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

The light was still on in Su Yaoyao's boudoir at night.

She was hunched over her desk, a thick dowry list spread out in front of her, a calligraphy brush in her hand, her brows furrowed tightly.

Although her maternal grandmother and aunt had arranged everything perfectly, and even Jiang Wan Ning volunteered to embroider her wedding dress—though she firmly refused, saying she "didn't want to wear something like a pair of mandarin ducks on her wedding day"—

But she had to personally oversee her own marriage, after all, this was the first time in her two lifetimes that she was getting married.

She got a headache after just one look.

In her past life, she had many relationships, but marriage... she had never even considered it. Those men were either after her beauty or her resources; sincerity? That was rarer than panda blood.

But things are different now.

That person had everything, yet he longed to offer his heart to her.

Su Yaoyao felt a sweet warmth in her heart, but looking at the dowry list that was long enough to circle the house three times, she started to have a headache again.

She rested her chin on her hand, thinking about how there were so many rules about dowries in ancient times, such as the "bottom of the chest," the "descendant bucket," and the "house-laying gift"... Just remembering these rules made her head spin.

"What a crappy calligraphy brush... ballpoint pens are much better..." she muttered to herself, rubbing her aching wrist.

Just as I was getting annoyed, a very faint "click" sound came from the window.

Su Yaoyao's ears twitched, but before she could turn around, someone wrapped their arms around her waist from behind. The familiar scent, mixed with the cool night breeze, instantly enveloped her.

Her eyes lit up, she put down her brush, and leaned into the man's arms, her voice tinged with laughter:

"You flower thief, you're here again? Have you become addicted to picking my flowers?"

Xiao Chenyuan didn't answer, but instead tightened his arms around her, buried his face in the crook of her neck, and took a deep breath. His voice was muffled, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue:

"Yaoyao, I miss you."

Su Yaoyao's heart softened. She turned around and cupped his face in her hands: "Your Highness, I think... I just left the East Palace this morning, didn't I?"

How many hours has it been?

Xiao Chenyuan looked down at her, his fingertips gently tracing her cheek:

"Six hours is also a long time."

Su Yaoyao's heart softened, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, then tiptoed and kissed him on the lips:

"Now that you've seen it, is Your Highness satisfied?"

Xiao Chenyuan didn't speak, but lowered his head and deepened the kiss.

The kiss was gentle, unlike the aggressive ones of the past. Instead, it carefully traced the shape of her lips, gently sucking, as if savoring some precious dessert.

Su Yaoyao's body went limp from his kisses, and she leaned against him, her breathing becoming erratic.

After a long while, he finally released her, his forehead pressed against hers, his breathing slightly rapid.

"I heard... Xie Yu gave you a protective talisman today?" Xiao Chenyuan suddenly asked.

Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow, lifted her head from his embrace, and looked at him with bright, sparkling eyes:

"It's just a talisman, Your Highness, you're making such a fuss about it?"

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his eyes to meet her gaze, his eyes deep and intense:

"I don't care," Xiao Chenyuan said, pulling her closer, his voice muffled.

"Everyone is alone, what is a talisman?"

He paused, then lowered his head and gently bit her collarbone:

"but……"

"But what?"

Xiao Chenyuan raised his head, looking at her with deep eyes:

"I don't like it when others give you things. Especially... people who have ulterior motives towards you."

Su Yaoyao blinked: "How did Your Highness know that General Xie had improper thoughts about me?"

"The way he looks at you," Xiao Chenyuan said calmly, but with a hint of bitterness, "even a blind person could see it."

"But the only person I'm looking at is Your Highness."

Su Yaoyao wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoe, and breathed into his ear:

"However... Your Highness..."

"Um?"

"This is my boudoir," she said, her voice soft and alluring, as if hooked.

"It's the middle of the night, a man and a woman alone... what do you think, how about we do something... exciting?"

Xiao Chenyuan's body visibly stiffened for a moment.

He stared into her smiling eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing: "...How do we play?"

Su Yaoyao released him, turned and walked to the desk, picked up the stack of dowry lists, and winked at him as she turned back:

"Your Highness, please help me with the dowry list..."

Xiao Chenyuan: "..."

Looking at her sly expression, he suddenly chuckled softly and pinched her soft little face.

"Naughty."

"How are the preparations going?"

Su Yaoyao pouted and pointed to the pile of sheets on the table: "I'm so worried. There's too much stuff, I can't organize it, and my handwriting is terrible..."

Xiao Chenyuan followed her finger and saw the few lines of crooked characters on the Xuan paper. A slight smile appeared on his lips:

"If you can't write it well, then don't write it. Tomorrow I'll have Uncle Fu bring a few accountants over to help you organize it."

"How can that be?" Su Yaoyao glared at him. "This is my dowry, of course I have to do it myself."

Xiao Chenyuan chuckled softly, took her hand, led her to the desk, sat down behind her, pulled her into his arms, and then held her hand that held the pen.

"I'll teach you."

His palms were warm, his fingers long and strong, steadily enveloping hers. The brush tip touched the rice paper, and he guided her, stroke by stroke, to write "A pair of red gold mandarin duck hairpins".

The handwriting is clear, elegant, and powerful, penetrating the paper.

Su Yaoyao looked at the line of words, then at the ink blob she had just written, and immediately felt deflated:

"Forget it, I'd rather not embarrass myself..."

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his head and kissed her earlobe: "It's alright. I like it."

"What do you like? Do you like my ugly handwriting?"

"I love everything about you," Xiao Chenyuan said in a low, husky voice, with a hint of amusement, "including your ugly handwriting."

Su Yaoyao's ears burned, and she turned around to punch him: "Your Highness has become naughty! You've started making fun of me!"

The night breeze was slightly cool, and Su Yaoyao suddenly shivered.

Xiao Chenyuan immediately noticed: "Are you cold?"

"A little." She snuggled closer to him.

Xiao Chenyuan picked her up horizontally, carried her to the bedside, gently laid her down, and pulled the quilt over her.

"I cannot come again before the wedding."

Su Yaoyao was taken aback: "Why?"

"That's against the rules." Xiao Chenyuan's fingertips gently traced her lips.

"Your brother specifically reminded me today that it's unlucky to meet before the wedding... Although I don't believe in these things, I don't want anything to go wrong with you."

Su Yaoyao felt a warmth in her heart and hugged his neck: "Then why did Your Highness come again tonight?"

Xiao Chenyuan's ears turned slightly red, and he looked away: "...I couldn't help it."

Those three words, spoken softly and awkwardly, moved Su Yaoyao more than any sweet talk.

She smiled and kissed his chin: "Then, Your Highness, will you lull me to sleep?"

"Alright. I'll stay by your side."

Su Yaoyao tugged at his sleeve: "Your Highness, will you leave after I fall asleep?"

Xiao Chenyuan patted her gently, his tone full of indulgence.

"Okay, I'll leave after Yaoyao falls asleep."

Su Yaoyao then closed her eyes in relief and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Xiao Chenyuan sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her peaceful sleeping face. After a long while, he lowered his head and placed a very light kiss on the back of her hand.

"Yaoyao," he murmured to himself, "there are some things... I didn't mean to hide them from you."

"But...it's not the right time yet."

And on the rooftop in the distance, the dark figure arrived as expected.

He stared at the lit window of the Yongning Marquis's residence for a long time, then finally sighed softly, turned around, and disappeared into the night.

Some light is destined not to belong to darkness.

And he should return to his own shadow.