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

"Miss Su~"

When He Qing was exposed, she didn't panic at all. Instead, she coquettishly dragged out the last syllable, her peach blossom eyes shimmering with tears in the candlelight, "How did you recognize me?"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and removed the silver mask.

A soft "click" sounded.

The flickering candlelight illuminated an excessively handsome face.

Her peach blossom eyes were slightly upturned, with a natural reddish tinge at the corners, making her look like she had a pool of spring water in her eyes when she looked at people.

Su Yaoyao glanced at him, picked up her now-cold tea and took a sip: "Alright, that's enough. There's no one else here, so you don't need to pretend."

She put down her teacup and tapped her fingertips lightly on the table.

"You left so many flaws just waiting for me to expose you, didn't you? It seems... you're not very loyal to your master after all."

He Qing was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter. His clear laughter stood out starkly in the quiet night.

"Shh!"

Su Yaoyao stood up almost instantly, took a step forward, covered his mouth, and scolded in a low voice, "Are you trying to die! In the middle of the night! Do you want to attract the whole mansion here?"

Her palms were warm and soft, pressed tightly against his lips. He Qing's laughter was muffled, leaving only his eyes looking at her with a mischievous glint in them.

He stuck out the tip of his tongue and licked her palm very lightly.

Su Yaoyao jerked her hand back as if burned, glaring at him: "Are you a dog?"

He Qing laughed even harder, "So what if she brings him in? It'll be perfect for everyone to see Miss Su having a late-night rendezvous with another man..."

"That's perfect," Su Yaoyao said, wiping her hands with a handkerchief with disgust. "I told you you were a thief who came to steal things, and I caught you red-handed. The guards of the Grand Tutor's mansion could easily break your legs and throw you out."

He Qing's lips twitched, and he finally stopped his frivolous behavior and sat up straight on the round stool.

"Miss Su is indeed a clever woman." He sighed, his tone becoming more serious. "Then I'll be frank. I do have something I'd like to ask for your help with..."

"I won't help." Su Yaoyao sat back down in her original seat, answering decisively.

He Qing was speechless again. He rubbed his temples, realizing he had really made a mistake coming here tonight—why was this girl so stubborn?

"...Isn't it enough that I'll pay?" he asked casually.

Su Yaoyao narrowed her eyes: "How much?"

He Qing: "..."

His lips twitched, his feelings a jumble. So all his talking was less effective than a simple "pay up"? If he'd known this would happen, he might as well have just pulled out the money and thrown it at him.

"Miss Su, aren't you going to ask what's going on?" he said helplessly.

"Then you say it." Su Yaoyao rested her chin on her hand, looking like she was saying, "You tell me and I'll listen."

"Uh..." He Qing hesitated for a moment before saying, "The Northern Desert Princess is about to arrive in the capital, and I need to... take something from her."

Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow: "What makes you think I can do that?"

"Then I'll give you a piece of information for free, Miss." He Qing leaned forward, lowering his voice, "The Northern Desert Princess has come for a marriage alliance, and her groom... I've heard it's His Highness the Crown Prince."

The candlelight crackled and popped.

Su Yaoyao's smile faded slightly, and her eyes darkened.

She sat up straight and stared at He Qing: "Is the information reliable?"

"Most likely." Seeing her serious expression, He Qing smiled slightly and continued, "But there's something even more interesting—I heard that at the border, this princess and Miss's brother, General Su, had quite a bit of contact."

He observed Su Yaoyao's expression and said slowly, "So, from any angle, this matter... belongs to no one but Miss."

The room was quiet for a few moments.

"So," Su Yaoyao suddenly laughed, a bright but cold smile, "you're still doing this for my own good, aren't you?"

"I dare not." He Qing said he dared not, but his eyes flashed with a knowing look.

"That's right," Su Yaoyao nodded, her tone matter-of-fact, "It was clearly me who helped you."

He Qing: "..." He felt he had never been so speechless in his life.

"Alright," he gave up struggling, "then Miss Su... what benefits do you want?"

Su Yaoyao stretched out her hand, palm up: "Let's see your sincerity."

He Qing took out an ebony token from his bosom and gently placed it on the table.

The token is exquisitely crafted, with intricate cloud patterns engraved on the front and a small "deer" character on the back.

"With this token, Miss Su can freely withdraw money from various banks."

Su Yaoyao picked up the token and examined its weight: "Use it as you please? Mr. Lu is quite generous."

Just as He Qing was about to politely reply with "Of course," she heard her slowly continue:

"Then I'll empty all the money shops in the capital tomorrow."

He Qing: "..."

He held his forehead; he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head.

"Just kidding," Su Yaoyao said, putting the token into her sleeve with a bright smile. "As for money, I'll earn it myself, of course. So, what do you want from her?"

He Qing shook his head: "I can't say now. When the princess arrives in the capital, and the time is right, I will inform her."

He paused, then added, "But Miss Su, rest assured, it's absolutely nothing immoral or unethical, and it won't put you in a difficult position."

Su Yaoyao stared at him for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Is the person behind you Consort Chen?"

He Qing's smile remained unchanged: "What do you think, Miss Su?"

"I don't think so," Su Yaoyao said calmly. "If the Imperial Concubine had someone as useful as you, the Second Prince wouldn't be so stupid."

He Qing smiled but did not answer.

The sound of a night watchman's drum came from afar; it was the third watch of the night.

"I won't disturb Miss Su's rest any longer." He Qing stood up and pushed the white porcelain medicine bottle towards her again. "Consider this bottle of medicine as a deposit for Miss Su."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and was about to walk towards the window.

He was just lifting one foot to step through the window.

"etc."

He Qing paused in his steps.

Su Yaoyao also stood up and walked up to him.

The two were very close, close enough to smell each other's scents—the fragrance of white plum blossoms on her body, and the cool yet ambiguous warm fragrance on him.

The candlelight cast the shadow of her eyelashes onto her cheek. She looked up at him, her eyes suddenly curving into a smile:

"Don't call me Miss Su anymore."

She looked up and smiled sweetly at him: "That's too formal."

He Qing's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

As Su Yaoyao spoke, she took out a neatly folded piece of paper from her sleeve and waved it in front of him.

"Just call me Master from now on." Su Yaoyao's smile was both sweet and mischievous. "No need to be so polite."

He Qing: "..."

His figure staggered as he climbed out the window, nearly falling off the windowsill.

Just as he leaned half his body out of the window, Su Yaoyao's cheerful voice came from behind him:

"Oh, and don't forget my plum wine tomorrow."

"Add ten more jars of 'Spring Breeze Intoxication'."

He Qing slipped and almost fell again.

He awkwardly clung to the windowsill, glared back at her, only to see her gracefully turn away, leaving him with only her slender back.

"……knew."

The sound of gritting teeth drifted in.

Su Yaoyao turned her head to the side, "Who are you talking to?!"

He Qing said, enunciating each word clearly, "Understood, Master!"

-----

On the official road at this time,

The horse galloped through the night, and Xiao Chenyuan gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

The night wind was biting, but it couldn't dispel the burning heat in his body—the effects of the medicine had worn off, but the touch of the woman's fingertips, her warm breath, and her sly smile were more stubbornly etched into his bones than any medicine.

The bottle of life-saving pills he had forcibly taken from the Imperial Hospital was burning hot in his chest. He remembered her broken and wounded appearance before he left.

He wanted to bring her brother back.

Bring it back intact.

He didn't want to see those tearful eyes again.

He whipped the horse sharply, and the horse neighed as it broke through the night.

He had to watch over her and protect her.

Even if this heart no longer belongs to me.