Even the largest restaurant in Ling'an County was no bigger than this. When Lu Ziyuan and Zhong Muyu arrived, the others had already arrived. Guided by the waiter, the two went up to a private room on the second floor.
Many beautiful palace lanterns were lit up upstairs, making the private room quite bright. Amidst the clinking of glasses, several rounds of drinks had already been served.
"Your Highness, I would like to offer you a toast."
Fang Ruotong raised her glass, and Lu Ziyuan, not wanting to refuse, drank it all in one gulp.
Zhong Muyu felt she had drunk quite a bit and was feeling dizzy. She wasn't very good at drinking, and although the wine here wasn't of very high quality, it was quite strong.
Lu Ziyuan gently patted her: "Yu'er, are you drunk?"
"It's alright, I just need to rest for a bit."
Zhong Muyu felt her eyelids drooping and her vision becoming increasingly blurry.
Lu Ziyuan also felt quite uncomfortable from drinking, so he made an excuse to go to the outhouse, leaving only the county magistrate's family at the dinner table.
Where did my little sister go?
At this moment, Lord Fang's eldest son discovered that Fang Ruotong, who was standing next to him, was gone.
"Yeah, I wonder if they went out too."
Lord Fang did not take the matter to heart.
Just as Lu Ziyuan returned, Fang Ruotong suddenly appeared out of nowhere and blocked his way.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"Um."
The passageway was narrow. Lu Ziyuan gave a soft reply and was about to pass her when Fang Ruotong grabbed his sleeve.
A unique sweet fragrance wafted past my nose.
"Your Highness, I have always been in love with you, why do you always ignore me?"
"That's your opinion. I have no interest in you."
Fang Ruotong still wouldn't let go: "Your Highness has never even touched me, how can you be so sure you don't like me? My love for you is second to none, and I don't ask for anything else, I only wish to stay by your side..."
Fang Ruotong clung tightly to Lu Ziyuan's sleeve, approaching him step by step. Lu Ziyuan quickly shook her off, causing Fang Ruotong to stumble, her face filled with the sorrow of unrequited love.
The strange, sweet fragrance grew stronger and stronger, seemingly emanating from Fang Ruotong.
Lu Ziyuan was already slightly drunk, but after smelling the sweet fragrance, his body suddenly felt as if it had been ignited, and a surge of lustful desire was eager to burst forth.
He hesitated for a moment, then saw Fang Ruotong reveal a seductive smile and push him into the next room, the room she had prepared in advance.
"Your Highness, if you need me, I will be by your side. I am willing to be your person."
Fang Ruotong slowly leaned closer, but Lu Ziyuan pushed her away.
He was quite strong, and Fang Ruotong bumped into the cabinet, gasping for breath in pain.
"How dare you drug me!"
Lu Ziyuan immediately smashed the vase and used the shards of porcelain to slash his arm.
The blood and pain calmed him down a bit, and Lu Ziyuan took the opportunity to use his inner strength to neutralize the aphrodisiac.
Fortunately, it was just a common aphrodisiac, without any toxicity, and those with strong internal energy could neutralize it on their own.
At the same time, the rumbling of the cabinet and the sound of porcelain shattering also woke up the drowsy Zhong Muyu.
She rubbed her eyes and realized she was resting on a chair in the inner room.
The county magistrate's family outside also heard the commotion, and Zhong Muyu went out with them to see what was going on.
Lu Ziyuan wasn't there, and neither was Fang Ruotong; she found it all very strange.
The sound came from the next room. Lu Ziyuan, furious, stared at Fang Ruotong, blood staining his sleeves red along his arm, exuding a terrifying aura.
Fang Ruotong, being a young lady from a sheltered family, had never seen such an imposing presence before, and was immediately too frightened to move.
When the group of people burst in, they were also frightened by the scene before them. When Fang Ruotong saw her parents arrive, she immediately rushed over to hide.
"Father, Mother!"
"Ruotong? What exactly happened?"
"Waaaaah! The prince..."
However, Fang Ruotong just cried and tried to get away with it by crying.
Zhong Muyu also arrived, and upon seeing Lu Ziyuan's hand, she immediately ran over: "What are you doing!"
She took out gauze and medicine and bandaged his injured arm. At such close range, she could feel Lu Ziyuan's irregular breathing.
"you……"
"I'm fine."
Lu Ziyuan patted her hand, indicating that she didn't need to worry.
He then turned to the county magistrate: "Lord Fang, look at the fine daughter you've raised! She even dares to seduce me!"
"How could this be! Ruotong! Don't cry, tell me what happened!"
When the matter was exposed, Fang Ruotong thought about it. If she denied it, the prince would definitely find a way to get to the bottom of it. But if she admitted it, it would definitely embarrass her father, and then she would be in big trouble.
Just as she was struggling with this, Lu Ziyuan stepped forward: "Lord Fang, your daughter gave me an aphrodisiac, intending to seduce me. Don't say this was your idea."
"This humble official had absolutely no such intention!"
The magistrate's family was also terrified; this crime would leave them either dead or severely wounded.
Zhong Muyu narrowed his eyes, secretly observing Fang Ruotong. Why was it this time with the drugging method?
Lu Ziyuan glanced at the county magistrate, then looked at Fang Ruotong: "I might as well make this clear right here and now: even if she succeeds today, I will never let her into the palace, so you can give up on that idea!"
Lu Ziyuan pulled Zhong Muyu along, and amidst the trembling gazes of the crowd, they left the restaurant and strode away.
Zhong Muyu hadn't fully recovered her senses when she noticed his blood-stained sleeve and couldn't help but ask, "Are you really alright?"
"It's just a common aphrodisiac bought on the street. I can suppress it. Don't worry, she didn't succeed."
Zhong Muyu pursed her lips: "I can tell that you're not the kind of person who would let others get their way so easily."
"Sorry for the unpleasant thing that happened today, it must have frightened you. We'll leave here first thing tomorrow morning."
"Don't let someone like that ruin your mood. Besides, I haven't finished exploring Ling'an County yet. It's not too late to spend another day there, you promised me. By the way, what are you planning to do with Fang Ruotong?"
"Leave it to Lord Fang. He always values his reputation and will handle it appropriately."
The two returned to the inn, where Zhong Muyu found a small brown pill and was about to give it to Lu Ziyuan.
"Eat this, just in case."
"Antidote?"
Lu Ziyuan took the pill and pondered.
"That kind of medicine is poisonous, isn't it? It's safer to take an antidote."
Lu Ziyuan placed the pills on the table and pulled Zhong Muyu over, saying, "No need. I've already suppressed and neutralized them with my internal energy. Besides, even if they weren't there, you're still here."
"I don't need to use this kind of medicine, it's disgusting."
Zhong Muyu was very dissatisfied with this statement.
"Okay, okay, I won't say that anymore. Anyway, are you relieved now?"
"I'm not at ease."
Zhong Muyu grabbed the pill and unexpectedly stuffed it into his mouth.
"It's still safest to take the antidote."
Lu Ziyuan swallowed the pill without hesitation. He knew Zhong Muyu wouldn't feel at ease.
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