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Furthermore, the first crop of agricultural produce still needs to be reserved for seeds, and it will be at least a few years before North City can truly resolve its food security issues. In those years, North City will still have to rely on purchasing grain from the outside.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Chen said to Mu Zixuan, “Let the Prince’s Mansion temporarily halt grain purchases. I’ll ask Wang Qingci about the current grain prices in other kingdoms, and then we’ll use the Rain-listening Pavilion to buy grain from other kingdoms.”

Mu Zixuan asked, “Prince, won’t this expose the relationship between the Rain-listening Pavilion and the Prince’s Mansion?”

Lu Chen replied indifferently, “Just falsify the accounts. The Rain-listening Pavilion can claim that the price they sold grain to the North Prince Mansion is similar to that in Great Sum.”

“The Rain-listening Pavilion is, after all, a commercial entity. It should serve its purpose to some extent.”

Although the main function of the Rain-listening Pavilion is to gather intelligence, its overt function is to engage in commerce. There is nothing that the Rain-listening Pavilion does not offer for sale. It is perfectly normal business practice for the Rain-listening Pavilion to resell grain to North City and profit from the markup, given the shortage of grain there.

Mu Zixuan responded, “This servant understands.”

After being intimate with Mu Zixuan for a while, Lu Chen left the main hall and headed to his study.

Just as he arrived at the study, he said to a Brocade Guard, “Summon Mr. Wang for me. I have business with her.”

Wang Qingci had been rarely seen in the North Prince Mansion for the past half month. It was unclear whether it was because of the severe scolding last time that had left her scared, scared enough not to dare to return.

However, she was ultimately his female slave. If she did not come back, he would simply have someone call her. As long as she had not left Yan County, she was obligated to come to the North Prince Mansion and report to him.

Lu Chen didn’t wait long in the study before he heard Wang Qingci’s voice outside, “Prince, your servant has arrived.”

Sitting at his desk and writing a reform proposal for North City with a brush, Lu Chen said, “Come in.”

Wang Qingci then pushed the door and entered the room.

Seeing Lu Chen busy with his work, Wang Qingci breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that perhaps Lu Chen had called for her to satisfy some of his other desires.

But then she thought, with so many women in the inner courtyard of the North Prince Mansion, even if she did not return, Lu Chen wouldn’t be idle; he didn’t need her to satisfy him.

And Lu Chen had no reason to have the Brocade Guard find her specially for that kind of matter; probably, he had something important to discuss.

Wang Qingci proactively asked, “Prince, what business do you have with your servant?”

Lu Chen spoke up, “I want to know which kingdom or country currently has relatively lower grain prices. The North Prince Mansion is planning to stockpile some grain.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Qingci instantly understood Lu Chen’s intent. Working in intelligence, she knew all too well how frightening the recent rise in Great Sum’s grain prices had been. She had already scouted out which kingdom had lower grain prices for Lu Chen.

Wang Qingci promptly said, “Prince, your servant has already inquired for you. Currently, the grain prices in the Da Yue Dynasty are relatively low. However, the main grain crop of the Da Yue Dynasty is wheat.”

The people of Great Sum favored rice, while those from Da Yue, primarily living in the northwestern regions, preferred wheat-based foods. Most of their grain was also wheat.

Despite North City being even further north than Da Yue, its people had only migrated from Great Sum in recent years, so most of them still primarily ate white porridge.

After hearing Wang Qingci’s words, Lu Chen pondered for a moment before saying, “Wheat will do as long as the price is relatively low.”

Habits can be changed. With rice prices today in Great Sum rising to six taels per stone, it is good enough just to fill one’s stomach. Is there any need to distinguish between wheat and rice?

Wang Qingci said, “Alright then. I’ll have the trade caravan hurry to purchase the grain.”

At this point, Wang Qingci glanced at the writing on Lu Chen’s desk, then tentatively asked, “Prince, if there’s nothing else, your servant will get busy with her tasks.”

Lu Chen set down his brush, smiled slightly, and gazed into Wang Qingci’s eyes before asking, “Has Mr. Wang been very busy lately? Busy enough to not visit the North Prince Mansion even once in half a month? How come I heard that Mr. Wang hasn’t left Yan County?”

Upon hearing this from Lu Chen, Wang Qingci’s heart skipped a beat.

Lu Chen’s treatment of her was different from his treatment of the other women in the Prince’s Mansion. Typically, when discussing official matters with her, he would refer to himself as “I”, not as “the Prince”.

In these past times, whether Lu Chen was playing a role or not, he would refer to himself as “the Prince” and call her “Mr. Wang” when he had wicked intentions toward her.

As long as she heard Lu Chen referring to himself as “the Prince” in her presence, followed by addressing her as “Mr. Wang,” it signified he had bad intentions for her.

Wang Qingci hurriedly said, “Prince, your servant was solely focused on gathering intelligence about other kingdoms more quickly to help you, that’s why I haven’t returned to the Prince’s Mansion. Your servant meant nothing else by it.”

Lu Chen said indifferently, “Is that so? Mr. Wang, you haven’t forgotten one of your responsibilities, have you?”

Hearing this question from Lu Chen, Wang Qingci knew she couldn’t escape what was coming. She gave Lu Chen a resentful look, then said, “Prince, your servant has been injured from martial arts training recently, so I hope that today you will not be so rough.”

With these words, Wang Qingci, swaying her slender waist, came directly to Lu Chen’s side.

Seeing Wang Qingci’s seductive figure, Lu Chen spoke no further. He promptly rose from his seat and pressed her onto the desk for a thorough handling.