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

On the day of the palace banquet, the lanterns were lit.

The Imperial Garden was bustling with activity from early morning, filled with elegantly dressed women.

The young ladies from various noble families gathered in twos and threes, chatting and laughing in hushed tones, their eyes constantly glancing, almost imperceptibly, towards the entrance.

Today is the first palace banquet hosted by the Crown Prince since his return to the capital.

Today, Su Yun'er specially wore a light pink flowing gauze dress. She leaned against several noble ladies she was on good terms with, looking as delicate as a willow in the wind, but she couldn't hide her smugness in her eyes and brows.

"...Sisters, please stop teasing me. The Second Prince is only showing me some extra care because of Father."

Li Yan, the eldest daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites, covered her lips with a round fan and laughed:

"Oh, still shy? Who doesn't know that the Second Prince didn't even give his elder sister a good look at her coming-of-age banquet because of you? If you ask me, Yun'er, you are gentle and understanding, much better than some people who occupy the title of legitimate daughter but don't know any manners."

Several young ladies nearby echoed her sentiments, their words implying that they were putting down Su Yaoyao and praising Su Yun'er.

Su Yun'er was secretly pleased, but on the surface she feigned fear: "Sister, please don't say that... My elder sister, she... she's just a bit straightforward, she didn't mean it. The other day when I went to visit her, she scolded me for dressing too brightly, saying it was beneath the dignity of the Marquis's mansion."

Miss Wang, from the Minister of War's family, raised an eyebrow. "With her own appearance, how dare she criticize others?"

"Exactly!" Li Yan scoffed. "The last time I saw her, she was sallow and thin, wearing drab gray clothes, looking like a nun who had escaped from some temple!"

Miss Wang scoffed, "If you ask me, Su Yaoyao is really being foolish. The Second Prince clearly admires someone as well-educated and reasonable as Sister Yun'er, yet she insists on getting close to her. Isn't she just asking for trouble?"

Su Yun'er feigned anger, "Don't talk to my sister like that. She's the legitimate daughter and the eldest sister, it's only right that she scolds me..."

Before the words were finished, a boastful male voice interrupted:

"How dare she scold you?!"

Everyone looked up and saw Xiao Qiming wearing a royal blue brocade robe, his hair tied up with a jade crown, his face full of anger.

"Did Su Yaoyao bully you again?"

"My elder sister is the legitimate daughter... it's only right that she reprimands me." Su Yun'er lowered her eyes, looking aggrieved. "It's just... my elder sister said I don't know the rules, that I shouldn't... shouldn't get too close to His Highness."

"How dare you!"

Xiao Qiming was indeed enraged. "Doesn't she know her own worth?! A stupid idiot who's always wrapped in her bra and starving dares to lecture you?!"

Seeing Su Yun'er's tearful face, his heart softened, and he took her hand:

"Don't worry, I'll make her kneel down and kowtow to you to apologize today!"

Su Yun'er felt smug inside, but her face showed even more sorrow: "Your Highness, please don't say that... After all, my sister is engaged to you... It's nothing for Yun'er to suffer a little grievance..."

The more "sensible" she was, the more Xiao Qiming felt sorry for her, and the more he disliked Su Yaoyao.

"A marriage contract?" Xiao Qiming put his arm around Su Yun'er's shoulder.

"Yun'er, you're the only one in my heart! Once I marry that ugly bastard, I'll immediately make you my second wife, and I'll never let you suffer!"

He said this as if it were a matter of course, as if it were already a done deal.

As soon as he said that, the surroundings became quieter.

A concubine? Doesn't that mean she'd be on equal footing with the legitimate daughter? The Second Prince is... showing Su Yaoyao absolutely no respect.

Su Yun'er's heart sank.

A concubine?

She doesn't want to share a husband with Su Yaoyao! What she wants is the position of the Second Prince's consort, and for Su Yaoyao to get out of here completely!

"Your Highness..." she looked up, her eyes filled with tears, "Didn't you hate my sister the most? Why did you still marry her?"

Xiao Qiming frowned, somewhat impatiently:

"It's all because of my mother! She said the Grand Tutor's disciples are all over the court, and she insisted that I marry her! Yun'er, you have no idea how disgusted I was by her sallow face! And that figure—it's utterly shameless! Unlike you, naturally beautiful without any artifice, a delicate willow in the breeze is the true beauty!"

He spoke through gritted teeth, as if he had suffered a tremendous injustice.

Su Yun'er dug her fingertips into her palm, but still had to maintain a kind and understanding smile on her face.

Family background... Again, family background!

Just because her own birth mother was a maid?

No, she refused to accept her fate!

She took a deep breath and said softly, "Your Highness, please don't be angry. Today is a palace banquet; we should all be happy."

In his heart, however, he already wanted to tear Su Yaoyao to pieces.

Just you wait, Su Yaoyao. After today, I will ruin your reputation and make the Second Prince want to vomit at the sight of you!

Just then, a slight commotion suddenly came from the entrance.

It seems like someone is coming this way.

First came the sound of a maid gasping, followed by the clatter of a cup falling to the ground.

Then... came increasingly clear, suppressed gasps and gasps.

Xiao Qiming frowned impatiently: "What's going on? Why all the noise..."

His words abruptly stopped.

Everyone's gaze was involuntarily drawn towards the entrance of the Imperial Garden.

In the interplay of moonlight and palace lantern light, a slender figure slowly walked towards them.

The person was dressed in a red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with sparse magnolias embroidered in silver thread on the hem. As she walked, the light shimmered, as if she were walking on the moon.

The most deadly thing is her figure.

Her waist was so slender that it could be grasped in one hand, and it was loosely tied with a brocade belt of the same color, which made her waist look even more slender.

And upwards... there's a breathtakingly full curve, the neckline opened just right, revealing a section of snow-white neck, but not in an overtly revealing way, instead exuding a languid charm.

She didn't style her hair into an elaborate updo; she simply tied her black hair up in a bun, securing it with a white jade hairpin, while the rest of her hair cascaded down to her waist.

Her face was lightly powdered, her lips were naturally red without lipstick, and her eyebrows were naturally dark without drawing.

Under the palace lanterns, her skin glowed and shone, like the finest warm jade.

What's most captivating are her eyes—clear and bright, with slightly upturned corners, sparkling with a nonchalant yet alluring charm.

She walked slowly and gracefully, her waist swaying gently, each step feeling like it was treading on the tip of one's heart.

Wherever it went, the autumn colors of the entire garden seemed to lose their luster.

The entire waterside pavilion was completely silent.

Everyone was stunned.

This, this is...

"Su Yaoyao, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Yongning, has arrived—"

The eunuch's high-pitched voice rang out, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.

"Whoosh—"

After a brief silence came an even greater uproar.

"That's... Su Yaoyao?!"

"My God, that figure...that appearance..."

"Wasn't she said to be pale, thin, and emaciated? This...this..."

Countless gazes were fixed on that figure, some with shock, some with amazement, some with jealousy, and some with disbelief.

The handkerchief in Su Yun'er's hand was almost torn to shreds.

She stared wide-eyed at the woman who was approaching step by step, her nails digging deeply into her palms.

Impossible... This is impossible!

That good-for-nothing... that good-for-nothing she'd trampled underfoot for over a decade... how could this be...?

Xiao Qiming was completely stunned.