I only wished to take up my fiefdom, but my elder brother forced me to rebel.

Before Su Fu could finish speaking, Su Tan, in a fit of rage, smashed the wine bowl on the ground.

The old man propped himself up on the table, the wine-red on his face completely gone, replaced by a murderous aura.

He fought for most of his life, and nine of his children and grandchildren died on the battlefield, yet he was never afraid of anyone.

The Earl's mansion has now fallen into decline.

But not just anyone can block his door.

"That little bastard from the Han family dares to run wild at my doorstep?"

Su Tan grabbed his cane from the corner of the wall and rushed outside.

"I'll skin him alive!"

Shen Hanqiu's face turned pale instantly.

She subconsciously took a half step back, gripped Su Yuling's sleeve, and moved her lips several times without making a sound.

Lu Yuan stood up from the stool and let out a burp.

He reached out to stop Su Tan.

"Grandfather-in-law, leave this to me."

Su Tan glared at him, "You? What are you, a prince, doing getting involved with those Han family people?"

"I know Han Gou."

Lu Yuan patted Su Tan's shoulder with considerable force, startling the old man for a moment.

"An old acquaintance."

After saying that, Lu Yuan walked out.

Her steps were unsteady, swaying left and right, and she almost tripped over the threshold as she exited the back hall.

Su Tan watched his retreating figure and suddenly grinned.

"He truly is my good grandson-in-law!"

"You know how to share my burdens!"

After he finished speaking, he looked at Shen Hanqiu and said, "Hanqiu, with my brother here, you can rest assured."

Su Yuling slammed her chopsticks on the table.

"What's so good about it! What if he gets into a fight outside when he's drunk like that?"

After she finished speaking, she got up and chased after him.

They were afraid that Lu Yuan would make things worse.

Shen Hanqiu was also worried, after all, one of them was her biological father, so the two of them left the back hall one after the other.

"Women, why are you making such a fuss!"

Su Tan leaned on his cane and followed.

Although he had drunk quite a bit, if the Ninth Prince really caused this incident at the Earl's mansion...

That's enough to give this old man a real hard time!

……

Outside the mansion gate.

A dozen or so servants were dressed in matching blue short turbans, with sticks tucked into their waistbands.

They completely blocked the entrance to the Yongning Marquis's residence.

Han Gou sat on his horse, his round, chubby face gloomy.

Shen Yilei stood beside Han Gou's horse, bowing low with a fawning smile on his face.

"Young Master Han, rest assured, I will bring my daughter to you today and will not delay the marriage between our two families."

Shen Yilei's voice was low and soft.

"What day is it today? It's the day for the betrothal gifts! Where are they?"

Han Gou tapped his boot with his riding crop, his tone impatient, "Shen Yilei, if you can't hand over the man today, the matter between the two families is over, and you can forget about being transferred to the Ministry of War as an assistant minister."

"No, Young Master Han, please calm down!"

Shen Yilei bowed repeatedly, "My daughter is inside the Earl's residence. I'll knock on the door right now."

He turned and walked to the front door, raising his hand to pat it.

After taking pictures for a long time, no one opened the door.

"Open the door! Shen Hanqiu, open the door! The Han family is here today to propose marriage, and you're hiding inside pretending to be dead? If you don't come out, I'll go in and drag you out!"

The door was kicked loudly, and Shen Yilei cursed as he kicked it, spewing out all sorts of nasty things.

He had originally hoped to curry favor with the Earl's family, but things turned out differently; before the marriage could even take place, his prospective son-in-law died on the battlefield.

Right now, the best way to curry favor with the son of the Minister of War is...

He absolutely cannot let this opportunity slip by.

Even if it means binding her, we'll bring that wretched girl here today.

Several servants of the Han family watched from the side, laughing so hard they were doubled over.

Su Fu was jumping up and down anxiously inside the door, about to open it, when a hand reached out from the side and pushed him aside.

The door opened from the inside.

Lu Yuan leaned against the door frame, one hand supporting himself on the door panel, the other holding a wine pot.

His eyes were half-closed, his face flushed from drinking, his robe was wrinkled, and his hair ornament was askew.

He glanced outside.

"What are you shouting for? It's the middle of the day, and it's so noisy."

Shen Yilei was kicking the door with great enthusiasm when he suddenly saw it open, and a young man with an unfamiliar face came out, drunk and wearing his hat askew.

Who are you?

Shen Yilei sized him up, his temper flaring instantly. "This is a matter between the Shen family and the Han family, what's it to you? Get out of my way!"

Lu Yuan's wine flask stopped at his lips.

Are you insulting me?

"So what if I scolded you?"

Shen Yilei took a step closer, spitting almost as he spoke, "Where did this brat come from, running wild at the Yongning Marquis's residence? Who do you think you are?"

Lu Yuan stared at him for two breaths, then slowly turned his head to look at Han Gou.

Han Gou was riding on his horse, looking like a big shot.

The moment Lu Yuan turned his head, their eyes met.

Han Gou's pupils suddenly contracted.

He felt as if someone had grabbed his neck, and the gloom on his face instantly turned into terror.

He recognized the face.

Ninth Prince Lu Yuan.

We called for girls together in the brothel.

But that was back then.

At this moment, at the gate of the Yongning Marquis's mansion, a man who was about to become the grandson-in-law of the Su family bumped into a man who had come to steal Shen Hanqiu's betrothal gifts.

Han Gou practically tumbled and crawled off his horse.

"Ninth... Ninth Prince?"

He rushed up to Shen Yilei and slapped him across the face.

Snapped!

Shen Yilei's head lolled to the side after being hit, and half of his face swelled up.

He covered his face, staring wide-eyed at Han Gou, completely bewildered.

"You're blind as a bat!"

Han Gou roared, his voice trembling, "This is the Ninth Prince! Who gave you this order to dare shout at the Ninth Prince?"

Upon hearing Lu Yuan's identity, Shen Yilei was so frightened that his legs went weak.

"Ninth... Ninth Prince?"

With a thud, Shen Yilei knelt on the ground.

"Your Highness, please forgive me! Your Highness, please forgive me! I was unaware of Your Highness's arrival and offended you. I deserve to die! I deserve to die!"

As he spoke, he slapped himself in the face repeatedly, making a loud slapping sound that made everyone around him feel a pang of embarrassment.

Lu Yuan glanced down at him.

"You're Shen Yilei?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I am Shen Yilei."

He banged his forehead on the ground, not daring to look up.

Lu Yuan raised his foot and kicked him in the shoulder without any hesitation.

"Miss Shen is so virtuous and kind, how could she have such a scoundrel as her father?"

Shen Yilei tumbled backward and fell to the ground.

It took him a while to get up and kneel down again, his whole body trembling.

Lu Yuan stopped looking at him and turned to look at Han Gou.

"What are you doing here again?"

Han Gou bowed, his hands hanging at his sides, his posture so respectful it was as if he were a completely different person.

"Back to Your Highness, I am here to be hired by the Shen family. Miss Shen Hanqiu has an engagement with me, and today is the day for me to be hired."

"But Miss Shen has come to the Earl's residence and refuses to go back, so I had no choice but to come with Lord Shen to fetch her."

After he finished speaking, the look of disdain and disgust in his eyes vanished in an instant.

In his eyes, Lu Yuan was a complete waste. If it weren't for the need to drag him down completely and make him a well-known waste, he would have done all this.

He couldn't be bothered to waste his time and emotions on someone like that.

Lu Yuan placed the wine pot on the door frame and gave Han Gou a cold laugh.

"Marry Shen Hanqiu?"

He took a step forward, stood in front of Han Gou, and tilted his head to look at him.

"You think you're worthy?"