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

After the news of the Crown Prince's "unconsciousness" spread, there were more spies at the gate of the Eastern Palace than sparrows in the snow.

As the future Crown Princess, Su Yaoyao naturally moved into the East Palace, since the East Palace couldn't function without someone in charge.

In fact—

"Your Highness."

Su Yaoyao nestled against Xiao Chenyuan's chest, her hands idly stroking his body; the feel of his skin was wonderful.

"When do you plan to close in on those spies outside?"

Xiao Chenyuan grasped her mischievous fingers, kissed them, and said, "Wait a little longer."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Wait until everyone who's supposed to jump jumps does."

Su Yaoyao rolled over and sat down beside him, looking up at the tent ceiling: "So how long are you going to keep up this 'unconscious' act?"

Xiao Chenyuan turned to the side, propping his head up as he looked at her: "What's wrong, are you annoyed?"

"How could that be?" Su Yaoyao rolled over and lay on top of him, looking down at him. "I was afraid that if Your Highness continued to 'faint,' those people outside would think you were dying."

Xiao Chenyuan raised an eyebrow: "No way?"

His voice was deep and carried a hint of danger.

Su Yaoyao sensed something was wrong and tried to run away, but he grabbed her waist.

"I can't go alone," he whispered in her ear, his breath hot on her earlobe, "Doesn't Madam know?"

Su Yaoyao reached out and pressed her hand against his face: "I don't know. Isn't Your Highness currently 'unconscious'? Unconscious people can't be moved."

Xiao Chenyuan paused.

Su Yaoyao smiled slyly, climbed off him, wrapped herself in the blanket, and rolled to the inside of the bed.

"Your Highness, please rest and recover well," she said through the blanket. "Don't move around too much."

Xiao Chenyuan looked at the bulging blanket and smiled helplessly.

That girl holds a grudge.

It's been three full days since I returned from the winter hunt.

He didn't even get a proper kiss.

Every time he tried to get closer, she would block him with "His Highness is unconscious."

If he insists on having sex despite being "unconscious," she'll accuse him of faking illness to deceive her, and that they haven't settled the score yet.

This was the first time Xiao Chenyuan realized that his Yaoyao was so difficult to coax.

"Yaoyao." He leaned in and hugged her through the blanket.

The blanket shifted slightly, but he ignored it.

"Yaoyao, I truly know I was wrong. You can't... keep me from touching you forever..."

A gap appeared in the blanket, and an eye peered through it at him: "This is your punishment. You're not allowed to touch me for a week."

"When will Your Highness learn not to treat your life so lightly? When will you give it to me again?"

The eye blinked, then shrank back into itself.

Xiao Chenyuan sighed and continued to coax, "I'll tell you everything from now on, I won't hide anything from you."

The blanket didn't react.

"I guarantee it."

Still no response.

Xiao Chenyuan moved closer to her, his nightgown slipping down to reveal a large expanse of his chest and abs: "Yaoyao, don't torture me..."

The blanket shifted.

A hand reached out from under the covers and beckoned to him.

Xiao Chenyuan leaned closer.

The hand gripped his chin and turned it from side to side, like a madam inspecting a new girl.

"Your Highness," a muffled voice came from under the covers, "are you trying to seduce me?"

Xiao Chenyuan was taken aback.

Su Yaoyao crawled out from under the covers, her hair disheveled, but a sly smile on her face:

"Using this to exchange for a kiss? When did Your Highness learn this trick?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"Should we change it or not?"

Su Yaoyao tilted her head and thought for a moment, then leaned over and quickly pecked his lips, then patted his abs.

"Change."

Xiao Chenyuan's eyes darkened, and he was about to deepen the kiss when Su Yaoyao retreated and wrapped herself tightly in the blanket.

"alright."

Xiao Chenyuan: "..."

He took a deep breath and endured it.

We'll settle the score slowly.

Just as I was about to say something, Ling Feng's voice came from outside.

"Your Highness, the officials have arrived."

"Go ahead," Su Yaoyao nudged him, "Business is more important."

Xiao Chenyuan sighed and reluctantly got up.

After putting on his outer robe, he turned to look at her: "Don't run around."

"Okay."

"Do not leave the inner palace."

"Okay."

"Wait for me to come back."

Su Yaoyao waved at him: "Go on, stop nagging."

Watching him get out of bed, change into a set of black casual clothes, he once again adopted that aloof and noble prince demeanor.

Who would have thought that this person was just now coaxing someone in bed in a humble voice?

"What are you looking at?" Xiao Chenyuan turned around.

Su Yaoyao rested her chin on her hand, her eyes crinkling with laughter: "Look at the handsome man."

Looking at her carefree attitude, Xiao Chenyuan shook his head helplessly and turned to leave.

---

The bedchamber fell silent.

Su Yaoyao lay down for a while, then got bored and got up to wander around the palace.

The Eastern Palace's sleeping quarters were simpler than she had imagined, without any fancy decorations. However, the bookshelves were piled high with books, mostly Buddhist scriptures and historical records.

She casually picked up a book and flipped through it. There were annotations by Xiao Chenyuan on the pages, his handwriting elegant and refined, which warmed her heart.

The person is good-looking, the handwriting is beautiful, and the hand that writes... is also easy to use!

She put the book back and went behind the screen again.

My gaze fell on a sandalwood box in the corner.

The box wasn't large, but its craftsmanship was exquisite, adorned with a lotus scroll pattern and a pure silver clasp. Placed in a corner, it was inconspicuous, yet somehow it gave off a sense of…importance.

She walked over, squatted down, and reached out to touch it.

It's unlocked?

She paused for a moment, hesitated, and then opened the lid of the box.

On top is a piece of cloth folded neatly.

Moon white color, excellent material.

Su Yaoyao unfolded it and took a look—

Her face flushed red instantly.

It's that bed sheet.

That night at the villa on the outskirts of Beijing, the bed sheet stained with fallen blood.

He actually kept it? And folded it neatly in the box?

Su Yaoyao held the piece of cloth, her mind buzzing.

This person...this person...

She took a deep breath, folded the sheet and put it back, then continued to roll down the bed.

Below was a handkerchief, which she recognized as the one she had left with him sometime during a previous encounter.

Below that—

Su Yaoyao was stunned.

It's a light purple... little top!

Su Yaoyao's eyes widened.

Isn't this the one she lost before?!

So he took it!

Su Yaoyao held the little garment, feeling both annoyed and amused.

He really is a hypocrite!

What aloof Buddhist monk, what abstinence from women—how can he have such a fetish? He's clearly a repressed pervert!

—They even stole her undergarments!

It also has a faint sandalwood scent.

Images suddenly flashed through her mind—this man holding her undergarments at night, and then…

She bit her lip, picked up the bodice and looked at it, feeling both ashamed and angry. Just as she was about to put it back, she suddenly touched something hard underneath.

It is a jade pendant.

It has a white jade texture and a warm, smooth feel.

She turned it over and saw that the back was a night-blooming cereus.

Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat.

She had seen this jade pendant before.

Not long ago, it was in He Qing's hands. He said it was a peace charm from Xiliang and wanted to give it to her, but she refused.

How did I end up here with Xiao Chenyuan?

No! It's not the same piece! The pattern on one side is wrong; it looks like a complete jade pendant was cut into two pieces!

Just then, I heard footsteps behind me.

"Graceful".

Xiao Chenyuan's voice rang out, then paused.

Su Yaoyao turned around and met his gaze.

Their gazes fell simultaneously on the mauve-colored bodice in her hand.

Xiao Chenyuan: "…………"

Su Yaoyao: "......"

The air fell silent for a moment.

Xiao Chenyuan's ear tips turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Um..." He was unusually embarrassed, "Yaoyao, let me explain—"

Su Yaoyao was initially shy, but upon seeing his expression, she suddenly stopped feeling shy.

She waved her bodice in front of him, smiling mischievously: "Your Highness, what is this?"

Xiao Chenyuan's Adam's apple bobbed, but he remained silent.

"And this—" She picked up the bed sheet again, "Your Highness packed it up quite neatly."

Xiao Chenyuan's ears turned red all the way to his neck.

Su Yaoyao was overjoyed to see him like this.

But she didn't continue teasing him. Instead, she picked up the jade pendant and became serious.

"Your Highness," she said, "I've seen this jade pendant before."

Xiao Chenyuan's expression froze for a moment.

Su Yaoyao stared into his eyes, saying each word clearly: "Heqing wanted to give me one before, but I didn't accept it. Yours, and that one—"

She paused, her voice very soft:

"Are they a couple?"