"It doesn't matter, we are just the lowest-level palace concubines. As long as we fulfill our obligation to dance behind, no one will notice us."
"..."
"Just dance, you hear me? Don't think about anything, this uncomfortable feeling will disappear soon... Come on, breathe in, breathe out, it's our turn next!"
With Qing'er's support, Shui Xinyuan reluctantly took deep breaths repeatedly.
"How's it going? Are you feeling better?"
"...It doesn't matter."
"That's good, can you play?"
"Um……"
...Yes, it must not attract attention.
Just dance with an expression as if nothing happened. This is the agreement between Lu Fusu and I.
Shui Xinyuan stared at Lu Wuxian from behind the pillar, who was accompanying the beautiful woman, waving his wine glass and laughing.
"Come on, Shui Xinyuan."
"good……"
With Qing'er pushing her from behind, Shui Xinyuan once again took steps to get on stage.
…
It started to rain in the middle of the night.
The court ladies, who were tired from playing at the banquet, returned to their dormitories and quickly fell asleep in their respective rooms.
Only Shui Xinyuan was awake.
She leaned against the window and listened to the faint sounds like whispers.
Finally, Shui Xinyuan left the room, walked through the quiet dormitory, and walked on the path that would not get lost in the dark.
It was later than usual at this moment, and there was no trace of the Imperial Army.
After passing through the gate and entering the garden, I saw a flicker of light at the other end.
The cold rain wet my hair and clothes, and my sleeves became very heavy.
The hem should also be stained by the mud... But Shui Xinyuan couldn't care about that and walked straight towards the light.
Arriving under the eaves of the building, she began to hesitate whether to speak or not and stood there for a while.
…His Royal Highness Fusu didn’t ask me to come over tonight.
He should rest...
In this late night, even if a lamp is lit, it does not mean that the person is still awake.
But Shui Xinyuan couldn't bear to leave, so he had to stand where he was.
The banquet just now echoed in my mind.
Later, Lu Wuxian spoke ill of Lu Fusu, and the nobles and court ladies continued to flatter Lu Wuxian.
For Shui Xinyuan, who endured it silently, this uncomfortable period was almost as long as a lifetime.
Now that I have arrived in front of Lu Fusu's house, I feel at peace in my heart.
...Just one more moment, just let me stay here...
After saying this to the invisible people, Shui Xinyuan was still drenched in the rain.
I don’t know how long it took, but the sound of something came from above.
Shui Xinyuan looked up and saw Lu Fusu looking at him through the railing.
"Water girl?"
"..."
"...What are you doing in this rain..."
Shui Xinyuan, who was a little dazed, only then noticed that Lu Fusu had gotten up.
"I'm sorry, I came without authorization..."
"Don't worry so much, come up quickly!"
"No, I'm just fine here..."
Shui Xinyuan shook his head, and Lu Fusu hurriedly ran down.
"No, it's raining now..."
Before she could finish saying the word "rain", she was already being hugged.
Lu Fusu was helping her cover the rain.
As if to share the lost warmth with her.
"How long have you been here?"
Shui Xinyuan didn't react for a moment, he was in Lu Fusu's arms.
"I just arrived... not long ago..."
"Is that why your body is so cold? Why are you acting so recklessly!"
"I'm sorry... I think you have fallen asleep..."
"Next time, call me immediately. It doesn't matter whether I'm awake or asleep."
"I just want to stay here for a while..."
Lu Fusu looked at Shui Xinyuan's face.
"Today...is the day of the banquet."
"...Lu Wuxian's?"
"yes."
When he thought about it, anger and sadness were awakened at the same time, and Shui Xinyuan's expression twisted.
"I... can bear it."
"……Yeah?"
"But……"
The tears that had been held back welled up.
Lu Fusu silently used his fingers to brush away the hair on Shui Xinyuan's cheeks and forehead.
"sorry……"
"Why apologize?"
"I... don't understand anything, just like His Highness Wuxian..."
"..."
Lu Fusu patted Shui Xinyuan on the back to comfort her.
"No need to apologize, blame me for not telling you anything... He is really pitiful if he wants to say that he is pitiful. His mother is Concubine Chen who competes with my mother for favor, and Concubine Chen has instilled in him since he was a child that he will definitely become the emperor in the future.
Concept, now that he has discovered that his brother will inherit the throne, it is natural for him to hate me."
"But His Highness Wuxian cannot become a good emperor..."
"Um?"
"I don't want it...If it weren't for His Highness Fusu, I wouldn't want it."
...If it were Lu Fusu, I believe he would be able to change something.
No matter it is a year of good harvest or a year of disaster, what little savings you have will be taken away, and the grain scraps left under the rice cabinet will have to be collected to make ends meet.
If that still doesn't work...sell your family members one after another.
This is the cruel reality outside the capital.
"Those who stand above others must always remind themselves that they are below others." Lu Fusu once said.
Can Lu Wuxian say the same thing?
"...Don't worry, Miss Shui." Holding Shui Xinyuan in his arms, Lu Fusu said in a clear voice: "I have no intention of giving up the throne to Lu Wuxian. I still have many things that must be done. Lu Wuxian will probably
He brags that he will become emperor no matter what, right? In that case, so do I."
"Um……"
"So you don't have to worry. Although my father is ill in bed, he is still conscious. Concubine Chen seems to have expressed a lot of opinions, but I also have people on my side. I will inherit the throne and this will not change."
Shui Xinyuan breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that someone was on his side.
Thinking about it carefully, since they were called to attend Lu Wuxian's banquet, those princes and nobles must have been Lu Wuxian's cronies, and everyone else must have supported Lu Fusu.
"Are you relieved?"
"Um……"
"In that case, why don't you come up and have a cup of tea to warm yourself up?"
"..."
Shui Xinyuan suddenly remembered what kind of situation he was in.
They are too close!
"Yes...I'm sorry!"
Shui Xinyuan quickly wanted to leave, but Lu Fusu was unwilling to let go.
The warmth through the fabric, and the scent of incense that you can smell only when you are close to Lu Fusu...
"..."
Other people's arms... She only knew the arms of her parents who used to hold her up and make her laugh when she was little.
...Were dad’s arms so strong and reliable back then?
Is it also this warm?
The strength of hugging him was so strong that it even hurt, and Shui Xinyuan almost fainted.
"Lu Fusu...Your Highness..."
"Um?"
"Well, I'm going back..."
"Won't you come in?"
"I'm afraid that your room will be dirty. Your clothes are wet..."
My heartbeat was so fast, it felt like it was about to jump out of my body.
In short, you must leave his arms first, otherwise you will really faint.
"Don't worry, it doesn't matter if it gets dirty."
"It's already very late..."
"not late."
"Your Highness Fusu..."
"Don't go back, stay here, just stay a little longer..."
Lu Fusu whispered in his ear, shattering Shui Xinyuan's hesitation.
Shui Xinyuan bit her small lips and lowered her gaze. She was held tightly in Lu Fusu's arms and was led upstairs and into the room somewhat forcefully.
After Lu Fusu finally let go of Shui Xinyuan, he casually took off his wet shirt and handed the robe placed on the chair to Shui Xinyuan.
"this."
Shui Xinyuan didn't understand what Lu Fusu meant, and stared at the dark green robe at a loss.
"Better get your clothes dry."
"..."
Shui Xinyuan tilted her head in confusion, and Lu Fusu suddenly untied her belt and took off her upper body coat before she had time to be surprised.
"ah!"
"Although I only have a top, I can still dry out a little bit this way."
He spread Shui Xinyuan's blouse on the table and asked her to put on his robe.
"..."
"You can wear this for now."
Lu Fusu himself only wore a thin undershirt and walked into the room.
...was shocked.
Shui Xinyuan, who had been standing in the rain, actually even his inner clothes were wet, but if he had even taken off his inner clothes, he would definitely faint...
Shui Xinyuan quickly grasped the front of her robe.
The green robe tailor-made for Lu Fusu was too loose for Shui Xinyuan, and the sleeves and hem were too long.
"..."
After taking a breath quietly, I smelled the same incense scent as before.
Shui Xinyuan found that if he walked directly, the hem would be dragged on the ground. Lu Fusu happened to come back with a towel.
"Dry your hair! A cold is terrible."
"Ah... Well, compared to me, His Highness Fusu..."
Seeing the water droplets about to fall from the messed up bangs, Shui Xinyuan stretched out his hand unconsciously, but when he met Lu Fusu's eyes, he was startled and retracted his hand.
"...You're still not used to touching me, or my touch..."
The words he said as if talking to himself always sounded lonely, and Shui Xinyuan's eyes were filled with uncertainty.
"It doesn't matter... I know you are trying to accept me in your own way, but I am... too anxious."
"..."
Shui Xinyuan didn't quite understand what Lu Fusu was talking about. Maybe her confusion was conveyed to Lu Fusu. He smiled and shook his head.
"It's nothing...just, can you stay here tonight? I'll take you back at dawn."
"But……"
"Shuixinyuan."
She was hugged tightly by Lu Fusu again.
The only difference from before is that there is no cloth between them, but as if in direct contact, you can feel the heat of your skin, the beating of your heart, and the perseverance of your arms.
"Stay by my side as usual...we'll drink tea and chat."
"..."
"Before I have to let you go back, this is fine for now, so..."
Shuixinyuan could not move.
My mind went blank and I couldn't think of anything.
…If the rain won’t stop, if the sky won’t light up, if time won’t move…