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

Su Yaoyao was sleeping soundly.

The floor was burning very warmly, and the thin blanket slid down to her waist. The collar of her moon-white undergarment was slightly open, revealing a patch of snow-white skin.

Her black hair was spread out on the pillow, making her face appear even smaller. When she was asleep, her usual cunning and charm disappeared, and she looked like an innocent young girl.

In her dream, someone seemed to approach, carrying a familiar, cool sandalwood scent. The fragrance was gentle, like snow quietly melting in an early spring night, silently permeating her dream.

She vaguely felt someone touching her.

First, his forehead, then his warm lips gently touched hers, very restrained, and they parted immediately.

Then came the tip of the nose, as lightly as a butterfly skimming the water.

Finally, it rests on the lips.

This time, it won't be a half-hearted attempt.

The kiss started lightly, like a tentative exploration, then gradually deepened, carrying a kind of restrained, long-suppressed desire.

Their lips lingered and rubbed together, his tongue prying open her teeth, gently yet forcefully taking over.

Su Yaoyao hummed softly in her dream, responding unconsciously.

The man's breath hitched, then he kissed her more deeply, his hands around her waist tightening.

Through the thin nightgown, she could feel the burning heat of his hands and the slightly rough calluses on his palms.

The kiss slowly slid down.

It falls on the side of the neck, the collarbone, and further down...

Her clothes had come undone without her noticing, and the cool air touched her skin before being covered by even hotter lips and tongue.

Su Yaoyao trembled, thinking groggily: This dream... is too real.

The hand lingered on her waist for a moment, then suddenly slipped under the hem of her pajamas and slowly stroked upwards along her waistline.

Wherever his fingertips touched, a subtle shiver ran through him.

Just as it was about to touch the most sensitive spot—

Suddenly, the cry of a night bird came from outside the window.

The person on top of him suddenly stopped.

All movement came to an abrupt halt.

After a long pause, the man slowly got up, straightened her clothes, and carefully covered her with a thin blanket.

A cool hand gently stroked her cheek, the fingertip lingering on her lips for a moment, as if checking if there was still any warmth left there.

Finally, a very soft sigh fell into her ear:

"...Wait a little longer."

The footsteps faded into the distance.

The door was gently closed.

Su Yaoyao turned over and fell into a deep sleep again.

-----

The next morning.

When Chun Tao brought in breakfast, Su Yaoyao had just woken up.

She sat on the bed, wrapped in the blanket, somewhat dazed—she seemed to have had a very… erotic dream last night.

"Miss," Chun Tao said with a smile as she placed the food box on the table, "The kitchen in the East Palace is really good at cooking. It has all your favorite dishes. There are crystal shrimp dumplings, almond milk, and your favorite osmanthus-flavored lotus root."

Su Yaoyao came to her senses and got out of bed to wash up.

During breakfast, she found that every dessert was to her liking, even the almond milk was just the right amount of sweetness.

The Crown Prince's office is far too meticulous in its work.

After finishing her meal, Chuntao went to the wardrobe to get her the clothes she was to wear that day.

"Miss, which one would you like to wear? This moon-white ruqun, or this lotus-root pink one..." Chun Tao muttered to herself as she rummaged through the clothes, "Huh?"

"What's wrong?" Su Yaoyao asked casually as she combed her hair in front of the mirror.

"It seems one piece is missing." Chun Tao searched carefully again. "That moon-white embroidered night-blooming cereus dress you brought from the manor, I remember it was clearly placed on this shelf, how come I can't find it?"

Su Yaoyao paused in combing her hair.

She walked to the wardrobe and rummaged through it herself—indeed, her favorite little outfit was gone.

All the other clothes in the wardrobe were neatly arranged, except for one item that was missing.

"Could it have been left at the Grand Tutor's residence?" Su Yaoyao guessed.

"Impossible." Chun Tao shook her head. "I specifically checked it when I received it yesterday. It was Miss's favorite piece. How could I have forgotten it..."

Su Yaoyao didn't say anything.

She stared at the empty corner of the wardrobe, and a blurry dream from last night suddenly flashed through her mind—cool fingertips, burning lips…

My heart skipped a beat for no reason.

"Miss?" Chun Tao called softly when she saw her lost in thought.

Su Yaoyao snapped out of her reverie and smiled, "Never mind, maybe I remembered wrong. Let's wear something else first."

She chose that lotus-root-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). As Chun Tao helped her tie the belt, she suddenly exclaimed "Eh!" and leaned closer to look at her neck: "Miss, why is there a little red here?"

Su Yaoyao walked to the mirror and looked to the side—there was a small, light red mark on the back of her neck, like… a hickey.

It's very faint; you can hardly see it unless you look closely.

She raised her hand and touched it; her fingertips were slightly hot.

"It was probably a mosquito bite," she lied without batting an eye. "There are many trees in Donggong, and the mosquitoes are fierce at night."

Chuntao: Where did these mosquitoes come from in the middle of winter?

After finishing her makeup, Su Yaoyao pushed open the door and went out to see her brother.

Just as she reached the courtyard gate, she saw Uncle Fu hurrying over with a smile on his face: "Miss, His Highness requests your presence in his study, saying he has something to discuss with you."

Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow: "Your Highness didn't attend the morning court session today?"

"He went, and just got back." Uncle Fu lowered his voice. "His Highness came looking for you as soon as court was over."

Su Yaoyao nodded and followed Uncle Fu to the study.

We passed through a bamboo grove on the way, and the morning breeze rustled the bamboo leaves.

She suddenly remembered that she had heard a similar sound of wind in her dream last night.

And that person's scent, warmth, touch...

That's so true.

So real...it doesn't feel like a dream.

The study door was ajar.

Just as Su Yaoyao raised her hand to knock, the door opened from the inside.

Xiao Chenyuan stood inside the door, having changed into casual clothes, with wide, moon-white sleeves and a dark brocade belt around his waist.

He looked no different from usual, aloof and dignified, except for faint dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept well.

"Your Highness," Su Yaoyao bowed.

Xiao Chenyuan stepped aside to let her in and closed the door.

The study was filled with a faint scent of ink and medicine—his arm injury was clearly not fully healed yet.

"Sit." He pointed to the chair by the window and sat down opposite her.

Su Yaoyao sat down, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over his neck—there, a small scratch mark was faintly visible under his collar, very thin, as if it had been scratched by something sharp.

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she looked away.

"Did you need something?" she asked.

Xiao Chenyuan looked up at her, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before he said, "The Northern Desert delegation will have a formal audience in three days. Princess Anar... may mention you."

Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow: "Why bring me up?"

"She had a lot of contact with your brother while she was at the border," Xiao Chenyuan said calmly. "It's said that she was at the embassy, ​​inquiring about you both openly and secretly."

Su Yaoyao smiled: "So Your Highness is worried that the princess might harm me?"

Xiao Chenyuan didn't speak, he just looked at her.

His eyes were deep, like thick ink that couldn't be dissolved, churning with emotions she couldn't understand.

After a long while, he slowly spoke:

"Su Yaoyao."

"Um?"

"On the day of the palace banquet," he said in a low voice, enunciating each word clearly, "stay close to me."

Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat.

She met his gaze, and suddenly a smile curved her lips, bright yet tinged with a hint of slyness:

"Your Highness, are you... worried about me?"

Xiao Chenyuan did not answer.

He simply stood up, walked to her, leaned down, and placed his hands on the armrests of her chair, trapping her in a small space.

The two were very close, close enough to see the subtle light in each other's eyes.

"Su Yaoyao," he called softly, his breath brushing against the stray hairs on her forehead.

Did you sleep well last night?

Su Yaoyao's eyelashes trembled, and she looked up at him:

"How is Your Highness? Did you sleep well?"

Xiao Chenyuan stared at her for a long time, then suddenly straightened up, took a step back, and his tone returned to calm:

"It's acceptable."

He turned and walked back to his desk, picked up a memorial to the throne, and began to read it with a serious expression.

"At the palace banquet in three days, you will accompany me."

Su Yaoyao also stood up and curtsied, saying, "Your subject obeys."

She walked to the door, then turned back and asked, seemingly casually:

"Your Highness, are the mosquitoes in the Eastern Palace... bad?"

Xiao Chenyuan's fingers, which were turning the pages of the memorial, paused slightly.

"What?"

"It's nothing," Su Yaoyao said with a smile. "It's just that I think I was bitten by mosquitoes last night, and my neck is a little red."

After she finished speaking, she pushed open the door and went out.

Inside the study, Xiao Chenyuan put down the memorial and gently touched the small scratch on the side of his neck.

How could I...

I just couldn't help it...