Su Ziluo listened attentively.
Ji Yunshu’s eyes were bloodshot, but she kept herself from crying. She collected herself, took a deep breath and said, “You taught me all these principles, remember? You said before that the most dangerous thing between man and man, between a general and his soldiers, was not trust and distrust, but selfishness!”
She clearly remembered all these things he taught her!
Su Ziluo laughed, almost with pure relief, the heavy stone weighing down in his heart all these years suddenly lifting.
“I lost completely.”
“You didn’t lose. You were just too stubborn in your beliefs, whether it was to take revenge, or to be a loyal subject of the Qujiang King.”
“Perhaps it was so!” He sighed and met Ji Yunshu’s gaze, giving her the warmest of smiles like he did years ago under that plum tree.
“What about you then, Shu’er? You should stop being stubborn as well. You already have someone else in your heart, do you not?”
What?
“You just haven’t realised it.”
Ji Yunshu lowered her eyes, somewhat guiltily, “The two of us will never work out!” She spoke softly, but Su Ziluo heard every word.
He went on, “We can’t return to the past; we can only keep moving forward. You should also face your own heart properly.”
She had no time to reply as the tower was surrounded by flames. Footsteps inched closer towards them and Ji Li appeared right in front of their eyes!
A sword in his hand, he headed straight for Su Ziluo with eyes brimming with hate. At the last minute, Ji Yunshu moved in front of Su Ziluo, warning Ji Li, “His Majesty has already promised me his safe passage home.”
“Scram!” Ji Li was seething with rage!
Ji Yunshu took a similarly firm stance, “If you dare touch him, I promise you, the next man to die in jail will be you.”
Ji Li flinched; these words were not just for show – he now believed whatever Ji Yunshu said!
“Is this a threat?” Ji Li questioned.
“Yes, it is. But if you insist on killing, then kill us both.” Ji Yunshu looked up at him.
Impossible! How could he defy imperial orders!
He eventually sheathed his sword. He looked at Su Ziluo unkindly, “Ji Pei, just like your father died by my sword years ago because of his inutility, you will never be able to kill me, whether it was then or now.”
The corner of Su Ziluo’s mouth lifted slightly, “Just tell me, how did you survive? I was sure… ”
“You were sure that I was the man in that cell, right?”