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

The next morning, when Su Yaoyao woke up, there was no one beside her.

She touched the slightly cool bedding beside her and pouted—this man had gone to court again without a word.

Chun Tao brought in hot water, looking somewhat hesitant. She took out a neatly folded note from her sleeve: "Miss, someone delivered this this morning, saying it must be given to you."

Su Yaoyao unfolded the note, which contained only one line of elegant running script:

[To learn about the Crown Prince's past, let's talk at Spring Breeze Pavilion. — Crane.]

She stared at the line of text, her brows furrowing slightly.

Heqing.

This person was mysterious, acted ambiguously, and always spoke with a hint of truth in his words; she really didn't want to get involved. But the words "The Crown Prince's Past" were like hooks scratching at her heart.

Xiao Chenyuan, the current crown prince, is second only to the emperor and should be the pride of heaven. Why did he choose to cultivate Buddhism for ten years? And the subtle atmosphere between him and the emperor—the emperor's eyes showed guilt, pain, and unspoken words... Something was very wrong.

The original owner's memories of these things were vague, and she had never come into contact with these palace secrets since she transmigrated.

Curiosity grows wildly like vines.

Su Yaoyao hesitated for a moment, then burned the note over the candlelight: "Chuntao, get ready, we're going out."

"Miss!" Chun Tao exclaimed anxiously, "That person was acting so mysteriously, what if it's a trap? And what about His Highness the Crown Prince..."

"So we have to go secretly." Su Yaoyao stood up, walked to the wardrobe and rummaged through it. "Change into men's clothes. Go and have someone prepare an inconspicuous carriage, and we'll leave through the side door."

Half an hour later, in a private room on the second floor of Chunfeng Pavilion.

He Qing wasn't wearing a mask today. His excessively handsome face looked dashing and unrestrained in the morning light. His peach blossom eyes were curved, and his collar was still open, revealing his lean chest. He was slowly and methodically making tea.

Seeing Su Yaoyao enter, he smiled and raised his hand to indicate, "Master has arrived? Please have a seat."

Su Yaoyao sat down opposite him and went straight to the point: "What do you know?"

He Qing didn't rush to answer, but smiled and pushed a cup of tea towards him first: "Master is so impatient. I've missed you so much, can't you talk to me for a bit first?"

"Don't give me that," Su Yaoyao said without touching the tea. "It doesn't work on me."

He Qing's lips twitched, and she sighed with a wronged expression: "Master is truly heartless."

Su Yaoyao looked impatient. "Not going to tell me? Then I'm leaving..."

He Qing quickly grabbed her, "Oh dear, why are you in such a hurry..."

He paused, his nonchalant expression fading, and lowered his voice:

"Does Master know of... the Kingdom of Liang?"

Su Yaoyao frowned. The original owner had no memory of it, and she hadn't heard of it after transmigrating: "I don't know."

He Qing's expression froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting her to be so decisive.

He cleared his throat before continuing:

"Liang is a small country on the southwestern border of Yong. Although it is not wealthy, its people live in peace and contentment. More than 20 years ago, the current emperor of Yong—who is also the father of your Crown Prince—suddenly launched an attack and destroyed Liang within three months."

Su Yaoyao's expression hardened slightly. What did this have to do with His Highness the Crown Prince?

He Qing observed her expression and slowly said, "On the day the Liang Kingdom fell, the entire royal family was slaughtered, except for the Liang Kingdom's most beloved little princess... who went missing."

He paused, his fingertips lightly tapping the table:

"Coincidentally, in the same year, the wealthy Shen family of Jiangnan suddenly had a legitimate daughter, who was stunningly beautiful and exceptionally talented. Even more coincidentally, this Miss Shen was soon selected to enter the palace, where she enjoyed great favor and became the... Empress Yuan of Yong Kingdom."

Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat.

Empress Yuan—Xiao Chenyuan's birth mother?!

"What exactly are you trying to say?" She stared at He Qing.

"I was merely telling my master a story," He Qing said with a smile, picking up her teacup. "Doesn't my master want to know... what happened to that princess afterward?"

Su Yaoyao didn't speak. What He Qing meant was that the Liang princess was the so-called Miss Shen!

Is that the empress who died young?!

Looking into He Qing's smiling peach blossom eyes, she was about to soften her gaze when she suddenly felt a bit dizzy and a strange heat surged through her body.

Not right.

She suddenly looked at the cup of tea she hadn't touched—the cup was fine, it was…

Incense!

The faint, almost imperceptible warm fragrance in the private room!

"He Qing!" Su Yaoyao suddenly stood up, but her legs went weak and she almost fell.

Chun Tao and Jing Zhe tried to rush over, but were restrained by two men in black who suddenly appeared behind He Qing.

"Don't be afraid, Master," He Qing stood up and walked closer step by step, reaching out to help her. "That incense will only make you feel softer; it won't harm your body."

Su Yaoyao shook off his hand, her vision blurring: "What...do you want to do...?"

"I just wanted to take my master away. I love you, and there's nothing I can't get if I set my sights on something, so... I used some tricks..." He Qing sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"That Crown Prince isn't as virtuous as you think. The blood on his hands and the secrets hidden in his heart are far deeper than you imagine. Come with me, I'll take you to a paradise, a place without strife or intrigue..."

"You...you're dreaming..." Su Yaoyao gritted her teeth, her nails digging into her palms, trying to stay awake with the pain.

He Qing leaned closer: "Then I can only apologize... Master. When we arrive, you will understand my good intentions..."

Su Yaoyao tried to push him away, but her hands and feet were too weak to exert any strength.

Darkness grew before my eyes, and I could vaguely hear the sounds of clashing weapons and hurried footsteps...

Finally, everything went black, and she lost consciousness completely.

-----

I don't know how much time passed.

Su Yaoyao slowly woke up.

It was pitch black; there were no lights on.

She shifted her body and found herself lying on a soft bed, her clothes intact, but the heat had not completely dissipated, making her somewhat uncomfortable.

The familiar, cool sandalwood scent wafted to her nose, instantly putting her at ease.

"woke up?"

A voice came from the darkness, low and hoarse, cold, and devoid of emotion.

Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat, and she looked in the direction of the sound.

Xiao Chenyuan sat in the shadows not far from the bed, his black robes almost blending into the darkness.

"What did I tell you before?"

He slowly got up and walked over step by step. His footsteps were particularly clear in the empty room, yet they inexplicably sent chills down one's spine.

"Stay away from that person."

The footsteps slowly approached.

"Slender and unruly."

He reached out, his cold fingers gently stroking her cheek, his fingertips trembling slightly, whether from anger or lingering fear, it was hard to tell.

"I must punish you."