She refused to marry.

Upon hearing the news, Zhao rushed over and happened to hear this. She withdrew her foot that had just stepped inside.

They were listening intently from the back of the lobby.

This kind of show is truly more enjoyable than what gossipy women talk about.

Su Hongxuan accepted the calligraphy and painting. "Does your family own any farmland or shops?"

Zhao Yu shook her head, "They're all in Cangzhou. My parents left them with my siblings." After saying that, she picked up the books and albums she had written on from the side.

"I have no vast wealth, only this much. I am willing to marry into the Su family, to treat Yaoyue well, and to be good to her for the rest of my life."

"Marrying into the family?"

The room fell silent for a moment.

"Are you really willing to marry into the family?" Su Hongxuan asked.

Zhao Yu raised her head, her gaze resolute: "I'm willing."

"No regrets?"

No regrets.

Su Hongxuan looked at the calligraphy and painting. He had inquired about this person's background before, and he was indeed a talented individual.

"If you treat her well, we will not accept your betrothal gifts and will even provide you with a courtyard. The two of you can then live your own lives."

Zhao Yu knelt down and kowtowed deeply to Su Hongxuan and Madam Wang: "Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, your son-in-law will certainly live up to Yaoyue's expectations and will not disappoint your kindness."

Wang helped him up, saying, "Alright, alright, get up, get up."

Su Hongxuan waved his hand, "Yaoyue has been waiting behind the screen for a long time."

Zhao Yu stood up, bowed to Su Hongxuan and Madam Wang again, and then turned and walked towards the screen.

Su Yaoyue peeked out from behind the screen.

Zhao Yu stood in front of her, took out a pair of silver clove earrings from his sleeve, and handed them to her.

"This is for you."

Su Yaoyue took the earrings and held them in her hand. "Where did you get so much dowry?"

"Given by the Crown Prince."

Watching this scene, Su Hongxuan sighed softly and turned to Wang Shi, saying, "This child, like the characters he draws, is upright and honest."

Wang remained silent.

After Su Wanwan finished moving her dowry to the storeroom and tidying it up, half an hour had passed. When she returned to the hall, the whole family was happily drinking tea.

Upon seeing Su Wanwan, Zhao Yu stepped forward, bowed, and took out a letter. "Second Miss, this was delivered by the Heir Apparent."

Su Wanwan took it and unfolded it to read.

"Wanwan, seeing your words is like seeing you in person. I can write thousands of words, but when I put pen to paper, I don't know where to begin."

There always seems to be an inexplicable misunderstanding between us.

"I'm sorry"—those three words are too light, too light to make up for all the things I've hidden. But I still want to say, I'm sorry.

After Zhao Yu finished reading the letter, he said, "The young master asked if he could meet with the young lady. It's at Linjiang Tower."

Su Wanwan folded the letter. "Let's make an appointment. Today is a good day, and I also want to thank him."

"Alright, I'll send someone to inform them right away." Zhao Yu happily cupped his hands and waved to his servant, "Quickly, go tell the young master that he will be seeing Miss Su at Linjiang Tower tonight."

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Su Wanwan looked at Su Yaoyue. "Did Father agree?"

"I agree. From now on, we'll be living under the same roof, so please take good care of me, Second Sister."

"Under the same roof?" Su Wanwan frowned.

"Since I, Zhao, am unable to prepare my own dowry, I will show my utmost sincerity by marrying into the family. I know Miss Su wants to find a husband to marry into her family, but the Crown Prince is, after all, the Crown Prince. Even if he agrees, Prince Xin will not. My marriage into the family is the best option," Zhao Yu said, straightening his back.

"What benefits did he give you that made you make such a big sacrifice?" Su Wanwan asked in a low voice.

"Second sister, this is Zhao's decision."

"Alright, Third Son-in-law, please take good care of me in the future." Su Wanwan smiled and performed a curtsy.

*

In the evening, Su Wanwan went to Linjiang Tower and to her usual private room on the second floor.

I ordered a pot of tea and sat by the window, lost in thought.

She was thinking about what she should say when the prince arrived.

The door was suddenly pushed open, and Su Wanwan turned around happily, but her mood immediately cooled when she saw who it was.

"Miss Su, it's been a long time." The Crown Prince walked in slowly.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Su Wanwan rose and bowed.

The Crown Prince personally poured her tea. "Waiting for the Heir Apparent?"

Su Wanwan didn't say anything.

"What a coincidence, I was also waiting for the Crown Prince." The Crown Prince took a sip of tea.

Su Wanwan buried her head in her tea, but after taking a sip, she felt that the taste was not quite right.

Suddenly feeling weak in her limbs, she looked up and asked, "Did Your Highness drug me?"

"Yes, if we don't use any drugs, what leverage will we have to negotiate with the Crown Prince later?" The Crown Prince said smugly, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly.

Su Wanwan propped herself up, swaying as she stood up. "Dream on!!"

She leaned against the window and looked down, determined that even if she fell to her death, she would not let the Crown Prince have his way.

As soon as one foot stepped onto the ground, someone grabbed the waist.

"Wanwan!!" Ying Zheng hugged her tightly.

Su Wanwan turned to look at Ying Zheng, clutching his collar tightly. "Don't do anything against your conscience because of me, otherwise..."

Before he could finish speaking, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"What did you do to her?!" Ying Zheng roared.

"Don't worry, it won't kill her right now. Just have the young master copy this letter and affix your seal, and the antidote will be served immediately!"

The prince placed the letter in front of him.

That was a letter secretly communicating with the Northern Rong.

Ying Zheng sneered, carefully placing the woman on a chair. "Bring me a pen!"

He didn't care at all about the charge of colluding with the Northern Rong.

"Lu Huai'an..." Su Wanwan opened her eyes, "If you... if you write this, I'll never speak to you again..."

After Ying Zheng finished writing, he quickly stamped his personal seal and reached out to ask for the antidote, "Your Highness, the antidote."

The Crown Prince was suspicious; would he compromise so easily?

I glanced down at the letter and saw that it was indeed written word for word.

"I never imagined that a woman could be worth more than a thousand troops in the eyes of the Crown Prince." The Crown Prince took out the antidote and handed it to him.

Ying Zheng smelled it and poured the antidote into Su Wanwan's mouth.

After Su Wanwan ate it, the sharp pain in her chest slowly disappeared.

However, her limbs were still weak, and she could only lie in the prince's arms.

The crown prince stood opposite him, holding the transcribed letter of secret communication with the Northern Rong in his hand, the smile on his lips like a cold snake.

Ying Zheng's face was cold, as if he wanted to shove the crown prince's head into a charcoal brazier.

"The Crown Prince secretly sent me his account book, and I still have some goodwill towards him," the Crown Prince said condescendingly. "But the Crown Prince's penchant for collecting is simply too deep."

Now that they've even found my letter to the Northern Rong, and it's even been delivered to the Empress Dowager, don't blame me for turning against you first..."

Ying Zheng frowned. When had he ever done such a thing?

Could it be that Lord Fengchen was behind this?

Feng Chenjun's move, a classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada unaware of the oriole behind, caught him completely off guard.

This fool in front of me is still completely in the dark.

"If anything happens to Wanwan, I, the Crown Prince, will raze the capital to the ground!" Ying Zheng carried Su Wanwan out of Linjiang Tower, got into a carriage, and headed straight for the Crown Prince's residence.

Stepping into the mansion, he addressed the guards at the entrance, "Summon the divine physician!!!"

Su Wanwan had recovered considerably, but Ying Zheng still pressed her down on the bed, preventing her from moving.

It wasn't until the doctor arrived and confirmed that everything was alright.

He then sat on the edge of the bed, took her hand tightly, and said, "I almost lost you."