Silence filled the hall, all eyes fixed on the entrance.
Amid the brightest palace lanterns, a figure stepped in with measured grace.
He wore a simple white brocade robe, no jade pendant, no crown, a string of rosewood prayer beads wrapped around his hand, and his black hair tied with a single plain ebony pin.
Yet, in this minimalist attire, he exuded a rare, almost otherworldly nobility.
Su Yaoyao lifted her gaze, gripping her wine cup tightly.
—Who… is… this… ultimate specimen?!
Having lived in the world of fame and fortune in her past life, she’d seen countless handsome men.
But this… was a whole new level: cold, aloof, ascetic, carrying an almost holy aura—yet blessed with a face that made self-control nearly impossible.
Tall, slender, upright; features sharp and refined, a high bridge nose, lips pale.
Most striking of all were his eyes—perfectly shaped, a shade paler than usual, like obsidian submerged in a cold pond. When he looked at someone, it was calm, unruffled, yet piercing straight to the heart.
Even the lanterns seemed to dim in his presence.
But what captivated Su Yaoyao most wasn’t his face—it was the contradictory yet harmonious aura he radiated.
Cold. Ascetic. Detached from the mundane.
Like a white jade statue of a Buddha, watching mortals with compassionate detachment.
Su Yaoyao blinked, and a sudden surge of desire to conquer sparked within her.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
If she could stain those cold eyes with desire, curve his indifferent lips for her, and stir ripples in that still, deep lake of a heart…
Just imagining it made her pulse quicken.
The harder the challenge, the sweeter the victory.
Xiao Chenyuan—her target—seemed to notice something, his gaze sweeping lightly across the hall.
Where it passed, noble ladies lowered their eyes, too intimidated to look directly.
The boldest ones dared to glance up, but upon meeting those deep, pond-like eyes, they hurriedly looked away.
Finally, his gaze fell briefly on Su Yaoyao.
A fleeting glance, yet she keenly caught the faint trace of… surprise?
Then, his eyes shifted away, treating her as indistinguishable from the rest of the crowd.
Xiao Chenyuan walked to the seat at the lower end of the main dais. Attendants promptly served tea.
He lifted the cup, fingers long and jade-like, movements slow and deliberate, even the sweep of his sleeves radiating meditation-like serenity.
Silent all the while, yet instantly the center of attention.
Su Yaoyao retracted her gaze, lips curling slightly.
Excellent.
The more unapproachable the man, the greater the satisfaction in teasing him.
Just then, a faint commotion arose across the hall.
A noblewoman in pale yellow, likely encouraged by her elders to seek advancement, gathered courage and stepped toward the Crown Prince’s seat, holding a cup of wine gracefully.
“I… offer a toast to Your Highness—”
But she “slipped” at the wrong moment, toppling toward Xiao Chenyuan.
Her attire was thin, the collar deliberately loose; as she fell, the scene was undeniably tantalizing.
The hall collectively held its breath.
Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow, anticipating the spectacle.
Xiao Chenyuan didn’t even lift an eyelid.
By his side, the stern guard Ling Feng moved like lightning, catching the noblewoman by the shoulder, pushing her back with precise force—she stumbled a few steps, hair undone, yet never brushed against the prince.
“Do not act recklessly before the prince,” Ling Feng’s voice was icy.
Only then did Xiao Chenyuan glance briefly at the pale, sprawled woman.
His gaze was emotionless, as if she were but a speck of dust.
“Take her away,” he commanded calmly yet authoritatively. “Trespass at a palace banquet—three months confinement.”
Two eunuchs promptly covered her mouth, dragging her out efficiently despite her protests.
The hall fell utterly silent.
Any previously bold noblewomen shrank back, eyes fixed on their skirts, daring not glance again at the prince.
Su Yun’er observed everything, elation bubbling in her heart.
Excellent!
The Crown Prince truly was as distant from women as rumored! Even those actively throwing themselves at him were dragged away without mercy.
If Su Yaoyao embarrassed herself in front of him, leaving a reckless, frivolous impression, the prince might lose temper outright.
In that case, not only would Su Yaoyao’s reputation suffer, but her aunt, the Empress, would also face humiliation.
Su Yun’er smirked inwardly.
Su Yaoyao, you think a change of attire can catch the prince’s eye? Dream on!
Soon enough… it’ll be you shedding tears!
She signaled subtly to the maid standing behind her, who understood and quietly retreated.
Meanwhile, Su Yaoyao gently swirled her wine cup, a spark of interest in her eyes.
This Crown Prince was even more difficult than she imagined.
Yet… strangely… she liked it.
Before long, music rose, and a group of lightly veiled dancers entered, moving gracefully at the center of the hall.
Melodious instruments, elegant movements—the banquet revived.
Seemingly watching the performance, Su Yaoyao observed keenly.
She noticed Yun’er’s maid had disappeared.
She also noted one particularly slender and beautiful dancer, whose eyes frequently darted toward the prince, waist twisting with exceptional grace.
More intriguingly, the dancer’s sleeve appeared to conceal something.
Su Yaoyao lowered her gaze, lips curling in playful anticipation.
Here it comes.
As the dance ended, the dancers bowed and stepped back, when the striking dancer “slipped” with a startled cry.
Coincidentally, she fell toward Su Yaoyao’s seat!
At the instant she fell, a small pouch of powder flew from her sleeve straight at Su Yaoyao’s face!
Lightning-fast, Su Yaoyao’s eyes sharpened.
If she dodged, the powder would soil her moonlight brocade.
If she didn’t… who knew what it contained.
Su Yun’er was ruthless.
Su Yaoyao thought quickly; at the last moment, she feigned panic and “accidentally” dropped her wine cup—
Crash!
The cup shattered crisply.
Using the momentum to rise, she brushed most of the powder away with her wide sleeves, leaving only a trace on her cuff.
At the same time, her foot “tripped,” sending her staggering—
Directly toward the Crown Prince’s seat!
All happened in a blink.
The crowd saw only the dancer fall, powder fly, Su Yaoyao rise in alarm, the wine cup shatter, and her unsteady stance—
And the Crown Prince Xiao Chenyuan seated directly in her path!
If she fell, she would tumble into his arms!
Su Yun’er’s eyes sparkled with joy.
It worked!
Yet, the next moment, everyone froze.
At the last second, Su Yaoyao grabbed the edge of the low table beside the Crown Prince’s seat, steadying herself.
Though slightly disheveled, hair loose, pendants swinging, she remained upright—
And did not touch the prince.
Standing steady, her first action wasn’t to fix her attire, but to turn toward Xiao Chenyuan, bowing slightly, her voice perfectly balancing panic and apology:
“My apologies for the disturbance, Your Highness. Please forgive me.”
Her head lowered, revealing a fair, elegant nape.
From the earlier “panic,” her cheeks were faintly flushed, eyes slightly red, long lashes trembling like a startled butterfly.
Charming, pitiful, yet impeccably courteous.
Xiao Chenyuan lifted his gaze, looking at her.
This was the second time tonight he truly looked at her.
His eyes lingered on her reddened eyes briefly, then on the subtle powder on her sleeve.
Finally, they landed on the fallen, pale-faced dancer.
“Ling Feng,” he said, voice calm. “Investigate.”
“Yes!” Ling Feng responded, hurrying to the dancer.
Just then, the eunuch’s high-pitched announcement echoed:
“The Empress has arrived—”
Everyone immediately rose to bow.
Su Yaoyao followed suit, but as she bent, a fleeting smile curved her lips.
Her aunt, the Empress, had arrived… at just the right time.
The real show was only beginning.