Chapter 683 - 259: The Lurking Yu Youhan! Chen Mo Became a Candidate for Consort Prince?
Chapter 683 - 259: The Lurking Yu Youhan! Chen Mo Became a Candidate for Consort Prince?
Chen Mo looked at Chu Yanli with a puzzled expression, "Concubine?"
"That’s right."
Chu Yanli walked up to him, their heights nearly equal, her phoenix eyes gazing straight at him, "To be frank, I’m very interested in you. If you don’t mind, you could be my aide, and perhaps someday you’ll even become a prince consort..."
As she said this, she paused and added, "Currently, you’re the only candidate."
"..."
Chen Mo saw that she wasn’t joking, and couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
Though he was quite confident in his looks and charm, he didn’t believe his first meeting with the Princess could make her fall head over heels or fall in love with him at first sight.
There must be another reason.
"Your Highness wants to use me as a shield, to make that Jiang guy back off?" Chen Mo asked straightforwardly.
Earlier in the meeting room of the Prince Mansion, he had noticed that Jiang Wangye’s gaze towards Chu Yanli was strange... coupled with Chu Yanli’s deliberate favor and Jiang Wangye’s inexplicable hostility, he had a suspicion.
Could it be another cliché of pretending to be a concubine to incite a rival’s ire?
"Him?"
Chu Yanli scoffed disdainfully and said, "I’m not that bored. Jiang Wangye is nothing in my eyes. If not for Yuchan’s sake, I would’ve killed him long ago."
Chen Mo was even more puzzled by her words, "Then why?"
"I told you, I’m simply interested in you."
Chu Yanli leaned forward slightly, moving a bit closer.
He could even smell her faint fragrance, a mix of fresh grass and amber resin.
"You have deep conflicts with Chu Heng, don’t you?"
"As long as you agree, I can have him sent to the Imperial Prison immediately, and you can deal with him as you please, even if it means killing him."
"..."
Chen Mo’s lips twitched, "No matter what, Heir Chu is still your nephew, Your Highness. Is this really appropriate?"
"There’s nothing inappropriate about it. Even if you don’t take action, I’ll still..." A cold glint flashed in Chu Yanli’s eyes, and she stopped speaking, softly continuing, "I’ll give you three days to think it over. After all, opportunities don’t always come."
"There’s no need to consider."
Chen Mo immediately replied, "I refuse."
Chu Yanli was a bit taken aback, frowning, "Why? I know you’re engaged, but I don’t care about that..."
Chen Mo shook his head, "It’s not about the engagement. I’m simply not interested in the Princess."
At these words, Chu Yanli’s expression stiffened, and the air turned dead silent.
Lu Shuangge looked a bit tense.
She had anticipated Chen Mo’s refusal but didn’t expect it to be so adamant!
Fearing the Princess might lash out in anger, she was ready to intervene at any moment. But instead, Chu Yanli smiled and said, "Fine, then let it go. A forced melon is not sweet... if you ever change your mind, you can come to me anytime."
Chen Mo hadn’t expected her to be so agreeable, and nodded, "Thank you, Princess, for your favor. I will take my leave."
With that, he turned, carrying his cat, and left.
"Wait."
Chu Yanli called out to him.
Chen Mo paused, lowering his head and saying, "Does Your Highness have more orders?"
Chu Yanli folded her hands behind her back, "Remember, nothing in this world comes for free. Whatever you gain, there is always a price to pay... Since you’ve taken something of mine, many things will no longer be up to you."
"I will remember."
Chen Mo’s heart tightened a bit, and without saying more, he turned and left.
Watching his back, Chu Yanli’s expression grew cold, with a golden light flickering in her phoenix eyes.
"Chen Mo, should I say you’re too clever, or just oblivious?"
"Your Highness..."
At this moment, Lu Shuang spoke softly, "Did you really intend to make Chen Mo your... ahem, aide?"
Chu Yanli raised her eyebrows, "I was just testing him, but now I’m genuinely interested... In the Prince Mansion, my Dragon Power had no effect on him, which means he’s not just a vessel but has refined Dragon Qi to some extent."
"Even Wu Lie couldn’t do that, so how did he manage it?"
She licked her lips, a hint of excitement in her voice, "I really want to dissect him inch by inch and study him thoroughly..."
Lu Shuangge’s throat moved, knowing that when the Princess said "dissect," she meant it literally...
"But there’s no rush."
Chu Yanli glanced at the plaque on the door, her tone carrying a bit of cold teasing, "No matter how you put it, Chu Heng is still a royal kin. Without outside aid, as a mere Deputy Thousand Households of the Sky Scale Guard, he stands no chance."
"I believe it won’t be long before he comes to me voluntarily."
Really?
Lu Shuangge was skeptical.
Having been stationed at the border for years, she wasn’t well-versed in the capital’s politics, but she knew the two factions were like fire and water. Trying to get the Three Departments to agree, especially targeting the Heir of Prince Yu...
It seemed nearly impossible.
But for some reason, seeing Chen Mo’s calm demeanor, she felt this matter wasn’t that simple.
"Regarding Chen Mo, the Empress should be more knowledgeable. It just so happens that we haven’t seen each other in many years... Hmm, I’ll go to the Imperial Palace, you can head back first." Chu Yanli said.
"To the palace? Your Highness, please don’t act impulsively..." Lu Shuangge feared she might storm into Qianji Palace with a sword again.
"Enough, I know what I’m doing."
Before she could finish, Chu Yanli’s figure turned into golden light and disappeared in a flash.
Lu Shuangge was silent for a moment, sighed helplessly, and turned to walk towards Lv Mansion.
...
...
After parting ways with Chu Yanli, Chen Mo quickly hurried towards the Imperial Palace.
novelraw