Since Lu Chen had learned Puppetry Technique, he had been practicing controlling puppets every single day and had reached the point of obsession.
He even had a craftsman carve several palm-sized puppets and distributed one to each of his wives and concubines so that they could use these puppets to contact him if they had any issues.
However, Lu Chen's gifting of puppets made Chu Yuqin feel very uneasy.
One night, Lu Chen ca to Chu Yuqin's room, and after an intense exchange between them, Chu Yuqin expressed her concerns.
"Chen'er, you are still alive, yet you've made so many puppets that look exactly like yourself. Is that really appropriate?"
In the Great Xia Dynasty, "not making statues of the living" and "not erecting steles for the alive" was common knowledge, let alone these wooden "small people." Whenever "small people" were ntioned, people would first think of straw effigies.
These straw effigies are usually used when cursing soone. There had been several disasters related to witchcraft and curses in the Great Xia Dynasty, and they were all closely related to such effigies.
But those effigies were made by others to curse soone, and here was Lu Chen making so many effigies of himself—and the key was that all these little figures had his blood on them.
When it cos to the effectiveness of a curse, these little figures stained with his own blood would be more effective.
Therefore, Chu Yuqin felt that it was very inappropriate for Lu Chen to give away these little figures, and they should all be taken back.
After all, Chu Yuqin was from this era and possessed the thoughts of this era.
Upon hearing Chu Yuqin's words, Lu Chen gently stroked her jade back and said with a smile, "Madam Chu, I have never believed in such Witch Worm Skill."
Seeing Lu Chen's response, Chu Yuqin sighed inwardly; she knew that Lu Chen certainly did not believe in Witch Worm Skill, otherwise, he would not have let a craftsman carve so many little figures that looked like him.
Chu Yuqin then advised, "Chen'er, with such matters, it's better to err on the side of caution than dismiss the possibility."
Lu Chen then got up from Chu Yuqin's body, turned her around to face him, and gazed into her eyes as he asked, "The wooden figures I carved were also given to my won. Is Madam Chu suggesting that among them, soone would wish to harm ?"
Chu Yuqin blushed and said, "Maybe not now, seeing how robust your body is."
"But the human heart is unpredictable."
"As the number of your won increases, you may begin to neglect so of your wives and concubines in the future. And as your children multiply, once the kids grow up, those won may start harboring inappropriate thoughts for the sake of their own children."
"You are also a mber of the royal family; you have experienced those incidents. You can't be too careful."
Moved by her words, Lu Chen felt in his heart that indeed, this woman cared for him the most in this world.
Lu Chen lifted his hand to touch Chu Yuqin's jade-like face and said with a smile, "Madam Chu, I have already considered all that you have said, but rest assured, my won will not harm ."
Despite Lu Chen's confidence, Chu Yuqin sighed internally; every ti she reminded Lu Chen of potential dangers, he would respond the sa way.
The more confident Lu Chen was, the more worried Chu Yuqin beca.
Just then, Lu Chen leaned in close again and as Chu Yuqin let out a soft groan, he whispered in her ear, "There's a secret, and I am not sure if I have ever spoken to you directly about it. After much thought, I've decided to tell you because you are the person closest to ."
Chu Yuqin's curiosity was piqued by his words. What secret was Lu Chen about to reveal?
Lu Chen continued, "Madam Chu, do you know what Dragon and Phoenix Tea is used for?"
Looking puzzled, Chu Yuqin replied, "Isn't it used to enhance one's strength?"
Lu Chen said, "Enhancing strength is just one of the functions of Dragon and Phoenix Tea. It has another, greater purpose."
Chu Yuqin asked with curiosity, "What purpose?"
Lu Chen answered, "Dragon and Phoenix Tea can deepen and stabilize my wives and concubines' affections for ."
Chu Yuqin was taken aback by that revelation.
She quickly made a connection and her face flushed with embarrassnt, "You… you little rascal…"
"No wonder you had drink Dragon and Phoenix Tea, and you actually…"
Chu Yuqin felt a hint of emotion stirring within her; she had wondered why there had been a period where she constantly thought about getting involved with this rascal.
Although she found Lu Chen handso and had wanted to protect him all her life while she was in the Capital city, she had never thought she would end up sharing a bed with him.
And yet, it hadn't been long since she arrived in North Country when this little rascal completely devoured her. It turned out that this little rascal had used so despicable thods on her.
As Lu Chen twisted his body, he said to Chu Yuqin, "Don't be angry; this tea was ant for my won, and besides, it can also enhance strength. My main intention in giving it to you was to help boost your power."
Chu Yuqin snorted lightly, then said, "I don't believe you, you little rascal!"
She had gotten pregnant by this little rascal, and he still told her it was to improve her strength. How could she possibly believe that? This little rascal had his eyes on her body from the start.
Finally, Lu Chen spoke plainly, "Since you don't believe anyway, I won't pretend anymore. I coveted you, my lady, that's why I let you drink Dragon and Phoenix Tea. Anyway, it's all happened; what do you plan to do about it?"
"You… I…"
"Sigh…"
Chu Yuqin ultimately let out a helpless sigh, knowing full well that regardless of the Dragon and Phoenix Tea, her fate was already sealed. This little rascal had set his sights on her since he was small, and he was not going to let her go.
Chu Yuqin then said, "It's no use talking about it now; consider it my bad luck to have encountered you, this little rascal, in this lifeti."
Smiling, Lu Chen replied, "How can you call it bad luck? eting , you should feel blessed instead."
Chu Yuqin huffed again, "I won't pester you with these matters anymore. No wonder every ti I remind you to pay attention to the inner court's affairs, you appear so indifferent. It turns out you've long known that your wives and concubines will not betray you."
"And here I was, so worried about you."
Lu Chen said, "My dear wife, haven't I explained the reason to you just now? From now on, you don't have to worry."
Having said that, Lu Chen began to focus on his own matters, leaving Chu Yuqin with no choice but to imrse herself in the happiness he created.
anwhile.
At the Lu Mansion.
Xue Linglong, dressed in a silky undergarnt, tossed and turned on the bed, her mind filled with the images of her entanglent with Lu Chen at the North Prince Mansion that day.
Whether practicing or sleeping, she would think of Lu Chen.
Xue Linglong felt as if she were becoming addicted to that sensation.
After rolling around on the bed with the blanket for a while, Xue Linglong sat up abruptly.
She muttered to herself, "Strange, several days have passed, why hasn't that fellow co to the Lu Mansion looking for ?"
Logically, her Charm Skill had succeeded, and though Lu Chen had regained consciousness, she had already planted a seed deep within Lu Chen's heart. Lu Chen should be feeling a profound sense of guilt towards her and would seek ways to compensate her.
She had estimated that Lu Chen would probably co to seek her out voluntarily the day after her return and try to find ways to offer words of ands.
But after so many days, that fellow hadn't made a single move, nor had he sent anyone with gifts to the Lu Mansion. She began to doubt whether her Charming Skill had been effective at all.
Xue Linglong's mind surged with a sudden realization of a possibility.
"Could it be that my Charm Skill was noticed by a Celestial from the Mysterious Moon Palace, and that Celestial helped the North Prince undo it?"
"If that's the case, it spells trouble."
If the Celestial from the Mysterious Moon Palace discovered that she had used the Charm Skill on Lu Chen, they would surely seek out the person behind it. If her actions were exposed, she would have no choice but to leave Yan County, which would prevent her from taking Lu Chen back to the Taiyin Divine Sect for the sacrifice.
This thought made Xue Linglong feel extrely unsettled.
She decided to visit the North Prince Mansion the next morning to investigate and see if her Charm Skill had indeed been undone by soone from the Mysterious Moon Palace.
Just then, she once again felt an overwhelming emptiness in her body, and she began to heat up all over.
Xue Linglong bit her silver teeth, her hands gripping the blanket tightly as she said angrily, "It's all that scoundrel's fault! I should never have done that with him!"
Another sleepless night ensued.
Early the next morning.
Xue Linglong arrived at the North Prince Mansion, using the sa pretext as before—to chat with Mu Zixuan.
While drinking tea and chatting with Mu Zixuan, Mu Zixuan asked, "Sister Xue, have you been busy lately? Why haven't you co to the North Prince Mansion in several days?"
Xue Linglong said, sowhat sheepishly, "I... I've been tied up with so matters these past few days, but they are all settled now, and I'm free again."
Xue Linglong asked tentatively, "By the way, Sister Zixuan, has anything happened at the Prince's Mansion recently?"
Mu Zixuan inquired, "Sister Xue, why do you ask?"
Xue Linglong replied, "I heard that many craftsn have been entering the Prince's Mansion these days, so I was a bit curious if the mansion was undergoing renovations."
Mu Zixuan answered, "Not at all."
"It's just that the Prince's behavior seems to have changed a bit recently; he brought in the woodworkers to the Prince's Mansion, actually it's to carve so wooden figures."
Upon hearing Mu Zixuan's response, Xue Linglong was taken aback.
His behavior changed a bit?
So, her Charm Skill hadn't failed after all. But why then hadn't he co looking for her?
Xue Linglong continued to ask, "What is the Prince carving wooden figures for?"
Mu Zixuan replied, "I don't know, but it seems like he wants to carve the figure of a certain woman."
"I even suspect the Prince might be bewitched."
Xue Linglong's heart jolted; was Lu Chen carving the figure of a specific woman with the intention of having sothing to rember her by?
This was indeed very likely!
No wonder he hadn't co looking for her!
So he planned to use the figure to comfort himself!
This wouldn't do; what she wanted was for him to actively seek her out, not for him to comfort himself!
In Xue Linglong's view, not only had her Charm Skill not failed, but its effect might have been so significant that it caused Lu Chen to feel too guilty towards her, making him fear and dare not face her, which was why he hadn't co to her.
For her, this was not a good sign. She was keener on Lu Chen taking the initiative to leave the North Prince Mansion to seek her out, providing her with the chance to take Lu Chen away from Yan County, away from the North Country.
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