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

When the Grand Tutor's carriage stopped at the side gate of the Yongning Marquis's residence, Aunt Liu was smashing things in the courtyard.

"How dare she! How dare she just leave like that! And she even took the account books with her!" The sound of shattering porcelain mingled with shrill cries. "My lord, are you just going to stand by and watch her bully me like this?"

Su Cheng'an paced irritably around the room: "The problem with the account books is your problem! Now even your brother is involved, what am I supposed to do?! Jiang Jingchen is the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, if he really wants to investigate, do you think you can keep those things a secret?!"

"I...I'm doing this for the sake of the Marquis's mansion!" Concubine Liu rushed over and hugged his leg. "The mansion's expenses were high in those years, and Yaoyao's mother's dowry was just sitting there. I was only borrowing it temporarily..."

"Borrow?" Su Cheng'an kicked her away, his eyes icy cold.

"Liu, do you really think I'm a fool? The shop's accounts, the estate's harvest, and those 'damaged' jewelry... do you really think I don't know how much you've swindled from Yao Yao over the years?!"

Aunt Liu collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale.

"I've been turning a blind eye to this because you bore my children."

Su Cheng'an leaned down and pinched her chin. "But now the Jiang family has intervened, and the Crown Prince seems to have taken a liking to Yao Yao as well. If you're smart, you should know what to do."

"My Lord..." Aunt Liu's tears fell incessantly.

"The three-day deadline is up." Su Cheng'an shook her off. "Give Yao Yao whatever she wants. As for your brother's debt... figure it out yourself."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Aunt Liu lay on the ground, her fingernails digging fiercely into the cracks in the blue bricks.

His eyes were filled with deep-seated hatred.

-----

The Grand Tutor's carriage was spacious and comfortable, with a faint fragrance of orchids inside.

Jiang Jingchen sat opposite Su Yaoyao and pushed a plate of osmanthus cake in front of her: "Grandmother knows you love to eat it, so she had the kitchen prepare it early this morning."

Su Yaoyao picked up a piece, and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms melted in her mouth. The familiar taste brought tears to her eyes.

"Eat slowly." Jiang Jingchen poured her a cup of tea, his eyes gentle. "In the future, just tell the kitchen what you want to eat."

Xie Yu, who was riding alongside on horseback, leaned into the carriage window and said with a grin:

"Miss Su, the lotus leaf chicken made by Granny Zhang in the Jiang family's kitchen is absolutely superb. I'll have the kitchen make it for you tomorrow!"

Jiang Jingchen sighed helplessly, "You're really not being polite."

"I know Granny Zhang well!" Xie Yu spurred his horse and rode ahead again.

Looking at the young man's spirited figure, Su Yaoyao couldn't help but smile: "Young General Xie...you're quite the lively one."

"He's a real troublemaker," Jiang Jingchen shook his head, but a smile played on his lips. "But he's a good person, loyal and righteous. Knowing you were coming back, he specially came to escort you."

Su Yaoyao felt warm in her heart.

She hadn't felt this sense of being protected by her family in a long time.

"Cousin," she asked softly, "Will Grandfather... be angry with me?"

Jiang Jingchen was taken aback, then understood.

He sighed: "Yaoyao, remember this. No one in the Jiang family will be angry with you. The thing your grandfather regrets most over the years is that he wasn't more assertive enough to bring you back. He said... he's sorry to your mother."

Su Yaoyao lowered her head, and tears finally fell.

Jiang Jingchen didn't try to persuade her; he simply handed her the handkerchief.

"Cry," he said gently. "After you've cried, you should think about how to live a better life from now on."

When the gray walls of the Grand Tutor's mansion came into view, Su Yaoyao subconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

Chun Tao leaned out of the car window and whispered, "Miss, we've arrived."

The carriage slowly came to a stop.

Su Yaoyao took a deep breath.

Jiang Jingchen stood by the car, extended his hand to her, and smiled gently: "Yaoyao, come here."

His hands were long and clean, palms facing upwards, waiting steadily.

Su Yaoyao paused for a moment, then placed her hand in his palm.

The moment their fingertips touched, a warmth spread from their palms to their hearts.

"Watch out for the steps." Jiang Jingchen helped her out of the car, his movements as gentle as if he were handling fragile porcelain.

Su Yaoyao stopped and looked up at the mansion in front of her.

The vermilion gate was wide open, and above the gate hung a plaque bestowed by the emperor, reading "Grand Tutor's Residence," with vigorous and powerful calligraphy.

The two stone lions in front of the gate are imposing, but unlike the rigid solemnity of the Marquis's mansion, they have a sense of... the weight of home.

"What are you daydreaming about?" Jiang Jingchen gently patted her shoulder. "Your grandparents are waiting."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of hurried footsteps came from inside the door.

"Sister Yaoyao! Is it really Sister Yaoyao who's back?!"

A girl in an apricot-colored dress ran out, lifting the hem of her skirt. She was about sixteen or seventeen years old, with bright eyes and two shallow dimples on her cheeks when she smiled.

Behind her followed a panting woman, about forty years old, with a gentle face and tears in her eyes.

"Aunt..." Su Yaoyao called out subconsciously.

Memories flood back—this is my aunt, Madam Song, my mother's sister-in-law.

That girl is my cousin, Jiang Wanning.

"Good child, good child..." Madam Song hugged Su Yaoyao tightly, her voice choked with emotion, "You're finally back... For so many years, your aunt didn't dare to see you, afraid of you... afraid of you..."

They were afraid she would hide from them like before, and they were afraid Aunt Liu would gossip.

Su Yaoyao's nose stung with tears, and she gently hugged her back: "Aunt, it's Yaoyao's fault..."

"Nonsense!" Jiang Wan Ning squeezed in, her eyes red, but she tried to smile.

"It's clearly that Aunt Liu's fault! And that Second Prince, is he blind to have taken a liking to Su Yun'er? Sister, don't be sad, our Grand Tutor's family has plenty of suitors!"

Her voice was clear and crisp, and she spoke quickly, rattling off a whole bunch of things.

Jiang Jingchen shook his head helplessly: "Wan Ning, let Yao Yao catch her breath."

"I'm just happy!" Jiang Wan Ning took Su Yao Yao's arm and leaned against her affectionately.

"Sister, you have no idea how much Grandma talks about you. She goes to the courtyard where you lived when you were little every day to check on it, saying that the magnolia in front of the window needs to be pruned, and that the swing in the yard needs to be painted..."

Su Yaoyao choked up.

It turns out... there really was someone waiting for her to come home.

"Alright, stop talking in the doorway."

Madam Song wiped away her tears, took Su Yaoyao's hand, and said, "Come in quickly. Your maternal grandmother has been urging the kitchen to prepare your favorite snacks since early this morning. They're probably getting impatient."

The group passed through the hanging flower gate and went around the screen wall.

The layout of the Grand Tutor's Mansion differs from that of the Marquis's Mansion; it is less about ostentatious displays of wealth and more about refined elegance.

The winding corridors, secluded gardens, and towering ancient trees exude an air of scholarly refinement.

As soon as I reached the main gate, I heard a child's innocent voice coming from inside:

"Grandmother, is eldest sister really back?"

"You're back, you're back." The old, loving voice was filled with laughter. "Just count them, you'll see them soon."

Su Yaoyao paused slightly.