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

When Xiao Chenyuan returned to the East Palace, it was already very late at night.

He still carried the chill of the outside dew, his moon-white robes damp with moisture. He stood under the corridor for a while, waiting for the chill to dissipate before gently pushing open the door to the bedroom.

One candle was left lit, its dim yellow light casting a halo over the curtains.

The person on the bed was huddled under the covers, with only a section of long, black hair showing.

Xiao Chenyuan's agitation subsided, and he quietly removed his outer robe, preparing to get into bed—

"Where has Your Highness gone?"

A lazy sound came from inside the bed curtains.

Xiao Chenyuan paused.

He lifted the curtain and saw Su Yaoyao lying on her side, one hand supporting her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

He looked anything but sleepy.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" He sat down on the edge of the bed.

Su Yaoyao moved over to make room for him, but she still stared at him.

"I can't sleep without His Highness." She looked up at him. "Tell me, where did you go?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her accusing expression and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"I have met He Qing."

Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow.

"Your Highness is quite frank this time."

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

"As promised, I won't lie to you."

He lay down in the blankets and naturally pulled the person into his arms.

The person in his arms was warm, with the temperature of someone who had just woken up, and that familiar scent that he could smell even with his eyes closed.

He buried his face in her hair and took a deep breath.

Su Yaoyao let him hold her, and only after he had held her enough did she poke his chest.

"What did you talk about?" she asked.

Xiao Chenyuan remained silent for a moment, then told her everything that had happened that night.

He Qing's background, the events of that year, the origin of the two jade tablets, and the Empress Dowager's purpose—

Su Yaoyao was shocked, but remained outwardly calm.

"So," she lifted her head from his embrace, "he really is your cousin?"

"Um."

"Why didn't you say so before?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her with a complicated expression.

"There are some things... I only learned tonight."

Su Yaoyao felt a lump in her throat as she recalled the past events he had mentioned.

Because her mother missed her chance to escape while trying to save Heqing, she was taken back to Yongjing and imprisoned in the deep palace ever since, until finally...

She didn't think any further, but simply hugged Xiao Chenyuan even tighter.

Xiao Chenyuan sensed her movement and looked down at her.

He took the jade pendant from his pocket and handed it to her.

Su Yaoyao glanced at it but didn't take it.

"Why are you giving this to me?" she asked.

Xiao Chenyuan placed the jade token into her hand.

"Keep it."

Su Yaoyao looked down at the jade pendant in her palm, then looked up at him.

"Didn't you say the Empress Dowager was also looking for this? Why are you giving me so many dangerous things?"

Xiao Chenyuan grasped her hand, holding it along with the jade pendant in his palm.

"It's alright, I've already made arrangements. I'll give it to you next time, so just keep it. These two are definitely a perfect match, and this thing might protect you in a crucial moment."

Su Yaoyao looked at him and understood what he meant.

She suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for the man.

She's clearly a jealous person, but she pretends to be magnanimous and indifferent.

"Xiao Chenyuan," she called him by his full name.

"Um?"

Aren't you jealous?

Xiao Chenyuan was stunned for a moment.

"You let me keep things that other men give me, aren't you jealous?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her and remained silent for a moment.

"Eat." His voice was a little muffled.

Su Yaoyao smiled.

"Then why did you let me accept it?"

Xiao Chenyuan pulled her closer to his chest, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"Yaoyao," he said, his voice low, "as long as I can protect you, I..."

He paused, as if he were struggling with himself.

Su Yaoyao waited for him to continue.

"I..." He paused again, then suddenly tightened his arms, holding her even closer.

"No!"

Su Yaoyao was struggling to breathe from his grip, but then she heard him muffledly say above her head:

"Yaoyao, you're mine!"

Her voice carried a hint of grievance, a hint of stubbornness, and something else she herself couldn't quite explain.

"I can't live without you." His voice was even lower. "So... even if it's something that can protect you, I don't want it to be given to me by someone else."

Su Yaoyao's heart melted.

She broke free from his embrace, cupped his face in her hands, and looked at him.

"Xiao Chenyuan".

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her, and there was a vulnerability in his phoenix eyes that she had never seen before.

Su Yaoyao leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

"His Highness has protected him very well."

Xiao Chenyuan remained silent.

Su Yaoyao kissed him again.

"Really. You protected her very well."

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

"Not enough," he said in a low, hoarse voice. "Never enough."

He looked up at her.

In the dim light, those phoenix eyes shone with an astonishing light, churning with emotions she couldn't decipher—possessiveness, obsession, and a hint of... vulnerability.

Su Yaoyao suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

She leaned in and kissed his lips.

The kiss was light and gentle, devoid of any passion, only filled with comfort and tenderness.

Xiao Chenyuan was stunned for a moment, then took the initiative and kissed him back deeply.

His hand clasped behind her head, while his other arm encircled her waist, pulling her tightly into his embrace. The kiss was deep and fierce, as if he wanted to melt all the unspoken words into it.

Su Yaoyao was dizzy from his kiss, and her hands unconsciously climbed onto his shoulders.

The kiss moved from the lips to the cheek, to the earlobe, to the neck—

Xiao Chenyuan's breathing grew heavier and heavier, and his hands began to wander.

"Yaoyao..." he called to her in a hoarse voice.

Su Yaoyao felt weak all over from his teasing, but then she suddenly remembered something.

"Hey!" she pushed him. "No!"

Xiao Chenyuan paused.

"My period hasn't ended yet!" Su Yaoyao said matter-of-factly.

Xiao Chenyuan: "..."

He looked down at her innocent face, then at his own predicament, and took a deep breath.

Then, he pulled the person into his arms and hugged them tightly.

"I'll just hug you," he said in a muffled voice. "I didn't mean to do anything."

Su Yaoyao leaned against him and felt that a certain part of him was indeed... very energetic.

She couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"What are you laughing at?" Xiao Chenyuan looked down and glared at her.

"It's nothing." Su Yaoyao buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking with laughter. "I just feel... Your Highness is really pitiful."

Xiao Chenyuan: "..."

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"sleep."

Su Yaoyao deliberately rubbed against him.

"Yaoyao," he called her name as if in warning.

Su Yaoyao immediately became obedient and nestled quietly in his arms.

"Okay, okay, I'm not moving anymore."

Xiao Chenyuan looked down at her, feeling both annoyed and amused.

"You did it on purpose."

Su Yaoyao blinked, looking completely innocent: "No, I didn't."

Xiao Chenyuan didn't say anything, but simply hugged her tighter.

The two of them held each other quietly, neither of them saying a word.

Nestled in his arms, Su Yaoyao was drifting off to sleep when she suddenly heard him whisper something in her ear:

"Yaoyao, you are alone."

She gave a mumbled "hmm" and snuggled closer to him.

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his head and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Always."

"Go to sleep."

Su Yaoyao hummed in agreement and obediently closed her eyes.

But after a while, she opened her eyes again.

"Your Highness."

"What's wrong now?"

Su Yaoyao leaned close to his ear and whispered:

"I'll make it up to you properly after my period ends."

Xiao Chenyuan's body stiffened.

"Are you going to sleep or not?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Su Yaoyao smiled like a fox who had stolen some fish, snuggled back into his arms, and obediently closed her eyes.

This time she really fell asleep.

Xiao Chenyuan looked at the peaceful sleeping face in his arms and sighed helplessly.

This girl.

She'll drive me crazy sooner or later.

He pulled her closer to him and closed his eyes.