Earlier, in the confusion of the hall, the Second Prince—distracted and intoxicated—had placed the undergarment that had fallen to the ground onto Su Yun’er. In his mind, he couldn’t stop thinking of Su Yaoyao: her soaked form, her tearful eyes, and her words, “Yaoyao does not wish to take someone else’s love.”
Yet, in his arms, it was Su Yun’er.
The contrast and the nausea that followed left him feeling sick every time he now looked at her.
“Mother…” Xiao Qiming’s voice was hoarse as he tried to explain but didn’t know where to start.
Consort Chen wouldn’t listen. She turned to the Empress, forcing a smile:
“Sister, there must be a misunderstanding today. Qiming may have had too much to drink and was seduced by this shameless girl…”
“Consort Chen!” the Marquis of Yongning interjected hastily. “Yun’er is well-educated and proper; she would never do such a thing! Someone must have framed her!”
He even looked at Su Yaoyao as he spoke.
Su Yaoyao’s lips curved into a cold smile inwardly.
What a father.
Even now, he tried to throw mud onto her.
She lowered her lashes, voice trembling slightly:
“Father… what do you mean? Do you also think your daughter harmed her younger sister?”
Her eyes glistened, slightly red, yet she fought back the tears.
“I and my sister, though not born of the same mother, grew up together. How could I ever harm her? Today’s matter… pains me deeply as well.”
Her pitiful yet resolute stance drew sympathy from many.
Indeed, the eldest Miss Su was the true victim! Her fiancé and her younger half-sister had been involved, yet she had not cried nor caused a scene. The bias of the Marquis was painfully obvious!
Caught under so many stares, the Marquis froze, unsure of what to say.
The Empress, who had remained silent, finally spoke:
“The matter has reached this point; further words are of no use.”
Her gaze swept over the collapsed Su Yun’er, then Xiao Qiming, and finally landed on Consort Chen:
“The Second Prince and Su Yun’er have already shared intimacy. To preserve the royal dignity and the young lady’s honor, I believe… it is best to let them be.”
The words were gentle, yet struck like thunder.
Let them be?
How could she just… allow it?
Xiao Qiming already had a betrothal to Su Yaoyao, the legitimate daughter. Should she yield her position to her half-sister? Or should the illegitimate daughter be made a concubine?
But if she became a concubine… with her reputation ruined today, how could she live honorably in the future?
Consort Chen’s expression shifted. She gritted her teeth:
“Sister, Qiming’s marriage is granted by the Emperor. How can it be changed just like that? Besides…”
Her gaze fell on Su Yaoyao, complicated and calculating. “Su Yaoyao is the legitimate daughter.”
“Legitimate or not…”
The Empress’s voice cut through, firm and unyielding:
“When the Emperor granted the betrothal, he did not forbid change. Now that the Second Prince and Su Yun’er have acted on their emotions, if we do not provide resolution, what becomes of royal dignity? And Su family’s reputation?”
She paused and turned to the Marquis: “What do you think, Marquis?”
Cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
What could he say?
If he said no, Yun’er’s life would be ruined.
If he said yes, what of Yaoyao? How could he answer the Taifu Mansion?
Amid this dilemma, Su Yaoyao stepped forward and knelt:
“Your Majesty,” she said.
All eyes turned to her.
Tears welled, but she forced a broken smile:
“I… am willing to let my younger sister and the Second Prince be together.”
A murmur ran through the hall!
Xiao Qiming looked up, incredulous.
Su Yaoyao continued, her voice soft but resolute:
“Though the cause of today’s events is unknown, my sister has already… shared marital intimacy with the Second Prince. If I cling to the betrothal, I would be the villain breaking apart lovers.”
Her tears fell, yet her smile remained gentle:
“The Second Prince and my sister love each other. I… sincerely bless them.”
Then she removed a jade pendant from her waist and offered it with both hands:
“This jade pendant was a token given by His Majesty at the time of our engagement. Today… it returns to its rightful owner.”
She placed it at Xiao Qiming’s feet, then turned to the Empress and bowed deeply:
“I humbly request Your Majesty to annul my betrothal with the Second Prince. I… will henceforth devote myself to the monastery, praying for the royal family.”
Silence engulfed the hall.
A few soft-hearted ladies wiped their tears.
Such a noble girl! Betrayed by her fiancé and younger half-sister, yet she was magnanimous enough to let them be together—even willing to dedicate her life to prayer for the royal family!
Xiao Qiming gazed at the jade pendant, at Su Yaoyao’s resolute back, feeling an emptiness suddenly open in his chest.
He tried to speak, but Consort Chen pulled him back.
Consort Chen’s eyes were sharp as knives: “Miss Su, do you truly mean this?”
“Not a word is false,” Su Yaoyao lowered her eyes.
“Good!” Consort Chen responded immediately. “Since Miss Su understands righteousness so well, I will report this to His Majesty and honor your wish!”
Though she reluctantly let go of the Taifu family’s strong influence, seeing Su Yaoyao aligned with the Empress, letting her marry her son could bring no support, perhaps even trouble.
As for Su Yun’er? A disgraced illegitimate daughter could be appeased with the position of secondary consort, still able to draw in the Marquis’s family—no loss at all.
The Empress, observing the scene, allowed a satisfied glint in her eyes.
She stepped forward, supporting Su Yaoyao gently:
“Good child, you’ve been wronged. But do not mention the monastery; your marriage… I have other plans.”
The words were heavy with meaning.
Everyone exchanged glances, each guessing silently.
Su Yaoyao leaned against the Empress, quietly sobbing.
Yet from an unseen angle, she looked toward the collapsed Su Yun’er.
Their eyes met.
Su Yun’er’s were filled with resentment and despair.
Su Yaoyao’s lips curled slightly.
In silence, she mouthed:
“Little sister, do you like this grand gift?”
Su Yun’er shivered, darkness clouding her vision, and finally fainted.
Amid the chaos, no one noticed—
In the shadows at the other end of the corridor, a cold figure stood silently.
Xiao Chenyuan watched the girl “crying” in the Empress’s arms, her shoulders trembling slightly, the fingers in her sleeve tightly clenched, revealing a trace of icy intent.
He brushed the empty space on his wrist—where a string of prayer beads should have been.
A moment later, he turned and left.
The night wind carried his barely audible words:
“Monastery and prayers? A person like you… even Buddha would not dare accept.”