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

Late at night.

Su Yaoyao sat by the window, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at the moon.

She's getting married tomorrow.

She married Xiao Chenyuan.

She recalled the first time she saw him—aloof and abstinent, uninterested in women, like a Buddha statue in a temple.

Who would have thought that the Buddha statue would now become her man?

She couldn't help but laugh.

"Miss," Chun Tao came over and draped an outer robe over her shoulders, "You have to get up early tomorrow, you should rest."

Su Yaoyao shook her head.

"I can't sleep."

She looked at the full moon on the horizon and suddenly smiled.

"He definitely wasn't asleep either."

Just as he finished speaking, a slight noise came from outside the window.

Su Yaoyao looked up and saw a kite swaying as it flew over and landed by her window.

She took down the kite and found a letter tied to it.

Upon opening it, I saw familiar handwriting.

I miss you. See you tomorrow, my bride.

Su Yaoyao looked at the handwriting, her eyebrows curving into a smile.

This person is really...

She read the letter several times before finally writing a reply.

She picked up her pen and wrote back:

"Okay. Don't keep me waiting too long tomorrow."

She tied the letter back to the kite, stood up, and threw it forcefully.

The kite wobbled and floated up, drifting towards the direction of the East Palace.

In the distance, on the tallest pavilion of the Eastern Palace, stood a slender figure.

Xiao Chenyuan stood by the window, watching the kite slowly fly by, and reached out to catch it.

He opened the letter, looked at the words, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

He lowered his head and gently kissed the letter.

almost.

Tomorrow, she will be his wife.

---

On the other side of the Yongning Marquis's residence, things were incredibly lively.

In Su Qingrun's courtyard, the lights were on, and a group of people sat together, arguing noisily.

"Come, come, sit down! I said tomorrow's door-blocking has to be ruthless!" Anar took over as soon as she entered, directing everyone to sit down. "We can't let him take them away so easily!"

Su Qingrun sighed and rubbed her forehead.

"That's the Crown Prince..."

Anar waved her hand.

"What's wrong with the Crown Prince?" Anar glared at him. "The Crown Prince is also a groom! Grooms are supposed to be made to suffer! That cold-faced freak, this is a rare opportunity!!"

Su Qingrun: "..."

"Yes. We can't let him marry Miss Su so easily!"

Ashina Lie said excitedly, "In our Northern Desert wedding ceremony, the groom must first pass three tests—drinking, archery, and wrestling. If he can't pass them, he can't even get through the door."

Xie Yu's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

"That's a good idea! Let His Highness the Crown Prince drink! Judging from his aloof appearance, how many cups can he handle?"

Anar rolled her eyes.

"You're overthinking it. What if he gets drunk? What will happen to their wedding night tomorrow?"

Xie Yu choked.

Jiang Wan Ning whispered from the side, "Then...then how about we have him compose a poem?"

Ashina Lie laughed.

"Write a poem? You're trying to get away with this, aren't you?"

Jiang Wan Ning blushed.

"I...I didn't..."

Jiang Jingchen leaned back in his chair, looking like he was an injured person who knew nothing.

Chu Qingzi sat next to him, holding a cup of tea, listening quietly.

Anar glanced at them, her eyes filled with ambiguity.

"Oh, Lord Jiang, weren't you supposed to be 'unconscious'? How did you get out here?"

Jiang Jingchen coughed lightly.

"Um... he's awake."

Anar's smile became even more ambiguous.

"You're awake? What's Miss Chu doing here?"

Chu Qingzi remained unfazed.

"Let me take a look."

"What are you looking at?"

"Look at you blocking the door."

Anar raised an eyebrow and leaned close to her ear.

"Shall we look to Lord Jiang?"

Chu Qingzi's ear tips turned slightly red, but she remained calm.

"Your Highness is overthinking it."

Anar chuckled and didn't expose him.

Su Qingrun looked at the room full of people and felt completely overwhelmed.

"You…" he took a deep breath, "do you have a plan at all?"

Xie Yu slammed his hand on the table.

"Yes! The first hurdle is for His Highness the Crown Prince to drink! He must drink ten cups before he can enter!"

Ashina Lie nodded.

"The second challenge is archery. Make him hit the bullseye; if he misses, he has to drink three more cups!"

Anar raised her hand.

"For the third challenge, I'll ask him some questions! Ask him ten questions about Yaoyao, and if he gets even one wrong—"

She thought about it.

"Just give him a kiss!" she said, pointing to her brother.

Everyone turned to look at her, and Ashina Lie gave her a look that said, "Do you want to hear what you're saying?"

Anar quickly waved her hand.

"Just kidding! Just kidding! You have to drink if you answer one wrong!"

Su Qingrun rubbed her forehead.

Are these three people reliable?

Jiang Jingchen suddenly spoke.

"Have you considered—" he paused, "what if His Highness the Crown Prince simply forces his way in?"

Everyone fell silent.

Xie Yu scratched his head.

"Then... what should we do?"

Anar thought for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Then let that guy surnamed Su block the door!"

Su Qingrun was taken aback.

"I?"

"That's right!" Anar said matter-of-factly. "You're Yaoyao's brother and the Marquis of Yongning, he can't possibly lay a hand on you, can he?"

Su Qingrun: "..."

He suddenly realized that he shouldn't have come tonight.

Chu Qingzi suddenly spoke softly.

"Actually..." she said, "If you two fight too fiercely, Yao Yao will feel sorry for you."

Everyone fell silent again.

Ashina Lie sighed.

"That's true. That girl's heart and soul are now completely focused on the Crown Prince."

Xie Yu also sighed.

"Accept your fate."

The two exchanged a glance and simultaneously raised their glasses.

"We are both in the same boat, wandering the world!"

"Let's do it!"

Jiang Wan Ning looked at them and whispered to Jiang Jing Chen, "Brother, they're so pitiful..."

Jiang Jingchen nodded.

"It's quite pitiful."

Chu Qingzi suddenly handed her a cup.

"Have some tea to warm yourself up."

Jiang Jingchen paused for a moment, then took the teacup.

The cup was warm, just the right temperature for drinking.

He glanced at Chu Qingzi.

She still had that aloof and cold demeanor, but the tips of her ears were clearly red.

Jiang Jingchen's lips curled up slightly.

"Thanks."

Chu Qingzi turned her face away.

"……Need not."

Anar witnessed all of this and secretly whispered to Su Qingrun.

"Your cousin and Miss Chu are having an affair."

Su Qingrun remained expressionless.

"I can tell."

Aren't you going to ask?"

"I won't ask."

Why?

Su Qingrun glanced at her.

"If I ask, you'll just spread it around."

Anar's eyes widened.

"Am I that kind of person?!"

Su Qingrun didn't speak, she just looked at her.

Anar felt guilty under his gaze.

"...Okay, that's me."

Su Qingrun sighed.

Forget it.

Let them make a scene.

My younger sister is getting married tomorrow.

Looking at the room full of people, he suddenly felt...

That's fine too.

---

The Eastern Palace.

"Your Highness," he couldn't help but say, "you've reviewed this etiquette schedule for the eighth time."

Xiao Chenyuan looked up at him.

"no?"

Ling Feng quickly lowered his head.

"Sure, of course."

Xiao Chenyuan remained silent for a moment.

"Tell me," he began, his voice uncertain, "would Yao Yao regret it?"

Ling Feng almost choked on his own saliva.

"Your Highness, what did you say?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at him, and a rare hint of... unease appeared in his usually aloof eyes.

"I'm a cold, aloof person, and not good with words. Will she feel wronged if she marries me?"

Ling Feng opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Their prince is a master strategist, with flawless plans. When has he ever been so insecure?

"Your Highness," he said carefully, "if the Crown Princess is unwilling, she will not agree to marry you."

Xiao Chenyuan thought about it and realized that it made sense.

"Won't she think I'm too clingy?"

Ling Feng wanted to say yes, but of course he didn't dare. "...Your Highness, I cannot answer this question."

Xiao Chenyuan glanced at him, then looked away.

"Forget it, it's pointless to ask you."

Ling Feng silently withdrew.

Xiao Chenyuan continued to look at the moon outside the window.

immediately.

Soon, Yaoyao will be his.

The corners of his lips curved slightly upward, a faint smile, yet carrying an unprecedented tenderness.