Chapter 28: Who is the fool?

Shanguan Zu Jin's POV

Wu Jinmai looks at me with such cold eyes. All these years, I've kept these feelings inside of me.

She had changed, but I stayed the same. I still keep the truth in my heart. I've paved my way inside the palace to see her and be with her.

I've used tricks to make the empress notice my presence. I've been a fool for the past ten years.

"I have no idea, okay?! I don't have any idea what Shanguan Zu Jin wants. I have no clue what more you want me to do. How can I know, huh?! You always look at me with such cold eyes and ignore me. I've been giving you everything!" Wu Jinmai roars. My eyes dilated. She looks at me with such eyes. I let go of her.

'Those eyes… it's how Wu Jinmai looks at me! It's her!'

I moved away and walked away. I grab my clothes and put them on. I know that face. I was right—there's a chance that she's acting.

I don't care how she does those weird things, but I won't fall for it! "Shanguan Zu Jin!" she roars. I didn't look back and continued to walk away.

"I said, fucking wait!" she roars.

I grabbed the door and was ready to open it when she grabbed my shoulder and made me face her. My eyes dilated.

She's naked! She sighed and pushed me against the door. Wu Jinmai placed her hand on each side of my shoulder and looked at me.

"Why are you acting so childish, huh?! You suddenly act like this and that, and when I show you the same emotion, you'll act like this! What do you really want, huh?!" she roars.

"Young master is everything okay?!" Xu Jiaxu asks.

I turned my face around and saw his shadow getting close to the door. "I said no one would come closer! Step away!"

"Understood, young master!" he exclaims.

I heard his footsteps walking away. I look at Wu Jinmai. She's still glaring at me and sulking. She never does that.

I look into her eyes. I can see my reflection on them. "What are you doing?! Are you that shameless?!" I asked in a controlled tone.

"You have the face to tell me that when you showed me everything?! You're naked first!" she exclaimed, controlling her voice as well. I deeply sighed.

"Look, I know I've spoken like her. I just want to act like her based on her memories, hoping that you will do the same. You will tell me what you really feel. I want you to open up like Pei Qin did!" she explains. My jaw clenched. I held her face and forced her to look at me.

"Like Pei Qin? Are you comparing me with one of your royal consorts, huh? I can't believe you!" I roared.

She grabbed my wrist and took my hand off her face. Li Susu raised it a bit and suddenly bit my hand between my thumb and index finger.

My ears and cheeks feel hot because of what she did. "I wish you would be open with me. Wu Jinmai misunderstood you because you're hard to read. I need to know how to deal with you, Shanguan Zu Jin," she remarked.

That made me scoff. I grab her shoulder and lean over. I neared my face and looked intently into her eyes. "Why would I, hmm?" I whispered.

She grabbed my hands and held my palm tightly. "I want you!" she declares.

"I was trying to break the ice between us. Please... be on my side, A'Zu," she utters.

I take off the first layer of my clothes and put it on her. "You'll catch a cold," I coldly stated.

She takes off her hands on my side to put on the sleeve. I took that chance to open the door. I take my step out of the bathhouse.

"One more step, and I'll show them her body," she threatens.

I laugh. Wu Jinmai was prideful. She will never do that. "You really think I didn't know you enough, Wu Jinmai?" I replied, turning around.

My jaw clenched. One wrong move and my clothes will fall to the floor. Good thing that her chest was big, or else... I hear noises from afar. That was my servant.

I got inside again and closed the door. I even locked it. "Are you out of your mind, your highness?!" I roared. She smirks.

"I don't care if they see it. This body isn't mine after all. I will use it the way I want to. If you won't listen to me and act like a child, I will do more than this. I already told you. I'm ready to use people and do anything in order to change my fate."

"What do you really want, huh?!" I ask. She shakes her head and takes a step closer. I was cornered once again.

She moved her face closer. "Wrong question. I should be asking that. What do you really want, huh? What do you want from Wu Jinmai? Tell me…" she mumbles enticingly.

Her tone was softer, and so were her gazes. I look away. I won't be fooled a second time. She might be Li Susu, and I have no idea what kind of person she is.

"Let's drop this conversation already. We're not getting the answers we need. It's already late at night. Let's take a rest. I know you're tired just like me," I suggest.

Her brow arches, looking at me weirdly. "Tell me, am I right from the very start? You're in love with this woman, right? Then how about Zhang Yihua?" Li Susu? ask.

"It's none of your concern, your highness. I didn't give you permission to talk about my life," I replied.

I was taken aback when I saw the pain in her eyes. She blinks, and her lips form a smile. "Well, that's true."

She fixed my clothes that I let her wear. "I'm also tired. Let's go!" she says.

She opened the door and walked away. I feel like I've done something. Xu Jiaxu approached me.

"Young master, what did you do? The empress's face was…" he stops. He looks at me and notices my reaction.

"Young master, excuse me for my rudeness, but... What did you do? Have you forgotten that she is the empress? I don't want to die yet, young master. Go ahead and follow her. You must apologize," Xu Jiaxu suggested.

I glared at him. "Why would I apologize? I did nothing. It was her who offended me," I remarked. Xu Jiaxu shakes his head while sighing.

"You must understand how women think, young master. How would you confess and win her heart if you liked this? Do it, young master. You must apologize!" he says, pointing his finger at my face.

He walks away while shaking his head. "My goodness. What kind of young master am I serving? How can he be too dense?!" he says, raising his hands while talking.

I scoff and grab my shoes. I was ready to throw it at him, but I controlled myself. How can a servant badmouth its own master?

"I think I need to find a new servant instead," I mumbled, and I walked away.