At that moment, Wang Qingci also noticed Lu Chen—after all, he was the very reason she was here.
Seeing the Northern King smiling at her, Wang Qingci was overjoyed. It seemed like half of her plan had already succeeded—she had successfully caught his attention.
Now, all she needed to do was wait.
She was confident that before long, the Northern King would come looking for her. When it came to her beauty, Wang Qingci had absolute confidence.
With that thought, she gave Lu Chen a subtle, alluring smile.
After the wedding banquet ended, Lu Chen left immediately, while Mu Zixuan stayed behind to chat with the other noblewomen in attendance.
Lu Chen had already spent plenty of time bonding with Zhou Xiaoxiao and Zhou Youyou, so he wasn't in any rush for the wedding night.
Instead, he made his way to the main courtyard—the one where he had planted the Dragon-Phoenix Tree.
Although it had only been about half a month since he planted it, the tree had already grown to waist height.
At first glance, it didn't look any different from an ordinary tree.
Lu Chen plucked a few leaves from its branches, planning to brew them into tea for Zhou Xiaoxiao and Zhou Youyou later that night.
Just then, Chu Yuqin appeared in the courtyard.
Seeing that Lu Chen hadn't gone to entertain guests or visit his new concubines, but instead had come here to look at a tree, she asked curiously, "Chen'er, what are you doing? Why aren't you with the Zhou sisters?"
Hearing Chu Yuqin's voice, Lu Chen paused for a moment. Then, as he turned to look at her, an idea formed in his mind.
He immediately asked the system, "System, once a woman drinks Dragon-Phoenix Tea, will she become dependent on me and unable to leave my side?"
[That is correct.]
[Additionally, once a woman drinks Dragon-Phoenix Tea, she will be unable to harm you. If you touch her, she will lose all strength.]
[However, if the woman already has a favorable impression of you, the tea can also enhance her martial cultivation.]
Lu Chen was taken aback. He had assumed the tea would merely make women emotionally dependent on him—but it could actually increase their martial strength as well?
Chu Yuqin already had a high level of affection for him. If she drank more Dragon-Phoenix Tea, her cultivation would surely improve significantly.
Smiling, Lu Chen said, "There's no rush. It's still broad daylight—what do you want me to do, Aunt Chu? Proclaim my love for them under the sun?"
Chu Yuqin shot him an exasperated glare. "What nonsense are you spouting? I meant that you should go talk with them and strengthen your bond—after all, you're married now."
Her gaze then fell on the leaves in Lu Chen's hand. Curious, she asked, "What are you doing with those leaves?"
Lu Chen didn't answer directly. Instead, he glanced around cautiously before saying in a hushed tone, "Aunt Chu, come with me—I have a secret to tell you."
Hearing this, Chu Yuqin's eyes lit up with interest.
Lately, she had noticed that Lu Chen had many secrets. Every time she asked about them, he would brush her off, claiming that he had grown up and didn't need to tell her everything anymore. She had even begun to wonder if he no longer saw her as family.
But now, he was actually offering to share a secret with her? She had to hear it.
Curious, she followed him to his room.
Once inside, Lu Chen placed the freshly picked leaves into the teapot on the table.
Seeing this, Chu Yuqin became even more intrigued. What on earth was he doing?
After a short wait, Lu Chen poured the brewed Dragon-Phoenix Tea into two purple clay cups. "Aunt Chu, try this tea."
Chu Yuqin blinked, then gave him a deadpan look. "Chen'er, this is your big secret?"
Lu Chen smirked mysteriously. "Aunt Chu, just drink it first—you'll understand."
To prove there was nothing suspicious, he picked up a cup and downed it in one gulp.
Seeing that he had already drunk some, Chu Yuqin hesitated for a moment before lifting her own cup and taking a sip.
The moment the tea touched her lips, a refreshing sensation spread through her body.
Then, to her shock, she felt her inner energy begin to surge.
She had been stuck at the ninth rank for years, believing she had reached her limit—but with just one sip of this tea, she felt her cultivation loosening.
Without hesitation, Chu Yuqin finished the entire cup. Her beautiful eyes then locked onto Lu Chen. "Chen'er, if I'm not mistaken, those leaves came from that tree in the courtyard, didn't they?"
She had noticed long ago that Lu Chen seemed unusually attached to that tree. She had often wondered why he insisted on watering it himself every day.
Now she understood—the leaves of that tree could enhance martial cultivation!
It was unbelievable.
Lu Chen still didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Aunt Chu, how do you feel?"
Chu Yuqin closed her eyes for a moment, then released a wave of internal energy.
When she opened them again, she looked astonished.
She had broken through to the Half-Step Grandmaster realm!
Although she was still far from becoming a true grandmaster, at least now she saw hope for advancement.
Only then did Lu Chen explain, "Aunt Chu, the tree in the courtyard is called the Dragon-Phoenix Tree. Its leaves, when brewed into tea, can help martial artists increase their cultivation."
Of course, he only revealed part of the truth—he wasn't about to tell her about the tea's other effects just yet.
Chu Yuqin was gentle by nature, so Lu Chen had no intention of taking an aggressive approach with her.
Hearing his explanation, Chu Yuqin was even more shocked. She had already experienced the tea's benefits firsthand, but hearing it confirmed in words made it all the more incredible.
First, Lu Chen had produced a weapon capable of instantly killing ninth-rank martial artists.
Now, he had somehow found a plant that could increase cultivation?
If word of this got out, the entire martial world would be thrown into chaos!
Countless grandmasters would storm the Northern King's Manor to seize that tree.
Not just grandmasters—even supreme grandmasters might take an interest.
Realizing this, Chu Yuqin decided against asking where Lu Chen had obtained the tree—she knew he wouldn't tell her anyway.
Instead, she sighed and asked worriedly, "Chen'er, does anyone else know about this tree?"
Lu Chen shook his head. "I've only told you, Aunt Chu. No one else knows."
Chu Yuqin warned, "Whatever you do, never tell anyone else. Otherwise, Northern King's Manor will face disaster—even I won't be able to protect you."
Lu Chen reassured her, "Don't worry, Aunt Chu. I understand the stakes."
Chu Yuqin nodded, then said, "Alright, you should go find Xiaoxiao and Youyou now."
Lu Chen chuckled. "Alright, I'll head over now."
With that, he turned and left.
For some reason, as she watched Lu Chen's tall figure disappear from view, Chu Yuqin felt a strange sense of unease creeping into her heart.