Shanguan Zu Jin's POV
I run as fast as I can, hoping that I can catch on to that man who will kill Wu Jinmai permanently.
"Silly! Get down!" she roars.
I turned around and saw the man who would kill me. I saw my reflection on the sword that struck the head of that assassin.
I turned around and saw Li Susu holding the sword of her enemy. She jumps off and kicks the enemy.
I raise my sword and stab him. I kick his body and withdraw the sword that killed him. We look around, and there are three assassins left.
They're about to withdraw when the imperial guards enter and capture them. Eunuch Liu entered and saw the bodies on the floor.
I dropped the sword and took a step forward. I grab her shoulder and embrace her. I wrap my hands around her.
"You're the silly one," I remarked.
"Are you both okay, empress and emperor consort?" Eunuch Liu asks. My wife wraps her hands around me and caresses my back.
"I'm okay, A'Zu. Stop trembling, okay?" I whispered.
"Take them and put them in jail. Interrogate them right away!" Eunuch Liu roars.
The maidservants entered and gasped when they saw the bodies. "The other soldiers must stay and clean these bodies," Eunuch Liu added. She speaks and lets go of me.
"Give them a proper burial," she says. The soldier blinks and looks at her, wondering.
Li Susu smiled. "Just do it," she demanded.
They bow their heads. "Understood, Your Highness!" they said.
I held her in my arms and carried her. "Eunuch Liu, take care of everything here. The empress will stay in my quarters tonight," I remarked. He bows his head.
"Understood, Your Highness," he replied.
I walk forward, and the maidservants are screaming as they watch us as we leave.
"I can sleep in the study room," Wu Jinmai says.
I frowned and looked at her. "No," I replied.
We headed into my quarters. She became silent. I stopped when I realized that we would be passing on the pond that we...
"Don't be silly, A'Zu. If you're talking to the real Jinmai, she would've pushed you on the same pond where the three of you drowned her to death," she says.
I was taken aback by what she said. I look at her in the eyes. "Relax," she says.
She taps my shoulder. "Put me down. I can walk," she says.
I put her down. She walks on her own and stops at the gazebo. She leans her body forward and looks at the water.
"The first thing that I recall when I wake up is the time when Wu Jinmai was drowning in this pond. She was afraid, but when she heard the voices of her husbands, she let herself sink to the bottom," she says.
I look at her, and she's not lying at all. "She finally understands that maybe her death is what is best for Xia and herself. She knew herself that she was not doing a great job like her brother and father," she continued.
"Wu Jinmai prays that she wants someone who can rule this empire with a kind heart. I think we died at the same time and hour. That's why I was dragged into this era. We both had regrets," she added.
She raised her hands and saw the blood stain on her sleeves. I saw that sadness in her eyes.
"Did you send those men?" she asks. I look at her in the eyes. I wasn't expecting her to ask that question.
She chuckled and tapped my shoulder. "If you want to kill me, then you're free to do so. Plus, you're not the only person who hates me and wants me dead. I guess tomorrow will be a new assassination attempt for me."
She stretched her hands up and bent her body backward. I watch her as she walks away. I blink and follow her.
I grabbed her wrist when I saw that she was turning right instead of left. She looks at me.
"What are you doing? This is the way to my quarters. You're walking on the path to the cold palaces," I said. Her eyes glowed and was excited actually.
"So there are ghosts there?" she asks.
I frowned and dragged her with me. How come she gets excited when she thinks of a ghost while she's reacting differently when she calls me one?
"You need to change your clothes and take a bath. We both smell like blood."
Li Susu stops walking. I look back. "I'm okay. I don't need to take a bath," she says.
I sighed and tried not to start an argument. This woman was making me lose my temper! "Li Susu!" I roared in a controlled tone.
She was stunned. "I'm… sorry?" she murmurs. I took a deep breath and calmed myself. I let go of her hand and spoke.
"Just come with me," I stated.
She nodded and followed me into my quarters. Xu Jiaxu was surprised when he saw the empress behind me. He bows his head and greets her.
"Greetings, Your Highness," he stated. Wu Jinmai smiled and raised her hand.
"No need for formalities, Xu Jiaxu. This is the first time that we—I mean, I came here. I always summon you whenever I need you," I stated.
"She will sleep with me here. Prepare my bed. Wait; prepare the bath first. We need to wash these bloods in our bodies," I remarked.
My confidant looks at me weirdly. I glared at him. He coughs and looks away. I turned around and saw how Wu Jinmai crossed her arms in her body.
I know what she's thinking. "Really? You are acting like I haven't seen anything yet, Your Highness," I remarked.
She blinks several times. "I'll go ahead and prepare the bath, young master," Xu Jiaxu says.
He leaves us. I was about to grab her hand when she stepped back. "What are you doing?" she asks, pointing her finger in my face.
"Should I force you to get inside or what?" I coldly ask.
She dashes away and gets inside as if I'm not here. I get inside as well. She keeps on walking away whenever I try to get close to her.
"Stop! Stop there. Let's just keep our distance, okay? I think it's better if we are ten paces away from each other, Shanguan Zu Jin," she stated.
My jaw clenched. I decided to let her do as she wished. I need to discuss this matter with her before I forget to talk about it.
"Li Susu, have you recalled any memories of Wu Jinmai about Blue Spider?" I ask.
She looks at me and slowly shakes her head. "No. Blue Spider?" she asks.
I cross my hands and place my arms inside my sleeves. I walk back and forth. "They are known for being one of the elite assassin groups in this empire. No one knew who the leader was or when this group was established," I paused and look at her in the eyes.
"Those assassins that attacked just now—I saw the tattoo on the side of their neck. It's a blue spider," I explained.
She leans on the pillar and holds her chin. Wu Jinmai won't do such a thing. "Your Highness, young master, the bath is ready!"