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

When they arrived at the flower hall, four people were already standing solemnly inside.

The leader was a middle-aged woman in her forties, with a dignified and serious face, but clear and sharp eyes.

The three maids behind him stood upright and exuded a calm demeanor, clearly having received rigorous training.

Upon seeing Su Yaoyao enter, a fleeting look of excitement and tenderness flashed across the old woman's eyes before she straightened up and bowed respectfully.

"This old servant, Lin, greets the eldest young lady. I have come to serve the eldest young lady on the orders of the old lady and the madam."

"This servant, Jingzhe/Guyu/Bailu, greets Miss."

Su Yaoyao stepped forward and personally helped the nanny to her feet: "Nanny, please rise. How is Grandmother's health?"

Seeing her so composed and calm, Lin Mama's eyes flashed with surprise and relief.

Before coming, the matriarch repeatedly warned that the eldest daughter had been raised to be timid and that she was afraid she would suffer.

But the person in front of me... had clear eyes and a composed demeanor, showing no sign of timidity whatsoever.

"The old lady is well, but she misses Miss day and night. Upon receiving Miss's letter and hearing about the situation in the manor from Miss Chuntao, the old lady was both angry and heartbroken, and immediately sent this old servant with people over."

She paused, her tone slightly somber, "The old lady sent me to convey a message: Miss should have done this long ago. The Grand Tutor's Mansion will always be Miss's support. What is rightfully yours, not a single penny, should be relinquished!"

These words were spoken from the heart. Su Yaoyao felt a warmth in her heart. The original owner's maternal family truly cared for her.

"Thank you, Granny. Now that I'm awake, I won't let anyone bully me anymore."

Granny Lin was very pleased and said seriously, "These three girls were specially chosen by the old lady for the eldest young lady. Jingzhe and Guyu are somewhat skilled in martial arts, while Bailu is thoughtful and knows some medicine. Ordinary dirty tricks cannot escape her notice. With them by her side to protect her, the old lady can rest assured."

She added, "When I was young, I served by the old lady's side, managed affairs and household affairs, and I have some experience. If Miss has any requests, I will gladly die for you."

These are all their capable assistants. Su Yaoyao was moved, knowing that the Grand Tutor's mansion was clearly stating: she had someone backing her up!

Su Yaoyao nodded, "Now that you're here, there are a few things I need your help with."

"Please give your orders, Miss."

Su Yaoyao sat down, resting her head on her pillow with a troubled expression.

"Yaoyao's constitution is like her mother's; she has a weak spleen and stomach, and there are some things she can't eat... We'll have to trouble you to pay close attention to her daily diet, Granny." She tapped the table lightly as she spoke.

Lin Mama's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly understood!

"This servant understands!" I already knew that this Marquis's mansion was a den of iniquity, but I never imagined that back then, it had actually kept a wolf in sheep's clothing!

Su Yaoyao looked at Lin Mama's expression with satisfaction. As expected of someone from a wealthy family, she understood immediately. In the future, she could not only ensure her own safety, but also use her help to find out what happened to the original owner's mother back then.

Although the Grand Tutor had retired, her uncle and cousin were both in the Dali Temple!

"Also, Aunt Liu has been 'keeping' my mother's dowry for me for quite some time now."

Granny Lin's eyes sharpened: "Miss, do you intend to..."

"No rush," Su Yaoyao smiled.

"My father... values ​​his reputation above all else, but he's also... somewhat indecisive. If my aunt were to bring it out now, at most it would just result in some minor losses."

She fiddled with the teacup.

"What I want is for her to personally deliver all of my mother's things, with interest, into my hands!"

Su Yaoyao's lips curled into a confident smile.

"And you have to beg me to have it."

In her past life, those finance guys who bragged about her often showed off their various schemes at dinner parties. After hearing about it so many times, she figured out a few tricks of the trade.

No matter how ruthless Aunt Liu was, she was still just a woman confined to the inner quarters; she had no idea what a "pig-slaughtering scam" was.

She beckoned, and Granny Lin leaned in to listen.

The old woman frowned at first, then her eyes brightened, and finally a smile appeared on her face: "Miss has thought things through very well. This old servant knows what to do."

Su Yaoyao picked up her teacup, took a sip, and softened her tone: "Granny, did Grandmother have any other instructions?"

Granny Lin looked at her with a complicated expression and whispered:

"The old lady said... that the Empress's meaning is something you must understand, Miss. However... His Highness the Crown Prince is a man of deep thoughts and dislikes being arranged by others, so Miss must... be extra careful."

Su Yaoyao smiled slightly.

cautious?

Of course she would be cautious.

But caution does not mean inaction.

"Don't worry, Granny," she said, setting down her teacup, a glint of light in her eyes.

"It's still unknown who arranged this palace banquet."

---

The Eastern Palace, the study.

The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Xiao Chenyuan sat behind his desk, holding a Buddhist scripture in his hand, but he didn't turn a single page for a long time.

His trusted bodyguard, Ling Feng, stood below with his hands at his sides. After reporting a few trivial matters of the court, he hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Highness, there seems to be some movement at the Yongning Marquis's residence."

Xiao Chenyuan raised his eyes, his gaze calm: "Speak."

The guard lowered his head and said, "The eldest daughter of the Su family fell ill, and after waking up... she seems to have changed her temperament. People from the Shen family entered the Marquis's residence and went directly to the eldest daughter's courtyard. In addition, it seems that Consort Liu is secretly contacting a steward eunuch in Consort Chen's palace."

Xiao Chenyuan sat behind his desk, twirling a new string of sandalwood prayer beads in his hand.

Upon hearing the words "Miss Su," his fingers, which were twirling the prayer beads, paused almost imperceptibly.

"Anything else?"

"Furthermore, His Highness the Second Prince... has been spending a lot of time with the Second Miss of the Su family lately. Isn't he afraid of offending the Grand Tutor's Mansion with these actions?"

Xiao Chenyuan raised his eyes.

On the desk lay a newly delivered letter.

From the Grand Tutor's Mansion.

In a rare personal tone, Xiao Chenyuan's mentor, Grand Tutor Shen, wrote that his granddaughter "seems to have come to her senses recently," but "is straightforward. If she does anything inappropriate at the palace banquet, I hope Your Highness will take care of her because she is young and has lost her mother."

Orphaned at a young age...

A scene from many years ago suddenly flashed before Xiao Chenyuan's eyes.

He was only ten years old then, accompanying the Grand Tutor to the Marquis's residence. In the back garden, there was a beautiful little maid, about five or six years old, clumsily trying to pick crabapples from the tree, but she couldn't reach them even when she stood on tiptoe.

He happened to be passing by and picked one for her.

The little girl looked at him with bright eyes and said in her childish voice, "Thank you, Prince Brother!"

Later, the Grand Tutor told him that she was his granddaughter, who had just lost her mother.

Later... he would occasionally see her at palace banquets. She always kept her head down and shoulders hunched, following behind her second brother like a flower that had withered before it even bloomed.

He asked the Grand Tutor, who only sighed and said that it was inconvenient to interfere in matters concerning the inner quarters.

did not expect……

"Your Highness," a eunuch's cautious voice interrupted his thoughts, "Grand Tutor Shen's letter..."

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his eyelashes, his gaze falling on the last line of the letter—

"Yaoyao is simple-minded. If someone deliberately guides her, she may go astray. I hope Your Highness will consider the bond between teacher and student and, if necessary... lend her a hand."

He remained silent for a long time before slowly folding the letter.

"Tell the Grand Tutor,"

He spoke, his voice devoid of emotion, "I understand."

After the eunuch withdrew, Xiao Chenyuan stood up and walked to the window.

Several pear trees were planted in the courtyard of the East Palace, and they were in full bloom, with snow-white petals falling in the wind.

The prayer beads spun around on my fingertip.