MSISAS |Chapter 19: Lu Xianzhi’s New Drama
by lostnexusLu Xianzhi plays the role of the second young lady of the Prime Minister’s residence, named Mu Zhishuang. From a young age, she was mistreated due to lack of favor, living a life worse than even a maid in the household.
She was often bullied and thought no divine being would ever come to her aid, but that very someone protected her as she grew up.
However, on the day she became an adult, her father forced her to enter the palace. Mu Zhishuang cried and begged her father, but he coldly ignored her.
As soon as Mu Zhishuang entered the palace, she heard news of his engagement. Mu Zhishuang couldn’t believe it, but she had no way to confront him now.
She barely survived in the palace, and although she didn’t deny having feelings for the Emperor, when he came to see her, he personally severed their bond.
He asked her to help him as an undercover agent and to work for him. He also claimed he loved her and said the engagement was fake.
She believed him, having been shrewd for so long, she finally became confused. Who would have thought the Emperor trusted her so much.
Why, why did you have to trust me? My lies can be easily exposed, can’t they?
On the last day of her mission, the Emperor invited her to drink. With just one last day, what harm could a drink do?
Later, as Mu Zhishuang drifted in and out of drunkenness, she seemed to see the Emperor smiling at her, moonlight filtering through the birch trees onto him.
His smile was unfailingly gentle, and she seemed to regret a little.
When she awoke later, a new dynasty had already been established, yet why was she not happy at all?
Later, he threw Mu Zhishuang into the cold palace, heartlessly saying, “A woman as vicious as you, who even betrays those beside her, should stay in the cold palace for life. As for that maid next to you, she can stay with you.”
Lu Xianzhi’s tears streamed from her hollow eyes.
The maid Xiao Qiu suffered alongside her, sometimes nearly dying on the road just for a steamed bun.
And that steamed bun earned with life was meant for her.
Mu Zhishuang looked at Xiao Qiu’s filthy face, crying and eating the bun with her, “Are you silly? Does it hurt?”
Mu Zhishuang wiped Xiao Qiu’s cheek, “No pain, Your Highness!”
“Truly silly.”
The cold palace had a wall of peonies, her favorite flower, and she regretted so much.
Mu Zhishuang would often stand blankly under that cluster of peonies.
Indeed, she should have been as vibrant and colorful as those peonies.
The Emperor sent a letter. He actually knew of her actions long ago; he only hoped for her happiness.
Tears from Mu Zhishuang dropped onto the letter, and slap after slap landed on her face.
She was the least deserving of his affection.
Later, Mu Zhishuang learned that the one who had protected her as a child was not him, but the Emperor.
She should have realized it earlier. They were brothers and naturally looked alike.
Mu Zhishuang grew even more despairing, but by then, she was already weak and about to break.
Mu Zhishuang went to that cluster of peonies, “Emperor, Shuangshuang cannot wait for you to save me in this lifetime. In the next life, let Shuangshuang love you.”
Mu Zhishuang numbly looked at that cluster of peonies, as if recalling her first encounter with the young man she met among the peonies.
Mu Zhishuang fell among that cluster of peonies.
She died in the year he loved her the most.
Just days after Mu Zhishuang’s passing, the Emperor successfully conquered and restored the dynasty.
The first thing he thought of was not anything else, but to find her in the cold palace, only to discover a grave standing among the peonies.
She was inside, he was outside.
The Emperor’s eyes reddened. He didn’t want to cry before her grave; her favorite was his smile.
After personally executing his archrival, the Emperor came to Mu Zhishuang’s grave.
“Shuangshuang, walk slower, turn around, look at me.”
Finally, the filming was over, and Lu Xianzhi almost became immersed in it. The director praised Lu Xianzhi for being lively.
Flustered by the praise, Lu Xianzhi waved her hands modestly, “Thank you, director!”
The director released a preview, filled with sweet scenes, deceiving the audience for now.
Many netizens exclaimed, “So sweet! I can’t take it! The female lead has such big eyes! They’re so so big!”
Many netizens asked under Lu Xianzhi’s promotional Weibo post if it was a BE (bad ending) or HE (happy ending).
Lu Xianzhi simply replied, “You’ll know after watching!”
Such a tease!
Lu Xianzhi dialed Xu Qing’s number.
“Hey! Xu Qing, what are you doing!”
“I’m abroad right now.”
“Why are you so far away?”
“On a business trip.”
“Oh, then are you resting well?”
“Mm.”
“My show is going to air, did you know?”
“I know.” A light chuckle came from the other end.
“Then tell me, what’s the title?”
“Captivating Flowers.”
“Hmm, that’s more like it.”
“You didn’t just get up there, did you?”
“Mm.”
“It’s time to sleep here, haha!”
“Mm, goodnight.”
“Hmm, I can’t sleep, tell me a story.”
“Hmm?”
“Tell me.”
Xu Qing couldn’t resist Lu Xianzhi’s coquetry, “Okay, silly dear, listen well, lie down in bed first.”
Rustling sounds came from the other end, her silly darling should be covering herself with the blanket.
“Okay! I’m under the blanket!”
“Mm.”
“Once upon a time, there was an adorable apple princess with rosy cheeks, truly endearing.”
“But her personality was not like her appearance; she had a fiery nature. When she met people who annoyed her, she would snap back.”
“So, the apple princess grew old without marrying, her once full rosy cheeks now wrinkled.”
“Apple princess worried and worried, why did no one like her? One day, while sleeping in the garden…”
“She had long lost her youthful vigor, but the flowers and birds in the garden gave her a touch of vitality.”
“Just then, a flower gardener stepped out, Aloe Miss. From this encounter, apple princess and Aloe Miss became acquainted.”
“Apple princess often complained to Aloe Miss about not finding her Prince Charming.”
“Aloe Miss quietly accompanied her. Though Aloe Miss couldn’t speak, she conveyed countless words through her eyes.”
As the story went on, gentle snores came from the other end. Asleep?
Xu Qing softly called Lu Xianzhi: “Xiao Zhi? Silly dear? Darling?”
Really asleep.
Silly thing, how could you fall asleep at this time? The important part hasn’t even been said yet.
Xu Qing softly continued, like a gentle breeze caressing in the March spring, her eyes filled with the warmth of late March.
“Aloe Miss, she expressed her feelings with every glance all along.”
“Of course, the apple princess could feel it; after all, sitting by a fire, how could one not feel?”
“But the apple princess feared the narrow views of the world; Aloe Miss just stayed by her side through a lifetime.”
“At the story’s end, the apple princess never mustered the courage to respond to Aloe Miss’s affection.”
“Silly little Zhi, if you were the apple princess, would you be brave for Aloe once?”
All that answered Xu Qing was the sound of gentle breathing.
Xu Qing couldn’t bear to hang up, keeping the phone by her ear. She hadn’t fully adjusted her schedule, feeling a bit sleepy now.
So Xu Qing kept the phone by her ear, drifting into dreams accompanied by Lu Xianzhi’s breathing.
“Xiao Zhi, can you feel the warmth of the fire?”
Before falling asleep, that phrase echoed in Xu Qing’s mind.
Truly loving someone doesn’t mean caring about their faults. Some even love those faults, love every part of you.
All they really care about is that person.
That night, Lu Xianzhi slept well, as if someone invisibly embraced her, even her typically cold feet warming up and cozy.
The moon bent the branches, far away, an apple fell to the ground.
Ah, I’m off to school, updates on weekends, thank you for your support. I’ll continue to work hard!
Finally feeling light after exams!