Han Qingqiu, the wife of General Xiao Xiao, was once a maidservant of the Grand Princess and was deeply loved by the princess.
Later, Xiao Xiao asked the Empress Dowager for permission to marry Han Qingqiu to him.
At that time, Xiao Xiao thought he could marry the Grand Princess, so he ordered someone to make a wedding dress for the princess early on. When the Empress Dowager granted the marriage, Xiao Xiao personally asked the Grand Princess to take back the wedding dress and give it to Han Qingqiu.
Many people in the princess's mansion still remember this scene. It was early winter, and the fallen leaves were swirling in the yard in the autumn wind. The princess was standing at the door of Wu Ru Pavilion, holding the exquisite wedding dress in her hands. Xiao Xiao held Han Qingqiu's hand, walked over, took the wedding dress from her hand, said thank you lightly, and left holding Han Qingqiu's hand.
At that time, the princess stood there, motionless, like a stone sculpture, letting the cold wind blow across her face.
No one knew what kind of turmoil she went through in her heart. In short, after that, she seemed like a different person.
Han Qingqiu was a maid in the princess's mansion. She got married in the princess's mansion.
At noon that day, the music played by the guard of honor was very lively. Han Qingqiu wore the wedding dress that originally belonged to the princess and got into the bridal sedan happily.
The princess was still standing at the door of Wu Ru Pavilion, her face calm but her eyes were broken into pieces.
In the blink of an eye, many years have passed.
That year, the princess was only sixteen, and this year, she is almost twenty-eight.
Zi'an was very troubled by Prince Liang's affairs. She went to Prince Liang's mansion to persuade him again in the past two days, but Prince Liang was not moved at all. She had no choice but to go to the princess's mansion to find Zhuangzhuang.
Qinzhi, who was beside the princess, led Zi'an in. Zhuangzhuang sat in front of the door of Wuru Pavilion and closed his eyes, as if he was asleep.
Hearing the footsteps, she opened her eyes, but there was still a trace of confusion in her eyes, as if she had not yet returned to reality from her dream.
"Here it comes!" She sat up a little and reached out to gather her clothes. The weather was gradually getting colder.
"Why are you sitting at the door? It's cold, come in and sit down!" Zi'an said with a frown.
"It's okay. It's cool outside and it's interesting to watch the leaves floating by one by one," said Zhuangzhuang.
"When did you have the leisure time to do this?" Zi'an looked at her face, "Are you unhappy?"
Zhuangzhuang tried to cheer himself up, "No, it's just that the weather is cold and I feel tired and too lazy to move."
"You're not that old yet."
"The state of mind is old." Zhuangzhuang said, and then laughed again, looking at her, looking at her carefully, "Let me see, it's really different after marrying the one you love deeply, your skin color is more radiant than before."
"Go!" Zi'an hit her hand, "Are you making fun of me?"
Zhuangzhuang stared at her, "Zi'an, are you happy? Marrying the one you love, you can see him every day, eat with him, sleep with him, walk hand in hand with him, nag him about his untidy clothes, and mend his favorite boots for him. Are you happy?"
Zi'an felt a slight pain in his heart. He raised his head and saw the heartbreak that flashed across her eyes.
"Zhuangzhuang..." Zi'an didn't know what to say. When she returned home that day, she said she didn't love him anymore. Did she really not love him anymore? Who could she fool? I'm afraid she couldn't even fool herself.
Zhuangzhuang suddenly laughed, "Silly girl!"
Zian held her hand and said, "Can you tell me what happened?"
Zhuangzhuang's eyes were full of tears, "It's all in the past. No matter what happens, he and I can't go back to the way we were before."
Zi'an looked at her face which was forcing a smile, and his heart was filled with sorrow. If his love was not extreme, how could there be such heart-breaking pain
"Qinzhi, bring up some cakes for the princess." Zhuangzhuang turned around and ordered.
"Yes!" Qin Zhi responded and bowed.
Not long after Qin Zhi left, the doorman came and said, "Princess, the general's wife, Mrs. Han, is here."
Zhuangzhuang looked stunned for a moment. They hadn't been in touch for so many years, so what was she doing here
Zi'an knew that it was the maid who came, and was afraid that she would make Zhuangzhuang sad, so he said, "No, send her back."
Zhuangzhuang said, "Let her in."
Zian looked at her, "Why do you have to make things difficult for yourself?"
Zhuangzhuang's face was a little pale, but he was very firm. "No, I said before that I have let go of the past. I can't just say it and not do it. Don't worry, I'm fine."
How can you let it go if you don't even dare to see Han Qingqiu
She hated her half-dead appearance too much. Her youth was buried in the ruthless past.
If she wants to be reborn, she must face it.
When Zi'an saw her bravery and thought of King Liang's retreat, he sighed in his heart, how great it would be if King Liang had half the courage of Zhuangzhuang!
The doorman bowed and went out, and Zhuangzhuang and Zi'an entered the house. After a moment, they came in with a woman in a crimson satin dress.
Her looks were only average, but her makeup was very delicate, with her lips painted bright red, her eyebrows drawn thinly, and her face painted white.
She walked very slowly, and Zi'an looked at her as if he was watching a slow-motion movie. The sunlight shone through the gaps between the leaves, shining on her heavily made-up face, with a faint translucent glow.
Her lips were raised and there was a faint smile between her brows, as if she was telling the world that she was very happy.
However, when he got closer, Zi'an discovered that there were still fine lines at the corners of her eyes that were difficult to hide, and no amount of makeup could cover them up.
A pair of white satin embroidered shoes with pearls inlaid on the toes were faintly visible under the feather skirt. As the young lady of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion and the wife of the general in the general's mansion, she had shed the humbleness of her days as a maid. She moved gracefully, stood still and bowed, and her etiquette was very correct. "Han greets the princess. Long live the princess!"
Murong Zhuangzhuang looked at her, "Madam, please stand up!"
His voice was calm and his expression was indifferent, without any sign of abnormality, but it made Zi'an break out in a cold sweat in his palms.
Han Qingqiu stood up and looked at Zian, with doubt in his eyes, "Who is this?"
Zhuang Zhuang said: "Regent Princess!"
Han Qingqiu was very surprised, but immediately bowed and saluted, "Han greets the princess."
Zi'an heard her call her "Han" all the time, as if she was extremely afraid of being called by her name.
That’s right, in this princess’s mansion, everyone called her by her name. At that time, she was still a maid.
Zi'an said, "Madam, there is no need to be so polite."
"Sit down!" Zhuangzhuang said.
"Thank you, Princess!" Han Qingqiu moved over and sat down.
As soon as they sat down, Qin Zhi came back with pastries. Seeing Han Qingqiu, Qin Zhi frowned, but still kept her composure and shouted, "Qingqiu is here?"
Zi'an could see that Qinzhi hated Han very much, but she cooperated with Zhuangzhuang very much and didn't want to give Han a hard time because no one cared about her.
Han Qingqiu looked at Qinzhi carefully, then smiled and said, "It turns out to be Miss Qinzhi. I haven't seen you for more than ten years. You have changed a lot."
There was a hint of arrogance in her smile. She was busy with the plate in her hand, but now, she was sitting comfortably on the armchair, waiting for Qinzhi to serve her.
Back then, the princess had four major maids.
Qinzhi, Qionghua, Yaozhi and Qingqiu are of similar age. They grew up with the princess and are very much loved by her.
Yaozhi has been dead for many years, Qingqiu has married, and now only Qinzhi and Qionghua are by the princess' side.
(End of this chapter)