The greenhouse is located in the west wing of the palace. It is a dome building made of special glass. The interior simulates the most suitable climatic conditions on Muqier Star.
Yunwushu followed Chrisel through layers of plant barriers and came to the central garden area.
"Look," Kristel pointed to a sea of blooming flowers. "This cultivation was a great success."
The star blue flower is a species unique to the planet Muqier. Its petals have a blue-purple gradient like a cosmic nebula, shimmering in the sunlight.
Yunwushu walked closer involuntarily and reached out to touch the soft petals.
"My father loved these flowers the most when he was alive," he said softly, "and he said they looked just like my mother's eyes."
Chrisel stood beside him, close enough to smell the faint scent of cedarwood. "The former Star Lord's wife must be very beautiful."
Yun Wushu nodded, then suddenly felt dizzy and staggered.
Chriselle reacted quickly, grabbing his waist and holding him firmly.
"careful!"
In an instant, Yunwushu was completely trapped in Chrisel's arms.
Through the thin clothes, he could clearly feel the warmth of the other person's chest and the strong heartbeat.
This overly intimate contact made his mind go blank and even his breathing stopped.
"Are you okay?" Chrisel's concerned voice sounded in his ear, and her warm breath brushed against his earlobe.
Yun Wushu hurriedly stood up and distanced himself: "No, nothing, just a little dizzy."
Chrisel didn't let go immediately. Instead, she studied his face carefully. "Your temperature is rising again. Let's go back."
"Stay a little longer," Yun Wushu insisted, a rare gesture. "I want to look at the flowers a little longer."
Chriselle hesitated for a moment, then finally gave in: "Then go sit over there and watch."
He helped Yunwushu to the rest area in the center of the greenhouse, let him sit on a rattan chair, and then, like magic, picked a few of the most beautiful star-blue flowers from the bushes and weaved them into a small wreath.
"When you were sick as a kid, I always did this." Kristel smiled and gently placed the wreath on Yunwu's head. "Remember?"
How could I forget?
Yun Wushu lowered his eyes to hide his inner turmoil. Chrisel was only sixteen at the time.
The thin Yunwushu was running a high fever, and it was Chrisel who stayed with him for three days and three nights, and even made wreaths of flowers from the garden to cheer him up.
"I remember," Yun Wushu said softly, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the armrest of the rattan chair. "You read Interstellar Voyager to me back then."
Yunwushu nodded and watched Chrisel sit down beside him.
The sunlight shines through the glass dome onto Chrisel's profile, outlining a perfect contour line.
"'Among billions of stars, I only see your light...'"
Chrisel's voice gradually overlapped with that of the sixteen-year-old boy in her memory.
Yunwushu relaxed unconsciously, his head slowly tilted to one side, and gently leaned on Chrisel's shoulder.
The reading stopped abruptly.
Yunwushu suddenly woke up and was about to apologize, but he felt Chrisel carefully adjusting his posture to make him more comfortable.
"Go on." Chrisel said softly, and began to read aloud again, with one hand gently resting on Yunwushu's shoulder, as if protecting, or hugging.
Yun Wushu closed his eyes and pretended not to notice his crazy heartbeat.
At this moment, allow him to be a little greedy.
When Chrisel read "'Love is a forbidden star. Even though we know it cannot be touched, we still yearn for its warmth'", his fingers accidentally brushed against the back of Yunwushu's hand.
At that moment, both of them froze as if struck by electricity.
Chrisel was the first to come back to his senses. He coughed lightly and continued reading, but Yunwushu noticed that the tips of his ears had turned red.
The sunshine, the fragrance of flowers, Chriselle's voice and warmth, all of this constitutes a dream that is too beautiful.
"I'm a little tired." He said suddenly, straightening up and distanced himself.
Chrisel closed the book, a hint of imperceptible disappointment flashing across her eyes. "I'll take you back to rest."
On the way back, both of them were unusually silent.
Just as he was about to reach his bedroom, a servant came running over: "Sir, the envoy from Cassini requires to see you immediately. They say there is an urgent matter."
Kristel frowned. "Tell them to wait. I'll take His Highness back to his room first."
"No need," Yun Wushu said calmly, "I can go back by myself. You can go and handle your official business."
Chriselle hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "I'll come see you later. Remember to take your medicine on time."
Looking at Chrisel's receding figure, Yun Wushu clenched his sleeves.
Cassini's "emergency" was likely related to the trade anomaly he had discovered last night.
After returning to the study, Yunwushu immediately contacted Baier.
"What did you find out?" he asked bluntly.
Baier replied via the encrypted channel, "Your Highness, the situation is more complicated than we imagined. Cassini has recently been in close contact with several border trading posts, and the families in charge of these trading posts are none other than the same families that oppose Your Highness."
Yun Wushu's eyes narrowed: "Are they secretly forming an alliance?"
"More than that," Bair lowered his voice. "I suspect they are preparing to challenge the Lord in the next parliament, questioning the legitimacy of his authority as Planetary Lord."
Yun Wushu sneered, "So they're cutting trade taxes to create a fiscal crisis and prove Chrisel's mismanagement?"
"That's very likely," Bair said worriedly. "Your Highness, if you plan to appear in Parliament, I'm afraid it will play into their hands. They will use this opportunity to sow discord between you and the Lord."
Yun Wushu looked out the window, his eyes determined. "Then let them see whose side Muqier Star Lord is on."
He turned to the screen and pulled up the full council agenda. "Bell, I need you to prepare a detailed border trade report, specifically data on the exchanges between Cassini and those families."
"You intend to..."
"Since they want to play political games," Yun Wushu's voice was as cold as ice, "then I'll play along with them to the end."
After Bai Er left, Yun Wushu was attacked by violent coughing again.
This time, there was more blood on the handkerchief.
He calmly burned it and swallowed a double dose of painkillers.
Even if his life is like a candle in the wind, he will light the way for his loved ones before it goes out.
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