Chapter 36: Wishful Thinking

Su Wei and Su He didn’t stay outside for long. The weather was getting cooler, and the shadow guard’s health wasn’t very good. She started coughing after a short while.

A body that was once healthy had been worn down to its current state of frailty. Even if no one else commented on it, bitterness welled up in Su Wei’s heart.

They returned to the carriage and continued on their journey, finally arriving at their destination at noon. Someone was already there to meet them, and lodgings had been arranged.

Su Wei noticed that Su He had been using the identity “Manager Cheng” the entire way. She knew too little information, yet she could still feel that they were being watched.

“Get a good sleep.” Su He had her lie on the bed and leaned down to kiss Su Wei’s forehead. “I still have matters to attend to. There’s a Lantern Festival here tonight. When I come back, I’ll take you out.”

Su Wei nodded, but her hand involuntarily reached out to tug at Su He’s clothes. The dependence revealed in her tone was something she herself hadn’t yet noticed: “Master…”

Su He looked at her helplessly. She bent down and kissed Su Wei. Blood trickled down from the corner of the shadow guard’s lips, and she quickly wiped it away with her fingertip.

“Su Wei.” Su He softly soothed her. “Wait for me to come back.”

Su Wei gave an “Mm” and finally let go.

Seeing this, Su He raised an eyebrow smugly. The longer the gu insect stayed in the body, the higher the dependence.

She absolutely adored this reaction from Su Wei.

.

Su Wei had no idea what Su He was thinking, nor did she know what changes were happening in her own body. Lying on the bed, she only sensed that something was off with her body, and with her emotions too.

Including the matter of her Master and her—

Su Wei had been born into love and reborn in despair. Long ago, the Leader had commented on her personality: she liked to follow a path to its very end. She had also been successfully cultivated into a qualified shadow guard, steadfastly upholding the unbreakable class divide.

All she had to do was protect her Master.

The competition among shadow guards was fierce. Even though the people around her treated her well, love was still missing.

She… deeply lacked a focused, devoted love.

When Su He said she liked her, Su Wei’s initial reaction had been excitement. She could even feel herself being twisted. This was the Female Emperor, the ruler of this nation, while she was just a lowly shadow guard. How could she agree?

So she hesitated, not daring to answer.

But the palace attendant’s words had stirred her. It seemed she could no longer be a shadow guard. The Master said she liked her. Could she give it a try?

During that period where she could receive her Master’s love… indulge and try?

Su Wei was undoubtedly still hesitant. But not long ago, Su He had taken her to see the starry sky. Perhaps among those stars were her parents and loved ones.

And under that same sky with her, there was only Su He.

Su Wei had shamefully wavered. She hadn’t wanted to admit it, but her body seemed far more honest than she was. She especially wanted to stay by her Master’s side and not be separated from her.

She didn’t know why it was like this, but she hoped it was because of her own feelings.

Su Wei finally sorted out her thoughts, but she still hadn’t fully relaxed. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and fell into a deep sleep. When she woke up again, Su He had already returned. A plate of steaming pastries sat on the table.

“Awake? Then come down and eat.”

Su He smiled gently at her. “We’ll go out to have fun soon.”

Su Wei stared at her blankly, long enough to lose herself.

.

The beauty of the Jiangnan region was undeniably captivating. As soon as Su Wei stepped out, she was attracted by many beautiful sights. Moreover, there were many people out today, truly lively. She was led by the hand by her Master to prevent them from being separated by the crowd.

Curiosity and excitement that Su Wei couldn’t hide shone in her eyes, but she also restrained herself from running off recklessly.

Su He, however, seemed to read her thoughts and bought the things she wanted to eat. The two of them shared and ate everything clean.

“Master.” Su Wei whispered. “There are lanterns over there. Can we go look?”

She wanted to release a lantern here. It seemed this place was a little closer to her parents.

Su He naturally had no objections. She led Su Wei through the crowd, like an ordinary pair of lovers, falling in love amidst the myriad lights of the city.

Su Wei wrote her blessings on the lantern. This time, she only made a wish for her parents. Su He, as usual, wrote nothing.

“Su Wei.” Su He wrapped her arms around her from behind and whispered, “Do you know what they say about this place?”

Su Wei naturally denied it: “I don’t know. I’m not very familiar with it.”

“They say that if lovers kiss in front of this river during the Lantern Festival, they will receive the god’s blessing and love each other for a lifetime.”

Su Wei blinked but didn’t reply. The next moment, her face was turned by Su He’s hand, and the two kissed amidst the candlelight and blessings.

Su Wei’s fingers curled slightly. After a moment, she still lifted her hands and wrapped them around Su He. This was the first time she responded to her Master.

.

For Su Wei, life in the Jiangnan region was undoubtedly happy and joyful. She could feel herself slowly falling, and her Master seemed to be loving her too.

Just when everything was stable, they encountered another assassination attempt. It was still that same group, but with far greater numbers, coming directly for Su He.

They had erased many traces along the way. Logically, they shouldn’t have been found so quickly. That night, Su He flew into a rage and ordered an investigation.

But after all the investigation, the ultimate target turned out to be Su Wei!

Su Wei had the most free time every day; she had ample opportunity to make contact.

But she absolutely denied it. Su Wei looked at Su He: “Master, I have never done such a thing!”

Su He’s gaze wasn’t on her, but she said: “I believe you. Get up. Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. Go back and rest first.”

Su Wei stood up. She pressed her lips together. The final glance she cast as she left fell on the silent Shadow Seven, but she couldn’t say a single word.

That night, Su Wei waited a long time, but her Master didn’t return. She was genuinely anxious and didn’t want others to misunderstand her, so she decided to go out and find Su He.

She found them in the Leader’s room. Her greatest pride had always been her lightness skill, something few could detect. She subconsciously lightened her steps. Her hearing had improved considerably lately, even more sensitive than her previous trained state. Just as her hand touched the door, she heard the sound of a teacup shattering.

Su Wei frowned. Her fingertips controlled the force, wanting to push open the door but hesitating. Just as she was about to turn away, she heard the Leader ask, “Do you still suspect Shadow Nine?”

Su He made an “Ah” sound: “She’s already been given the gu by me. She can’t escape. She’ll only follow by my side. There’s plenty of time. And although this frame-up was too obvious this time, she’s still a suspect, isn’t she?”

Gu?

Su Wei’s hand pushed the door open with force. Her face pale as paper, she looked at Su He: “What gu?”

Su He was a bit surprised by her appearance, realizing she had been careless. She frowned and told her flatly, “I placed a gu in you. This way, you can have the privilege of staying by my side.”

“What you said before—” Su Wei’s breathing was clearly labored as she asked, her voice full of doubt, “Was it all a lie to me?”

Su He chuckled lightly: “Not entirely. It’s true that I like you.”

But Su Wei accurately caught the mockery in Su He’s eyes. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She turned to leave, but the next moment, her wrist was tightly grasped. Su He pulled her back. The Leader had retreated outside at some unknown point.

“You want to run?” Su He scoffed. “You can’t run away.”

“Your martial arts were already crippled long ago. With the gu planted in you over these days—”

Su He lifted Su Wei’s chin and whispered, “You won’t have it easy.”

Su Wei’s face was pallid. She gave a bitter smile. All her words were annihilated in this instant.

She finally woke up as if from a dream. Su He had never trusted her. Everything had been nothing but her own wishful thinking.