Chapter 282: Chapter 207 Qin Mei, Beautiful Scenery, Even More Beautiful People_1

Upon hearing Lu Chen’s words, the Hall of Political Affairs immediately became as noisy as a marketplace.

“Prince, if the court doesn’t provide grain, we absolutely must not accept those refugees.”

“The court is going too far. There are close to a million refugees from the three counties. If they don’t provide grain, how can the North Country possibly support them?”

“Exactly. The North Country is already so poor, and yet they send so many refugees over. In the end, the North Country will be even poorer. It seems like the court is deliberately trying to weaken the North Country through these refugees.”

Seeing the officials in the great hall looking indignant, Lu Chen revealed a faint smile. The officials of the North Country had essentially completed their transition; in the past, they looked at issues from Great Sum’s perspective, but now they all considered matters from the North Country’s standpoint, focusing on the interests of the North Country.

After the officials in the great hall had discussed for a while, Li Rui once again spoke up, “Prince, does the North Country really have to accept these refugees?”

Lu Chen said, “According to the intelligence this prince has received, the court’s stance is that accepting those refugees is a duty the North Country must fulfill as a feudal state, so the North Country cannot refuse.”

This…

The officials within the hall were dumbfounded. Not being able to refuse? This was treating the North Country like an easy mark.

If the court didn’t give grain and they dumped all those refugees on the North Country, wouldn’t the refugees rise up in rebellion immediately if there was nothing for them to eat upon their arrival?

At this moment, Lu Chen said, “This prince will write a memorial and send it to the capital city later. If the court doesn’t provide grain, and these refugees arrive in the North Country and don’t wish to stay, then it will no longer be the North Country’s concern. After all, these refugees are citizens of Great Sum; this prince cannot restrict their freedom.”

“If the court insists on doing this and a peasant uprising like the one in Great Wu erupts, the court will have to find a solution themselves.”

The North Country is very poor, which is something all of Great Sum’s common people know. If the refugees are sent to the North Country without providing grain, it is as good as trying to starve the refugees to death. When the common people hear about this, they will undoubtedly be extremely disappointed with the court.

At that moment, Lu Chen rose from the throne, waving his sleeve as he said, “Today’s meeting concludes here. Commander Qin, come to my study.”

“Yes, Prince.”

Soon after, Lu Chen went to his study, with Qin Yushan following closely behind.

“Prince, do you have any tasks for this subordinate?”

Lu Chen said, “Write a letter later and notify Commander Liang to mobilize all the Brocade Guards within Great Sum’s borders to spread the news that the court isn’t giving grain to the North Country, especially to the refugees.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yushan immediately understood Lu Chen’s intention, “Understood, Prince. This subordinate will convey the message to Commander Liang right away.”

As Qin Yushan’s voice faded, he prepared to leave the study, but Lu Chen then said, “Wait a moment, this prince has another matter.”

Qin Yushan stopped and said, “Please speak, Prince.”

Lu Chen asked, “How are things being handled with the Spirit Martial Tower?”

Qin Yushan replied, “The Spirit Martial Tower has sent quite a few spies to Yan County recently to search for their Pavilion Master. However, most of those spies have been captured by us. We are trying to draw the craftsmen of the Spirit Martial Tower to the North Country, but they are too cautious and absolutely no one is willing to come.”

Lu Chen said, “Find a way to control a person, then release that Grandmaster back, and nurture him to become a member of the Brocade Guard.”

Qin Yushan replied, “Prince, making a Grandmaster obey is likely not so easy, and it might require Your Highness to personally meet with the Grandmaster.”

While it is indeed possible to use certain drugs to control a Grandmaster, martial artists of the Master Realm generally don’t give in so easily. They might submit on the surface, but once out of danger, they would find ways to break free from control.

To make a Grandmaster truly submit, they need to be convinced in both heart and voice. Otherwise, once the Grandmaster learns how to neutralize the drug controlling them, they will inevitably betray you.

Ordinarily, where there is a controlling poison, there is an antidote. In a situation with an antidote, it is impossible for only one party to possess it.

Even if Qin Yushan poisoned the Grandmaster from the Spirit Martial Tower, the Grandmaster would likely try to find an antidote after returning to their own group. Therefore, Qin Yushan’s plan was for Lu Chen to meet the Grandmaster directly, to display Lu Chen’s true strength.

Apart from Wang Qingci, Lu Chen had not revealed to others that he had already broken through to the Grandmaster Realm. However, the followers summoned through the system could easily sense the changes in the aura exuding from Lu Chen. They were well aware that Lu Chen had become a Grandmaster.

At that moment, Qin Yushan knew that Lu Chen had already become a Grandmaster. Qin Yushan thought that a seventeen-year-old Grandmaster was enough to deter the master from Spirit Martial Tower and make them willingly follow Lu Chen.

Of course, this could also potentially reveal Lu Chen’s strength; it would all depend on how Lu Chen himself decided.

After pondering for a bit, Lu Chen then said, “Good, I will meet that master later.”

“You go ahead with your business.”

Qin Yushan immediately performed a ritual salute and said, “Your subordinate takes his leave.”

Following that, Qin Yushan left the study.

Once Qin Yushan had gone, Lu Chen went to sit down at his desk to start dealing with government affairs. Lately, there had been an increasing number of matters in North Country that required Lu Chen’s personal attention, which had made him very busy.

Lu Chen wanted to delegate power but thought that the officials of North Country, being locals of this world, might not understand some of his policies and could act contrary to his intentions. So, he felt compelled to take care of matters personally.

Of course, although his work was busy, Lu Chen did not forget to relax. Lately, he often visited Chu Qingli’s room to find relaxation with her, and he always found these visits particularly exhilarating.

At this time, Lu Chen suddenly heard a faint sound of a zither playing in the distance. Despite the distance, his hearing was far better than an average person’s since he was a Grandmaster, and he could hear it very clearly.

Lu Chen put down his pen and listened attentively. The music from the zither was flowing and melodious, making one feel extremely relaxed and comfortable.

Lu Chen grew curious about who was playing the zither and decided to rise and walk in the direction from which the music came.

After a short while, Lu Chen stopped at the entrance to the courtyard where Chen Wanrong and Lin Wanyun lived.

As soon as he arrived at the courtyard entrance, the scene before him was touching.

Clad in a white long dress, Chen Wanrong sat in the pavilion. Her slender hands hovered over the wooden zither, gently plucking the strings. As her delicate fingers danced over them, the flowing, melodious sounds reached Lu Chen’s ears.

At this moment, Chen Wanrong seemed to blend into one with the whole world, her being seemingly radiating a holy light, like a fairy descended from heaven, giving an immensely warm feeling.

The zither was beautiful, the scenery was beautiful, and the person even more so.

Lu Chen was no stranger to beautiful women; his inner palace was full of lovely ladies of various types.

However, few women made him feel the beauty in the way that Chen Wanrong did, yet his heart could not rise with any improper thoughts.

If Wang Qingci and Chu Qingli were to play the zither before him like this, it’s quite possible that Lu Chen would have taken them right there and then.

But Chen Wanrong was different. Hearing the zither music and admiring Chen Wanrong’s beauty, Lu Chen’s heart became incredibly peaceful.

The scene before him was like a beautiful painting.

Lu Chen stood at the entrance to the courtyard, listening for quite a while, until the music finally subsided, which was when he came back to his senses.

Just then, Lin Wanyun came in from outside. Seeing Lu Chen standing at the entrance and looking continuously at Chen Wanrong in the pavilion, her heart leaped with joy and she immediately said, “Chen’er, do you enjoy listening to the Palace Master play the music?”

Hearing Lin Wanyun’s voice behind him, Lu Chen was startled for a moment, then turned his head to look at Lin Wanyun and said with a smile, “I do. The sound of the zither brings peace to my heart.”

“I didn’t expect Miss Chen’s zither music to have such an effect.”

At that moment, Chen Wanrong in the pavilion also noticed Lu Chen at the entrance and rose to salute, saying, “Your Highness, greetings.”

Chen Wanrong then took the initiative to say, “If Your Highness enjoys the music of this commoner girl, you are welcome to come and listen more often.”

Hearing this, Lin Wanyun’s heart skipped a beat.

Finally, their Palace Master was becoming wise and actually took the initiative to invite the North Prince.