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

Great Sum Capital City.

Imperial Study Room.

It was already deep into the night, and the subtle flicker of candlelight filled the tranquil Imperial Study Room, with only the sound of a steel pen scratching against paper.

Lu Chen was attending to memorials when Bai Qingqing's voice erupted from outside the Imperial Study Room, "Your Majesty, the Zhao King seeks an audience!"

Lu Chen immediately responded, "Let him in!"

The Zhao King then entered the Imperial Study Room and immediately knelt, saying, "This guilty subject pays his respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!"

Lu Chen said indifferently, "Uncle, please rise."

Upon hearing these words, the Zhao King promptly stood up, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After the Zhao King rose, he noticed that Lu Chen was not looking at him but was still bent over, holding a steel pen produced in the North Country, continuing to work through the memorials.

At that moment, Lu Chen said, "Uncle, I am well aware of the secret trades you conducted with my father. That's why I have given you this opportunity. After all, you have indirectly resolved a great trouble for me."

Even if the Sum Emperor did not deal with the Seigniors, the first thing Lu Chen planned to do upon his ascendancy to the throne was to handle the Seigniors within Great Sum's realm, rendering the Zhao King as having earned merit.

Of course, Lu Chen would not reward him openly.

The Zhao King promptly said, "This guilty subject does not deserve such praise."

Lu Chen continued to work through the memorials, and while flipping through them, he swept a glance at the Zhao King with the corner of his eye, then followed with, "Uncle has made the right choice."

"If Uncle had not chosen to surrender in the end, it's likely that before your confidants could have returned to Zhao Country, the Brocade Guard would have already brought your family members directly to the Capital City."

Hearing this, the Zhao King's heart skipped a beat; he instantly understood the implication behind Lu Chen's words.

Lu Chen was reminding him that he knew about the confidants he sent back to Zhao Country as messengers. The thought made the Zhao King's forehead bead with sweat involuntarily.

Originally, he had thought that if something happened to him and he failed to write home in time, he would tell his family to hide or leave Great Sum.

But now it seemed Lu Chen had already placed his family members under surveillance in advance. If something were to happen to him in the Capital City, his family would likely be unable to escape their fate.

The Zhao King hastily said, "Thank you for Your Majesty's mercy!"

Lu Chen then casually asked, "I wonder what place Uncle is fond of?"

The Zhao King understood Lu Chen's implication once again and immediately said, "This guilty subject enjoys the sea."

Lu Chen said, "In that case, Uncle will head to Donghai County from now on. I have already sent someone to Zhao Country. Aside from your land, your gold, silver, and treasures will also be sent to Donghai County. In the future, Uncle should not leave Donghai County unless there is something important."

The Zhao King knelt down once again, promptly kowtowing to Lu Chen and saying, "Thank you for Your Majesty's great grace!"

The Zhao King had thought that not only would Lu Chen confiscate his lands but would also take his gold and silver wealth. He did not expect that Lu Chen would only take back his lands.

With this, even if he went to Donghai County, there would be no problems with his livelihood.

Lu Chen continued, "Uncle must be tired from the journey. Go back and rest."

Once more, the Zhao King thanked him, "Thank you for Your Majesty's concern; this guilty subject takes his leave."

The Zhao King then got up and left the Imperial Study Room.

Once the Zhao King had stepped out of the Imperial Study Room, he realized his back was completely drenched.

The Zhao King was somewhat shocked; from the aura that Lu Chen exuded, he was at least a Grandmaster. Yet, there were Grandmasters among his own subordinates, and the pressure they exerted on him was not as intense, suggesting that Lu Chen's level was likely above that of a Grandmaster.

So young, yet his strength was already so formidable!

No wonder those four Celestials had such high regard for Lu Chen, choosing to stand by his side. Perhaps under his leadership, Great Sum could become even stronger.
Continue your adventure with empire

It was just uncertain whether he would eventually settle accounts with the Zhao King's Mansion.

With this thought, the Zhao King could not help but sigh.

Although Lu Chen did not seem to have any intention of settling accounts with the Zhao King's Mansion, there was always the possibility of someone whispering in Lu Chen's ear. If one day Lu Chen suddenly felt the Zhao King's Mansion was a threat, it was highly plausible that he would decide to eliminate them.

The Zhao King felt a touch of melancholy as he turned his head towards the direction of the palace where the late emperor had lived, and couldn't help but think that if the Sum Emperor had passed the position of Crown Prince to Lu Chen from the start, none of this would have happened.

Unfortunately, there are not so many 'what-ifs' in this world.

With no further thought, the Zhao King walked straight towards the exit of the Imperial Palace.

Zhao King had just left when the voice of Bai Qingqing came from outside the Imperial Study Room again, "Your Majesty, Commander Qin requests an audience!"

Lu Chen replied indifferently, "Enter."

Qin Yushan entered the Imperial Study Room soon after, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Lu Chen, still without lifting his head, asked, "What's the matter?"

Qin Yushan reported, "Upon seeing the decree you issued, Prince Lu Yi does not intend to surrender, and he harbors delusions of colluding with the Taiyin Divine Sect, hoping to use them to continue the rebellion."

"During this period, Prince Lu Yi has sent people searching everywhere for Lady Xue's whereabouts, trying to establish a connection with the Taiyin Divine Sect through Lady Xue."

Since Lu Chen had not yet granted titles to his consorts, Qin Yushan still referred to Xue Linglong as Lady Xue.

Upon hearing Qin Yushan's report, Lu Chen stopped writing and looked up at Qin Yushan to ask, "How is their manufacture of gunpowder coming along?"

Qin Yushan answered, "They have already created some weapons similar to firecrackers, which possess a certain lethality, but are not very powerful."

Hearing this, Lu Chen pondered for a moment before saying, "Leave this matter to the Sunset Sword Sect, you should speak to Sect Master Xia later."

Lu Chen no longer had the inclination to continue this cat-and-mouse game with Lu Yi. Ever since the Sunset Sword Sect and Tai Chu Divine Hall had joined him, Lu Chen considered himself above engaging in such conspiracy and trickery.

Since Prince Lu Yi was unwilling to surrender and was even thinking about colluding with the Taiyin Divine Sect, he was an enemy of Great Sum, and there was no need for mercy towards an enemy.

Originally, Lu Chen had no intention of killing Lu Yi. Through Xue Linglong, he learned that Lu Yi had long since become incapable of fathering children—essentially, he was a eunuch.

Lu Yi posed little threat to the throne, even as the Prince Lu Yi. A prince without heirs, what right did he have to vie for the throne? Therefore, Lu Chen initially bore no malice towards him.

But if Lu Yi insisted on courting death, then there was nothing to be done.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Your subordinate takes his leave!"

As Qin Yushan's words fell, he turned and left the study.

Lu Chen continued to deal with official documents for a while. After a long time, the voice of Bai Qingqing came from outside the study once more, but this time it was not about granting an audience.

"Your Majesty, it's late at night, time to rest."

Since entering the Capital city, Lu Chen had been busy until late every day. On one hand, he had to study the royal secrets left by the previous emperors, and on the other, he had to process a great number of memorials.

His team was still in the North Country, and the current administrative efficiency of the Great Sum court was quite worrisome, with work piling up on Lu Chen's desk.

Upon hearing Bai Qingqing's cool voice, Lu Chen stood up from his seat, stretched, and walked out of the Imperial Study Room.

Bai Qingqing asked, "Your Majesty, are you going to visit that lady's room?"

The Imperial Palace was large, and although Lu Chen had lived there since childhood, he was not as familiar with it as Bai Qingqing, the former Deputy Commander of the Shadow Guard.

So, if Lu Chen wanted to visit a certain palace, Bai Qingqing might still need to guide him.

Chen Wanrong and Xue Linglong had already moved into the Harem ahead of others, and Lu Chen's other consorts would arrive in the Capital city after some time.

Lu Chen thought for a moment and then said, "Let's go to Xue Linglong's place, it's been some time since I've seen her."

Bai Qingqing then said, "Yes."

She then led Lu Chen to Linglong Palace, where Xue Linglong resided.

Just as Lu Chen approached the entrance to Linglong Palace, he sensed voices coming from Xue Linglong's room. Now a Pseudo Celestial, his perception was very strong, and he could hear even the faintest sounds.

"Master... please spare your servant..."

"Master..."

"Ah..."

Upon hearing this series of sounds, Lu Chen was taken aback. What was Xue Linglong doing?

The sounds made him wonder if Xue Linglong was cheating on him.

Using Shadow Shifting, Lu Chen arrived at the doorway of Xue Linglong's chamber. Without waiting for the maids to speak, he pushed open the door of the chamber.

Seeing the scene before him, Lu Chen chuckled.

This enchantress!