"Even though he is so tall now, he used to be smaller than me and would often cry when we had a fight."
"Why...why do you mention those things in particular? Besides, the one who makes me lose every time is the monkey from some oil shop!"
"It's all your fault for being too weak."
"What you said...you will be sent to the palace, isn't it just to change your old habit of using strong words to make excuses?"
"Humph, as soon as I saw your careless face, I couldn't help but tell the truth!"
"Ah, that, Qing'er..."
...You should introduce me first, right?
Qing'er shrugged and sat down on the bench by the window politely, asking Shui Xinyuan to sit down as well.
"You're welcome, sit down!"
"This is my room! Qing'er..."
"Excuse me……"
"Ah, your name is Shui Xinyuan, right? Please sit down, please, you're welcome."
"Thanks……"
Shui Xinyuan sat down cautiously, and Qing'er immediately spoke.
"Zhuge Qing, how is your father?"
"Good or good..."
"Can officials from Zhongshu Province see His Majesty who is sick now?"
"ah?"
"Or should everyone ask Concubine Chen and His Highness Lu Wuxian to drive them away and not get close to them?"
Zhuge Qing's eyes became a little serious and he looked at Qing'er.
Qing'er didn't take his reaction to heart, picked up the tea on the table and drank it without permission, and looked back at Zhuge Qing.
"I didn't expect these words to come out of your mouth..."
"Yeah! It's not like what I would say."
"Why do you want to know? What do you want to know?"
"I want to know because of Shui Xinyuan."
Zhuge Qing looked at Shui Xinyuan who was sitting huddled in a chair.
"...This matter seems to have nothing to do with you."
"me……"
What should I say?
Although he knew that Qing'er and Zhuge Qing were old acquaintances, Lu Fusu didn't want people to know that Shui Xinyuan was related to him, and even told Qing'er not to tell anyone else.
Seeing Shui Xinyuan lowering his head, Qing'er quietly put down the tea cup.
"...Although your head is empty, your tone is quite tight, Zhuge Qing."
"It is unnecessary to have an empty head."
"It's good to be tight-lipped. Where is Shui Xinyuan? He is the person here who most hopes that His Highness the Crown Prince can ascend to the throne of God. He hopes for it more than anyone else. I won't say more. You can think about it carefully with your empty head.
.”
"..."
Zhuge Qing scratched the back of his head, looked at the silent Shui Xinyuan with confusion, and finally let out a heavy breath.
"Hey... I just think of it as helping Qing'er's only friend..."
"Only is superfluous!"
"Indeed, Concubine Chen is keeping an eye on His Majesty, and Lu Wuxian also goes to visit every three days. His Highness Fusu also often visits, but Concubine Chen is very long-winded, so she can't talk much with His Majesty."
"Your Majesty, he..."
Shui Xinyuan raised his head vigorously.
"Your Majesty...does he intend to let His Highness Lu Wuxian succeed to the throne?"
"Well...if His Majesty is in good health, he shouldn't have such plans. What I'm afraid of is that as the condition worsens, His Majesty's will will become weaker and weaker, and we can't tell how long it will take for this to happen. Maybe it will happen tomorrow.
occur."
"..."
"But His Highness the Crown Prince is not without supporters."
Seeing Shui Xinyuan, who was startled and her eyes wide open, Zhuge Qing smiled frankly at her.
…
"The group of guys who are currently involved in Lu Wuxian are mainly people who are short of money, people who are tempted by benefits, and people who do some shady things behind the scenes, but are caught by Lu Wuxian's gang members. They
Promoting and fabricating Lu Wuxian’s popularity everywhere.”
"..."
"It's really a lot of trouble."
"Hey, fortunately, my family is not short of money, and we live a clean life without any clues."
The way Zhuge Qing jokingly shrugged was very similar to what Qing'er often did.
"It means that we can believe that you are on the side of His Royal Highness, right?"
"My father and I, our family are all on His Highness Fusu's side. After all, we have no reason to show favor to Lu Wuxian."
"...he said so, Shui Xinyuan."
After listening to Zhuge Qing's natural answer, Qing'er looked at Shui Xinyuan.
Qing'er must have known Zhuge Qing's answer from the beginning, right? Shui Xinyuan thought to herself. That's why she brought me here today.
"Thanks……"
Shui Xin Yuan stood up from his chair and bowed to Zhuge Qing.
"What? You don't need to thank me! I just think that someone who is suitable to be the emperor should be the emperor."
"Yes! Shui Xinyuan, you don't need to bow specially... now you feel a little relieved, right?"
"Um……"
Shui Xinyuan relaxed his expression slightly and nodded.
No matter how arrogant Lu Wuxian is, there is no doubt that the person sitting in the crown prince's seat is Lu Fusu.
"Okay, it's almost time for me to go to Dian Mao."
"Ah, that's right. I'm sorry for bothering you so early."
"It doesn't matter. If you want to go back to the palace, would you like to take our car with us?"
"No, I have to go home first. Will you accompany me home, Shui Xinyuan?"
"Ah...um. Excuse me."
Qing'er and Shui Xinyuan were about to walk out of the room, but Zhuge Qing stopped Qing'er and took some from the pile of beautiful oranges in the large white porcelain basin on the table, which was more like decoration than eating.
One, thrown at her.
The orange fruit drew an arc and fell into Qing'er's hand.
"Here you go, fresh."
"..."
"If you need anything, come to the household department and see me."
"……good."
"It's good to see you in good spirits."
Zhuge Qing waved his hand, and Qing'er closed the door without saying a word.
...Ah, I guessed it right...
Seeing Qing'er's profile, Shui Xinyuan was so convinced.
After leaving the Zhuge family mansion for a while, Shui Xinyuan spoke softly to Qing'er.
"...Qing'er, do you like Zhuge Qing?"
Qing'er suddenly stopped and Shui Xinyuan took a step past her.
When she turned around and saw Qing'er, her eyes were red.
"...You woman, you are usually so slow, but you will notice annoying things at this time."
"Have you been dating for a long time?"
"How can it be."
"But Zhuge Qing also likes Qing'er, right?"
"..."
Qing'er frowned and pouted.
"You...didn't you see my attitude just now?"
"I saw it!"
"If that's the case, why do you still think like that? I... am such a domineering girl..."
Qing'er murmured.
It was the first time Shui Xinyuan saw that expression, fragile and helpless, like a lost girl.
Shui Xinyuan smiled slightly and pointed at the orange in Qing'er's hand.
"Don't they often say that throwing plums or oranges to the people you like conveys your feelings..."
"...I just know some unnecessary things."
"I used to see people do this in my hometown."
"This is just ordinary food! Didn't that guy say the same thing?"
Qing'er turned the orange in her hand and started to move forward quickly, Shui Xinyuan also quickly caught up.
"If it's really for food, you should give it to me, right? There are so many over there."
"It doesn't have that meaning anyway...how could it be possible?"
"Why?"
Qing'er stopped again.
"Shui Xinyuan..."
"Huh?"
"I'm just the daughter of a small oil dealer! I don't have a huge fortune, I'm just the daughter of a businessman."
"..."
"And the other party is the Zhuge family. At this age, there should be many wealthy ladies coming to discuss marriage."
Qing'er smiled lonely.
"... I have always been a strong and wild girl. When I was a child, that guy was like my servant. I often made him cry... However, this situation is acceptable because we are still young. No, even if we are children
It shouldn’t be allowed, it’s just that people in the Zhuge family don’t stick to trivial matters. When Mrs. Zhuge saw her son being made to cry by me, she just smiled..."
...In fact, the other party is in a world that I cannot touch.
This intention is too far away.
The reason why I can't feel the distance is because the conversation is too warm and the smile is too gentle...
"I was too careless...that I forgot that my identity is not suitable..."
...Yes, otherwise, actually...
"...Shui Xinyuan?"
Holding an outstretched hand, leaning on a shoulder, etc., even sitting in the same seat, are all inappropriate behaviors, but...
"Hey, Shui Xinyuan, why are you crying?...Oh, that's right!"
"..."
"The same goes for you..."
Qing'er looked at the tears running down Shui Xinyuan's cheeks, her eyes were wet, and she smiled bitterly.
"And your target is someone with a higher status..."
"I...don't expect anything."
Shui Xinyuan shook his head and stretched out his hand to wipe his cheek.
"I want to become the best palace concubine in the whole capital for His Highness Fusu. That's fine. I don't expect anything else...how can I expect it?"
"yes……"
Qing'er urged Shui Xinyuan to slowly move forward again.
"You are so awesome... I can't do it. Although I understand in my head, if that guy marries a wife, I will definitely cry... And if that guy wants me to be his second concubine on a whim, I will
He will definitely cry because he is not the only one..."
"..."
...Lu Fusu will also have a queen one day and will marry a beautiful and elegant noble daughter...
Shui Xinyuan thought to herself that she might cry too by then.
...At least, it is enough to hope that he will not forget me.
If he could remember that I was a court lady who was good at dancing...
"Qing'er."
"What?"
"We will cry together then."
"……OK!"
Hearing the noise of the market, Qing'er wiped her eyes and raised her head hard.
"Shui Xinyuan, do you want to go shopping?"
"Oh, by the way, I want to go to the clothing store to buy some old clothes for my sister."
"Then let me help you negotiate the price, I'm very good at it!"
Shui Xinyuan and Qing'er looked at each other and smiled, holding hands and running towards the street.