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

Chapter 146 My Menstrual Period Has Arrived

Su Yaoyao nestled in Xiao Chenyuan's arms, flipping through a storybook with a bored expression.

Xiao Chenyuan had one arm around her and the other hand folding folded paper. The two were busy with their own things, but they were stuck together and couldn't be separated.

He was still "pretending to be sick," wearing a moon-white nightgown, his hair casually tied up, looking less aloof and more languid than usual.

Ling Feng had just finished delivering the message and left; he was already used to this scene.

Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow and looked at Xiao Chenyuan.

"Ling Feng just said," she said slowly, "that the Empress Dowager has brought His Highness's 'cousin' back."

Xiao Chenyuan remained calm, not even putting down the folding book in his hand.

"What cousin?"

"Isn't the daughter of a collateral branch of the Shen family in Jiangnan His Highness's cousin?"

She closed the storybook, sat up from Xiao Chenyuan's lap, and looked at him with a half-smile.

"The Empress Dowager brought back a girl; surely she didn't just bring her back to play with?" she said slowly.

"A bestowed marriage? A concubine? Or... a direct wife?"

Xiao Chenyuan's arm tightened.

Su Yaoyao felt his muscles tense up and chuckled inwardly.

But he continued, "Your Highness, do you think that girl is pretty? I've heard that women from Jiangnan are the most gentle and charming~"

Xiao Chenyuan put down his pen and looked at her with a leisurely air.

"Jealous?" he asked softly, a hint of amusement in his voice, raising his hand to touch her face.

Su Yaoyao dodged his hand: "No, I didn't."

"I'm overjoyed! With a concubine by your side, Your Highness won't have to torment me every day anymore—"

Xiao Chenyuan suddenly lowered his head and bit her lip.

Not too hard, not too soft, just enough to leave a slightly tingling pain.

"Ugh!" Su Yaoyao covered her mouth, glaring at him. "Why did you bite me again?"

"I'll teach you to talk nonsense." Xiao Chenyuan's tone was calm, but there was a smile in his eyes. "What concubine or second wife? In my whole life, you're the only one."

Su Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat.

But he wouldn't mince words: "That's not necessarily true. What if that girl is really beautiful? What if His Highness can't take his eyes off her?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"Then I'll gouge out my eyes."

Su Yaoyao: "......"

Why does this person keep gouging out eyes?

"You're my only cousin."

Su Yaoyao asked instinctively, "When did I become His Highness's cousin?"

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

"Who said that back then..." He paused, lowering his voice to mimic her tone, "'Cousin...they didn't bring me my undergarments...'"

Su Yaoyao: "!!!"

That was so long ago!

Even with her thick skin, Su Yaoyao couldn't quite take it anymore.

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her face, which flushed red instantly, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

"Shut up!" she said, covering his mouth.

Xiao Chenyuan grasped her wrist and gently removed it.

"Is Yaoyao shy?"

"No!"

"have."

"I said no!"

Xiao Chenyuan chuckled softly, then suddenly reached out and slipped his hand inside her clothes from behind.

One hand.

Untie the sash of the undergarment.

Su Yaoyao: "!!!"

Her eyes widened, and before she could speak, that hand had already restlessly reached inside.

"What woman could be as graceful as Yaoyao..."

Su Yaoyao's body went limp, and her voice changed tone: "Xiao Chenyuan!"

"Yaoyao." He leaned close to her ear and kissed her earlobe, his voice low and husky, "The three-day deadline is approaching, and I can't wait any longer..."

His hands were still gesturing wildly, "Let me..."

Su Yaoyao felt weak all over from his touch, but a sliver of clarity remained in her mind.

She reached out and pressed down on his hand that was reaching down.

"No, that won't work."

Xiao Chenyuan paused.

Su Yaoyao looked at him, a sly smile in her eyes:

"Your Highness, please wait another seven days."

Xiao Chenyuan frowned: "How come it's seven days again?"

Su Yaoyao took his hand and slowly moved it down, finally placing it on her lower abdomen.

"This humble woman has started her period!"

She said matter-of-factly, "My stomach hurts, Your Highness, please rub it here."

Xiao Chenyuan: "..."

He looked down at his hand that she was holding, then at her face that was smiling like a fox, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Su Yaoyao pressed his hand on her lower abdomen and let out a comfortable sigh.

"It feels so warm~~ Keep rubbing."

Xiao Chenyuan was both annoyed and amused by her matter-of-fact attitude.

But he didn't pull his hand back in the end.

He resignedly massaged her lower abdomen, the pressure just right, neither too light nor too heavy.

"How long have you been in pain?" he asked.

"I just arrived today."

"Why didn't you say so sooner?"

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Su Yaoyao leaned against him, comfortably squinting her eyes. "Your Highness isn't going to 'fight a bloody battle' either, is she?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked down at her smug little face, feeling both annoyed and amused.

"Am I that kind of person?"

"Yes." Su Yaoyao nodded. "Your Highness is."

Xiao Chenyuan: "..."

He didn't say anything more, but his movements became even gentler.

Su Yaoyao was drowsy from his rubbing when she suddenly remembered something and opened her eyes.

"But Your Highness," she said in a muffled voice, "the Empress Dowager's return this time is surely not just about bringing a young lady with her, is it?"

Xiao Chenyuan remained silent for a moment.

"Um."

Su Yaoyao raised her head and looked at him.

"Three years ago," Xiao Chenyuan began, his voice calm, "the Empress Dowager wanted to interfere in the affairs of the Eastern Palace. I gathered some evidence and invited her to the Imperial Temple."

Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow.

请？

Perhaps they're in a rush.

"Three years have passed since I left," Xiao Chenyuan said. "I'm back now because of my wedding."

As the grandmother, the Empress Dowager should be present at the Crown Prince's wedding.

Xiao Chenyuan couldn't stop her, so he simply let her come back—rather than letting her plot in the dark, it was better to keep an eye on her in the open.

"So she brought that girl back..." Su Yaoyao said thoughtfully.

"She hasn't been idle these past three years. On the surface, she's probably trying to find a pawn to place in the Eastern Palace."

"What does Your Highness intend to do?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked down at her, his gaze deep.

"I won't answer."

Su Yaoyao was taken aback: "So direct?"

"My Eastern Palace only needs Yaoyao." Xiao Chenyuan looked at her, speaking each word clearly.

Su Yaoyao felt a surge of sweetness in her heart, but said aloud, "What about the Empress Dowager..."

"Back then, she was able to drive my mother to her death because I was too young to protect her. Now..."

He looked away and looked down at her.

"It's different now."

Su Yaoyao looked into his eyes, which held no hatred, no anger, only a deep, unfathomable calm.

But she knew how much was hidden beneath this calm.

"Indeed. His Highness has been feigning illness for so long, just waiting for her to return, hasn't he?"

Xiao Chenyuan didn't speak, but the corners of his lips slightly turned up.

Looking at his composed and strategic demeanor, Su Yaoyao suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

This person has calculated everything.

"And what about that girl?" she asked. "What's her name? What does she look like? Has Your Highness seen her?"

Xiao Chenyuan shook his head.

Su Yaoyao blinked: "Would Your Highness like to meet him?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"You want me to see this?"

Su Yaoyao thought for a moment, then said seriously, "Yes."

Xiao Chenyuan raised an eyebrow.

Su Yaoyao continued, "I want to see what kind of person the Empress Dowager has chosen."

She smiled slyly: "What if she really is beautiful? What if she's gentler, more virtuous, and more sensible than me?"

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her and suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a hint of indulgent helplessness.

"Okay. See you then."

Su Yaoyao was taken aback: "Your Highness really saw him?"

"Didn't you send me to see him?"

"I was just joking..."

He gently tapped the tip of her nose.

"My heart has long been devoured by a fox demon; how can I see anyone else?"

He continued pressing on her lower abdomen.

"But for now, let's take good care of my little fox demon."

Su Yaoyao smiled and leaned in to kiss him on the chin.

"Your Highness is so good."

Xiao Chenyuan lowered his head and gently bit her lip.

"Wait until seven days have passed," he said in a low, hoarse voice.

"Let's see if you dare to say that about me again."

Su Yaoyao shrank her neck.

A hungry wolf, don't mess with it, don't mess with it.

Outside the window, the night was deepening.

----

Meanwhile, on the official road thirty miles outside the city, a royal procession was slowly approaching.

In the very center of the carriage, an elderly woman with silver hair was resting with her eyes closed.

She held a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, her face was kind, and she exuded a peaceful aura from years of Buddhist worship.

The girl sitting opposite him sat upright, not daring to breathe loudly.

If you look closely, you'll see obvious marks on the girl's wrists.