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

Inside the Linde Hall, most of the guests had already arrived.

The moment Xiao Chenyuan and Su Yaoyao stepped into the hall side by side, the clamor in the hall suddenly subsided by three points.

For no other reason than that the sight of these two standing together was simply too jarring.

The same moon white color, the same epiphyllum pattern, clearly revealing a certain unspoken intimacy.

The Second Prince, Xiao Qiming, sat at the table, his wine cup almost crushed in his hand.

He stared intently at Su Yaoyao, his gaze as if he wanted to devour her alive.

Beside him sat a young girl in a pale yellow palace dress, whose features bore some resemblance to Xiao Qiming's, though her demeanor was far more arrogant. This was his younger sister, Princess Xiao Yue of Yong Kingdom.

Xiao Yue had been taken to a temporary palace for several months of "quiet contemplation" by the Empress Dowager for her arrogant and domineering behavior at a palace banquet a few days ago, and had only returned today. She was clearly unaware of the events that had transpired in the capital during those months, and looked at Su Yaoyao with a face full of surprise:

"Brother, isn't that Su Yaoyao? She seems like a completely different person!"

Xiao Yue tugged at Xiao Qiming's sleeve, "Didn't she used to love following you around? How come she's hooked up with the Crown Prince now? Really—"

"Those who covet power and wealth," Xiao Qiming gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with malice, "Wait until I sit in that position..."

"Both of you better keep quiet!"

Consort Chen sneered and glared fiercely at her two children: "One of you has just been released from confinement, and the other was sent to the palace for punishment and hasn't learned your lesson yet. Don't you feel ashamed? Your mother does!"

Xiao Yue protested, "Mother, I only..."

"Shut up." Consort Chen lowered her voice, her nails, painted with henna, tapping lightly on the table. "The Northern Desert delegation is here today, don't cause me any trouble."

Xiao Qiming and Xiao Yue exchanged a glance and reluctantly shut up.

But Xiao Yue's gaze towards Su Yaoyao gradually turned venomous—she clearly remembered that the last time she was reprimanded by the Empress Dowager was because she helped her brother tease Su Yaoyao, and the Empress Dowager caught them red-handed. It's all that woman's fault!

On the other side, Chu Qingzi sat quietly beside her father, the Prime Minister, her gaze calmly sweeping across the entire room. She paused slightly as she looked at the Crown Prince and Su Yaoyao, then turned her gaze to Jiang Jingchen opposite her.

Jiang Jingchen was speaking quietly with his father, Jiang Ci, when he noticed the gaze and looked up to meet Chu Qingzi's eyes. The two exchanged a quick glance, and Chu Qingzi nodded almost imperceptibly before lowering her eyelashes and continuing to slowly peel a grape.

Prime Minister Chu Ye looked at his daughter, "You used to dislike getting involved in these kinds of things, so why have you been like this lately..."

Chu Qingzi wiped her hands. "With her here, there's going to be some excitement."

The Prime Minister asked, puzzled, "Her? Lively?"

"Father, look, Lord Jiang is back." This was clearly a way of changing the subject.

Jiang Ci, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, who is also Su Yaoyao's uncle, has just returned from investigating a case. He has a refined and elegant appearance, and his dark blue official robe accentuates his calm demeanor.

His gaze fell gently on Su Yaoyao, his eyes flashing with tenderness and relief—this child was finally no longer as timid as before.

Su Yaoyao also saw her uncle, her eyes welled up with tears, and she was about to go over to pay her respects when Jiang Ci smiled and shook his head, signaling her to focus on what was in front of her first.

However, Su Cheng'an, the Marquis of Yongning, felt guilty and lowered his head, not daring to meet Jiang Ci's gaze, after being glanced at indifferently.

"Father," Jiang Jingchen asked in a low voice, "is there any progress on the matter of the remnants of Liang?"

Jiang Ci withdrew his gaze, his voice extremely low: "We've made some progress. After the fall of the Liang Kingdom, a branch of its descendants fled to the Northern Desert, and in recent years... they seem to have been colluding with certain people in the court."

As he spoke, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally swept over Consort Chen at the opposite table.

Jiang Jingchen understood immediately and didn't ask any more questions.

Just then, a palace attendant announced loudly from outside the palace gate:

"The Emperor has arrived! The Empress has arrived!"

The emperor and empress entered the palace hand in hand.

Everyone stood up and bowed.

The emperor seemed to be in a good mood today, and with a smile, he told everyone to rise.

The Empress remained as gentle and dignified as ever, but a smile flickered across her face when her gaze swept over the Crown Prince and Su Yaoyao.

"Summon the Northern Desert Princess and her delegation to an audience—"

Outside the palace gate, a fiery red figure entered with its head held high.

Today, Anar changed into a formal princess dress from the Northern Desert—which accentuated her tall and athletic figure. Her features were deep-set, and her eyes held the wild and spirited air unique to the people of the grasslands. As soon as she entered, she attracted the attention of everyone in the hall.

Appearing at a palace banquet in Yong Kingdom dressed like this was truly shocking.

Anar was completely unaware. She walked straight to the emperor, placed her right hand on her chest in a gesture of respect, and said in a clear and crisp voice, "Anar from the Northern Desert pays her respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Yong Dynasty and His Majesty the Empress."

"Princess, you may rise," the Emperor said with a smile. "You must be tired from your long journey."

"It is Anar's honor to be able to contribute to the diplomatic relations between our two countries." Anar straightened up, her gaze finally turning to the people at the table.

She saw Su Yaoyao at first glance.

A smug smile curled his red lips, and he even winked at her in public.

The hall was completely silent.

Su Yaoyao: "..." Does this princess have some kind of misunderstanding about her?

Xiao Chenyuan's knuckles turned slightly white as he held the wine glass. His expression remained calm, but the surrounding atmosphere instantly seemed to drop several degrees.

Anar seemed oblivious to the Crown Prince's sudden change in expression, and blew another kiss towards Su Yaoyao.

Su Yaoyao: "..."

At this moment, the Empress suddenly smiled and said, "The Princess of the Northern Desert is truly remarkable. I wonder what impression the Princess has of my Dayong since her visit?"

Anar put down her wine glass, her smile bright: "Dayong is a vast and resource-rich land, a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. Especially..."

Her gaze shifted to Su Yaoyao, and she paused deliberately:

"Even more so for beauties."

The entire hall erupted in uproar.

These words were ambiguous, yet carried the straightforwardness and boldness unique to the people of the Northern Desert.

The emperor seemed amused and asked with a smile, "Does the princess know Miss Su?"

Anar nodded generously: "Miss Su and I hit it off immediately. Miss Su's brother, General Su... is my savior."

As she spoke, her gaze fell upon the Crown Prince, and her smile deepened: "I've heard that Miss Su now resides in the Eastern Palace? I wonder, Your Highness... if you would allow me to visit my benefactor often?"

Xiao Chenyuan raised his eyes, his tone calm and unwavering: "General Su's injuries have not yet healed and he needs to rest. I accept the princess's wishes on his behalf."

Refuse directly.

Anar raised an eyebrow, about to speak again, when the envoy hurriedly tugged at her sleeve under the table.

She then gave up, only winking at Su Yaoyao and mouthing the words silently:

See you another day~

Su Yaoyao: "..."

She felt the breath of the person beside her grow even colder.

Just as Su Yaoyao was about to say something, she suddenly felt a warmth on the back of her hand.

Xiao Chenyuan's hand had somehow reached up and gently squeezed her hand under the table.

It carried a hint of warning, and also a hint of... possessiveness.

Su Yaoyao turned to look at him.

His Highness the Crown Prince sat upright, his eyes fixed straight ahead, as if the mischievous hand under the table wasn't his.

She smiled, pursed her lips, and took his hand in hers, gently hooking her fingertips around his palm.

Xiao Chenyuan's body stiffened.

Su Yaoyao had already withdrawn her hand, picked up her wine glass, smiled sweetly at him, and mouthed the words silently:

"Your Highness, are you jealous?"

Xiao Chenyuan stared at her for two seconds, then tightened his grip on her mischievous hand under the table.

Their fingers were intertwined, their palms burning hot.

His expression remained calm, only whispering in her ear:

"I'll settle the score with you when we get back."

The voice was very soft, yet it carried a certain dangerous undertone.