The guard wanted to say, "I'm sorry, but I can't leave," but when he saw the coldness in Zhao Han's eyes, he didn't dare to move.

After Zhao Qingyan and her father had boarded the carriage and traveled quite a distance, the guards finally recovered from their shock.

It is said that the owner of Huicui Pavilion is unfathomable, and it turns out that this is not an exaggeration. He couldn't even withstand a single glance from him.

What he didn't know was that there was a term called "coercion."

The aura emanating from Zhao Han, accumulated over thousands of years, was far beyond what a young man in his twenties could possess.

Hurry up and ride back to the Ninth Prince's residence.

He relayed the words of the Zhao father and daughter to the Ninth Prince.

The Ninth Prince toyed with the teacup in his hand.

"Interesting, truly audacious, daring to order me around."

About half an hour later, the Ninth Prince arrived at the private room reserved by the Zhao family father and daughter.

Upon seeing the Ninth Prince, neither the father nor daughter moved to offer a greeting.

Zhao Han then adopted a commercially acceptable fake smile.

"Ninth Prince, what do you wish to discuss with my daughter? As her father, I'd like to hear it."

Ninth Prince...

I've never seen such an arrogant commoner, let alone such a sarcastic one.

Before the Ninth Prince could speak, his personal eunuch, who was following behind him, spoke in an androgynous voice.

"You audacious bastard, how dare you speak to the Ninth Prince like that?"

I'm not afraid to punish you for a grave offense of disrespect."

Zhao Han smiled broadly, but the cup in his hand was instantly crushed.

Zhao Qingyan's movements were synchronized; she picked up the chopsticks beside her and stuck them into the hair bun on the young eunuch's head.

The young eunuch screamed in fright, and the guards following the Ninth Prince drew their swords in unison.

"Ninth Prince, please sit down."

Although we are citizens of the Divine Dragon Kingdom, we are not allowed to be called dogs by a mere servant.

Moreover, the Ninth Prince cannot represent the Divine Dragon Kingdom.

Zhao Han's words were laced with coldness, and he simultaneously unleashed his oppressive aura.

For a moment, not only the Ninth Prince, but even the guards who usually considered themselves highly skilled in martial arts almost dropped their swords.

Soon, beads of sweat began to drip down his forehead.

Only then did the Ninth Prince realize the kind of person he had offended.

Struggling to control his feet and make sure he didn't take the wrong step, he walked step by step to the table and sat down.

The moment he sat down, the oppressive aura emanating from him vanished instantly.

Zhao Han poured a cup of tea for the Ninth Prince.

"Ninth Prince, may I ask what business you have with my daughter?"

The Ninth Prince's mind was filled with the fear of surviving a disaster, and he had almost forgotten basic thinking.

With trembling hands, he picked up the cup on the table and gulped down the tea that Zhao Han had handed him.

Trying to regulate your breathing, speak in the calmest possible tone.

"I just want to ask, is the reason why Miss Zhao refused me because Eighth Brother promised her the position of concubine?"

The term "concubine" sounds nice, but she is still not the principal wife and is no different from a concubine.

Why can Miss Zhao marry the Eighth Prince, but not me?

Zhao Qingyan frowned.

"When did I agree to marry your eighth brother?"

"Yesterday I defied the imperial decree on the spot and refused to accept it, didn't you know that?"

The Ninth Prince had a look on his face that said, "You're just trying to fool me."

"You're talking nonsense. If you disobeyed the imperial decree, why did Father Emperor later summon you to the palace and even give you rewards?"

"Disobeying an imperial edict is punishable by the confiscation of your property and the extermination of your entire clan. Do you think I'm a fool?"

The father and daughter looked at the Ninth Prince with the same loving gaze that showed concern for someone with intellectual disabilities.

Why are you looking at me like that? Do you really think I'm a fool?

The Ninth Prince was furious. No one had ever dared to be so disrespectful before, and he completely forgot the show of force Zhao Han had given him earlier.

He slammed his hand on the table with great force, and then a scream escaped from the Ninth Prince's mouth.

Because he didn't control his strength well, the Ninth Prince clutched his arm, writhing in pain.

The father and daughter remained seated, expressionless, watching the Ninth Prince cry out in pain, while the entourage following behind him offered words of comfort and concern.

After the Ninth Prince recovered, Zhao Qingyan spoke.

"Ninth Prince, anger is harmful to your health and liver. You should try to control your emotions."

"Come, have another cup of tea. I'll explain to you later why the palace bestowed rewards upon me."

Zhao Qingyan took a new teacup, poured half a cup of tea, and pushed it in front of the Ninth Prince.

The Ninth Prince drank Zhao Qingyan's tea again, feeling slightly better. He thought to himself, "You're smart enough to know what's good for you."

Then they waited for Zhao Qingyan to explain the reason for the subsequent rewards.

Just as Zhao Qingyan was about to speak, she heard a commotion at the door, and then the Eighth Prince pushed the door open and entered.

The father and daughter still acted like big shots, not saying a word to the Eighth Prince as he entered.

"Oh, what a coincidence, Old Nine is here too. And this is Boss Zhao?"

The Eighth Prince was clearly much more shrewd than the impetuous Ninth Prince.

Zhao Han bowed slightly to the Eighth Prince, but his bottom didn't leave the stool at all.

"What brings the Eighth Prince here?" Zhao Han asked.

"I've come to ask why Miss Zhao refused the imperial decree yesterday. Is it that marrying me as a concubine would be an insult to you?"

Zhao Qingyan was speechless.

"When the Eighth Prince requested the imperial decree to grant us marriage, did he ask me if I agreed or if I was already engaged?"

Just because you've taken a liking to me, does that mean I have to marry you?

Doesn't the Eighth Prince know that forced relationships are never happy?

Does the Eighth Prince not know the principle that it is better to tear down ten temples than to break up one marriage?

I have a fiancé, and we are in love. Just because the Eighth Prince is a prince, am I obligated to submit to you?

Furthermore, do you even know how old I am this year, yet you've already requested an imperial decree to grant me marriage?

Shouldn't I refuse? Don't I have the right to refuse?

If the Eighth Prince has come here to demand an explanation, then this young lady will not entertain him.

If the Eighth Prince has come to apologize, I might be willing to listen to a few words.

The Eighth Prince narrowed his eyes, his gaze as cold as if he were looking at a dead man.

"There is a limit to how much one can become arrogant because of favor."

Don't think that just because I've taken a liking to you, you can be so arrogant.

"Don't push your luck. Never before has a woman dared to speak so arrogantly in front of me, the prince."

The Eighth Prince's words made Zhao Qingyan laugh in anger.

"Eighth Prince, what are you going to do?"

The Eighth Prince, thinking his threat had worked, swiftly opened his folding fan.

He fanned himself a few times symbolically, then plopped down in the chair next to the Ninth Prince.

"Those who are sensible should hurry home to pack their dowry and choose a day to send themselves to the Eighth Prince's residence in a sedan chair. Otherwise, I don't mind if there is no more Huicui Pavilion in the capital."

The last sentence was spoken in a very low voice, and through gritted teeth.

Zhao Qingyan and Zhao Han exchanged a glance, their eyes clearly saying, "Are all the members of the royal family idiots?"