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

Before Mrs. Wen could choose a satisfactory date, the Spring Festival was fast approaching.

The Wen family mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, exuding both the festive spirit of the New Year and the lively atmosphere of wedding preparations, with a warm and harmonious ambiance throughout.

The Wen family of five sat together, the table laden with steaming delicacies.

The crackling charcoal fire in the stove cast a rosy glow on everyone's faces.

Looking at his three children, Lord Wen stroked his beard with satisfaction. "This year is a year of reunion, and even more so a year of joy for our Wen family."

He raised his glass, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Qingqing has returned to her family, and Shu'er has been granted a marriage by His Majesty. From now on, our family will live in harmony and happiness. Cheers to this prosperous future!"

"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses in unison, the soft clinking of the glasses warming the room.

Liu Qingqing smiled and swirled her wine glass, looking at Wen Zhimiao and Liu Yunshu.

"Brother, Shu'er, I'm really looking forward to your wedding banquet. You'll have to give me a big red envelope then."

Liu Yunshu blushed slightly and gently leaned against Wen Zhimiao's arm.

Wen Zhimiao smiled and ruffled her hair: "You'll get your share."

Madam Wen placed a piece of diced chicken, which Liu Yunshu loved, on her plate, and then placed a piece of sweet lotus root on Wen Qingqing's plate, smiling and playfully scolding her:

"You silly child, all you think about is red envelopes. Quickly eat some sweet lotus root, it will sweeten your mouth and bring you good luck for the coming year."

Liu Qingqing, biting into the sweet lotus root, smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons: "Mother still loves me the most!"

Lord Wen smiled even more broadly as he looked at his children surrounding him, and put down his wine cup, saying:

"Your mother and I have discussed it, and we will definitely choose an auspicious day after the Spring Festival. We must not let Shu'er suffer."

Liu Yunshu put down her chopsticks, her face full of emotion, "Father, Mother, thank you for loving me so much."

Madam Wen quickly grasped her hand, her eyes filled with tenderness: "Silly child, why say such things? You were pampered by your parents since you were little, how could we possibly wrong you?"

As she spoke, she pulled Wen Qingqing's hand over, placed their hands together, and added with a smile:

"You two are the apple of your mother's eye. From now on, the Wen family will be your most secure support. Qingqing has just been recognized as a relative, so there's no rush for marriage. Let her adjust to life in the capital first. I'll also find you a suitable husband in the future!"

Wen Qingqing blushed and looked shyly at Madam Wen, "Mother~"

"Mother won't say anymore, won't say anymore." Madam Wen patted her hand with a smile, then raised her wine cup, her face beaming with joy.

Wishing your family a healthy and peaceful Spring Festival, and may everything go smoothly and harmoniously in the future!

"Cheers!" The clinking of glasses rang out again, and the firelight from the fireplace illuminated the smiles on everyone's faces.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After the Spring Festival, the palace held a banquet to celebrate the New Year with the court officials. Almost all the officials in the capital and their families attended.

Wen Zhimiao accompanied Lord Wen, while Liu Yunshu followed Madam Wen and Liu Qingqing. The group entered the banquet hall in order of their seating arrangement.

The hall was brightly lit by candles, filled with the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments, and the tables were laden with delicacies.

Wen Qingqing was a little flustered and stayed close to Madam Wen. Liu Yunshu quietly squeezed her hand and whispered to comfort her, "Don't be afraid, we're here."

Wen Qingqing nodded, feeling somewhat relieved. A short while later, the eunuch announced loudly, "Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress have arrived!"

Everyone immediately rose and knelt, chanting, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"

"Rise," came Emperor Heng's voice, and everyone rose as instructed and returned to their places.

"Big Brother! The Third Prince wants to make a move against you and Wen Zhimiao at the palace banquet!" Little Eight tattled in his mind.

Liu Yunshu narrowed her eyes, inwardly scoffing, "How is he going to make his move!"

"He wants to give you and Wen Zhimiao the 'Spring is Coming' potion! He'll arrange for Su Wenxuan and Princess Jin Yi to make love to you both!"

Liu Yunshu paused slightly in the wine glass she was holding, and glanced subtly at the Third Prince not far away.

He was chatting and laughing with several officials while holding a wine glass, but his eyes kept glancing at Wen Zhimiao, hiding a hint of sinister intent.

She then looked at Princess Jin Yi and Su Wenxuan.

Princess Jin Yi was sitting in the line of young ladies from noble families, her gaze fixed on Wen Zhimiao, her eyes filled with resentment and bitterness, her fingers unconsciously twisting her handkerchief.

Meanwhile, Su Wenxuan, standing among the male guests on the other side, kept stealing glances at him, his eyes filled with greedy desire.

A hint of coldness flashed in Liu Yunshu's eyes. "If I don't show my power, do you think I'm Hello Kitty?"

"Xiao Ba, do you have any aphrodisiacs in the store?"

"Yes, both 'Drunken Spring Breeze' and 'Bewitching Powder' are available. What do you want, sir?"

A cold smile curved Liu Yunshu's lips as she mentally addressed Xiao Ba:

"I want both, and two more antidote pills. Exchange the antidote pills first, and I'll let you know when I get the other two."

Without making a sound, Liu Yunshu hid the antidote pill in her sleeve, her fingertips gently rubbing the coolness of the pill inside.

His gaze swept over the attendants coming and going in the hall without making a sound.

Before long, a palace maid came over with a wine pot to refill her cup. "Your Majesty! This is it!"

Liu Yunshu lowered her eyes, concealing the cold light in them. When the palace maid poured the wine, she covered her mouth with her sleeve and swallowed the antidote.

The palace maid who was refilling the wine bowed and left after seeing Liu Yunshu tilt her head back and take a sip of wine.

When Liu Yunshu looked up, she saw that Wen Zhimiao had already drunk the wine.

She pretended to be unwell, apologized to Madam Wen, and quickly walked outside.

Seeing Liu Yunshu's pale face and hurried steps, Wen Zhimiao felt a pang of anxiety and immediately stood up to apologize to Lord Wen and his colleagues, then followed her out.

Seeing their hurried pace, the Third Prince's eyes flashed with a hint of smugness, and he winked at the little eunuch behind him.

The young eunuch understood immediately, and quietly slipped to Princess Jinyi's side, whispering a few words to her.

Princess Jin Yi's eyes lit up, and she immediately got up and, under the pretext of changing her clothes, chased after Liu Yunshu and the others in the direction they had left.

On the other side, the Third Prince gave Su Wenxuan a look, and Su Wenxuan understood, so he pretended to go to the toilet and followed him.

A cold wind was blowing under the corridor outside the hall. Liu Yunshu had just reached the corner when Wen Zhimiao caught up with her.

"Shu'er, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Wen Zhimiao reached out to help her, her voice full of anxiety.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he felt a surge of heat within him, and his head felt heavy. He shook his head.

"Why is it suddenly so hot..."

Wen Zhimiao's eyes gradually became unfocused, and her hand, which was supporting the pillar, trembled slightly.

Liu Yunshu quickly pulled him into a nearby artificial rock cave. Although the cave was simple, it was a safe place to avoid being seen.

Wen Zhimiao felt increasingly hot inside, her Adam's apple bobbing. Her eyes were glazed, yet she still gripped Shu'er's wrist tightly, her voice hoarse: "Shu'er... I'm so hot..."

Liu Yunshu looked at Wen Zhimiao, whose face was flushed, with admiration in her eyes.

She reached out and touched his flushed cheeks. "Brother, you're so alluring, it's making my heart itch."

Before she could finish speaking, Wen Zhimiao had already pulled her into his arms and lowered his head to kiss her lips.

Liu Yunshu did not dodge, but raised her hand to wrap around his neck, her fingertips gently caressing the skin on the back of his neck.

Wen Zhimiao's kiss was urgent and passionate, yet she restrained herself from being too unrestrained.

His hot breath tickled her ear as he rasped, "Shu'er... quickly... quickly leave me..."

Liu Yunshu leaned even closer and chuckled softly in his ear, "My silly brother, are you sure you want me to leave?"

As she spoke, she hugged him and kissed him even deeper.

Wen Zhimiao felt unbearably hot all over, her reason tightly bound by desire.

But when his fingertips touched Liu Yunshu's hair, he subconsciously tightened his grip, repeating in a hoarse voice, "Don't... hurt you..."

Liu Yunshu felt a warmth in her heart and reached into her sleeve to take out another antidote pill.

During a break in the kiss, she gently pried open his lips and passed the pill over to him.

Although Wen Zhimiao's consciousness was blurred, she instinctively swallowed it. After a moment, the heat in her body slowly subsided, and her eyes gradually cleared.

He abruptly released Liu Yunshu, looking at her flushed lips, and recalling his earlier loss of composure, his ears burned, and his voice was filled with guilt: "Shu'er, I..."

"Shh." Liu Yunshu placed her index finger on his lips, staring at them and chuckling softly, "Brother, you taste so good~"

Wen Zhimiao's ears turned bright red, almost bleeding. "Shu'er..."

"Alright~ I'll take you to see a good show!"

Liu Yunshu took Wen Zhimiao's hand and walked outside.

"Sir, they've already headed towards the side hall."

Liu Yunshu's eyes lit up. She pulled Wen Zhimiao and quickly bypassed the artificial hill. Using the flowers and trees outside the hall as cover, they quietly headed towards the side hall.

As soon as I approached the side room of the side hall, I heard voices coming from inside.

"What happened? Where did they go?"

It was Princess Jin Yi's voice, tinged with anxiety and impatience.

"Didn't the Third Prince say he had successfully administered the drug?"

"What's the rush?" Su Wenxuan's voice followed, tinged with a hint of flippancy.

"Wen Zhimiao and Liu Yunshu are under the influence of the drug, so they can't have gone far. This side room is secluded, so they might have taken refuge here nearby."

Liu Yunshu pulled Wen Zhimiao to hide behind a pillar in the corridor and peered through the window cracks.

Princess Jin Yi paced anxiously, almost tearing her handkerchief in her hands, while Su Wenxuan furtively searched through the cabinets in the room, his eyes filled with urgency.

"Then we have to hurry!" Princess Jin Yi said in a low voice, her tone revealing her resentment.

"Once Wen Zhimiao and I have consummated our relationship, even if the Wen family is unhappy, they'll have no choice but to accept me as their daughter-in-law! Then, let's see how that bitch Liu Yunshu will ever dare to set foot in the Wen family again!"

Su Wenxuan looked at the ferocious-looking woman in front of him, curled his lip, and thought, "Meeting you is Wen Zhimiao's bad luck."

He didn't care about the woman's thoughts. As long as he won over Liu Yunshu, the position of Wen family's son-in-law would be his. With the Wen family's influence, he wouldn't have to worry about his career path.

Recalling Liu Yunshu's alluring face, Su Wenxuan's greed intensified, and he rubbed his hands together, saying:

"Don't worry, the medicine is very potent; they won't last long. Once we find them, I'll take down Liu Yunshu, and you'll keep Wen Zhimiao occupied. We'll each get what we want, and His Highness the Third Prince will reward us handsomely!"