“I thought he treated me differently from other girls, so I’ve been clinging to him for so many years.” Princess Zhaoyang lowered her head and smiled faintly. “Before you, I saw him cry, I saw him laugh, I even saw him being beaten by Lord Lu.”
“But I’ve never seen him like anyone else.” She forced a smile and looked up at Qin Xi. “Until later, he married you. Although I’m very reluctant to admit it, he is indeed different from before.”
As if she had lost something important, Qin Xi saw the light in her eyes dimming little by little, and she remained silent.
“Actually, after staying in the royal temple for so long, I’ve come to a realization.” She looked up, the mist still clinging to her eyelashes. “My provocation the other day was my last act of resentment. Please don’t take offense.”
She smiled and said, "You asked me why I'm helping you. Actually, I'm not helping you. I just don't want him to be in a difficult position. He really likes you. If something happens to you, he'll definitely be very sad. I don't want him to be sad, not even a little bit."
"So, I'll still rescue you. It's better for me to be unhappy than for him to be unhappy." Her lips drooped weakly, unable to curve into a smile. "Qin Xi, you two must be alright..."
This was her last remaining obsession.
She touched Sijing's small face, which resembled Lu Huai's, as if she were seeing someone distant through him.
"I've said my piece. Be careful yourselves." She shrugged casually, not even looking at Qin Xi, and turned to enter the secret passage.
It wasn't until the door slowly closed that Qin Xi noticed her eyes were brimming with tears, yet the corners of her mouth were still stubbornly curved in a smile. She even waved to them at the very last moment.
Goodbye, Zhaoyang of the past.
...
Qin Qi, holding the child, squatted in a corner of the palace with Shu Hua and the others for a while, when suddenly they heard a rapid sound of horses' hooves.
The group exchanged glances, their expressions growing serious. Could it be that they were about to be discovered by the Imperial Guards before Lu Huai even arrived?
Qin Xi's heart tightened as she listened to the approaching sound of hooves. Perhaps Lu Huai had no idea she was here. All her waiting had been in vain.
She suddenly felt a little frustrated.
"Whoa—" Lu Huai pulled on the reins, and the horse came to a steady stop. He dismounted, looked around, but did not see Qin Xi, and frowned.
Could it be that they were deceived by Princess Zhaoyang?
Qin Qi frowned slightly; that voice... sounded somewhat familiar. She subconsciously looked up, only to meet the other person's gaze.
Lu Huai was slightly taken aback, then ran towards her, stood in front of her, and reached out his hand to her.
Qin Xi felt as if she were in an unreal environment. Her eyes were fixed on him, looking from head to toe, from his eyebrows to his palms.
Qin Qi was slightly taken aback when her gaze fell on his palm. His once fair and slender fingers had developed calluses at some point, unevenly distributed across his palm.
Lu Huai followed her gaze and then realized what she was looking at. He awkwardly withdrew his hand and stammered, "Qin Xi."
Qin Xi looked up and saw his familiar features, suddenly realizing that they hadn't seen each other for so long. She held back her tears, hummed in agreement, and handed the child to him, saying, "Your child, Lu Sijing."
Lu Huai hurriedly wiped his hands on his clothes, then carefully, almost reverently, took Si Jing and stiffly held her in his arms.
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