Su Yun could hardly believe her ears. She asked suspiciously, “You’re not plotting something, are you?”
Su Wei pulled a faint smile. “What is there on you that I would covet?”
It was true. Su Yun was destitute; her status wasn’t even as high as Su Wei’s. Moreover, Su Yun herself had sensed that she was most likely only brought back by Su He because of a slight resemblance.
“Then why?”
Su Wei revealed a rare trace of impatience. “Are you willing or not? If not, forget it.”
“Of course!”
Su Yun wouldn’t pass up this opportunity. “Of course I’m willing.”
Su Wei gave her a knowing smile. “That’s wonderful, then.”
.
During the entire journey, apart from the nights Su Wei spent by Su He’s side, the two barely exchanged a word. Her words that day had clearly displeased Su He. Without Su He’s blood to sustain it, the Gu insect caused her increasingly frequent bouts of pain.
But Su Wei grew increasingly stubborn. She gritted her teeth and didn’t go to Su He, forcibly enduring it. She had made several cuts on her own thighs to cope.
She had managed to hide her condition for several days, until an episode made her vomit blood and she fainted directly. Only then was it discovered by Su He.
When Su Wei woke, she saw Su He at her side. She slowly sat up, propping herself against the carriage wall, and called out in a low voice, “Master.”
Su He let out a cold laugh. She seized Su Wei’s wrist and forcefully pulled the person over. Pinching her shadow guard’s face, she applied pressure, forcing Su Wei to kneel. “Su Wei, you’ve really got nerve.”
Her face pinched, Su Wei didn’t struggle. She was remarkably obedient. “Master, this subordinate didn’t want to trouble you. You are the Emperor; your blood is too precious. This subordinate cannot accept it.”
Her words were nothing short of fanning the flames. Su He’s hand slowly slid down, directly seizing Su Wei by the throat. She looked down into the shadow guard’s eyes, her voice soft. “You have quite the temper.”
“This subordinate wouldn’t dare have a temper. Shadow Nine will always be at your side.” Su Wei lifted her lips in a smile at Su He. “Did this subordinate say something wrong?”
Su He tightened her grip, watching Su Wei’s face gradually flush red and her eyes slowly glaze over. For no reason, a fire surged within her heart, but her expression remained unchanged. She abruptly released her hand, watching Su Wei collapse to the ground, coughing violently.
She yanked Su Wei over, bent down, and kissed her lips, heedlessly transferring blood into her mouth.
“Cough!”
Su Wei struggled, wrenching her head aside and coughing violently. She wiped the blood from her lips, whispering, “Master didn’t need to do such a thing for this subordinate.”
Hearing this, Su He closed her eyes for a few seconds before steadying her emotions. She raised an eyebrow and patted Su Wei’s face. “You’ve really got nerve.”
She understood perfectly well what Su Wei was upset about. It was nothing more than those words she had spoken. But so what?
Su Wei couldn’t escape. It was normal for her to have a bit of a temper. It would slowly be worn away by time, soon forgotten.
Su He’s tone returned to normal. “You will remain by Gu’s side. No need to continue caring for Bai Su.”
“Alright.” Su Wei calmly accepted it all. “This subordinate understands.”
She got up on her own and sat to the side, turning away to lift the carriage curtain and gaze at the scenery flashing by outside. The strangle marks on her neck were a glaring red.
Their return journey was much faster than the trip out. On the day they re-entered the palace, the marks on Su Wei’s neck still hadn’t faded; they were even more prominent. The purplish-blue bruises looked as if she had been abused.
Su Wei had been fine when she left; upon returning, she was sickly and weak. In just one month, such a drastic change inevitably drew gossip.
She didn’t care about others’ gazes. She first returned to the Shadow Guard Camp and recounted the matter of Shadow Seven in full detail. The other shadow guards fell into a long silence upon hearing it, asking no further questions.
They only needed to know the result.
It was the Leader who sought her out for a talk. Su Wei was led to the empty training ground behind the camp. She stood there, asking, “What is it, Leader?”
The Leader’s expression was serious. “What are your thoughts on this matter with the Master?”
Su Wei answered quite naturally, “What will be, will be. I am her shadow guard; she is my Master.”
The next second, her smile faded. “But Leader, look at me. What can I even think?”
She was no longer wearing shadow guard attire but a light blue outfit, with layered thin fabric, every exquisite detail proclaiming her extraordinary status.
Su Wei spread her hands open. “Such fine material—who would have thought it would one day be worn by me?”
“Leader, I’m quite satisfied with my current life.”
The Leader didn’t believe a word of her explanation. She said sternly, “Su Wei, I don’t like it when people lie.”
Su Wei lowered her head and laughed softly. “What a coincidence. Neither do I.”
As if tired from standing too long, she only asked one light question: “Then, do you think I can still be a shadow guard?”
The problem with her eyes still hadn’t been fully cured. Her martial arts had been crippled. Her body bore injuries. Not to mention the Gu.
Su Wei could no longer be a shadow guard.
The Leader didn’t answer her question. Guilt surfaced in her eyes as she silently watched Su Wei leave the Shadow Guard Camp. She sighed wearily, a sigh of pure helplessness.
The conversation between the two didn’t affect Su Wei. She had long accepted the reality. These past few days, her relationship with Su He had slightly warmed again, even if she was calling out “Master” with every sentence. But at least it wasn’t the same as before.
Once again, Su Wei lowered herself, taking the initiative to kiss Su He. She reached out her arms and embraced the other woman, saying in a muffled voice, “Master, stay with me tonight.”
Su He was satisfied with Su Wei’s renewed submissiveness. She pulled the shadow guard back a little, her fingertips kneading the woman’s lips. The shadow guard, long since accustomed, obediently parted her mouth and licked her fingers.
“Lean back a little.” Su He wrapped an arm around Su Wei’s waist and placed her onto the table, her fingers toying. “Don’t make a sound. It wouldn’t be good if others heard.”
Su Wei tilted her head back, her neck arching. Her hands braced on either side, her clothes slipped down to her shoulders. She licked her lips, her eyes shining wetly as she looked at Su He, panting in small breaths.
Su He laughed, her fingers speeding up their motions. She leaned close to Su Wei and whispered in her ear, “You’re trembling.”
“Mhm.”
Su Wei reached out and embraced Su He, taking the initiative to kiss her lips. She murmured, “I like it so much.”
Su He gave an amused chuckle, pulling her hand free and slowly wiping the traces onto Su Wei’s shoulder. She said, “Gu will return to accompany you tonight. The palace attendant will come later to deliver clothes.”
“Okay.” Su Wei nodded. “Will wait for Master.”
Su He was truly very busy. Upon returning, she had to deal with the He Shuqi affair, which involved too many interests and people. Bai Su was also incredibly difficult to resolve. Thus, Su He often worked until midnight, only sleeping one or two shichen a day.
Su Wei watched Su He leave with her eyes. She put her clothes down and slowly got off the ground. The expression on her face was gone. The palace attendant was also very savvy, having someone bring hot water.
She soaked in the tub, her body sprawled over the edge, staring blankly at the clothes the attendant had sent in.
“Clothes” was a generous term. They were but a few strips of cloth. Open in the back, just barely long enough to cover the thighs. The front exposed the chest; most other areas were laid bare.
This was just from looking at it, let alone putting it on and walking around.
Su Wei put the clothes down. She stood up, water dripping to the floor, the folding screen casting her silhouette. She grabbed a robe draped nearby and put it on. Not long after, that special set of clothing was also taken away.
.
When Su He returned that night, she had drunk a little wine, but not enough to be drunk. Her eyes were clear as she pushed the door open, signaling the palace attendant not to disturb her, then closed the door behind her.
Someone was lying on the bed, the blanket loosely covering the lower abdomen. Su He had only taken a few steps inside when she stopped. She stared at the figure on the bed, her gaze gradually turning fierce.
She lowered her voice. “Su Wei, turn around.”
The person on the bed didn’t move. Su He let out a cold laugh, and without hesitation, picked up a candle and directly set the bed curtains alight.
“Master!”
Su Yun cried out in fright, scrambling off the bed in a panic and kneeling on the floor. She looked up at Su He with terror in her eyes and called out again, “Master.”
Su He’s expression was faint. “You didn’t really think you could fool Gu like this, did you?”
“No.” Su Yun was frantic, clutching at Su He’s trousers. “It was Su Wei! She said she would help me.”
“And did she help you?!” Su He shouted in rebuke, suppressing her fury. “Where is she right now?”
Su Yun shook her head, on the verge of frightened tears. “I don’t know! This slave doesn’t know!”
Su He nodded. “Fine. You don’t know.”
“Attendant!” Su He strode quickly out the door. “Lock Su Yun in a side room! Summon people to extinguish the fire!”
She knew Su Wei wouldn’t dare do such a thing and still be in Su Yun’s room. The Shadow Guard Camp was even less likely. That person couldn’t bear to implicate others.
Su He thought for a moment, then headed towards the Imperial Garden. There weren’t many places to hide here, and no one would dare shelter Su Wei—to do so would be to challenge her.
Su Wei, you really have some nerve.
She found the Imperial Garden. Su Wei was indeed there, sitting by the lakeside. Hearing footsteps, she unhurriedly turned her head. “Master, you came.”
“I thought I’d have to wait a while.”
Su He’s eyes darkened as a smile played on her lips. “Gu wouldn’t go so far as to harm Su Yun.”
“Su Wei, your audacity knows no bounds.”
But Su Wei looked troubled, her figure shrouded in moonlight. She asked, puzzled, “But wasn’t it Master who brought her here back then? Does Master not like her?”
“Master even gave her gifts.”
Su Wei stood up but didn’t walk towards Su He. Instead, she said, full of self-reproach, “So it turns out this subordinate was just flattering herself. I thought Master liked her.”
Su He suppressed her emotions. “That’s not what you said to her back then.”
“Ah—” Su Wei seemed to remember. She shrugged. “People change.”
Su Wei’s eyes curved downwards. She walked over to Su He, cupped her Master’s face in both hands, and rose slightly on her tiptoes to kiss her. Su He quickly responded, and Su Wei looped her arms around her Master’s neck, closing her eyes to deepen the kiss.
She pulled back just the slightest distance, allowing her full weight to rest against Su He. She said softly,
“Master, I think I can’t see anymore. Take me back.”
