A life of two souls traveling through time

Chapter 101 Chess Pieces

At the foot of the mountain near Xuan'an City, there is a quiet and solemn ancient temple. The melodious bell sounds from afar make people feel peaceful. At the entrance of the temple, a pair of thousand-year-old cypresses stand on both sides like two ancient guardians. The bluestone slabs are covered with leaves, and the red walls, black tiles, and eaves are surrounded by green shades. Thousands of Buddhas bless it, presenting a peaceful and harmonious scene.

Xuewu, hidden under a veil, walked into the temple escorted by several guards and palace maids. In the deserted Buddhist temple, Xuewu sent the palace maids who followed her outside under the pretext of worshiping Buddha and chanting sutras.

"Xuewu greets the Lord." Seeing that the guards and palace maids were standing guard outside, Xuewu hurriedly walked behind the big Buddha and knelt on one knee to bow to a black shadow with his back to her.

"Well, the fact that you can leave the palace alone means that Ning Xi has let down her guard against you." A lazy and deep male voice sounded slowly, but he lowered the tone deliberately to conceal his presence.

"But you can't be out for too long this time, so as not to arouse his suspicion." Xuewu replied softly while still kneeling on the ground, then took out a scroll from her sleeve and continued: "This is the defense map of Xuan'an City." Relying on Ning Xi's favor, she could also enter and leave the council hall freely, so she could easily see and copy the defense map.

"In just one month, you have made Ning Xi a well-known tyrant. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is very satisfied. He will reward you handsomely after the task is accomplished." The black shadow took the scroll from Xuewu's hand and smiled with satisfaction.

"Xuewu thanks His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. It is her honor to share His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's worries." Xuewu's heart tightened when she heard the word 'Crown Prince'. Although her tone was still calm, the pair of almond-shaped eyes under the veil couldn't help but reveal a hint of sadness.

An hour later, Xuewu came out of the Buddhist temple, hurriedly left the temple and got on the carriage. Her mind was filled with memories: she had been trapped on a deserted island since she was old enough to understand, studying and learning calligraphy, music and practicing the Snow Crane Dance. She didn't know who her parents were? Where did she live? Why was she here? She had no friends either. There were only two female teachers on the island who were particularly strict with her, one teaching articles and the other teaching music and dance, and three old women serving them. Every day, Xuewu went to class step by step and completed the course tasks. When she took a break occasionally, she looked at the boundless and endless sea around her and yearned for the outside world. She thought she would spend the rest of her life on this deserted island with her teachers and nuns, until the person who controlled her destiny appeared, and she realized that she was just a tool carefully cultivated by others.

She clearly remembered one winter day when she was sixteen years old. She was suddenly urged by her nanny to get up early, take a bath, and change into a snow-white feather dress. She listened to the sudden noisy sounds outside in the room with trepidation. Not long after, under the arrangement of her teacher, she danced a Snow Crane Dance with all her heart. In the pure white snow, she danced in white clothes and white hair, appearing and disappearing, magnificent.

"Pah, pah..." The music stopped and the dance stopped. Applause broke out from the attic. Then a voice as soft and moist as warm tea slowly sounded: "The dancer's clothes are white, her skin is whiter than snow, her face is cold and beautiful, her body is light and graceful, her body is boneless and yet strong, just like a crane about to fly under the snow. The Snow Crane Dance is indeed worthy of its reputation. Lady Ling is thoughtful."

"It is my honor to serve His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." After the man in the attic finished speaking, Yingying, the dance teacher beside Xuewu, stepped forward, bowed her head and said with a smile.

"Let her come up." After hearing what Lady Ling said, the man in the attic just nodded lightly, and then gave another order.

Xuewu, not knowing the situation, walked up to the attic nervously under the teacher's instructions. Two serious and indifferent guards with swords stood at the stairs. Then a mysterious man in black with his face covered came up to her. He raised his right hand slightly, and Xuewu saw the luxurious and slender figure in the wing room from afar in the direction of his hand.

The door of the wing room was closed by the man in black, leaving only Xuewu and a strange man standing by the window with his back to her.

"Xuewu, your name really lives up to your personality." After a long silence, the elegant man turned around gracefully, narrowed his beautiful eyes and smiled softly.

Looking at the elegant and handsome man in front of her, Xuewu lowered her head shyly, her face and ears slightly hot.

"Do you know who I am?" The man's tone remained calm, and no emotion could be seen from him.

"Xuewu doesn't know." Xuewu shook her head obediently, and said timidly in a voice like a gurgling spring.

The man slowly approached Xuewu, and gently pinched her chin with his slender, warm fingers, forcing her to look up at him. An unfathomable smile was revealed in his noble and imposing eyes. Xuewu did not dare to look directly into those eyes that could devour her consciousness at any time, and only kept her gaze on his high nose bridge.

"I am your master. From today on, you will stay by my side and obey my orders." The man noticed that there was something wrong in the eyes of the beauty in front of him, so he quickly let go of her hand. His face turned cold and he turned back to the window and said in a low voice.

"Yes." Xuewu lowered her eyes and bowed to the man.

Xuewu had been reading and writing since she was young, and had also read a lot of historical books and allusions. From hearing her teacher's call of "Your Highness the Crown Prince" to the words of the noble man in front of her, she had guessed about 70% of the story in her mind. She was just a tamed animal carefully raised by the powerful, and finally became a dirty tool in the vortex of power.

"You are very smart. It's a good thing for you to have a clear cognition." The man was very satisfied when he saw Xuewu regained her composure. It is normal for a young girl to be in love, but what he needs is not a woman, but someone who can become an important chess piece in his hand.

"Yes." Xuewu still replied calmly.

That night, Xuewu's two teachers gave her the last lesson: how to be a qualified spy.

She also knew thoroughly that she was bought by Xiyue Crown Prince Yan Qiao and raised on this isolated island since she was a child. He sent people to teach and train her just to make her a chess piece in his political game in the future.

When Xuewu returned to Xueyuan in the harem, she looked unhappy and refused to eat or drink. The palace maids were very worried and had to go to the council hall to report to Ning Xi.

"What's wrong with my beloved concubine? Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Ning Xi, who had hurried to Xueyuan, frowned and asked softly to Xuewu, who was leaning on the couch with her eyes closed.

"Your Majesty..." Xuewu opened her eyes and looked at Ning Xi who was worried about her. She felt a little guilty, but it was fleeting. She quickly came to her senses, threw herself into the arms of the man in front of her with red eyes, and suddenly cried.

"My beloved concubine, what happened?" Ning Xi panicked when she saw the beauty in her arms suddenly burst into tears. Seeing that Concubine Xue was silent, she glanced at the two palace maids waiting beside her and asked in a stern voice, "What happened today?"

“This...this...” The two palace maids were all bewildered and knelt down in fear.

"Your Majesty, it has nothing to do with them. I was just angry with myself..." Ning Xi was about to scold the two palace maids, but Xuewu suddenly broke free from his arms, wiped her tears and continued to cry aggrievedly.

"Why are you so angry with yourself for no reason?" Ning Xi felt distressed by the beautiful woman's tears. He was anxious but did not dare to be anxious. He still asked patiently in a soft voice.

"I am angry that I cannot share the worries of Your Majesty and have disturbed Your Majesty and delayed the affairs of state. I have also been branded as a witch concubine..." Xuewu said softly and could not help crying out of grievance.

"Nonsense! Whoever is gossiping will have his tongue cut off!" Ning Xi was immediately furious after hearing what her beloved concubine said, with murderous intent in her angry eyes.

"But how will Your Majesty stop the gossips?" Xuewu threw herself into Ning Xi's arms again and asked crying.

"Where do the rumors come from? Aren't they just those old guys spreading rumors outside with bad intentions? Don't worry, my beloved, I will find a way to punish them!" Ning Xi didn't agree. While swearing to the woman, a sinister look appeared in his eyes.

Xuewu leaned in the man's arms and smiled with relief.