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

Chapter 182 Xiao Chenyuan, you beast!

The next morning, Su Yaoyao woke up because she was hungry.

I've been "busy" these past few days.

She didn't have time to eat; after two bowls of porridge yesterday, she was sleepy again.

She groggily opened her eyes and saw a red canopy overhead.

It took me a moment to realize that she was already married...

She married that aloof and ascetic Buddhist monk.

Then he pinned me to the bed and dismantled me for three days.

She tried to sit up.

"hiss--"

pain,

It hurts everywhere.

My back aches, my legs hurt, and there's one place that's especially painful...

She took a deep breath.

"Xiao! Chen! Yuan!"

The seat next to me was already empty, and the blankets were cold.

But as soon as she shouted, the door was pushed open.

Xiao Chenyuan walked in, carrying a bowl of porridge.

He changed into a moon-white casual robe, with a jade belt around his waist, his hair perfectly styled, exuding a cool and aloof air, like a celestial being.

Looking at his refreshed appearance and then at her own half-dead state, Su Yaoyao was furious.

"You—" she pointed at him.

"How come you're acting like nothing happened?!"

Xiao Chenyuan walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Something came up." He said in a flat tone.

My lower back aches.

Su Yaoyao: "..."

You only have back pain? Look at me!

Xiao Chenyuan scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blew on it, and brought it to her lips.

"Eat something first."

Su Yaoyao glared at him, but still opened her mouth and ate.

The porridge was cooked until soft and sticky, with a faint medicinal aroma, and melted in your mouth.

She swallowed, then suddenly gasped.

"How many days have we been fooling around? Hasn't it been several days? The bride still has to go to the palace to pay her respects! To the Empress, to the Empress Dowager—we're doomed, we're doomed!"

She said this and then struggled to get up again.

Xiao Chenyuan reached out and pressed her back onto the bed.

The movement was very gentle, yet it rendered her unable to move.

"Don't move."

Su Yaoyao glared at him.

"No, no! It's been days already! I haven't gone to pay my respects yet. What will people say about me? That I'm arrogant because I'm favored as a new bride? That the Crown Princess is disrespectful?"

Seeing her anxious expression, Xiao Chenyuan's lips curled up slightly.

"What's the rush?"

Su Yaoyao was so anxious she wanted to bite him.

"What's the rush! That's the Empress! The Empress Dowager! I won't even go to pay my respects on her first day—"

"It's not the first day."

Su Yaoyao was taken aback.

"The disturbance has lasted for three days, and today is the fourth day."

Su Yaoyao blushed.

"It's all your fault!"

Xiao Chenyuan scooped up another spoonful of porridge and brought it to her lips.

"I have already sent someone to the palace to inform the Crown Princess that she is unwell and will pay her respects in a few days."

Su Yaoyao blinked.

"Is...is this appropriate?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked down at her.

"Why is it inappropriate? Everyone in the court knows that Su Yun'er poisoned her. It is perfectly reasonable for the Crown Princess to stay in bed for several days to get the antidote."

"The Empress is your aunt, she won't say much. Father is still ill, he can't afford to worry about these things."

Su Yaoyao's heart melted as she listened to his words.

This person has thought of everything for her.

But she still felt it was inappropriate.

"What about the Empress Dowager?" she asked. "What about the Empress Dowager...?"

Xiao Chenyuan's eyes turned cold for a moment.

"The Empress Dowager?" he said calmly. "She wouldn't say anything either."

Su Yaoyao looked at him and suddenly understood something.

Something must have happened to the Empress Dowager as well.

She recalled the look in the Empress Dowager's eyes when she left on her wedding day, the chill hidden beneath that kind face, and felt a vague unease in her heart.

"Your Highness." She took his hand.

Xiao Chenyuan looked down at her.

Su Yaoyao said earnestly, "No matter what happens, we'll be together."

Xiao Chenyuan's expression softened.

"Okay. Have some more."

"hiss--"

Su Yaoyao tried to prop herself up a little, but she fell back onto the bed, her back aching and throbbing.

She lay face down on the pillow, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Xiao Chenyuan...you beast..."

Xiao Chenyuan couldn't help but laugh when he saw her like this.

That smile was gentle, yet full of doting affection.

"Am I a beast?" He leaned down, brought his voice close to her ear, and whispered.

That's because some people are too much troublemakers.

Su Yaoyao's eyes widened.

"Me? Me, causing trouble?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Who said, 'A-Yuan, I want more'?"

Su Yaoyao's face flushed red instantly.

"Shut up!"

Xiao Chenyuan chuckled softly.

He pulled her into his arms and gently massaged her waist.

"Where does it hurt?"

Su Yaoyao pointed to her waist.

"here."

He then pointed to his legs.

"here."

He then pointed to his neck.

"here."

Finally, her face flushed slightly, and she pointed under the blanket.

"...That's where it hurts the most."

Xiao Chenyuan's gaze followed her finger downwards, then paused.

"there?"

Su Yaoyao buried her face in the blanket, her voice muffled.

Xiao Chenyuan remained silent for a moment.

Then, Su Yaoyao felt a hand gently cover her lower abdomen and probe downwards.

She grabbed his hand.

"Your Highness!"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her with an innocent expression.

"Let me take a look."

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Because—" Su Yaoyao's face flushed red, "No means no!"

Xiao Chenyuan raised an eyebrow.

"I didn't just watch, I also..."

Su Yaoyao: "Oh dear! Don't say that!"

She covered her face, not wanting to say anything more.

Xiao Chenyuan chuckled softly and withdrew his hand.

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore." He paused. "The female doctor came to see you and said you just... used too much and will be fine in a few days."

It was used too aggressively.

Su Yaoyao was completely distraught upon hearing this.

"Your Highness!" she glared at him. "What did you tell the female physician?!"

Xiao Chenyuan remained expressionless.

"I didn't say. She diagnosed it herself."

Su Yaoyao: "..."

She decided that she wouldn't leave this house for the next few days.

So embarrassing.

Looking at her like this, Xiao Chenyuan's smile deepened.

He reached out and pulled her, blanket and all, into his arms.

"Graceful".

"Um……"

"Thank you for your hard work these past few days."

Su Yaoyao leaned against him and mumbled softly.

"Knowing it's hard, why bother with all that..."

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his head and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"The third attack of that drug is no small matter," he said in a low voice. "If I don't exert all my strength, I won't be able to cure it."

Su Yaoyao blushed again when she thought about those three days.

Ok.

I can barely accept this reason.

She leaned against him, and suddenly remembered something.

"Your Highness."

"Um?"

"Those 108 moves..."

Xiao Chenyuan looked down at her.

Su Yaoyao buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled.

"Only fifty-something have been seen..."

Xiao Chenyuan was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

The laughter was low and carried a hint of pleasure.

"No rush," he said. "There's plenty of time."

Su Yaoyao felt a sweet warmth in her heart as she listened to his laughter.

She reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling into his embrace.

"Xiao Chenyuan".

"Um?"

"I like you."

Xiao Chenyuan tightened his grip.

"I am too."

Outside the window, the sun is shining brightly.

In the distance, the soft footsteps of palace maids could be heard.

Chun Tao stood outside the door with a bowl of porridge, listening to the faint voices coming from inside, her face slightly flushed.

She turned around and saw Ling Feng standing under the eaves.

The two exchanged a glance.

He sighed at the same time.

Well, it seems I won't be able to enter this gate again today.

---

In the distance, Shou Kang Palace.

The Empress Dowager sat in the Buddhist hall, twirling her prayer beads, her face serene.

"What did the Crown Prince say?"

The palace maid bowed her head and reported.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has sent word that the Crown Princess is unwell and will not be able to come to pay her respects today."

The Empress Dowager paused in her movements.

"Are you feeling unwell?" She smiled. "Is it discomfort, or... do you not want to come?"

The palace servants dared not respond.

The Empress Dowager held her prayer beads, her gaze deep and unfathomable.

"That medicine..." she said softly, "did actually help him."

She recalled Xiao Chenyuan's composed demeanor in the main hall that day, and a cryptic smile appeared on her lips.

"This child is looking more and more like his mother."

She paused.

"They're getting more and more... difficult to deal with."

Inside the Buddhist hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and continued to twirl her prayer beads.

But the prayer beads were twirled a few times faster than usual.