Chapter 11: The Kiss

Su Wei was unconscious for five days. By the time she woke, it was already late evening. She stared at a spot on the ceiling for a long time before realizing she could see outlines clearly again, though her vision hadn’t fully recovered to what it once was.

She propped herself up and looked around the room. Seeing no one else present, Su Wei swung her bare feet onto the floor. She let out a sharp hiss, enduring the tearing pain from her wounds. Before she lost consciousness, the only thing she remembered was seeing Su He. She had no idea what had happened beyond that.

Su Wei lowered her eyes. Her lips pressed into a thin line. Gathering her courage, she pushed open the door. The moment it swung outward, she was met with the sound of torrential rain, a downpour that seemed to have been raging for a very long time. She froze, a look of bewilderment surfacing in her eyes.

Such heavy rain… how could she not hear it at all?

A thought struck her. Su Wei raised her hand in disbelief and gently touched her ear. A few seconds later, her hand fell limply back to her side. Her gaze settled on a spot under the eaves, watching the rainwater drip down in a broken, sputtering rhythm. It took a good while for her to accept the truth: she was on the verge of losing her hearing completely.

It seemed her injuries had been too severe, and they had taken so much from her.

A flicker of grievance passed through Su Wei’s eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. She stood in the doorway, feeling the cool breeze of a summer’s night.

It doesn’t matter. I will get better.

Su Wei was a master at comforting herself. She refused to believe time would only make things worse. Having soothed her own spirit, she was just about to turn and go back inside when she heard her master calling her: “Su Wei.”

“Master!” Su Wei’s eyes lit up. She spun around quickly. “You’ve returned.”

Su He gave her a assessing look from head to toe. “Why aren’t you wearing shoes? Aren’t you afraid of catching a chill?”

Su Wei lowered her head, hiding her embarrassment. “I couldn’t find them.”

“And why didn’t you answer me just now?” Su He walked up to her, lightly brushing the dampness from her own clothes. “Cold?”

Su Wei shook her head. “I’m not cold, I…”

She raised a hand and gestured awkwardly at her own ear. “…seem to be having trouble hearing clearly.”

Su He’s movements stilled for a moment. Her gaze rested on Su Wei, and she gestured for a Palace Attendant to summon an Imperial Physician.

“Sit on the bed for now. The weather hasn’t turned cold yet, but your body hasn’t fully healed.”

Su He’s tone was so gentle it stunned Su Wei. She sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, unable to comprehend why her master’s attitude had changed so drastically upon waking.

Both her eyes and her voice seemed gentler. It gave Su Wei an unreal, illusory feeling—as if her master had elevated her to the same level.

Su He went to change her clothes. Su Wei just sat on the bed in a daze. The pain from her wounds, which had injured her very foundation, slowly began to gnaw its way up, making it hard for her to focus.

“Master, how long was I unconscious?”

Su He had changed into a white outfit. It was loose, the fabric draped casually over her frame. Her lips were thin, lending her a somewhat fickle air. The corner of her mouth lifted. “Five days. Not bad.”

Su Wei nodded. It hadn’t been too long, which set her mind somewhat at ease. She had been sneaking glances at her master, and only truly relaxed when she saw no visible injuries on the other woman.

“Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician has arrived.”

An Attendant announced the arrival, and the physician immediately walked in. It was the same physician Su Wei had seen many times before.

The physician carefully checked Su Wei’s pulse and inquired about her symptoms in detail. Only after confirming the situation did he report back to Su He: “Your Majesty, the symptoms are similar to last time. They all stem from an injury to her vital foundation. The hearing issue is very likely to improve with time.”

Su He raised an eyebrow. “So you’re saying there’s a chance she might not recover her hearing at all?”

“Yes, but as long as she recuperates slowly, she should heal naturally.”

The Imperial Physician let out a silent breath. “Please, Your Majesty, do not worry.”

Su He had no interest in further conversation with him. She sent him back to the Imperial Medical Bureau to dispense the medicine. Her gaze then shifted to Su Wei, and she signaled to the Attendant with a look. “Gu will go bathe. Su Wei, change your clothes and come find Gu.”

Su Wei couldn’t hear very clearly. She looked at Su He with a trace of confusion until her master began walking toward the bathing area, and then she understood.

“Let’s get you changed first,” the Palace Attendant said, their tone considerably more respectful now. “Later, go in and attend to Her Majesty properly. There aren’t many complicated rules.”

Su Wei took the clothes, feeling a deep discomfort at the Attendant’s change in attitude. She thought over her wording carefully before asking, “Did something happen while I was unconscious?”

The Attendant pondered for a moment, then lowered their voice. “That day, it was Her Majesty who carried you back.”

Dressed in black, Su He had carried Su Wei back to the Imperial Palace. Her entire bearing had been solemn, as if she were holding a beloved treasure in her arms. In an instant, Su Wei’s status had been elevated dramatically within the palace.

But how much of that was genuine sentiment from Su He… the Palace Attendant didn’t dare even to think about.

Su Wei heard these words with perfect clarity. Her heart jolted hard, and she bowed her head in silence. Her master had personally brought her back. That day, fighting those five assassins… she’d had countless wounds, had bled so much. She must have stained Su He’s robes. And… surely, there would be unsavory rumors spreading now.

No wonder the Attendant had changed their tune.

Su Wei changed her clothes and said no more. She turned and walked toward the bathing chamber.

Su He’s Bedchamber was vast. At the very back, past a winding path, lay a pool reserved exclusively for bathing. Now, it was wreathed in layers of steam and mist, making it somewhat difficult for Su Wei to see clearly.

“Master.” Su Wei’s voice had actually improved considerably. She was originally from Jiangnan, so her intonation was naturally soft. But after spending years with her family in the Shadow Guard Camp, her accent had shifted closer to the Capital’s dialect. Still, a trace of her regional accent remained.

“Come here.”

Su Wei walked over. She had never served anyone during a bath before. Every time she finished training or a mission, she simply threw cold water over herself. She had never done anything so meticulous.

“Do your wounds still hurt?” Su He tilted her head back, her body submerged in the water. She reached out and cupped Su Wei’s face in both hands. “Gu is liking you more and more.”

“Gu will let you in on a little secret. The day of the hunt, Gu knew there were five people lying in ambush there.” Su He’s voice was soft and unhurried. She gently rubbed Su Wei’s earlobe, her grip forcing the girl not to pull back, suppressing even the slightest thought of retreat. “Gu wanted to see just how strong you really were.”

Su He’s eyes were veiled by the steam. She was born with a pair of amorous, expressive eyes. Looking at Su Wei now, there was a glistening quality in them, as if a single blink would send a tear cascading down. The heat from the bath had flushed her shoulders a light shade of red. Her voice took on a hint of grievance as she asked, “Can you blame Gu?”

When Su Wei first heard this, she couldn’t help but feel a small pang of sadness in her heart. But the moment Su He explained it was a test, that sadness vanished without a trace. She shook her head firmly. “How could I ever blame you, Master?”

“What an obedient little dog.” Su He’s fingertips traced along Su Wei’s face, and then she suddenly pinched the girl’s cheek hard. “So pleasing. It makes me almost reluctant to ever hurt you.”

Su Wei allowed Su He to pinch her face as she pleased. Kneeling on the floor, she let her master control her, bending down under the pressure. Then, her master captured her lips. Su Wei’s eyes flew wide open in shock.

She felt her tongue being forcibly led into motion. Su Wei’s eyes narrowed, her hands braced against the floor in front of her. Her own eyes soon grew hazy with moisture. Her body trembled slightly, as did the person connected to her… slowly, gently, she was being led down into the abyss.