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

On the way back to the manor, Xiao Chenyuan didn't say much.

He held Su Yaoyao's hand, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand, as if he was thinking about something, or perhaps he simply didn't want to let go.

Su Yaoyao didn't bother him. She leaned against the car wall, playing with the dark blue hairpin hidden in her sleeve.

The moment her fingertips touched the cool gemstone, she suddenly remembered the scent of perfume wafting from outside the palace.

Was that person... following them the whole time?

She didn't ask. Xiao Chenyuan didn't mention it either.

Xiao Chenyuan seemed to come back to his senses only when the carriage stopped in front of the Marquis's mansion.

"We've arrived," he said, his voice still a little deep, but already back to normal.

Su Yaoyao carefully put away the hairpin and was about to get off the car when she saw a familiar figure standing at the door.

Ling Feng.

This first-rank bodyguard, carrying a sword, had both hands full of things, looking like a moving shelf.

Su Yaoyao's eyes lit up instantly.

"Your Highness?" She turned to look at Xiao Chenyuan.

Xiao Chenyuan smiled slightly and led her out of the car.

When Ling Feng saw the person in question arrive, he quickly came forward, his face tense and serious, but Su Yaoyao could clearly see a hint of resentment in his eyes.

"Your Highness, everything you requested has been purchased." Ling Feng placed a pile of oil paper packages on the stone table beside him and announced the menu, "Roasted chestnuts from Li Ji in the west of the city, osmanthus cake from Zhang Ji in the south of the city, and eight-treasure roast duck—this shop had a half-hour queue."

He paused, his face expressionless: "This subordinate, a first-rank guard, stood outside the roast duck shop for half an hour today."

Xiao Chenyuan glanced at him indifferently: "Thank you for your hard work."

Ling Feng: "...I wouldn't dare."

Su Yaoyao no longer cared about him.

She rushed to the stone table, her eyes sparkling as she examined the oil paper packets.

The roasted chestnuts were still piping hot, the sweet aroma of osmanthus cake could be smelled even through the paper, the roast duck was glistening with oil, and the lotus leaves were soaked through.

"If I eat it all, won't I become a big fat person?" She looked up at him, deliberately pouting, "Your Highness won't like me then."

Xiao Chenyuan looked down at her, his gaze sweeping over her face before finally settling on her puffed-out cheeks.

"Being a little chubby is good," he said, lowering his voice, "It feels better to the touch."

Su Yaoyao: "......"

Her face flushed, and before she could speak, a cheerful voice suddenly broke out beside her—

Wow! So much delicious food!

Anar appeared out of nowhere, her eyes glued to the stone table, completely unaware of Xiao Chenyuan's suddenly cold face beside her.

"Roasted chestnuts! Osmanthus cake! And roast duck!" she cheered, reaching out to grab them. "Little sister, you're so kind of you, knowing I haven't eaten—"

"Princess." Xiao Chenyuan's voice was neither loud nor soft.

Anar paused, then sheepishly withdrew her hand, grinning as she said, "His Highness the Crown Prince is here too."

Xiao Chenyuan didn't speak, but pulled Su Yaoyao closer to his side, his gaze sweeping indifferently over Anar's back.

Ashina Lie walked out of the mansion gate, his figure tall and his smile so bright it was almost dazzling.

"Miss Su," he said loudly, "we meet again."

Su Yaoyao nodded politely: "Your Highness."

Just as Ashina Lie was about to step forward, Su Qingrun, who followed behind, quietly stood in the middle, separating him from Su Yaoyao.

Ashina Lie raised an eyebrow: "..."

Before Su Yaoyao could speak, she felt the hand holding her tighten a little.

She turned her head, and Xiao Chenyuan's expression remained unchanged, except that his jawline was taut.

This person.

She secretly scratched his palm with her fingernail.

Xiao Chenyuan looked down at her, and the coldness in his eyes dissipated somewhat.

"By the way," Su Qingrun spoke up at the opportune moment, breaking the awkward atmosphere, "Your Highness, how are the preparations for the welcoming banquets for the various delegations coming to go?"

Xiao Chenyuan nodded: "The Ministry of Rites has already welcomed the envoys from various countries to the post station, and a banquet will be held in the palace three days later. My father ordered me to handle this matter, and I've come here today to discuss some details with you, Marquis."

"Another palace banquet..." Anar curled her lip, looking disgusted. "A bunch of old men sitting there drinking and exchanging pleasantries. It's so boring."

She looked at Su Yaoyao: "Little sister, don't you have anything fun to do in Yongjing?"

Su Yaoyao deeply agreed.

Palace banquets may look lavish and extravagant, but in reality, every step is fraught with danger.

Especially given her current status—the future Crown Princess—the eyes of the entire capital are on her.

You have to sit properly, you can't smile with your teeth showing, and everything you eat and drink is subject to criticism.

Not to mention the open and covert attacks, the back-and-forth exchanges and subtle maneuvers.

"It's boring," she sighed.

"I also find it boring," Xiao Chenyuan suddenly said.

Su Yaoyao looked up at him.

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on her face: "If you don't like it, then we won't do it."

Su Yaoyao was stunned for a moment.

This man...

Her heart softened, but she said, "How can that be? Delegations from various countries have arrived; we can't just leave them hanging."

Her eyes darted around, and suddenly an idea flashed into her mind.

"Your Highness," she said, taking Xiao Chenyuan's hand, her eyes sparkling, "how about we change it to a winter hunt?"

Xiao Chenyuan raised an eyebrow: "Winter hunt?"

"That's right!" Su Yaoyao became more and more excited as she spoke. "I used to read in storybooks that the royal family had a hunt every year, which was much more interesting than sitting in the palace drinking. Aren't the Northern Desert people good at riding and archery? The general from Xiliang is here too, so it's a perfect opportunity for him to show off his skills on the hunting grounds!"

She shook Xiao Chenyuan's hand, her voice softening, "Your Highness, please talk to the Emperor and change that welcoming banquet into a winter hunt. It would be so much fun!"

Anar's eyes lit up immediately: "Winter hunting! That sounds like so much fun! This is great!"

She turned and tugged at Ashina Lie's sleeve: "Brother, haven't you always wanted to have a match with that general from Xiliang? The hunting grounds are the perfect place!"

Ashina Lie was swayed by her tugging, but his gaze fell on Su Yaoyao.

She was looking up at Xiao Chenyuan, her eyes curved into crescents, her voice soft and sweet, a stark contrast to her dashing figure on the horse track that day.

Ashina Lie's Adam's apple bobbed.

If she were to act coquettishly towards herself...

"Your Highness~" Su Yaoyao was still shaking Xiao Chenyuan's hand, "Please?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her for a long while, then sighed helplessly.

"I'll go ask my father," he said. "It can be changed, but time is short, and the Ministry of Rites—"

"I'll talk to the Ministry of Rites," Su Qingrun suddenly said.

He paused, expressionless, and said, "It is indeed less troublesome than a palace banquet."

She seems to...like it...

"Then it's settled!" Su Yaoyao clapped her hands, beaming. "Winter Hunt!"

Anar cheered and pulled her aside, chattering excitedly about what riding gear to bring, which horse to ride, and what prey to hunt. She also tried to take the jar of honey, but Su Yaoyao stopped her, saying, "You can take any of the other food, but leave this! I need it..."

Anar looked puzzled, but seeing so much delicious food, she didn't think too much about it and started eating with Su Yaoyao.

Ashina Lie watched them joking with a smile, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Xiao Chenyuan.

His Highness the Crown Prince was looking down at Su Yaoyao's excited profile, his gaze so focused that it seemed as if she were the only person left in the world.

There was no cold indifference in his eyes, no icy demeanor when he faced outsiders.

Only indulgence.

Boundless indulgence.

Ashina Lie suddenly felt that he seemed to understand why the Crown Prince of Yongjing was called "Buddha's Son".

He wasn't averse to women.

He gave all his tenderness to only one person.

---

As the crowd dispersed, the sky was already tinged with the colors of sunset.

After being told many interesting stories about the winter hunt by Anar, Su Yaoyao leaned on Xiao Chenyuan's shoulder, her voice languid.

"Your Highness."

"Um."

Do you think Father Emperor will agree?

Xiao Chenyuan looked down at her: "You call me that quite naturally."

Su Yaoyao blinked, not blushing, but instead said confidently, "I'll have to call you sooner or later."

Xiao Chenyuan raised the corners of his lips slightly, but said nothing.

After a long pause, he spoke: "I will agree."

Why?

"Because I haven't made any requests of him in a long time," Xiao Chenyuan said calmly, "he won't refuse..."

Su Yaoyao raised her head and looked at him.

The setting sun cast a warm glow on his profile, gilding his cool and aloof features.

He didn't show much expression, but his words seemed to conceal a lot of past she didn't know.

She didn't ask.

She simply leaned back on his shoulder and took his hand.

"That's good."