The corner of Li Mengdie's mouth curved into a mocking smile as she hid in the wardrobe. Wasn't Chu Chen treating Li Xinyue very well? Now he was even lying to her to keep things secret.
Li Xinyue pondered for a moment and said, "If we let her run off to the Xiongnu like this, it would be a great disadvantage to us."
"What if Li Mengdie borrows troops from the Xiongnu, or allies with the Zhao people? That would certainly not be good for our Yunyue Kingdom."
Chu Chen nodded and said, "You're right. Li Mengdie is very dangerous right now, which is why I'm trying so hard to chase her down."
"However, there shouldn't be any major problems in the short term. We just defeated the Zhao forces, and the Xiongnu seem to be in some disarray themselves."
"So, we don't need to worry about either of those directions. Even if Li Mengdie goes there, she won't be able to borrow any troops."
Li Xinyue nodded, feeling slightly more at ease.
"By the way, when I came in just now, I smelled a familiar scent. It seemed like Second Sister's."
Li Xinyue's words caused Chu Chen's expression to change slightly.
He hadn't expected Li Xinyue's sense of smell to be so keen. He had never heard her mention it before.
"No way, could Li Mengdie have been here?"
Li Xinyue looked at Chu Chen and shook her head.
Chu Chen thought for a moment, scratching his head, and said, "When we were heading north earlier, Li Mengdie came to see you once. It seemed she wanted to see if you were here and assassinate you."
Hearing this, Li Xinyue looked confused.
"That's unlikely. Even if she wanted to assassinate me, she wouldn't have been confident, right? I have so many guards around me. Why would she think she had the ability to do that?"
Chu Chen nodded and said with a wry smile, "I don't know that, of course. Her thoughts are different from ordinary people."
"Perhaps she wanted to take a risky gamble, thinking you were in the warm chamber alone."
"When you're working in the warm chamber, you surely wouldn't want other guards present, right?"
Li Xinyue nodded, suddenly enlightened. "That's true. But for her to dare to turn back, she's quite formidable."
Chu Chen quickly agreed with Li Xinyue.
"Yes, yes, Your Highness the Princess is right. By the way, Your Highness, if we find and capture Li Xinyue, what do you plan to do?"
Hearing this, Li Mengdie, who had been dozing off in the wardrobe, perked up.
After all, her life was at stake.
Li Xinyue sighed and said, "I'm also very troubled by this matter. I certainly won't do anything to Second Sister. I'm just afraid of Mother Emperor."
Chu Chen's face showed a hint of relief. "Your Highness, don't worry. If you don't want to deal with the Second Princess, I can speak up for you."
"His Majesty would likely not wish to harm the Second Princess, especially given her strong capabilities. This is merely an internal family dispute."
"The Second Princess simply desires that position too much, which led her down the wrong path."
Li Xinyue nodded. Thinking that Mother Emperor was still in Chu Chen's room, she quickly said, "Chu Chen, when you return to the Prime Minister's mansion, please try to persuade Mother Emperor not to have any murderous thoughts towards Second Sister."
Chu Chen smiled and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured. This matter is on my shoulders."
"However, Your Highness, your humble servant has an idea that could perfectly resolve this matter. I wonder if Your Highness is interested."
Li Xinyue blinked in surprise, then smiled and nodded. "Just say whatever you have in mind. You don't need to be formal with me."
Chu Chen nodded. "The reason the Second Princess is like this is simply because she desires power. Why don't we give her power?"
Li Xinyue hesitated. "Are you suggesting I give up the position of Crown Prince? But will Mother Emperor agree?"
"Even if Mother Emperor agrees, I still feel that doing so might not be right."
"Power can only be held in one's own hands to decide whether to kill or not."
Chu Chen nodded and smiled. "Your Highness is right. Of course, I wouldn't let you give up your power. I mean we can 'draw a big picture'."
Li Xinyue's eyes flickered with hesitation.
"'Draw a big picture'? What does that mean?"
Chu Chen smiled. Li Mengdie was in the wardrobe, so it was inconvenient for him to speak too directly with Li Xinyue.
After thinking for a moment, Chu Chen said awkwardly, "Your Highness, I want to get some fresh air. How about we go outside and talk as we walk?"
Li Xinyue shook her head. "No, first tell me what 'drawing a big picture' means."
Chu Chen sighed helplessly. "Drawing a big picture means we don't give her any tangible benefits, but rather a beautiful vision."
"Because of her own greed, she agrees to our demands. In this way, we haven't actually paid anything."
"But we have achieved our goal. This is called drawing a big picture."
Hearing this, Li Xinyue nodded, seeming to understand the meaning of "drawing a big picture" to some extent.
"I understand what you mean for now. But what benefits should we promise Second Sister?"
"What Second Sister wants most right now is my current position. Even if I draw a big picture for her, she won't be satisfied, will she? In the end, she'll still want my position as Crown Prince."
Chu Chen smiled wryly and shook his head. "Your Highness, you're overthinking it. Have you forgotten that we are about to go to war?"
Li Xinyue nodded. "Of course, I haven't forgotten. Going to war is also very important for us. But what does this have to do with Li Mengdie?"
Chu Chen continued, "It has something to do with it, of course it does. You know, what Li Mengdie wants is power and to fight in battles."
"If I can recruit her to my side and make her one of my great generals."
"In this way, she can become a force for our Yunyue Kingdom. Then, she can follow me on various campaigns and surely achieve great merit."
Hearing this, Li Mengdie in the wardrobe let out a cold laugh.
This fellow was truly shameless, talking about himself as if he were some divine being.
Li Xinyue nodded, thinking Chu Chen's words had some merit. But then she frowned again.
"But just letting her lead troops to fight won't work."
"In the end, she'll still want to contend for my position as Crown Prince. And as she fights continuously outside, her reputation might grow larger and larger."
"What if her prestige surpasses mine one day?"
"This is no small matter, Chu Chen. You mustn't be foolish."
Chu Chen smiled, surprised that Li Xinyue was thinking so much.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. Since I've chosen to have her under my command, I have ways to control her."