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

"What do you take me for?"

Zhao Mingzhu pushed Lu Yuan away.

"You think I'd just beckon you and sneak off to your house in the middle of the night without my parents' knowledge?"

She was only worried about Lu Yuan's life when she said those things about eloping and marrying into his family.

Now that he was out of danger, and recalling their earlier agreement, her face flushed.

She went to a man's house at night, but she couldn't tell her parents.

If this gets out, how will she ever be able to face anyone again?

Lu Yuan grabbed the clothes rack next to him and deliberately covered his arrow wound.

"Miss Zhao just said she didn't have the money to support me, but she'd rather I marry into her family."

"Now they don't even want to enter the mansion gates anymore?"

Stop pretending to be pitiful.

Zhao Mingzhu glanced at his arm, but still went over and supported him.

"I just felt it was impolite."

"So that's what you're afraid of."

Lu Yuan took half a step closer.

"I thought you were planning to elope with another man. I'm busy tonight."

"Who wants to bring another man?"

Zhao Mingzhu raised her hand and punched him in the chest.

"I've never said I'd elope with anyone in my life. I'm only doing this to save you."

"Then it's settled."

Lu Yuan gripped her wrist and looked down at her.

"I'll send someone to pick you up tonight."

Zhao Mingzhu tried to pull her hand back, but failed twice.

"Just going to sit for a while?"

"certainly."

"Don't bully me."

"When Miss Zhao held a knife to my neck, weren't you afraid I would bully you?"

"That's different."

"What's different?"

Zhao Mingzhu was speechless when asked the question and could only turn her face away.

Seeing that her ears were turning red, Lu Yuan simply grabbed her waist and pulled her to his side.

Zhao Mingzhu's body stiffened, her elbow already pressed against his chest.

"There are so many people on the street, let go."

"I'm taking my future wife shopping, who dares to interfere?"

"Who is your wife?"

"Yesterday you tied me up in the woodshed, and today you want to elope with me."

Lu Yuan lowered his head and whispered in her ear.

"Miss Zhao, you've gone to such lengths, and you still want to deny it?"

Zhao Mingzhu pushed him away, not daring to touch his injury.

"Let's make this clear first."

"I only agreed to visit the Ninth Prince's residence."

"As for other things, it depends on your performance."

"clear."

Lu Yuan withdrew his hand halfway from her waist, and instead offered it as a light support.

"I will certainly perform well today."

The two walked out of the clothing store.

Lu Yuan first led her into the jewelry shop, and then asked the shopkeeper to bring out the best hairpins and earrings.

After much deliberation, Zhao Mingzhu finally chose only a red sword tassel.

"Hairpins are easy to fall off during a fight."

"This can be attached to the hilt of the knife."

Lu Yuan took the sword tassel and tied it for her himself.

"Other girls can't resist jewelry."

"You go into a jewelry shop, but only buy a sword tassel."

Zhao Mingzhu pulled out a short knife to check.

"If you prefer the weak, go find someone else."

"I like those who can fight."

Lu Yuan grasped her hand and returned the dagger to its sheath.

"If anyone causes me trouble in the future, you should beat them down first, and then I will go and reason with them."

"You call that reasoning?"

"I will only let you fight again when I can't win an argument with you."

Zhao Mingzhu couldn't help but laugh.

People on the street have already recognized Lu Yuan.

A tea shop owner leaned out and stared at his official robes for a long time.

"Isn't that the Ninth Prince?"

"He's the crown prince now!"

"I heard he just received an imperial decree in court today, and then immediately took a young lady shopping."

"His Highness the Crown Prince is truly dashing."

"And who is this young lady? There are already three in the Crown Prince's residence, aren't there?"

"What's wrong with a capable man having a few wives?"

More and more people are talking about it.

Zhao Mingzhu was so focused on the riding outfit Lu Yuan had chosen for her that she didn't notice what was behind her.

A dozen steps away from the two, Su Yuling, Shen Hanqiu, and Liu Ruyan stood at the entrance of the cloth shop.

All three of them focused their attention on Lu Yuan's hand supporting Zhao Mingzhu's waist.

The two bolts of cloth in Su Yuling's hands had already been crumpled.

"Wasn't he going to the Ministry of Justice to investigate a case?"

"Did the investigation somehow end up on the girl's waist?"

Shen Hanqiu grabbed her arm.

"My husband was just made crown prince today. There are many people on the street. Don't make a scene here."

"I didn't mean to cause trouble."

Su Yuling threw the fabric to Su Bo'an.

"I just wanted to go and ask if Miss Zhao had injured her back and needed him to support her the whole way."

Liu Ruyan saw Lu Yuan walk into the rouge shop and gently bit her lip.

"His Highness even chose rouge for her."

"This morning I asked him which looked better, coral or peach, and he said they were the same."

Su Yuling turned to look at Su Bo'an.

"Butler, what do you say?"

Su Bo'an was holding a piece of cloth in his arms and had seven or eight paper packages hanging from his hands.

"This old servant thinks it's good that Your Highness has returned safely today."

"As for other matters..."

He glanced at Lu Yuan, whose dimples had appeared on his face as he smiled.

"Let His Highness pray for good fortune."

Su Yuling turned and left.

"Return to the residence."

"I'll deal with him when he gets back!"

On the other side, Lu Yuan bought Zhao Mingzhu riding clothes, rouge, pastries, and also picked out a pair of jade bracelets.

Zhao Mingzhu held a box in her hand and tried several times to get him to return it.

However, Lu Yuan put everything on the carriage.

"This is my sincere offer to propose marriage!"

"Didn't you already mention that yesterday?"

"That's just talk; it doesn't count for much."

Zhao Mingzhu noticed that he was dressed in the clothes of a prince.

"Now that you have such a high status, I'm afraid even my father wouldn't dare to agree."

"No matter how tall he is, he's still your man, not to mention I'm just a substitute."

Lu Yuan drove her car to the entrance of Fuyuan Escort Agency, and then helped her out of the car.

After seeing the cart full of gifts, Madam Zhao glanced at the jade pendant and sword tassel hanging from her daughter's waist.

A look of understanding crossed his face.

Fearing her mother would ask more questions, Zhao Mingzhu picked up the box and walked into the yard.

As she reached the door, she turned back to look at Lu Yuan.

"Don't come too early at night."

"I have to wait until my parents go to sleep."

Lu Yuan smiled and agreed.

After leaving the escort agency, he went to three more shops.

He bought Su Yuling a silver-inlaid dagger, picked out several rare books for Shen Hanqiu, and bought Liu Ruyan a whole box of beaded flowers.

By the time he returned to the Ninth Prince's residence, it was already quite late.

Su Yuling and her two companions were waiting in the front yard.

When they saw Lu Yuan enter safely, their tense expressions finally eased.

Shen Hanqiu came up first to check his wounds.

"What exactly happened in the imperial court?"

"Rumors are circulating that the Second Prince has been expelled from the royal family."

Liu Ruyan also came over.

"Some people also say that the Celestial Master was catching demons in the palace."

"Who is this monster they're talking about?"

Su Yuling crossed her arms.

"Don't ask about the imperial court yet."

"Husband, where did you go after you returned from the Ministry of Justice?"

Lu Yuan saw Su Bo'an behind them, and then he saw the old butler constantly giving him meaningful glances, and he immediately understood.

He stuffed the gifts into the hands of the three women, opened his arms, and pulled them all to his side.

Too much happened today.

"After we return to our room, my husband will tell you everything slowly."