Every year when the Autumn Flower Festival is approaching, the capital city of the Yuan Kingdom holds a large-scale market specializing in combs, hair accessories and other accessories. Sometimes the price is less than half of the usual price. Therefore, from early in the morning to sunset, the streets
It was crowded with women and men who wanted to give women gifts.
"So, all the maids will go out tomorrow..."
"Everyone? Are they all going?"
"right."
Shui Xinyuan showed a bright smile, and Lu Fusu blinked in surprise.
"Of course it's okay for them to leave the palace...but why do they all leave the palace together?"
"At the beginning, they discussed who would stay..."
Shui Xinyuan poured the tea and placed the cup in front of Lu Fusu.
"But because everyone wanted to go, they couldn't decide, and almost had a quarrel... So, I asked them to go together."
"Isn't that inconvenient?"
"No problem. Anyway, I am usually responsible for taking care of the emperor's life, and the royal chef will also prepare breakfast."
"It doesn't matter to me..."
After getting up every morning, Shui Xinyuan never takes care of Lu Fusu's grooming and dressing. Therefore, the maid's job every morning is just to tie Shui Xinyuan's hair and prepare breakfast... Because Shui Xinyuan
Not used to others taking care of his life, Lu Fusu also felt that instead of relying on others, it would be better for Shui Xinyuan to take care of things for him, and he could see her anytime and anywhere.
"...Where are tomorrow's visitors?"
Shui Xinyuan is very independent, so Lu Fusu is not worried that her life will be affected, but he is very worried that if the maid is not around, those noble ladies will come to bully the queen...
"Ah, that's no problem. I have just conveyed this matter to the Zhongshu Provincial Department and asked them to politely refuse all visitors tomorrow. The Zhongshu Provincial Department responded quickly."
"I see……"
Even without asking, Lu Fusu knew that Mr. Zhuge must have been working hard to handle the official document.
"It smells so good...is this Songlong tea?"
"Yes, it was just delivered from Youzhou yesterday."
Shui Xinyuan put the cherries boiled with sugar on a small plate with slightly bitter tea, and Lu Fusu put one hand on the table to support his chin.
"...Shui Xinyuan, have you been to that busy market?"
"I've been there before. I used to be busy with a lot of things during the day, so I didn't have time to go until evening every time. Almost all the good stuff was robbed..."
The palace maids also like to go to the market, so they don't practice dancing that day, but those nobles don't bother to go to the cheap market to buy jewelry. They always leave a lot of chores to Shui Xinyuan and have to wait for everyone every time.
After returning from shopping, Shui Xinyuan had time to go shopping.
"However, I go there last and I can pick up cheap ones. So, I will buy them for my sister and friends back home."
"...Do you still want to go?" Lu Fusu asked with concern, Shui Xinyuan shook his head with a smile.
"Now I have a lot of better combs and hairpins... Moreover, Qing'er also said that the market is so crowded that it is difficult to even walk."
"But do those maids still want to go?" Lu Fusu smiled bitterly and held Shui Xinyuan's hand.
Shui Xinyuan nodded and sat down next to him.
"...When will they come back?"
"I'm not sure... people from the seminary almost always come back in the evening."
I heard that if you want to enjoy shopping and shopping at the market, you need to spend a whole day.
"I originally thought I could practice dancing alone while everyone was away, but I didn't expect that the walls of the dance studio would be renovated tomorrow and I couldn't go in..."
"You can neither go to dance practice nor have anyone to chat with you. Isn't it boring? Do you want Qing'er to accompany you?"
"Qing'er should also go to the market..."
Although Qing'er complains about the crowds at the market, she goes there earlier than anyone else every year.
Lu Fusu frowned and put his arm around Shui Xinyuan's shoulders.
"You're the only one... Then do you want to come to the Rising Sun Palace?"
"This... will disturb the emperor's work."
"How could you possibly disturb me?"
"However, human words can be feared."
"..."
All the maids traveled together, and the queen even went to the emperor's study room... It is not difficult to imagine that there will soon be people talking behind her back.
"Yeah...that's right."
Lu Fusu sighed, and Shui Xinyuan laughed softly.
"I'll stay here and look after the house until everyone comes back. I'll clean the dormitory so I can sew some clothes."
"……no problem?"
"it does not matter."
Shui Xinyuan smiled and nodded.
…
"It's really relaxing..."
The bedroom had been thoroughly cleaned the day before yesterday, and Lu Fusu's winter clothes had been sewn long ago.
After sending Lu Fusu off to court in the morning, Shui Xinyuan soon became restless.
She tidied the bedroom a little, and also tidied the rooms that she usually visited frequently. She also wiped the tea cups and tea sets, but it was not noon yet.
She changed her clothes, combed her hair, made tea for herself, sat on the bench by the window where Lu Fusu usually sat, and could only stare at the garden in a daze.
It has been a few months since I came to Chunying Palace... This may be the first time I look around and see no one around.
Although I can enjoy the beautiful scenery in front of me to myself, I always feel a bit empty.
Even if a person sits on this bench, it feels too empty.
"..."
Shui Xinyuan found that she rarely seemed to feel free or bored in her life.
When I was in my hometown, I was busy doing housework and taking care of my siblings every day. After coming to the capital, I was ordered around all day long...
In comparison, life as a queen is relatively leisurely...but compared to physical fatigue, you have to bear more mental pressure.
"Just... take a rest today."
Although it's a bit lonely without anyone to accompany me, there will be no one to upset me.
Just once...it doesn't matter if you are sitting or not, right?
"Hey……"
Shui Xinyuan took off his shoes, lay on the chair and straightened his legs.
In the crisp autumn season, the dry wind blows and feels particularly comfortable.
—I’m afraid I’ll fall asleep if I do this…
She put her hands behind her head, closed her eyes, and couldn't help but yawn.
so quiet.
Only the chirping of birds was heard in the distance.
...It's not bad to have such a leisurely day...
If she could be greedy, she hoped she wouldn't be napping here alone, but would have someone by her side.
That's right...for example, you can have a shoulder to lean on and a hand to stroke your hair.
Touch your cheek gently with your fingers like this...
"..."
Shui Xinyuan was half asleep, feeling that the touch was very real, and suddenly opened his eyes.
"Um...are you awake?"
"ah……"
Shui Xinyuan found Lu Fusu, who had just been sent out the door, leaning on the back of his chair and looking at him.
"emperor?"
"Did it wake you up?"
"Ah? Why...did I sleep for so long?"
Shui Xinyuan thought he was just taking a short nap, but he didn't expect that he slept until dusk and didn't even notice Lu Fusu came back.
Shui Xinyuan hurriedly sat up and found that the surroundings had not changed much from before.
"...Eh, eh?"
Lu Fusu smiled and poked Shui Xinyuan's cheek, who was looking around.
"It's not yet noon, when did you go to bed?"
"Your Majesty, why do you...?"
"I'm back, I want to see what the lovely queen is doing alone?"
"Where is the Emperor's official business?"
"Of course it's all taken care of."
...The emperor should just treat it as finished...
Shui Xinyuan's face turned red, and she hurriedly retracted her legs that were stretched out on the bench.
"Uh... that..."
Lu Fusu saw that he was completely relaxed. Shui Xinyuan was so embarrassed that he couldn't help lowering his head, not daring to look directly at Lu Fusu.
But Lu Fusu didn't care. He touched Shui Xinyuan's chin, raised her face, and kissed her.
"...Do you still want to sleep?"
"No, that..."
"Today's weather is very nice, it's perfect for a nap... It's also nice to come back early sometimes, so I can see you sleeping cutely in a brightly lit place."
"I usually don't sleep..."
Thinking that her sleeping expression just now might have been stupid, she wanted to run away quickly regardless of Lu Fusu's rare return early.
"Okay...what now?"
"what to do?"
Lu Fusu took off his shirt, hung it on the back of the chair, and whispered softly: "Let's continue taking a nap! This chair is just right for one person, but it's a bit cramped for two people."
"..."
Does the emperor also want to take a nap?
"Then the emperor can lie on my lap..."
"It's not bad to lie on your lap, but you won't be able to rest this way."
"I……"
"Or you won't let me sleep with you...?"
"Uh...this..."
Shui Xinyuan raised her eyes in embarrassment, and Lu Fusu looked at her with joy.
"Then please, Your Majesty..."
"Um?"
"Don't look at me when I'm sleeping..."
"Why? It's so cute?"
Lu Fusu smiled and picked up Shui Xinyuan and walked directly to the palace.
"Ah, my shoes..."
"Don't worry, someone will take care of it later."
Yes, the maid may come back at any time.
"What if everyone comes back...if I'm not here..."
"When everyone sees your shoes and my clothes, they will know that we are here and will not come in and peek."
"But, Your Majesty..."
The door of the bedroom was closed, and Shui Xinyuan's bewildered voice was no longer heard.
On this day, Chunying Palace was quiet all day long.