The abstinent prince, practicing Buddhism, is seduced by a voluptuous beauty into breaking his vows.

The farce at the palace banquet ended with Su Yaoyao "wisely" announcing her break-up with the engagement.

The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the capital city the very next day.

In teahouses and taverns, storytellers, striking their gavels, vividly recounted the scandalous affair of the Marquis of Yongning's household:

"Speaking of the eldest daughter of the Su family, she truly has the heart of a bodhisattva! Seeing her fiancé and half-sister committing an illicit affair, she not only didn't cry or make a scene, but instead took off the token personally bestowed by His Majesty and knelt down to beg the Empress to grant the lovers their wish!"

"I heard she fainted from crying on the spot, and when she woke up, she only said that she wanted to go to the temple to cultivate herself and pray for the royal family..."

"Oh, poor thing! Such a proper legitimate daughter, bullied like this..."

Public opinion overwhelmingly favored Su Yaoyao.

As a result, the reputation of the Yongning Marquis's mansion and Consort Liu was ruined.

Su Yaoyao's courtyard, however, was peaceful and serene.

Lin Mama, along with Jingzhe and Guyu, were taking stock of the gifts bestowed by the Empress—silk and satin, jewelry, and precious medicinal herbs, which filled a whole table.

"Miss, Her Majesty the Empress truly cares for you." Lin Mama held up a phoenix hairpin made of pure gold and inlaid with rubies, her eyes slightly red.

"I've never seen Her Majesty treat any junior so generously before."

Su Yaoyao leaned back on the soft couch, toying with the string of Buddhist beads wrapped around the hairpin in her hand. She smiled upon hearing this:

"My aunt genuinely cares for me, but her intentions... aren't entirely pure."

She brought the prayer beads to her nose; the crisp sandalwood scent had long since faded, but it seemed to still retain the warmth of someone's body.

Lin Mama understood and lowered her voice, "Miss means...the Crown Prince?"

"Hmm." Su Yaoyao put down the prayer beads, her eyes sparkling.

"My aunt told me yesterday, and the nanny also heard it. She wants me to win over the Crown Prince's heart, and it would be best if I could give birth to an heir to stabilize the Eastern Palace."

She paused, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes:

"But is someone like the Crown Prince... so easily manipulated?"

Lin Mama nodded: "His Highness the Crown Prince is indeed a man of deep thoughts and not easy to approach. However..."

She glanced at Su Yaoyao, then hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

"But what?"

"This old servant inquired around the palace yesterday," said Granny Lin in an even lower voice. "Although His Highness the Crown Prince is not interested in women, he seems to treat Miss... somewhat differently."

Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow: "How so?"

"On the night of the palace banquet, His Highness sent someone to escort a palace maid to the side hall to fetch you, and even specifically instructed that a complete set of clothes be prepared. That would have been fine, but the key point is..."

Lin Mama paused for a moment, then said, "His Highness also ordered that side hall to be sealed off, saying that there was something unclean inside and it needed to be thoroughly cleaned."

Su Yaoyao's eyes flickered slightly.

Sealing the palace?

Is it because you don't want others to discover something... or do you simply dislike the fragrance?

Just then, Chuntao returned with a joyful expression.

"It's all out in the news?" Su Yaoyao looked at her smug expression and knew that everything that happened at yesterday's palace banquet had spread like wildfire.

Chun Tao chuckled, "It's all over! It feels like everyone knows without me even having to spread the word! Most importantly, this time they've really made themselves look foolish, it's so satisfying!"

"This is nothing. How's the matter I instructed you to do?" Su Yaoyao smiled knowingly. With so many people around yesterday, it's understandable that word got out. She was just stirring things up.

Chun Tao suppressed her smugness and said seriously, "We have already started to act as you instructed. That brother of Aunt Liu's family has been incredibly lucky these past two days, and he's already blinded by winning."

Su Yaoyao smiled and asked, "How much did you win?"

"The money I lost a few days ago has more than tripled, and now I'm clamoring to play even bigger games."

Chun Tao paused for a moment, then said, "And that pawnshop, they acquired a piece of 'ancient jade from a previous dynasty' yesterday, asking for five thousand taels of silver. They've already sent someone to the money exchange to raise the funds."

"Five thousand taels?" Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow. "She dares to accept it."

"Granny Lin said that the jade was made so realistically that even the master craftsmen in the palace might not be able to tell the difference at a glance."

Chun Tao lowered her voice, "If the original owner comes to redeem the pawned item in a few days and they can't come up with anything... the deficit will be huge."

Su Yaoyao nodded in satisfaction.

not enough!

Over the years that Aunt Liu has been in charge of the household, she has been determined to recoup all the profits she has made from her mother's dowry, with interest.

As for Su Yun'er...

Just then, a figure suddenly rushed out from behind a pillar and pounced straight at Su Yaoyao!

"You bitch! It's all your fault!"

It's Su Yun'er.

Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were red and swollen, and there were still lingering handprints on her face—she had probably been beaten after returning home yesterday.

Su Yaoyao dodged to the side, and Jingzhe and Guyu immediately stepped forward, supporting Su Yun'er from both sides.

"What is my sister doing?"

Su Yaoyao looked at her calmly, "Yesterday in the palace, you went into that side hall yourself. In front of everyone, with the Second Prince... why are you blaming me now?"

"It was you! You must have plotted against me!" Su Yun'er struggled, her eyes filled with resentment and venom.

"The incense in the burner... and that man... Su Yaoyao, how cruel you are!"

"Incense burner? A man?" Su Yaoyao feigned confusion. "What are you talking about, little sister? I don't understand."

She stepped forward, leaned close to Su Yun'er's ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Sister, have you forgotten... that incense burner, you lit it yourself. That man, you found him yourself."

Su Yun'er froze.

"You plotted against me, I was just playing along." Su Yaoyao took a step back, her voice returning to normal. "Now that you're reaping what you sowed, why are you acting all aggrieved?"

"You...you admitted it!" Su Yun'er screamed. "I'm going to tell Father! Tell everyone!"

"Go ahead."

Su Yaoyao smiled, but her eyes were cold. "Let's see if they believe you, the illegitimate daughter who has lost her virginity, or me, the 'righteous' legitimate daughter."

She raised her hand and gently stroked Su Yun'er's swollen cheek:

"Sister, don't forget. You're standing here alive because I 'granted' your wish. If I truly wanted you dead..."

She tightened her grip on Su Yun'er's chin with her fingertips:

"Yesterday in the palace, you should have committed suicide out of shame and indignation."

Su Yun'er's pupils suddenly contracted.

She finally realized that the person in front of her was no longer the idiot she used to manipulate.

Instead, it's a... venomous snake that bites.

"Escort the second young lady back to her room."

Su Yaoyao released her hand, took the handkerchief Chun Tao handed her, and wiped her fingertips. "Take good 'care' of her, and don't let her run around again."

"Yes!" Jingzhe Guyu responded and helped the limp Su Yun'er away.

Su Yaoyao turned around and saw that Aunt Liu was standing under the corridor at some point.

She wore a plain dress today, without any makeup, and her eyes were red and swollen, making her look haggard and pitiful.

Upon seeing Su Yaoyao, she suddenly knelt down with a thud!