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Murong Xue'er donned her clothes and left the Prince's Mansion, leaving behind the place that had brought about her downfall.

Upon returning to her residence, Murong Xue'er immediately ordered Great Jue's men to send the military deployment maps to Great Jue, regardless of whether those maps were real or fake; she had to send them out.

If Great Jue showed no initiative at all, the Yue Emperor might start to become suspicious of her.

After finishing the official business, Murong Xue'er returned to her room, ordered her maids to bring hot water, and bathed in the tub filled with hot water.

Seeing the words on her body, Murong Xue'er thought of the events from the previous night and then remembered the words Lu Chen had spoken.

Murong Xue'er felt an unparalleled chaos in her heart. If the matter of the Virgin Mark were true, once the Yue Emperor learned that the North Prince had deflowered her without being held accountable, he probably wouldn't trust her anymore.

Someone like her, once fallen out of the emperor's favor, would be targeted by countless people trying to get rid of her. Her survival thus far had been due to the attention the Yue Emperor had paid her.

Was she really going to betray the Yue Emperor?

The word "betrayal" pierced her heart painfully. She had never before contemplated betraying the Yue Emperor, even when he often punished her and made her do all kinds of things, she always believed it was justified and never harbored any resentment towards him.

At this moment, Murong Xue'er raised her arm, splashed the water in the tub, and let the sound of the water stop her from continuing to think wildly.

If she kept thinking, her body would start feeling strange again.

Murong Xue'er sighed softly, lifted her jade legs, and looked at the words written on her legs. Talking to herself, she said, "Sigh, that bastard is really my nemesis."

...

Afternoon.

Lu Chen was in his study examining the improved designs for firearms when he heard the voice of a maid, "Prince, Miss Xuanyuan wishes to see you."

Lu Chen said indifferently, "Let her in." Stay tuned to m-v l|e'-NovelBin.net

The next moment, Xuanyuan Yunqi entered the study. Lu Chen's gaze remained on the blueprints on the table, not shifting to look at Xuanyuan Yunqi.

Xuanyuan Yunqi then asked, "Prince, did you summon me for a matter?"

Although Xuanyuan Yunqi appeared very calm on the surface, her heart was throbbing with excitement. Her brother had told her the previous night that if she performed well today and answered the Prince's questions earnestly, he might agree to let her go to the front line.

Going into battle was something she had always dreamed of.

Upon hearing Xuanyuan Yunqi's words, Lu Chen still didn't look up. He shuffled through the firearm blueprints on the table and in a low voice while looking asked, "Yunqi, I've heard from your brother that you wish to go to the front line?"

Xuanyuan Yunqi answered, "Yes, Prince, I've learned almost everything I should learn. What I lack now is practical combat experience."

Lu Chen said indifferently, "The battlefield is a place where people die; it's not as simple as you think. Are you truly prepared?"

Xuanyuan Yunqi replied without hesitation, "I have long been ready to join the battlefield, please rest assured, Prince."

At that moment, Lu Chen looked up at Xuanyuan Yunqi.

Xuanyuan Yunqi was clad in black and red armor, which fully enclosed her curvaceous figure. She wore a high ponytail, exposing her fair, smooth forehead. She looked spirited and vibrant, full of energy and vitality.

Lu Chen spoke directly, "I can let you go to the front line, but I have one condition."

Xuanyuan Yunqi said, "Please state it, Prince."

"After the war, you will return to the Prince's Mansion to be my personal guard."

This...

Xuanyuan Yunqi was momentarily stunned and then she said, "I agree to the Prince's condition."

For Xuanyuan Yunqi, this was hardly a concern. When she first came from Great Yu City to Yan County, she had agreed to be Lu Chen's guard and learn by his side, but was then assigned to the military corps led by his brother.

Thinking to herself, Xuanyuan Yunqi figured the Prince would probably do the same as before and assign her to a military corps once she returned to Yan County.

With so many women already in Lu Chen's harem, he wouldn't likely be interested in her. The current Xuanyuan Yunqi had abandoned her former wild thoughts, but her feelings for the North Prince had grown deeper.

Seeing Xuanyuan Yunqi agree, Lu Chen said, "Good, in a few days, someone will transport provisions to Yongan County. You will accompany the supply convoy. I will write a letter to General Mu to have him find a position for you."

Xuanyuan Yunqi knelt halfway in excitement and said, "Thank you, Prince!"

Lu Chen said, "Alright, rise. Go prepare yourself."

"Yes, Prince, this subordinate takes her leave!"

As the words fell, Xuanyuan Yunqi left the study cheerfully. Lu Chen felt a hint of reluctance in his heart as he watched her retreat.

However, seeing Xuanyuan Yunqi in that armor, Lu Chen still felt that the battlefield was where this woman belonged. Forcing her to stay at the North Prince Mansion was not suitable; it would crush her individuality.

...

Half a month later, Wu Junwan returned to Great Wu. As soon as she arrived, she faced the censure of many ministers in the court, which caught Wu Junwan's attention.

Her inability to persuade the Yue Emperor to form an alliance with Great Wu could be a sign of her insufficient capabilities, but she shouldn't have been subjected to this level of censure.

With her power growing, those ministers, despite their private grievances, would not have dared to boldly unite and impeach Wu Junwan.

Wu Junwan suspected that someone was pulling strings behind the scenes, so she immediately used her power to investigate what had happened in Great Wu recently, wondering how such a significant shift in the court's attitudes could have taken place while she was away. Who exactly was behind this, manipulating the winds to target her?

Inside the Green Cloud Palace, the voice of a female guard echoed throughout the hall, as Wu Junwan reclined on a luxurious couch, quietly listening to the guard's report.

After a while, the female guard finished reporting all the major events that had occurred during Wu Junwan's absence from Great Wu.

No sooner had the guard finished speaking than Wu Junwan let out a cold snort, "Someone fetch Mr. Chai for me."

Just as Wu Junwan finished speaking, Chai Jiliang's voice was heard from outside the hall, "Princess, there's no need for summoning, I am already here."

After entering the hall, Chai Jiliang, separated by a red curtain, bowed to Wu Junwan and said, "Your subordinate pays respects to the Princess."

At this moment, Wu Junwan spoke, "Mr. Chai, you seem to have been quite busy recently."

Chai Jiliang replied, "His Majesty plans to dispatch troops against the North Country, naturally, I have had many matters to attend to."

Wu Junwan said, "Mr. Chai should be aware that many ministers in the court have been slandering me recently."

Chai Jiliang replied, "Your Highness, please quell your anger. The recent turn of events is indeed unfavorable for you, but it is clear that someone is instigating this behind the scenes, and it shouldn't cause you too much trouble."

Wu Junwan asked, "Who does Mr. Chai think is most likely the instigator behind this?"

"Is it one of my brothers, or could it be 'him'?"

Wu Junwan didn't specify, but Chai Jiliang understood that by "him," she was referring to someone in particular.

It was obvious she meant the Martial Emperor – it was quite possible that he had started to distrust her and wanted to suppress her influence to prevent her power from expanding further. Her failure to form an alliance with Great Jue was indeed a prime opportunity.

At this point, Chai Jiliang said, "In my view, it's likely that the Princess's brothers can no longer sit still and see this as an opportunity to impeach you."

Wu Junwan let out a cold huff, "I have been running around for the good of Great Wu, and yet they are colluding to slander me."

At this moment, neither Chai Jiliang nor Wu Junwan had any inkling of who might be the instigator behind the scenes.

Now was a critical time for the war between Great Wu and the North Country, and it never crossed their minds that the North Prince would have any reason to coax Great Wu's ministers to impeach her, a princess of an enemy nation.

After all, it was the Martial Emperor who initiated the war, not Princess Junwan. Even if the impeachment was effective, which was in question, the loss of her Princess title would not affect the conflict between Great Wu and the North Country.

Wu Junwan and Chai Jiliang could only consider where the interests lay to determine who was causing trouble behind the scenes.

Whoever benefited from the impeachment was likely the one stirring things up.

Clearly, if she were suppressed, it would be extremely advantageous for her brothers. Therefore, Wu Junwan and Chai Jiliang's first thought was those useless Princes must have conspired with the ministers.

Just then, Wu Junwan suddenly thought of something, furrowing her brows she said, "I feel this matter is not so simple. Even if it truly was my brothers, with my father's abilities, he could completely prevent them from continuing their foolishness."

Wu Junwan felt a strong sense of crisis, sensing that her father might have started to distance himself from her; otherwise, how could he possibly allow those ministers to defame her?

With her father's abilities, stopping those ministers from speaking out of turn was not an issue at all. His lack of action indicated that he might also be thinking of suppressing her, which is why the trend of impeaching her could have persisted for so long in the court.

After hearing Wu Junwan's words, Chai Jiliang was silent for a moment before speaking, "Your Highness, it's best not to think too much about it."

Chai Jiliang, being as astute as he was, could not have failed to grasp the Martial Emperor's thoughts. Princess Junwan had indeed been rather active over the past year, which had significantly threatened the positions of the Princes. So much so that these Princes had become increasingly less noticeable in Great Wu.

Nowadays, the common people of Great Wu only knew of the Princess of Great Wu and had almost no impression of the Princes of Great Wu.

Wu Junwan thought to herself that it seemed she had elicited her father's displeasure, and that she would need to keep a lower profile from now on.

...

At the very same moment,

The household of Great Wu's Imperial Censor received a particular visitor today.

In the main hall, sitting opposite the Imperial Censor Zhang Yuanbai was a middle-aged man who was fat, dressed in silk robes, with a thick gold chain around his neck, radiating an aura of wealth.

Zhang Yuanbai spoke with a smile, "Qian Xingchang, you have made the right choice. I could never have imagined that you would offer your allegiance to Prince Wu Ming."

Qian Xingchang replied with a smile, "The Princess is just a woman, and no matter how capable she is, she has no chance of inheriting the throne. Following her leads nowhere."

Zhang Yuanbai inquired, "Aren't you afraid that Princess Junwan will find out you've already given your loyalty to Prince Wu Ming?"

"The Princess does not tolerate sand in her eyes," noted Qian Xingchang with a smile. "As long as you, Sir Zhang, don't reveal it, how could the Princess possibly know that I've already sided with Prince Wu Ming?"

As he said this, Qian Xingchang produced a stack of banknotes from his sleeve, placing them in front of Zhang Yuanbai, "Sir Zhang, this is a token of my sincerity; please accept it with a smile."

Zhang Yuanbai glanced briefly at the stack of banknotes beside him, his eyes gleaming, but he quickly concealed the shine, stroking his beard and responding with a beaming smile, "Of course, of course, I will certainly speak well of you to Prince Wu Ming."

At that moment, Qian Xingchang took another stack of papers from his sleeve, saying with a grin, "Sir Zhang, these documents contain some of the shady dealings that Princess Junwan had people carry out over the years. I believe they will prove extremely useful to Prince Wu Ming."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuanbai's heart skipped, hurriedly taking the papers from Qian Xingchang's hands, glancing over them briefly before storing them away as prized possessions.

"The Prince will surely reward you for these."

Qian Xingchang said obsequiously, "It's what I ought to do."