Chapter 25: Live a Long Life Part 2

Seeing this, Su He understood. She lifted Su Wei’s chin and asked after a moment’s thought, “Why? Do you want to hear He Erlu’s voice?”

“No.” Su Wei didn’t understand why her master would ask that. She was about to say it was because she wanted to hear her master’s voice, but the next moment, Su He’s warning from the night before surfaced in her mind. She didn’t want her master to misunderstand her. The words changed before they left her mouth. “I just want to hear sounds. I’ve been a little afraid ever since I lost my hearing.”

Su He, unsure whether she believed it or not, slowly released her hand and let out an ambiguous “Heh.”

Su Wei looked up in confusion, waited a moment, then lowered her head again, just as puzzled.

What was wrong with her master? Was she unhappy?

Unfortunately, no one could answer Su Wei.

.

The people of the He Erqi tribe would not stay long. This alliance meeting ultimately concluded with a pledge of friendship. On the day before they left, the wedding of Su Yuan and He Chengjiang was held.

It was said that many ministers opposed this match, but Su He single-handedly overruled all objections, refusing to listen to anyone. Those ministers, fearing she might act out again, all chose to remain silent.

Whether He Chengjiang truly liked Su Yuan or not was unclear. In any case, on the day of the wedding, he gave her full honor. The grand ceremony ensured the smile never left Su Yuan’s face.

When Su He led Su Wei inside, Su Yuan was facing the mirror, fidgeting with her headdress.

“Your Majesty has come,” Su Yuan said, spotting Su He through the mirror. She was in a good mood, and her tone was also considerably gentler. “This time, you have indeed granted my wish.”

Su He took the comb from the matchmaker’s hand, having been told she needed to comb the hair ten times. She waved the matchmaker away and stood behind Su Yuan, gently combing her hair with slow movements.

“Elder Sister, when has Gu not granted your wish?” Su He asked softly. “Are you happy?”

She lifted her eyes, looking into the mirror at Su Yuan, whose brow and eyes were filled with joy. Her own eyes darkened.

Su Yuan gave a “hmph.” “Of course, I’m happy. But as for granting my wishes, you’ve often opposed me.”

“Moreover, you don’t even treat me as your eldest sister.”

Su He slowly combed from the top of her head down to the ends of her hair. She gave an “mm.” “How could that be?”

Su Yuan glanced at Su Wei and said disdainfully, “You reject He Erlu, but want a shadow guard? If it weren’t for my wedding today, I would have had plenty to say to you about this.”

“How does Elder Sister know that Gu rejected He Erlu?” A hint of a smile finally appeared on Su He’s face. She leaned close to Su Yuan and lowered her voice. “You meddle too much.”

She applied a little force with her hand, meeting Su Yuan’s eyes in the mirror. A smile rose in her eyes. “May Elder Sister and General He have a harmonious union lasting a hundred years.”

After placing a gold bracelet in front of Su Yuan, Su He left with Su Wei, unwilling to say another word.

Su Wei could sense her master was in a bad mood now and hadn’t spoken at all.

“Su Wei.” Su He stopped walking. He Erlu probably did have some skill; today, Su Wei could hear a tiny bit of sound. It was very faint, very weak, but at least she could distinguish who was speaking.

Su Wei immediately halted. Her foot shifted back almost imperceptibly. The way to keep her master from misunderstanding was to distance herself from her.

“What’s been wrong with you these past two days?” Su He turned her head, her eyes revealing a raw emotion, as if she felt wronged. “Did Gu scold you before?”

Su Wei shook her head, denying it. “No.”

“Is that so?” Su He hadn’t really wanted Su Yuan and He Chengjiang to be together. She was only looking for a reason, a path where she could see a future. “Gu doesn’t believe you.”

Su Wei felt a slight pang of disappointment, but she still explained. “It’s true. This subordinate doesn’t think her master’s scolding was wrong. Mistakes deserve punishment.”

Su He exhaled, watching the people coming and going. She was about to turn and find a quiet place when she heard He Erlu’s excited voice: “Little Shadow Nine!”

“Are your ears a little better?” He Erlu gave Su He a shy smile, then the next second her attention turned to Su Wei. “I’m leaving tomorrow. Come see me off.”

Before Su Wei could even open her mouth, He Erlu cut her off. The little princess unhesitatingly turned her head towards Su He. “Your Majesty, may she?”

Su He’s expression was calm, her voice level yet suppressed. Her gaze shifted to Su Wei. “That depends on what you think.”

The difficult problem had been pushed back to Su Wei. She took a deep breath, feeling a headache coming on. In terms of sentiment and reason, He Erlu had shown her kindness. But her master’s expression clearly showed she didn’t want her to go.

And if she chose her master, wouldn’t her master think she was being presumptuous?

These past few days, Su Wei had often recalled Su He’s words from that night. Her master’s expression had been so cold, each word striking her to the heart. It had troubled her for days.

And after that day when she said she wanted to recover her hearing, Su He’s mood had cooled again. For several days, she had simply stood outside the door, not permitted to enter.

Su Wei often comforted herself: if she was wrong, she should take the punishment. So she didn’t want to agonize over this anymore. She wouldn’t… think about climbing higher either.

“Master, this subordinate wishes to go see Princess He Erlu off.” Su Wei gathered her courage, her voice trembling. “After all, my ear was healed by the princess.”

Su He had no objection. She just complained with a feigned air of distress, “Then it seems Gu’s imperial physicians are utterly useless. What do you think? Should Gu just punish them all and be done with it?”

Most of those imperial physicians were old and frail. Su Wei was so startled she immediately bowed. “That is not what this subordinate meant.”

Su He tugged a smile onto her face. She waved her hand dismissively. “Go see how the Elder Princess’s side is doing.”

Understanding that she was deliberately being sent away, Su Wei headed for Su Yuan’s residence without hesitation.

Usually, it was the groom who fetched the bride, but in this case, He Chengjiang was marrying into Su Yuan’s mansion as a live-in son-in-law.

This was the condition Su He had set for He Chengjiang.

“Your Majesty, aren’t you a little too stingy?” He Erlu couldn’t be bothered to pretend anymore. She winked playfully at Su He. “Am I not even allowed near your shadow guard? Not even allowed to see her off?”

He Erlu clearly disapproved. “Isn’t your possessiveness a bit too strong?”

“Things that belong to Gu, naturally, Gu isn’t willing to let others touch.”

“Shadow Nine might be your shadow guard, but she is a person.”

Su He let out a short, sharp laugh. The mockery laced within it was unmistakable. “And so what? Do you think Gu cares about that?”

“He Erlu, she is a shadow guard raised by Gu. She was born to sell her life for Gu.” As Su He turned to leave, she glanced back at He Erlu with a hint of pity. “Spare her your pathetic sympathy.”

He Erlu gritted her teeth. She raised her voice. “Then He Erlu wishes Your Majesty to find someone truly worthy of giving your all.”

Su He ignored her and continued walking forward.

“Hmph.” He Erlu let out a cold snort, turned, and left. She muttered under her breath, “As if she could find anyone. Heartless, ungrateful wretch.”

She had heard rumors of this female emperor’s style before: ruthless, cruel to her own kin. Only after interacting with her did she realize the reality was even more twisted.

She was simply mentally abnormal.

Su He paid no mind to He Erlu’s assessment, and cared even less about that so-called blessing. She smoothly found Su Wei standing outside the door and curled her fingers at her. In the next moment, the shadow guard walked over.

A surge of satisfaction rose in her heart. Su He said softly, “Still, with just a crook of my finger, she comes right back.”

“Su Wei, so obedient.”

But Su Wei felt none of the usual joy from being praised. Instead, she slightly lowered her eyes, her gaze drifting absently to one spot.

.

Su Yuan and He Chengjiang’s wedding was grand, and the celebrations lasted late into the night. But Su He had left after they merely bowed to each other at the ceremony. When the female emperor left, who dared to utter a word?

The next day, it was time for the He Erqi tribe to start their journey back. Su He had prepared generous return gifts for them, showing her side’s attitude.

He Erlu had changed into the attire of the He Erqi tribe. She mounted her horse with practiced ease, raised an eyebrow with unrestrained flair at Su Wei, who had come to see her off, then took something out and threw it toward Su Wei. She cried out in a loud voice, her good mood unmistakable. “Su Wei! Though we haven’t known each other long, I’m still very glad to have met you. I’m off.”

“Hyah—!”

The dust kicked up by the horses gradually blurred He Erlu’s receding figure. Su Wei hadn’t even managed to say a single word of farewell. She looked down at the object He Erlu had thrown—it was a dagger.

She stowed the dagger safely and turned around, walking steadily back toward the palace. Step by step, the two of them parted ways, each sinking back into the quagmire from which they couldn’t escape.

When Su Wei returned to the palace, Su He was standing outside the door waiting for her. Her master’s beauty was mesmerizing; the moonlight spilled onto her, every part of it perfectly placed.

Su He said, “Come in.”

So she walked forward step by step. Each step felt like an abyss of ten thousand fathoms. Even if she tried to flee, she would be shattered to pieces.

Su Wei entered the Sleeping Palace. Her bed had been moved back again, just as it had been before.

Her belongings from the side room had all been tidied up and brought over by someone. While her master was bathing, Su Wei rummaged through her small box. Everything was still inside. After a moment’s thought, she placed the dagger in there as well. Its perfect length brought a small smile to her face.

“What are you looking at?” Su He walked out barefoot, her hair still dripping water. Her inner garment was thin, and where the water dampened it, the skin beneath was faintly visible. She paid no mind to this. “So happy you’re smiling?”

Su Wei closed the box. She shook her head. “Nothing. Just things my parents left behind.”

Also, the jade hairpin Su He had given her. For some reason, Su Wei didn’t want her master to see it.

Su He was a little tired today. She looked at her for a few seconds, then let Su Wei off. After drying herself, she went to rest early.

This was one of the rare times Su Wei was allowed to extinguish the lamps. Seeing that her master was already fast asleep, Su Wei opened her mouth to say something, but the words her master had spoken surfaced in her mind, and she swallowed everything back down.