"Shuixinyuan."

Qing'er suddenly hugged Shui Xinyuan's shoulders.

"Be patient a little longer."

"Qing'er..."

"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."
To be continued...