After the Ministry of War officials left the room, it was the young man's turn to enter Lu Fusu's imperial study with stacks of papers in his arms.
The room is quite simple, with only tables, chairs and bookshelves.
"Zhuge Qing, the doctor in the household department, comes to see His Highness the Crown Prince."
"No gift."
"I received a letter of love from the governors of Xuzhou and Chenzhou overnight, hoping to impose a temporary tax."
"What's the name?"
"I heard it's to clean up the streets."
Lu Fusu quickly read the official documents presented.
"No additional taxes will be added randomly. Immediately send the supervisory censor to the streets recorded here to confirm the situation and confirm to what extent repairs are needed, or whether repairs are really necessary. We will discuss it after seeing it. I will write a formal edict to
Supervise the Censor."
"I obey the decree."
"There are other?"
Zhuge Qing did not answer, but smiled with a meaning.
"What? What's the problem?"
"...Early this morning, my childhood sweetheart came to my house."
"Um?"
"She works as a court lady here."
Lu Fusu's hand stopped for an instant, and he calmly placed the official document on the table.
"A palace concubine?"
"Yes, she also brought Shui Xinyuan."
Lu Fusu looked at Zhuge Qing sharply.
"... His Highness's face... suddenly became so terrifying."
"I always look like this."
"Don't stare at me like that! That girl is very nice!"
"I didn't expect that palace concubine to be your childhood sweetheart...I clearly told you not to mention it to anyone."
"I can only say that she trusts me more than she trusts you."
Zhuge Qing smiled silently and shrugged his shoulders.
Lu Fusu sighed and pointed to the chair next to him and asked him to sit down.
"...Why did your childhood sweetheart bring my Shui girl to find you? Zhuge Qing."
"Eh? You admitted it!"
"If you make a big deal out there, I will pull out your tongue right away!"
"That sounds terrible."
Zhuge Qing moved his chair in front of Lu Fusu and sat down. He was not afraid at all and still had a smile on his face.
"Qing'er didn't come to me just to spread the word. Instead, she wanted to let His Highness Prince Shui see me and let her know that there is indeed someone on His Highness's side, so that she can rest assured."
"..."
Lu Fusu thought of the figure standing in the rain.
...If only I had noticed it earlier...The petite body in my arms felt so cold.
Cry for things that are not her fault, apologize for things that are not her fault...
"She... didn't catch a cold, right?"
"What?"
"Last night, she came to see me in the rain..."
Zhuge Qing's smile turned into a bitter smile and he nodded.
"You don't seem to be feeling uncomfortable, so it shouldn't be a big deal."
"That's it..."
"What a lovely girl. She only cares about you, Your Highness!"
"Did Shui Xinyuan say something?"
"I almost didn't say anything, but I knew it when I saw him."
"..."
Although Lu Fusu told Zhuge Qing that Shui Xinyuan was his girl, he was actually not sure because after so long, Shui Xinyuan still couldn't adapt to Lu Fusu.
...It is true that I have spoken more recently than in the past, but...
He always calls her out at night and always feels sorry for her.
As long as she says she wants her to come over, she won't refuse.
Could it be that she acquiesces to my willfulness just because she is very gentle?
I hope that Miss Shui also wants to meet her as much as she does... But she still can't confirm this.
"...Is she an important person?"
Zhuge Qing, who asked the question, had already suppressed his smile.
"Yes...she...is more important than anyone else."
"In this case, it must be concealed...at least for now."
"Yes……"
Lu Wuxian and the others must not be allowed to know.
"It doesn't matter if you want to take my life, but..."
"But once you let them know that you have your heart, they will definitely take you as a hostage."
"And if I abandon the throne, I will betray her..."
"In this case, we have to avoid making her a target."
Patting his knees, Zhuge Qing stood up.
"Although the vigilance will continue, Your Highness must be more careful around you than in the past. Those guys are extremely despicable and will do whatever it takes."
"I know."
"Then, I have resigned."
Zhuge Qing, who was about to leave the room, turned his head.
"Three years ago, my father traveled with you through mountains and rivers..."
Lu Fusu raised his head.
"To be honest, he was originally very uneasy about you inheriting the throne. You are good at academics and have a good character, but he doubted how much you understand about leading and governing a country."
"..."
"However, His Highness suddenly said one day that he wanted to see this Yuan Kingdom with his own eyes. His Majesty's situation at that time was already worrying... During your absence from the capital, the Emperor's brother might have taken the opportunity to seize the throne, but you still chose to embark on the journey.
He only took a few close followers with him, and didn’t even take a carriage."
Zhuge Qing raised the corners of his mouth and smiled.
"Since my father came back from that trip, he has kept saying that this way there will be no problem and it will ensure that Yuan Guo will have no worries."
"...For Lu Wuxian, it was indeed an excellent opportunity at that time."
Lu Fusu was very aware of the dangers of leaving the capital. When he came back, the crown prince's position might not be guaranteed, and he might even be attacked by assassins on the way.
Despite this, he still embarked on the journey.
To confirm what the girl said.
"At that time, Concubine Chen could not convince the emperor. So after I returned to the capital, I still kept my position as crown prince... However, they would not give me a second chance."
"That's right, if you hadn't become emperor, I would have had a big headache too!"
"Um?"
"If Qing'er is a friend of the emperor and the empress, and I marry her, I can silence those nagging relatives."
Zhuge Qing showed a meaningful smile again and was about to open the door.
"Zhuge Qing..."
"yes."
"Now we all have leverage against each other."
"Now no one can blame anyone."
Zhuge Qing walked out of the imperial study room.
After watching him leave, Lu Fusu closed his eyes for a while.
……I am certain……
There is only water source, which must be protected.
Lu Fusu opened his eyes, straightened his back and sat on the chair.
"Next person……"
…
Shui Xinyuan and Qing'er were talking to the gardener Fu Bo in front of the blooming white peonies in the classroom.
"The person who was invited to attend His Highness Wuxian's banquet..."
"They are all idiots who seem to have no brains, but I'm afraid who is who..."
Others might think that they were talking about peonies, as the three of them walked slowly in the garden.
"I don't know. The people standing beside His Highness Wuxian may be princes and nobles whom His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't even know."
"It's like a spy... Is the fight for the throne so blatant?"
Uncle Fu smiled bitterly as he picked off the dead leaves of the peony.
"I am also a detective! I am currently responsible for monitoring the Qinghe Hall where His Highness Wuxian lives. There have been a lot of people coming in and out recently. It may be that the Emperor is not in good condition, so everyone is panicking too!"
"...You said there are many people, who are they?"
"Well... Judging from his appearance, he must be a noble, but he is also old. Although he can enter the garden without raising suspicion, his eyes can't see that far, so he really can't see his appearance clearly."
"What an unreliable detective..."
"Your Highness Fusu will not be in danger, right?"
The struggle for the throne has also become a topic in the public, and even the fate of the losing side is also within the scope of discussion.
"That's not clear. But His Royal Highness is also prepared, don't worry."
"That's right..."
However, since that rainy night, Shui Xinyuan has not seen Lu Fusu again.
I thought he might be busy and told myself to be patient, but when I saw this situation, I would occasionally want to see him inexplicably and uneasily.
...cannot be willful...
I have to wait.
"Speaking of which, have the little girls ever seen aristocratic women at His Highness Wuxian's banquet?"
Shui Xinyuan and Qing'er looked at each other.
"Aristocratic woman..."
"...It seems not, everyone present is a palace concubine."
"Really? There was no scene... Hey, when I was monitoring His Highness Wuxian's residence just now, I saw a strange young woman entering His Highness's room."
"Is he a noble?"
"She looks very stylish, I think she should be."
When I met Lu Wuxian at the banquet, I only knew that he was a womanizer, but I didn't know that he would find aristocratic women.
"That His Highness called the woman into the room is nothing to make a fuss about. It's just that the woman seems to be a noble, which makes people a little worried."
"He used to be surrounded by men..."
The wind swayed the trees, and when I looked up, the sky was gradually turning vermilion.
"Qing'er, I'm going to see her..."
"Wait, Shui Xinyuan..."
"It doesn't matter, Uncle Fu, is she still in His Highness Wuxian's room?"
"Not sure...it looks like I won't be able to go back."
"Won't go back? What do you mean?"
Uncle Fu narrowed his eyes and looked at Qing'er, lowering his voice and speaking.
"That way, it just... looks like I am very close to His Highness Wuxian."
"...Ah, so that's what happened."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Qing'er didn't know why and nodded with a dull expression to express understanding. Shui Xinyuan tilted her neck in confusion, wondering if it was because they were so close that they would chat for a long time.
"Shui Xinyuan, if you want to go, go early! Come back as soon as you see your face."
"Ah, um."
Shui Xinyuan was carrying a bamboo basket and seemed to be helping the gardener as he followed Uncle Fu.
Uncle Fu, who usually walks slowly, walked quickly despite his age, and arrived at Qinghe Hall while the sky was still bright.
They walked through the small door reserved for servants and entered the garden, picking up dead leaves and pulling weeds as they approached the room.
Fu Bo slightly gestured to Shui Xinyuan with his chin, and Shui Xinyuan pretended to look at the branches while peeping into the room.
From a distance, it looked like she was indeed a woman... Shui Xinyuan's heart tightened.
The woman is showing her white shoulders.
Shui Xinyuan couldn't help but look back at Fu Bo. Fu Bo was walking around in the garden to avoid being seen in the room, and walked under the eaves.
Shui Xinyuan quickly followed Fu Bo via the same route, and then fell down in the darkness of the railing.
"Uncle Fu..."
"Didn't I say they are very close..."
"meaning is……"
If you are just drinking tea and chatting, it is impossible to take off your shirt and expose your shoulders.
That scene... In other words, she is His Highness Lu Wuxian's lover?
Generally speaking, it is impossible for a guest who has met several times to take off his clothes, not to mention that the other party is an aristocratic woman who should be cautious and polite.
"...Speaking of which, when are you going to make me your queen?"
A sweet voice came from above, and Shui Xinyuan shrank up.
"Don't lose your temper! It'll be over soon."
"Oh, I heard the same thing a while ago!"
Lu Wuxian's voice, which he had heard before, came from deep in the room, but the woman's voice was very close, and it seemed that she had walked to the window.
Shui Xinyuan couldn't help but straighten his upper body slightly.
The woman's back was to Shui Xinyuan, leaning lazily on the railing. Although she was wearing her top, she was not wearing it properly, and half of her rounded shoulders could still be seen.
"I'm not that patient? You called me to the palace and sent me back without giving me any good news?"
"Hahaha... don't say that! Come here."
"yes……"
The woman pushed her unnaturally loose hair behind her ears and returned to the room.
The moment she turned around...
The charming and beautiful profile was imprinted in Shui Xinyuan's eyes.
Saw it...
Although it was only a profile, I could really see it clearly.
Can't stay any longer.
Shui Xinyuan nodded to Uncle Fu, stood up and left the garden quietly.