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

East Palace, Qingfeng Pavilion.

Su Qingrun was placed in the quietest room in the pavilion. After examining her pulse, the imperial physician prescribed medicine, saying that although her injuries were serious, her life was no longer in danger. However, she had lost too much blood and would need to rest for a while before she could wake up.

Su Yaoyao stayed by the bedside, tucking the blanket around her brother. Looking at his pale but peaceful sleeping face, she felt a huge weight lifted from her heart.

After seeing the imperial physician off, he turned around and saw Xiao Chenyuan still standing at the door.

A small patch of the bandage on his left arm was already soaked with blood, and his face was paler than before.

"Your Highness," Su Yaoyao walked over, "you should go change your dressing too."

Xiao Chenyuan glanced down at his arm and said calmly, "It's alright, Ling Feng will come later."

"Ling Feng has gone to arrange the guards." Su Yaoyao pointed out the window—Ling Feng was leading his men to set up defenses around the courtyard, looking very serious.

"Besides, Your Highness was injured while saving my brother. It is only right and proper for me to take care of you."

Xiao Chenyuan did not refuse again, and simply said, "Let's go to the study."

A faint smell of medicine filled the study.

Xiao Chenyuan sat down in the armchair behind his desk, and Su Yaoyao came over with her medicine box and squatted down beside him.

She reached out to untie the bandage. Her movements were very gentle; her fingertips occasionally brushed against the skin on the side of his neck, and she could feel his body stiffen slightly.

The bandages were unwrapped layer by layer, revealing a gruesome wound underneath—extending from the left shoulder to the forearm, with the skin and flesh turned outwards. Although the bleeding had stopped, it was still a shocking sight.

Su Yaoyao's breathing became labored.

She picked up the medicine and clean gauze, looked up at him, and said, "Your Highness, the wound needs to be cleaned, and you need to take off your clothes."

Xiao Chenyuan hummed in response, but did not move.

Su Yaoyao waited for a while, and seeing that he was still sitting upright like a bell, she couldn't help but laugh: "Your Highness, if you don't take your clothes off, how can I apply the medicine? Or... should I help you take them off?"

Xiao Chenyuan's ears turned slightly red, and he finally moved.

With his uninjured right hand, he awkwardly tried to undo his waistband. The one-handed operation was inconvenient; after a long struggle, he only loosened it slightly, and the hem remained tightly closed.

Su Yaoyao couldn't stand it any longer and reached out her hand: "This humble woman will help you."

Her fingers were nimble; in a few quick movements, she untied his waist sash and then went to untie the belt of his outer robe.

The outer robe parted, revealing a moon-white inner garment, and inside that…

Su Yaoyao paused, then looked up at him: "You need to take off your undergarments too."

Xiao Chenyuan pursed his lips and remained silent.

Su Yaoyao remained expressionless and continued to untie the ties of her inner garment.

Xiao Chenyuan suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Su Yaoyao." His voice was a little hoarse.

"Hmm?" Su Yaoyao looked up, her eyes pure and innocent. "Your Highness, what's wrong? It's just changing the medicine. Are you shy? Besides... it's not like I haven't tried it before."

Xiao Chenyuan recalled that day in the side hall, her hand...

His handsome face flushed slightly, but he still let go of her hand.

Su Yaoyao was unusually serious; the fabric was sticking to her wound, and she carefully undressed herself.

However, her fingers would occasionally brush against his body, a subtle touch that was more agonizing than a direct caress.

With each touch, Xiao Chenyuan's body tensed up a little more.

The inner garment was finally removed, and the upper body was completely exposed to the air.

The study was brightly lit, and his figure was clearly visible—

With broad shoulders and a narrow waist, he had fair skin and smooth, firm muscles. He was neither as thin as a weak scholar nor as robust as a warrior; he possessed a perfect balance of strength and sturdiness. His left arm was wrapped in bandages, and there were several old scars on his chest, adding to his battle-worn fragility.

Su Yaoyao's gaze lingered on him for a while longer.

"Have you seen enough?" Xiao Chenyuan turned his face away, his ears turning red, but he tried his best to keep his voice calm.

"No," Su Yaoyao said truthfully, her gaze sweeping over his abs. "Your Highness has a really good physique."

Xiao Chenyuan's breath hitched, and he turned his face away: "...Apply the medicine."

Su Yaoyao stopped teasing him and focused on treating his wound.

She soaked a handkerchief in warm water and carefully cleaned the blood and grime around the wound.

She moved very gently, pouting her little lips and blowing air.

Xiao Chenyuan's body tensed up almost imperceptibly.

"Does it hurt?" Su Yaoyao asked.

"It doesn't hurt."

"You're lying." She poked the edge of the wound. "Doesn't it hurt even like this?"

Xiao Chenyuan pursed his lips and did not answer.

Su Yaoyao didn't press for answers. She lowered her head and continued cleaning the wound, then sprinkled on the medicine powder and wrapped it up layer by layer with gauze.

Her bandaging skills were surprisingly good; the bandages were wrapped neatly and properly.

After bandaging him, Su Yaoyao draped an outer robe over his shoulders, but instead of immediately fastening the belt, she looked up at him:

"Your Highness, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for saving my brother."

Xiao Chenyuan's breathing hitched slightly: "It's my duty."

"It's my duty?" Su Yaoyao tilted her head.

"Traveling a thousand miles, risking his life, and suffering such serious injuries... is this considered part of his duty?"

Xiao Chenyuan pursed his lips and remained silent. After a long while, he whispered, "I... don't want to see you cry."

Su Yaoyao was stunned.

Xiao Chenyuan turned his head away, his ears slightly red: "You didn't look good with your eyes red that day."

Su Yaoyao looked at his feigned composure.

Before he could react, she quickly tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek.

Xiao Chenyuan froze.

Su Yaoyao stepped back slightly, looking at him with a smile: "This is a reward for Your Highness."

Xiao Chenyuan slowly lowered his head and looked at her.

Some emotion churned in his eyes, too deep to discern. After a long pause, he spoke in a hoarse voice:

"...Nonsense."

"Are you kidding me?" Su Yaoyao blinked. "Then Your Highness, will you give me back my reward?"

Xiao Chenyuan remained silent.

He simply stared at her, his gaze slowly moving from her eyes to her lips.

His gaze was heavy, carrying a kind of restrained aggression.

Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat when he looked at her. Just as she was about to back away, he suddenly grabbed her wrist.

His palm was burning hot, and although the pressure wasn't strong, it was impossible to break free.

"Su Yaoyao," he called her name softly, uttering each word slowly, "Last time you said... that I hadn't opened my heart to you... then why didn't you teach me what to do?"

Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat.

He released her hands, instead cupping the back of her neck and gently pressing her towards him, then lowered his head—

A kiss landed on her forehead.

It was lighter and more restrained than her previous kiss, yet it carried a burning heat.

Instantly separate.

He released her, turned his face away, his ears burning red, but he tried his best to keep his voice calm:

"Is it like this?"

Su Yaoyao stared at him blankly for a long time before suddenly bursting into laughter.

She reached out and poked his burning earlobe: "Your Highness, you're acting like this... which doesn't seem like the detached and ascetic Buddhist monk at all."

Xiao Chenyuan grabbed her mischievous fingers and held them in his palm: "Even a Buddhist disciple is human."

"Oh?" Su Yaoyao let him hold her hand, tilting her head and smiling. "So, what is the Buddha thinking about now?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked up at her, his surging emotions finally no longer concealed.

He was about to speak—

"Your Highness!" The butler's voice rang out from outside the door, "Miss Su's courtyard has been prepared."

The two of them paused at the same time.

Xiao Chenyuan released his grip, his expression quickly returning to calm: "Understood."

Su Yaoyao also stood up, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, and winked at him: "I'll go take a look first."

She walked to the door, then turned back.

"Next time, the reward will be given in a different location."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and went out.

Xiao Chenyuan sat on the couch, looking at the door that had been closed again, and gently touched his lips with his hand.

There seemed to be a trace of warmth still remaining there.

He closed his eyes and muttered to himself:

"...This is really bad."