She refused to marry.

After a heated argument with Zhou Lingyi, Su Wanwan felt even more frustrated.

Walking along the corridor towards the apricot garden, we turned to the lakeside.

As she was lost in thought, a tall figure suddenly darted out from the side of the path and walked straight toward her.

The man looked around and, seeing no one nearby, quickened his pace.

Su Wanwan's heart tightened, and she instinctively retreated.

Unfortunately, it was too late. The man had somehow produced a handkerchief and covered her nose and mouth with it.

Su Wanwan struggled fiercely, but as a woman, she was no match for the tall and strong man.

Suddenly, a force pulled her from behind, and she was thrown backward uncontrollably.

Then her waist was firmly encircled, and she was pulled into a warm embrace.

The familiar scent of sandalwood wafted into my nose; it was Lu Huai'an's scent.

She looked up, and Lu Huai'an nervously pulled her into his arms, striking the servant in the chest with a palm strike.

Caught off guard, the servant groaned and fell to the ground, his face turning blue and purple, staring at Lu Huai'an with horrified eyes.

It seems unexpected that a scholar-like man possessed such formidable strength.

Su Wanwan was also stunned.

Lu Huai'an, who is usually gentle and refined, was surprisingly swift and ruthless in his actions.

"Tell me, who sent you?" Yuan Zijin suddenly appeared, stepping on the servant's chest and asking fiercely.

The servant remained silent with a cold face.

"Take him away," Lu Huai'an commanded coldly.

Su Wanwan was startled by his sudden change in temperament and looked up at Lu Huai'an with a strange expression.

Lu Huai'an immediately said gently, "Did I scare you?"

"No." Su Wanwan lowered her eyes in confusion.

Lu Huai'an's murderous aura just now was definitely not what a salt merchant should have, especially since he could cleave a person in two with a single palm strike.

This feeling reminded her of Feng Chenjun.

Suddenly, a tightness appeared in my chest, my vision went black, and I lost consciousness.

One hour later.

Su Wanwan was awakened by a strong smell of medicine.

She opened her eyes and saw a five-clawed dragon coiled on the bedpost, and a sword hanging at the head of the bed. The scabbard was black, with the character "郑" engraved on it, exuding a chilling aura.

Su Wanwan sat up abruptly, frowning, and asked, "Lu Huai'an, where am I?"

"The Prince of Changxin's residence," Lu Huai'an said worriedly, touching her hand.

He had never seen a woman react so violently after waking up from a coma.

"Is this the Crown Prince's residence?" Su Wanwan grabbed his hand and exclaimed in surprise.

"Don't be afraid, the prince gave special permission. The mattress is made of medicine and can detoxify," Lu Huai'an comforted her.

"That won't do either." Su Wanwan stood up and looked down to find her shoes.

Lu Huai'an squatted down, gently pressed her ankle, and helped her put on her shoes.

The people inside the room turned around and looked away awkwardly.

"I can do it myself," Su Wanwan said, bowing her head.

His forehead collided with Lu Huai'an's forehead, causing him to wince in pain.

"Don't move." Lu Huai'an pressed down on her foot.

Su Wanwan could only let him put on his shoes and stand up.

Lu Huai'an picked her up and said, "You're heavy, don't move around too much. I'll take you home."

Su Wanwan was internally devastated.

Could it be that Lu Huai'an has taken a liking to her?

However, she only used Lu Huai'an. In terms of feelings, she was indeed better than most people, but it didn't reach the point of being a romantic relationship.

"Put me down, I can walk by myself," Su Wanwan struggled.

"Don't talk, don't get angry." Lu Huai'an knew what she was thinking.

She let Lu Huai'an carry her onto the carriage and take her to the Su residence. When she got off the carriage, he carefully protected her, as if afraid she would break.

Su Wanwan looked at Lu Huai'an, who looked nervous, and her heart stirred.

"I'll see you to the back door today. I'll leave after you go in," Lu Huai'an said gently, raising his eyes.

"Okay." Su Wanwan waved goodbye, holding the box containing the jade ruyi in her hands, knocked on the back door, and entered Jinxiu Hall.

At night, Su Wanwan was covered with blankets.

Thinking about the events of today.

She only used Lu Huai'an; as for affection, it was probably less than two ounces.

For some reason, I suddenly felt that this pretty boy was actually quite reliable today.

Suddenly, the servant who had poisoned her came to mind. Who was trying to harm her?

With questions lingering in her mind, she turned over, hugged her blankets, and went to sleep.

The following day, at the end of the Mao hour (5-7 AM).

Su Wanwan had just finished dressing up and was about to go pay her respects when the door was suddenly pushed open.

"Sister Wan, why did you do this?!" Su Jinse's cheeks flushed with anger as she pointed at her.

"Me? What did I do?" Su Wanwan was bewildered by her outburst.

Wang's face was pale, and her brows were furrowed.

Zhao walked at the front, her lips turned down, looking like she was there to interrogate someone.

Su Jinning helped Su Xian up.

Su Xian limped in, rubbing her buttocks, looking aggrieved.

A number of servants were gathered outside, peeking and whispering among themselves.

Su Jinse strode up to Su Wanwan, pointed at her nose, and said in a distorted voice, "You took the prize I won yesterday—that mutton-fat jade ruyi!"

"Why should I take it?" Su Wanwan angrily crumpled the letter in her hand into a ball.

"Stop pretending!" Su Jinse's voice was shrill and urgent. "I've been looking all morning, and I can't find it anywhere. Chunhua said you also brought back a jade ruyi yesterday. Who else could it be if not you?"

Su Wanwan turned to look at Chunhua.

Chunhua shrank at the doorway, her lips trembling, "Miss, I... I just said it casually, that you also brought back a jade ruyi from the flower fair yesterday, which was a gift from Young Master Lu... I didn't say that you took the Second Miss's."

"Your sister is young, and it wasn't easy for her to win this prize. If you like it, just take a look; we're family, no need for formalities."

"But you secretly hid it, what kind of behavior is that? If word gets out, people will say that our Su family has no manners." Zhao stood in front of Su Wanwan with her chest puffed out.

"Third Aunt, the one I brought back yesterday was a gift from Young Master Lu. It's not related to the prize for Jinse," Su Wanwan explained.

"Given by Young Master Lu? What good things could a salt merchant possibly give away?" Zhao said dismissively.

Su Jinning whispered from the side, "Third Aunt, the things Young Master Lu gives to Sister Wan are always of good quality..."

"What do you know, you little kid!" Zhao turned around and glared at Su Jinning.

"Wanwan, if you took it, give it back to your sister. Don't let such a small matter ruin your sisterly harmony." Madam Wang walked in.

Su Wanwan felt a surge of fire rising from her chest.

She's still under the influence of the poison and her life is in danger. Now she's being falsely accused of stealing, and her mother doesn't believe her either.

"I told you, I didn't take it." Su Wanwan's voice turned cold, each word distinct and deliberate.

When Zhao saw that she didn't admit it, her tone changed: "Wanwan, it's not that your aunt is criticizing you. Although your father has been promoted, the Su family is still relying on your uncle to support it."

"You're an unmarried young woman, running around all day, associating with shady people. If your reputation gets out, who will want you in the future?"

Su Wanwan's brows furrowed more and more tightly.

As Zhao got more and more excited, she simply poured out her heart: "Your second branch has no male heirs, and your mother is in poor health. In the future, won't this family business still rely on your third uncle's help?"

"And you, instead of helping your own sisters, you steal from your younger sister! With your personality, you'll probably cause chaos in your husband's family after you get married!"

Wang's face turned pale.

Su Xian rubbed her bottom and muttered softly, "Mother, Sister Wan isn't that kind of person..."

"Shut up!" Zhao glared at him.

Su Wanwan suddenly smiled as she listened to what Zhao Shi said.

Everyone looked at Su Wanwan's expression and exchanged bewildered glances.