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

Su Yaoyao was taken aback.

What does that mean?

She looked up and met his gaze.

The sunlight was just right, shining into his deep, pool-like eyes, causing a very faint ripple to appear in those eyes that had been frozen for years.

"This humble woman..." She bit her lip, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, "This humble woman dares not overstep her bounds."

"These prayer beads are given to those with whom they are destined." Xiao Chenyuan's voice was calm and unwavering. "If Miss Su feels at peace with them, then she is destined to have them. If you are destined, how can you presume to do so?"

As he spoke, he handed the hairpin back to her.

"Keep it."

The entire room fell silent.

Everyone stared in disbelief at the scene.

His Highness the Crown Prince... actually gave his personal Buddhist prayer beads to a woman?!

And you're telling her to "keep it"?!

Su Yaoyao was also stunned.

This reaction... was not quite what she had expected.

She had assumed that Xiao Chenyuan would coldly take back the prayer beads and then let her leave.

Or at least ask her why she is "reluctant to part with it".

But he said... "Keep it?"

She looked up and carefully observed his expression.

That handsome, otherworldly face remained expressionless. Yet, within those deep, pool-like eyes, something... profound seemed to be hidden?

Su Yaoyao's mind raced, and she reached out to take the hairpin.

Their fingertips touched again.

This time, she did not immediately withdraw her hand.

Instead, he gently held one end of the hair ornament, letting his fingertips linger briefly in her palm.

"Well..." She looked up at him and gave him a bright smile, "This humble woman will accept it without hesitation. Thank you, Your Highness."

Xiao Chenyuan withdrew his hand, his fingertips unconsciously twirling.

It was as if the warmth of her palm still lingered.

"Hmm," he replied casually, then turned to leave.

"Your Highness," Su Yaoyao suddenly called out to him.

Xiao Chenyuan turned around.

"I've come today not only to return the Buddhist beads, but also to offer incense at the temple," Su Yaoyao stepped forward, her voice soft. "However, I'm not very knowledgeable about Buddhism. I wonder if Your Highness... could offer some guidance?"

As she spoke, she looked at him with pure expectation in her eyes.

Like a kitten yearning for its owner's touch.

The girls around gasped.

This Su Yaoyao... she's incredibly audacious! She actually dared to have His Highness the Crown Prince accompany her to offer incense?!

Li Yan was trembling with anger and was about to speak sarcastically when she heard Xiao Chenyuan say:

"Can."

One word.

An understatement.

But it was like a thunderclap.

A look of surprise flashed in Su Yaoyao's eyes, and she curtsied, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Xiao Chenyuan said no more and turned to walk into the hall.

Su Yaoyao quickly followed.

After taking a few steps, he turned back and looked at Li Yan and the others who were still frozen in place.

She gently shook the hairpin in her hand, and the sandalwood beads clinked together, making a crisp sound.

Then, he gave her a meaningful smile.

Li Yan's face turned completely green.

---

Inside the main hall, incense smoke filled the air.

Su Yaoyao knelt on the prayer mat, clasped her hands together, and closed her eyes in prayer.

Xiao Chenyuan stood beside her, his hands holding prayer beads, but his gaze was fixed on her.

Morning light streamed obliquely through the palace gates, illuminating her profile. Long eyelashes cast soft shadows beneath her eyes, highlighting her high nose bridge and rosy lips.

The way they knelt in devout worship had a breathtaking beauty.

"What is Miss Su asking for?" Xiao Chenyuan suddenly asked.

Su Yaoyao opened her eyes, turned to look at him, and the purity of her prayer still lingered in her eyes:

"I pray for my family's safety, and that all my heart's desires may be fulfilled."

"What is your heart's desire?" Xiao Chenyuan repeated these four words, his gaze deepening slightly. "What is Miss Su's wish?"

Su Yaoyao met his gaze and suddenly smiled.

That smile held a hint of cunning, a hint of probing:

"Your Highness, guess?"

Xiao Chenyuan paused slightly as he twirled the prayer beads.

The hall was silent except for the crackling of burning incense and candles.

After a long silence, he finally spoke:

"I suspect... Miss Su's wish is related to me."

It's not a question, it's a statement.

Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat.

Looking into his eyes, which seemed to see through everything, she suddenly felt as if she had been seen through.

But she quickly calmed down, tilted her head, and feigned innocence:

"How did Your Highness know? Could it be... that Your Highness can read minds?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her feigned innocence and the corners of his lips curved almost imperceptibly.

A very faint arc, fleeting in an instant.

"No," he said, "but I can see into eyes."

"Eye?"

"In Miss Su's eyes..." Xiao Chenyuan paused, his voice lowering slightly, "ambition was written."

Su Yaoyao's smile froze.

Ambition.

These two words were like a key, instantly unlocking the deepest lock in her heart.

Yes, ambition.

She has never been a law-abiding person. Not in her past life, and certainly not in this one.

She wanted revenge, power, and to stand at the top, trampling all those who had bullied her underfoot.

And also... conquer the man before her.

This man, as aloof as a Buddha, stirred her heart.

"Does Your Highness think... ambition is a bad thing?" she asked softly.

Xiao Chenyuan stared at her for a long time.

When Su Yaoyao thought he wouldn't answer, he finally spoke:

The Buddha said, "All sentient beings suffer because of desires."

"But if there are no desires..." Su Yaoyao stood up, walked to him, looked up at him, "then what are sentient beings?"

She was very close.

I was so close I could smell the crisp sandalwood scent emanating from him, so close I could see my own reflection in his eyes.

"Your Highness cultivates Buddhism, cultivating a state of detachment from desires and wants." Her voice was soft, yet each word was clear. "But I am a mortal, and mortals have worldly thoughts, ambitions, and..."

She paused, her eyes suddenly turning fervent:

"There is someone I want to get."

Xiao Chenyuan's breath hitched almost imperceptibly.

He lowered his eyes, looking at the audacious woman before him.

Looking into her eyes, I saw the undisguised ambition and...possessiveness.

Like a ball of fire, it wanted to melt this ice sculpture of his.

"Miss Su," he spoke, his voice still calm, but the tips of his fingers, which were twisting the prayer beads, were slightly white, "Do you know what you're saying?"

"This subject understands." Su Yaoyao smiled, a bright and unrestrained smile.

"This humble woman is saying..."

"This humble woman... desires Your Highness's heart..."

"Smack."

A soft sound.

Xiao Chenyuan squeezed the Buddhist prayer beads in his hand hard.

He looked up at her, his gaze as deep as a cold pool.

Su Yaoyao didn't flinch, meeting his gaze openly, her smile unchanged.

After a long while, Xiao Chenyuan lowered his prayer beads.

"Miss Su."

He spoke, his voice still calm and unwavering, "The Buddha said, all conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows."

Su Yaoyao's smile froze slightly.

Is this... a rejection?

But then she heard him continue:

"But in this world, there are always some people and some things that make even those who cultivate themselves...unable to resist temptation."

He stood up and walked over to her.

The two were very close, so close that Su Yaoyao could smell the faint sandalwood scent on him and see her own reflection in his eyes.

Your heart is too big.

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her, his voice low and deep, "You want too much."

Su Yaoyao tilted her head back, undeterred: "Will Your Highness grant it or not?"

Xiao Chenyuan remained silent for a moment.

Suddenly, he raised his hand and gently brushed the hair ornament in her hair.

The fingertips are warm, and the touch is fleeting.

"This string of Buddhist prayer beads is your destiny."

He withdrew his hand, turned and walked outside, saying, "Then keep it safe."

As he reached the door, he paused slightly and turned his head to the side.

Sunlight streamed in from behind him, casting a hazy glow on his silhouette.

Su Yaoyao couldn't see his expression clearly, but she heard his deep voice carried on the breeze:

"As for my heart..."

He paused.

"Let's see what you can do."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and left.

The door closed gently.

Su Yaoyao stood there, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the Buddhist prayer beads that still retained his warmth.

The sandalwood beads were slightly cool, but the places he touched felt as if they were still hot.

The sun shines brightly, and the magnolias are in full bloom.

Su Yaoyao slowly curved her lips into a smile, her eyes sparkling.

"OK."

She murmured to herself, her fingertips twirling the string of sandalwood beads.

It's like gently touching someone's heartbeat.

"Then let Your Highness take a look..."

"This is my skill."