The Eldest Daughter Reborn: She Provoked the Obsessive Crown Prince and Couldn't Escape

The lights inside the room were turned on, and the visitor nudged Fu Luan's shoulder.

I splashed some cool water on her face to wake her up, and then gave her some medicine...

Fu Ling asked, "Grandma, are you feeling better after taking the antidote?"

Fu Luan didn't speak, only nodded.

"This aphrodisiac powder can only last for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. It seems that as long as we can endure it, we can still get through it," Fu Ling analyzed.

It turned out that Tao Su had informed Fu Luan long ago that Fu Zhengzheng planned to use the aphrodisiac to embarrass Fu Luan at her engagement banquet.

How could Fu Luan not know her "good sister's" tricks? She was simply using the same old methods again!

She had Tao Su steal some Hehuan Powder and also had Fu Ling prepare the antidote;

I tested the antidote myself first, just in case. Now it seems the antidote is indeed effective! But…

"The time it takes to drink a cup of tea?" Fu Luan asked suspiciously.

“It is indeed just a cup of tea… Some men don’t even need a cup of tea, they just…” Fu Ling smiled, stopping short of saying more.

Fu Luan stood there, holding the empty cup, stunned.

If the effects of the aphrodisiac only last for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, then what about that night of passionate lovemaking she shared with Fu Yuan in her past life?!

Fu Luan couldn't understand it, nor did she dare to think about it.

News of Xue Yan and Fu Zhengzheng's engagement spread throughout Chang'an, but Yuan Jiu did not receive an invitation.

He wasn't interested in who was engaged or married; he just wanted to take this opportunity to see Fu Luan, nothing more...

Fu Luan sighed, “That day will surely be extremely chaotic. Even I can only observe the situation. How can I feel at ease letting him come over?”

"He hasn't been exonerated yet, don't let him get involved in this again! Besides..."

The Emperor has yet to bestow a marriage upon her and Xiao Jiu.

Xiao Jiu has no apparent connection with her or the Marquis of Chang'an's mansion, and has even less connection with Fu Zhengzheng!

But on the day of the engagement banquet, he still came; not only did he come, but he also brought dozens of jars of imperial wine as a congratulatory gift!

On this day, the wounds on Fu Luan's face were still visible;

Looking at her from afar, Yuan Jiu not only didn't find her ugly, but thought the three scratch marks looked just like a kitten's whiskers, which was quite cute!

Fu Luan was overjoyed to see him; but along with her joy, she couldn't help but frown and sigh, and from time to time she tried to cover the wound with a handkerchief.

Yuan Jiu comforted her softly, "A-Luan, don't misunderstand. I came after receiving an invitation, not by sneaking in! I won't embarrass you!"

Hearing this, Fu Luan felt another pang of heartache—

She repeatedly declined to meet him, but when they finally did, he not only didn't question her, but instead comforted her.

How much grievance did you suffer before that you're worried that you're sighing because you're afraid he'll embarrass you?

Fu Luan hugged Nuan Nuan and chuckled softly, "Who's worried about you losing face? I'm just..."

Fu Luan glanced behind him; how could Yuan Jiu not understand her meaning?

He flicked her nose and chuckled, “Of course I’ll bring my wife to the banquet.”

"I have no wife now, so I had to come alone. You'll marry me later..."

Fu Luan raised an eyebrow and said meaningfully, "Then why did you bring your precious little princess from the Western Regions with you to Zhaoyang Palace last time?"

Yuan Jiu hesitated for a long time, but couldn't bring herself to say, "She insisted on coming along."

She could have insisted on going, but he could have chosen to refuse, couldn't he? But he didn't...

Fu Luan was just teasing him and didn't dwell on the matter; it was he who got caught up in this unintentionally raised question...

Ignoring the servants leading him, he silently sat down beside Fu Luan.

When the horse racing banquet was held, he was in prison and unable to be with her;

He was unable to attend the Fu family banquet, as he had just taken a concubine.

When the alliance banquet was held, he went with Anagui and was unable to stay by Fuluan's side...

That day, he could only watch helplessly as she sat with Fu Che, the two of them chatting and laughing.

Even though Fu Che was Fu Luan's real older brother, it still made him very sad and filled him with jealousy!

If there has to be someone sitting next to her, why can't it be him?

That's why Yuan Jiu later put all his strength and risked his life to protect her, just hoping to make himself more important in her heart...

No matter what, he was determined to sit next to her today, and no one could take his place away!

“The seat with the nanmu wood table is reserved for His Highness Prince Yan. You should sit next to me,” Fu Luan teased.

"You're making fun of me again! The nanmu wood table may be valuable, but it's so old-fashioned! I won't use it!"

"Besides, when your Fu family held a family banquet last time, your sister's relatives all came to join in the fun."

“She’s getting engaged today, how could she not invite ‘one of her own’? I was worried you’d get bullied again if I wasn’t there!” Yuan Jiu said earnestly.

As he said, the Yan family did indeed come this time.

Perhaps there were precedents to learn from, or perhaps someone had given them "advice";

This time they were placed in a corner, quiet and seemingly very well-behaved.

Fu Luan was taken aback and silently sighed.

Although Yuan Jiu took many concubines, his temperament was truly like that of a child.

If he hadn't listened to Yuan Lu's words, he might have had a smooth and successful life...

Oh, right, Yuan Lu!

Thinking of Yuan Lu, Fu Luan's face darkened, and she clearly had another worry on her mind.

In his previous life, Yuan Lu and Fu Zhengzheng slaughtered the entire Fu family, yet now he only lost one hand and one leg and was still granted a title of nobility. This is far too lenient on him!

"Why is the engagement banquet being held at the bride's house? I've never heard of that before!"

"Could it be that the man is marrying into the family?"

"Go away! The Xue family is descended from Marquis Chengwu, and has produced many great generals, prime ministers, and empresses; marrying into the family? Impossible!"

"That's right... Besides, even if it were a marriage where the son-in-law marries into the woman's family, how could they possibly let a concubine's daughter do it?"

"So what if she's a concubine's daughter? Her older sister has quite a background!"

"Her sister's glory belongs to her sister, not her. It's really..."

It was indeed a strange thing for the woman to host the engagement banquet, no wonder it caused a lot of discussion among the guests.

In reality, it was just that Xue Yan felt sorry for Fu Zhengzheng because she was not valued in the Marquis of Chang'an's mansion, so he deliberately did this to make her look good!

"Your Highness Prince Yan's presence at my engagement banquet with Zhengzheng is truly an honor..." Xue Yan bowed and smiled.

He went from table to table toasting, and when he got to Fu Luan's table, he saw that Yuan Jiu was not sitting in the seat of honor, but was sitting next to Fu Luan, so he had to drink an extra cup.

In his eyes, although the two were not married, they were more loving than many married couples!

But Fu Luan just smiled at him and didn't drink back.

Xue Yan laughed and said, "Sister A-Luan doesn't want to drink because the wine doesn't suit her taste."

"Do you still think that my marriage to your younger sister isn't worth a drink, sister?"

Fu Luan chuckled inwardly, "Xue Yan, Xue Yan... you'll find out soon enough what it truly means to be 'not worth it'!"

Of course she wouldn't drink alcohol; not only alcohol, but she wouldn't touch any of the food or drinks at the table!