Lin Wanyun was taken aback.
Hearing Lu Chen say this, it seemed like there was absolutely no problem with what Lu Chen had said.
Although they indeed wanted to use the Love Worm to control Lu Chen, they didn't plan to kill him, and Chen Wanrong even planned to have a child with him.
The reason why they were always afraid of being discovered by Lu Chen was mainly because they felt that Lu Chen would not cooperate with them in refining the Subtle Dragon Spell, and certainly would not let them kill his father, the Sum Emperor, after all, Lu Chen was also the son of the Sum Emperor.
Seeing Lin Wanyun fall silent, Lu Chen continued to lure her with his words beside her ear, "Judging by your performance last night, you have been longing for my body for quite some time, you just didn't show it. Now that you are my woman, there's no need for us to hide anything from each other anymore."
"You were afraid that I would reject you after knowing your intentions, so you didn't dare tell me your plans. Now that we have had an open talk, why don't we formally start to collaborate?"
With a flushed face, Lin Wanyun retorted, "You shameless scoundrel, who's longing for your body!"
Lin Wanyun, having her thoughts exposed by Lu Chen, felt immensely ashamed. She had indeed been thinking about Lu Chen's handsome face lately, always unable to stop herself from looking at him, sometimes feeling strange sensations in her heart.
Although she had been deliberately trying to avoid these feelings, there was no doubt in her mind that she harbored romantic feelings for Lu Chen, and she knew this well.
But she stoutly denied it, after all, she was already thirty-two years old this year, how could she have feelings for a man much younger than herself.
What Lu Chen did last night completely tore apart the facade she had kept up in her heart.
Lin Wanyun continued, "What collaboration? You just want mine and Rongrong's bodies, that much is clear. I will never agree to that. Rongrong has her own mission; she cannot stay in the North Prince Mansion to bear your children. You'd better give up on that idea."
Lu Chen, with his arm around Lin Wanyun's waist, said, "You're right, I do want your bodies, but I'm also serious about the collaboration. The two aren't mutually exclusive."
"You don't agree now, no matter. I will give you time to think it over, and when you have made up your mind, let me know your decision."
With those words, Lu Chen let go of Lin Wanyun.
Lin Wanyun immediately headed towards the exit of the study room, or rather, she fled towards it. She was afraid that if Lu Chen took a fancy once more, she would be pressed against the desk again.
After Lin Wanyun left, Lu Chen quickly glanced over the Qinggong technique "Shadow Shifting" he had just acquired.
This Qinggong was very useful for him; it could allow him to move to a different place in the blink of an eye. Having mastered this Qinggong, he would easily be able to dodge others' attacks in the future.
After examining the cultivation technique, Lu Chen took a quick look around his study, which was now a complete mess.
The pillow he had used last night was too soft; he had lost some control, and his actions had been a bit rough, causing the desk in the study to collapse.
This was the desk he had just had specially made a few days ago, in case Wang Qingci would occasionally come to his study to relax, worrying that the desk might not withstand it.
He hadn't expected that in just a short while, the desk would be ruined.
It seems better not to engage in such activities in the study in the future.
Thinking of this, Lu Chen straightened his clothes, then left the study as well.
Chen Wanrong woke up early in the morning and started to meditate in the pavilion.
Suddenly, a disheveled figure appeared in the courtyard. Seeing Lin Wanyun with her hair in disarray, stumbling as she walked, Chen Wanrong immediately stood up and asked, "Madam Lin, what's the matter with you?"
Although Chen Wanrong's face was expressionless, the fluctuation in her tone was obvious. She was clearly very concerned about Lin Wanyun.
If it hadn't been for Lin Wanyun taking her to the Mysterious Moon Palace all those years ago, and caring for her ever since, it was questionable whether she would have survived at all, let alone achieved what she had today.
Even though she always addressed Lin Wanyun as "Auntie", in her heart, she had long regarded Lin Wanyun as her own mother.
Fearing that Chen Wanrong might notice something amiss, Lin Wanyun hastily said, "I'm fine. An assassin came to the Prince's Mansion last night, and I exchanged a few moves with him. Just my clothes got a bit torn, I'm not hurt. I'm going to take a bath now."
With that, Lin Wanyun hurried off to her room.
Watching Lin Wanyun's receding figure, Chen Wanrong did not harbor much suspicion, as she had absolute trust in Lin Wanyun. She believed that Lin Wanyun wouldn't lie to her.
Chen Wanrong felt she smelled a sharp, pungent odor, the likes of which she couldn't recognize — it was her first time encountering such a scent.
After catching a whiff of this odor, the image of that man involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
Chen Wanrong immediately regulated her Inner Strength to calm her inner turmoil, preventing herself from continuing down the path of intrusive thoughts.
Lin Wanyun stripped off her tattered clothes and submerged herself in the bath, scrubbing her body over and over again.
At that moment, the words said by Lu Chen seemed to echo in her ears.
Unable to discern whether Lu Chen's words were true or false, she dared not trust him.
If Lu Chen were sincere in seeking an alliance, then perhaps it could be considered...
But then, how would she face Chen Wanrong?
Could she really expect herself and Chen Wanrong to marry Lu Chen?
Such a preposterous notion.
Only that little devil could come up with such an idea.
Lin Wanyun sighed. The priority was to find the antidote first, then consider other matters.
Just then, she began to circulate her Cultivation Technique, intending to expel the impurities from her body.
But the next moment, she froze, feeling the roundness of her belly, and suddenly realized that if she couldn't conceive Lu Chen's child soon, how would she obtain the antidote from him?
At this thought, Lin Wanyun had to abandon her Cultivation Technique. The idea of bearing a child for Yue's son filled her with such inner shame, it felt like dying was a better option—how had she, of her age, come to have an affair with a man over a decade her junior?
All because of that little devil!
Every time she thought of that demon's face, Lin Wanyun's mind was once again filled with the scenes from last night. To halt her chaotic thoughts, she immediately submerged herself, burying her head entirely in the water.