Chapter 334: Chapter 234: The Storm that Swept Over Great Xia Arrives_3

Her loyalty to Lu Chen was naturally one hundred percent, but that did not mean she particularly liked Lu Chen, she had long heard that Lu Chen was a rake, fond of beautiful women, not even sparing his own aunts.

Even though Lu Chen was no longer the waste of rumors, it did not mean he was not lecherous anymore, Dongfang Longyue couldn’t help but wonder if Lu Chen was staring at her so intently because he was taken by her body.

When she was in Sufeng City, that was how those men were, just a few glances at her, and they wanted to marry her.

At this moment, Dongfang Longyue thought to herself that Lu Chen was the Son of Destiny, and if Lu Chen truly desired her body, it was likely that the entire Dongfang Family would approve, so was she going to be married off to the North Prince Mansion to become one of Lu Chen’s concubines?

Although she could not say she disliked Lu Chen very much, such an arranged marriage still made her somewhat uncomfortable.

At this time, Dongfang Longyue sized up Lu Chen, his cheekbones were very handsome, sharp, and distinct, and between his eyebrows seemed to emanate an imperial aura that involuntarily made one want to submit.

If it were only about appearance, marrying him wouldn’t be so bad, it was just that she was used to being free, and did not particularly want to marry into an imperial family.

Someone like Lu Chen, destined to become the Emperor, and not just any Emperor at that, if she became his woman, not to mention the harem’s scheming and strife, she feared she would only be confined to the Imperial Palace until her death.

After pondering for a while, Lu Chen spoke up, “Miss Dongfang, I heard you are engaged to the Crown Prince?”

Dongfang Longyue answered, “Yes, my primary reason for coming to the North Country was to escape the engagement to the Crown Prince.”

Seeing Lu Chen bring up the matter of the engagement made Dongfang Longyue even more certain that Lu Chen was interested in her.

Lu Chen continued to ask, “Miss Dongfang does not wish to marry the Crown Prince, is it because you have someone else in your heart?”

Dongfang Longyue responded, “I have no favored suitors at the moment.”

Having said this, Dongfang Longyue continued, “Prince, just calling me Longyue is fine.”

Now that the entire Dongfang Family was a vassal of the North Prince Mansion, Lu Chen had no need to be so respectful to her; his excessive courtesy only added to her pressure.

Lu Chen said, “Very well, from now on I will call you Longyue.”

“Longyue, when you go back later, write a letter to your father, telling him that I have placed Brocade Guards in Sufeng City. If you need anything, you can directly contact the Brocade Guard, or through them, keep in contact with me.”

Having said this, Lu Chen took out a Brocade Guard token and placed it on the desk, “This is the identity token used by the Brocade Guard, deliver it to Sufeng City along with your letter.”

Hearing this, Dongfang Longyue glanced at the identity token on the desk, then stepped forward and picked up the Brocade Guard’s token.

This token was a blank identity token, mainly so that Dongfang Yi could identify the Brocade Guard, without any other purpose.

“I understand,” she acknowledged.

Lu Chen nodded and said, “Well, if there is nothing else, you may go back.”

“Yes, Prince, I shall take my leave,” she said.

Once again, Dongfang Longyue gave her respects and turned to leave; seeing her graceful figure as she departed, Lu Chen scoffed at himself with a self-deprecating laugh.

He had become debased, desiring any beautiful woman he saw, was this the change that came with power?

Lu Chen rubbed his temples and tried to think no more of it.

Meanwhile.

In Great Sum, the Capital city.

The East Palace.

Today, the East Palace was not as lively as usual, many officials had come to the East Palace before, but now far fewer.

On one hand, it was because the court officials had realized the Sum Emperor’s intent to depose the Crown Prince, and on the other, Lu Shuyun had sensed the impending events, thus advising officials close to him to visit less.

At this moment, inside the great hall, it was mostly people from the aristocratic families of the South.

Sitting atop the hall, Lu Shuyun glanced at everyone when the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, Wang Chengshuo, spoke, “Your Highness, the Emperor’s decision to deploy troops is final, no matter how we try to stop it, it is futile.”

“Recently, the Universal Academy and some citizens of Great Qian entered Great Sum, bringing with them the plague from Great Qian, regardless of whether the plague spreads, the Emperor will use this as an excuse to send out troops.”

“We must prepare in advance,” he said.

After hearing Wang Chengshuo’s words, Lu Shuyun fell silent.

Of course, he understood that his father, the Emperor, had decided to act against the southern aristocratic families, but his position was rather awkward. Firstly, he was the Sum Emperor’s son, and secondly, his ties with the southern aristocratic families were extremely close.

If he did not rebel with the southern aristocratic families, once they were destroyed, his position as the Crown Prince would undoubtedly be revoked without question.

Initially, he became the Crown Prince purely because his father had compromised with the southern aristocratic families, without their support, how could he possibly keep his position?

But if he rebelled with the southern aristocratic families, setting aside how his disloyal act would be despised, the possibility of their success was very slim, and if they failed in the end, his fate would be no better.

After much deliberation, Lu Shuyun finally made a decision. The southern aristocratic families were irrevocably tied to him, so he could not back down now. If he could not ascend, his fate would be even worse in the end.