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

Lu Cheng's expression changed several times.

Hundreds of officials' wives stood in the Imperial Garden, and Liu Ruyan was still dressed in the dress of a woman awaiting selection.

At this point, if he uttered even a single wrong word, news of his secret affair with Liu Ruyan would spread throughout the capital.

"Lu Yuan, don't talk nonsense!"

Lu Cheng straightened up, leaning on the armrest of the sedan chair, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Miss Liu is the daughter of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. My relationship with her is completely innocent; how could I possibly have a lover?"

Liu Ruyan stood on the flower path, her face deathly pale.

Pure and innocent.

When those four words reached her ears, she almost lost her balance.

A year ago, Lu Cheng held her hand at the villa in the south of the city and said that he would welcome her as his principal wife sooner or later.

To keep this promise, she obeyed her father's instructions and cooperated with Lu Cheng to drug Su Yuling.

Now, in front of a garden full of guests, he refuses to even acknowledge them.

Liu Ruyan's eyes reddened, and her hand tightly gripped a handkerchief in her sleeve.

But she didn't dare to contradict Lu Cheng, so she could only go along with what he said.

"Your Highness, I have never had any private dealings with the Second Prince."

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she bowed to Lu Yuan, her body swaying precariously.

"This humble woman has entered the palace today solely to attend the Hundred Flowers Banquet prepared by the Noble Consort."

"You've gone too far by ruining my reputation in front of so many people."

"How can I, a mere unmarried woman, be described as the Second Prince's beloved? How can I ever face anyone again?"

The ladies and young women in the neighborhood began to whisper among themselves.

Liu Ruyan was born delicate, and when she cried, it truly looked as if she had suffered a great injustice.

A woman in fine clothes walked out from behind her; she was Wei, the wife of Liu Hong, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Mrs. Wei supported her daughter, her face full of heartache.

"His Highness the Ninth Prince is of noble status, and the Liu family cannot afford to offend him."

"But my daughter is also an innocent daughter of an official. You previously suspected her of drugging him, but the Imperial Clan Court found no concrete evidence. Now you're saying she has an affair with the Second Prince. Are you trying to drive her to her death?"

After speaking, Madam Wei raised her sleeve and wiped the corner of her eye.

"With all the ladies present today, we urge Your Highness to give the Liu family an explanation!"

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Good guy.

The daughter is responsible for crying, and the mother is responsible for labeling her.

The Liu family is quite adept at this combination of tactics; someone who didn't know better might think he had dug up the Liu family's ancestral graves.

He was about to speak when Su Yuling suddenly stepped forward.

"You want an explanation, right?"

When Wei saw her approaching with an unfriendly expression, she subconsciously took a few steps back.

"Miss Su, this is the palace. What do you intend to do?"

"Let me correct that."

Su Yuling stopped in front of the Liu family mother and daughter.

"His Majesty has already bestowed this marriage upon me; I am the Ninth Prince's principal wife. You, the wife of a mere subject, dare not even bow before me and dare to question His Highness in public."

"Who gave you the guts?"

Madam Wei's lips moved slightly. "This humble woman is only seeking justice for her daughter."

"Are you worthy?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Yuling raised her hand and slapped Wei Shi across the face.

Snapped!

Wei's head was knocked to the side by the blow, and the gold hairpin in her hair was askew.

She covered her face, completely stunned.

This is the royal palace; everyone here is of high status.

Even if you are of noble status, you cannot hit someone in public; it is a loss of dignity.

Liu Ruyan exclaimed in surprise and was about to help her mother when Su Yuling's eyes narrowed and she slapped her again.

This slap was even harder.

Liu Ruyan staggered two steps, half of her face turning red.

In an instant, all the surrounding chatter stopped.

They all looked at Su Yuling in disbelief.

Su Yuling shook her hand, and the long sword stood at her side.

"The daughter and wife of a high-ranking official of the Court of Judicial Review ran up to the prince, crying and demanding that His Highness give them an explanation."

"Who do you think you are?"

"My husband is only speaking to you out of respect for the Liu family. If he doesn't, then you'll have to accept it."

Standing behind, Lu Yuan watched Su Yuling's retreating figure, feeling as comfortable as drinking ice water on a sweltering summer day.

With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?

He used to think that the phrase "protecting one's husband" was a bit old-fashioned.

Now that it's happening to me, I realize how delicious it is.

He took half a step closer to Su Yuling, unable to suppress the urge to smile.

Su Yuling noticed his gaze and glanced at him sideways.

"What are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing."

Lu Yuan reached out and tucked a strand of hair that had slipped off her shoulder behind her ear.

"I just think it's quite beautiful when the princess hits someone."

With so many people staring at her, Su Yuling's ears burned, and she raised her scabbard to block his hand.

"Stand further away, you're in the way."

Despite her apparent disdain, she moved slightly in front of Lu Yuan, effectively separating the Liu family mother and daughter from him.

Shen Hanqiu also walked out from behind.

She didn't carry a knife, and her demeanor was much gentler than Su Yuling's, but her words made Wei's face turn even paler.

"According to the Great Yong Law, commoners who insult members of the royal family shall be punished with forty strokes of the cane."

"Officials and their families who offend the imperial family in public will be stripped of their titles and official positions, and their family property will be confiscated, depending on the severity of the offense. In serious cases, the entire family will be executed."

"The Court of Judicial Review is in charge of criminal justice; Madam Liu should know this better than I do."

Wei covered her face and dared not argue any further.

Shen Hanqiu looked at Liu Ruyan, "Miss Liu keeps insisting on her innocence. If that's the case, why did you look at the Second Prince first when His Highness mentioned him, instead of your own parents?"

Liu Ruyan felt a pang of panic.

"I don't!"

"With so many people there, someone must have seen it."

Shen Hanqiu stood next to Su Yuling, his gaze falling on the light gold sash around Liu Ruyan's waist.

"If Miss Liu truly wishes to enter the palace to serve His Majesty, she should strictly abide by the rules. During the selection of the princes, she flirted with other princes. According to the palace rules, Her Highness should know how such behavior should be dealt with."

These words are harsher than a slap in the face.

Liu Ruyan's legs went weak.

She entered the palace to help Lu Cheng rise again, but if she were to be accused of seducing a prince, not only would she not be selected, but the Liu family would also suffer.

Wei was also flustered.

The mother and daughter both looked at Lu Cheng.

The moment this gesture was made, the expressions of the onlookers completely changed.

He claimed they weren't close, but when trouble came, he only sought help from the Second Prince.

Is there even a question about this relationship?

Lu Cheng noticed the meaningful gazes around him and cursed the Liu family mother and daughter in his heart.

Why are you looking at me?

Now that you see it, it's all confirmed, isn't it?

How did Liu Hong raise such an idiot!

He desperately wanted the palace servants to carry the sedan chair away immediately, but Liu Ruyan looked at him with teary eyes, her face still bearing clear fingerprints.

That sight made Lu Cheng unable to resist in the end.

"That's enough!"

Lu Cheng looked at Lu Yuan and angrily rebuked him, "Ninth Brother, even if Ru Yan's words were inappropriate, she is still just a weak woman. Su Yuling has already hit her, what more do you want?"

"Now that you enjoy the Emperor's favor and possess the imperial sword, why bother arguing with a woman?"

"They are all family members of important officials in the court; we'll run into each other all the time. Leave some room for maneuver, so you can meet again in the future."

"A real man should be tolerant of others. Can't you be a little more forgiving?"

Lu Yuan's eyes lit up when he heard this.

"Second brother is right."

Lu Cheng's expression softened slightly, thinking that Lu Yuan was preparing to back down.

"Ninth Brother, it's good that you're listening. Today is a banquet hosted by Mother, so don't let a few words spoil everyone's enjoyment."

"Well, I'm definitely not as generous as you."

Lu Yuan nodded, his face serious. "At most, I'll bring my wife home and feed her well."

"My second brother is truly remarkable."

He raised his hand and pointed to the light gold sash around Liu Ruyan's waist.

"He just gave away his own woman without a second thought, and even gave her to his own father in one go."

"Your magnanimity is something even my younger brother couldn't match."