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

"The Ninth Prince?"

Su Tan slammed his cane down, his old eyes widening in surprise.

He glanced at the tightly closed door of the ancestral hall, then turned back to stare at the servant, trying to get the truth out of him.

"What's this spoiled brat doing here? Is he here to laugh at the Su family?"

"His Highness said he came to see you and the young lady, and that he had an imperial decree."

Su Tan puffed out his cheeks and gritted his teeth.

"What kind of imperial decree could he possibly have? Let him wait!"

After saying that, Su Tan felt something was wrong.

What if this kid really brought the emperor's decree?

If His Majesty takes action on this matter, and Yu Ling doesn't listen, she might miss the opportunity.

He turned around, facing the ancestral hall door, and began to earnestly persuade him.

"Yu Ling, the Ninth Prince has arrived."

There was no movement from inside the door.

"Regardless, let's hear what he has to say first."

Su Tan softened his tone, "What if you brought some kind of imperial decree? His Majesty can't possibly be indifferent to the affairs of the Su family. If you just leave like this, how will Grandpa live?"

After he finished speaking, the ancestral hall remained quiet for a long time.

"it is good."

Su Yuling's voice came through the crack in the door.

Su Tan felt as if all his strength had been drained, his shoulders slumped, and he only managed to stand up by leaning on his cane.

The aunts and sisters-in-law behind her also collapsed, Zhao Shi held onto the door frame and wiped away her tears, while Li Shi squatted on the ground and kept chanting Buddhist prayers.

"Yu Ling, open the door quickly," Su Tan instructed.

Soon, the ironwood door creaked open and Su Yuling opened it.

Then she tore the strip of cloth off the beam, folded it twice, placed it on the offering table, and turned to walk out.

Her face was expressionless, and her eyes weren't red, as if she wasn't the one who had tried to hang herself.

Su Tan watched her retreating figure, opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't say anything.

Turning around, he yelled at Su Fu.

"Take the Ninth Prince to the front hall!"

……

lobby.

Lu Yuan was led through the door by a servant.

It's called the front hall, but it's actually just three main rooms that have been combined and a few chairs have been placed inside.

Several pieces of plaster had peeled off, revealing the grayish mud bricks underneath.

In the very center hangs a painting depicting the first patriarch of the Su family riding a horse and slaying generals. The ink has faded so badly that the faces of the figures are no longer visible.

The tea set on the table had a chip, the armrests of the chair were worn shiny, and the seat cushions were so old that their original color was no longer visible.

Lu Yuan did not sit down.

He stood in front of the central painting and looked at it for a long time.

The Earl's Mansion, which the Su family had bought with nine lives, is now in this state.

The phrase "a family of loyal martyrs" sounds nice hanging above the door, but once you move in, you realize just how shabby it really is.

The civil officials in the imperial court all had mansions that were bigger and bigger than each other, and concubines that were more and more numerous than each other. They could set up three tables for a single meal.

And what about the Su family?

They couldn't even find a decent teacup.

Just as Lu Yuan was lost in thought, he heard footsteps behind him.

Su Tan walked in front, followed by his two sisters-in-law, Zhao and Li, and several other sisters-in-law from collateral branches.

Su Yuling didn't come; I don't know where she went.

Su Tan entered the room and looked Lu Yuan up and down.

A prince, without wearing a python robe or accompanied by any attendants, stood alone in the front hall of his house, looking at the paintings.

"Your Highness, Ninth Prince."

Su Tan called out, his tone stiff, and then he was about to bow with his hands clasped in greeting.

Lu Yuan felt a chill on the back of his neck and quickly turned around to stop him.

"My lord, please don't stand on ceremony! Don't be so polite!"

Su Tan's arm was held down, preventing it from bending.

He glared at Lu Yuan's hand and snorted, which was considered giving him face.

Lu Yuan shifted his gaze from the man's face to the women behind him.

Zhao and Li stood at the back with their heads down, their eyes red and swollen, clearly having cried more than once.

Su Tan followed his gaze and his old face darkened.

"What are you looking at?"

"No, it's nothing."

Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze, "I just felt that all the women in the manor had an extraordinary air about them."

Su Tan didn't believe this nonsense at all and was about to explode.

"My lord, I've come today to discuss serious matters."

Lu Yuan spoke first, his playful grin completely gone.

"I want to marry Su Yuling."

Su Tan was stunned.

The front hall suddenly became so quiet that you could hear birds chirping in the courtyard.

Zhao and Li exchanged a glance, both looking incredulous. Su Fu stood at the door, his hands trembling as he held the teacup.

"What did you say?" Su Tan thought he had misheard.

"Father has already given his permission."

Lu Yuan looked into Su Tan's eyes and said, word by word, "Let me discuss the marriage with the Earl's family."

Su Tan's lips twitched twice.

He's lived most of his life, what kind of situation hasn't he seen?

But hearing those words come out of his mouth still sounded absurd.

The Ninth Prince slept with the Second Prince's fiancée; this is a royal scandal.

Any emperor would be too busy covering it up to possibly let the person in question marry her.

This is tantamount to announcing to the world that something like this has happened to the royal family.

"Your Majesty... has he really agreed?" Su Tan's voice was a little tense.

"Absolutely true."

Lu Yuan said, "My father's exact words were that if Su Yuling agrees, he will issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage. She will be married with the rites due to a prince's consort, and everything will be done according to the rules."

Su Tan stared at him for a long time, her wariness still lingering.

Lu Yuan sighed, took a step forward, and bowed deeply to Su Tan with his hands clasped.

What happened before was my fault.

Su Tan was stunned for a moment after bowing.

"Regardless of whether anyone plotted against her, Yu Ling's innocence was lost in my room. I can't deny it, and I don't intend to."

Lu Yuan straightened up, his face more serious than Su Tan had ever seen before.

"I, Lu Yuan, am making this clear: once I marry Su Yuling, I will never let her suffer the slightest grievance again. Anyone who dares to gossip about her will have their head twisted. Anyone who dares to lay a finger on her will be my enemy."

Su Tan remained silent.

He didn't speak for quite a while.

"Your Highness, our Su family is a family of military generals. Our daughters have practiced swordsmanship and spear fighting since childhood. They are wild and untamed, unlike those courtesans raised in brothels who can sing and serve wine."

"Your Excellency is mistaken."

Lu Yuan shook his head. "Those in brothels are for people's amusement. The daughter of the Su family is a brave and capable woman from a military family, worth half a man. I respect her more than enough."

Su Tan looked at Lu Yuan with some surprise.

"Do you really think so?"

"real!"

Lu Yuan spread his hands. "My lord, think about it. I even dared to hit my imperial brother, so why would I be afraid to tell the truth?"

Su Tan did not respond.

The story of how this kid beat the Second Prince so badly that he was left crawling on the ground has already spread throughout the capital.

"After marriage, I will not use the rules of the inner quarters to restrict her."

Lu Yuan continued, "She can practice martial arts if she wants, and ride horses if she wants. If she wants to go to the battlefield, I will prepare armor for her and lead her horse."

Su Tan stood there, swallowed hard, and couldn't say a word.

Nine of the Su family's nine sons and grandsons died in battle, and Su Yuling was the last remaining bloodline. His greatest fear in this life was that his granddaughter would marry into a wealthy and powerful family, be bound by rules and regulations, and not even be allowed to touch a knife.

The young man in front of her said he wouldn't restrict her.

"You..." Su Tan's voice was unsteady, "You really won't restrict her?"

"I, Lu Yuan, keep my word."

Su Tan stared at him for a long while before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

"I was rude just now."

"You're too kind, sir. If I were you, I would have scolded you too."

Su Tan waved his hand, his expression no longer so bad.

"I have taken note of what you have said. But whether the marriage will proceed depends on Yuling's own wishes. If she does not agree, I will not force her."

Lu Yuan nodded: "As long as the Earl's Mansion has no objections, I will return to the palace immediately to ask my father for an imperial decree. Everything will be done according to the etiquette for a prince consort, with all the proper betrothal gifts and formalities."

Su Tan didn't say anything more, but simply nodded emphatically.

Outside the hall.

Behind the pillar, Su Yuling had been standing leaning against it for quite some time.

My hand was pressed against my chest, my heart was pounding fast and wildly.

She heard every single word that was said.

He said he wouldn't restrict her.

She is said to be the daughter of a military family.

She said she wanted to go to the battlefield, so he prepared armor for her and led her horse.

Su Yuling lowered her head and clenched the hem of her clothes.

Is this just polite talk out of guilt, or does he genuinely not care what kind of person she is?