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

Liu Qingqing stood to the side, watching the two kneeling side by side. The surprise in her eyes faded, replaced by a gentle smile.

"Father, Mother, your daughter has something to say."

She stepped forward, curtsied to Lord Wen and Madam Wen, and said softly:

"They truly love each other. Although it may seem inappropriate to outsiders, matters of the heart are based on genuine feelings. Forcing them apart will only cause them lifelong suffering. I implore you, parents, to reconsider."

Madam Wen looked at Liu Qingqing, then at the two people on the ground holding hands tightly.

Her eyes reddened slightly, and she tugged at Lord Wen's sleeve, whispering, "Master, the children are sincere... Zhi Miao has never been so stubborn in all her life. We've doted on Yun Shu for over a decade; if things really work out, it would be a double blessing..."

Lord Wen remained silent for a long time before finally turning around and looking at the two of them.

Looking at the undisguised determination and affection in their eyes, he sighed.

"I have pampered Yun Shu since she was a child. She is kind and gentle, without any of the arrogance of a young lady from a noble family."

He paused, then continued, "First her status changed, and then she's going to marry you. What will people think of her? How can I bear it?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunshu crawled forward a few steps on her knees.

Lord Wen quickly reached out to help him up, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible concern: "Get up quickly, the ground is cold."

Liu Yunshu looked up at him, her eyes filled with guilt.

"Father, I'm sorry for being so willful, yet you've always protected and loved me. How can I ask you to do this...?"

At this point, Liu Yunshu burst into tears, her voice choked with sobs, unable to continue. She could only kowtow three times deeply.

"Yunshu, what are you doing? You're going to break your mother's heart!"

Madam Wen rushed forward half a step and pulled Liu Yunshu into her arms. She turned and glared at Lord Wen.

"What's wrong with marrying Zhi Miao! Your daughter becomes your daughter-in-law, and all the future mother-in-law/daughter-in-law issues are solved! You better agree!"

Lord Wen was speechless after being glared at by Madam Wen. He looked at her helplessly and said, "Madam, we're just discussing how to resolve this."

"What's there to discuss? I don't want to part with Shu'er, so what if I marry her off to Zhi Miao? What business is it of anyone else's!" Madam Wen glared at him fiercely.

Lord Wen was rendered speechless by her glare, and then looked at his children who were watching the show from the sidelines.

Xu Kong pointed at Liu Yunshu and said irritably, "What are you looking at! Get up, the ground is cold."

Wen Zhimiao knew this meant her father had agreed, so she kowtowed three more times, her tone both excited and solemn:

"Thank you, Father! Your son will certainly live up to your trust, and will never fail Yun Shu. I will protect her for the rest of my life and never let her suffer the slightest injustice!"

As he spoke, he stood up and carefully helped Liu Yunshu up, brushing the dust off her skirt.

Liu Yunshu leaned against him, looked up at Lord Wen, and her guilt had turned into joy. She curtsied again and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Father."

Lord Wen waved his hand, his face still somewhat composed, but a smile was hidden in his eyes.

at night.

As Wen Zhimiao sat in the study, missing Liu Yunshu, the door to the study slowly opened, and Liu Yunshu quickly slipped in.

Wen Zhimiao suddenly looked up and saw Liu Yunshu. The longing in her eyes instantly turned into light, and she quickly got up to greet her.

"Shu'er? What brings you here? It's chilly at night, be careful not to catch a cold."

As he spoke, he took off his outer robe and gently draped it over her shoulders.

Liu Yunshu pulled her robes, still warm from his body heat, tighter around herself, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Looking up at his swollen forehead, a hint of heartache flashed in her eyes. She reached out and gently touched the spot, her voice extremely soft: "Does it still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt." Wen Zhimiao gently kissed her swollen forehead, feeling heartbroken. "But you, with your delicate skin, why did you use such force!"

He then picked her up horizontally, sat her on a chair, and picked up a small porcelain bottle from the side.

Pour a little cool ointment onto your fingertip, gently rub it in, and carefully apply it to Liu Yunshu's forehead, which was red from kowtowing earlier.

"Hiss..." Liu Yunshu inhaled slightly, but did not dodge. Instead, she leaned closer to him. "Compared to being with you, what is this pain?"

Wen Zhimiao moved even more gently, her eyes filled with tenderness, "You must not kowtow so recklessly again, it hurts my heart."

He lowered his head, his nose brushing against the top of her head, his voice so gentle it could melt water.

"Although your parents have relented, there will probably still be a lot of gossip outside. I'm sorry to have troubled you."

Liu Yunshu shook her head, reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressed her face against his warm chest, listened to his strong heartbeat, and a smile spread across her face.

"Brother, what makes me sad is not being able to be with you, and it makes our parents heartbroken and disappointed. As for the gossip outside, I don't care."

Wen Zhimiao tightened his arms, holding her even closer, his chin resting on the top of her head, his voice low and husky yet firm:

"After court tomorrow, I will ask His Majesty for an imperial decree to grant us the marriage. With His Majesty's blessing, most of the gossip will disappear."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunshu looked up into his eyes. Starlight streamed through the window and fell into his eyes, which held an unwavering seriousness.

Her nose tingled slightly, and she raised her hand to stroke his cheek: "Brother, you don't need to worry about me like this. With you and Father and Mother here, I'm not afraid of anything."

"Silly girl." Wen Zhimiao chuckled and pinched her chin.

"You defied societal norms for me, knelt before your parents for me, and I pleaded for an imperial decree to protect your dignity. It is only right that I do this."

He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on the corner of her lips, a fleeting yet tender kiss.

Liu Yunshu was not satisfied. She held his head, tilted her head slightly, and leaned forward to meet his kiss, deepening the gentle kiss.

Wen Zhimiao froze for a moment, then took the initiative, gently holding the back of her neck with his fingertips, and kissing her more tenderly and lingeringly.

The starlight outside the window seemed shy, quietly hiding behind the clouds, leaving only the warm light of the lanterns under the eaves, which shone through the window paper onto the intertwined figures of the two.

After an unknown amount of time, the two slowly separated.

Looking at Wen Zhimiao's restrained and patient gaze, Liu Yunshu felt an irresistible itch in her heart.

She gently stroked his warm cheek with her fingertips, her breathing still slightly rapid, her eyes shimmering with a soft light: "Brother..."

Wen Zhimiao's Adam's apple bobbed, and he pulled her closer to him, his voice low and hoarse: "Shu'er, stop fooling around. It's windy tonight, I'll take you back to your room."

Although he was filled with affection, he did not want to be too forward with her, so he reached out and gently tidied her slightly disheveled hair, his movements full of restrained tenderness.

"Brother, don't you miss me?"

Wen Zhimiao's breath hitched, and he looked down at the alluring look in her eyes.

"My little brother misses me a lot~"

The butterfly bracelet and jade bangle made a crisp, clear sound as they clattered together, which was particularly distinct in the quiet study.

This instantly reminded Wen Zhimiao of that chaotic night.

"Yun Shu...don't..."

Wen Zhimiao's voice trembled uncontrollably.

"What? Huh?" The butterfly bracelet clicked again.

Wen Zhimiao grunted and suddenly grabbed her wrist that was causing trouble.

My fingertips touched the cool butterfly bracelet on my wrist, and my heart pounded so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest.

He looked down at the cunning in her eyes, his voice hoarse with barely suppressed huskiness: "You little rascal, are you deliberately trying to seduce me?"

"It was you who seduced me first, little brother~" Liu Yunshu's eyes gleamed with even more cunning as she kissed his bobbing Adam's apple.

Wen Zhimiao trembled all over, unable to suppress the emotions in his heart any longer. He leaned down and deepened the kiss, with a long-suppressed passion and tenderness.

His fingertips gently brushed across her hair, as if trying to meld her into his very bones.

The lanterns under the eaves flickered, making the intertwined figures of the two appear even more tender, and only their rapid breathing remained in the study.

After what seemed like an eternity, Wen Zhimiao finally released her, his forehead still pressed against hers, and chuckled softly, "Little sister, you want to too, don't you?"

Liu Yunshu's eyes sparkled with joy and charm. She pushed Wen Zhimiao away and threw the handkerchief into his hand.

Wen Zhimiao held the handkerchief that carried her faint fragrance, chuckled as she wiped her hands, and then gently straightened her clothes.

He gently tapped her nose with his fingertip and said indulgently, "You're such a troublesome little girl."

He then picked her up horizontally, moving very lightly so as not to disturb the servants in the mansion.

The warm light from the lanterns under the eaves shone on the two of them, and Liu Yunshu nestled obediently in his arms.

She wrapped one arm around his neck and gently swayed the other, the butterfly bracelet on her wrist occasionally making a soft rustling sound.

Wen Zhimiao gently pushed open the door and, using the faint light filtering in from the window, carefully placed her on the edge of the bed.

Liu Yunshu tugged at his sleeve, her fingertips gently tracing the fabric, her eyes still filled with tenderness: "Brother, can you not leave~"

Wen Zhimiao's heart melted instantly. She bent down and gently ruffled the top of her head, coaxing softly, "Then I'll sit here and wait until you're sound asleep before I leave."

Liu Yunshu didn't speak, just stared at him with longing eyes, her gaze filled with tenderness.

Wen Zhimiao's heart tingled, and she smiled helplessly yet affectionately. She had no choice but to lie down beside her, keeping a slight distance, and gently patting her back.

Liu Yunshu immediately shrank closer to him, her arms naturally encircling his waist, her cheek pressed against his chest, and she sighed contentedly, "That's better."

Wen Zhimiao stiffened slightly, then relaxed. "Alright, go to sleep."

Liu Yunshu snuggled closer to him, the cool scent of ink and the faint warmth emanating from him filling her nostrils. Soon, her breathing became even, and she fell into a peaceful sleep.