Zhaoyang ran off to retrieve the kite, while he waited for her where he was.
He had been confined within the deep palace walls since childhood and had never left the palace. When he first saw a lovely girl as beautiful as his sister, he couldn't help but go up and strike up a conversation.
It turned out she was the daughter of Prime Minister Qin, waiting for him there. Living outside, she had seen far more things than he had, and he couldn't help but become interested.
Qin Xi had always been kept in seclusion by Prime Minister Qin, and only saw a few maids and servants every day. She had never seen such a handsome young man before. The two children became good friends as soon as they started chatting.
Later, after Prime Minister Qin came out of the palace, he took Qin Qi away. For a long time afterward, he was still standing there, gazing longingly, hoping that she would come back to him.
He was so distracted that he didn't even realize Zhaoyang had returned, nor did he know why she was soaking wet. All he knew was that her childish cheeks looked even more rosy.
Just like that little girl from before.
"Royal brother? Royal brother?" Princess Zhaoyang frowned and called out when he didn't speak.
"Huh?" Emperor Yuxian finally came to his senses and touched the tip of his pen. "Why are you still kneeling? The ground is cold. Get up quickly and be careful not to catch a cold."
"yes."
Princess Zhaoyang, supported by Chi Cui's hand, got up and sat down in a chair to chat with Emperor Yuxian for a while. Laughter could be heard from time to time in the hall, creating a very pleasant atmosphere.
Princess Zhaoyang's gaze casually swept across the table, landing on the painting of a beautiful woman. Her eyes widened in surprise. "This is..."
Emperor Yuxian's smile vanished instantly. After a moment of silence, he said, "It is Qin Xi."
Upon hearing this, Princess Zhaoyang was even more surprised, "I heard she is pregnant, does Your Majesty... still like her?"
The words had been spoken, but no reply was received from Emperor Yuxian.
She looked up and saw Emperor Yuxian staring blankly at the portrait of Qin Xi he had drawn. Seeing this, Princess Zhaoyang also fell silent, and after a long while, she heard that soft response.
"Um."
Princess Zhaoyang looked at him in surprise, her brows furrowing involuntarily, her eyes filled with heartache, "Royal brother..."
"Isn't it ridiculous?" Emperor Yuxian smirked self-deprecatingly. "I think it's ridiculous too. For her sake, I've become this inhuman, ghostly figure, despised by everyone in the world, yet she still won't even glance at me."
He paused, then said, "I must be really ridiculous."
Princess Zhaoyang pursed her lips and remained silent.
The mere mention of Qin Qi transformed Emperor Yuxian. Just moments before, though imposing, his eyes had been empty and devoid of meaning. But now, he even adopted a more respectful tone, and his eyes held something clear and distinct—Qin Qi.
"Royal brother...do you really like her?" Princess Zhaoyang asked hesitantly, "Even if she caused you to become like this, you still like her willingly?"
"Yes," Emperor Yuxian said, "For her, I would gladly do it."
“Zhaoyang understands.” Princess Zhaoyang nodded, then tentatively asked, “Has Your Majesty ever considered… having her?”
Emperor Yuxian froze. Possessing...her?
Recalling what had happened before, he shook his head with a wry smile, "How could I not want to have her? I dream of marrying her, being an ordinary couple with her, and having our children and grandchildren around us. That's what I've always longed for."
"But..." Emperor Yuxian sighed, "I can only think about it. She doesn't have me in her heart, otherwise she wouldn't have married Lu Huai."
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