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

The two were still laughing and joking in the bathtub, splashing water all over the floor.

Su Yaoyao was clinging to Xiao Chenyuan's shoulder, about to tickle the ticklish spot on his side—

This person looks aloof, but surprisingly, they are ticklish.

Suddenly, I heard Chuntao's voice outside, timid and a little shy:

"Miss... The eldest young master sent someone to tell you that someone from the palace has come and wants you to return to the manor to receive an imperial decree."

Su Yaoyao was taken aback and lifted her head from Xiao Chenyuan's embrace: "Receive the imperial decree?"

She instinctively looked at the man beside her.

Xiao Chenyuan remained calm, seemingly unsurprised. He lowered his head and placed a light kiss on her forehead, his voice gentle:

"Go."

Su Yaoyao blinked, then suddenly realized—could it be…

Her heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

She hurriedly changed her clothes and took a carriage back to the Yongning Marquis's residence. When she arrived, there were already many people waiting in front of the gate.

Su Qingrun stood at the front, dressed in a black outfit with a sword at her waist, her face somewhat... ashen.

Seeing his sister alight from the carriage, he glared at her, took a few steps forward, and lowered his voice:

"If I don't keep an eye on you for a day, you'll do something bad again!"

Su Yaoyao shrank her neck and stuck out her tongue.

Just then, a shrill voice came from outside the door:

"Imperial edict arrives—"

Chief Eunuch Liu, carrying a bright yellow scroll, entered with a smile, glanced around the hall, and announced in a loud voice:

"Congratulations, Lord Su and Miss Su!"

Su Yaoyao subconsciously looked around—the Marquis? Where was her father, Su Cheng'an?

Su Qingrun had already pulled her down to kneel: "Your subject Su Qingrun receives the imperial decree."

Eunuch Liu unfolded the imperial edict and cleared his throat:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Su Qingrun, the eldest son of the Yongning Marquis, joined the army at a young age and repeatedly distinguished himself in battle, demonstrating commendable loyalty and bravery. He now inherits the title of Yongning Marquis. It is hoped that he will be diligent and frugal, bringing glory to his family."

"The eldest daughter of the Marquis's family, Su Yaoyao, is gentle, virtuous, talented, and beautiful. She is hereby betrothed to Crown Prince Xiao Chenyuan, and the wedding will take place on an auspicious day. This is the imperial decree—"

After the imperial edict was read, the entire hall fell silent.

While Su Yaoyao was still in a daze, Su Qingrun had already stood up and steadily accepted the imperial edict: "Your subject accepts the edict and thanks Your Majesty for your great favor."

He turned to the steward, who immediately presented a heavy purse and handed it to the old eunuch, saying, "You've worked hard, sir."

The old eunuch weighed the item in his hand, his smile deepening. He uttered a few more auspicious words before leaving with his entourage.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Su Yaoyao was still kneeling on the ground, looking up at the imperial edict in her brother's hand, somewhat dazed: "Brother... this... is a marriage decree?"

Su Qingrun handed the imperial edict to the steward for safekeeping, then reached out and pulled her up, saying calmly, "Yes, the marriage is hereby granted."

"Then..." Su Yaoyao hesitated for a moment, "Where is Father? That eunuch just now said 'Lord Su'..."

Su Qingrun said calmly, "He left the capital last night."

"Leaving Beijing?"

"Mmm." Su Qingrun pulled her to sit down on a chair, poured her a cup of tea, and pushed it towards her.

"The Marquis's mansion has made such a huge fool of itself, he has no face to stay in the capital anymore. I made a deal with him - I will pay to redeem the ancestral property that Aunt Liu mortgaged, on the condition that he take that illegitimate son back to the Su family's ancestral home and live out his days in peace."

He paused, his voice turning colder: "From now on, I'm in charge of the Yongning Marquis's residence."

Su Yaoyao listened in a daze.

He spoke casually, but Su Yaoyao knew there was definitely a game going on behind the scenes.

Su Cheng'an is a man who values ​​face and title above all else. For him to willingly leave the capital and give up his marquisate... my brother must have put in a lot of effort.

"That's fine," she said softly. "Leaving this place of trouble will be better for everyone."

Su Qingrun glanced at her and suddenly said, "It's you, though."

Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat.

"I heard," Su Qingrun's voice turned serious, "that you went to Nanfeng Pavilion yesterday?"

Su Yaoyao: "!!!"

I just managed to appease one jealous person, and now another fierce older brother appears?

Her scalp tingled, and she gave a dry laugh: "Brother, let me explain..."

"Su Yaoyao," Su Qingrun interrupted her, her eyes dangerous, "have you grown bolder now? Or do you think I can't lift a knife anymore?"

Su Yaoyao immediately cowered, tugging at his sleeve and shaking it.

"Brother... I was wrong... I was just... curious..."

"Curious?" Su Qingrun raised an eyebrow. "So curious that you almost got drugged and kidnapped?"

Su Yaoyao choked, muttering softly, "That wasn't... a close call, was it..."

"How dare you say that!" Su Qingrun pretended to hit her on the head.

Su Yaoyao quickly covered her head, closed her eyes, and blurted out:

"Brother, I'm hungry!"

Su Qingrun: "..."

He looked at his sister's spoiled and pouting act, feeling both annoyed and amused. Finally, he sighed helplessly and poked her forehead.

"Go eat."

He paused, then added:

"After you finish eating, I still need to prepare your dowry."

He looked at her with a complex expression, a mixture of heartache, reluctance, and overwhelming affection.

"You brat... you're getting married in the blink of an eye."

Su Yaoyao's nose tingled, and she rushed over to hug his arm, pressing her face against his shoulder:

"Brother, I will always be your sister."

Su Qingrun stiffened for a moment, then relaxed and gently patted her back:

"Um."

"And another thing," Su Qingrun looked at her, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"The Crown Prince... is truly sincere towards you. But you must also remember, he is the Crown Prince, the future ruler of the country. You... should weigh this carefully. If one day he betrays you, remember, you still have me as your brother..."

Su Yaoyao's eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded vigorously:

"Um!"

The brother and sister walked side by side into the mansion.

The sunlight was perfect, shining on the two of them and casting long shadows.

In the distance, on the highest pavilion of the East Palace.

Xiao Chenyuan stood quietly, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Yongning Marquis's residence.

Ling Feng stood behind him and whispered, "Your Highness, the imperial decree has been issued. Miss Su... is now your fiancée."

Xiao Chenyuan remained silent.

He just stared in that direction for a long time before letting out a soft "hmm".

But the corners of his lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

His slender figure.

Finally, rightfully and legitimately, it was his.

After Ling Feng left, Xiao Chenyuan walked to the desk, opened a hidden compartment, and took out a yellowed scroll.

Unfolding the painting reveals a woman dressed in foreign attire, with gentle features, holding a two- or three-year-old child in her arms.

Xiao Chenyuan gently stroked the face of the woman in the painting with his fingertips, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Mother," he murmured to himself, his voice so soft that only he could hear, "I am going to get married. She is very good... If you were alive, you would definitely like her."

After a long while, he finally put the scroll away again and locked it in the hidden compartment.

Meanwhile, in a secluded mansion somewhere in the capital city.

He Qing waved his folding fan as he listened to his subordinates report that the imperial edict had been issued, a hint of melancholy flashing in his peach blossom eyes.

"It's just an arranged marriage..." he muttered to himself.

"It's not like you can't steal it..."