thought that even this offer lacked sincerity, it only proved one thing: the North Prince’s ambitions were grand, and he had his sights set on all of Great Sum. Thus, he had no interest in the land they promised.

As a result, there was no room left for reconciliation between the North Prince and Prince Lu Shuyun.

The Wang Family had sent envoys to North City because they believed that the fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry there certainly weren’t the North Prince’s men, but rather they were a secret reserve force prepared by the Sum Emperor, with the North Prince being just a pawn.

The Wang Family believed that nobody would be content with being a pawn, so they thought of using land as bait to win over the North Prince, thereby making him their man. This way, they could not only keep an eye on the fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry in North City, but also gain a powerful political ally.

However, it seemed the North Prince had not recognized his position as a pawn, or could it be that the North Prince truly believed that these fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry were his?

Upon this thought, those from the Chu Family and the Wang Family present found the idea somewhat laughable, thinking the North Prince did not know what was good for him.