REINCARNATED TO BE THE WOLF'S SAVIOUR

THREE

I practically raced to the courtroom– the maids were moving faster than this body could follow. The emperor had summoned me to discuss the supposed “incident,” and if I can remember correctly, this incident was the empress dowager’s final attempt to get rid of me.

One would think the emperor cared for his daughter, but he couldn’t waste a pawn on politics. He had to retrieve his pawn, which just so happens to be me, starting fifteen minutes ago. I just transmigrated, and I’ve already been offered poison and slapped across the face. If anything goes wrong from here, I’d gladly chew on a jean jacket.

When I arrived at the door, I straightened, trying to be poised enough not to embarrass the owner of this body. The path to the front was clear, the court officials giving silent judgment as I passed them. Then in front stood what I dare to call the emperor’s hound, straight-backed, armoured, and severe. Looking very much like a man who was about to ruin my life.

Again.

The emperor sat on his jaded throne. Majestic, powerful. Already tired of existing.

‘Commander Zhao has achieved a great feat by rescuing the princess from the hands of our adversaries,’ he said loudly. Only if he knew such an adversary was parading herself in his palace, ‘and as promised, the princess's hand shall be your reward.’

This should be it. I braced myself for rejection. Come on, say it was nothing, you were only doing your job.

‘Your servant humbly accepts your benevolence,’ the commander answered.

My head snapped so fast I nearly sprained something. The entire court gasped in stereo; I wasn’t too sure what this news meant for them. I stared at the commander, and he turned to me for the first time that morning, as if suddenly noticing my existence. My god, he was hot.

He stared back at me.

One of us clearly knew what was happening. It was not me.

The court burst into a flame of protest. The official secretary dropped his writing brush.

‘But your majesty, the princess is too frail.’

‘This gives Commander Zhao too much power.’

‘What if they are incompatible?’

‘Oh my poor heart,’

‘Silence,’ the emperor exclaimed as the court immediately settled. He sighed, looking across from both of us as if trying to decide which was more trouble. He sighed again and stared at the ceiling, as if praying for patience, ‘You have been in much too trouble lately. Having the commander by your side is best for your protection.’

‘W-wait,’ I yelped, ‘father,- I’m actually fine. I can protect myself,’ that fell on deaf ears. Someone coughed politely, and rightly so, because I felt and looked like I couldn’t lift a teapot without getting tired.

‘I have thought enough about it,’ he answered sternly, ‘Commander Zhao, are you officially accepting the princess as your wife?’ The emperor asked again, as if asking him to reconsider. On his part, it was a pretty shitty deal. Marrying me would only make him more of a king’s puppet.

Commander Zhao knelt on one knee, ‘I pledge my allegiance to the emperor and the royal family that nothing will come upon the princess under my roof.’

What a bold statement to make, given that this body has one foot in the grave.

‘Then it is done. Pass on my decree; the princess Wang Roulan is to be wed to her saviour Commander Zhou Linghe.’

The title of this book should be ridiculous, because that is how I feel. Sick to the stomach– literally. As we were dismissed, Commander Zhao bowed respectfully to the emperor. I attempted to bow, but I nearly toppled over, and he caught me– in front of everyone.

Cue the gasps.

Cue the whispers.

Cue me silently screaming inside.

This plot wasn’t just going off track; it had fallen into a ditch, rolled down a mountain, and set itself on fire. Can I remedy this?

Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.

I left the court, chuckling under my breath like someone who had just gone insane– because I had.