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

Although Murong Xue'er was still very confident in her own beauty, she was well aware that it wasn't easy to attract the North Prince with her looks alone. The North Prince, despite his fondness for the company of women, already had so many that he was probably too busy to seek more affairs outside.

Murong Xue'er pondered how she could get close to the North Prince.

Just as she was lost in thought, a maid entered her room and placed an invitation in front of Murong Xue'er, "Lord Murong, a son from Great Qian is holding a poetry gathering in Yan County, and he invites you to participate."

Upon hearing this, Murong Xue'er was slightly taken aback.

A poetry gathering?

This could be a good pretext.

Since Yan County had become a trading hub, many merchants and scholars had also come to Yan County. There had been frequent occasions where wealthy sons organized poetry gatherings or meetings of scholarly friends, inviting people of status from Yan County.

North Country had not interfered with such activities, which in turn enriched the cultural atmosphere of Yan County even further.

Murong Xue'er thought to herself that the North Prince had been recently promoting universal education. By paying such close attention to literacy among the common people, it showed that the Prince greatly valued learning. The North Prince must be someone well-versed in poetry and literature.

Usually, the policies of a ruler are closely linked to their personal interests. The North Prince's strong push for universal education might very well align with his hobbies.

If she could use the poetry gathering as an excuse to invite the North Prince, it was likely that he would come. By doing so, wouldn't she have the opportunity to build a relationship with the North Prince?

Having made up her mind, Murong Xue'er started to devise her plan.

In the blink of an eye, another half-month had passed.

Wu Junwan returned from her mission to Great Jue without any achievements, which caused a number of ministers in the court to view her with great dissatisfaction.

Some thought that with Wu Junwan's good relationship with the Yue Emperor and considering that Great Sum was at its weakest, it was entirely possible for the two great dynasties to join forces and wipe out Great Sum. Yet Wu Junwan had failed to persuade the Yue Emperor to form an alliance with Great Wu, which was seen as a testament to her incompetence.

The failure to form an alliance with Great Jue also made some ministers in Great Wu more conservative. Some believed that without someone to keep North Country in check, Great Wu would likely find itself in crisis if it engaged in a two-front war.

From Yongan County of North Country to the Imperial City of Great Wu, the landscape was almost entirely flat plains. North Country's heavy cavalry could directly penetrate the heartland of Great Wu.

If Great Wu were to deploy troops against Great Sum, they would need to station a significant force in the north for defense, which would greatly reduce the main combat forces available for the offensive against Great Sum.

Even the Martial Emperor, who favored the use of force, was becoming indecisive. He was unsure whether to go to war.

Days passed by, and the world seemed to regain its former peace. Although the Seigniors of Great Sum were still actively preparing for war, incessantly expanding their armies, and daily quarrels erupted in the court, no one dared to be the first to mobilize their troops.

Everyone was waiting.

Waiting for the news of the Sum Emperor's death.

However, to everyone's surprise, this waiting lasted nearly a year.

During these months, almost all of Great Sum's state affairs were handled by Prince Lu Yi. The Sum Emperor had been ill in his bedchamber and hadn't appeared before others. Some even suspected that the Sum Emperor might have already died, his demise known only to Prince Lu Yi and the two Prime Ministers, yet not publicly announced.

Several months ago, there had been rumors in the palace that the Sum Emperor was on his deathbed, but so much time had passed without his death. Some Princes were beginning to grow impatient.

At this very moment.

In North Country.

Within North Prince Mansion, the room outside Chu Yuqin's chamber was filled with people, all awaiting the birth of her child.

Just then, a tall and handsome man entered the courtyard, prompting the maid to quickly announce, "The Prince has arrived!"

At these words, the crowd immediately cleared a path.

Lu Chen entered the birthing room without delay.

Chu Yuqin lay quietly on the bed, her complexion somewhat pale, but upon seeing Lu Chen enter, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

Lu Chen sat down beside the bed, grasping Chu Yuqin's hand, and with a smile said, "Yuqin, did you ever think that after taking care of me growing up, you would also care for our child?"

At his words, Chu Yuqin glared at Lu Chen and then retorted, "You scoundrel, you have the audacity to say that. You already have so many women, and yet you couldn't leave me be, insisting on having me bear your child."

Lu Chen smiled slightly and gently brushed Chu Yuqin's hair at her temples with his other hand.

Chu Yuqin then asked, "When will the child be born?"

Lu Chen replied, "That depends on when he is ready to come out."

Chu Yuqin persisted, "Have you thought of a name for the child?"

Lu Chen suggested, "What about Lu Chengwang?"

Chu Yuqin curiously inquired, "Just one name? What if it's a girl?"

Lu Chen answered, "I sense that it's a boy."

Lu Chen's Rejuvenating Skill was now so profound that he could accurately gauge the condition within a person's body, which meant he knew very well whether the child in Chu Yuqin's womb was a boy or a girl.

Chu Yuqin murmured softly, "So it's a boy."

Hearing Chu Yuqin talking to herself, Lu Chen asked, "Would you have preferred a girl?"

Chu Yuqin replied, "I don't want my child to go through the same things you did. A girl would be nice."

Lu Chen immediately understood her meaning and, squeezing her hand firmly, said, "Don't worry, our child will never face a situation of fraternal strife."

With a smile, Chu Yuqin said, "Let's hope so."

No sooner had Chu Yuqin finished speaking, her complexion changed dramatically; Lu Chen quickly infused Spiritual Power into her body, and the next moment, the pain that had been there vanished entirely.

Seeing the green glow around Chu Yuqin, the midwives and maids of the Prince's Mansion sprang into action, well-experienced by now, knowing that Chu Yuqin's child would soon arrive.

The next moment, the room was filled with the "wah-wah-wah" cries of the newborn.