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

Chapter 147 I need a kiss to have the strength

The sky was overcast on the day the Empress Dowager's imperial carriage entered the capital.

Inside the East Palace, Su Yaoyao was tidying her clothes in front of the mirror.

Today, as she was to meet the Empress Dowager, she specially changed into a more formal outfit—a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and her hair was neatly styled in a bun.

Xiao Chenyuan leaned against the headboard, looking at her with a smile on his lips.

"What are you laughing at?" Su Yaoyao glared at him in the mirror. "Your Highness seems to have it easy, just lying down."

Today, this man was dressed in a black prince's robe, with a golden crown binding his hair, exuding unparalleled elegance and nobility.

But he leaned against the bed, supporting his forehead with one hand, looking "extremely weak".

"Your Highness's illness is quite convincing," she turned to look him over.

Xiao Chenyuan raised his eyes, his gaze deep and unfathomable: "I'm not pretending."

Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow.

"I'm really weak." He stood up, walked over to her, and naturally leaned on her shoulder. "I need a kiss from you, Madam, to feel better."

Su Yaoyao: "..."

"You still need to help me." He took her hand and placed it on his arm.

Su Yaoyao was both amused and exasperated; why was this person becoming increasingly clingy?

"Your Highness, we need to see someone in a little while."

"You have to pretend when you meet people." Xiao Chenyuan lowered his head and kissed her again and again. "Let's make up for it first."

Su Yaoyao was so overwhelmed by his kisses that she had no choice but to let him have his way.

A light cough came from outside: "Your Highness, it's time to depart."

Xiao Chenyuan then released her, but still held her hand.

"Let's go. Let my 'medicinal catalyst' accompany us."

Su Yaoyao smiled and shook her head, then followed him into the carriage.

---

The Empress Dowager's Shou Kang Palace was exceptionally lively today.

When Su Yaoyao helped the "weak" Xiao Chenyuan in, everyone's eyes fell on them.

Xiao Chenyuan walked very slowly, as if each step required a great deal of effort. He leaned half of his body against Su Yaoyao, with one hand being supported by her, looking exactly like a patient who had not yet recovered from a serious injury.

Su Yaoyao wore a polite smile on her face, but in her heart she was ranting and raving.

Can you stop pretending so much? You're so heavy!

I don't know who he learned it from!

"My son!" The emperor was the first to stand up, his face full of concern. "Didn't I tell you to rest in the palace? Why are you out again?"

Xiao Chenyuan smiled weakly: "Grandson must come to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager."

As he spoke, he bowed to the elderly woman with silver hair at the head of the table.

The Empress Dowager sat in the main seat, dressed in a crimson palace gown, holding Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, her face kind and gentle.

She looked at Xiao Chenyuan, her eyes filled with heartache: "Good child, get up, get up. Look at your face, how did you get so thin?"

Su Yaoyao rolled her eyes inwardly.

瘦？

This man had been kissing her for ages last night; he was very strong.

Xiao Chenyuan was helped to sit down. Su Yaoyao was about to step aside when he grabbed her hand.

"Yaoyao," he said weakly, "don't go."

Su Yaoyao was taken aback.

Everyone in the room turned to look at them.

She looked down and met Xiao Chenyuan's "weak" eyes, which clearly held a hint of a smile.

This person...

"Your Highness," she said in a low voice, "there are so many people watching."

"So what if I'm looking?" Xiao Chenyuan said matter-of-factly. "I can't live without you."

The officials: "..."

I can't bear to look, I can't bear to look.

The emperor chuckled and said, "Yuan'er has forgotten his pain now that he has a wife."

The Empress smiled and chimed in, "That's right. Yaoyao has been staying in the Eastern Palace these days to take care of the Crown Prince, so their relationship is naturally good."

Su Yaoyao felt the Empress's gaze, which held a mixture of scrutiny, satisfaction, and... complexity.

She didn't show it on her face, but lowered her eyes slightly, looking shy.

As the Empress Dowager watched this scene, she twirled her prayer beads a little faster.

"Is this the girl from the Su family?" She looked at Su Yaoyao with a kind smile. "Come here and let me take a look."

Su Yaoyao stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Your subject Su Yaoyao greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager looked her up and down, her gaze gentle: "Good child, you are beautiful and have a good complexion. No wonder Yuan'er likes you so much."

She paused, then suddenly said, "Speaking of which, Yuan'er's health really needs some nourishment. This time I came back, I specially brought a maid who knows medicine—"

She waved behind her.

A young girl emerged from behind the screen, head bowed, her steps light.

She wore a light green embroidered plum blossom dress, her hair was neatly tied up, and her face was delicate, with the classic features of a Jiangnan beauty. But if you looked closely, you could see that the fingertips of her hands, hanging at her sides, were trembling slightly.

"This is Qinghe from the Shen family," the Empress Dowager said with a smile. "Speaking of which, she's Yuan'er's cousin. Her grandfather was from a collateral branch of the Shen family and was skilled in medicine. Qinghe learned some from him since she was little and knows best how to take care of one's health."

Shen Qinghe stepped forward and bowed to Xiao Chenyuan: "This humble woman... Shen Qinghe greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The voice was very soft, as if afraid of startling something.

Xiao Chenyuan gave a faint "hmm" without even lifting his eyelids.

The Empress Dowager watched this scene with her smile unchanged, and continued, "I have been worried about Yuan'er's injury. Why don't we let Qinghe stay in the East Palace to take care of your daily life? She understands medicine and is much better than those clumsy servants."

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.

The Empress's smile froze for a moment, while the Consort lowered her eyes to drink her tea, a faint smile playing on her lips. Xiao Qiming stood to the side, his eyes darting between Su Yaoyao and Shen Qinghe, waiting to see what would happen.

The Emperor coughed lightly: "Empress Dowager, this..."

"What's wrong?" The Empress Dowager looked at him, her smile still kind. "Does the Emperor find this inappropriate?"

The emperor opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

The Empress Dowager said slowly, "Although Yuan'er is the Crown Prince, he is still the grandson of the Shen family. The Shen family has been loyal to the court all these years, and Qinghe is a girl whose background we know well. What is there to worry about in keeping her in the Eastern Palace to take care of her?"

That was a perfectly watertight statement.

But Su Yaoyao understood.

This is a warning to Xiao Chenyuan—the Shen family of Jiangnan are of the same ilk as you.

Although you are now the Crown Prince, don't forget your public identity and your hidden background!

Xiao Chenyuan raised his eyes and looked at the Empress Dowager.

His face was still pale, and his expression was still weak, but there was no warmth in his eyes.

"Grandmother," he began, a slight smile playing on his lips—a smile so gentle it sent chills down one's spine.

"The Shen family has done quite well in the salt and grain transport industries over the years, Grandmother said... right?"

The Empress Dowager's smile froze slightly, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "I have lived in the imperial palace for a long time, so naturally I am unaware of the affairs of the court..."

"So Grandmother, you don't need to worry that your grandson doesn't remember our past. As long as your grandson remembers us, the Shen family will be fine. If your grandson doesn't remember us anymore..." He didn't finish his sentence, but just smiled.

"The Crown Prince's Palace has enough manpower. This Miss Shen should stay by the Empress Dowager's side and fulfill her filial duties."

The Empress Dowager paused for a moment as she twirled her prayer beads.

Xiao Chenyuan continued, "As for recuperating, Yaoyao has been taking excellent care of him these past few days. His health is improving day by day."

As he spoke, he tightened his grip on Su Yaoyao's hand and gave her a weak smile.

Su Yaoyao chuckled inwardly.

This person is really good at pretending.

The Empress Dowager looked at him, "Yuan'er, is this... a lack of gratitude towards me?"

"Your grandson wouldn't dare," Xiao Chenyuan said, lowering his eyes. "But your grandson has his own plans."

That's a polite way of putting it, but the meaning is very clear—it's none of your business how I handle things.

The Empress Dowager's smile finally faded a little.

"Alright, alright," she waved her hand, "You child, you've always had your own opinions. I'm not going to interfere anymore, I'm not going to interfere anymore."

Shen Qinghe stood there, her head bowed even lower, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Su Yaoyao looked at her, feeling that something was off.

---

After leaving Shou Kang Palace, Su Yaoyao helped Xiao Chenyuan walk slowly.

Once they reached a secluded spot, Xiao Chenyuan immediately straightened up, showing no signs of weakness whatsoever.

Su Yaoyao glanced at him sideways: "Your Highness's illness is so convincingly faked."

Xiao Chenyuan looked down at her, a slight smile playing on his lips: "You've taught her well, Madam."

Su Yaoyao was taken aback: "When did I teach you that?"

Xiao Chenyuan leaned close to her ear and whispered, "When you were up there... when you said you were tired..."

Su Yaoyao: "!!!"

Her face flushed red instantly, and she reached out to hit him.

Xiao Chenyuan grasped her wrist and pulled her into his arms.

"Yaoyao," he looked down at her, a smile in his eyes, "so many people are watching."

Su Yaoyao froze, and sure enough, she felt gazes coming from all directions.

She gritted her teeth and forced a polite smile.

"Your Highness, loosen your grip."

Xiao Chenyuan didn't loosen his grip; instead, he hugged her even tighter.

"I won't let go." He said in a low voice, "I'm tired from acting just now, I need my wife to hug me to feel better."

Su Yaoyao: "..."

This person is becoming increasingly shameless.

---

In the distance, Xiao Qiming stood under the corridor, watching the two figures embracing, his face grim.

"Mother," he said in a low voice to the imperial concubine beside him, "the Empress Dowager's return..."

The imperial concubine glanced at him.

"Don't worry. The Empress Dowager's return is a good thing."

Xiao Qiming was puzzled.

The Imperial Concubine did not explain further, but simply looked in the direction where the Empress Dowager had left, a cryptic smile playing on her lips.

"That Miss Shen is quite pretty. It's a pity..."

Unfortunately, she didn't say what it was a pity.

On the other side, the Empress sat in the phoenix carriage, her face calm, but the knuckles of her hand holding the handkerchief were white.

"Your Highness," a palace maid whispered, "that Miss Shen..."

The Empress was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "She's just a pawn; she can't cause any trouble."

Her gaze fell into the distance.

"The one who should really be worried is the Empress Dowager herself. The Crown Prince is still my adopted son, and for now, his position is in jeopardy! Send someone to remind Yao Yao!"

---

After everyone left Shou Kang Palace, only the Empress Dowager and Shen Qinghe remained.

The Empress Dowager continued to hold her prayer beads, her face kind and gentle.

"Qinghe," she began, her voice gentle, "what do you think of the Crown Prince?"

Shen Qinghe knelt before her, head bowed, her voice trembling: "Your Majesty, this subject...this subject dares not look any further."

The Empress Dowager smiled.

"Why are you trembling?" The Empress Dowager's voice remained gentle. "Do you think this place is a pit of fire?"

Shen Qinghe suddenly looked up, her eyes reddening: "This humble woman dares not!"

The Empress Dowager smiled when she saw her terrified expression.

That smile was kind, yet it sent chills down your spine.

"Don't be afraid." She reached out and stroked Shen Qinghe's head. "You've really impressed me. Of all your brothers and sisters, you're the only one who's managed to shoulder this burden. You're quite admirable."

Shen Qinghe lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes, but she dared not let them fall.

"Go to the Crown Prince," the Empress Dowager said leisurely, "it's up to you. If you can get him to even glance at you, that's your skill. If not…"

She paused.

"I have other plans."

After she left, the Empress Dowager leaned against the soft couch and closed her eyes to rest.

Behind the screen, a dark figure whispered, "That Miss Su is the Empress's person."

"The Empress? I was able to get rid of one Empress back then, why would I be afraid of a second one?"

"That girl, have her come here. I want to see what kind of woman Yuan'er is so interested in."

"Perhaps...she is the one I'm looking for, the one..."

----

At this moment in the Prime Minister's residence, Chu Qingzi looked at the woman before her, whose face was disfigured and who was half-dead.

While unconscious, the woman murmured, "Sister, run... run..."

Chu Qingzi frowned and instructed the physician, "Save her, but don't make a fuss."