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

The next day, Su Yaoyao woke up because of the heat.

A burning hot body was pressed against her back, arms tightly wrapped around her waist, locking her firmly in his embrace. This person looked aloof and cold, but his body was as warm as a furnace.

She moved groggily, trying to break free, but the arms tightened around her even more.

"Your Highness..." she mumbled sleepily, "Why didn't you attend court today?"

A neutral voice came from behind: "I've asked for leave."

Su Yaoyao made a soft "hmm," still not fully awake: "Why are you asking for leave?"

Xiao Chenyuan remained silent for a moment before slowly saying:

"My hand is sore, I can't write."

Su Yaoyao: "..."

She instantly snapped out of it, her face flushing bright red.

Last night's intoxicating and chaotic scenes flooded my mind instantly—his slow and deliberate movements, her frantic pleas for mercy…

She prided herself on being a smooth talker and having a thick skin, but his blunt yet subtle words made her feel ashamed.

She turned away in embarrassment and annoyance, burying her face in his chest, her voice muffled:

"Your Highness always bullies me... You've hurt me so much..."

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his gaze to her flushed earlobes, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, but his voice remained calm:

"Heh, you seem to be enjoying yourself."

Su Yaoyao glared at him playfully, "No way... Your Highness, you're so naughty..."

"You're so disobedient? Who told you to disobey me?"

"Your Highness has already punished me, why are you still talking about it?" Su Yaoyao raised her head, her eyes glaring at him with watery eyes. She steeled herself and decided to just go all out.

"How about... you punish me again?"

Anyway... it's pretty... good.

She didn't dare say the last sentence aloud, but her eyes clearly conveyed that meaning.

Xiao Chenyuan raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a half-smile:

"You wish! Is this punishment for you, or... punishment for me?"

Su Yaoyao blinked, looking completely innocent: "No way, it's clearly His Highness who's being unforgiving."

Xiao Chenyuan chuckled softly and gave her a light bite on the lips:

"You heartless little brat. If I really didn't forgive you, would you still be able to get out of bed today?"

Su Yaoyao: "..."

Her eyes widened; she could hardly believe these words came from the mouth of this aloof and ascetic Crown Prince.

Did this guy suddenly become so witty? He just spouts off like that!

Seeing her shocked expression, Xiao Chenyuan's smile deepened. He reached out, his fingertips gently tracing her slightly swollen lips, his voice low and husky:

"What? You're allowed to flirt with me, but I'm not allowed to tell you a few truths?"

Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat.

She suddenly felt that this Xiao Chenyuan... was even more irresistible than the restrained and aloof Buddhist monk she had known before.

She blinked, then suddenly leaned in and wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice soft and seductive:

"Your Highness, I was wrong~ My unauthorized behavior today is my apology, is that alright?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked down at her: "Do you really expect me to do whatever you want with you?"

"Mmm!" Su Yaoyao's eyes sparkled, like a little fox wagging its tail.

Xiao Chenyuan pondered for a moment, then said calmly:

"I wouldn't dare order around Miss Su. If I don't do it right, you'll scheme against me again."

"Your Highness~" Su Yaoyao protested, grabbing his hand and pressing it against her chest. "Feel it, I really mean it~"

The soft warmth beneath his palm made Xiao Chenyuan's Adam's apple bob.

He stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly said:

"...serve me while I bathe."

Su Yaoyao was taken aback: "Huh?"

"Didn't you say you could order her around as you pleased?" Xiao Chenyuan stood up, looking down at her. "You don't want to?"

"Yes, yes!" Su Yaoyao quickly got up, her eyes shining even brighter.

The East Palace's bathing pool is extremely large, filled with hot spring water, and steam rises from its surface.

Xiao Chenyuan stood by the pool, his back to her, his voice calm:

"undress."

Su Yaoyao took a deep breath, stepped forward, and with trembling fingers, untied the sash of his inner garment.

One floor, two floors.

His pale, muscular body was gradually revealed in the mist—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, smooth yet not exaggerated muscle lines, and a few faint old scars on his chest.

Further down, there's a slender waist, V-lines, and...

Su Yaoyao swallowed hard.

She wasn't unfamiliar with his physique, but every time she saw it, she was still amazed.

Xiao Chenyuan turned around, looking at her staring intently at him, and a slight smile appeared on his lips:

"Is it pretty?"

"...Beautiful." Su Yaoyao nodded honestly, her eyes lingering on the subject. "Your Highness is absolutely stunning, truly beautiful."

Xiao Chenyuan chuckled and reached out to pinch her cheek: "You little rascal."

He turned and stepped into the bath. The warm water covered his waist and abdomen, and water droplets slid down his firm back muscles and disappeared into the water.

He leaned against the edge of the pool, closing his eyes to rest, but as if on purpose, his arms were stretched out and rested on the edge of the pool, the lines of his shoulders, neck and chest appearing and disappearing in the shimmering water.

Su Yaoyao stood by the pool, gazing at this "beauty bathing picture," and couldn't help but groan inwardly—

Who is the real fairy here?!

Nosebleed... I'm about to have a nosebleed!

She tried to calm herself down, rolled up her sleeves, knelt by the pool, and reached out to wipe his back.

The moment their fingertips touched his skin, both of them trembled almost imperceptibly.

Xiao Chenyuan didn't open his eyes, only saying calmly, "Use a little force."

Su Yaoyao: "...Oh."

She gritted her teeth and tried to focus her attention on the "back scrubbing" process.

The skin beneath her palms was warm and firm, undulating slightly with her movements, water droplets sliding between her fingertips and skin... This wasn't a back scrub, it was torture.

As she wiped, her gaze involuntarily drifted downwards.

The hot spring water was crystal clear, and the underwater scenery was faintly visible. That slender waist, those firm hips, and...

"Your Highness...you..." She paused, deliberately drawing out her words, "...the pool...is really 'huge'!"

Xiao Chenyuan finally opened his eyes.

He turned his head to look at her, his eyes, shrouded in a frighteningly deep darkness,

Then, Su Yaoyao heard him grit his teeth:

"Get out of here!"

Su Yaoyao: "Huh?"

"Get out." Xiao Chenyuan turned his face away, his ears turning a suspicious red. "Now."

Su Yaoyao was stunned for two seconds, then suddenly understood something.

Her eyes lit up. Instead of leaving, she moved closer, leaned over the edge of the pool, and looked at him with a beaming smile.

"Your Highness...are you... feeling unwell?"

Xiao Chenyuan's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't speak.

Su Yaoyao smiled like a cat that had just stolen some fish, her fingertips lightly tracing the surface of the water, creating ripples:

"Would you like... Yaoyao to help you?"

Xiao Chenyuan suddenly stood up from the water.

Water splashed everywhere.

He scooped her up from the edge of the pool—yes, scooped her up like a kitten—then strode over to a soft couch, tossed her onto it, and grabbed a robe to wrap her up.

"Stay put." His voice was terribly hoarse. "If you flirt again, you can forget about staying here tonight."

Su Yaoyao leaned against his chest and suddenly whispered:

"Your Highness..."

"Um?"

"When you were practicing Buddhism before...did you also think about these things?"

Xiao Chenyuan remained silent for a moment before whispering:

"In no mood."

"That……"

"But after meeting you," he interrupted her, his voice even lower, "I started to think about it."

Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat, and she looked up at him.

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his eyes to meet her gaze, his eyes holding that familiar, unfathomable darkness.

"Yaoyao, you are my only broken rule."

Su Yaoyao's nose stung with tears, and she buried her face in his chest, muttering in a low voice:

"Does Your Highness... regret breaking the precept?"

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his voice gentle yet firm:

No regrets.

"Never regret it."