Under the elegant, towering eaves, the setting sun’s orange-red glow enveloped the young man and woman. The lady possessed extraordinary beauty and grace, while the gentleman stood aloof from worldly matters – truly a sight that delighted the heart and pleased the eyes.

Holding the Pingzhong leaf bonsai, Tianyuan felt immensely relieved that the Crown Prince wasn’t present to witness this scene. Otherwise, he believed the imperial city would likely face a bloody storm, with countless unfortunate souls ending up bloodied and broken.

Tianyuan gave a light cough. Xie Yunhuai withdrew his gaze and slightly nodded to Tianyuan before departing with his medicine box.

“Your Highness, this was specifically sent by His Highness,” Tianyuan hastily presented the Pingzhong bonsai.

The golden leaves were bathed in the sunset’s glow, making them even more brilliantly golden and pleasing. Shen Xihe looked at it with immediate fondness: “Has His Highness recovered?”

“His Highness had been cultivating this plant early on, and had divided and replanted it before falling unconscious. During this time, I carefully noted down the proper cultivation methods to ensure it thrives, which is why I’m now able to deliver it to Your Highness,” Tianyuan promptly explained the Crown Prince’s thoughtfulness and dedication.

Shen Xihe’s fingertips gently stroked the delicate leaves. After a moment of contemplation, she accepted it: “Convey my thanks to His Highness, and my hopes for his swift recovery.”

“With Your Highness’s concern, the Crown Prince will surely wake soon,” Tianyuan respectfully replied. “Some days ago, His Highness mentioned to me that due to his poor health and frequent fainting spells, he feared causing Your Highness worry. He vowed to take better care of himself in the future, to reduce such episodes and avoid frightening Your Highness.”

Tianyuan diligently spoke well of his master.

Shen Xihe regarded him with an expression that suggested volumes left unsaid.

When Tianyuan received no response from Shen Xihe after a long while, he became puzzled. Slightly raising his head, he met Shen Xihe’s gaze and felt completely bewildered – what had he said wrong to earn such a look from the Princess?

Shen Xihe suddenly smiled, then had Hong Yu accept the Pingzhong bonsai. As she turned, she spoke in a voice only she and Tianyuan could hear: “His Highness sought me out to bid farewell before leaving.”

These eight words struck Tianyuan like a bolt from the blue.

Only after Shen Xihe had entered the manor with a subtle smile did he recover his senses, immediately becoming grief-stricken: “Master, couldn’t you have informed me before making your confession?”

All his earlier words trying to curry favor for his master had become a joke, and he, who thought he was winning the Princess’s goodwill for his master, had become nothing but a clown.

Was he still his master’s most trusted confidant?

In the past, his master had never concealed anything from him!

Tianyuan left in distress, while Shen Xihe’s mood inexplicably improved, making her appreciate the Pingzhong leaves even more.

Hong Yu finished reading the small booklet, which not only detailed care instructions but also outlined potential problems and their solutions.

Hong Yu, who had just moments ago thought Xie Yunhuai gentle and considerate enough to match their Princess, immediately switched sides: “This servant has never seen any young man court the Princess with such attentiveness.”

While there had been no shortage of young men trying to win Shen Xihe’s favor – whether for her status and position, the wealth and glory behind her, or her beauty – all had tried their utmost to flatter her, sending refined, precious, and rare gifts.

But only the Crown Prince sent things that truly suited her tastes. Though he could easily bestow priceless treasures, he never sent the Princess any mundane objects – everything showed genuine thoughtfulness.

Shen Xihe responded with a light laugh, her heart unmoved.

After returning, Tianyuan immediately wrote a detailed report to Xiao Huayong about events in the capital, particularly those concerning the Princess.

The day Xiao Huayong received the letter coincided with his discovery of an extraordinary Snow Lotus at the highest peak – an exceptionally large specimen.

It swayed in the wind and snow, displaying an air of surpassing all other flowers in existence. At the cliff’s edge, the task proved even more challenging than collecting the immortal’s sash from the cliff face that day.

The cliff edge had no foothold, and there were no trees or rocks nearby to secure a rope.

The wind carried snowflakes that hindered Xiao Huayong’s vision. Fortunately, he had brought his gyrfalcon, commanding it to test the snow-covered areas along the cliff edge. As the bird shook off the thick snow, narrow edges suitable for footholds were revealed.

Seeing that he could create a path of fragmented handholds from his position when approaching the Snow Lotus, the gyrfalcon knocked against it, causing not only snow to fall but also making Xiao Huayong’s foothold begin to shake. His expression darkened.

Even the quickly retreating gyrfalcon sensed the danger, letting out anxious warning cries.

“Silence!” Xiao Huayong coldly commanded.

The gyrfalcon gave two low calls before circling the wind and snow to the other side.

Xiao Huayong’s gaze quickly surveyed the area, swiftly planning a barely feasible route. Confirming this was the only way, he unhesitatingly shed his heavy cloak and leaped down, his hands gripping identified holes while his feet found precarious half-holds horizontally.

After steadying himself, he pressed his entire body against the freezing cliff face. One hand released to quickly grip the next hold, his feet moving with difficulty, finding purchase only to slip several times due to the narrow ledge and icy snow. Small stones gradually fell as his fingers began to bleed from gripping too tightly during the climb.

In the cold wind, it took only moments for his hands to become numb and senseless, making progress far more difficult than anticipated.

Yet at this moment, he refused to give up easily, for it was then he realized he loved her – loved her enough to stake his life.

He didn’t know when these deep feelings had taken root, nor did he need to explore their origins.

The wind and snow suddenly intensified. Whenever Xiao Huayong raised his head, snowflakes would blow into his eyes, making it impossible to keep them open.

As time passed, his strength diminished increasingly. He quickly glanced up against the wind and snow, then lowered his head to blink away the melted snow in his eyes. Relying on memory, he began moving his arms again. Just as he was about to release one hand, his foot suddenly slipped. Only his lightning-quick reactions allowed him to catch himself, but three fingernails were torn off in the process, the blood freezing instantly.

The ice numbed any pain as he stumbled several times, nearly falling multiple times before finally reaching the Snow Lotus.

Steadying himself and freeing a hand to pluck it, he was shocked to discover how deeply the Snow Lotus had rooted itself. As soon as he applied force, the entire cliff edge began to shake, with massive chunks of snow crashing down.

“Dili-li—” The gyrfalcon let out shrill, anxious cries.

The gyrfalcon’s natural ability to assess environmental risks led it to brush its wings against Xiao Huayong, urging him to give up.

But having already grasped it, Xiao Huayong would never abandon something that had come into his possession!

His fingertips gradually tightened as he looked down at the endless snowy cliffs below, then surveyed the avalanche’s trajectory.

To the gyrfalcon, which had spread its wings to shield him from the wind and snow, he shouted: “Get back—”

With his shout, he exerted full force to uproot the Snow Lotus. Instantly, the snow peak collapsed with a thunderous rumble.

His body fell due to the excessive force, immediately engulfed by rolling waves of snow in mid-air.