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

With the wedding just days away, the entrance to the Yongning Marquis's residence was bustling with activity once again.

This isn't a betrothal gift, it's a dowry.

Ladies and young ladies from various mansions in the capital lined up to come, some with genuine intentions, some to curry favor, and some simply to watch the spectacle.

In Su Yaoyao's boudoir, gifts were piled up like a small mountain. Chuntao and several maids were busy registering and storing them.

Su Yaoyao leaned back on the soft couch, looked at the mountain of brocade boxes, and sighed.

"If I had known that getting married would be this troublesome, I wouldn't have gotten married."

Old Madam Jiang gave Su Yaoyao a sharp rap on the head.

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

Su Yaoyao rubbed her head, looking aggrieved.

"Grandma, I was just kidding..."

Old Madam Jiang glared at her, then turned around and smiled broadly as she went to greet the ladies and young women.

Jiang Wan Ning walked in carrying a brocade box. "Cousin, I've come to add to your dowry! I've been saving this for a long time!"

Su Yaoyao took it and opened it. Inside was a pair of ruby ​​earrings, as red as pigeon blood, shining brightly in the sunlight.

"Beautiful!" she exclaimed.

Jiang Wan Ning smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"I knew my cousin would like it!"

Just then, a hearty laugh came from outside.

"Make way! Make way! I'm coming!"

Anar rushed in, followed by two maids from the Northern Desert carrying a large box.

"Little sister!" She hugged Su Yaoyao tightly. "I've come to help you with your makeup!"

Su Yaoyao was choked so tightly she could hardly breathe, so she patted her back.

"Relax, loosen your grip..."

Anar released her, her eyes sparkling.

"Look what I brought you!"

With a wave of her hand, two maids opened the box.

Su Yaoyao peeked out and was stunned.

The box was full, with several glossy furs on top—snow-white fox fur, fiery red mink fur, and a piece of shiny black fur of unknown origin.

"This is for you to wear as a scarf!" Anar said, pointing to the fox fur. "This is for you to wear as a cloak!" She then pointed to the mink fur. "This one is wolf fur; it'll be very warm to put on the couch!"

Before Su Yaoyao could thank her, Anar pulled another cloth bag from the box and stuffed it into her arms.

"And this too! I specifically asked them to source it from the Northern Desert!"

Su Yaoyao opened the cloth bag and froze.

Inside was a stack of...books?

The cover has no words, only a picture of a pair of mandarin ducks with their necks intertwined.

She turned to a page,

Oh wow!!!

Anar leaned closer, pointed to the pictures in the book, and explained them in a serious tone.

"We're from the Northern Desert! Look at this painting! How exquisite! How varied the poses! How precise the details! It's far superior to the more subtle works of your Central Plains artists!"

"Look, this is the first move, called Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine."

This is the second move, called Phoenix Facing the Sun.

This is the third move, it's called—

"Alright, alright!" Su Yaoyao slammed the book shut.

"I see!"

Anar blinked.

"You understood it? So quickly?"

Su Yaoyao: "......"

Could she say she had seen far more than this in her past life?

No.

Anar thought she was shy, so he patted her on the shoulder and spoke earnestly.

"Little sister, don't be shy. Our mothers always teach us these things before we get married. Your mother passed away early, so no one taught you, and I'm teaching you in her place."

Su Yaoyao felt a warmth in her heart.

Anar continued, "Let me tell you, after you get married, you'll be doing 'that' with the Crown Prince. Even though you've already done it, it can't hurt to learn more! Who knows, you might unlock some new tricks?"

Su Yaoyao: "......"

Anar continued, "Oh dear! These are the most basic ones. These are the advanced ones. These—"

Anar pulled out an even thicker book and handed it to her.

"This is my most treasured book! You can have this one too. The parts inside are even more amazing."

Su Yaoyao looked down.

The cover emblazoned with the words "108 Styles of XXXX". (Author's note: Remember this book; it'll be on the test later!)

"This is for experienced users, but you might find it useful!"

Old Madam Jiang stood aside, looking down at herself, pretending not to see anything.

Jiang Wan Ning curiously leaned closer.

"Cousin, what book is that?"

Su Yaoyao quickly stuffed the bundle under the quilt.

"It's nothing! Kids shouldn't watch it!"

She took a deep breath and silently accepted it.

Fine.

Anyway, it'll come in handy.

Then it occurred to me, Anar has already seen it all...

that……

Oh no, I can't think about that anymore. I'll have to ask the matrons in the manor to give my brother some extra nourishment later...

"What are you thinking with that sly smile?" Anar asked, tilting her head.

"No, it's nothing. Your drawing is actually quite good!"

Anar's eyes lit up.

"Right, right!"

Su Yaoyao flipped through the pages again and nodded.

"This pose is a bit difficult."

Anar came closer.

"Which one? Oh, this one, this requires good flexibility and strong arms from the opponent. The Crown Prince should be fine—"

"Anar!"

The two of them burst into laughter and playful banter.

Having had her fill of commotion, Anar leaned back on the soft couch, sipping her tea.

"Oh, by the way," she said, "my brother asked me to pass on a message to you."

Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow.

"What did you say?"

Anar cleared her throat and mimicked Ashina Lie's tone.

"Tell Miss Su that if the Crown Prince dares to bully you, she can come to me. The gates of the Northern Desert are always open to her—hey, don't glare at me, I'm just delivering a message!"

Su Yaoyao smiled.

"Your brother is quite persistent."

Anar waved her hand.

"Ignore him. He's just saying it; he's already given up in his heart. He's been hanging out with Xie Yu every day these past few days; I don't know what they have to talk about."

Su Yaoyao couldn't help but smile when she thought of those two people.

"They get along really well."

"What kind of connection are you talking about? Just two heartbroken drunkards." Anar rolled her eyes. "By the way, where's your... your brother?"

Su Yaoyao looked at her.

"Do you miss him?"

Anar blushed.

"Who, who's thinking about it! It's him, he's been avoiding me lately!"

Su Yaoyao smiled, "My brother has been busy preparing my dowry these past few days, so please don't blame him."

"I...I know...I...I didn't say anything..." The girl who was just pointing out the fire-avoidance diagram was now shy.

"Hmm..." Su Yaoyao stroked her chin, "My brother should be in the storeroom right now. There's so much stuff, I wonder if anyone can help him. Sigh..."

"Really?! I'm really strong now!! Wow!!"

After saying that, he ran off in a hurry.

Anar had just left when someone else arrived.

Su Yaoyao looked up and saw a cold figure standing at the door.

Chu Qingzi.

Today she wore a moon-white dress, with only a white magnolia in her hair, making her look as elegant as if she had stepped out of a painting.

"Sister Chu?" Su Yaoyao stood up. "What brings you here?"

Chu Qingzi walked in, carrying an exquisite brocade box in her hands.

"Here, I'll add some makeup for you," she said, handing over the brocade box.

Su Yaoyao took it, opened it, and was stunned.

Inside was a white jade hairpin.

The jade is warm and lustrous, and the carving is exquisite. The hairpin head is a budding epiphyllum flower.

"This..." She looked up.

Chu Qingzi looked at her with gentle eyes.

"This is the design I drew myself, and someone made it," she said. "I'm giving it to you as part of your dowry."

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Su Yaoyao's heart.

This hairpin is extremely valuable.

It's not the kind of preciousness that comes from money, but rather... that indescribable feeling of being cared for.

"Sister Chu," she whispered, "you're so good to me."

Chu Qingzi smiled.

The smile was faint, yet exceptionally gentle.

"Of course," she said.

Su Yaoyao looked at her and suddenly asked.

"Sister Chu, what exactly are you...?"

Chu Qingzi interrupted her.

"Don't ask," she said. "You'll find out later."

Su Yaoyao was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"it is good."

Chu Qingzi looked at her, then suddenly reached out and gently stroked her cheek.

The movements were as gentle as if they were handling some fragile treasure.

"You must take good care of yourself," she said. "You absolutely must take good care of yourself."

Su Yaoyao was stunned.

Chu Qingzi withdrew her hand and turned to walk out.

She stopped abruptly as she reached the doorway.

"That woman," she said softly, "is still unconscious. But the doctor said she'll wake up."

Su Yaoyao knew who she was talking about—the girl kept by the Empress Dowager.

"You should be careful too," she said.

Chu Qingzi nodded, pushed open the door, and went out.

Su Yaoyao stood there, looking at the white jade hairpin in her hand, her heart filled with indescribable emotions.

Who exactly is this person?

---

People came in droves to add to the makeup, and they didn't gradually disperse until the sun began to set.

Su Yaoyao was so exhausted that she collapsed on the soft couch, not even wanting to move a finger.

"It's finally over..." she murmured.

Chuntao massaged her shoulders from the side.

"Miss, there's one last batch."

Su Yaoyao let out a wail.

"besides?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a commotion arose outside.

"Oh my god..."

"Who sent this?"

"Ten cartloads! A full ten cartloads!"

Su Yaoyao got up and walked to the window to look outside.

Then she froze.

In the courtyard, boxes were being carried in one after another.

Ten large carts lined up from the entrance of the Marquis's residence all the way to the street corner, stretching as far as the eye could see.

The box was opened, revealing a dazzling array of rare treasures—corals from the South China Sea, gems from the Western Regions, pearls, jade, agate, and cat's-eye stones.

"This is..." Old Madam Jiang was also stunned. "Who sent it?"

The manager came running in, covered in sweat.

"Reporting to Madam, this...this gift list is not signed!"

Madam Jiang took the gift list and looked at it over and over again, and indeed there was no signature.

Only one line of text:

"May you be graceful and carefree year after year."

"This..." She looked at Su Yaoyao.

Su Yaoyao was also stunned.

She looked at the boxes, then turned her head and looked in the direction of the Xiliang Post Station.

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Su Yaoyao's heart.

She remembered those peach blossom eyes, that crimson tear mole, and that tender, lingering voice, "Master..."

She sighed softly.

"Thank you..." she whispered, her voice as soft as the wind.

Xiliang Post Station.

He Qing stood by the window, looking in the direction of the Yongning Marquis's residence.

As the sun set, its afterglow bathed him, casting a warm glow on his pale face.

He held the epiphyllum earring in his hand, gently stroking it with his fingertips.

"Young Master," General Mu Yun said in a low voice as he entered, "the gifts have been delivered."

He Qing nodded.

"Did she...accept it?"

Mu Yun remained silent for a moment.

"Take it."

He Qing's lips curled up slightly.

The smile was faint and gentle, yet it carried an indescribable tenderness.

"That's good."

Mu Yun looked at him, hesitant to speak.

"Young Master, you're like this..."

"No need to say anything," He Qing interrupted her, his voice soft. "I know."

What does he know?

He knew she would never belong to him.

But he doesn't care.

"Mu Yun," he suddenly spoke.

"exist."

"What do you think she'll look like in her wedding dress?"

Mu Yun looked at him, a pang of sadness welling up inside her.

"It must be...beautiful."

He Qing smiled.

That smile contained tenderness, bitterness, and a hint of relief.

"Yes," he said softly, "it must be beautiful."

He looked down at the earring in his hand.

"You're welcome, Master," he said softly, his voice as light as a sigh.

Outside the window, the last ray of sunlight sank below the horizon.

Night fell.

He, however, only wished to watch from afar.