I Want Tang Yuehua!

Chen Chu glanced at him, guessing the guy's thoughts. He'd just said something casually, and this guy actually took it seriously.

If he ever looked for a woman in the future, he'd definitely find someone he liked, someone who made him feel comfortable. He certainly wouldn't pick from this group of people.

"Brother Ge, I have some other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave," Chen Chu said, standing up and offering an apology before heading towards the back.

Seeing that the ceremony was almost over, it was time for him to meet Xue Qinghe at the Lan Ting. After all, that was the main event of the day.

Xue Qinghe naturally saw this as well. He also gave a few instructions to the people beside him and quietly left the viewing area.

The Lan Ting was located in the backyard of the Moonlight Pavilion. It was a small waterside pavilion surrounded by a patch of green bamboo, very quiet. Just as Chen Chu reached the outside of the pavilion, he heard Xue Qinghe's voice from inside: "You're here?"

He pushed the door open and went in. Xue Qinghe was sitting by the window, playing with his jade pendant. Seeing him enter, he raised his hand and said, "Please sit."

Chen Chu took a seat, looked at the man, and asked, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, why have you summoned me today?"

Xue Qinghe continued to fiddle with his jade pendant, looked up at Chen Chu, and said solemnly, "Brother Chen is in charge of the Defense Army, holding half the defense of Heaven Dou City, and is a pillar of the empire.

Now, the Martial Soul Hall is pressing closer and closer, Star Luo is also stirring, and the situation in the court is unclear. I need people like you, Brother Chen, to stand with me."

Chen Chu picked up the tea on the table and took a sip, playing dumb. "Your Highness the Crown Prince is joking. The Defense Army is originally the army of the empire. As long as there is an order, I will naturally obey Your Highness's command."

"It's not enough," Xue Qinghe put down his jade pendant and leaned forward slightly. "I don't want 'obedience,' I want 'unity of purpose'!"

He took out a golden scroll from his sleeve and pushed it in front of Chen Chu. "This is the decree for the expansion of the Defense Army. As long as you agree, the number of soldiers in the Defense Army can double, and you can choose any weapons and Soul Tools from the royal treasury."

Chen Chu glanced at the scroll. The golden dragon patterns were dazzling. This was real power. He hadn't expected Xue Qinghe to be so capable as to obtain such a thing.

But he didn't take it, only smiled. "Your Highness's kindness is appreciated. However, I have just taken charge of the Defense Army. If the number of soldiers in the Defense Army increases again, it will make it difficult for me to manage. The current scale is neither too much nor too little, and it is enough to guard the safety of the imperial capital."

A hint of surprise flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes, and then he understood. Chen Chu wasn't looking for these things.

He clapped his hands again, and two maids walked in from outside the hall. They were wearing the silver-white formal attire of the Moonlight Pavilion, were beautiful, and their Soul Power fluctuations were actually at the Soul Ancestor level.

"These two are the best girls cultivated by the Moonlight Pavilion. Their Martial Souls are 'Jade Flute' and 'Embroidery Needle' respectively. They can not only accompany you to relieve stress but also serve as temporary guards."

Xue Qinghe's tone was seductive. "If Brother Chen is satisfied, you can take them back to your mansion today."

Chen Chu's gaze swept over the maids, and he shook his head. "Your Highness, I'm not interested in young girls."

What a joke. If these people didn't come from the Martial Soul Hall, he wouldn't believe it. If he really took them in, wouldn't he be inviting trouble into his own home?

Xue Qinghe was stunned for a moment, then smiled again. "It seems Brother Chen's taste is indeed different from others."

He changed the subject, his tone ambiguous. "During the performance at the Moonlight Pavilion just now, was there anyone Brother Chen took a liking to? As long as you say the word, I can help you arrange it with anyone except Madam Yue Xuan."

Chen Chu paused with his teacup in hand, looked up at Xue Qinghe, his eyes filled with a hint of playfulness. "Your Highness, are you speaking the truth?"

Seeing that he didn't refuse, Xue Qinghe's heart leaped, and he quickly nodded. "Of course, as long as Brother Chen is willing to be of one mind with me, you can choose any noble lady in Heaven Dou City in the future."

Chen Chu put down his teacup, leaned back in his chair, and lowered his voice. "What if I said, the one I'm interested in is Madam Yue Xuan, Tang Yuehua?"

The smile on Xue Qinghe's face froze instantly. He looked at Chen Chu as if he hadn't heard clearly. "Brother Chen, don't joke. You might not know that Madam Yue Xuan has a special identity. She is not only the owner of the Moonlight Pavilion but also has connections with the Clear Sky Sect. Even my father, the Emperor, respects her. I..."

"I know," Chen Chu interrupted him, his tone carrying a hint of deliberate disappointment. "That's why I say, Your Highness's 'resources' might not be enough for me. I have the power of the Defense Army; I don't lack money or jewels either; as for women..."

He looked at the green bamboo outside the window, his voice tinged with melancholy. "In this entire Heaven Dou City, only a woman like Tang Yuehua can be considered a 'woman.' She can satisfy me and arouse some desire in me. The others, in my eyes, are just maids."

Xue Qinghe fell silent. He hadn't expected Chen Chu's appetite to be so large and his taste so unique. Tang Yuehua was indeed the most special woman in Heaven Dou City. With the Noble Ring Martial Soul, her temperament, and her background, she was top-notch. But precisely because of this, no one dared to provoke her. Offending her meant offending the Clear Sky Sect and the aristocratic forces behind the Moonlight Pavilion, which was not worth it at all.

"Brother Chen," Xue Qinghe said solemnly, "Madam Yue Xuan is not an option. If it were someone else, even a princess, I could ask my father to arrange a marriage for you. Is this not enough sincerity from me?"

Chen Chu smiled, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes. "Your Highness also has things you can't do? I thought Your Highness the Crown Prince could get anything he wanted in Heaven Dou City."

Xue Qinghe's expression turned grim upon hearing this, then softened. "It's not that I can't do it, but the price is too high. Brother Chen, you must understand that by cooperating with me, you will gain far more than just one Tang Yuehua. The military power of the Defense Army, the position of regent in the future empire, aren't these more important than a woman?"

"They are important," Chen Chu nodded, his tone serious. "These are certainly important, but they are all illusory. I can obtain them myself in the future. Your Highness is trying to win me over with mere empty promises. Doing this kind of life-threatening business, aren't you looking down on me a bit too much?"

Chen Chu's gaze was sharp as he looked at him. "I'll say it again: if you want me to risk my life with you, then send Tang Yuehua to my mansion. This is not a difficult task. The Clear Sky Sect has gone into seclusion and has already been crippled by the Martial Soul Hall. Now it depends on whether Your Highness is willing to make a sacrifice and whether you truly have sincerity."

Xue Qinghe sat in his seat, clenching the jade pendant in his hand. He knew Chen Chu was forcing his hand, using Tang Yuehua as a bargaining chip, gambling on whether he dared or not.

He knew Tang Yuehua's significance too well. The Moonlight Pavilion was the best place for him to win over the nobles. If he touched her, the noble circles of Heaven Dou City would likely be thrown into chaos, and the Clear Sky Sect would also react.

But if he refused, Chen Chu wouldn't just be disloyal; he wouldn't even show up. The crucial weapon of the Defense Army would be lost. Several people he had planted within had mysteriously died in the past few days.

"Brother Chen," Xue Qinghe took a deep breath, his tone filled with compromise. "Give me some time. Madam Yue Xuan is different. I can't force it, but I will find a way to make her change her perception of you. Whether it succeeds or not will depend on fate."