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

Hearing their complaints and pleas for mercy, Lu Yuan's smug smile never stopped.

For some reason, he felt his physical strength getting better day by day.

Dealing with these three women is a piece of cake!

"Take a concubine!"

Liu Ruyan sat up, supporting herself on the bedpost, and her first words stunned Lu Yuan.

"I must take a few more concubines for my husband!"

Shen Hanqiu leaned against the soft pillow, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, her collar concealing the red marks on the side of her neck.

Upon hearing Liu Ruyan's suggestion, she immediately nodded.

"I agree."

Lu Yuan glanced at the three of them. "I woke up to find myself being kicked out of my room?"

"Who kicked you out?"

Su Yuling sat at the foot of the bed, holding the quilt, and raised her leg to block his way.

"We are acting in the best interests of the Ninth Prince's residence."

"If you're already causing trouble like this now, what will you be like when you become the crown prince?"

Liu Ruyan picked up a pillow and held it in front of her.

"If a few more younger sisters come to the manor, everyone can take turns resting."

"Otherwise, in a few days, before the Crown Prince's investiture ceremony is even held, the Imperial Medical Academy will come to examine our pulses."

Shen Hanqiu straightened his clothes and added seriously, "Ordinary girls won't do."

"He should be in good health, have a gentle temperament, and preferably know some martial arts."

Lu Yuan's eyes twitched as he listened.

"Are you here to find me a concubine, or to select a vanguard for the army?"

Su Yuling raised her hand and grabbed his ear.

"You still have the nerve to be picky?"

"Ruyan already begged for mercy last night, and you still made her serve tea."

Liu Ruyan's face flushed.

"Sister, please stop talking!"

Shen Hanqiu reached out and pulled her dress over to cover the messy marks by the bed.

"Taking a concubine is permissible, but one must choose carefully!"

Su Yuling released Lu Yuan and then set the rules.

"From now on, any woman entering our household will require the consent of all three of us!"

"Those of dubious origin are unacceptable, those with malicious intentions are unacceptable, and those who want to use you to seize power and profit are even more unacceptable!"

Lu Yuan rubbed his ears.

"Okay, okay, I'll do as you say."

"You agreed so readily, did you already have someone in mind?"

Su Yuling asked again.

"No!"

Who is Zhao Mingzhu?

Lu Yuan stopped moving.

Shen Hanqiu and Liu Ruyan looked at him together.

Su Yuling crossed her arms. "After you returned to the manor yesterday, I had someone investigate."

"The young lady of Fuyuan Escort Agency has traveled thousands of miles with the escort team. She can wield two swords and can take on four guards by herself."

"I heard you personally went to her door and agreed to marry her?"

Lu Yuan put on his shoes, avoiding the gazes of the three men.

"That was to save her."

"My husband is truly kind-hearted."

Liu Ruyan chuckled and replied, "So many girls in the capital are suffering, why do you only go to rescue the young and pretty ones?"

Shen Hanqiu picked up the hairband and handed it to him.

"If Miss Zhao really wants to come to our manor, bring her back so we can meet her first."

"She doesn't even know who I am."

Su Yuling narrowed her eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Before Lu Yuan could answer, someone outside the door came to urge him.

"Your Highness, it's time to attend the morning court session."

Su Bo'an was outside, holding a court robe in his hand.

"The palace has sent people to inquire twice; if we delay any longer, it will be too late!"

Lu Yuan immediately got up to wash up.

Although the three women were very tired, they still got out of bed together and dressed him.

The imperial edict of investiture has not yet been read, so he is still wearing his princely court robes today.

Shen Hanqiu fastened his belt, and after Liu Ruyan checked the wounds on his left arm, Su Yuling hung the Shangfang sword on his waist.

"During the morning court session, someone might impeach you because of matters concerning the Ministry of Justice!"

"Li Zhenyuan deserves to die."

Su Yuling fastened the sword clasp. "If anyone dares to use this matter to make things difficult for you, just throw the Wu family's two hundred thousand taels of silver in their face."

Liu Ruyan handed over a medicine bottle.

"If the wound is painful, have the Imperial Hospital change the dressing again!"

Lu Yuan looked at the three people surrounding him and raised his hand to kiss each of them on the forehead.

"Wait for me to return at the manor."

Su Yuling wiped her forehead in disgust, but a smile remained on her lips.

"Let's go quickly."

As soon as Lu Yuan arrived at the gate of the mansion, a minor official from the Imperial Medical Academy dismounted from his horse.

"Your Highness!"

"Commander He's fever subsided last night, and his wound has not worsened."

"Prefect Liang says that Commander He is out of danger for the time being!"

Lu Yuan immediately walked down the steps.

"Is the person awake?"

"I woke up once in the early morning and drank half a bowl of ginseng soup."

"The doctor has re-examined the arrow wound. If the patient does not develop a fever in the next few days, the patient can be saved."

"it is good."

Lu Yuan took the money pouch from his waist and stuffed it directly into the clerk's hand. "After returning to the Imperial Hospital, everyone who took care of Commander He will be rewarded."

The clerk thanked him repeatedly as he received the money bag.

Lu Yuan boarded the carriage and headed to the palace with the Imperial Guards.

When the carriage arrived at Zhuque Street, a caravan of镖队 (bodyguards) came from the front.

Dozens of bodyguards escorted more than thirty trucks, with the flag of Fuyuan Escort Agency planted at the front.

Zhao Mingzhu is inspecting the list of goods handed over by the Ministry of Rites while riding a horse.

Upon seeing the entourage of the Ninth Prince's residence, the bodyguards all stopped their carriages.

"Fuyuan Escort Agency greets Your Highness the Ninth Prince!"

Zhao Mingzhu dismounted and bowed to everyone.

She looked down at the wheels, but the image that flashed through her mind was that of the lecherous man from yesterday.

That guy carried an imperial sword, claimed to be the Ninth Prince, and fooled her mother into being overjoyed.

Today, the real Ninth Prince has arrived, and she wants to see what the differences are between the two.

Zhao Mingzhu raised her head.

The carriage was passing in front of her when a gust of wind blew open a corner of the curtain.

Lu Yuan was wearing the prince's court robes and looking down at the memorials.

Zhao Mingzhu was stunned when she saw this profile picture.

so similar.

His eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, and even the way he looked when he lowered his head were exactly the same as that lecherous man.

The curtain was quickly drawn, and the carriage had already traveled several meters away.

Xiao Tao tugged at her clothes.

"Miss, what are you looking at?"

After regaining her senses, Zhao Mingzhu shook her head.

"No, that's impossible. If he were the Ninth Prince, why would he have me tie him up and take him to the woodshed yesterday?"

She mounted her horse, suppressing her doubts.

"Let's keep going."

"The Ministry of Rites requires that the goods be delivered to Shiliting for handover today, so as not to miss the appointed time."

The caravan set off again.

Zhao Mingzhu did not notice that all four trucks had an extra layer of newly nailed wooden planks on the bottom.

……

When Lu Yuan arrived at Chengtian Gate, most of the officials had already arrived.

A dozen or so censors from the Censorate stood on one side of the palace gate. When they saw him coming, they all turned away with stern faces.

Two of them even hid the memorials they were holding in their sleeves.

Lu Yuan stopped and looked at Wei Zhengyuan, the Left Censor-in-Chief.

"Lord Wei, do I owe you money?"

Wei Zhengyuan cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your Highness is joking."

"If I don't owe you anything, why are you all looking at me like that?"

"What Your Highness has done will be judged at the morning court session."

After Wei Zhengyuan finished speaking, he led the censors into the palace gate.

Lu Yuan looked at the officials beside him.

Everyone lowered their heads, none of them willing to reveal the information in advance.

He was about to send someone to ask the Minister of Justice when a smiling voice came from behind him.

"Ninth Brother."

"We meet again."