Shanguan Zu Jin's POV
I passed out for a while, and when I regained consciousness, Wu Jinmai used a blindfold while changing my clothes. She even kissed me. Her lips were soft and sweet.
I feel like I was eating a persimmon. "A'Zu? Shanguan Zu Jin!" she called, snapping her fingers in front of my face. I blink. Wu Jinmai sighed.
"I think you didn't hear what I said, weren't you, Zu Jin? Do you want me to repeat them from the very start?"
I think she's mad because she was aware that I didn't listen to everything that she said. "I said, Can you help me, and let's join hands together? I need someone like you. You're a strategist and an intelligent person. Based on Wu Jinmai's memory, she fears you the most," she halts.
She faces me and looks into my eyes. "She knew your capability and suppressed you by evicting you from your position as well as depriving you of being part of court issues. I need you, Shanguan Zu Jin. I'm serious."
She's waiting for my answer, and yet I have doubts about myself. I know she is Li Susu, but a part of me was still doubtful.
Wu Jinmai was ruthless, tyrannical, and cunning. She knew how to use the people around her. Li Susu sighed and turned her body to completely face me. She raises her pinky finger and looks at me.
"If I become like her, you can kill me. No… I will drink poison in front of Xia citizens to atone for my sins. Right now, I want to change Wu Jinmai's destiny. I want to change and enjoy my life here. So…?" she paused. She moves her pinky finger. She also arches her brows and smiles.
I look away. "Prove yourself further. I'm not yet convinced of your acts," I whispered.
She sighed. I looked at her and saw how she pouts like a kid. "Okay," she utters.
She yawns and crosses her arms. I watched her as she closed her eyes. "Are you going to sleep like that?"
"Uhm. I have to take care of you. I can't let my emperor consort die on me," she whispers softly. I thought she was kidding, but time passed, and she was already snoring softly.
"Again?! How can she sleep in whatever position she wants to? This woman, she's strange," I remarked.
I lie down properly and turn my back on her. I'm still cold, and I care less if she'll freeze to death! I can't sleep, no matter how time passes.
I turn around and check on her. She's still in the same position! She doesn't look cold or even tremble. I got up and looked at her. I scoff.
"My goodness. How can she sleep like this? I think she's trying to test my kindness. Li Susu, you!" I stop my hand from flicking her forehead when she speaks softly.
"I didn't want to die… I didn't want..." she murmurs.
I blink and look at her face. Tears fell on her eyes. Is she having a nightmare? I raised my hand and shed her tears.
'This is strange. I shouldn't care, but it pains me to see you like this. Who do I really want to be? Is it Wu Jinmai or Li Susu? What am I going to do? I'm confused…'
I move my face closer and feel the softness of her lips once again. This tickling sensation... It doesn't feel bad at all.
I stopped before she woke up and realized what I had done. I touch my lips and laugh. I lie down again and extend the quilt to her. I don't want her to freeze.
I wake up, and she's not beside me. I close my eyes and get up when I'm no longer half awake.
I raise my hand and realize that I'm wearing female clothes. I guess she goes back to her quarters.
"You're awake. I'm glad. This pagoda building is great, but bringing things without an elevator? It's a nightmare," she remarks. I look at her confusedly.
"Elevator? What is that?" I ask.
I fixed my clothes and arose from bed. I feel better now. She sighed and waved the ladle she was using.
"How can I always forget? It's really hard to live in this era," she says, sulking.
I take my seat near the place where she's cooking. She grabbed a bowl and poured some soup on it.
"Have a taste. Let me know if it's salty or what," she says.
I grab the bowl and taste it. The soup was warm, and it had a distinct flavor. I look at her. "It's delicious."
She smiled. "From now on, I'll be cooking our food. Go back to my quarters, and let's start living together. The court officials want me to get pregnant as soon as possible. I can't do that on my own," Wu Jinmai uttered.
The bowl in my hand drops, and it rolls on the floor. I look at her. She looks at me like it's nothing! What is wrong with her?
"In your time, or whatever that is, do you... speak vulgar things like it's nothing?" I ask.
She nodded and smiled. "Yup, like sex, fuck, and so on and forth. We don't wear clothes like this all day and night. It became occasionally or when you're an actor doing historical drama based on different dynasties," she halts.
She grabs the bowl and places it on the pail. "They also wear traditional clothes in Wuxia and Xianxia dramas. Our culture was still rich, even if clothes changed as time went by. Let's eat. You need to recuperate. I will call the imperial doctor later and check on you properly," she added.
She placed the food on the table and took her seat in front of me. I never thought that we'd be eating together all alone.
We loathe each other and never wish to meet when it's unnecessary. I grab my chopstick and take a bite of the grilled pork.
"This taste... I never had this before. How did you cook this?"
"By grilling? It's a famous way to cook pork bellies. It's from... hmm, how can I explain this? Just forget about it. It's grilled pork; that's it," she says.
She continued eating, and I did the same. Some of the tastes were weird, but they're definitely delicious.
"You really know how to cook, huh?" I ask. She laughs and shrugs her shoulders.
"I need to. Living in Shanghai all by myself teaches me several things. The worst one is not to trust those people who fake their smile in front of you," she murmurs softly.
I can sense regret and pain in her tone. What did she say again? Elevator, Wuxia, and Shanghai?
"You're really comfortable telling me weird phrases and words. Aren't you afraid that I'll accuse you of being crazy and dethrone you?" I remarked.
She laughs and stops cleaning the table. Wu Jinmai faced me. She shook her head and smiled at me instead. She seems to be confident for some reason.
"If you will, then go ahead. I already died twice, but here I am alive and suffering," she says.
"Why are you trying to get close to me? You kissed me; you saved me. I killed you twice, right?" I questioned.