Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

Wen Zhimiao strode forward, his black official robe sweeping across the clusters of autumn chrysanthemums under the corridor, stirring up a chilly wind.

"My God! It's Young Master Wen!"

Someone in the crowd whispered, and the once noisy chrysanthemum patch instantly fell silent.

The young ladies quietly adjusted their clothes, glancing shyly at Wen Zhimiao.

Even Princess Jin Yi hurried forward, her voice brimming with joy: "Young Master Wen, you've arrived! Please, have a seat here!"

Wen Zhimiao merely nodded slightly to Princess Jinyi, but her gaze swept over the crowd and landed precisely on Liu Yunshu and Su Wenxuan, her eyes as cold as ice.

Su Wenxuan was startled by the chill, and quickly stopped being so obsequious, stepping forward and bowing respectfully: "Young Master Wen."

He knew Wen Zhimiao's influence in the court, and he was even more aware that Liu Yunshu was the apple of his eye, so he dared not be presumptuous again.

Upon seeing her brother arrive, Liu Yunshu's earlier aloofness towards Su Wenxuan lessened somewhat. She stood up and smiled, "Brother, weren't you investigating a case? What brings you here?"

The kingfisher feather hairpins swayed gently at her temples, making her features appear even more vibrant.

Wen Zhimiao looked down at the hairpin swaying in her hair, her gaze sweeping over her bright face, her fingertips trembling slightly.

He gave a soft "hmm," and said, "I heard that the ink chrysanthemums are a rare sight today, so I came to take a look."

"Would you like to sit with me, brother?" Liu Yunshu took his arm, tilted her head up, and looked at him intently.

Wen Zhimiao felt a sense of relief, and most of the chill around her dissipated instantly.

His taut jawline softened slightly, and he gently patted the back of her hand that was linked with his arm, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of indulgence: "Okay."

Princess Jin Yi, standing to the side, watched the two of them being so affectionate, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes.

"Young Master Wen, please sit down. I'll have someone bring you a bowl, chopsticks, and teacups right away."

Su Wenxuan stood there, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

Seeing that Wen Zhimiao completely ignored her meaning, and also wary of his aura.

He could only awkwardly bow and slink away to the other side of the table.

Liu Yunshu pulled Wen Zhimiao to sit down and handed him a cup of freshly brewed chrysanthemum tea: "Brother, try it. This tea goes perfectly with the chrysanthemum fragrance."

Wen Zhimiao picked up the teacup but didn't drink it. Her gaze fell on the kingfisher feather hairpin in her hair. "Did Mother give this to you?"

"Mmm!" Liu Yunshu nodded, lightly tapping the hairpin with her fingertips, her tone tinged with excitement, "Mother said this hairpin suits me well, brother, does it look good?"

Wen Zhimiao's gaze lingered on the jade and pearls, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of her bright, sparkling eyes.

The corners of his mouth curved almost imperceptibly, and he gave a soft "hmm".

"What did he want from you just now?" Wen Zhimiao picked up her teacup, brought it to her lips, and took a sip.

Liu Yunshu glanced at the nonchalant Wen Zhimiao, then at his tightly pursed lips, and chuckled inwardly.

Liu Yunshu tilted her head, her fingertips twirling the hairpin at her temple, her tone light and seemingly genuine: "Young Master Su said the chrysanthemums are blooming beautifully and would like to invite me to admire those 'Green Clouds' plants together."

Wen Zhimiao's fingers tightened slightly around the teacup, almost pressing a mark into the porcelain cup, but her tone remained calm: "Don't take his words seriously."

"Oh?" Liu Yunshu blinked, leaned closer, and asked curiously, "What makes you say that?"

Wen Zhimiao's ears felt slightly hot from the breath that was coming close to her, and she subconsciously turned her head away.

But he quickly regained his composure, his tone becoming more serious: "This person looks dishonest, with shifty eyes."

Liu Yunshu couldn't help but chuckle and tapped Wen Zhimiao's arm with her fingertip.

"Brother, you're being too blunt. Young Master Su is, after all, the legitimate son of the Vice Minister of Rites, and he should have good manners in public."

Wen Zhimiao glanced at her smiling face and swallowed hard.

"Manners?" Wen Zhimiao put down her teacup, her voice turning colder as she glanced at Su Wenxuan, who was talking to someone not far away. "You don't understand, people can fake it."

Liu Yunshu rested her chin on her hand, looking at Wen Zhimiao's serious face, and asked, "Can my brother also pretend?"

Wen Zhimiao was taken aback by her sudden question and subconsciously looked into her eyes.

His eyes seemed to hold a hint of a smile, yet also a hint of seriousness, making it difficult to look directly at him.

Wen Zhimiao's Adam's apple bobbed again. Avoiding her clear gaze, he focused on the chrysanthemum tea on the table, his tone slightly unnatural: "I'm your brother, why should I pretend in front of you?"

"Really? I wish you weren't my brother..."

Liu Yunshu's statement at the end was vague.

"What?" Wen Zhimiao looked at her and asked subconsciously.

"It's nothing," Liu Yunshu quickly waved her hand, a faint blush rising on her cheeks, and hurriedly changed the subject.

"Brother, look at those green cloud plants over there. Their petals really look like kingfisher feathers. No wonder the princess said they are rare."

Wen Zhimiao looked in the direction she pointed, but her gaze did not linger on the green clouds. Her Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and she replied in a low voice, "Yes, it's not bad."

At this moment, Princess Jinyi walked over with a plate of exquisite osmanthus cakes and placed it on the table with a smile.

"Young Master Wen, Yun Shu, try the osmanthus cake I had made. It's most delicious with chrysanthemum tea."

As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously lingered on Wen Zhimiao, her tone carrying a hint of probing.

"Your Excellency has been working hard on the case lately, so you should get some rest today."

"Thank you for your trouble, Princess." Wen Zhimiao said calmly, reaching out to pick up a piece of osmanthus cake and handing it to Liu Yunshu. "Don't you like this? Try it."

Liu Yunshu took it, took a small bite, and the sweet aroma instantly spread on her tongue. Her eyes lit up: "Delicious!"

Princess Jin Yi looked at Wen Zhimiao, whose eyes were only on Liu Yunshu, and secretly clenched her handkerchief with her fingertips, but still maintained a smile.

"Eat more if you like it, the kitchen has prepared quite a lot more."

At this moment, a person walked over from not far away. It was Xiao Ce, the eldest son of the General of the State and a good friend of Wen Zhimiao.

Dressed in a royal blue casual robe with a jade belt around his waist, he walked briskly and called out from afar, "Qinglan! I've finally found you! I thought you were going to be buried in the files at the Dali Temple and never come out!"

As Xiao Ce approached, he caught sight of Liu Yunshu. His eyes lit up, and he cupped his hands in greeting, saying with a smile, "Sister Yunshu is here too? It's been a long time. You've become even more charming."

His gaze swept over the osmanthus cake on the table, and without any hesitation, he picked up a piece and stuffed it into his mouth.

"This osmanthus cake looks delicious; the Princess's family's craftsmanship is indeed well-deserved."

Princess Jin Yi smiled and nodded when she saw that it was Xiao Ce: "Young Master Xiao, please have a seat."

She already knew that Xiao Ce and Wen Zhimiao were on good terms, and if she could strike up a conversation with Xiao Ce, she might be able to say a few more words to Wen Zhimiao.

Wen Zhimiao, accustomed to Xiao Ce's overt familiarity, asked casually, "Why did you come over?"

"I heard that the princess has rare black chrysanthemums here, so I came to take a look."

As Xiao Ce spoke, he suddenly lowered his voice, leaned close to Wen Zhimiao, and winked.

"I saw you giving that brat Su Wenxuan the cold shoulder from afar just now. What's wrong? Did he offend you?"

Wen Zhimiao glanced at him sideways, didn't reply, and just picked up her teacup and took a sip.

Seeing that he didn't answer, Xiao Ce became even more interested and moved closer to him, teasing him in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

"I think it wasn't you who offended him, but your precious little sister, wasn't it? I just saw that boy huddled up to Yun Shu and talking nonstop."

Wen Zhimiao tightened her grip on the teacup, her eyes darkening as she glanced at him coldly: "Mind your own business."

"Fine, I don't care."

Xiao Ce shrugged, then turned to look at Liu Yunshu and laughed heartily.

"Sister Yunshu, when I came over just now I saw a swing set up by that chrysanthemum patch. The wind is just right, would you like to go and play on it?"

Liu Yunshu's eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded, "Okay!"

As she rose, the hair ornaments at her temples swayed gently, and the jade and pearls shone brightly in the sunlight.

Seeing that she was in high spirits, Wen Zhimiao also stood up.

The group walked towards the swing, which was set up under a sycamore tree next to the chrysanthemum field.

The wooden frame was polished smooth, and soft brocade was wrapped around the ropes.

Liu Yunshu walked to the shelf, gently tugged at the brocade rope, her eyes full of anticipation.

"Shall I push you?" Xiao Ce stepped forward and rolled up his sleeves.

"Okay!" Liu Yunshu replied cheerfully, carefully sitting on the swing.

Xiao Ce exerted a gentle force, and the swing began to sway slowly.

The wind carried the scent of chrysanthemums onto her face, and Liu Yunshu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The kingfisher feather hairpins at her temples swayed gently with the rise and fall of the swing, their emerald shimmering in the sunlight, making one dizzy.

Wen Zhimiao stood not far away, his gaze fixed on her.

Seeing her skirt fluttering and her eyes crinkling, I couldn't help but smile slightly.

Princess Jin Yi stood beside Wen Zhimiao, followed his gaze, and said with a smile, "Yun Shu and Young Master Xiao are quite a good match."

The smile on Wen Zhimiao's face vanished instantly, her eyes darkened, and her tone was cold and flat: "Your Highness is joking. Yun Shu is still young."

Princess Jin Yi's smile froze for a moment, then she casually adjusted her skirt.

Wen Zhimiao didn't reply, but stared intently at Liu Yunshu on the swing, her fingertips unconsciously stroking her skin.

The wind carried Liu Yunshu's laughter, as clear and crisp as a wind chime.

The coldness in his eyes did not dissipate. Instead, he recalled Xiao Ce's teasing manner earlier, and his brows furrowed even more.