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

But the people weren't coming this way.

"Someone has fallen into the water! Help!"

"Over by the lotus pond!"

"It looks like His Highness the Second Prince!"

"Good heavens... how come there's another woman?! Why is she clinging to the Second Prince?!"

Exclamations and running sounds filled the air.

Interspersed with Xiao Qiming's furious roar: "Get out of my way! Stay away from me!"

Then came Li Yan's piercing scream, her voice tinged with unnatural excitement: "Your Highness... Your Highness, don't push me away..."

The lotus pond was already surrounded by people.

The scene was utterly appalling.

Xiao Qiming stood soaking wet in waist-deep water, struggling to tear Li Yan, who was clinging to him like an octopus.

The effects of the drug had fully taken hold on Li Yan; her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were glazed, and her outer garment had slipped halfway down, revealing her apricot-colored undergarment underneath.

"Your Highness... I'm so hot..." She was still pressing herself against Xiao Qiming.

Xiao Qiming was clear-headed—he took the antidote in time, but he couldn't withstand Li Yan's astonishing strength after taking the medicine.

He was so angry his face turned green. He pushed her while yelling, "Get out! Didn't you hear me?! I told you to get out!"

But the more he pushed, the tighter Li Yan hugged him.

The people on the shore were dumbfounded.

The women covered their faces and turned their heads away, but couldn't help peeking through their fingers.

The male guests had various expressions: some were shocked, some were gloating, and a few young gentlemen stared wide-eyed.

When Su Yun'er saw this scene, her best friend, who usually addressed her as "sister," was now secretly having an affair with the fiancé she had schemed to steal.

She cried and shouted, "Your Highness! Your Highness, how are you? Li Yan, you vile woman, let go of His Highness!"

She wanted to rush into the pond and scratch Li Yan, but was stopped by the palace servants.

"You bastard!"

A furious shout rang out.

Everyone turned around and saw the Emperor, Empress, and Imperial Concubine, who, upon hearing the commotion, looked at the two people entangled in the pool.

Li Chong, the Minister of Rites, was so angry at what he saw that he almost fainted.

"Father!" Li Yan was so frightened that the effects of the medicine wore off. She tried to climb up in a panic, but slipped and fell back down, splashing water all over Xiao Qiming's face.

In the chaos, no one noticed that on the path by the pond, the Prime Minister's daughter, Chu Qingzi, bent down and picked up something—a plain white handkerchief, with a small "窈" character embroidered on one corner.

She subtly tucked the handkerchief into her sleeve.

She looked up and met the gaze of Jiang Jingchen, who was rushing over from the other side.

Eyes facing each other.

Chu Qingzi paused for a moment, then, taking advantage of the chaos in the crowd, quietly moved to Jiang Jingchen's side. Using her sleeve as a cover, she handed him the handkerchief and whispered, "Young Master Jiang, please return this to its rightful owner."

Jiang Jingchen was taken aback.

Chu Qingzi nodded very slightly to him, her eyes clear: "I didn't see anything."

After saying that, he retreated back into the crowd, as if nothing had happened.

Jiang Jingchen held the handkerchief, still warm from his body, and looked at Chu Qingzi's cool profile, his eyes darkening.

What does Miss Chu mean by this?

At this moment, the emperor's face by the pool was so dark it seemed to drip water, and the imperial concubine was even more pale. She rushed over to pull her son away, shouting, "Qiming! You—"

"Mother, don't come any closer!" Xiao Qiming scrambled out of the pool, soaking wet, water droplets dripping down his body. He looked at the dark mass of people in front of him, and his mind went blank.

It’s over.

It's all over.

"You unfilial son!" The emperor kicked over a low table beside him, the sound of shattering porcelain startling everyone into kneeling. "The Empress's birthday banquet! Is this how you celebrate the Empress's birthday?!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" the Empress quickly pleaded.

She obviously...

How did it turn out to be these two...?

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the hall again.

Xiao Chenyuan, dressed in a moon-white casual robe, walked in calmly.

His hair was slightly damp, clearly having been freshly washed, and his complexion had returned to its usual cool and aloof state, though a faint redness lingered at the corners of his eyes.

"Father," he bowed, "I was just a little tipsy and went to change my clothes to sober up—what is this?"

His gaze swept calmly over the two disheveled figures in the pool, as if he truly knew nothing.

The Empress stared intently at him: "Yuan'er...where did you go to change your clothes just now? Why did you take so long?"

Xiao Chenyuan raised his eyes and said calmly, "Your Majesty, I was changing clothes in Qingyan Palace when I happened to meet Miss Su, so we stood there and exchanged a few words."

"Oh?" The Empress's suspicion deepened. "What about Yaoyao?"

Before the words were finished, a clear female voice came from outside the hall:

"Did your aunt call me?"

Su Yaoyao lifted her skirt and walked in gracefully, her voice tinged with the sound of the Awakening of Insects.

Her hair was perfectly styled, her clothes were impeccable, and her face held just the right amount of confusion: "What's going on? I was feeling dizzy just now and went to sober up... Why is it so lively here?"

Her gaze swept across the pool, and she covered her mouth in surprise: "Miss Li and the Second Prince, what's going on...?"

She acted so innocently.

"Father!" Xiao Qiming suddenly knelt down.

"Your subject is innocent! It was Li Yan who suddenly lunged at me. I pushed her away, and she fell into the pool herself, still pulling me along..."

"You're talking nonsense!" Li Chong trembled with anger. "My daughter has always been well-mannered. How could she bother Your Highness for no reason? It must be Your Highness—"

"That's enough!"

The emperor interrupted sharply, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "I will make my own decision on today's matter. The second prince will be confined for three months, and Li Yan... will be sent back to the Li residence and sent to the family temple outside the city for quiet contemplation at a later date."

"Your Majesty!" The Imperial Concubine hurriedly knelt down and pleaded, "Qiming has been framed! I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly—"

"I haven't even spoken to you yet!" The emperor glared at her. "What a fine son you've raised! A prince, once or twice, engaging in intimate acts with a subject's daughter at a palace banquet—what kind of decorum is this! If you plead for mercy again, you'll be confined to your quarters as well!"

The imperial concubine turned pale and dared not speak further.

The Emperor then looked at the Empress, his eyes unfathomable. "I will thoroughly investigate what happened today!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Empress and the Imperial Concubine both felt a sudden tightness in their hearts.

check?

How do I check?

Neither of them is clean today!

The two of them spoke at the same time, as if by unspoken agreement:

"Your Majesty," the Empress said gently, "perhaps Miss Li has had a few too many drinks and has become possessed..."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the Imperial Concubine said, wiping away her tears, "Yan'er has always had a low alcohol tolerance; she probably lost her composure today..."

They actually conspired to pin the blame entirely on Li Yan.

The emperor watched this scene, his eyes flashing with cold light.

The Empress's heart tightened, and she was about to speak—

"Report—!"

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded in the distance, and a young eunuch scrambled over, shouting, "Your Majesty! Good news! The Zhenbei Army has achieved a great victory!"

Everyone was taken aback.

Immediately afterward, Xie Yu rushed into the garden, covered in dust, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a loud voice:

"Your Majesty! The Zhenbei Army has delivered an urgent report of victory! The Northern Desert has suffered a great defeat and wishes to make peace with our Great Yong Dynasty. They have specially dispatched the Northern Desert Princess to arrange a marriage alliance! The delegation has already passed Tongguan Pass and will arrive in the capital soon!"

The entire stadium fell silent for a moment, then erupted in cheers.

"May Heaven bless the Great Yong!"

"May Your Majesty be blessed!"

The emperor's gloomy expression instantly turned to joy, and he personally stepped forward to help Xie Yu up: "Good! Good! General Xie, your father has rendered another great service!"

"Your Majesty flatters me." Xie Yu stood up, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over the crowd. When he saw Su Yaoyao, his eyes visibly darted away.

In an instant, he looked away.

But Su Yaoyao caught it.

In those eyes, there was evasion, worry, and a hint of... reluctance.

The Northern Army...

elder brother?!

Su Yaoyao's heart sank slowly.