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

After breakfast, Lu Yuan took Liu Ruyan out of the mansion.

The carriage of the Ninth Prince's residence moved extremely slowly, with twenty female soldiers from the Phoenix Battalion lined up on both sides.

Lu Yuan made no attempt to conceal his whereabouts. He first went to the largest silk shop in the east of the city, then to a jewelry store, a pharmacy, a bookstore, and an arms shop.

He bought two carloads of gifts for Liu Ruyan's return visit and also gave her several sets of clothes and jewelry.

When they encountered familiar noblemen or court officials along the way, Lu Yuan would stop his carriage and bring Liu Ruyan along.

If anyone glanced at her, he would introduce her as Miss Liu, who had just entered the manor yesterday.

Liu Ruyan could only stand beside him and bow.

In less than half an hour, the news that the Ninth Prince had taken the Second Prince's sweetheart as a concubine and was parading her around the city the next day had spread from the east of the city to the back street of Dali Temple.

When Lu Yuan came out of the study, some people even took a detour just to catch a glimpse of Liu Ruyan.

Liu Ruyan went from being embarrassed and annoyed at first, but later she was able to follow Lu Yuan into the carriage with a blank expression.

She gradually realized that Lu Yuan wasn't taking her shopping, but rather putting her in the open to embarrass Lu Cheng.

The angrier Lu Cheng gets, the more likely he is to slip up.

What Lu Yuan wanted was to make him lose patience first.

……

The main hall of the Liu residence.

Wei held a piece of cloth, her eyes red from crying.

"Ruyan only entered the Ninth Prince's residence last night, and this morning Lu Yuan was taking her running around the streets!"

"People outside are gossiping, saying she went from being the Second Prince's woman to becoming the Ninth Prince's concubine, and the things they say are getting uglier and uglier!"

"Su Yuling dared to hit her at the Hundred Flowers Banquet. Now that they're in the same household, how much suffering will Ruyan have to endure?"

After Liu Hong sat down in the chair, his expression grew increasingly grim.

"That's enough, stop crying!"

"My daughter has been taken away, am I not even allowed to cry?"

Wei grabbed his sleeve and said, "You were the one who said the Hundred Flowers Banquet was for the Emperor to choose his concubines, and you asked me to persuade Ruyan to enter the palace."

"It turns out His Majesty never intended to choose a consort!"

"Now that our daughter is in Lu Yuan's hands, you expect me to stop crying?"

"I think you should stop calling yourself Qingyuan. What's so pure about you? From now on, you should be called Liu Hong, with the courtesy name Xiayuan!"

Liu Hong flicked his sleeves, raised his hand and slammed it on the table, knocking over the teacups.

"Since I, Liu Qingyuan, entered officialdom, have I ever suffered such a humiliating disgrace?"

"Lu Yuan snatched Ruyan away in front of the entire court of nobles and even sent people to investigate the Liu family. Does he really think that just because he has the imperial sword, he can ride roughshod over my Liu family?"

Wei glared at him, "What's the point of you getting angry at me?"

"If you're so capable, bring your daughter back!"

Liu Hong's face stiffened.

The imperial edict has been issued.

Bringing Liu Ruyan back would be tantamount to defying an imperial decree.

Moreover, the Imperial Clan Court is investigating the drugging case, and if the Liu family dares to make any unusual moves at this time, Lu Yuan will have a perfect opportunity to launch an attack.

Liu Hong turned and looked towards the door.

"housekeeper!"

The steward of the Liu family strode in.

"What are your orders, sir?"

"Go find a group of young women and bring them back."

Wei's crying stopped.

The butler was also stunned.

Liu Hong frowned. "Ideally, she should be sixteen or seventeen years old, with outstanding looks and a clean background. She should be quick-witted, know how to serve people, and it would be even better if she knew some martial arts."

Wei slowly put down the handkerchief.

"Liu Hong, say that again?"

Liu Hong, oblivious to her expression, continued to give instructions to the steward.

"Find ten first, the prettier the better. Money is no problem; send them all to my residence for inspection before tomorrow."

Wei raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

Liu Hong quickly turned his head to avoid it.

"What are you doing?"

"Your daughter is still suffering in the Ninth Prince's residence, yet you want to take ten concubines at once!"

Wei grabbed the teapot from the table and chased after him.

"Liu Hong, do you have any conscience at all?"

"Who said I was going to take a concubine?"

Liu Hong went around behind the chair and reached out to block her.

When the butler saw the two chasing after them, he wanted to go up and persuade them, but he didn't dare to get too close, so he could only follow them back and forth.

"Madam, perhaps Master has other plans."

"He asked you to find ten beauties around sixteen or seventeen years old and bring them to his residence for inspection. What kind of arrangements could he possibly have?"

Wei handed the teapot to the steward and then reached for the inkstone on the table.

When Liu Hong saw her pick up the inkstone, he quickly retreated to the side of the screen.

"Madam, please put it down!"

"I sought out these women all to protect Ruyan!"

Wei stopped what she was doing.

"Protection as thin as smoke?"

"Who is Lu Yuan? Don't you understand yet?"

After Liu Hong straightened his official hat, he came out from behind the screen.

"He's only been married for a few days, and he already has Su Yuling, Shen Hanqiu, and Ruyan in his household."

"This clearly shows that this person is lustful and cannot take his eyes off beautiful women."

Wei hugged the inkstone to her chest.

"and then?"

"Renyan is now living alone in the Ninth Prince's residence, with no one around her she can use."

Liu Hong walked over and patiently explained, "We'll send these people in by sending their dowry maids. They can pass messages to Ruyan and also keep an eye on Su Yuling and Shen Hanqiu."

"If anyone tries to bully Ruyan, they can help her!"

Upon hearing this, the anger on Madam Wei's face lessened somewhat.

Why does it have to be young and beautiful?

"If an ordinary maid were sent in, would Lu Yuan care?"

Liu Hong said speechlessly, "Only by making Lu Yuan like them can they gain a foothold in the Ninth Prince's residence."

With so many women around, how could Lu Yuan possibly have the mind to torment Ruyan?

"As long as these people listen to the Liu family, we will know what happens inside and outside the Ninth Prince's residence."

After thinking for a moment, Wei finally put the inkstone back on the table.

"You really don't want to take a concubine?"

"I'm already so old, why would I need a concubine?"

"There are plenty of men in their fifties in the capital who take concubines."

"If I really had that intention, would I find ten in front of you?"

Seeing the tension on his face, Madam Wei finally began to believe him a little.

"Leave this to me."

"I'll pick a few from the collateral branches of the Liu family and then take them to the brokerage firm. They must have clean backgrounds and be obedient."

Liu Hong breathed a sigh of relief.

"The sooner the better."

"Ruyan has already entered the manor. If we delay for a few more days, she might really be won over by Lu Yuan."

Madam Wei picked up a handkerchief and wiped her eyes. "Ruyan listens to me the most and would never betray the Liu family."

Liu Hong did not respond.

Girls are very outgoing; if you don't constantly remind them, they might just betray you.

Therefore, those people must be sent in as soon as possible.

……

As noon approached, two carriages loaded with gifts stopped in front of the Yongning Marquis's residence.

Lu Yuan got off the car first, then turned around and reached out his hand towards the carriage.

Su Yuling lifted the carriage curtain, glanced at his hand, but did not immediately place it on his.

"I can get down by myself."

"This palace knows."

Lu Yuan still had his hand outstretched.

"But today is my homecoming. My father-in-law is watching from the doorway, so you have to give me some face."

Su Yuling looked towards the direction of the mansion gate.

Su Tan, dressed in dark casual clothes, was already standing on the steps waiting.

Beside him was a boy in his teens, dressed in an old blue robe, with no weapon at his waist, dressed like a refined scholar.

Su Yuling then handed her hand to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan took her hand and helped her down from the carriage.

Su Tan led the man to greet them.

"Your subject Su Tan greets Your Highness the Ninth Prince."

Lu Yuan returned the greeting with a cupped hand, "Grandfather Yue, there's no need to be so polite. Today is a family banquet, where we only discuss kinship and not the relationship between ruler and subject."

Su Tan glanced at the two carriages behind him.

"Your Highness, you've brought so much stuff when you just came back for a meal?"

"You can't go home empty-handed for the first time."

Lu Yuan pulled Su Yuling up the steps. "The medicine and wrist guards are for the old guards in the manor, and the calligraphy and paintings are for your father-in-law. There are also a few jars of strong liquor. If you don't want to drink them, you can distribute them to your personal guards."

Su Tan smiled.

"Your Highness is very kind."

Su Yuling also looked at Lu Yuan.

In the morning, she thought Liu Ruyan had just made the arrangement casually, but she didn't expect that even the old subordinates of the Marquis's mansion would be taken care of.

Lu Yuan, however, kept observing the young man in blue standing next to Su Tan.

"Grandfather Yue, who is this?"