Floating life reflects two lotuses

The late spring sun shone brightly on the earth, and the countryside outside the imperial city was full of life. Xiao Jinlian wore an elegant lake-blue dress, exuding a low-key nobility, yet her refined and otherworldly temperament was undeniable. She stood by the stream, her gaze passing over the murmuring water and landing on the distant rolling green hills, a thoughtful smile appearing on her face.

Li Heng approached slowly, carrying a wine jug, his gaze falling on Xiao Jinlian's figure. She stood quietly on the forest path, looking up at the dappled sunlight filtering through the branches and leaves, her whole being as serene as a figure in a painting, her clothes fluttering gently in the breeze, as if she had become one with the world around her.

"Lian'er." His voice was gentle and deep, with a hint of teasing, "Every time I see you, I feel that you are more vibrant than these mountains and rivers."

Xiao Jinlian turned to look at him, a smile playing on her lips: "It sounds like Brother Liheng finds me annoying and wants me to live in seclusion in the mountains, becoming a carefree person who doesn't care about worldly affairs."

Li Heng chuckled softly, placing the wine pot on the stone table beside him. "If that were truly the case, all the turmoil in this palace would be none of your concern. Lian'er, if I could take you far away, away from here, would you be willing?"

Xiao Jinlian raised an eyebrow, picked up the wine glass he had poured, gently swirled the wine inside, and looked at him with a half-smile: "Brother Liheng, what you're saying sounds like you're about to defect."

Li Heng's eyes flickered slightly, but his lips curled into a playful yet serious expression: "If it's for you, perhaps it's really worth a try."

She paused for a moment, as if something had gently touched her heart. Her gaze fell on the wine pot beside him, and she changed the subject: "Brother Liheng, you've come prepared today, even bringing good wine."

"Since I'm traveling with you, I can't be negligent." Li Heng raised his cup, a hint of complexity in his eyes. "The country can wait, but you... are what I want to protect the most."

Xiao Jinlian's hand paused, the swirling wine in her glass reflecting her slightly lowered eyelashes. In her mind, Chu Wanlian's voice suddenly rang out: "Jinlian, you promised me that you wouldn't let Brother Liheng develop feelings for you that he shouldn't."

Xiao Jinlian took a deep breath, concealing her complex emotions with a faint smile: "Brother Liheng, aren't these words a bit too direct? I don't know how to respond."

"Even a dignified princess can be stumped by a few words from me?" Li Heng shook his head and laughed, his tone carrying a hint of mischievous ease.

Xiao Jinlian looked up, met his gaze, and said in a deliberately serious tone, "If the general were to leave these sweet words for the brothers at the border to hear, they might suspect that you have learned some new tricks after returning to the capital."

Li Heng chuckled softly, but the curve of his lips was slightly bitter: "Perhaps, but every word I said was true."

The seriousness in his tone made Xiao Jinlian pause slightly, but Chu Wanlian in her mind whispered a reminder: "Jinlian, you must be careful. Don't let him get any closer."

“Brother Liheng.” Xiao Jinlian raised her eyes, a light smile returning to her lips, but her tone was more distant. “I know you want to protect me, but this world is dangerous, and some paths are better walked by myself.”

Li Heng's smile gradually faded, and a hint of disappointment appeared in his eyes: "Lian'er, why do you always try to push me away? Is there something I'm not doing enough?"

Xiao Jinlian lowered her head and took a small sip of wine, concealing the turmoil in her heart: "Brother Liheng is overthinking it. It's just that my status as the eldest princess doesn't allow me to rely too much on anyone."

Li Heng was silent for a moment, his gaze falling on her lowered eyelashes, a strange sense of crisis rising in his heart. He reached out and gently tucked the strands of hair that were blowing in the wind behind her ear, his voice low and soft: "I don't know what happened, but no matter what, I'm behind you."

Xiao Jinlian trembled slightly, slowly raised her head, and a complicated smile appeared on her lips: "With the general's protection, I am naturally at ease. I only hope that the general... will not forget his duties because of me."

Their eyes met, and an indescribable mix of emotions filled the air. The wine in their glasses swirled gently, and the crisp clinking of glasses echoed through the silent forest, seemingly making a silent promise for the moment, yet also blurring the distance between them.

Later, the two strolled into a bamboo grove, their feet treading on layers of freshly fallen bamboo leaves, a faint fragrance filling the air. Xiao Jinlian's steps were light and slow, the bamboo leaves rustling, adding a touch of tranquil rhythm to the quiet grove.

Suddenly, Li Heng stopped, his gaze falling on a spot on the ground. He crouched down slightly and picked up an object embedded in the soil. Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting a faint, dark golden glow on the object.

"What is this?" Li Heng held up the ancient artifact, his brows furrowed slightly, his tone revealing a hint of doubt.

Xiao Jinlian approached upon hearing the sound, her gaze falling on the object in his palm—a stone slab engraved with runes. The runes faintly emitted a dim light, somewhat similar to the runes she had seen when breaking the formation earlier.

"Let me see." She reached out and took the stone tablet, her gaze sweeping over the runes, her brow furrowing. The moment her fingertips touched the rune's inscription, a chilling, faint energy surged into her body through her palm, causing her to tremble slightly. She immediately released her grip, her gaze becoming even more serious.

"What's wrong?" Li Heng asked with concern. "Is this thing related to those previous formations?"

Xiao Jinlian did not answer immediately, but stared at the stone tablet, her voice low: "The aura of the runes is very similar, but its energy is more subtle... This is definitely not an ordinary thing."

Upon hearing this, Li Heng warily scanned his surroundings, his gaze quickly sweeping through the bamboo forest, his tone revealing a hint of vigilance: "It's too much of a coincidence that something like this appeared here. Perhaps... we've already been targeted."

Xiao Jinlian looked up to meet his gaze, a calm glint in her eyes: "Whether it's a coincidence or intentional, I can't judge for now. But in any case, it's not advisable to stay here any longer."

She gently tucked the stone fragment into her bosom, her tone becoming more urgent: "Let's go back to the manor first, and then study it carefully."

Li Heng nodded, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the depths of the bamboo forest again, his voice low but firm: "Lian'er, no matter what happens, I will not let anything happen to you."

Xiao Jinlian looked at him, her gaze complex, but she only nodded slightly. The two quickly turned and left the bamboo forest, the bamboo leaves rustling softly under their feet, as if concealing some hidden danger in this tranquil place. Behind them, it seemed as if some gaze was quietly watching them from within the bamboo forest, carrying a lingering chill.

The gauze curtains of the Phoenix Palace swayed gently as Consort Yan reclined on a carved soft couch, toying with a faintly glowing runic stone in her hand. The symbols on the stone flickered subtly, reflecting on her exquisite face, making her cold smile appear even more unfathomable.

"The Princess's confinement has just been lifted, and this rune stone has just fallen into her hands," Consort Yan said, turning the stone in her hand with a hint of amusement in her voice. "What do you think she will do?"

The expert standing to the side lowered his head slightly, his voice low and confident: "Your Majesty need not worry. This rune stone has already been processed, enough to activate the remaining array power. If she touches it out of curiosity or to test it, it will trigger the pre-set anomaly. Not only will it make it impossible for her to defend herself, but it will also arouse even greater suspicion."

"What a clever trick, she's outsmarted herself." Consort Yan scoffed lightly, slowly placing the stone slab on the table, her slender fingers gently tapping the smooth wooden surface. "Do you think I can't see through her little schemes? She thinks she's in control of everything, but it's nothing more than a trapped beast's struggle."

She turned her head to look at the expert, a chilling glint in her eyes: "I don't need her to fall immediately. I want her to go deeper and deeper until she can't turn back on her own."

Upon hearing this, the expert's expression was respectful, yet it subtly revealed his approval: "The scheme that Your Highness has laid out is progressively more elaborate. Every step the Princess takes will hasten her own demise."

Consort Yan's lips curled slightly, her eyes flashing with even colder light: "The Princess thinks she has escaped a calamity, but little does she know that the real predicament has only just begun. I want her to tear apart that self-righteous pride with her own hands and be defeated in despair."

The candlelight flickered faintly in the hall, making Consort Yan's smile appear as alluring as a bewitching figure in a painting. A breeze swept through the courtyard outside the window, bringing a touch of chill, but it couldn't dispel the increasingly intense aura of computers.