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

"Although the Liu family owes Shu'er a great deal, they still have the kindness of raising her for more than ten years."

Her voice was hoarse, "If...if they were to..."

She closed her eyes, as if she had exhausted all her strength:

"We beg Your Majesty... that, for the sake of the small favor they showed us in raising Shu'er, you might... spare their lives?"

This is the most difficult and humble prayer that the matriarch of the Liu family could make, between her granddaughter's happiness and the survival of her family.

Liu Yunshu lowered her eyes to look at the warm, smooth mutton-fat jade bracelet in the box, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

She remembered when she was little, the old lady would hold her hand as she picked crabapple blossoms in the garden, her eyes crinkling with smiles.

Later, she was sent to the laundry department, and her grandmother tried her best to stop her, but...

"Grandmother, for your sake, I can let bygones be bygones regarding what happened in the past."

She paused, speaking each word slowly and firmly.

"Consider it... repaying the Marquis's family for raising me over the past ten years."

Before she finished speaking, her eyes suddenly turned cold.

"But if they dare to harbor even the slightest evil thought, or have any improper intentions..."

She slightly raised her chin, revealing her beautiful and charming face.

At this moment, he exuded a dignified and imposing aura befitting a superior, just like Han Fei.

"Don't blame me for being heartless and leaving no room for compromise."

Han Fei stood beside her, glancing at her upon hearing this.

His well-defined fingers gently covered the back of her hand, the pressure steady and reassuring.

"Yun Shu's words are my will."

"I can temporarily set aside the matter in the garden today, to give the old lady some face and to give the Marquis's mansion one last chance."

He paused briefly, then his voice suddenly turned deep.

"But what if there's a next time—"

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing in his phoenix-shaped pupils:

"There is no need for the Marquis of Puyang's residence to continue to exist."

Liu Cheng'an's body went limp, and he almost collapsed to the ground. His lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Wang was deathly pale, clutching her handkerchief tightly until her knuckles turned white, her eyes filled with fear.

Liu Yueyao knelt to the side, biting her lip tightly, her nails digging into her palms until blood seeped out.

She dared not look up, afraid of meeting Han Fei's icy gaze.

The old lady looked at Liu Yunshu, her cloudy eyes filled with pity, but she also breathed a sigh of relief.

She knew that Liu Yunshu wasn't heartless, but had been hurt too deeply. With His Majesty protecting her from now on, she could finally live a peaceful life.

"alright."

Han Fei raised his hand and gently wiped away the undried tears from the corners of Liu Yunshu's eyes, his voice so tender it could melt water.

Don't let unworthy people upset you.

He looked at the old lady, his tone softening as he spoke:

"Madam still needs to rest, so I won't disturb you any longer. Please take care of yourself. Yunshu will come to see you again when she has time."

Liu Yunshu nodded, looked up at the old lady, and the coldness in her eyes faded a little, replaced by a touch of gentleness.

"Grandmother, please take good care of yourself. I'll come to see you whenever I have some free time."

The old lady nodded shakily, her withered hand gripping her wrist tightly.

His cloudy eyes were filled with longing and reluctance, as if he wanted to etch her image into his heart.

It wasn't until Granny He gently reminded him from the side that the old man reluctantly and slowly loosened his fingers.

Han Fei put his arm around Liu Yunshu's waist and turned to walk out.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Marquis's residence.

Han Fei carefully helped Liu Yunshu step onto the carriage shaft.

After getting into the car, he carefully adjusted the silver fox-collared brocade cloak she was wearing.

Just as the wheels were about to turn, Liu Yunshu suddenly tugged at his sleeve.

"Jun Huai,"

She tilted her head back, the faint red marks under her eyes not yet completely faded, but her gaze was clear and bright.

With a rare hint of childlike anticipation, she spoke softly in a consultative tone.

"How about we... not go back to the palace? I want to go for a walk in the streets."

Han Fei looked down at her and agreed almost without hesitation.

"Okay. Whatever you say."

After changing to a more discreet carriage, the two slowly drove onto the street.

Outside the carriage curtain, the sounds of bustling people filled the air, and the aroma of caramel from the sugar painting stall mingled with the sweetness of osmanthus cake, wafting into the carriage.

Liu Yunshu leaned against the window, watching the pedestrians passing by on the street, her eyes full of smiles.

Han Fei sat beside her, his gaze fixed on her face.

Looking at her ear tips, which were slightly red from the wind.

It was nice to see the light in her eyes when she saw the vendor selling candied hawthorns.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

He reached out and tucked a strand of hair that had fallen over her shoulder behind her ear.

"Li De"

Li De immediately turned slightly to the side of the carriage shaft and whispered through the curtain:

"Yes, sir. What are your orders, master?"

Han Fei slightly raised his chin, his gaze falling on the string of candied hawthorns swaying on the street.

"Go and buy all the candied hawthorns from that stall."

Upon hearing this, Li De was visibly stunned for a moment.

all?

There were at least dozens of straw stalks densely packed together...

He suppressed his slight surprise and quickly replied, "Yes, this servant will take care of it right away."

The carriage curtain fell, cutting off the sounds of people outside.

Hearing the noise, Liu Yunshu turned around.

Her cheeks flushed an alluring pink from excitement and the slightly chilly wind, like a ripe peach.

She whispered a reproachful rebuke, with a hint of unaware, charming naiveté:

"Why buy so much? I can't possibly eat it all..."

Han Fei reached out and gently stroked her flushed cheek with his fingertips. The touch was delicate and warm, making his heart itch slightly.

He leaned down, close to her ear, his breath warm and tender, tinged with a low, indulgent hue:

"If we can't finish it, we'll give it to the palace servants. And this is what my little girl wants."

Liu Yunshu's cheeks flushed even more. She turned her head away and looked out the window, but couldn't help but smile.

Before long, Li De returned with a large bunch of candied hawthorns and carefully handed them to the car.

Han Fei took it, picked out the reddest and brightest one, and offered it to Liu Yunshu's lips.

"Try it."

His voice was deep, his gaze fixed on her moist lips, and his Adam's apple bobbed again.

Liu Yunshu opened her mouth slightly, took a bite of a hawthorn, and the sweet and sour taste spread on her tongue, carrying a hint of childhood memories.

She squinted her eyes contentedly, her eyebrows curving as she looked at him, her voice filled with undisguised joy:

"It's delicious, very sweet."

Han Fei's gaze was fixed on the corner of her lips.

There, a little bit of glittery icing accidentally got on it.

His eyes suddenly darkened, and he bent down and lowered his head.

Warm, soft lips landed precisely on the corners of her lips, which were covered in icing.

A gentle suck.

The sweet frosting, along with the lingering hawthorn fragrance on her lips.

And her unguarded softness, together they were drawn into the space between their lips and tongue.

"Well……"

Liu Yunshu's body suddenly stiffened, and her clear almond-shaped eyes widened slightly.

Her face was filled with sudden astonishment and rapidly spreading shyness, her cheeks flushed red like a drunken sunset.

Han Fei's kiss did not stop at a mere, fleeting touch.

Those sugar-coated lips seemed to carry a deadly sweet fragrance, enticing him to slowly traverse that soft curve.

The clear and calming aroma of ambergris mixed with the sweet and sour taste of hawthorn spread between their intertwined breaths.

It wove a tight, airtight net, gently enveloping her, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

His fingertips had already gently gripped the back of her slender neck without her noticing.

His touch was gentle yet irresistibly tender, his fingertips caressing the delicate, warm skin on the back of her neck.

His other hand gently caressed the soft lines of her waist.

Liu Yunshu's fingertips unconsciously clenched his clothes, causing deep wrinkles to appear on the brocade fabric.

Her breathing became completely disordered, fine and rapid, with an unconscious softness.

A captivating blush rose on her fair cheeks, and even the corners of her eyes were moistened with a thin layer of tender tears.

Like dewdrops condensing on peach petals on a spring morning.

She could clearly feel the warmth between his lips and teeth, a tenderness that made her heart flutter.

The sensation spread from the corners of her lips to the depths of her heart, burning her until her whole body went weak.

After an unknown amount of time, so long that Liu Yunshu felt as if the air in her lungs was about to be completely drained, Han Fei finally let go of her.

His forehead was still pressed intimately against hers, their noses rubbing together, their breaths mingling.

His fingertips gently caressed her lips, which were now even more rosy and full from his kisses, and even slightly swollen and sore.

Gently wipe away that ambiguous glimmer of water.

He lowered his gaze to her, his usually deep and imposing phoenix eyes now surging with an intense, dark, passionate fervor.

Like a deep, bottomless sea during a stormy night, it almost swallowed her entire soul.

His voice was extremely low and hoarse, with a lingering, burning heat:

"really,"

His Adam's apple bobbed, his gaze swept over her glistening lips, and the darkness in his eyes deepened.

"It's very sweet."

Liu Yunshu felt flustered and embarrassed by his burning and blatant gaze, and turned her head away, not daring to meet his eyes.

Her delicate earlobes were so red they looked like they were about to bleed, and even her slender neck was tinged with a light pink.

"Jun Huai~"

This call was less of a reproach and more of a shy, watery murmur.

Hearing this, the flame in Han Fei's heart suddenly burned even brighter.

"Um?"

He chuckled softly, a pleasant vibration emanating from his chest.

He stopped teasing her and pulled her closer into his arms, letting her lean against his firm, warm chest.

His broad palms patted her back gently and rhythmically.

The movements were incredibly gentle, filled with boundless pity and comfort.

"I'm here, South Wind."

The carriage rolled over the cobblestone road, making a soft creaking sound, and the voices outside the window gradually faded into the distance.

Liu Yunshu nestled quietly in his arms, her cheek pressed against the cool brocade on his chest.

Yet, one could clearly feel the steady, powerful heartbeat emanating from beneath the fabric.

The air around my nose was filled with the refreshing and pleasant scent of ambergris emanating from him.

A faint, unique scent belonging to him mingled with it, making her feel incredibly at ease.

She couldn't help but raise her arms and gently wrap them around his lean waist.

She buried her face deeper into his clothes, her voice muffled, yet filled with complete dependence and contentment:

"Jun Huai,"

She paused, as if savoring the sweetness of those two words.

"This is... really good."

Han Fei lowered his head, his chin gently resting on the top of her soft, fragrant hair, and tenderly placed a light kiss on her cloud-like hair.

His eyes were brimming with laughter and doting affection, and his voice was deep and gentle:

"Then let it stay this way."

He tightened his arms.

"As long as my south wind is happy, we will stay like this."