Amidst the profound silence of the hall, all eyes converged upon the entrance.
From where the palace lanterns shone brightest, a figure stepped in unhurriedly.
He wore a plain white brocade robe, unadorned with jade or crown, a string of sandalwood prayer beads wrapped around his hand, his jet-black hair tied up with a simple ebony hairpin.
Yet it was precisely this minimalist attire that, upon him, accentuated an aura of transcendent elegance and nobility far beyond the mundane.
Su Yaoyao looked up, her fingers gripping the wine cup tightening fiercely.
—What… a… peerless… masterpiece… of… humanity!
Having navigated the world of fame and fortune for so long in her past life, what kind of handsome man hadn’t she seen?
But this one before her… the pinnacle of the aloof and ascetic type, his temperament naturally radiating a Buddha-like holy light, yet blessed with a face that could make anyone lose control.
His figure was tall and straight, his features exceptionally refined—a high-bridged nose, lips of a pale hue.
Most striking were his eyes—perfectly shaped, yet their color was lighter than most, like ink jade steeped in a cold pool. When he glanced at someone, it was with a faint, sweeping gaze, calm and unruffled, yet possessing a penetrating clarity that seemed to see through the heart.
The lamplight falling upon him seemed to dim of its own accord by three parts.
But what captivated Su Yaoyao most was not these outstanding features, but the contradictory yet harmonious aura he exuded.
Aloof. Ascetic. Untouched by worldly dust.
Like a Buddha carved from white jade, compassionately looking down upon the mortal realm.
Su Yaoyao blinked, a surge of conquest igniting within her.
Interesting.
So very interesting.
A man like this—if she could make those aloof eyes of his cloud with desire, make those indifferent lips curve into a smile for her, stir ripples in his tranquil heart for her…
Just the thought made her heartbeat quicken.
The higher the difficulty, the greater the challenge, the more she liked it.
Xiao Chenyuan seemed to sense something, his gaze sweeping lightly across the hall.
Wherever it passed, noble ladies lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
The bolder ones stole glances upward, only to hurriedly avert their eyes upon meeting those deep, pool-like orbs.
His gaze finally settled upon Su Yaoyao.
A brief glance,
Yet Su Yaoyao keenly caught within it a trace of faint… surprise?
Then, the gaze shifted away, as if she were no different from anyone else in the garden.
Xiao Chenyuan walked to the seat just below the host’s position and took his place, palace attendants promptly stepping forward to serve tea.
He lifted the teacup, his fingers long and jade-like, his movements unhurried, even the sweep of his sleeves carrying an air of Zen.
Without uttering a single word throughout, he had already become the center of attention in the hall.
Su Yaoyao withdrew her gaze, a slight curve touching the corner of her lips.
Excellent.
The more a man was like this, the more satisfying it would be to charm him.
As she was thinking this, a slight commotion suddenly arose from diagonally across.
A noble lady in a goose-yellow palace dress, likely urged on by elders in her family to seize an opportunity, mustered her courage, rose with a cup of wine, and gracefully made her way toward the Crown Prince’s seat.
“This humble subject… offers a toast to Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
But she “accidentally” slipped, letting out a gasp as she tumbled toward Xiao Chenyuan.
Her attire today was thin, her collar deliberately loosened—this fall would undoubtedly result in a fragrant, intimate embrace.
The entire hall held its breath.
Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow, ready to enjoy the spectacle.
Xiao Chenyuan did not even lift an eyelid.
The stern-faced guard at his side, Ling Feng, moved like lightning, stepping forward to grasp the young lady’s shoulder with one hand and push her back—
The force was controlled with extreme precision. The young lady staggered back several steps, collapsing to the ground with her hairpin coming loose, yet not a single speck touched the Crown Prince’s robes.
“Cease your insolence before His Highness.” Ling Feng’s voice was cold as ice.
Only then did Xiao Chenyuan slightly turn his gaze, glancing at the young lady who sat slumped on the ground, her face deathly pale.
His eyes were so devoid of emotion it was as if he were looking not at a person, but at a speck of dust.
“Take her away.”
He spoke, his voice indifferent yet carrying authority. “For disrupting the palace banquet, confine her to her quarters for three months.”
Two eunuchs immediately stepped forward, covering the mouth of the young lady who still wished to plead and cry, swiftly dragging her out.
The entire hall fell into dead silence.
The noble ladies who had been somewhat restless moments ago now all quieted down, lowering their heads to stare at their own skirts, not daring to glance toward the Crown Prince again.
Su Yun’er took in all of this, her heart surging with wild joy.
Excellent!
The Crown Prince was indeed as rumored—aloof from women to the point of severity! Even a beauty who threw herself at him was directly dragged away without the slightest consideration.
As long as she could make Su Yaoyao disgrace herself before the Crown Prince, leaving an impression of boldness and frivolity, the Crown Prince’s disgust might provoke an immediate outburst.
At that time, not only would Su Yaoyao’s reputation be utterly ruined, but even her aunt, the Empress, would lose face!
Su Yun’er sneered inwardly.
Su Yaoyao, do you think changing your appearance will catch the Crown Prince’s eye?
Dream on!
Just wait… your time to cry will come!
She gave a meaningful glance to the maid standing behind her. The maid understood and silently retreated.
Meanwhile, Su Yaoyao at the banquet lightly swirled her wine cup, a flicker of interest passing through her eyes.
This Crown Prince was… even more difficult to handle than she had imagined.
But what to do?
It seemed… she liked him even more.
Before long, the music gradually rose, and a troupe of dancers clad in light gauze floated in, gracefully dancing in the center of the banquet.
The melodies were pleasing, the dance moves exquisite. The atmosphere of the banquet grew lively once more.
Su Yaoyao appeared to be enjoying the song and dance, but in reality, she was observing everything around her, listening intently.
She noticed that the maid by Su Yun’er’s side had disappeared.
She also noticed that among the dancers, one with an exceptionally slender figure and strikingly beautiful appearance frequently cast flirtatious glances toward the Crown Prince’s seat while dancing, her waist swaying with particular softness.
She further noticed that something seemed to be hidden in that dancer’s sleeve.
Su Yaoyao lowered her gaze, a playful smile curling at the corner of her lips.
Here it comes.
Sure enough, as the song ended and the dancers bowed to retreat, that exceptionally beautiful dancer suddenly slipped, letting out a startled cry of “Aiyo!”
And, as if by coincidence, the direction of her fall was precisely toward Su Yaoyao’s seat!
The moment she fell, a small packet of powdery substance flew out from her sleeve, spraying directly toward Su Yaoyao’s face!
In that split second, Su Yaoyao’s eyes sharpened.
If she dodged, the powder would inevitably scatter onto her.
If her Moonlight Radiance Brocade gown were stained with dust today, it would surely appear disheveled.
If she didn’t dodge…
What exactly was in that powder was hard to say.
Su Yun’er, how ruthless.
Su Yaoyao’s mind raced. Just as the powder was about to reach her face, she suddenly let out a “panicked” gasp, her wine cup “accidentally” slipping from her hand—
“Crash!”
The cup hit the ground, shattering with a crisp sound.
And as she rose to avoid the fall, her wide sleeve swept out, managing to brush away most of the powder, leaving only a small amount clinging to her sleeve.
At the same moment, her foot seemed to catch on something, causing her to stagger and fall sideways—
The direction of her fall, precisely and unerringly, was toward the Crown Prince’s seat!
Everything happened in an instant.
The crowd only saw the dancer fall, powder scattering, Su Yaoyao rising in alarm, a wine cup shattering, and then her unsteady posture as she seemed about to crash to the ground—
And Crown Prince Xiao Chenyuan was seated directly in front of where she was falling!
If she truly fell, she would inevitably tumble right into the Crown Prince’s arms!
A flash of wild joy crossed Su Yun’er’s eyes.
Success!
Yet the next moment, everyone was stunned.
Just as Su Yaoyao was about to fall, she suddenly reached out and precisely grasped the edge of the low table beside the Crown Prince’s seat.
Using it for support, she steadied herself. Though her posture was somewhat disheveled, her hair slightly mussed, and her Buyao hairpins swaying gently, she ultimately did not actually fall.
Nor did she touch the Crown Prince in the slightest.
Once she regained her footing, her first action was not to tidy her appearance but to turn toward Xiao Chenyuan, curtsy, and speak with just the right amount of fluster and apology:
“This humble girl has behaved improperly and disturbed Your Highness. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness.”
She lowered her head, revealing a stretch of fair, graceful nape.
From the earlier “panic,” her cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, her eyes slightly reddened, and her long lashes trembled lightly, like startled butterfly wings.
Her appearance was both pitifully delicate and impeccably proper.
Xiao Chenyuan lifted his gaze to look at her.
This was the second time tonight he had truly looked at her.
His eyes lingered for a moment on her slightly reddened eyes, then fell upon the barely noticeable traces of powder on her sleeve.
Finally, he looked toward the dancer still sprawled on the floor, her face deathly pale.
“Ling Feng,” he spoke, his voice still calm and even, “investigate.”
“Yes!” Ling Feng responded promptly, striding quickly toward the dancer.
Just then, a eunuch’s announcement suddenly echoed from the entrance:
“Her Majesty the Empress has arrived—”
Everyone in the hall hurriedly rose to bow in greeting.
Su Yaoyao also curtsied along with the crowd, but as she lowered her head, the corner of her lips curled into a fleeting smile.
Aunt Empress, your timing is perfect.
The real show is only just beginning.