The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife

Two thousand years ago, in the Qin Dynasty, at the Ma Residence.

"Come, come, come, let us all toast to General Ye." Ma Yao raised his cup and addressed the gathered generals, saying that today he was hosting a grand welcome party at his residence to honor Ye Shikai for his return from duties.

"General Ye is highly skilled in martial arts and adept in battle formations, a stroke of great fortune for our empire. Should you rise further in ranks to serve by His Majesty's side, do not forget us," a general, buoyed by the wine, said with a laugh, prompting laughter from the others as well.

"Yes indeed, Ye, your talents are evident to all of us. I shall definitely petition the Prefectural Governor to promote you," Ma Yao added with a smile.

"Then I must thank the Capital Commandant for your generous support," Ye Shikai replied as he raised his cup and drained it.

"Capital Commandant, esteemed generals, I am overwhelmed by the alcohol and need to step out for a brief respite. Please continue to enjoy yourselves," Ye Shikai excused himself, bowing to everyone before leaving the couch.

"If that is so, then Ye, go and rest. We shall carry on," the others said.

Ye Shikai walked to the pavilion; Ma Yao's household was vast. In East County, even the Prefectural Governor would give him face. The Qin Country placed great emphasis on military achievements. Not only was Ma Yao from a distinguished family, he had also formed many notable exploits on the battlefield. He could be considered the second most important person in East County.

Ye Shikai sat alone in the pavilion, rubbing his temples to soothe the effects of the alcohol, when suddenly he felt a gust of cool wind on his back, accompanied by a very light sound of footsteps.

"Who's there?" Reacting instinctively, Ye Shikai drew his sword and pointed it behind him, only to see a being he should not have seen—a precisely, an elf.

"Why is it you?" Ye Shikai exclaimed. The woman before him was Mona, that female elf. Could she be drunk?

"What's with that surprise look? You're wondering why I'm here, right? Actually, I have the same question for you," Mona said with a smile, her hands behind her back.

"This is the Ma Residence, Ma Yao is a high official of the court. Do you realize that trespassing into an official's household is punishable by decapitation?" Ye Shikai coldly stated.

"That's your human laws. I am an elf," Mona replied with a playful smile, "Besides, your human guards are really weak. Jumping into this courtyard was a piece of cake for me."

"Wait, what are you here for?" Ye Shikai suddenly became vigilant. With the elf and human races at odds, Mona's long journey to enter deep into human territory could not be for an assassination, could it? The thought seemed very likely, for this was no other than Ma Yao's residence, and Ma Yao was the Capital Commandant of East County.

"Why so tense?"

"Tell me, are you here to assassinate?" Ye Shikai pressed on.

"Hmph, that's not what I am here for," Mona responded, rolling her eyes, "Let me ask you, if I were to say I'm here to assassinate, what would you do?"

"I would kill you immediately," Ye Shikai said, holding his sword, taking a quick step forward, and placing the sharp blade at Mona's neck.

"Good, do you remember what I said this morning? Next time we meet, we must have a proper fight," Mona said with a hint of a smirk, stepping back and drawing two daggers from her waist.

"Come on then," Mona's words had barely left her lips when she suddenly lunged forward, with the daggers thrusting straight towards him. Ye Shikai recognized this move from their morning encounter; he had nearly fallen for it then. Elves were quick, much faster than humans, which gave them a natural advantage in assassination.

"Bang." Ye Shikai swung his sword, deflecting the daggers, and followed with a backhand strike, but Mona dodged it. Using the momentum, she leaped into the air and kicked Ye Shikai squarely in the chest, forcing him to step back several paces. With his sword bracing against the ground, he managed to stay upright.

"You're the most formidable human I've ever encountered," Mona said as if she had just pulled a fast one, but in fact, she never had more than a three-stroke exchange with a human, let alone one that forced her to parry. If not for his Inner Strength, perhaps she would not have been his match.

"Even so, I will defeat you." Ye Shikai continued to lunge with his sword, but Mona crossed her twin daggers, trapping his blade between them. Ye Shikai pulled hard, the blades grinding against each other, sending sparks flying.

"Take this." With a forceful leap, Mona knocked Ye Shikai to the ground, her slender form pressing onto his chest. Both of their movements ceased.

Time seemed to halt at that moment, the rustling of the leaves the only sound around. Mona's right hand pressed against Ye Shikai's left chest, their heartbeats suddenly quickening...

"Get off me." Ye Shikai exerted his strength and pushed Mona away, standing up from the ground.

"From what I've heard, in your human society, this is called improper conduct between men and women," Mona teased with a smile.

"Quit your nonsense, weren't we fighting?"

"Alright then, let's continue." Mona gathered her Inner Strength and lunged forward, her daggers aiming again for Ye Shikai, but as they were about to pierce his neck, her body suddenly froze, the daggers mere centimeters from his throat.

Mona tilted her head, looking at the sharp sword pressed against her neck, giving a bitter smile. The cold blade clung to Mona's fair skin, as if threatening to cut her with the slightest movement.

"You win." Mona lowered her daggers and took a step back, Ye Shikai also gradually lowering his sword.

"My sword does not take the lives of women and children, you're free to go," Ye Shikai said indifferently.

"Quick, there's an assassination attempt." At this moment, a shout from distant soldiers was heard.

"I'll be taking my leave then, until next time," Mona said with a light smile, putting her daggers back.

"Don't come back next time, because I will not show mercy again."

"Okay, then. Next time, we'll see if you can catch me." Mona's toes lightly touched the ground, her body leaping into the air, she stepped on the wall and vaulted over it.

"Quickly, after her!" The soldiers rushed into the pavilion, but could not catch up to Mona, only watching as she made her escape.

"General Ye."

"What's the disturbance in the pavilion?" At this moment, Ma Yao and the other generals, alerted by the soldiers' report, also hurried over.

"There was an assassin here just now. I happened to see her and engaged in a fight, but unfortunately, she escaped," Ye Shikai spoke calmly.

"An assassin infiltrated the Commander Mansion, it's fortunate that Ye is unharmed." Ma Yao's face turned grave. An assassin entering his home was a blow to his prestige, especially since he was the Capital Commandant and the mansion was heavily guarded.

"Someone go after her!" Ma Yao suddenly burst in anger, kicking a soldier to the ground.

"Understood, my lord."

"Ye, are you alright?" Ma Yao stepped forward and took Ye Shikai's hand, asking with concern.

"I'm fine. The assassin was highly skilled; it's my fault I didn't capture her."