The sunlight streaming in from the window gradually dyed the ground red.
The sun is going down.
Qing'er kept her eyes closed.
When I was a child, I spent all day hanging around Zhuge Qing.
Looking back now, I am surprised that Zhuge Qing was willing to play with a girl who was three years younger than him. Of course, after that, because Zhuge Qing started studying, he could no longer play with her.
...However, I still like Zhuge Qing in front of me...
Even though Zhuge Qing said he wanted to study and couldn't play with him, he still often went to Zhuge's house and lay on the window of Zhuge Qing's room to watch him in class. He was curious about what he was studying and listened to the teacher's lectures very carefully, but in the end
Or because I didn't understand it at all, I gradually stopped going to Zhuge's house.
From that time on... maybe I realized the difference between myself and Zhuge Qing.
It's not the specific difference in identity and position, but the fact that I finally realized that wearing my sister's old clothes and always being covered in mud from playing was incompatible with the beautiful big house of Zhuge Qing's family.
Therefore, if you don't wear decent clothes, you can't step into that big house again... But even if you dress up, you have never heard any praise from Zhuge Qing.
After that, on the advice of relatives, he became a palace concubine and never went to Zhuge's house again.
Moreover, the adults said that by being with other palace concubines, she might be able to change her little boy-like personality. She had long known that just dressing beautifully would not attract Zhuge Qing's attention.
...Zhuge Qing should have never regarded me as a girl...
No matter how beautifully she dresses, Zhuge Qing always laughs at her as being unsuitable, so she no longer has any expectations for him.
No one else's praise could compare to Zhuge Qing's praise, even if it was just a casual comment.
but……
Qing'er slowly opened her eyes.
The room was darker than before.
...How old were you then? I remember it was almost twelve years old.
That day, Qing'er met Zhuge Qing by chance at a nearby market.
Because we rarely met each other at that time, we passed by each other after nodding and saying hello.
Although it was broad daylight, a drunkard said that Qing'er bumped into him and was deliberately trying to cause trouble.
When Qing'er retorted as usual, Zhuge Qing stepped forward.
"There are so many people here, it's normal for you to accidentally bump into them. Can't you touch them?"
Qing'er still remembers his calm tone and protective back... That was the first time she felt that Zhuge Qing's figure was so tall.
When the drunkard was about to pounce on him, Zhuge Qing grabbed the drunkard's hand and twisted it back hard.
Qing'er's eyes widened. Although she knew Zhuge Qing practiced swordsmanship before, she never thought Zhuge Qing was very powerful.
Zhuge Qing subdued a drunkard who was famous in the neighborhood. The drunkard screamed in pain and ran away amidst the ridicule of the people around him.
Compared with being troubled by drunkards, Qing'er was more surprised by Zhuge Qing's tenacity and even forgot to say thank you.
She still remembers the gentle smile on Zhuge Qing's face when he looked back.
"Qing'er, be careful on the way home. Goodbye."
After Zhuge Qing finished speaking, he turned and left.
That was the Zhuge Qing that Qing'er was familiar with, but also the Zhuge Qing that Qing'er didn't know at all... Zhuge Qing, who had lost every time in the previous quarrels and cried when he fell, had disappeared without a trace.
Later, when Zhuge Qing saw Qing'er dressed up, he still never praised her.
Before Qing'er entered the palace as a court lady, she once went to Zhuge's house to say hello. Zhuge Qing also asked with a surprised look on his face, "Can you dance?"
Although Qing'er was very angry, even if she was angry again, she could not kick Zhuge Qing casually.
I can't beat him anymore... Ever since Zhuge Qing protected her in the market that day, Qing'er realized that she would never be able to make Zhuge Qing cry again, and she would lose forever.
...Only those who lose will cry.
Zhuge Qing has changed.
My own feelings have also changed.
The outcome has been reversed...
"Qing'er, are you ready?"
The door opened, and Qing'er saw her mother walking in from the mirror and raised her head.
"It has been prepared for a long time..."
"The sedan will be here in a moment."
"……Yeah?"
Qing'er lowered her eyes, and her mother took a chair and sat down next to her.
"Would you feel uneasy?"
"Yes, yes..."
"Don't worry, Mr. and Mrs. Zhuge have always liked you."
"Um……"
Qing'er is more worried about her husband than her parents-in-law.
Of course, the mother could not understand Qing'er's worries. She looked at her daughter in the mirror and smiled.
"I still can't believe that the Zhuge family really wants to marry you as their daughter-in-law... This is really great. The in-laws must be very happy too."
"……Eh?"
"She has always said before that it would be fine if you married Zhuge Qing."
"Before? When was it?"
"When you were only one or two years old."
"...That's just a little baby!"
Qing'er's mother smiled bitterly and lowered her voice slightly: "Don't the eldest lady only have one son, Zhuge Qing? I heard that she also hoped to have a daughter, but after giving birth to Zhuge Qing, her body became very weak, so there was no way
Reborn."
"..."
"She always loves you very much. No matter how naughty you are, she will forgive you with a smile... Maybe she wants you to be her daughter."
Qing'er didn't believe it at all... The eldest lady was always kind and cheerful. She thought that was the eldest lady's natural character.
But...it's true what my mother said...
...Zhuge Qing decided to marry me...could it be because of the eldest lady's wish?
Isn't it because Zhuge Qing wants to marry me?
She suddenly noticed that the wedding dress in the mirror had faded.
...that's right.
I know better than anyone else how unworthy I am of Zhuge Qing...
Qing'er opened her eyes blankly, but couldn't see herself. She tried her best to think back to the night when she was almost killed to save her friend, the figure who protected her from the back, and the strong arms that hugged her.
She didn't even notice that her mother heard her sister's cry and walked out.
...Zhuge Qing...
Can I dress like this?
Can I go to your house wearing this?
I really, really want to be your wife... What do you think...?
Qing'er unconsciously gritted her teeth, and the weight of her wedding dress gradually turned into an uneasy weight.
...Zhuge Qing...
"Qing'er, you are so beautiful."
"..."
The cheerful voice cheered her up again.
Looking back, she saw that her close friend who had married earlier than her... and had become the current queen opened the door and waved to her with a smile on her face.
"Hey, I came to see you. I originally wanted to attend your wedding, but everyone stopped me, saying that attending the wedding as a queen would bring trouble to everyone... Qing'er?"
"Shui Xinyuan..."
Shui Xinyuan noticed something was wrong with Qing'er's situation and ran to her side and asked: "Qing'er, what's wrong with you?"
"Shui Xinyuan, I'm so scared..."
"Fear?"
"Yes, I'm so scared, afraid of marrying him..."
Shui Xinyuan held her trembling hand firmly.
Normally, Shui Xinyuan was a weak sister in Qing'er's eyes, but looking at her eyes now, she looked like a big sister.
"...Qing'er, don't you like Zhuge Qing?"
"I like him……"
"Zhuge Qing likes you too!"
"I have no idea……"
"No problem...absolutely no problem."
"no……"
"Don't worry, as long as you go to Zhuge's house, you will know that there is absolutely no problem."
Shui Xinyuan knelt in front of Qing'er, held her hand and smiled.
"Zhuge Qing will definitely be angry when he sees your expression. Why don't you believe him?"
"..."
"Let's go!"
Shui Xinyuan held Qing'er's hand and stood up. The scenery outside the window was dyed red by the setting sun.
"The emperor has already gone to Zhuge's house. I wanted to congratulate you and asked the emperor if he could come to your house. He sent me here in a carriage. I will follow you to Zhuge Qing's house later."
"...Fortunately, the emperor didn't come to my house, otherwise my parents would have been frightened."
"When I came in just now, I also alarmed them..."
Qing'er's inner uneasiness did not disappear, but thanks to Shui Xinyuan, she finally had the strength to stand up and walk.
After Qing'er said goodbye to her parents and sister, she got on the sedan chair sent by the Zhuge family.
...No problem, no problem...
Qing'er repeated what Shui Xinyuan said as if reciting a mantra, and the sedan chair stopped.
The Zhuge family is very close to the Zhang family, only a few steps away.
"Qing'er, congratulations."
"Shui Xinyuan, thank you..."
Qing'er's expression was tense, and she finally managed to smile at Shui Xinyuan and raised her head.
The stone road that I have been familiar with since childhood leads to the big house.
…
"Today is your big day, and you actually fell asleep in a place like this. You are so calm and relaxed!"
"……ah?"
Hearing this familiar voice that should not appear at home, Zhuge Qing opened his eyes blankly.
"Good morning, Zhuge Qing. But it's already evening now."
"...Your Majesty, why are you here?"
Zhuge Qing couldn't help but look around. This was indeed his home, his room, and he was lying on the bench. But why was the emperor who was supposed to be in the palace here?
"Why? Wait a minute, isn't it your and Zhang Qing'er's wedding?"
"That's right! The wedding is coming soon...but I didn't invite Your Majesty."
"From my position, of course I cannot participate in the private celebrations of the ministers... But the Queen said that she wanted to bless her friends. I am not so reckless that I cannot even satisfy the Queen's wish."
"So that's it..."
It turned out that the queen wanted to congratulate Qing'er, so the emperor came out of the palace to congratulate her.
Zhuge Qing held back a yawn and stood up, while Lu Fusu pointed out the window with an unbearable expression.
"You are so leisurely. The bride is coming soon."
"Has the sun set?...I didn't even sleep well last night."
"I can understand your mood. I didn't sleep at all the night before I married Shui Xinyuan."
"His Majesty?"
Lu Fusu, who was pacing in the room, stopped and looked back at Zhuge Qing.
"Why are you so surprised? Don't you think I can't be so delicate?"
"It's not a matter of delicateness... The emperor is too happy, so he can't sleep, right?"
"..."
"At that time, I felt that the emperor was extremely happy."
"...I don't want to bless you anymore."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Zhuge Qing smiled, shrugged and stood up.
"Did the Queen go to Qing'er's house?"
"She should be coming with your bride."
"Although I may not be able to compete with the Emperor, I am also looking forward to the appearance of my bride as soon as possible."
"Very good, you can tell the bride when she comes."
"..."
Zhuge Qing suddenly remembered the gloomy past, held his head again, and sat down.
"Zhuge Qing, what's wrong with you?"
"No, that..."
Zhuge Qing recalled that during the emperor's wedding, he praised the queen's appearance in the bridal gown. The people around were not only surprised, but even couldn't help but admire...The queen must have felt very shy at that time, shrinking her petite body even smaller, and her face turned red.
, couldn’t help but cry.
"...I am not as eloquent as the Emperor."
"I think this sentence seems to be an overt praise and a covert criticism."
"Actually, I have never praised Qing'er."
"……this?"
There was a moment of silence...
The chirping of birds in the distance seemed to be mocking.
"You said you never praised me...what do you mean?"
"Because she and I grew up together, she often came to my house when she was a child, and sometimes she would come over wearing beautiful clothes..."
"...Didn't you praise her?"
"Although I think she is cute, I just think about it..."
Even Zhuge Qing didn't know why he wanted to talk about this kind of thing with the king of a country, but Qing'er's hurt expression appeared in front of his eyes.
At this moment, I was both looking forward to Qing'er appearing sooner, but also afraid of facing her.
Lu Fusu frowned and thought for a moment.
"There are so many words of praise in this world, but they are not used for the people you love. I feel incredible about this."
"I have found the wrong person to discuss with..."
Zhuge Qing felt that his and Lu Fusu's personalities were very different.
But Lu Fusu seemed to want to comfort him, sitting next to him and patting his shoulder.
"Since I only thought about it in my heart before and didn't say it out loud, let's start talking about it from today!"
"I just can't say it..."
"You don't need to be like me. You are different from me. I believe you have your own words of praise."
"..."
"What your bride wants to hear is not praise from others, but praise from you."
Zhuge Qing turned to look at Lu Fusu like a doll. His expression seemed to be enjoying the situation in front of him, but his eyes were very serious.
"The Queen is so happy..."
"If Shui Xinyuan feels this way, I will also feel very happy."
"There are very few guests who come to congratulate, but they are showing off their love..."
The servant announced in the corridor that the sedan chair had arrived.
"……Reached?"
"Seems to be."
"When you go to welcome the sedan chair, you should first tidy up your hair that has been messed up while sleeping."
"...Your Majesty, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Zhuge Qing hurriedly looked in the mirror, combed his hair with his hands, and rushed out of the room.