Chapter 6

I was immediately taken back to the mansion by Pei Su.

He prepared a separate room for me, and all my food, clothing, and daily needs were charged to his account.

Early the next morning, Pei Su left for the morning court.

I sat at the desk he had prepared, brimming with confidence as I wrote a letter to my lord.

[Report to My Lord:

This subordinate has fulfilled her mission and has already infiltrated the enemy camp.

Given time, Pei Su will surely kneel and beg for mercy, aiding Your Majesty’s grand ambitions.

-Yu Sui]

After finishing, I called for my usual white dove and sent the letter out.

That night, under the dark moon and high winds, I heard faint sounds from the eaves.

My instincts as a Shadow Guard made me react instantly, leaping up to the rooftop.

However, I hadn’t expected to find my lord standing before me.

He wore a white cloak ill-suited for night travel, with a wide-brimmed hood over his head, looking quite dashing.

And rather foolish.

Suspicious, I asked, “My lord, are you out for a stroll?”

“Mind your own business!” he grumbled. “Why are you living in Pei Su’s house?”

I solemnly cupped my fists, “This subordinate believes that ‘one cannot catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger’s den.’ Being close makes it easier to monitor Pei Su’s movements and report to you.”

My lord was silent for a moment.

“You have a point,” he said. “Since that’s the case, continue to keep an eye on him.”

The night wind was strong, and my old hearing problem flared up again.

What I heard my lord say was: “Hurry up and sleep with him.”

As everyone knows, the duty of a Shadow Guard is obedience.

If my lord tells me to go east, I have no reason to go west.

Mishearing doesn’t count.

So I acted immediately.

To avoid complications, within a few days, I climbed into Pei Su’s bed.

But Pei Su hadn’t come home yet.

The Steward said that due to turmoil at the borders, many refugees had recently flooded into the Royal City, so Pei Su had been exhausting himself to comfort the people, running about from dawn till dusk.

I could only wait for him in bed.

Waiting is truly a draining task.

When the moon was high, and the vast Pei Mansion was silent except for the rustling of wind through the grass, I finally heard unhurried footsteps on the stone path outside.

Those were Pei Su’s footsteps.

To avoid disturbing others in the mansion, he always made sure to walk lightly.

Naturally, I didn’t hear him.

Because I had waited so long, I had already fallen asleep clutching my quilt.

The door was gently pushed open. Pei Su entered, took off his outer robe and hung it on the wooden rack, then went to wash his face and brush his teeth.

Perhaps from sheer exhaustion, he didn’t light a lamp.

The soft sound of water woke me. I half-opened my eyes, still groggy, and before I could react, someone lay down beside me.

It was Pei Su.

Just waking up, my mind was still foggy. I only felt that I had waited far too long and was rather aggrieved.

So I turned over, grabbed the corner of his robe, and complained,

“Why did you come back so late?”