Chapter 8: No choice

Wu Jinmai's POV

I gasp and open my eyes. I cough as my throat feels dry. I look around and realize that I'm still alive, and... I groan.

"I'm still in the Xia dynasty in the Dexu era. Agh! My chest," I mumbled. I tried to get up, but my wound ached like hell. I wonder why I'm still alive. I close my eyes.

I remember those eyes. Shanguan Zu Jin's eyes were full of pain and regret. I raise my hand. "I think Shanguan Zu Jin was in love with this face? Well, Wu Jinmai was really beautiful and sexy. I doubt that he won't fall for her. It's just..." I halt.

I forced myself to get up, even if my wound would reopen. I turned around and was taken aback.

My eyes dilated when I saw Shanguan Zu Jin sitting in front of me. He's reading and rewriting some documents based on how he's holding the brush.

"Oh my. When did you… wait a minute? Didn't I tell you to kill me? Why am I still alive? Ugh! If I die, then you can declare yourself the emperor and marry that woman! How stupid," I remarked. I was really disappointed. Can't I just die and feed the worms?

"Who are you?" he says, and he puts down the brush that he's holding.

I rolled my eyes and stood up. My chest hurts; the wound that this man caused was deeper than I thought.

"Wu Jinmai, the tyrant empress," I replied.

He scoffs. Zu Jin walks towards me and stops in front of me. He held my wrist and gave me those suspicious glances. I gulp.

"You already exposed yourself. You said words and names with which I'm not familiar. You said that your name is Li Susu. Tell me, are you really Wu Jinmai, huh?!" he asserted. I look at his hand and then meet his glance.

"If I'm not the real Wu Jinmai, what are you going to do, huh? Are you going to cry because the woman you love is dead and it's because of you?" I ask.

His reaction changed. Sadness and regret were written on his onyx eyes. He was just lonely because the woman he loved became a monster that he needed to stop. I sighed.

"All the things that you heard from me are true. My boyfriend and best friend cheated on me, and they pushed me into that bridge to die," I paused.

I look at his hand and arch my brow. He let go of his grip. "I wake up in this body and era. In my world, we don't have to wear hanfu most of the time. I don't know why I'm here. Is it because I wish to be reborn? I don't know, Mr. Shanguan," I added.

I walked away and took a seat near the window. I grab some coal and light it up. I opened the kettle and poured some water. I checked the pot to see if there were chamomile leaves. I want to drink some tea.

"How can I believe you?" he asks.

Shanguan Zu Jin was a beautiful man. He has a slender body but is muscular. His broad shoulder is proof that he's a man who can protect his family and everyone else.

His face had an oval shape and a V-like jawline. His slender nose and full lips like Angelina Jolie were the perfect combination That line in middle of his lower lip is sexy.

Onyx eyes match thick lashes as well as thick arch brows. His white complexion was also a plus. He can build a harem without making an effort.

"Tell me how I can convince you. It's not me who is asking for proof, my dear."

'I guess I have no choice now. I need to live and continue my first plan if I want to change my fate. Maybe if I fix this woman's mistakes, then I can truly die this time.'

His glances were telling me that he was doubtful and still wanted to kill me. I know they're all surprised at how I act strangely.

I don't know how to be a ruler, especially an empress, but I guess my memories from the future and Wu Jinmai's memories have helped me a lot.

"Do something that the empress never did," he remarked. I held my chin.

I already proved it to Eunuch Liu by cooking carbonara, which is not a food in this dynasty. I flick my finger and remember how to prove it.

I only have to bear the pain. I've watched this show once in a while; its title is Youth with You. I stood up. I will dance some steps that Lisa taught me when she's still a judge on that show.

I take a deep breath, move my hands a bit, and see how I can control my movement so that my wounds won't get worse.

After a few movements, I start dancing and just remember the beat from my memories. These clothes were a bit heavy, and I have a wound, but I can bear them.

After dancing for a few minutes, he raises his hand. I stopped and crouched down. My wound... shit! It hurts.

"Susu!" he called and approached me.

He placed his hand on my back and supported me. I look at him and realize that his worried eyes were meant for me.

"Okay. Eunuch Liu wasn't lying. Go back to bed and rest. I will ask the kitchen to make some porridge. You need to drink your medicine too," Shanguan Zu Jin says. I took a step forward and didn't get the chance to drink the tea.

He made me sit and supported me as he laid me down on the bed. "If you want to live as Wu Jinmai, you need to know that what you experience with me isn't the end of the threats you'll be getting," he says, fixing the quilt.

I look at him, and all of a sudden I have this feeling that I want to feel his warmth. I raise my hand and hold his hand.

"Stay put. Let me hold your hand for a while. I hope this is all just a dream," I whispered. I close my eyes and try to calm my anxiety and fear in my head.

…

I have been taken care of for the past five days. My stab wound isn't that painful anymore. I even started reading these piles of problems on my table.

I look at the wood, and I can't believe they made an effort to do this with cardboard. "Whoa. The carvings and the quality of the wood were something. This is just half of my notebook. It's really true that the ancient period was full of culture."

I grab this scoop to pour some tea into my cup. I take a sip. "At least even in 2024, we still love tea and dumplings," I whispered and sipped again.

I continue reading these piles of memorials and try my best to change my life, no matter what face I have now. I stood up and grabbed my tea outside this pavilion.

I smiled when I could see the garden from here. I can see the plants sprouting. "I guess living in a world where there's no car, computer, gadgets, or whatsoever isn't bad at all," I mumbled. I heard footsteps. I turned around and saw my three husbands.

"Greetings to Empress Wu Jinmai," they utter in chorus.

I turned around and faced them. I raise my hand and sign them to get up. "Arise. How's everything?" I ask.