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

Tangquan Palace is built against the mountain, and white steam can be seen rising everywhere.

"Miss, we've arrived."

Chun Tao lifted the carriage curtain, and a blast of warm, humid air rushed in.

Granny Gui was already waiting at the palace gate, and she came forward to greet her upon seeing her:

"Miss Su, you've finally arrived. Her Majesty has specially arranged a pleasant place for you to stay, quiet and undisturbed. This servant will take you there."

Su Yaoyao nodded and followed Granny Gui deeper into the palace garden.

"That's the 'Listening to Snow Hall,' reserved for His Highness the Crown Prince," Granny Gui said, seemingly casually pointing to a courtyard hidden in a bamboo grove.

"His Highness dislikes being disturbed, and ordinary palace servants are not allowed to approach."

Su Yaoyao looked in the direction she pointed.

The bamboo shadows were deep, and the courtyard gate was tightly closed; it was indeed very close to where she lived.

"Thank you for your guidance, Granny."

Su Yaoyao nodded her thanks, and only after the nanny left did she let Chuntao open the luggage.

"Miss, you really brought these clothes?" Chun Tao shook out a light cherry blossom-colored gauze nightgown, her face turning red.

The fabric of the clothes was extremely thin, and the style was daring. Once soaked, they would probably cling tightly to the body, revealing all the curves.

"Of course I'll bring it." Su Yaoyao took the nightgown, checked herself in the bronze mirror, and smiled slightly.

"Food and sex are human nature; the ancients were right."

She then took out a few more items from the bottom of the box—

The moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) becomes transparent when wet; the light blue strapless long dress, with a waist tie, comes undone with a single pull…

Chun Tao stared in disbelief: "Miss, this...this is too..."

"Too what?" Su Yaoyao turned around, a sly glint in her eyes.

"The Buddha said that form is emptiness, but one must first see 'form' before knowing what 'emptiness' is, right?"

She turned around and looked at the Tingxue Hall, which was faintly visible outside the window.

Xiao Chenyuan.

I'd like to see what you're made of...

How long can they hold their ground?

----

After settling in, Su Yaoyao changed into a simple everyday outfit and strolled around the Tangquan Palace with Chuntao.

The palace is filled with hot steam rising from the hot springs, making it feel like a fairyland.

Just as they reached a plum grove, they heard a soft, affected laugh coming from ahead.

"Your Highness, these plum blossoms are blooming beautifully."

It's Su Yun'er.

Su Yaoyao paused, turned around to leave, but it was too late.

Su Yun'er was dressed in a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), looking exceptionally beautiful.

She nestled beside Xiao Qiming, her face still pale, her eyes filled with an inescapable gloom.

Xiao Qiming let Su Yun'er hold his arm, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the west hall.

"What is Your Highness looking at?" Su Yun'er followed his gaze and met Su Yaoyao's eyes.

Both of them were stunned when they saw Su Yaoyao.

Her face stiffened for a moment, then she smiled and raised her voice slightly: "Oh, it's you, sister! You've come to Tangquan Palace too? What a coincidence!"

Su Yaoyao ignored her and simply curtsied to Xiao Qiming, saying, "This humble woman greets Your Highness, Second Prince."

Xiao Qiming stared at her, his eyes wide open.

She seems even more beautiful than I have been a few days ago.

Dressed in simple white clothes with black hair, and without any makeup, she possessed a breathtakingly beautiful and ethereal charm.

Especially her figure; though dressed in plain clothes, it was more alluring than any seductive charm.

"You...you're here too." Xiao Qiming's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice a little hoarse.

Seeing this, Su Yun'er's jealousy intensified. "Sister looks so plain today."

She deliberately moved closer to Xiao Qiming, "That's true, now that you've broken off the engagement, you should keep a low profile. Unlike me..."

She feigned shyness: "His Highness said that he will formally take me into his household once we return to the capital."

Su Yaoyao smiled faintly:

"Congratulations, sister. It is a great blessing for you that the Second Prince has taken you in."

These words sound like a blessing, but upon closer inspection... they all sound like sarcasm.

Su Yun'er's face stiffened.

Xiao Qiming frowned as well: "Yaoyao, why are you being so sarcastic?"

"How could I, your humble servant, be acting strangely?"

Su Yaoyao looked up at him, her eyes clear, "My sister has followed Your Highness for many years, and now she has finally achieved her wish. I am truly happy for her."

She paused, then added, "After all... my sister is willing to sacrifice her reputation for Your Highness. Your Highness should cherish such devotion."

These words are devastating.

Su Yun'er's face stiffened.

"Sister, you jest." She forced a smile and changed the subject. "By the way, did you know that His Highness the Crown Prince is here too? I heard that His Highness usually dislikes hot springs, but he made an exception this time..."

A calculating glint flashed in her eyes: "Sister is acquainted with His Highness, why don't we... go pay our respects together?"

Su Yaoyao looked at her feigned innocence and suddenly found it laughable.

"If you want to go, then go ahead." She turned and walked into the house. "I won't join in the fun."

"Sister!" Su Yun'er caught up, "Don't you want to see His Highness the Crown Prince? Or... does His Highness not want to see you at all?"

Her voice rose, tinged with sarcasm: "Indeed, how could someone like His Highness...?"

"Sister!" Su Yaoyao didn't want to hear the Crown Prince's name from her again, so she took a step closer and lowered her voice:

"Instead of trying to outsmart me, you should think about how to win over the Second Prince's heart. After all... life as a concubine isn't easy."

Su Yun'er's face turned deathly pale instantly.

concubines...

The day Xiao Qiming said he would take her as a concubine, it felt like a thorn stuck in my heart.

She had thought that with her own methods, she could at least become a concubine, but now...

Xiao Qiming's eyes darkened as he stared at Su Yaoyao: "Yaoyao, it's not too late for you to turn back. As long as you admit your mistakes, I can still marry you as my principal wife..."

Su Yaoyao was so angry she almost laughed.

Where does this person get their confidence from?

"Second Prince!" She took a step back to create some distance. "Since you and my sister are so in love, why don't you take a sedan chair and carry my sister back home as soon as possible? After all... a concubine doesn't need any formalities."

Su Yun'er trembled with anger: "You—"

Su Yaoyao smiled, turned around to leave, and said, "This humble woman will not disturb Your Highness and my sister's appreciation of the plum blossoms any longer."

"Wait!" Xiao Qiming wanted to chase after her, but Su Yun'er stopped him.

"Your Highness..." Su Yun'er was on the verge of tears, "How could my sister... how could she say such a thing about me..."

As Xiao Qiming watched Su Yaoyao's departing figure, her slender form appearing and disappearing in the plum grove, like a mountain spirit, it stirred a itch in his heart.

He gritted his teeth and whispered to Su Yun'er, "Remember what you promised me. If you succeed, I'll promote you. But if you fail..."

He didn't finish speaking, but the warning in his eyes sent a chill down Su Yun'er's spine.

"Yun'er understands." She lowered her eyes, concealing the malice in them.

Su Yaoyao...it's all because of you!

----

Qingxin Spring, deep in the bamboo forest.

Xiao Chenyuan sat at his desk, holding a pen, copying scriptures.

He was dressed in plain white clothes, his dark hair loosely tied up with an ebony hairpin, with a few stray strands hanging down his forehead.

"Master," Ling Feng hesitated for a moment before asking, "you've never liked the dampness of hot springs, why this time...?"

"The Empress's decree." Xiao Chenyuan's voice remained clear and cold, devoid of emotion.

"But Her Majesty invited you to come in previous years, and you declined each time." Ling Feng paused. "Besides, Miss Su is here this time too... Oh, right..."

Ling Feng hesitated before speaking, "Speaking of Miss Su, just now... she seemed to have had some argument with the Second Prince."

This time, Xiao Chenyuan put down his pen.

Did she suffer any loss?

"No." Ling Feng shook his head. "Miss Su... is very sharp-tongued."

Xiao Chenyuan stood under the tree.

But my gaze involuntarily drifted toward the courtyard wall.

It's very quiet on the other side of the wall.

There was only the faint sound of water, and... a very soft humming.

She was taking a bath.

Xiao Chenyuan unconsciously increased the speed at which he twirled the prayer beads.

The Buddha said, "Out of sight, out of mind."

But why... even though there's a wall between us, the sound of the water and the singing are so clear?

So clear...it's disturbing.

He closed his eyes and tried to recite the scriptures silently.

After a long while, Xiao Chenyuan opened his eyes and looked at the hot spring in the courtyard.

The air was filled with the mist of water, and the moon was just beginning to rise.

He suddenly spoke,

"Ling Feng".

"Your subordinate is here."

"Go prepare." Xiao Chenyuan turned around and walked into the house. "I... also want to take a hot spring bath."

Ling Feng was taken aback: "Master, didn't you say...?"

"I suddenly had this thought."

Xiao Chenyuan did not stop walking, leaving only one sentence:

"Is that not allowed?"