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

Over the next month, Liu Yunshu received treatment from Xiao Luochen.

As his internal energy recovered day by day, his originally pale cheeks gradually regained color.

That day, feeling stifled in the house, she went to the Imperial Garden.

The Imperial Garden is beautiful in autumn, with golden osmanthus blossoms hanging from the branches and their sweet fragrance wafting through the winding corridors.

Mixed with the lingering dampness from the cracks in the bluestone, it smelled refreshing and pleasant.

Liu Yunshu walked slowly forward, stepping on the fallen petals, and stopped in front of a golden osmanthus tree in full bloom.

She took a deep breath of the sweet fragrance and whispered to the palace maid behind her, "These osmanthus flowers smell so good."

The palace maid replied with a smile:

"What you say is true, young lady. This osmanthus was specially moved here from Jiangnan by His Majesty. It blooms best at this time of year, and its fragrance can be smelled for miles around."

Liu Yunshu raised her hand, her fingertips gently brushing against the heavy golden stamens, the delicate touch gradually relaxing her tense mind.

The depression and turmoil of the past few days seemed to have been somewhat diluted by the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms filling the garden.

She was engrossed in watching when she suddenly heard familiar footsteps behind her.

Calm, methodical, and with an undeniable presence.

Without turning around, she knew it was Xiao Luochen.

Her fingers paused, and she subconsciously withdrew her hand.

As he turned, the gentleness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a perfectly measured distance and respect: "Your Majesty."

Xiao Luochen wore a dark brocade robe with a white jade belt around his waist, which made him appear even more upright.

He held a folding fan in his hand, the fan surface embroidered with ink-wash plum blossoms in the cold winter.

Seeing her standing under the osmanthus tree, with golden stamens falling on her dark hair, she looked like a figure in a painting.

A hint of amazement flashed across his eyes, before he quickly regained his composure.

"You've only just started to feel better, and you're already out for a walk?"

He took a few steps closer and smelled the fragrance of osmanthus in her hair, mixed with the unique scent of cold plum blossoms on her body. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

"The dew is heavy in the garden; be careful not to catch a cold."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. It was a bit stuffy inside, so I came out for some fresh air."

Liu Yunshu lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze, her voice as light as the fragrance of osmanthus in the wind, "Your Majesty has also come to admire the osmanthus?"

"Yes, I just finished some official business and came over for a walk."

Xiao Luochen reached out and plucked a branch of the most beautifully blooming osmanthus, handing it to her. "This one is nice, here you go."

The golden osmanthus blossoms were presented before me, their fragrance even stronger.

Liu Yunshu hesitated for a moment, but still reached out and took it.

Her fingertips accidentally brushed against his cool fingertips, and she quickly pulled back as if she had been electrocuted, her ears turning slightly red.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

She held the osmanthus branch in her palm, her fingertips unconsciously caressing the petals, trying to hide the panic in her heart.

The two stood side by side under the osmanthus tree, speechless for a moment.

The garden was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the occasional chirping of birds.

Xiao Luochen looked at her lowered head and then at her slightly white fingertips holding the osmanthus branch, and a feeling of indescribable bitterness welled up in his heart.

"How is your internal energy recovery going?" he broke the silence, his voice low and gentle.

"Thanks to His Majesty, it has recovered to about 70-80%."

Liu Yunshu replied truthfully, "Thank you for your care and treatment these past few days, Your Majesty."

"Of course."

Xiao Luochen spoke calmly, but his gaze fell on her neck.

The faint red hickey had long since faded, leaving only smooth skin, which made him feel inexplicably lost.

"By the way, I've heard that Miss Liu's 'Flowing Cloud Sword Technique' is agile and graceful, a rare and exquisite skill in the martial arts world."

His gaze fell on her hand holding the flowers, her fingertips slightly curled. "I wonder when I'll be able to experience it for myself."

Liu Yunshu recalled that Xiao Hanxing had said something similar when they first met, and couldn't help but chuckle softly:

"Your Majesty and Hanxing truly are twins."

The soft laughter was as gentle as a breeze rustling through the osmanthus blossoms. Xiao Luochen paused in his folding fan, and the ink plum blossoms on the fan seemed to take on a touch of warmth.

He gazed at the subtle smile that bloomed at the corners of her eyes, a rare moment of relaxation on her face after days, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

"My brother... said that to you too?"

Liu Yunshu twirled a flower petal between her fingertips, her smile faint, like shimmering light skimming across water.

"Yes, Hanxing asked the same question when we first met, and we even had a competition in front of the mountain god temple."

When Xiao Hanxing was mentioned, the smile in her eyes became more genuine.

With a tenderness like that of a young girl in love, it made Xiao Luochen's fingers holding the fan tighten slightly.

The plum blossoms on the fan seemed to grow colder as well. He gazed at the golden petals falling softly from her hair, his voice lowering slightly:

"So that's how it is."

A fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of jealousy flashed in his eyes.

The fragrance of osmanthus wafted over his clothes, and as Xiao Luochen gazed at the genuine tenderness in her eyes, a faint bitterness rose in his throat.

"By the way, after lying down for so long, my bones feel stiff. Can I practice my swordplay?"

Liu Yunshu looked up, her eyes sparkling with tiny lights, like branches adorned with golden flower stamens.

"The garden is spacious and undisturbed, so it's a good time to stretch my muscles and test how smoothly my internal energy is recovering."

As Xiao Luochen watched the light return to her eyes, the bitterness in his heart caused by Xiao Hanxing quietly dissipated.

He snapped his folding fan shut with a soft "snap": "Very well."

He turned and ordered his bodyguard, "Go and fetch a light longsword."

The guard obeyed and left, returning shortly with a longsword in an ebony scabbard.

Xiao Luochen took it, his fingertips tracing the cool scabbard, and walked to Liu Yunshu to hand it over.

"This sword is called 'Listening to Snow.' Its blade is thin and light, which is suitable for you."

Liu Yunshu took the sword. It was indeed light and easy to hold. The hilt was wrapped with delicate silk, which felt warm and smooth to grip.

She drew her sword, a flash of cold light, the blade shimmering in the sunlight, emitting a clear, melodious sword cry.

She took a deep breath, and her aura gradually became calm and composed.

His eyebrows and eyes, which had been gentle due to his recovery, suddenly became sharp, like a sword being drawn from its sheath.

With a light step and fluttering robes, the longsword drew an arc of light like flowing clouds—the starting stance of the "Flowing Cloud Sword Technique".

The sword light was agile and graceful, sometimes like a gentle breeze caressing willows, lingering and melodious, and sometimes like a thunderclap piercing the sky, sharp and swift.

Liu Yunshu's figure weaved among the osmanthus trees, golden petals falling one after another, intertwining with the sword light to create a dazzling curtain of light.

Xiao Luochen stood still, his gaze fixed on her figure, his eyes filled with amazement.

He had long heard of the "Flowing Cloud Sword Technique," but seeing it with his own eyes today, he knew the rumors were true.

What captivated him even more was that the woman wielding the sword possessed both the dashing spirit of a wandering swordswoman and the gentle grace of a woman from Jiangnan.

The two qualities blend together perfectly in her, making her captivating.

He watched her tense shoulders and back as she wielded her sword, and the fine beads of sweat on her forehead.

Seeing the determination and seriousness shining in her eyes, my Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Her palms were slightly warm, and she felt a little envious of the long sword she was holding so tightly, able to be so close to her palm and feel her warmth.

Suddenly, Liu Yunshu unleashed a move called "Clouds Roll and Clouds Unfold," and her internal energy surged forth.

However, because his meridians had not fully recovered, his breathing faltered slightly. He almost dropped his longsword, and his body swayed.

"Watch out!" Xiao Luochen's heart tightened, and almost instinctively he flew forward, reached out and supported her waist, catching her steadily.

The warm palm touched the familiar spot again, and Liu Yunshu froze, her longsword clattering to the ground.

She instinctively tried to push him away, but he held her firmly in place.

His strength wasn't heavy, but it carried an undeniable sense of security, gradually calming her disordered breathing.

"Although my internal energy has recovered to about 70-80%, my meridians are not fully healed, so I cannot force myself to circulate my energy."

Xiao Luochen's voice rang in my ears, carrying a hint of barely perceptible worry, "Internal strength must be cultivated slowly; it cannot be rushed."

Liu Yunshu lowered her eyes and could clearly feel the warmth of his palm through her thin clothes.

The faint scent of ambergris emanating from him mingled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms around them, making her ears burn.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," she said softly, trying to steady herself.

Xiao Luochen slowly released his hand, but still held her arm to prevent her from losing her balance again.

His gaze fell on her flushed cheeks and the beads of sweat on her forehead. He raised his hand, his fingertips instinctively reaching out to wipe the sweat from her brow.

But he stopped abruptly just before touching her skin, and instead took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her: "Wipe your sweat."

Liu Yunshu took the handkerchief, her fingertips touching the silk handkerchief he had used, still warm and carrying his scent, and her heart raced with panic once more.

She quickly wiped her sweat, returned the handkerchief to him, and bent down to pick up the sword from the ground.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from afar, accompanied by a guard's loud report:

"Your Majesty! Alliance Leader Xiao has sent word that he has decisively defeated the Demonic Sect! They are almost at the palace gates!"

Liu Yunshu suddenly looked up at the guard, her eyes filled with unbelievable joy, her voice even trembling slightly:

"What did you say? Hanxing...he's really back?"

The guard bowed and replied, "Yes, miss, it is absolutely true!"

The weight on Liu Yunshu's heart lifted with a thud, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

For the past month, although she has been recuperating peacefully in the palace, she has been constantly worried about their safety.

Hearing of his triumphant return, all my worries and anxieties turned into the relief of surviving a disaster.

A genuine smile unconsciously crept onto his lips, and his eyes shone as brightly as stars.

Without thinking, she ran towards the palace gate.

Xiao Luochen stood under the osmanthus tree, his dark robe fluttering in the autumn wind, the plum blossoms on his fan appearing and disappearing in the light and shadow.

He watched Liu Yunshu's departing figure, a bitter feeling rising in his throat, and even the fragrance of osmanthus flowers around him seemed to have taken on a coolness.

Only after that figure in pure white completely disappeared from sight did Xiao Luochen slowly withdraw his gaze.

His fingertips unconsciously caressed the plum blossoms on the fan, his eyes filled with a deep and unyielding emotion.

The osmanthus tree beside him was still fragrant, but he found the sweet scent pungent and suffocating.

Holding the repaired sword, Xiao Hanxing walked happily toward the palace.

Just past the Vermilion Bird Gate, a figure in pure white came running through the falling petals, her skirt fluttering as golden osmanthus blossoms fell from her hair.

Liu Yunshu threw herself into his arms, her eyes brimming with joy, her voice choked with emotion: "Hanxing, you're really back!"

Xiao Hanxing instinctively opened his arms and caught her steadily, his palms touching her slender back.

Feeling her slightly trembling shoulders, an overwhelming tenderness instantly filled his eyes.

He gently stroked the top of her head, his voice hoarse from returning from the battlefield, yet full of tenderness: "I'm back. I'm sorry to have worried you."

He still carried the smell of gunpowder and a faint stench of blood from the battlefield.

Liu Yunshu was emotionally agitated, and the smell of blood caused her vision to suddenly go black, and her body went limp and slid down.

Xiao Hanxing's heart tightened, and he quickly pulled her arms tighter, holding her firmly. His fingertips touched her slightly cool skin, and his voice immediately became flustered:

"Yunshu? Yunshu, what's wrong?"

He looked down and saw that her eyes were closed, her face was as pale as paper, and her lips, which were originally red, had lost their color. He felt even more panicked.

The person in his arms was as light as a feather, yet he felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

The composed and confident leader of the alliance on the battlefield was gone, leaving only a heart full of fear and unease.