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

He stared intently at the figure not far away, his eyes wide open.

Her flowing robes accentuated her flawless, ethereal beauty.

Her waist was so slender that he could wrap his hand around it, and the curve of her chest... His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

And that alluring face...

This...this is Su Yaoyao?!

The fiancée he had loathed for years?

When did she... grow up like this?

"Your Highness?" Su Yun'er noticed his lapse in composure, alarm bells rang in her heart, and she quickly called out to him softly.

Xiao Qiming acted as if he hadn't heard, his eyes still fixed on Su Yaoyao.

Su Yaoyao seemed oblivious to the stares from everyone present, walking with composure and a faint, polite smile playing on her lips.

"Sister..." Su Yun'er forced a smile and stepped forward, "Sister today...I almost don't recognize you."

Su Yaoyao stopped a few steps away from them, her gaze sweeping lightly over Xiao Qiming's arm around Su Yun'er's shoulder, a half-smile playing on her lips.

"Second Prince, my sister."

She nodded slightly, her voice clear and melodious, with a hint of languid huskiness, "What a coincidence."

Xiao Qiming recoiled as if burned, his Adam's apple bobbing as he opened his mouth, but he couldn't utter a single word.

The woman before him was so unfamiliar that it startled him, yet... she was so beautiful that he couldn't take his eyes off her.

Seeing the Second Prince's state, Su Yun'er's jealousy and hatred intensified.

"Sister, is this dress... newly made? The color is bright, but the style..."

She feigned hesitation, "Isn't it... a bit too revealing? His Highness the Crown Prince is also at the palace banquet today, so it would be better for you... to be more dignified."

These words were a veiled criticism, implying that Su Yaoyao's attire was inappropriate and frivolous.

Sure enough, some of the older ladies looked at Su Yaoyao with a scrutinizing gaze upon hearing this.

Su Yaoyao had not yet spoken.

However, a young man in blue couldn't help but speak up: "Miss Su, you are mistaken. Miss Su, you are exceptionally beautiful and well-dressed!"

Another person chimed in, "Exactly. In my opinion, Miss Su's attire is elegant and refined, far superior to some who wear gold and silver."

These words were pointed, and the faces of the noble ladies who had just mocked Su Yaoyao immediately turned ugly.

Su Yaoyao smiled slightly at the group, which made the young men blush.

Looking at her charming smile, Su Qiming felt a surge of lust and sneered, "Dressed up so extravagantly, who are you trying to impress? Shameless!"

Su Yaoyao turned to look at him, a faint hint of mockery flashing in her eyes, so fleeting it was almost impossible to catch.

Instantly, a hazy, watery light gradually appeared in those beautiful eyes.

Then, she lowered her head slightly, her voice trembling.

"Your Highness... there's no need to humiliate me like this. Yaoyao... understands..."

She looked up, tears welling in her eyes, yet her gaze was clear and bright, carrying a broken strength.

"Your Highness and my sister are deeply in love, and Yaoyao has witnessed it all."

Su Yaoyao's voice was soft and gentle, yet it carried clearly throughout the surroundings.

"Although Yaoyao is engaged to His Highness, she is unwilling to be the villain who steals someone else's love and hinders their marriage..."

As she said this, she appeared to be suppressing her grievances while pretending to be strong.

"This marriage... since it was bestowed by His Majesty, I, a lowly person, dare not offer any opinion. But if Your Highness and my sister truly love each other..."

She bit her lip, revealing a vibrant color on her full lips, which made the hearts of several young men skip a beat.

"Your Highness, rest assured, this marriage... If Your Highness truly does not wish for it, I will kneel before my aunt for three days and three nights, kowtowing and begging for mercy, and I will... I will definitely beg my aunt to grant Your Highness and my sister's wish, so that you two lovers can be together forever."

As she finished speaking, a tear slid down her pale cheek at just the right moment.

The beauty sheds tears, and I feel pity for her.

silence.

A deathly silence.

Look at Su Yaoyao, who is on the verge of tears but is holding back her grief and is wholeheartedly "fulfilling" the wishes of others.

Then look at the second prince, who is aggressive, protects his half-sister, and shows no respect for his fiancée.

And then there's Su Yun'er, who hides behind the Second Prince, seemingly weak but actually causing the Second Prince to publicly belittle her elder sister.

Sit down!

Several kind-hearted young ladies had already teared up and pressed their hands to the corners of their eyes.

"Miss Su... is so pitiful."

"Yeah, she's the one who's been wronged..."

"A legitimate fiancée, yet she has to watch helplessly as her fiancé is being affectionate with someone else..."

"And yet they're so magnanimous, saying they'll grant their wish..."

"Miss Su the Second, she usually looks so gentle and weak, how come..."

"The Second Prince has gone too far!"

Xiao Qiming stared, mouth agape, at Su Yaoyao's tear-filled yet stunningly beautiful face, listening to the subtle accusations around him, his mind a jumbled mess.

He used to find Su Yaoyao's crying annoying, but now...

Why did that single tear cause him such unease?

And then there was her mention of annulment... He suddenly realized that he didn't seem as happy as he had imagined.

And she loved him so much that she was willing to beg on her knees to grant his wish...

Doesn't this just prove that she has feelings for him?

He opened his mouth, wanting to say, "You're smart enough to know what's good for you," but the words that came out were: "You... you know that's good! But... this engagement was bestowed by Father Emperor, it's not something you can just cancel like that..."

Su Yun'er was both shocked and furious.

Your Highness's tone... why does it sound like you're reluctant to part with him?!

And that bitch! When did she learn this trick of feigning weakness to gain sympathy?!

She's even better at pretending than she is!

Seeing that the situation was not good, she quickly squeezed out tears: "Sister, please don't say that... Yun'er never thought of competing with you. As long as I can serve His Highness, Yun'er will be content..."

She was about to kneel down when Xiao Qiming grabbed her.

"Yun'er, what are you doing!" Xiao Qiming hugged her tenderly, then looked at Su Yaoyao with a complicated expression.

Su Yaoyao sneered inwardly.

Oh, so they're starting a competition to see who can cry the most?

She gently wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, her voice softening further: "Little sister, please don't cry... Don't worry, I always keep my word. It's just..."

She paused, then looked at Xiao Qiming hesitantly, saying, "I'm just worried that if this engagement is really called off, and Your Highness wants to marry me, it might cause gossip. People might say that I... that I'm seducing my future brother-in-law while I'm seriously ill..."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Xiao Qiming's expression changed.

Su Yaoyao quickly shook her head, tears finally rolling down her cheeks: "Yaoyao didn't mean that! My sister is innocent and kind, how could she do such a thing? It's all just gossip from outsiders... Yaoyao was just worried about my sister's reputation..."

As she spoke, she covered her face with a handkerchief, her shoulders trembling slightly, and her crying was so pitiful that it moved me to tears.

The way the noble ladies around Su Yun'er looked at her had changed.

Yes... it's indeed inappropriate for Miss Su to be inseparable from the Second Prince all day long...

Su Yun'er was so angry that she trembled all over, but she still had to maintain her delicate image. In a short time, her face turned blue.

Su Yaoyao increased her intensity, her eyes scanning back and forth between the two of them.

She gave a bitter smile, a smile so broken it was heartbreaking.

"Yaoyao understands. Your Highness, rest assured, Yaoyao... will not have any more expectations."

After speaking, she slightly curtsied, then turned and walked towards her seat.

The hem of her skirt brushed across the smooth ground, her hair ornament swayed gently, and her back was slender yet upright.

He left behind a variety of expressions in the audience, and Xiao Qiming with a livid face.

He stared at that figure's back, and a sudden, inexplicable sense of unease welled up inside him.

Su Yun'er nestled in his arms, sensing his momentary lapse in concentration, and alarm bells rang in her mind.

Wait a minute... this good-for-nothing is acting really strange today!

She must implement the plan as soon as possible!

As Su Yaoyao walked towards her seat, she gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes from an angle where no one could see, and a fleeting, cold smile appeared on her lips.

That scumbag boyfriend.

You can't even handle this?

The best is yet to come.

She sat down and looked up at the head of the table—

That spot is still empty.

Crown Prince Xiao Chenyuan has not yet arrived.

Su Yaoyao picked up her wine glass, and the amber-colored liquid rippled within.

Not urgent.

Hunters are always the most patient.

Her real target today... is not that brainless second prince.

Just then, a high-pitched eunuch's voice suddenly came from the entrance:

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"

The entire room fell silent instantly.

Su Yaoyao looked up.

Amidst the dazzling palace lanterns, a figure as serene and aloof as snow slowly entered.