Wu Jinmai's POV
Shanguan Zu Jin was confused and seemed to be mad because I cared for him. He didn't know how to deal with it, and the mere fact that he knew I was Li Susu inside this tyrant empress's body was too much for him already.
I understand him, and I'm ready to tame him completely until he trusts me enough. "And? You killed the tyrant, and I, as Li Susu, ask you to do it. It's my fault, and it has nothing to do with you," I replied calmly.
His brow furrows. I laugh and pinch his cheek. "You're really handsome. That face is what producers sought for people who wanted to play television roles in historical dramas based on the Xia, Song, Tang, Qin, or Ming dynasties. You named it. You're brows and face features?" I halt and move my palm up and down in front of my face.
"Your face ID speaks for itself. You're very handsome and charming," I remarked. He grabs my palm and bites my index finger. I just groan a bit and look at him intently.
My heart is skipping a bit because of what A'Zu did. I pulled my hand back and bit my lower lip.
"Now you understand what it feels like, Wu Jinmai," he stated.
I sulked and rolled my eyes. "Alright, I will let you use me in every way you can. But one wrong move, and I learned that you're acting to get away with your crimes, and I will be the one to behead you. Did you understand?"
I held my neck and gulped. His serious glances make me nervous. I have to prove to him that I'm Li Susu and I wasn't acting at all.
"Understood. I will keep that in mind, Your Highness," I remarked.
I grab my bowl and focus on eating my meal. I'm glad I was raised in Countryside. Most of the food in this dynasty was cooked by my mother, and she taught me as I grew up.
"Your Highness, did you call me Your Highness?" he asks.
I look at him with a puzzled reaction. "You ask that after some time. Are you sure you're really okay, Shanguan Zu Jin?" I ask.
I move closer and place the back of my palm on his head, and I place my hand on my forehead too.
I checked if our temperature was the same. He's still a bit feverish. "Go back to bed, A'Zu. Your temperature was still higher than normal. I will take care of these and ask the guards to summon the imperial physician to check on you. You need proper medication for this," I utter, explaining properly while cleaning our mess.
"Stop calling me your Highness. You're the empress and heir to the throne. That title speaks for itself. I'm your husband and supposed to be the head of the family, but I still need to protect my morals and respect the hierarchy of positions, your highness," Zu Jin elaborated.
I forgot about the rules for respecting the positions and status of people from this era. It'll last for centuries. I should never forget that I'm the empress. A Xia ruler.
'You have to remember this, Li Susu. You are no longer that woman from the future. You're now living in the distant past. Remember your name. You're Empress Wu Jinmai!'
I bowed my head and simply nodded. "I will bear that in mind. I apologize for being stubborn. Please, go back to bed and rest. Can you do that for me, Zu Jin?"
He goes back to bed and faces the other side. After cleaning the mess, I start reading the memorials that I haven't finished doing since last night.
I told Eunuch Liu to leave us alone in the meantime. I've received the same memorials from these cowardly ministers.
"They really want to overthrow Jinmai," I whispered.
I look at the stack of memorials that request that I focus on bearing an heir to the throne. They didn't want to cooperate with my plan.
I massage the side of my forehead. This timeline is even more stressful to handle. My gosh!
"Can I at least receive a memorial that reports the progress of my request? At least one of these idiot ministers," I growled. I'm really losing my temper. I grab another one, and a smile forms on my lips. I chuckle.
"Finally! A memorial that makes sense!" I roared.
I covered my lips. I forgot that Shanguan Zu Jin was sleeping. I started reading this memorial. This person was one of the officers working as ministry personnel.
He was reporting about the unfair evaluation of appointing new officials based on the results of the past imperial exam of talented scholars. I stood up and went to the balcony of this pagoda.
"How can I forget? No matter what timeline we have, cunning people will always be everywhere. There's a chance the imperial exams were rigged and biased," I whispered to myself.
I gasp when the cold wind stings my skin. "Winter in this era was colder than in future days. Brrr," I utter, brushing my palm on my shoulders.
I leaned on the wooden porch and looked at the bustling capital city. "Xia dynasty… huh?"
I smiled and looked at the houses. "There are no tall skyscrapers, and the air is freaking fresh!" I exclaimed. I heard a sound. I close my mouth and brush my neck.
I continued reading the text and smiled. "I have to speak with Eunuch Liu and ask him to run a background check on Gu Wei. Let's see if he can help fix the government that I ruined," I murmur softly.
I closed the memorial and went back to my table. I continue reading the rest of the memorials that I bring here.
There are few ministers who show an interest in government reform. I need to be careful who I trust with these people.
Wu Jinmai was a tyrant and killed innocent court ladies, maidservants, eunuchs, and citizens whenever she wanted to.
She's unruly, selfish, and ruthless. Jinmai never listens to people or even to her officials. Her decisions were absolute.
I massage the back of my neck after I finish writing my own summary of their reports and issues. I massage my shoulders and groan.
I stood up. I've been sitting for ages. I checked Shanguan Zu Jin's situation. He was now lying properly. I took a seat and held my chin.
"He's really handsome. If he gets reborn in the future, he will have a future as an idol. I mean, a celebrity. He can even date Dilereba, Zhao Lusi, or even Bai Lu or Shen Yue," I whispered.
I run my finger gently on his nose bridge. He grabs my hand and opens his eyes. "And who are those people you're murmuring about? I think your greatest bad habit, Li Susu, is watching people when they're sleeping," he halts.
"That's unlikely rude. I think you should study some etiquette that fit here in Xia empires," he remarked.
I blink and pull my hand off his grip. He dragged me down, and I landed on top of him. "You need to be punished."