Chapter 5: First Night

Su He took Su Wei away. The group of shadow guards watched them leave. Shadow Seven only completely relaxed after the master was gone. She crouched on the ground, panting, and muttered, “The Master’s aura is too strong. Walking behind her, my heart beats so fast.”

Someone—no one was quite sure who—replied, “The Master is the most powerful person in the whole world.”

Su Wei’s body felt heavy. She sensed she was developing a fever but gritted her teeth to stay clear-headed. In front of the master, she had to summon all her spirit.

Her breathing, no matter how lightly she tried to control it, now became ragged with sickness. But Su He’s pace only quickened. Su Wei forced herself to move her feet, each step more difficult than the last.

“Your Majesty,” the palace attendant, seeing Su Wei’s frighteningly pale face, dared to speak up. “I fear Shadow Nine is about to collapse.”

Su Wei’s mind was already groggy and heavy. Hearing this, her eyes instantly widened. She shook her head in denial. “Master, I’m fine, I’m fine!”

Su He stopped walking. She turned around with a confused look, as if only just noticing Su Wei’s state. She feigned surprise. “What’s wrong?”

“This subordinate is fine. Master, please hurry back. It’s too hot.”

Su Wei’s jaw was even trembling. She felt as if her internal organs were being wrung, the pain so intense she could barely speak.

A trace of pity finally showed in Su He’s brow. “Truly well?”

“I’m fine.” Su Wei shook her head. Just as she was about to kneel, the world spun violently. Everything went black, and she lost all consciousness.

Su He let out a soft “Oh my,” watching her shadow guard collapse before her. A smile played on her lips. She turned her head to the palace attendant, her tone laced with grievance. “Do you know what Gu was just thinking?”

The palace attendant felt a deep sense of unease. She bowed even lower. “This servant does not know.”

“Gu was counting when she would fall.” Su He laughed even more freely, tapping a finger in the air towards the attendant. “Ten counts.”

In the next moment, Su He’s smile vanished. She casually dusted off her hands. “You carry her back. Don’t be late, or she’ll die.”

The attendant knelt on the ground, trembling, but Su He didn’t spare her another glance. She simply turned and left, even calling out a reminder: “Be quick about it. Gu won’t wait long.”

The attendant looked at Su Wei collapsed on the ground. With great effort, she pulled the limp figure up. Even with a slender frame, a shadow guard still had weight. Having never done physical work, the attendant practically gritted her teeth, half-carrying, half-dragging the woman back to Su He’s bedchamber.

“Your Majesty, the person has been brought back.” The attendant placed Su Wei before Su He. Before she could even catch her breath, she knelt. “Should… should I summon the Imperial Physician?”

Su He looked down at the unconscious Su Wei and asked the attendant in return, “Don’t you know medicine? Treat her.”

The attendant was on the verge of tears. She kowtowed repeatedly, begging Su He, saying she was wrong, she shouldn’t have meddled.

Su He grew irritated by the noise. She waved her hand for the attendant to rise. “Enough. Go find the Imperial Physician. Just don’t let her die. I’m not done playing yet. Also, get yourself checked out. You look awful.”

“Yes, as Your Majesty commands. This servant will go immediately.”

The attendant practically fled, rolling and scrambling out, rushing to find the Imperial Physician.

Su He raised an eyebrow and walked over to Su Wei. She looked at the shadow guard sprawled on the floor, crouched down, and gently pinched Su Wei’s face.

Su Wei woke up just as the Imperial Physician was about to leave. Her eyelids were too heavy to open. She could only gather her strength and unintentionally overheard the conversation between her master and the physician.

“This patient truly cannot withstand any more. Her internal injuries need careful nursing, otherwise, they will slowly erode her five viscera and six bowels.”

Su He let out an “Ah,” appearing very troubled, her tone even carrying a hint of guilt. “What about her eyes? It’s all Gu’s fault for not letting her recuperate properly.”

Her eyes?

Su Wei finally sensed something was wrong. Was there a problem with her eyes?

The Imperial Physician replied neither servilely nor overbearingly, “Take the medicine on time, patiently care for them, and they will recover. It is temporary blindness. Your Majesty need not worry.”

With that, the physician withdrew. Su Wei couldn’t hold back anymore and clenched her fingers. The faint sound made Su He turn her head. “Awake?”

Su Wei opened her eyes. Everything before her was a hazy blur, not like night, but she couldn’t see anything clearly. Her heart instantly seized up. How could a shadow guard protect her master if she couldn’t see?

Her voice was already tinged with tears. Su Wei propped herself up and felt her way in the direction of the voice, kneeling. “Master, it’s Shadow Nine’s fault. A shadow guard who can’t even see… how can I protect you?”

She heard Su He’s voice. The master said, “It’s not your fault. Gu punished too heavily, without considering your injuries.”

Su Wei shook her head. How could the master apologize to her? “Master, I am your most loyal blade, your possession. You are noble. How can you feel sorry for me?”

She lowered her head in guilt, the original light gone from her eyes. “Master punished me because I was wrong. I was at fault.”

Su He asked again, “Do you know what you did wrong?”

Su Wei would never lie to her master. “I don’t know, but it must have been wrong.”

“So obedient.” Su He murmured, waving the attendant out. “Gu truly feels bad about this.”

The moment the attendant stepped out and closed the door, she finally relaxed. Su He had worn a playful smile the entire time. When had her tone ever held a shred of that emotion?

Her Majesty’s thoughts were not for them to guess.

Su Wei, hearing her master’s words, turned pale with fright. She immediately shook her head, so anxious her voice trembled. “How can Master say such a thing? Even if Master wants my life, Shadow Nine can give it to you at any time.”

Su He asked softly, “Truly?”

“Truly!” Su Wei disregarded her injuries, lunging forward. She sprawled onto the floor, reached out a hand, but her fingertips had barely touched Su He’s robe before she pulled back. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, appearing very bright. “Master, my status is lowly. How can I be worthy of your apology?”

As she spoke, tears fell. She blamed herself inwardly. She, a blind woman, how could she possibly fulfill the task of protecting her master? Moreover…

She held back her tears, wiping them with her sleeve. The skin around her eyes was rubbed red, but Su Wei paid it no mind, murmuring instead, “This subordinate hasn’t even seen the eardrop the Master bestowed on me yet.”

Su He, who had just dropped her smile, found her eyes abruptly lighting up at this murmur. Her lips curled gently. “You want to see it that badly?”

Su Wei nodded. She raised her head, guided by the sound. Even though her eyes were vacant and unfocused, they still perfectly mirrored Su He’s figure. Her lips moved. “I want to see it.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a familiar presence surge forward. She instinctively wanted to retreat but forced herself to hold still. She bit her lip, not daring to breathe too loudly. Her master carried a scent she couldn’t quite describe, but it was alluring, as if etching itself heavily onto one’s heart.

“…Master.”

Su He crouched before Su Wei. She reached out to grip the shadow guard’s chin, dragging Su Wei forcefully closer. They were very close, just a breath apart. She was taller than Su Wei and looked down at her.

Su Wei’s body couldn’t make contact with her master. She could only kneel with her legs spread slightly, like the character for ‘eight’. Her hands braced against the floor, her waist sinking as low as possible to make it easier for Su He to pull her.

She obediently raised her head, her lips puckered from the pinch. Even in pain, she wouldn’t make a sound.

“What else do you want to do?”

The master was asking her. Su Wei laid her heart bare, offering it openly before Su He. She articulated as clearly as possible, speaking slowly. “This subordinate wants… to learn how to help the Master change clothes. Please find someone to teach Shadow Nine.”

After a moment’s thought, Su Wei worried her current appearance might displease her master. She added, “Even though this subordinate’s eyes can’t see, it won’t delay things.”

It was only then that Su He recalled the remark she’d made that morning. She slowly straightened up, the pad of her finger pressing on Su Wei’s lip, then trailing down inch by inch. She asked, “Can Gu do anything?”

“Master can do anything.” Su Wei felt Su He’s hand was somewhat cold. Her body trembled involuntarily.

The moment the words left her mouth, Su Wei’s entire body crashed against the edge of the bed. Su He’s hand clamped down on her neck in a stranglehold, and she felt the force steadily increasing.

Su Wei’s legs curled up. She tilted her head back, gasping, her face flushed bright red, yet she showed no sign of struggle.

Su He asked her, “Do you know why Gu’s hands have no calluses?”

“This subordinate… does not know.” Su Wei could barely get the words out.

Su He seized Su Wei’s arm and flung her onto the bed. She yanked Su Wei’s hair, forcing her head up. “Because Gu cannot let others find out. It would mean getting hurt.”

Su Wei had been thrown onto the master’s bed by the master herself. She hardly dared to move. She blinked. “It’s alright. In the future, this subordinate will never let the Master get hurt.”

The master’s breathing grew much heavier. Even Su Wei noticed it. She was just about to speak when she heard Su He say, “Didn’t you want to learn how to change clothes? How can you learn without taking them off?”

“Raise your hands!”

Su Wei immediately raised her hands. She couldn’t see Su He’s attire, so she could only tentatively feel her way. Her hands touched the master’s sash, found the knot, and undid it. She tried to feel upwards, her hands trembling, but still obeying her master’s orders, removing the robes piece by piece.

But the clothing was truly difficult to handle, and she was blind. She just barely touched her master, her hair falling over her shoulders, yet she was completely earnest.

“You don’t know how?”

Su Wei trembled again. Just as she was about to pull her hands back, Su He recaptured them. She opened her mouth. “Master, this subordinate is dull-witted.”

“No matter. Gu will teach you.”

Su He pressed down on Su Wei’s shoulders, pushing her back onto the bed. Su Wei felt the thin straps of her own clothing being undone. She subconsciously wanted to bend her legs up but could only touch Su He’s waist.

“Master!” Su Wei’s voice changed completely. Her abdomen was touched by ice-cold skin. She knew it was Su He’s hand. Her eyes were filled with nothing but confusion. “Is this how it’s done?”

Her last piece of clothing was torn away. Su Wei listened to the sound of ripping fabric, her lips moving, about to speak, but she was silenced by her master. She sucked in a breath of pain. Bruises were squeezed onto her wrists. Her vision blurred. Her legs were propped up for better access due to the discomfort, wanting to find relief.

“Do it yourself now.” Su He’s voice finally turned hoarse. “Show Gu.”

The very tips of Su Wei’s hair were damp. A flush spread across her face. Hearing these words, she moved her numb fingertips downwards.

By the end, her entire body was still trembling. Su Wei lay limp on the bed, still asking, “Master, was it like this?”