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

The night is deep.

In a secluded courtyard somewhere in the capital, only one lamp was lit.

The dim light illuminated two tall figures sitting opposite each other.

Xiao Chenyuan sat by the window, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, his black hair half-tied up, his aura as cool and aloof as ever.

On the low table in front of him sat a pot of tea and two cups; the tea had long since gone cold and no one had touched it.

He Qing still had that alluring and seductive look—a crimson robe hung loosely on her body, and her right shoulder, wrapped in gauze, could be vaguely seen. Her long hair was loose, with only a few strands loosely tied up with a jade hairpin.

The bright red beauty mark at the corner of her eye looked vivid and lifelike in the candlelight.

His complexion was a bit paler than usual.

The injury hasn't fully healed yet.

The two sat there, one as aloof as jade, the other as alluring as smoke.

Silence spread through the dimly lit room.

After a long silence, He Qing spoke first.

"Cousin."

He used that name with a hint of amusement in his tone.

"Calling the wounded out in the middle of the night just for tea?"

He picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and frowned slightly: "It's still cold."

Xiao Chenyuan looked at him,

"How's the injury?"

He Qing raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Are you concerned about me?"

Xiao Chenyuan didn't reply, he just looked at him.

He Qing stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

There was a hint of bitterness, a touch of self-mockery, and something else in that smile.

"It's rare to see someone as dignified as His Highness the Crown Prince showing concern for others."

Xiao Chenyuan spoke calmly, "I owe you a life, so I have to ask you about it."

He Qing's smile faltered for a moment.

Then, he lowered his eyes, and the smile on his lips became complicated.

"It's not something you owe me." His gaze fell on the flickering candlelight. "It's something I owe my aunt."

Xiao Chenyuan remained silent, the candlelight flickering and reflecting on his face, obscuring his expression.

After a long while, He Qing finally spoke, her voice seeming to drift from a great distance.

"You know, right? My father is your mother's older brother."

Xiao Chenyuan's fingertips twitched almost imperceptibly.

He Qing stared at the cold teacup on the table and continued speaking.

"Back when the Liang Kingdom was still in existence, he was a prince of Liang, but he fell in love with the empress of Xiliang and fled to Xiliang. Your mother... was the only one who supported him at that time."

He paused, a smile playing on his lips: "Speaking of which, that's how I got half of my Xiliang bloodline."

Xiao Chenyuan listened quietly.

"When I was a child, he took me back to Liang to visit my aunt." He Qing's gaze drifted away. "That time, we happened to run into the iron hooves of Yong."

Xiao Chenyuan knew what would happen next.

He had heard it countless times.

But when He Qing said it, it felt different.

"The Liang Kingdom fell, rivers of blood flowed. That day, my aunt had a chance to escape, but she..."

He looked down at his hands.

"The people of Yong captured me and offered me in exchange for her. Without hesitation, she rushed over, embraced me, and shielded me with her own body..."

Silence descended once more.

After a long while, He Qing opened her eyes and looked at Xiao Chenyuan.

"My aunt traded her freedom for my life." His voice was very soft.

"So I took that arrow to repay her."

"It's also to repay you," He Qing added.

Xiao Chenyuan looked at him.

He Qing met his gaze; the usual frivolity was gone from those peach blossom eyes, replaced only by a calm.

"I know how many things you've investigated over the years, I know how much you've carried on all by yourself..."

"I hate Emperor Yong, I hate the Empress Dowager, but you..."

He suddenly laughed.

"You're my cousin, and you're my aunt's only bloodline. If she were still alive, we would definitely be very good brothers..."

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his eyes and remained silent.

The candlelight flickered between the two men, casting their shadows on the wall like two silent stone statues.

After a long pause, Xiao Chenyuan spoke.

"Where's the jade pendant?"

He Qing raised an eyebrow, took out the white jade from his bosom, and placed it on the table.

Xiao Chenyuan also took out his own.

The two jade plaques are placed side by side, their patterns fitting perfectly together, forming a complete epiphyllum flower.

Under the candlelight, the epiphyllum flower looked lifelike, as if it might bloom at any moment.

He Qing said, his gaze falling on the epiphyllum flower, "My father has been searching for the secret treasure of Liang Kingdom all these years."

Xiao Chenyuan frowned slightly as he looked at the intact jade tablet.

"What secret treasure?"

He Qing shook his head.

"He didn't know, and neither did I. All I know is that this jade tablet contains the last thing the Liang Kingdom possessed."

He paused, then looked at Xiao Chenyuan.

"The Empress Dowager knew about this. One of her purposes in orchestrating the destruction of the Liang dynasty was this."

Xiao Chenyuan's gaze darkened. "So, she came back this time..."

"It's not just about dealing with you," He Qing interrupted him. "Her time is running out."

Xiao Chenyuan looked at him.

A cryptic smile appeared on He Qing's lips.

"She's getting old. If she doesn't get what she wants now, she'll never have another chance in her life."

Xiao Chenyuan remained silent for a moment.

"Do you know what she wants?"

He Qing shook his head.

"I don't know. Nobody knows..."

He Qing pushed the jade pendant forward, "I don't have much else to give, but I have a vague feeling that she'll need this..."

A hint of sadness flashed in his eyes. "I gave it to her last time, but she wouldn't accept it... Could you help me give it to her?"

"If you want to deliver it, go deliver it yourself." Xiao Chenyuan looked at him, his voice calm.

"Now that you've repaid your debt, live well."

He took a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

"This was prescribed by the imperial physician; it's good for your injury."

He Qing stared at the porcelain bottle, momentarily stunned.

He then laughed.

That smile held a hint of surprise, a touch of complexity.

"Your Highness, what is this...?" He picked up the porcelain vase and toyed with it in his hands, "...for my own good?"

Xiao Chenyuan ignored him.

"Your poison... I'll find a way to get rid of it."

He Qing paused for a moment.

He raised his head and looked at Xiao Chenyuan, a serious look appearing in his peach blossom eyes for the first time.

"Cousin," he called out, but the playfulness from before was gone. "You know what I want."

Xiao Chenyuan looked at him.

Their eyes met in the dim candlelight; one was as cold as frost, the other as complex as the sea.

Xiao Chenyuan spoke, his voice turning colder, "She is my life, and you can't take her away. I won't give you that chance either."

He Qing smiled.

That smile contained bitterness, self-deprecation, and a hint of resigned acceptance.

"I know..." he said, "I know."

He tucked the porcelain bottle into his sleeve and stood up.

He suddenly stopped at the door.

There was no turning back.

"Cousin."

"Um."

"Be nicer to her."

Xiao Chenyuan did not answer.

He Qing continued, her voice very soft, almost like a sigh:

"Otherwise... I'll still come and try to take it."

He pushed open the door and disappeared into the night.

Xiao Chenyuan sat there, staring at the closed door for a long time.

---

In another courtyard.

He Cong stood by the window, looking in the direction of the East Palace, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

Behind him, a man in black whispered a report:

"The young master... went to see the crown prince again."

He Cong remained silent.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

"Brother," he said softly, his voice as cold as the winter wind, "how long are you going to protect her?"

After a long while, he turned and walked into the shadows.

"Get ready."

"It's time to reply to the Empress Dowager."

"Master! But the young master said..."

"Get lost! My brother didn't say anything when he drugged that Su guy, what are you afraid of!"