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

Inside the Imperial Concubine's palace, gilded incense burners emitted wisps of blue smoke.

Consort Chen slammed the secret letter on the table, her jeweled nail guards gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

"The Crown Prince gave Su Yaoyao Buddhist prayer beads?" Her voice was icy. "And he even broke into the hot springs for her at night?"

The palace maid kneeling below trembled: "Your Majesty, it's absolutely true... Our spies at Tangquan Palace saw it with their own eyes. His Highness the Crown Prince... carried Miss Su back to Lanyue Pavilion, dismissed everyone else, and waited there for a full half hour before coming out."

"Half an hour..." Consort Chen sneered, "What a seemingly celibate Buddhist monk! I thought he could truly remain celibate for his entire life!"

She abruptly stood up, the pearls on her crimson-gold hairpin swaying violently.

Over the years, her greatest reliance has been that the Crown Prince is not interested in women and has no desire for an heir.

There had long been discontent within the court—how could a crown prince who refused to marry and have children inherit the throne? If things could be delayed for a few more years, until His Majesty was completely disillusioned with the Crown Prince, Qiming would have a chance…

But now...

The Crown Prince has actually fallen for Su Yaoyao? And even committed such an inappropriate act in public?!

If they were to marry, Su Yaoyao would have the support of the Grand Tutor's mansion and the Empress behind her, while the Crown Prince would simultaneously hold the backs of the upright officials and the harem. And if they were to give birth to the eldest grandson of the Emperor…

"Your Majesty, please calm down." The head palace maid, Emerald, quickly served tea. "His Highness the Crown Prince has been celibate and abstinent these past years, so he may not have truly fallen for worldly desires. Perhaps... he is only showing favoritism out of respect for the Empress."

"Take care of her?" Consort Chen flung her teacup aside, the sound of shattering porcelain piercing the air. "When have you ever seen the Crown Prince 'take care of' any woman, even giving away his personal Buddhist beads? When have you ever seen him publicly humiliate his brothers for the sake of any woman?!"

She became increasingly alarmed as she spoke, pacing rapidly within the hall.

Su Yaoyao... this legitimate daughter of the Marquis's mansion whom she had never taken seriously, when did she become such a big variable?

No, we absolutely cannot let the Crown Prince and Su Yaoyao succeed!

But... what should we do? Should we directly target Su Yaoyao? The Empress and the Grand Tutor's mansion are keeping a close eye on her; we might not succeed.

To harm the Crown Prince? That's an impossible task...

Just as Consort Chen was in a state of utter confusion, a soft laugh suddenly came from behind the screen.

"Why is Your Highness so anxious?"

His voice was clear and bright, with a hint of nonchalance.

Consort Chen was taken aback at first, then her eyes lit up. "When did you enter the palace?"

The person gently waved a folding fan and stepped out from behind the screen.

"I just arrived. The Crown Prince's affections might not necessarily be a bad thing."

Consort Chen frowned. "What do you mean?"

The folding fan unfolded with a "whoosh," covering half of her face, revealing only a pair of peach blossom eyes that seemed to be smiling but not smiling.

"If the Crown Prince truly has feelings for Su Yaoyao," he said in a flippant tone.

"Then let's... start with Su Yaoyao."

Consort Chen's eyes lit up: "You mean...?"

"It is most rare for a Buddhist disciple to be moved by emotion." The man closed his folding fan and gently tapped it against his palm.

"But it is also the most...fatal."

He walked to Consort Chen's side, leaned down and whispered a few words in her ear.

Consort Chen's expression changed from gloomy to surprised, and finally a sinister smile appeared on her face.

She clapped her hands. "How could I have forgotten you? I'm entrusting this matter to you. You must..."

"Your Majesty, rest assured." The man unfolded his folding fan, concealing the smile on his lips.

"Your Majesty, I will make sure you experience the true meaning of 'love'."

-----

The next morning, just as Su Yaoyao got up, Chuntao rushed in.

"Miss, His Highness the Crown Prince... returned to the capital before dawn."

Su Yaoyao paused in her makeup: "Back to the capital? Why?"

"It's an urgent report of flooding in the south, and His Majesty has summoned me immediately." Chun Tao handed over a letter.

"This is what Guard Ling asked me to give to Miss before he left."

Su Yaoyao took the letter and opened it.

It contained only one short line of text:

"It's urgent, I need to go home first. Keep your Buddhist prayer beads with you, don't forget."

The handwriting is clear, strong, and powerful; it is Xiao Chenyuan's own handwriting.

Su Yaoyao looked at the words, her fingertips gently tracing the two characters "Never Forget," and a slow smile appeared on her lips.

He still has some conscience, I suppose.

"Miss..." Chun Tao asked softly when she saw her smiling as she stared at the letter, "Shouldn't we be preparing to return to the manor?"

Just then, footsteps sounded outside again.

Gu Yu entered carrying a gold-embossed invitation: "This invitation is from the Duke of Zhenguo's residence."

"The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion?" Su Yaoyao took the invitation and opened it.

It was an invitation to a plum blossom viewing banquet, to be held at the "Plum Garden" in the west of the city, in three days.

The signature was written in bold, elegant strokes: Xie Yu.

Su Yaoyao put the post aside with little interest.

The plum blossom viewing banquet... is nothing more than a group of noble ladies and gentlemen gathering together to compete and show off.

She doesn't have that on her mind right now.

"General Xie specifically sent someone to deliver a message," Gu Yu said in a low voice, her eyes gleaming, "saying that the eldest young master brought news."

Su Yaoyao suddenly looked up: "Young Master? My brother?"

"Yes." Chun Tao nodded. "General Xie said that Young Master Jiang received a letter from the border a few days ago, which was sent by Young Master Su through a messenger."

Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat.

elder brother……

The Xie family...

The Duke of Zhenguo's family has been a military family for generations, and Xie Yu's father was the commander-in-chief of the army where his elder brother served.

"General Xie said that the eldest son sent a letter home to the Xie residence a few days ago, asking him to deliver it." Chun Tao's voice was somewhat excited. "Miss, would you like to...?"

"Go." Su Yaoyao closed the invitation, a determined look in her eyes. "Tell General Xie that Yaoyao will definitely attend the banquet on time."

---

On the carriage back to the capital, Xiao Chenyuan closed his eyes to rest.

As Ling Feng drove, he couldn't help but ask, "Master, do you think Miss Su will be angry?"

"Angry?" Xiao Chenyuan opened his eyes. "Why are you angry?"

"You left without saying goodbye..."

"I left a letter."

"But..." Ling Feng paused, "Don't women all hope that men will say goodbye in person?"

Xiao Chenyuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked:

"I remember that Captain Su in the Northern Army... is he Su Yaoyao's brother?"

"That's right. Su Qingrun, the eldest son of the Marquis of Yongning, volunteered to serve on the border a few years ago and is now under the command of the Duke of Zhenguo."

Xiao Chenyuan tapped the table lightly with his fingertips.

Su Qingrun... Xie Yu... Plum Blossom Appreciation Banquet...

"Master?" Ling Feng called softly when he saw that he hadn't spoken for a long time.

Xiao Chenyuan opened his eyes, his gaze now clear again:

"Prepare the gifts."

"what?"

"It has been a long time since I last saw the Duke of Zhenguo."

Ling Feng was taken aback: "Master, didn't you dislike joining in on this kind of fun...?"

Xiao Chenyuan said calmly, "It's on the way."

Ling Feng's lips twitched.

Drop by?

From the Eastern Palace to the Plum Garden on the outskirts of Beijing, and from the Eastern Palace to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, they are completely two different directions, okay?

But he dared not say it, and could only reply, "Yes."

-----

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Concubine's palace...

The man with peach blossom eyes stood by the window, gently waving a folding fan.

"Su Yaoyao..." he murmured the name, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. "Interesting."

"A woman who can stir the worldly heart of a Buddhist disciple..."

"What kind of elegance must she possess?"

The folding fan snapped shut with a "whoosh".

He turned and looked at Consort Chen:

"Your Majesty, please rest assured."

"I'll go and meet this... Miss Su."