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

Shen Yilei straddled Han Gou, grabbing his collar with his left hand and wielding a stick with his right, slapping him across the back.

"You bastard, you think you can use the position of Minister of War to suppress a lowly sixth-rank official like me?"

"My daughter's fiancé just died, his body is barely cold! And you insist on coming to our door to force her into marriage? Are you even human?"

Han Gou lay on the ground as Shen Yilei grabbed him by the collar and beat him repeatedly on the back with a stick, making him howl in pain.

He never imagined that the old man who was just kneeling on the ground begging for mercy would turn on him faster than flipping through a book.

Lu Yuan leaned against the door frame, holding a wine jug, tilting his head to watch the good show.

"Lord Shen's skills and reactions are definitely those of the Sixth Prince. It's a pity he's not an actor."

Behind the screen wall, Shen Hanqiu's face was flushed red.

She had seen her father's pathetic side since she was a child.

I've never seen anyone so pathetic.

He was the one who knelt and kowtowed just now, and he was also the one who turned around and attacked.

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, he changed his face three times, each one more shameless than the last.

After about ten strikes, Shen Yilei slowed down his blows with the stick.

It's not that they can't fight anymore, it's that they're fighting to show Lu Yuan.

He glanced at Lu Yuan's face and saw that the Ninth Prince looked like he was watching a show with a relaxed expression. He then threw the stick on the ground and rolled off Han Gou.

"Your Highness, I've finished fighting."

Han Gou lay on the ground, his back a mess, his brocade robe torn in several places.

He was panting heavily, trying to get up by supporting himself with his hands, but his arms went limp and he collapsed again.

Lu Yuan put down the wine pot, walked over to him, and squatted down.

"Young Master Han, shall we continue with the impeachment?"

Han Gou raised his head, his eyes, swollen to slits, filled with hatred.

His lips moved several times, but he couldn't say anything.

"Alright, stop lying there."

Lu Yuan stood up, clapped his hands, and said, "Get out of here."

Han Gou felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He scrambled to his feet and limped toward the horses.

The servants rushed to help him, and chaos ensued.

"return."

Han Gou's leg was rooted to the spot.

He slowly turned his head, not even bothering to wipe the blood from his face, and forced out an expression that was even more hideous than crying.

"Your Highness...is there anything else you require?"

Lu Yuan counted on his fingers, then narrowed his eyes.

"We used to go to brothels together. All things considered, you owe me 100,000 taels of silver. You'll repay the principal and interest to the Ninth Prince's residence within three days."

Han Gou swayed slightly.

One hundred thousand taels.

Even if the Han family were to be completely drained, that's all they'd get.

But looking at Lu Yuan's face, he didn't dare to utter a single word in rebuttal.

"……good."

Han Gou gritted his teeth and squeezed out the word from his throat.

He turned around, was helped onto a horse by the servants, and the group slunk away.

The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, and the street fell silent again.

Lu Yuan turned around and cupped his hands in greeting to Su Tan.

"Grandpa Yue, it's settled. He won't dare come again."

Su Tan stood on the steps, leaning on his cane, his old face beaming with an undisguised smile. He reached out and patted Lu Yuan's shoulder heavily.

"Good lad!"

Shen Yilei came closer, rubbing his hands together with a smile on his face.

Looking at his appearance, Lu Yuan sighed inwardly. This old man's face changed faster than flipping through a book. Just now he was kowtowing on the ground and calling him young master, and now he's preparing to pack up his daughter and send her to his door. Does he really think that if he sucks up to the end, he can have everything?

"Your Highness is mighty! Your Highness is wise! Um... Your Highness just said you've taken a liking to Han Qiu, is that true or not? If Your Highness is truly interested, I'll go back and prepare for the marriage..."

Shen Hanqiu ran out from behind the screen wall, her face flushed and her voice trembling.

"His Highness said that to help me out of a difficult situation! You..."

Shen Yilei shrank back when his daughter yelled at him, but his eyes were still fixed on Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan's smile vanished. He looked at Shen Yilei, his eyes narrowing.

"Lord Shen."

Shen Yilei felt a chill run down his spine.

"When did it become your place to interfere in royal marriages?"

The words weren't harsh, but Shen Yilei's legs went weak, and he knelt down with a thud.

"I wouldn't dare! I would never dare to interfere in royal marriages!"

"Get lost," Lu Yuan uttered a single word.

"If you ever dare to marry Miss Shen off to someone else again, I'll rip your head off."

Shen Yilei kowtowed three times, scraping his forehead, and then scrambled to his feet and crawled away.

He ran to the door and didn't forget to turn back and shout at Shen Hanqiu.

"Hanqiu, serve His Highness the Ninth Prince well! I'll clean your room when I get back!"

Shen Hanqiu was so angry that she was trembling all over. Su Yuling grabbed her sleeve and whispered, "Ignore him."

The streets were completely quiet.

Shen Hanqiu took a couple of breaths, walked up to Lu Yuan, and gave a proper bow.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Lu Yuan waved his hand, "We're all family, there's no need to be so polite."

Shen Hanqiu's ears turned red again.

She stepped aside and stopped talking.

The matter was temporarily resolved, and Su Tan invited everyone to go back and continue eating.

Lu Yuan shook his head, his tone becoming serious, "Grandfather, we've finished eating. I'd like to go to the ancestral hall to offer incense to the martyrs of the Su family. Is that convenient for you?"

Su Tan was taken aback.

"Your Highness, you are a member of the royal family; this is against the rules."

"There's nothing wrong with it. The sons of the Su family all sacrificed their lives for the country. They died fighting for the royal family and for the people. The royal family should be grateful. Today, as a prince and as the son-in-law of the Su family, I should, both morally and logically, represent the royal family and the people to offer them incense."

After hearing this, Su Tan's eyes immediately reddened.

Although the Great Yong Dynasty did not place as much emphasis on civil officials as it did on military officials, it was ultimately no match for civil officials.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yuan, as a prince, could say such a thing.

If he becomes emperor in the future, wouldn't that be a blessing for the people and generals of Dayong?

Thinking of this, Su Tan's gaze towards Lu Yuan changed somewhat.

He nodded and personally led Lu Yuan to the ancestral hall.

Su Yuling's expression also became somewhat dazed.

Is this still the same good-for-nothing who spends his days eating, drinking, and having fun, with no ambition?

Lu Yuan arrived at the ancestral hall, personally lit three incense sticks, and bowed deeply to the memorial tablet.

That one simple bend over brought the Su family to tears.

With Lu Yuan's actions, it would be worth it for the Su family's sons to die on the battlefield.

Lu Yuan turned to Su Tan, cupped his hands, and said, "Grandfather-in-law, I'll head back now. We need to hurry up and arrange the betrothal gifts; all the proper formalities must be followed. Later, I'll ask Father to issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage, so we can marry Yu Ling in a grand and glorious manner."

Su Tan wiped away her tears and nodded repeatedly.

"Very well, I will wait here in the manor."

He turned around and glanced at Su Yuling.

"Yu Ling, His Highness has had too much to drink. Please escort him back to his residence."

Su Yuling opened her mouth, as if to say something, but when she met Su Tan's gaze, she swallowed her words.

"Yes."

She responded and followed Lu Yuan outside.

Once outside the Earl's mansion, Lu Yuan mounted his horse.

Su Yuling led the horse by the reins, and the two walked along the long street toward the Ninth Prince's residence.

The sun was setting, and the number of pedestrians on the street was gradually decreasing.

The horses' hooves clattered on the bluestone slabs.

After walking half a street, Lu Yuan suddenly swayed and slid off his horse.

Su Yuling was startled and turned around to catch him, but he stumbled and she took two steps back.

Lu Yuan wrapped his arm around her waist, pressing down on her with most of his body weight, and rested his head on her shoulder.

"Your Highness?"

"I'm drunk."

Lu Yuan's voice was muffled, his breath hot against her ear, "I can't walk anymore, help me back."

Su Yuling felt her waist tighten around his arms, and her face flushed.

She struggled twice but couldn't break free, so she had no choice but to support him and walk into the mansion.

Once in the bedroom, Su Yuling pushed him onto the bed.

"Drinking so much, I'm sinking."

Lu Yuan's back slammed onto the mattress, and he didn't move.

Su Yuling straightened up, took a breath, and turned to walk out.

My wrist was gripped by a hand.

It wasn't very forceful, but it was precise.

She was pulled backward and fell into Lu Yuan's arms.

Her back was pressed against his chest, and his hand naturally wrapped around her waist.

"Where are we going?"

Lu Yuan's voice came from behind her head, and there was no trace of drunkenness left.

Su Yuling's face burned, and her heart pounded.

She reached out to pry his fingers apart, but couldn't.

"I'm going back, let go..."

"Since we're already here, what's the rush?"

Lu Yuan rested his chin on her shoulder, tilted his head to the side, and his mouth was almost touching her ear.

"That day you pinned me down on the bed and tormented me for so long. I still haven't tasted anything."

Su Yuling's ears were burning hot, and she bit her lip to dodge to the side, her voice trembling.

"It's broad daylight...be serious...ouch...be gentle..."