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

"What's so great about her? Dressed like that... like a dancer. To be honest, her dancing is just average."

Xiao Yue watched as Su Yaoyao stole the spotlight and muttered resentfully.

The muttered words were not loud, but they sounded exceptionally clear in the suddenly quiet hall.

Xiao Chenyuan slowly raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Xiao Yue.

His eyes were indifferent, without anger, yet they were like a frozen lake in winter, chilling you to the bone.

"My imperial sister seems to know a lot about 'dancing girls'."

Xiao Yue's face paled. She never expected that her usually taciturn elder brother, the Crown Prince, would suddenly speak.

"It seems the palace matrons," Xiao Chenyuan said calmly, each word clear, "didn't teach you properly what 'not speaking recklessly' means."

Xiao Chenyuan stopped looking at her and only gave a light instruction to Ling Feng behind him: "Remember this. Tomorrow, send two more palace tutors to the princess's residence to properly teach the princess etiquette. If she misbehaves again, send her to Cining Temple to accompany the Dowager Consorts in their meditation."

"Yes," Ling Feng replied, bowing his head.

Xiao Yue was so frightened that she trembled all over, her lips quivering, and she dared not utter another word.

She feared nothing and no one, except for this Crown Prince brother—he never lost his temper, but every time he spoke, it sent chills down one's spine.

Xiao Yue hurriedly looked at Consort Chen.

Consort Chen's face turned ashen, but she dared not utter a sound—the Crown Prince himself had disciplined his sister, how could she, as his stepmother, dare to say a word? You're afraid of him? I'm afraid too!

Seeing this, the emperor laughed and smoothed things over: "Alright, alright, your graceful dance has added much to today's banquet. You deserve a reward!"

He was in a good mood, and his gaze towards Su Yaoyao was full of admiration: "Su family girl, what reward would you like?"

Su Yaoyao bowed gracefully: "This humble woman dares not take credit. If the soldiers who fought valiantly can be generously rewarded, that would be the best reward for this humble woman."

That's well said. The Emperor was delighted: "Well said! That's exactly what I was thinking!"

The emperor highly praised the Zhenbei Army and generously rewarded the Duke of Zhenguo.

When Su Qingrun, the person who made the greatest contribution, was mentioned, Su Cheng'an, who had been huddled in the corner, immediately stood up and stepped forward with a beaming smile:

"Your Majesty is wise! It is an honor for my entire family that my son can serve the country! Although I was unable to go to the battlefield in person, I have devoted myself to his upbringing for many years..."

"Teach him carefully?" A calm, cold voice interrupted him.

Jiang Ci slowly rose, her expression calm, but her gaze pierced Su Cheng'an like a cold blade:

"Why is Your Excellency in such a hurry? The accounts for my sister's dowry haven't even been settled yet, and you have the nerve to stand here and claim credit for my nephew?"

One sentence was like a bucket of cold water being poured on me.

All eyes in the hall turned to Su Cheng'an.

Su Cheng'an's face flushed and paled in turns, and he stammered, "Lord Jiang... this matter... this matter can be discussed later..."

"Why wait until later?" Jiang Ci pressed on relentlessly.

"Is the so-called meticulous guidance from the Marquis of Yongning just indulging his concubines in mistreating his legitimate daughter, misappropriating his deceased wife's dowry, and ignoring his legitimate son? Your concubine has been embezzling my sister's dowry for ten years. Now that my nephew has earned his military merit with his life on the line, the Marquis is eager to take a share?"

Every word is piercing to the heart.

Princess Anar listened with great interest. She didn't understand anything else, but she did understand that Su Qingrun's father ignored him.

She had previously assumed that General Su came from a poor family; after all, what young master fought so recklessly on the battlefield? Suddenly, she felt sorry for Su Qingrun and interjected at the opportune moment.

"Oh? So the Marquis of Yong Kingdom relies on misappropriating his wife's dowry and his son's military achievements to maintain his prestige?"

The old envoy tugged at her sleeve, but Anar shook him off, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Jiang Ci: "This gentleman speaks frankly! We on the grasslands despise men like this the most!"

Su Cheng'an trembled all over, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

The emperor's face darkened, and his gaze toward Su Cheng'an was filled with displeasure.

Jiang Ci knelt down and said loudly, "Your Majesty! Su Qingrun, the eldest son of the Marquis of Yongning, joined the army at a young age and has repeatedly made meritorious contributions. This time, he rescued the princess in the northern border and protected the peace talks, which is of great merit to the country! I dare to request Your Majesty to formally confer upon Su Qingrun the title of Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Yongning, so as to establish the eldest son as the legitimate heir and to reassure the hearts of meritorious officials!"

The emperor glanced at Su Cheng'an, whose face was ashen, then at Jiang Ci, who was kneeling upright, and nodded.

"Granted. Effective immediately, Su Qingrun is hereby appointed as the heir apparent to the Marquis of Yongning. He will formally inherit the title after he recovers from his injuries."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!" Jiang Ci kowtowed deeply.

Su Cheng'an slumped to the ground, his face ashen—with the position of heir apparent secured and Su Qingrun already possessing military merits, his so-called Marquis status was further undermined!

Consort Chen clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her flesh—with Su Qingrun now the heir apparent and Su Yaoyao backed by the Crown Prince, the Yongning Marquis's mansion was likely to be difficult to control.

After bestowing the rewards, the emperor looked at Xiao Chenyuan and said gently, "Yuan'er, the princess of the Northern Desert has come from afar, you see..."

Xiao Chenyuan stood up, his tone calm yet firm: "Your subject is busy. You mean to take the princess around? Your subject doesn't have time." After speaking, he glanced down at the Second Prince, who had just said he wanted to take the princess around.

That's very direct; they didn't even bother to come up with an excuse.

Xiao Qiming shrank back, not daring to reply.

Anar suddenly laughed. She stood up, walked to the emperor, and presented a brocade box—inside were a pair of blood-red jade discs, the Northern Desert's most precious treasure, the "Crimson Phoenix Twin Discs".

"Your Majesty, this is our Northern Desert's national treasure. My elder brother specially asked me to bring it here to show that the Northern Desert is willing to maintain eternal friendship with the Great Yong. So, for the sake of this treasure..."

After presenting the treasure, she blinked.

"Can Anar choose her own husband?"

The old envoy was really about to faint this time.

The emperor was taken aback by the question, then smiled and said, "I admire the princess's straightforwardness. However, marriage is a major event concerning both countries, and we need to consider it carefully."

He paused, then added meaningfully, "Princess, you might as well stay in the capital for a while longer, get to know the men of my Yong Kingdom better, and then make a decision."

That was a tactful way of putting it, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Anar didn't press the matter and readily agreed with a smile.

The palace banquet finally ended in a delicate atmosphere.

As she left, Anar deliberately went around to Su Yaoyao's side and handed her a brocade box. "My dear sister, I knew this would suit you perfectly the moment I saw you," she said, winking.

"Remember to use it properly~"

After saying that, he left with the envoy in a hurry without waiting for Su Yaoyao's reaction.

Not far away, Xiao Linyuan was talking to Jiang Ci about something, his brows furrowed tightly.

Su Yaoyao had no choice but to get into the carriage first.

Inside the carriage, she suspiciously opened the box—

Then he froze.

A set of clothes was neatly folded inside the box.

No, this can't be called clothing at all.

The crimson gauze, as thin as a cicada's wing, barely revealed an outline.

It also comes with a gold-threaded waist chain and a pair of anklets adorned with rubies.

Attached was a note, scrawled in Yongguo script: "Wear this when you dance, it'll absolutely seduce your Crown Prince! I consider you my own sister! You'll have to help me out then!"

Su Yaoyao: "..."

An ancient version of QQ underwear?!

This princess is really... bold!

She snapped the box shut, her ears burning. She subconsciously looked up at the distance—Xiao Chenyuan was speaking, his profile appearing even more aloof and otherworldly under the palace lanterns, his thin lips slightly pursed, his expression focused.

She is truly stunning...

Su Yaoyao tightened her grip on the box, and a sly smile suddenly appeared on her lips.

Okay.

The princess's "dance dress"... came at just the right time.