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

Wu Yu pressed the marriage certificate against it, and the smile on his face completely disappeared.

"Cousin, how can you joke about something as important as marriage?"

"You've never even shaken hands with a man, so when did your sweetheart come along?"

The matchmaker immediately stopped Zhao Mingzhu, saying, "Miss Zhao, you can't just say things like that. You two grew up together..."

Zhao Mingzhu pushed the matchmaker aside and took the two marriage certificates.

"Who was his childhood sweetheart?"

"He stole my candy when we were kids, and now he's after my family's security escort agency. Is that what you call affection?"

Wu Yu's face darkened, and he stepped forward to snatch the marriage certificate.

"The Fuyuan Escort Agency will eventually be handed over to the Zhao family."

"What kind of behavior is it for a woman like you to spend all day running around with bodyguards?"

"Once you marry into the Wu family, I will take over the security escort agency for you. You only need to stay at home to be a good wife and mother. I will never skimp on your food, clothing, or other necessities."

Zhao Mingzhu hid the marriage certificate behind her back.

"That sounds nice."

"Fuyuan Escort Agency was built by my father through countless escort missions. Why should it become yours just because I marry you?"

Wu Yu took two steps forward.

"Because I'm your future husband!"

"A woman follows her husband after marriage, so your things naturally belong to the Wu family."

Zhao Mingzhu raised her chin and asked, "So, the eight hundred taels your gambling den owes, is that also considered my debt?"

Wu Yu stopped in his tracks, his chest aching from the rebuke, and immediately looked at the matchmaker.

The matchmaker immediately stepped in to smooth things over.

"It's okay for men to play a few rounds occasionally when they're out socializing."

"Once Young Master Wu settles down and starts a family, he will naturally settle down!"

Zhao Mingzhu looked at Madam Zhao.

"Mother, did you hear that?"

"He wanted to take the security company away before he even married me, and the gambling debts he owed became his entertainment expenses outside."

"If this marriage is settled today, I'll cut my hair off tomorrow and become a nun at the temple!"

Madam Zhao got up, took the marriage certificate, and handed it to the matchmaker.

"Mingzhu, stop making a scene."

"Your uncle and mother are siblings from the same mother. Your marriage to Wu Yu will strengthen the bond between the two families, and no one will bully you in the future."

"Although your cousin is playful, he's reliable and we know his background well, so he's more dependable than those people from unknown places."

When Wu Yu saw that Madam Zhao spoke up for him, a smile appeared on his face again.

"Cousin, your aunt is doing this for your own good!"

"After you marry me, I promise you that I will give you fifty taels of silver every month."

"I can also let you inspect the escort agency's ledgers every three months!"

Zhao Mingzhu almost burst out laughing. "You're using my family's money to support me, and you still expect me to pay you every three months?"

"Wu Yu, why don't you just kick me and your father out together?"

Why would you think that?

Wu Yu feigned injury and said, "I'm thinking of you with all my heart, but you're always on guard against me."

"After we get married, I will definitely go to the gambling den less often and won't come home so late drinking anymore."

"If you don't like me going to brothels, then I can go a maximum of twice a month from now on, okay?"

Zhao Mingzhu was so angry at these words that she stuck her finger out.

"roll!"

Madam Zhao stepped forward, grabbed her daughter's wrist, and glared at her irritably.

"That's enough!"

"You keep saying you've secretly pledged your life to each other, but where is that person?"

"Why didn't he even show his face when we came to propose marriage today?"

"I don't think you have anyone you like at all; you're just making these up to fool us!"

Wu Yu also looked towards the door. "Cousin, if you really have someone you like, call him out."

"If his family background is better than mine, or his official position is higher than mine, I will voluntarily withdraw today."

"But if he doesn't even dare to step into the Zhao family's house, then he's just a shameless scoundrel who only knows how to deceive you with his body."

Zhao Mingzhu gripped the hem of her clothes.

She just blurted out the words of their secret engagement in a moment of panic.

She had no idea what methods Lu Yuan would use to sabotage the marriage.

Did that guy run away through the back door with half a fish?

When Madam Zhao saw that her daughter could not answer, her anger intensified.

"Speak!"

"What is that person's name, and where does he live?"

Who are his parents?

Zhao Mingzhu bit her lip. "His identity is special, so I can't just tell you."

"Can't you say, or is it simply not true?"

Wu Yu scoffed, "Cousin, even if you're going to hire someone to act, you should at least find someone decent."

"You can't just grab any man off the street and say he's your sweetheart."

"Who said I didn't?"

"Then let him do it!"

Just then, the butler rushed into the front hall.

"Madam, something terrible has happened!"

"The Ninth Prince has arrived!"

Madam Zhao's hand froze in mid-air.

Wu Yu's smile froze.

The matchmaker, clutching the marriage certificate, stepped aside, not daring to offer any further advice.

Madam Zhao turned around and asked, "Who did you say came?"

"Your Highness, Ninth Prince!"

The steward pointed towards the mansion gate, his forehead covered in sweat from anxiety.

"A young master has arrived, carrying a palace sword. He claims to be the Ninth Prince and says he's looking for the young lady!"

Madam Zhao turned to look at her daughter.

"Mingzhu" (明珠).

"The man with the special identity you mentioned earlier, could he be the Ninth Prince?"

Zhao Mingzhu was also stunned by this news.

That lecherous fellow is far too audacious!

Pretending to be a nobleman is one thing, but he actually dared to impersonate a prince?

The imposter is none other than the Ninth Prince, who has been the most famous person these past two days!

But now that things have come to this point, if she denies it, Wu Yu will immediately take away the marriage certificate.

Zhao Mingzhu straightened her back and nodded with a forced smile.

"That's right."

"It's him."

Wu Yu immediately stepped forward.

"impossible!"

"His Highness just married Miss Su and Miss Shen a few days ago, and yesterday he brought Miss Liu into the mansion."

"Who in the capital doesn't know that the Ninth Prince's residence now has three women?"

"How could His Highness have fallen for you so quickly?"

Zhao Mingzhu glared at him. "Can't we just fall in love at first sight?"

"So what if he has three women?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a tightness in her chest.

This ninth prince is quite the womanizer!

Marrying three women in a few days, aren't you afraid of dying of exhaustion in bed one day?

Wu Yu wanted to argue, but Madam Zhao had already put her hand down.

"Shut up, all of you."

"Whether it's true or not, we'll find out once we go out and see for ourselves."

She led everyone quickly to the front yard.

As soon as she stepped through the courtyard gate, Madam Zhao saw a young man standing at the bottom of the steps.

The young man's outer robe still had several folds, his left arm was wrapped in gauze, and his wet long hair was tied up with only a hair tie.

What he was carrying in his hand was the imperial sword.

When Madam Zhao saw his face clearly, she stopped in her tracks.

When the late empress was still alive, a birthday banquet was held in the palace.

She once accompanied her husband and Zhao Guoqiang to the palace and saw the Ninth Prince from afar.

Although several years have passed, this face hasn't changed much from what I remember.

The person before me is indeed the Ninth Prince, Lu Yuan!

Madam Zhao hurriedly stepped forward to pay her respects.

"This humble woman, Wu, greets Your Highness the Ninth Prince!"

The steward and a group of maids bowed in response.

Wu Yu's legs went weak, and he quickly lowered his head.

"Your subject Wu Yu greets Your Highness the Ninth Prince."

Lu Yuan raised his hand.

No need for formalities.

He looked at Madam Zhao and said, "You must be Madam Zhao. I have come to visit you today to discuss something with you."

Madam Zhao asked cautiously, "May I ask what brings Your Highness here?"

Lu Yuan turned to look at Zhao Mingzhu, who had just arrived from behind.

"Naturally, it is the marriage between this prince and Miss Mingzhu."

Madam Zhao looked up, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Wu Yu disregarded his fear and took half a step forward.

"Your Highness, you and..."

Lu Yuan looked at him.

"Who is this?"

Wu Yu quickly straightened his clothes, preparing to introduce himself.

"Your subject is Wu Yu, and my father is..."

"A distant relative!"

Madam Zhao spoke first, saying, "I came to visit today and brought some local specialties."