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

Just now in the palace, in his moment of passion, he put the small garment that had fallen to the ground on Su Yun'er. What flashed through his mind was Su Yaoyao's soaked face, her tearful eyes looking at him, and her words, "Yaoyao does not wish to take away what another loves"...

But the person in his arms was Su Yun'er.

The shock of that moment and the nausea he felt after regaining consciousness made him want to vomit whenever he saw Su Yun'er.

"Mother..." Xiao Qiming said in a hoarse voice, wanting to explain, but not knowing where to begin.

Consort Chen ignored her completely, turning to the Empress and forcing a smile: "Sister, there must be some misunderstanding today. Qiming must have had too much to drink and was seduced by this shameless girl..."

"Your Highness!" Marquis Yongning exclaimed urgently, "Yun'er is always well-mannered and would never do such a thing! It must be...it must be someone framing her!"

As he spoke, he also looked at Su Yaoyao.

Su Yaoyao sneered inwardly.

What a father.

Even now, you still want to throw dirty water on her?

She lowered her eyelashes, her voice trembling slightly: "Father... what do you mean by that? Do you also think that I'm the one who harmed my sister?"

She raised her eyes, her eyes already slightly red, but she held back her tears: "Although my daughter and sister are not born of the same mother, they grew up together since childhood. How could my daughter have ever harmed her in the slightest? Today's events... my daughter is also heartbroken."

His aggrieved yet stubbornly strong appearance evoked pity in many people.

Yes, Miss Su is the real victim! Her fiancé and half-sister were having an affair, and she didn't cry or make a scene—that's already quite magnanimous. The Marquis of Yongning's favoritism is just too obvious!

The Marquis of Yongning's face stiffened under the gazes of the crowd. He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

At this moment, the queen, who had been silent all along, slowly spoke:

"There's no point in saying more now that things have come to this."

Her gaze swept over the limp Su Yun'er, then looked at Xiao Qiming, and finally landed on Consort Chen's face:

"Since the Second Prince and the Second Miss Su have already had physical intimacy, in order to preserve the royal family's reputation and the young lady's honor, I think... it would be better to grant them their wish."

These words, though spoken gently, were like a thunderclap!

To grant a wish?

How can we make it happen?

Xiao Qiming is already engaged, and his fiancée is the legitimate daughter of the Su family! Should the legitimate daughter give way to her half-sister? Or should the half-sister become a concubine?

But if she becomes a concubine... Today's incident has caused such a big fuss, Su Yun'er has already lost her reputation, how will she face people in the future?

Consort Chen's expression shifted, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Sister, Qiming's marriage was personally bestowed by His Majesty. How can it be changed so easily? Besides..."

She looked at Su Yaoyao with a complicated expression: "Su Yaoyao is the legitimate daughter."

"So what if she's a legitimate daughter?"

The Empress spoke calmly, her tone carrying an undeniable authority.

"When His Majesty bestowed this marriage, he didn't say there couldn't be any changes. Now, the Second Prince and Miss Su have fallen deeply in love and done such a thing. If we don't give an explanation, what will become of the royal family's reputation? What will become of the Su family's reputation?"

She paused, then looked at Marquis Yongning: "What does Your Excellency think?"

Marquis Yongning's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

What could he say?

Say no? Then Yun'er's life is ruined!

"Okay? What about Yaoyao? How will we explain this to the Grand Tutor's mansion?"

Just as she was in a dilemma, Su Yaoyao suddenly stepped forward and curtsied:

"Your Majesty the Empress."

All eyes were on her.

She looked up, her eyes filled with tears, but she forced a broken smile:

"This humble woman...is willing to grant my sister's wish to marry the Second Prince."

An uproar ensued!

Xiao Qiming suddenly looked up, staring at her in disbelief.

Su Yaoyao continued, her voice soft yet firm:

"I do not know the reason for today's events, but since my sister and the Second Prince have already consummated their marriage, if I were to continue to hold onto this engagement, I would become the villain who breaks up lovers."

She looked at Xiao Qiming, tears finally falling, but her smile became even gentler:

"Your Highness and my sister are in love, and I, your humble servant, offer my sincere blessings."

After speaking, she took off a jade pendant from her waist and presented it with both hands:

"This jade pendant was a token bestowed upon us by His Majesty during our engagement. Today... it is being returned to its rightful owner."

She placed the jade pendant at Xiao Qiming's feet, then turned and bowed deeply to the Empress:

"I humbly beg Your Majesty to grant me the right to dissolve my engagement with the Second Prince. I... am willing to devote myself to Buddhism and pray for the royal family from now on."

The room fell silent upon hearing this.

Several soft-hearted noble ladies had already begun to wipe away tears.

What a wonderful girl!

Betrayed by her fiancé and half-sister, she is still so magnanimous and forgiving! She is even willing to become a nun to pray for blessings!

Looking at the jade pendant at his feet and at Su Yaoyao's resolute back, Xiao Qiming suddenly felt a huge emptiness in his heart.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but Consort Chen grabbed his arm.

Consort Chen stared at Su Yaoyao, her eyes sharp as knives: "Miss Su, are you serious?"

"Absolutely true." Su Yaoyao lowered her eyes.

"Very well!" Consort Chen readily agreed. "Since Miss Su is so understanding and righteous, I will certainly inform His Majesty and grant your request!"

Although she was reluctant to part with the powerful Taifu family, after seeing Su Yaoyao today, she realized that Su Yaoyao and the Empress were probably already in cahoots. If she were to marry her son, she would not only fail to gain any support, but might also cause a lot of trouble!

As for Su Yun'er? A disgraced concubine's daughter, giving her the title of a secondary consort is a good way to appease her and also win over the Yongning Marquis's family. It's not a bad deal!

The Empress watched this scene with a look of satisfaction in her eyes.

She stepped forward to help Su Yaoyao up and said softly, "Good child, I'm sorry you had to go through this. But there's no need to mention becoming a nun again. As for your marriage... I have other plans."

These words are quite meaningful.

The group exchanged bewildered glances, each with their own speculations.

Su Yaoyao nestled in the Empress's arms and sobbed softly.

But from an angle where no one could see him, he looked up at Su Yun'er, who was lying on the ground.

Eyes facing each other.

Su Yun'er's eyes were filled with resentment and despair.

Su Yaoyao gave her a slight smile.

Say it silently with your mouth:

"Little sister, do you like this wonderful gift?"

Su Yun'er trembled all over, her vision went black, and she finally fainted completely.

In the chaos, no one noticed—

In the shadows at the other end of the corridor, a cool and aloof figure stood quietly.

Xiao Chenyuan looked at the woman who was "crying" in the Empress's arms, at her slightly trembling shoulders, and at her tightly clenched fingertips in her sleeves, which revealed a hint of coldness.

He twirled the empty space on his wrist, where there should have been a string of Buddhist prayer beads.

A moment later, he turned and left.

The night breeze carried his almost inaudible whisper:

"An ancient Buddha and a solitary lamp?"

"Someone like you..."

Even Buddha himself probably wouldn't dare accept it.