Unwilling
The candlelight swayed gently in the breeze, casting the shadows of the two people on the window. The occasional chirping of crickets outside the hall made the room even quieter.
Zhao Fanghua looked at his drooping eyebrows and suddenly felt as if a feather was gently brushing against her heart.
This feeling of being carefully cherished inexplicably made her nose feel sore and her eyes moist.
She rubbed her eyes, and this small movement was quickly caught by Zhao Qinglan.
He asked with concern: "Are you sleepy, sister?"
Zhao Fanghua wanted to shake his head, but he couldn't help yawning. Perhaps it was because he had been worried and frightened all day that his energy had been exhausted, or perhaps it was because the empty hall was too quiet, which aroused the sleepiness in Zhao Fanghua.
Zhao Fanghua nodded.
Zhao Qinglan smiled slightly: "Then I'll take Sister back."
The palace road was quiet. The eunuch leading the way was walking far ahead with a lantern in his hand. The dim light cast blurry shadows on the bluestone slabs. The guards with swords followed behind tacitly by more than two feet.
Zhao Fanghua lay on Zhao Qinglan's back, feeling uncomfortable all over. This was the first time in her life that she was carried by someone, and in front of so many people watching.
Zhao Qinglan said he would send her home, but he didn't say he would carry her back. She was so embarrassed that she buried her face in his shoulder and wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.
She lost her parents at a young age and lived under the roof of her uncle. Since she was a child, she had watched her cousin acting coquettishly and asking her uncle to carry her on his back. Her uncle would always squat down with a smile, open his arms and say, "Come on, daddy will carry you."
She could only stand aside, clutching the corner of her clothes with envy, and she didn't even have the courage to speak to her uncle.
Unexpectedly, when she was 22 years old, this younger brother who showed up unexpectedly fulfilled her childhood dream.
My brother...
Zhao Fanghua chewed over this title in his mind.
She was dazed for a moment.
Although Zhao Fanghua has no biological brothers and sisters, he has met several cousins from his uncle's family. Although they usually quarrel and fight with each other, they are always unexpectedly united when facing outsiders. Especially when they are outside, the brother always protects his sister.
after all--
"She is my biological sister!"
Now that she made a mistake, Zhao Qinglan said to her just like that, "Don't be afraid, sister, I'm here for you."
The man beneath her shared half the same blood as her. He would stand in front of her like a cousin protecting his younger cousin, and would say to others, "That's my biological sister."
very nice.
Zhao Fanghua never thought that after coming to another world alone, he would be able to experience the family affection that he had never experienced in his previous life.
Thinking of this, the hands around Zhao Qinglan's neck couldn't help but tighten, her eyes became hot, and tears quietly dripped down her cheeks onto Zhao Qinglan's collar.
As if sensing something, Zhao Qinglan turned her head and asked, "What's wrong, Sister? Are you feeling uncomfortable carrying me? Or are you remembering some grievance?"
Zhao Fanghua shook her head, but her tears fell even harder. Once upon a time, when she returned home with red eyes from crying, she wanted to hear the question, "Have you been wronged?"
Feeling the increasing wetness on her neck, Zhao Qinglan panicked instantly: "What happened to Sister? Don't cry, Sister..."
But the three words that make people cry the most in this world are "Don't cry."
As soon as Zhao Qinglan finished speaking, Zhao Fanghua burst into tears. She suddenly had an urge to pour out all the words buried in her heart.
"Actually...actually, I lied to you about so many things. I wasn't sincere when I first came to you. It was to break off the engagement with Shen Xiujin. I think the reason for breaking off the engagement with Shen Xiujin wasn't some bullshit emotional incompatibility. I just couldn't stand the fact that they were bullying each other too much, even if he was the third place winner."
"I know," Zhao Qinglan replied softly. Thinking back to their first meeting, Zhao Fanghua's inquisitive expression surfaced in his mind, and he smiled slightly, feeling a little nostalgic.
"Also, the reason I came to see you later wasn't because I missed you, but because, hiccup, it was still because of Shen Xiujin. I was afraid that he would retaliate against me when he became powerful in the future, so I came to build a good relationship with you..."
"I know." Zhao Qinglan responded. This was fake news he had released.
"Also, I was pretending to be sick at the time because I didn't want to come to the palace...Also, the mung bean ice cream I gave you the first time was indeed made by someone else, not me..."
"I know."
"And what I said before about the deep love between siblings was also a lie. I actually never considered you as my brother. I was very afraid of you and even said bad things about you behind your back..." Zhao Fanghua was obviously feeling guilty when she said this, and her voice was much lower.
Zhao Qinglan still replied in a gentle voice, "Yes, I know."
"But never again!" She suddenly hugged his neck tightly, "From now on, you are my real brother! Alan and I are the best friends in the world!"
Zhao Qinglan's steps suddenly stopped, and the smile on his face froze in an instant.
It was quiet in Lirong Courtyard, the candlelight flickered in the warm room, and Zhao Fanghua lay quietly on the bed with a smile on her lips, and the tears in the corners of her eyes had not yet dried.
Zhao Qinglan wrung out a handkerchief from the copper basin beside her, and wiped away her tears bit by bit with her movements as gentle as possible.
Peihuan and Yingluo who were standing by all lowered their heads and dared not utter a word. They had never thought that the emperor would personally carry his own princess back and take such meticulous care of her.
Yingluo finally couldn't help it and looked up at Zhao Qinglan.
The most distinguished man in Dasheng first wiped the cheek of His Highness gently, and then carefully removed the hairpins and rings for His Highness.
Her movements were incredibly gentle, even more cherishing than those of the maids, especially the way she looked at His Highness, as if she was looking at some rare treasure.
This isn't the look a brother gives his sister, it's more like...
Yingluo was startled by her own thoughts and quickly lowered her head.
After a while.
Zhao Qinglan threw the handkerchief back into the copper basin. When she turned to look at them again, her expression had returned to its usual indifference. She said in a cold tone, "Serve your Highness well."
"Yes—" Peihuan Yingluo quickly said yes and watched Zhao Qinglan leave.
When Zhao Qinglan's back disappeared outside the door, they both breathed a sigh of relief and looked at each other at the same time.
Yingluo couldn't help but speak first: "Your Highness and the Emperor...when did they become so close?"
Although His Highness and the Emperor were both raised by the Empress Dowager since childhood, their relationship has always been distant. With the Emperor's ascension to the throne and His Highness's move out of the palace to build his own residence, the two only met occasionally, let alone kept in touch.
Peihuan thought for a moment and said, "After all, they are siblings. It's normal for their relationship to improve as they are blood relatives. Besides, it's a good thing that the Emperor treats Your Highness well. Your Highness won't be bullied anymore."
Yingluo nodded in agreement. Isn't it true? That Mr. Shen and Old Madam Shen were so annoying some time ago. Your Highness is so unlucky to have met this family. I don't know what the Queen Mother is thinking. There are so many talented young men in the world, but she chose to marry your Highness to such a person.
Now that His Highness and the Emperor have a good relationship, let the Emperor find a better consort for His Highness! But the look the Emperor had just given His Highness suddenly flashed through his mind...
She looked at the ring and opened her mouth, but she remembered that Sister Shuyu had told her not to talk nonsense and cause trouble for Her Highness. The words went around in her mouth, but she finally swallowed them.
Yes, as long as Your Highness is well, that's all that matters.
That night, Zhao Fanghua slept exceptionally soundly. After so many days in this strange world, no, it should be said that in her entire twenty-two years of life, this was the first time she had slept so soundly.
She had a familiar dream. In the dream, it was still the group of her childhood playmates, arguing over the ping-pong table, from shouting at each other to pushing and shoving, and finally coming to a fight.
The children on both sides were saying harsh words:
"Just wait! I'm going home to tell my parents!"
"My brother is back to help me beat you up!"
"Sister, she's pinching my hand, come and help me fight back!"
She was the only one standing there, covered in wounds, at a loss as to what to do.
Just as she was about to walk away quietly as usual, a warm hand suddenly held her.
She slowly turned her head and saw a familiar face.
The man smiled at her gently but firmly: "Don't be afraid, sister, I'm here."
She used to envy her friends who had parents and siblings to rely on, but now, she also has a younger brother.
From now on, she will no longer be alone.
The candlelight in Wanhe Hall flickered, illuminating Zhao Qinglan's gloomy face.
It was already midnight, and he sat in front of the rosewood desk in a daze, his mind constantly recalling what Zhao Fanghua had said to him.
"From now on, you are my biological brother!"
Zhao Fanghua's crying voice was still echoing in his ears, but every word was like a needle piercing his heart, causing him to feel a sharp pain.
Is he your biological brother?
He should have been happy. He always hated deception the most. Now Zhao Fanghua had confessed so much to him and said that he would treat him as his own brother. Isn't this what he most hoped for?
He knew from a young age that he was born into an imperial family and was destined to be different from ordinary people. He would not be able to experience the love of a father and the filial piety of a son, or the friendship of brothers and the respect of younger brothers.
In order to fight for the supreme position, it is normal to kill one's father, mother, and brothers and sisters.
He was even more different. His biological mother died early, and he was raised by his mother, the queen mother. His father was obsessed with women and neglected to discipline him. He only had one half-sister, and the relationship between the two was cold.
Once upon a time, he also envied his study partner, who had his father's teachings, his mother's love, and his brothers and sisters' care.
And he only had Li Xi by his side.
Now there is finally someone who is truly willing to treat him like a brother, and even says things like "I want to be the best friend in the world."
But why...
Instead, an inexplicable feeling of unwillingness welled up in my chest?
Maybe it was because he knew that there was a different person inside her shell, or maybe it was because he was not of true dragon blood.
The two imposters are really a perfect match.
The candle flame exploded with a "pop" and he stared at the dancing flame in a daze.
"The best in the world..." He murmured these words and suddenly laughed softly.
Brother and sister... can they really be the best in the world?
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