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

Outside the palace gates, civil and military officials were walking out in twos and threes.

Su Yaoyao's carriage stopped under the willow tree opposite the palace wall. She lifted a corner of the curtain and searched the crowd with her eyes—she said she was there to pick up her cousin from court, but in reality... her true intentions were not what they seemed.

Chuntao muttered softly, "Miss, are we really going to wait for His Highness the Crown Prince here?"

"Who said I was waiting for the Crown Prince?" Su Yaoyao tidied her hair. "I already said I came to pick up my cousin..."

As soon as he finished speaking, two familiar figures walked out of the palace gate.

Jiang Jingchen and Xie Yu walked side by side, both dressed in official robes, one in dark blue and the other in bright red. What should have been a majestic scene was instead...

Jiang Jingchen held his forehead, his brows furrowed, his face as pale as a sheet of paper, and every step he took felt like walking on cotton.

Xie Yu was even more exaggerated, pressing one hand to his temple, his eyes half-closed, and he was walking unsteadily—if they hadn't been supporting each other, they probably would have fallen long ago.

"Pfft." Su Yaoyao couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Looks like yesterday's wine had quite a kick.

She pushed open the carriage door and got off.

The moon-white cloak stood out brightly in the spring sunshine, and the hair ornament in her hair swayed gently with her steps.

"Cousin, General Xie."

A clear female voice rang out outside the palace gates, attracting the attention of many officials.

Jiang Jingchen and Xie Yu looked up at the same time and saw her radiant and glowing appearance. Both of them showed a complex expression - surprise, embarrassment, and a hint of... resentment.

"Yaoyao..." Jiang Jingchen rubbed his temples, his voice hoarse, "Why are you here?"

"Have you come to pick up your cousin from court?" Su Yaoyao smiled brightly, her gaze sweeping over the two faces. "Did you two...not sleep well last night?"

Xie Yu's lips twitched slightly.

Didn't sleep well? He vomited three times last night, and when he got up this morning, he felt dizzy. If it weren't for important military business today, he would have liked to take a day off and lie down!

Jiang Jingchen was more composed, but he gave Su Yaoyao a helpless look: "Thanks to someone, I really didn't sleep well."

Xie Yu looked distressed, his voice weak and feeble: "Miss Su... how come you're completely unharmed?"

In the sunlight, her skin was as white as jade, and her eyes were lively and captivating. There was not a trace of the haggardness of a hangover.

When he said this, his eyes were full of grievance and incomprehension—how could the young general of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion be drunk by a little girl? If word got out, wouldn't he lose face?

"What could possibly be wrong with me?" Su Yaoyao blinked. "The wine from yesterday wasn't strong."

"Not intense?!" Jiang Jingchen's lips twitched. "When I woke up this morning, my head was about to explode..."

"That's because my cousin can't hold his liquor." Su Yaoyao looked innocent as she took two small porcelain bottles from Chun Tao. "Here, hangover pills. Bai Lu made them herself, and they work very well."

Jiang Jingchen took the porcelain bottle, poured out a pill and swallowed it, and his complexion finally improved.

Xie Yu quickly took the medicine, almost choking in his haste to swallow it.

"Slow down," Su Yaoyao chuckled. "Nobody's going to take it from you."

As she spoke, her gaze involuntarily drifted towards the palace gates.

He should be out by now, right?

Just as I was thinking this, the palace gate suddenly fell silent for a moment.

A tall, upright figure walked out slowly.

Today, Xiao Chenyuan wore a formal Crown Prince's court robe—black with gold cloud patterns, his hair tied up with a jade crown. Sunlight fell on him, outlining his aloof and cold profile. However, today, there was also a faint shadow under his usually cold eyes.

Upon seeing Su Yaoyao, Xiao Chenyuan paused almost imperceptibly.

Eyes facing each other.

Su Yaoyao's smile remained unchanged as she curtsied, saying, "This humble woman greets Your Highness."

Xiao Chenyuan panicked for a moment, then looked away, his voice calm: "What is Miss Su doing here?"

"I've come to pick up my cousin." Su Yaoyao answered naturally, pointing to Jiang Jingchen, "My cousin drank too much yesterday, and I was worried about him."

Xiao Chenyuan's fingertips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Looking at Su Yaoyao's bright smile and the undisguised cunning in her eyes, he felt a strange sense of irritation.

How can this woman be so calm?

Last night's kiss, those drunken words, that inappropriate vulnerability and dependence... Has she forgotten it all?

Or was it... just another successful flirting attempt for her?

"Miss Su is quite considerate." Xiao Chenyuan's voice turned colder.

These words were clearly barbed.

Jiang Jingchen frowned slightly, and Xie Yu was also taken aback.

Su Yaoyao didn't seem to care about the coldness in his words; her gaze lingered on the faint shadows under his eyes.

"It seems... Your Highness didn't sleep well last night?"

Xiao Chenyuan's ears turned almost imperceptibly red, but his tone became even colder: "I am fine, Miss Su need not worry."

After he finished speaking, he turned to leave.

"Your Highness," Su Yaoyao called out to him, taking out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve, "This is a hangover pill. If Your Highness still has a headache... you can try it."

Xiao Chenyuan held the small, cold bottle.

He lost his temper yesterday. Seeing her so obedient, the nameless fire in his heart burned even brighter.

He knew she was acting, knew she was flirting, knew all her little schemes...

But he just couldn't control himself.

I can't help wanting to get closer, I can't help wanting to see what other tricks she has up her sleeve, I can't help... wanting to keep her by my side...

The thought startled even Xiao Chenyuan himself.

I should have stayed away from her today and calmed down.

But seeing her smiling face, the little thought that he had managed to suppress in his heart began to stir again.

"Thank you." He put away the porcelain bottle, his voice still indifferent. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

"Your Highness, please take care." Su Yaoyao curtsied, her smile unchanged.

Xiao Chenyuan turned and left, his back straight, but his steps were a little faster than usual.

It's like they're running away from something.

Just then, several officials nearby whispered among themselves:

"Did you see that? His Highness the Crown Prince is so cold towards that Miss Su..."

"Tsk, to be able to keep a cold face even in front of such a beauty, no wonder he's a Buddhist."

"I have something to tell you..." the other person lowered his voice, "Yesterday I passed through the east of the city and saw His Highness the Crown Prince rushing off to the South Wind Pavilion!"

"What?!" a cry of surprise rang out. "That place isn't..."

"That's right! I heard from Imperial Censor Wang that when His Highness the Crown Prince came out, he was still clinging to a handsome young male prostitute!"

"Good heavens! No wonder His Highness the Crown Prince has remained celibate for so many years... so he actually has a taste for women?!"

"Yeah, look at that guard next to the Crown Prince, isn't he a pretty boy too..."

The group got more and more excited as they talked, but they didn't notice that the person they were talking about was standing at the corner with a cold expression.

Ling Feng stood behind Xiao Chenyuan, his face ashen: "Master, I'll go..."

"No need," Xiao Chenyuan raised his hand to stop him.

He slowly turned around and looked at the officials who were still gossiping, his eyes as deep as an icy pool.

Then, he walked over.

The sound of footsteps startled the group of people who were talking. They looked up and saw Xiao Chenyuan, and their faces turned pale instantly.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince..."

Xiao Chenyuan's gaze swept over the group, his voice calm and unwavering:

"Gentlemen, are you quite free?"

"No, no, no... Your Majesty..." The tall, thin official's legs went weak.

"Since you're free," Xiao Chenyuan interrupted him, "then go to the Ministry of Justice and help organize the case files. They're short-handed for the flood cases in the south."

He paused, then added:

"Starting today, no one is allowed to resign until the work is completed."

Their faces turned green.

The case files related to the floods in the south are piled up in half the warehouse, and it will take at least ten days to half a month to sort them out!

"Your Highness, Your Highness..."

"Any objections?" Xiao Chenyuan raised an eyebrow.

"...Your subject obeys." The men, their faces contorted with grief, scrambled away.

Xiao Chenyuan stood still for a long time.

Ling Feng asked cautiously, "Master, those rumors..."

"Investigate." Xiao Chenyuan's voice was icy. "Who spread it? Once you find out... you know what to do."

"yes!"

----

The Imperial Palace, Phoenix Palace.

Upon hearing the report from her trusted palace maid, the Empress was so angry that she smashed the teacup in her hand on the ground!

"Crash—" Porcelain shards flew everywhere.

"Useless!" she shrieked. "I thought that Su Yaoyao was useful! And what happened?!"

The Empress's chest heaved violently. "The Crown Prince went to the Nanfeng Pavilion? And wouldn't let go of a male prostitute?! If such rumors spread, what will become of the Crown Prince's reputation?!"

She suddenly stopped, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes:

"Also, news came from the Yongning Marquis's residence that Su Yun'er... seems to be pregnant?"

The palace maid was taken aback: "Yes... I just received the news."

The Empress slowly sat down, her fingers unconsciously tapping the table.

After a long while, she suddenly smiled.

"My birthday banquet is approaching..." she began slowly, "It's time to celebrate properly."

She looked at the palace maid and said, "Go and bring me the medicine that was presented as tribute from the Western Regions some time ago."

The palace maid's face paled: "Your Highness, that medicine..."

"What?" The Empress raised an eyebrow. "You dare question my words?"

"This servant dares not!" The palace maid hurriedly kowtowed.

The Empress stood up, walked to the window, and gazed in the direction of the Eastern Palace, a calculating glint in her eyes:

"My dear niece..."

She spoke softly to herself, her voice carrying a venomous chill:

"Since you're useless..."

"Then your aunt will lend you a hand."