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

Zhao Mingzhu raised her knee and thrust it towards Lu Yuan's lower abdomen.

"Trying to make it a fait accompli?"

"You're delusional!"

Lu Yuan sidestepped and grabbed her wrist.

"Just talk, why resort to violence?"

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll hit you again!"

Zhao Mingzhu withdrew her hand and grabbed the wooden frame next to the screen to block her in front of her.

Last night, this man broke into her boudoir and hid in her bathtub. Today, he impersonated the Ninth Prince and came to propose marriage.

Now they're even trying to take advantage of her.

If the wedding hadn't just been ruined, she would have had her maid tie him up and put him back in the woodshed long ago.

Seeing that she was really anxious, Lu Yuan put away his mischievous smile.

Just kidding.

"I don't know you at all, how could you make a joke like that?"

"I know your size, whether you're hairy or not, and I already know you. Aren't we familiar with each other?"

Zhao Mingzhu grabbed the pastries on the table and smashed them.

Lu Yuan reached out and caught it, then took a bite.

Don't waste food.

"Get out of here!"

"Fine, I'll get out."

Lu Yuan ate some pastries as he walked towards the hall door.

Zhao Mingzhu was stunned for a moment, then quickly caught up and stopped the person.

"You can't just leave like this."

"Didn't you tell me to get out?"

"I told you to get out, not right now!"

Lu Yuan looked her up and down, then teased, "Miss Zhao, does your Fuyuan Escort Agency always reason with people like this when you're escorting goods?"

"Stop trying to talk your way out of this."

Zhao Mingzhu lowered her voice, "You just said you wanted to marry me in front of so many people."

"My mother has already taken it seriously, so you have to find a way to smooth things over."

"How do you make it round?"

"If I knew, would I need to ask you?"

Zhao Mingzhu walked a few steps in the hall, then came back and tugged at his sleeve.

"Why don't you say your family doesn't approve in a few days, and then find another excuse to cancel the wedding?"

"What should we do about Wu Yu?"

"What's it to him?"

"I just called off the wedding, and he'll be coming back to visit again."

Lu Yuan looked at her and said, "At that time, your mother will only think that you were taken advantage of and then abandoned. Even if the Wu family comes out and pretends to be good people, you will still have to get married."

After hearing this, Zhao Mingzhu's face grew increasingly grim.

Based on her understanding of Wu Yu, that person was absolutely capable of doing it.

The Wu family might even take the opportunity to lower the betrothal gifts, forcing the Zhao family to hand over the escort agency.

"Then let it drag on."

Zhao Mingzhu gritted her teeth, "When my father comes back, I'll have him refuse the Wu family on his behalf."

"Can."

Lu Yuan readily agreed, "If we're exposed, it's on me."

"Can you take responsibility?"

"What is there that you can't take responsibility for?"

"You're impersonating a prince!"

Zhao Mingzhu walked to the door, made sure no one was outside, and then came back to his side.

"If this gets out, you'll lose your head, and my Zhao family will be implicated as well."

"So you have to cooperate with me."

Lu Yuan pulled his sleeve back and straightened her collar, which he had just messed up.

Zhao Mingzhu immediately stepped back.

"Don't touch me!"

"You are now the one I love, and I can't even touch your collar?"

"You still dare to call yourself 'This Prince'?"

"The play must be played out completely."

Lu Yuan moved closer to her again. "Today, Wu Yu brought a matchmaker to our door, and many of the Zhao family's servants saw it. It won't be long before the news spreads outside."

"If I say I want to marry you today, but then never come back, people will naturally be suspicious."

Zhao Mingzhu frowned.

"What do you want?"

"I will come to see you often in the next few days."

"What do you want from me?"

"Eating, shopping, watching operas, buying things."

Lu Yuan counted on his fingers and said, "There are too many people and too many eyes in the capital. If we show our faces a few more times, the Wu family will no longer dare to make a move on you."

"We'll discuss what to do next after your father gets back."

Zhao Mingzhu thought about it seriously.

Although this method is troublesome, it is much better than exposing it immediately.

At least in her own mother's eyes, she had already gained the favor of the Ninth Prince.

If Wu Yu doesn't want his family to be wiped out, he can't get close to the Zhao family anytime soon.

"good!

Zhao Mingzhu withdrew her hand: "But you shouldn't casually tell others that you are the Ninth Prince."

"I see."

"The capital is full of high-ranking officials and nobles; you might just run into the real Ninth Prince one day."

"That makes sense!"

"Don't be reckless then, just run!"

"I...I'll try my best."

Seeing that he was somewhat obedient, Zhao Mingzhu's expression finally softened.

"What's your name?"

Just as Lu Yuan was about to answer, Madam Zhao's question came from outside.

"Mingzhu, the meal is ready."

"Does Your Highness have any dietary restrictions?"

Zhao Mingzhu quickly turned around and said, "Mom, please let the kitchen wait a moment!"

Lu Yuan, however, walked straight outside.

"I have other things to do, so I won't have lunch."

Zhao Mingzhu hurriedly followed, "Where are you going again?"

"go home."

"When will you come again?"

Lu Yuan stopped and turned to look at her.

Zhao Mingzhu then realized that she had asked the question too hastily.

She turned her face away and crossed her arms.

"I wasn't hoping you would come."

"I was afraid that if you didn't come, Wu Yu would come knocking again."

"clear."

Lu Yuan walked up to her and said, "At the latest, the day after tomorrow, I will take you for a stroll around the city."

Zhao Mingzhu avoided his gaze.

Lu Yuan suddenly reached out and put his arm around her waist, pulling her close.

Just as Zhao Mingzhu was about to break free, Lu Yuan lowered his head and kissed her on the cheek.

"Make the performance as realistic as possible, so that Madam Zhao won't become suspicious."

Zhao Mingzhu froze on the spot.

Lu Yuan released his grip and walked out of the main hall with his hands behind his back.

Madam Zhao was waiting in the courtyard with Xiao Tao.

When she saw him come out, she immediately went to greet him.

"Your Highness, the luncheon is ready."

"I have urgent business to attend to. I'll come back another day to try the chef's cooking."

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, he walked straight out of the mansion gate.

Madam Zhao glanced at his retreating figure, then turned to look at her daughter.

Zhao Mingzhu was still standing in front of the hall door, a faint damp mark on her cheek.

Xiao Tao leaned closer to take a look.

"Miss, why is your face so red?"

Zhao Mingzhu finally realized what was happening and raised her hand to cover her face.

"lecher!"

"You come back here!"

She chased after him for a few steps, but Lu Yuan had already walked out of the courtyard gate.

Zhao Mingzhu was so angry that she stomped on the spot several times.

"We agreed he wouldn't take advantage of me, but he turned around and kissed me!"

"If I see him again, I'll tie him up!"

After Zhao Mingzhu finished speaking, her expression suddenly froze.

Oops.

I was so focused on reminding him not to give himself away that I completely forgot to ask his name.

If I don't even know his name, where am I supposed to find him next time?

At this moment, Madam Zhao walked over, and Zhao Mingzhu had a flash of inspiration and grabbed Madam Zhao's arm.

"Mother, do you know the Ninth Prince?"

Why are you suddenly asking this?

"Shouldn't I at least know what kind of person he is?"

Zhao Mingzhu pulled her mother back, saying, "Mother, tell me about the Ninth Prince."

Madam Zhao's smile deepened.

"Now you know how to care about your future husband?"

"Although His Highness used to be a bit playful, he has recently gained His Majesty's favor..."

……

Lu Yuan left the Zhao family residence and headed towards the Ninth Prince's mansion along the street.

They hadn't gone far when they discovered that there were many more imperial guards on the streets.

Some people carried portraits and went door-to-door asking questions, some checked alley entrances and inns, and two squads of imperial guards searched for bloodstains along the street.

The owner of a restaurant stood at the door, carefully explaining to the Imperial Guards.

"Sir, our shop closed last night, and we haven't seen any injured young master."

The captain leading the team unfolded the portrait.

"Look carefully."

"This person went missing in the vicinity last night. If you see him, report it immediately."

Lu Yuan's lips twitched when he saw the face in the portrait.

It's a painting of him.

It's just that the drawing is a bit hasty; at first glance, it looks like a steamed bun.

Just as he was about to go over and identify himself, a troop of cavalry came from the street corner.

Commander He Shen of the Imperial Guards rode at the forefront. Seeing several Imperial Guards still questioning people around the restaurant, he immediately shouted, "Send more men to search the surrounding courtyards!"

"His Highness the Ninth Prince was assassinated outside the palace gates last night and his whereabouts remain unknown."

"His Majesty has issued a death order."

"If we can't find His Highness the Ninth Prince today, we'll all be beheaded!"

People on the street quickly moved away to make way.

Lu Yuan raised his hand, about to call He Shen, when he caught a glimpse of a figure hiding in the corner of the wall ahead.

The man's face was covered, and his longbow was already drawn.

The arrow was aimed directly at He Shen on horseback.

Lu Yuan's expression changed, and he grabbed a cutting board from a nearby stall and rushed out.

"Uncle, quickly lower your head!"