Chapter 1: Rebirth of the Wronged Soul, Black and White Game
In the 47th year of Emperor Xuan of the Dayu Dynasty, spring began in February, and cold rain came before the winter snow melted.
Yanmen City, near the Langjiang Kingdom, was a military stronghold. It was past curfew, and according to the city's rules, no one was allowed outside after curfew. Every household had its doors and windows shut tightly. The occasional pedestrian hurried through the rain, sleeves raised, but soon they were all inside, their lights extinguished. The only sounds were the night watchmen beating gongs and the patrolling Zhenxi Army.
In addition to them, there were two people in the rural clinic, each holding a black and white chess piece, playing chess under the light of a lamp.
A man and a woman sat by the window, on which a warm curtain was hung to block the wind.
“Ahem…”
The man was wearing a white mask with a crying and laughing background on his face. He stretched out a pale and slender hand to support it, tilted his head slightly, and a slight cough came from behind the mask.
He wore a thick fox fur coat, a hand warmer in his hand, and sat cross-legged with a cotton blanket covering his legs. Inside, silver charcoal burned brightly, and wisps of warm fragrance drifted from the incense burner. The temperature in the room was warm enough for the woman sitting across from him, but a slight chill seeping in through the gaps in the warm curtains made him pull the blanket tighter around him.
Shang Yuwan saw it out of the corner of his eye, but he was not in a hurry to make a move. He grabbed his hand warmer with one hand, stood up, held his hand warmer in his hand and weighed it.
The man's hands were as cold as ice, and even the stove was cold.
Shang Yuwan stuffed his slightly hot hand warmer into his arms, put the slightly cold one aside, and reached out to stir the brazier with burning silver charcoal.
"As the owner of Baijialou, you know you're weaker than most, but why don't you avoid the cold? Why do you insist on sitting by the window? Where is Yao Lao? Hasn't he come up with a better prescription for conditioning?"
The firelight reflected on her face, making the red mole on her forehead look even more charming. The reflection of the flames kept dancing in her beautiful peach blossom eyes. Although the corners of her eyes were obviously upturned, there was no sign of a smile.
Shang Yuwan pushed the brazier closer to the owner of the post.
"Yao Lao went out to look for herbs yesterday and hasn't come back yet." The host's hands were stained a little red by the scorching heat. He looked down and said, "I feel stuffy if I don't lean against the window."
Shang Yuwan nodded, lifted his robe and sat down, then raised his hand and placed a white chess piece.
"Last time, we found all the Langjiang people, but he killed them before we could investigate them thoroughly. Our first move was a failure and we already alerted the enemy. This second step... why did you think of using such a method?"
The "he" mentioned by the poster refers to the current General Zhenxi Zhang Jiuquan.
Zhang Jiuqian was originally the deputy general of the former Zhenxi General Shang Junhu. In June last year, he accused Shang Junhu of treason and became a hero in the eyes of the emperor. After the entire Shang family was executed, he was personally granted the title of Zhenxi General by the emperor.
The poster thought for a moment, and a black chess piece fell into the game, followed closely by Shang Yuwan's white chess piece.
She replied, "Zhang Jiuquan was a frontier soldier who fought on the battlefield for many years. It's not surprising that he is so ruthless."
The OP was speechless and waited for further comments.
"From what I've heard, he's always been incredibly conceited and a believer in force. We were a step too late last time, and we already lost the game to him. He's definitely going to be a bit more relaxed. I don't know if he feels guilty about his current position, but he's certainly got a lot more pride. He's been invited out for drinks tonight, and it's a rare opportunity."
Shang Yuwan half-closed his eyes and stared at the chess board, pondering for a moment.
"However, although Zhang Jiuquan is conceited, he's not the type to beat around the bush. Aside from his impressive performance in battle, he's never shown any talent for scheming."
The host nodded, and a deep voice came from behind the mask: "Indeed, his parents died young, and he relied entirely on his secretly learned martial arts and ruthless tactics to climb to the position of deputy general. Framing a general who was guarding a region for treason is something he could not have accomplished alone. There must be someone behind it."
Shang Yuwan hummed, "We agree on this point. Let's wait and see if Twelve and the others can find any other surprises besides the transaction booklet between Zhang Jiuquan and the Langjiang people tonight."
The original poster commented, "But why did you choose the identity of 'Yang Qianmo'? Using someone who used to be around him every day to frame him doesn't seem feasible to me, and it could actually expose the truth."
Shang Yuwan stroked the white chess piece in his hand, waiting for the OP's black chess piece to move.
She quickly denied it: "No. Yang Qianmo is also Senior Shang's deputy general, of the same rank as him, but she is more favored by Senior Shang than him, and is also more liked by others. Ever since they first met, he looked down on Yang Qianmo's pretentious airs, just like a civil servant."
The poster understood and placed a black chess piece on the chessboard.
"envy?"
"Yes." Shang Yuwan nodded, and the white chess piece fell.
"Zhang Jiuquan is jealous that he has more favoritism from Senior Shang and is also admired by many brothers in the camp."
"With his ego and jealousy, coupled with Ju Gongcheng's newly developed human skin mask and the half-truthful and half-fake drama, Zhang Jiuquan was in such a state of confusion that it was difficult for him to detect any clues."
The poster continued, "Yang Qianmo's whereabouts were unknown even before the Shang family was executed. Zhang Jiuquan claimed that he was also a traitor and was executed on the spot. Whether he is dead or alive, Zhang Jiuquan probably knows better than us."
"If there is no trace of the person alive and no body after death, then he is missing, not dead." Shang Yuwan answered without any hesitation.
"Such a simple truth, Zhang Jiuquan must have figured it out. He also secretly sent people to look for her, right? If we can't find her, and he can't find her either, then Yang Qianmo is not dead. Finding a fake one to scare him might be one way."
The chess piece in the host's hand suddenly stopped.
Shang Yuwan: “?”
"What's wrong?"
"I have a question, but I don't know whether I should ask."
Shang Yuwan was slightly stunned, and immediately understood what he wanted to say.
"Then there's no need to ask."
"Who are you?"
The two said it at the same time. The host was calm and composed, but Shang Yuwan's mouth trembled.
No wonder he talked more and more as they talked. This person was testing her again.
"It's been over half a month since I came to do business with you. This is the third time you've asked me this."
The poster asked, "Then why are you so unwilling to confess completely? What's your name? Where are you from? Why are you willing to risk your life to redress the Shang family's injustice?"
"I remember I confessed to you a long time ago." Shang Yuwan's face was calm.
The host, playing with a black chess piece in his hand, said nonchalantly, "But you seem a little too familiar with the people around Senior Shang. This is not right. Miss Shang, would you be willing to help me understand this?"
As he spoke, he propped up his head with his left hand and looked straight at her.
"You and the eldest daughter of the Shang family do look very different, but your ways of doing things are... so much the same. Could it be that you are the deceased daughter of the Shang family? Reborn in another's body to exact revenge?"
Shang Yuwan's heart skipped a beat, but he managed to keep a steady expression on his face. "...The host's mind is really full of wild ideas."
Even if this person guessed it right, Shang Yuwan would never admit it.
"I've said before, I don't know why I've forgotten my past. I only remember receiving favors from the Shang family. To repay them, I will help clear the Shang family's name and find the true traitor."
She lied shamelessly without even changing her expression.
She knew her story was a bit far-fetched, but so what? As long as she denied it, what could the host do? Hadn't his men been unable to find any information about the original owner of this body?
Shang Yuwan died in her previous life on the day she married Prince Qi in early June last year. On that day, Yanmen urgently reported the news that Shang Junhu was collaborating with the enemy and committing treason. She died to protect Shang Mingqi and was reborn in this body half a month ago, which was the day after the original owner found the owner of Baijia Tower to make a deal.
When Shang Yuwan woke up, besides the memories of her past life, this body only remembered the words "help me see him." Apart from this, she knew nothing about the outside world. If it weren't for the adaptability she had acquired in her early years in Kyoto, she would have been recognized long ago.
The poster stared at her, but did not see any panic on Shang Yuwan's face due to being forced to reveal her identity again and again.
"And my name is just a coincidence." Shang Yuwan took a deep breath. "No matter how much you ask, no matter how much you test, I don't know why I have the same name as the eldest daughter of the Shang family."
Shang Yuwan thought about changing her name, but after thinking about it for a long time, she decided to use her previous life's name again.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
