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

Outside Tingxue Hall,

Su Yaoyao stood outside the courtyard gate carrying a food box, with Chun Tao following behind her, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating.

"Miss, are we really going to wait here?" Chun Tao whispered. "What if His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't see us..."

"He will meet with him."

Su Yaoyao raised her eyes and looked at the tightly closed courtyard gate. "Guard Ling Feng."

The moment the words were spoken, the courtyard gate opened a crack.

Ling Feng leaned out and saw Su Yaoyao, his expression complex: "Miss Su, His Highness is currently recuperating and cannot receive guests."

"I know." Su Yaoyao handed the food box forward. "This is ginger and jujube tea, to ward off the cold. Please trouble Guard Ling to give it to Your Highness."

Ling Feng hesitated for a moment, but still accepted the food box.

"Wait a minute." Su Yaoyao called out to him, and took out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve. "There's also this. It's a pill for treating colds. The medicines prescribed by the Imperial Hospital are too bitter. This one has honey added. Your Highness should... like it."

As she said this, there was a faint smile in her eyes.

Ling Feng took the porcelain bottle, glanced at her hesitantly, and finally nodded: "Thank you, Miss Su."

The courtyard gate was closed again.

Chuntao couldn't help but ask, "Miss, shall we go back now?"

"No rush." ​​Su Yaoyao sat down on the stone bench by the bamboo grove. "Let's wait a little longer."

Chun Tao was puzzled, but dared not ask any further questions.

In the courtyard.

Ling Feng carried the food box into the bedroom, where Xiao Chenyuan was sitting on the headboard reading a book—the Diamond Sutra.

"Master, this is what Miss Su brought." Ling Feng placed the food box and porcelain bottle on the table.

Xiao Chenyuan looked up, his gaze lingering on the food box for a moment: "Where is she?"

"They're still waiting outside." Ling Feng paused. "They said they'd retrieve the food box after His Highness finishes his tea."

Xiao Chenyuan closed the scripture and remained silent for a moment.

"Let her in."

Ling Feng was taken aback: "Master, weren't you supposed to be resting...?"

"Let her in," Xiao Chenyuan repeated calmly.

"……yes."

------

When Su Yaoyao stepped through the door, Xiao Chenyuan was already sitting on the small couch by the window, wearing an outer robe.

He was dressed in plain white clothes today, his dark hair loosely tied up. His face was indeed somewhat pale, but it made his features appear even more refined.

Su Yaoyao couldn't help but sigh, "What a beautiful but sickly woman."

"Your Highness, I pay my respects." She curtsied.

"Get up," Xiao Chenyuan said, gesturing for him to sit.

Su Yaoyao sat down in the chair opposite him, her gaze falling on the table—the food box had been opened, the ginger and jujube tea was still steaming, and the porcelain bottle was placed beside it.

"Has Your Highness had a drink?" she asked softly.

"Not yet." Xiao Chenyuan looked at her. "Miss Su seems quite concerned about my illness."

"Isn't it only right for this humble woman to care about Your Highness?" Su Yaoyao blinked. "After all, Your Highness's cold... was caused by this humble woman."

Xiao Chenyuan twirled his fingertips—the place remained empty.

"It has nothing to do with you," he said calmly. "It was my own carelessness."

"Then Your Highness should take your medicine even more." Su Yaoyao stood up, walked to the table, poured a cup of ginger and jujube tea, and placed it in front of him. "Drink it while it's hot, it will be more effective in dispelling the cold."

The steam and the sweet aroma of ginger and jujubes wafted out together.

Xiao Chenyuan looked up at her.

Her features were gentle, and her eyes held just the right amount of concern—not too much, not too little, just enough to make it impossible to refuse.

He took the teacup, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her fingers.

A warm touch, and they separate instantly.

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his eyes and took a sip.

The tea was made with red dates and ginger slices, and it was sweet with a hint of spiciness. The warmth spread from my throat all the way to my stomach.

"How is it?" Su Yaoyao looked at him. "Is it to your liking?"

"It's acceptable." Xiao Chenyuan put down his teacup. "It's a little too sweet."

Su Yaoyao smiled and said, "So Your Highness doesn't like sweets."

She picked up the porcelain bottle. "I was worried that the medicine from the Imperial Hospital would be too bitter, so I specially prepared this for His Highness..."

Xiao Chenyuan took the porcelain bottle, his fingertips tracing the cool porcelain surface.

"You know medicine?"

"I learned it on my own," Su Yaoyao said, sitting back down opposite him. "I just became a doctor through long-term illness."

She can't very well say that she learned it from an ex-boyfriend, can she?

These words were spoken lightly, but Xiao Chenyuan could hear the bitterness in them.

He recalled what Grand Tutor Jiang had said in his letter—that Su Yaoyao had been mistreated by Aunt Liu all these years, and her health had been poor.

"These years..." he lowered his voice, "you've had a tough time."

Su Yaoyao was taken aback and looked up at him.

His features appeared exceptionally soft in the light and shadow. Those usually aloof eyes now held a hint of... tenderness?

Her heart stirred slightly, but she smiled and said, "Your Highness is too kind. I have not suffered any hardship."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on his slightly open collar.

Xiao Chenyuan followed her gaze and looked down, noticing that the collar of her inner garment had loosened at some point, revealing a patch of her chest.

He subtly adjusted his collar.

Su Yaoyao smiled: "Is Your Highness shy?"

"Su Yaoyao," Xiao Chenyuan put down his bowl, his voice low, "I am recuperating."

"I know," Su Yaoyao stood up, walked to him, and leaned closer. "So, I'm here to... serve Your Highness your medicine, aren't I?"

Her breath brushed against his cheek, carrying a sweet fragrance.

Xiao Chenyuan leaned back, creating some distance: "No need. There are palace servants."

"No palace maid is as attentive as I am," Su Yaoyao said, pressing forward instead of backing down, reaching out to touch his forehead. "Let me see if the fever has gone down..."

Her movements were so fast that Xiao Chenyuan didn't have time to react before her hand was already on his forehead.

The palms are slightly cool and soft to the touch.

"Your Highness..." Su Yaoyao frowned, "You have a fever."

"Hmm? Hmm..." Xiao Chenyuan closed his eyes briefly. "It's alright."

"Then why is it still so hot?" Su Yaoyao's hand slid down his forehead and stopped on his neck. "It's hot here too."

Her fingertips were slightly cool as they traced patterns on his burning skin.

Xiao Chenyuan grabbed her hand: "Su Yaoyao."

"Hmm?" Su Yaoyao looked up at him, her eyes completely innocent. "This humble woman was just worried about Your Highness."

"Your concerns..." Xiao Chenyuan's voice was terribly hoarse, "are a bit too 'thoughtful'."

"Does Your Highness like it?" Su Yaoyao asked, tilting her head.

Xiao Chenyuan didn't speak, he just looked at her.

Her eyes shone like stars, her lips were rosy red, and as she bent over, her collar slipped down slightly, revealing a patch of snow-white skin.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he quickly looked away.

"Ahem, how is Yi'er today?"

"Much better." A smile flashed in Su Yaoyao's eyes. "Your Highness, rest assured, I will take good care of the young prince."

Her eyes were full of tenderness as she said this.

Xiao Chenyuan's heart stirred slightly.

She seems to... really like children?

As Su Yaoyao spoke, she reached out to help him, saying, "Let me help you back to bed."

Xiao Chenyuan grabbed her hand.

"Su Yaoyao." His voice lowered a few decibels, "I'm not so weak that I need someone to help me."

"It was I who overstepped my bounds," Su Yaoyao admitted, leaning closer and lowering her voice, "Are you... avoiding me?"

Her breath brushed past his ear, carrying the sweet fragrance of ginger and jujube tea.

Xiao Chenyuan's Adam's apple bobbed.

Why should I avoid you?

"Because..." Su Yaoyao's fingertips gently traced the back of his hand.

"Yesterday at the hot springs, I... overstepped my bounds."

She spoke frankly, but her eyes held a seductive glint.

Looking at her face so close to his own, and at his reflection in her eyes, Xiao Chenyuan suddenly felt that his cold was likely to worsen.

"It's good that you know you've overstepped your bounds." He stepped back. "Go back now, I need to rest."

She slowly curved her lips into a smile, her eyes sparkling.

"Then, Your Highness..." she said softly, "will I be able to come again tomorrow?"

Looking into her bright eyes, Xiao Chenyuan finally nodded:

"what ever."

Outside the window, bamboo shadows sway.

Meanwhile, a certain "sick" Crown Prince stood by the window for a full hour after Su Yaoyao left.

Until Ling Feng couldn't help but remind him:

"Master, it's time to rest."

Xiao Chenyuan finally came to his senses.

The Buddha said that the world of mortals is a place to refine the mind.

Then...

Let's refine it.