"What are you doing here in my room?"
Guowei asked the moment he saw me lying on his bed.
"Why can't I be in my husband's room?"
"Get out."
"No."
"Get out."
"No.
He dragged me outside, but I clung onto his legs.
"Let go."
"No!"
"I said let go!"
He shook his legs in an attempt to shake me off. The servants came upon hearing the ruckus. I noticed that he did not like being watched by the servants and an idea struck me.
"My husband, don't be like this. I totally understand if you're not that good in making love. I'll teach you how to kiss," I said.
The servants started whispering among themselves and Guowei's face turned red. He ordered for the servants to leave and he dragged me back in his room.
"You are one shameless woman. Do you not care about your image?"
"If the situation calls for it, I would gladly taint my image."
He sat down on his bed and I followed him. I was about to sit down when he stopped me.
"Sit far away."
I moved while saying, "Wow. It's not like I'm carrying a disease."
"You are the disease. So what are you doing here?"
"Well, I'm-"
"And do not tell me that you are sitting down, breathing, and answering."
"You got me," I said. "Well, I'm here to stop you from leaving."
"How do you know I am leaving?"
"I have two ears and they're enough in a place with many talkative mouths."
"I was summoned by the emperor. I cannot refuse the summon."
"I'll help you with that. I'll tear your clothes into shreds so you can't leave. You can now refuse the summon. I'm smart, am I not?"
"The emperor has enough money to replace all my clothes. And I will not refuse the summon whatever you say. You are being irrational."
"Logic doesn't always solve problems. Just listen to me and don't go to the capital."
"These days you have become talkative."
"I like using my mouth. This is my only talent. So why don't you use your ears and listen to me? Don't go to the capital. Stay here."
I did many shameless things, but Guowei just ignored me. He continued preparing his things. Even with the presence of the servants, he did nothing about me. It was tiring begging him to stay.
I even told him about Dingxiang trying to imprison Liqin, but he said Dingxiang would not do it. I was about to tell him that Liqin told me he was scared of being imprisoned, but I decided against it. It would be weird if he found out that Liqin and I talked with each other. And the talk was not a simple hi-hello. Rivals weren't supposed to have deep talks especially in our case because I tried to kill Liqin.
I was a thinker indeed, but I could not think of any valid reason for him to stay. My mind worked fast when it came to killing the annoying female characters in BL stories and other hateful characters like Dingxiang. But if I had to think about something like this, I needed more time. I even planned out the Operation: QinWei for a whole day even though I already knew what would happen.
Evening came, and Guowei left. Liqin did not bid his farewells, but I saw him standing from afar.
***
Jie served my supper in my room. When I was about to take a bite from the tofu, I heard a ruckus outside. Jie tried to stop me from going out but I pushed through.
Outside, Dingxiang's guards were arresting Liqin.
"My dear sister, how are you?" Dingxiang asked.
"Why are you arresting Liqin? Let him go."
"He stole the herbs."
"All this for a few herbs?"
"Those were not ordinary herbs. And a crime is still a crime no matter how small." He turned to the guards and said, "Put him in prison."
I ran towards Liqin and tried to push the guards away while saying, "You're being unjust! You have no proof."
"Yanyu, if you continue acting this way then I have no choice but to arrest you."
I looked at Dingxiang and spat at him. "You can't arrest me. You have no reason."
He wiped his face and said, "You leave me no choice. Arrest her."
The other guards then held onto me.
"Hey! I've done no wrong. On what grounds are you arresting me?"
"I am arresting you on the grounds of you obstructing justice."
"You're the one who's obstructing justice. I broke no law and you arrest me?"
Dingxiang brought his face close to mine and whispered, "In this land, my word is the law." He retracted back and said, "Have a nice day there, dearest sister."