The gate that was stayed closed for a month finally opened and it only meant one thing— a mission sent by the Master.
Huo Nie went to the gate and welcomed the visitor. Give him a letter that shock him, but not so surprised, because deep down his heart he knew that this day would come.
When the gate close again— Mei Yue is requested to come in the main pavilion of Ying Sha east sector. She's baffled but at the same time she accepted her fate.
Mei Yue whose under the supervision of Huo Nie is given a black card. She opened it and read the letter. She didn't show any emotion or even dismay look in her face.
"You'll be attending the 'Bride Selection' for Crown Prince Yan Zhiyan in Yan Xia Palace in 3 weeks" said her Master Huo Nie, he already prepared a list for the training he will commence tomorrow and had given it to Mei Yue
"The first mission was a failure? the assassin sent didn't come back" Mei Yue mumbled as she read the list given by Huo Nie
"We don't know if she's still alive or her identity was discover, what we are sure of is that the former Crown Prince Yan Zhaoyan has incurable illness, that's why his younger brother took the duty instead and you've already seen your mission and I only wish you luck" Huo Nie smiled but his face shows that his worried, after all Mei Yue is like a child for him
"Why do they sent me to take the mission?" Mei Yue asked and sat down, poured her and her Master some hot brew tea
"Because you came from the Mei family, basically your information is linked towards Yan Xia Palace, so when they investigate you, there won't be any fatal mistake" said Huo Nie and took a sip towards the tea and left it finished
Suddenly Mei Yue's eyes screams loneliness. Remembering the bittersweet memories she had when she was still a child. When she got separated with her family 16 years ago.
She shove away her thoughts and is ready to listen to Huo Nie.
"Ying Sha assassin is sharp, fierce, doesn't show emotions, and they serve for a purpose. Every mission is the purpose that one must not defy. Those who betrayed the rules will die— there is no escape for the people like us.." Huo Nie always recall these sentences when every apprentice he train are going to their missions
"If I failed my mission what will happen to me?" Mei Yue asked, thought she already knew the answer— "You'll die.." she just want to make sure of it
"If your identity was revealed you will also die— that's the fate of assassin's like us" Huo Nie mumbled
"If you are given a chance to leave would you do that?" she asked once again but then Huo Nie's answer would always be the same, "We can't escape Ying Sha, they know our every move and most importantly they know our weaknesses" it might sound absurd but it was the truth
"In 3 weeks I'll teach you whatever you need inside Yan Xia Palace, it's a dangerous place for someone like us… It is hard to enter but it is also hard to get out. That's why mostly the assassin who enters dies a ruthless death. Because Yan Xia Palace and Ying Sha Organization fueled a war a long time ago that still stirs up from today. But that's not our main goal— the main goal is for you to focus on your mission, remember what I taught you" told Huo Nie
"Mission comes first…" said Mei Yue, she knew what happened back then but not completely everything about it
The next day, Mei Yue learned how to walk and how to act as a proper lady. That's one step to get the White Jade Token. In order to be chosen by the Crown Prince himself, she needs to be a perfect bride. Beautiful— Healthy— Smart— Compose— and Proper.
Clang* Woosh* Shing*
Mei Yue's blade was crash in one blow, causing for its pieces to fall into the ground
Mei Yue then grasped for air. She throw the sword and headed face to face combat with Huo Nie.
She hit her from blow to blow. But Huo Nie always counter every single move she makes. This just proves that his much stronger than his apprentice.
Huo Nie charged towards Mei Yue, fist tightly folded and ready to land at Mei Yue's face but she predicted the move, her palm cutting upward towards Huo Nie's throat as if she's meant to kill him but then Huo Nie is always steps ahead from her and fastly move his legs down and strike for Mei Yue's ankle which makes her fall to the ground.
Huff* Huff*
Mei Yue breath.
Night falls not long ago. She stares at the sky seeing the Moon that shines bright today.
The fact that the name Yue comes after the moon. Maybe that explains the reason why she loves to stare at the moon at night.
Suddenly she recalled a glimpse of her past. But as an assassin, they bury their name, history, desires and homeland. As an assassin you are no one but a person who abide by the Ying Sha rules.
Huo Nie steps in then give her a hand and said, "Never let your enemy know your next move.." he proudly said after defeating his apprentice
She grabbed his hand and they headed to a room where Huo Nie discusses the things related to Yan Xia Palace. He told every possible information he knew so that Mei Yue won't be cultured shock as the environment is very different towards them.
"Why does Ying Sha wants that map for? What's so special about the thing that they want us to get?" Mei Yue asked, confused but she knew it somehow hid a deep secret
"Soon enough you'll know about that" said Huo Nie
Mei Yue's training continues for the past 3 weeks and it was a hard training but it was worth the while to finally get here. The unwavering fear inside her somehow subside. She was ready to start the mission.
Her lips were deep red and her skin are silky white. Her eyes are dark as night and her nails are bright red like blood.
She wore red Hanfu clothes for brides in weddings. The details of the clothes are embroidered with gold thread and every details symbolizes Yan Xia Palace. Her face was hidden by a red vail that has lotus patterns and she carries a red fan which also holds the pattern of a golden lotus and a red tassel.
The other brides along her finally stood their feet in front of the huge gate of Yan Xia Palace. There is two phoenix figure carved in the gate as if it was looking at each other but won't be able to meet.
They stood there for a bit of moment and finally the gate opened. Wind blew softly towards them and they were astonished on how the inside of Yan Xia Palace looks like.
In Mei Yue's opinion. It doesn't look like the enemies place, as it carries a warm welcome. Unlike Ying Sha that is cold blooded and lonely.
The ray of sunset shines beautifully as it emerge towards the place. Red flower tree smoothly sways around along with the wind as it petals falls slowly to the ground.
Pond are steady and silent. The famous lotus flower resting upon it makes it more unbelievably beautiful and pleasing to the eyes.
There are resting areas from the pond towards the tree and everywhere possible. So whenever you feel like relaxing it would be a great place.
The imperial palace carved beautifully with precision and their are a lot of amazing designs of dragons, phoenix, and lotus flower. Styled in an ancient design and colored with pure gold.
The place live to it's name Yan Xia Palace that means, "Palace of Blazing Clouds" she whispers
-woosh-
The wind blows hard and the sky turned dark. Suddenly 7 men in black robe of an assassin appeared before the gate was closed.
Mei Yue had thought that they must have jumped before it closed. She observed those men in dark clothes and she recognizes that they belong to Ying Sha.
'What could have been their purpose of sending another assassin in?' she had thought
The brides trembled in fear and for an instance the imperial guard was alarmed and appeared from nowhere.
According to Mei Yue's intel these guard are on level two the White Tiger (Hu) they carries a crest on their arms of a tiger, their duty is to guard the gate.
The assassin started to threaten to kill the brides. Including Mei Yue. They pointed their weapon at their neck as if slitting their throat.
One attempted to escape and in the end she only got killed. The assassin holding her slit her throat.
The guard whose up from the gate used their arrows to aim for the assassin's, causing for them to let go of the brides. This helps the guards to charged and fought the assassin.
The brides was lead by one guard to get away from the fight and to be save.
Mei Yue followed but suddenly tripped her feet because of the long Hanfu clothes. She falls down the ground and the guards sho fought before was beaten up by the assassin.
She had thought if she fought here she'll be dead because they would know her identity.
It puzzled her, then wind stirred heavily and her bail was removed, revealing her face. But it seems that the assassins don't recognized her as one of them. So they still attempt to kill her.
She look up if the guard upfront the gate can still shoot the arrows but they were long dead by the assassins, they must have use poison to kill them.
Mei Yue reaches for her hair accessories to get some poisonous needles to fight silently when suddenly the gate opened revealing a young man in a black robe, coming forward with his horse and attack the assassins in one hit and they are all dead.
The guy got down and notice something in Mei Yue's hair accessory that reminds her of someone. He looks at her sharply as if he attempts to read what's on her mind.
Mei Yue look at him and murmured his name, "Zhiyan…" knowing his name, it made him more curious about her
Mei Yue get up on her own and wipe the dirt on her clothes.
Guard came after and before Mei Yue could ever talk to Zhiyan he was already surrounded by guards. They might be going to investigate what happened earlier.
Zhiyan lost his sight towards Mei Yue. Before he could even ask her about the hair accessory, she already left.
Mei Yue met with the other bride in an area where they will be staying till the day wherein Zhiyan would pick his bride to be.
She went to the room she's assigned with and change her clothes to the white Hanfu they prepared for them.
Tomorrow they will be meeting Princess Yan Qingyan who will be the one to examine them and at the end of the examination they will be given a token, and if they got the White Jade Token, they got the most score and only 2 can have it. But the final decision will come from the Crown Prince himself.
She was ready to sleep. She closed her eyes but her thoughts are keeping her awake.
She turned over and tried again. But she can't really sleep.
She get up and opened the window. Fresh breeze welcomed her. She saw that there are benches outside near the red tree she saw earlier.
She thinks that a little walk might help her to free herself from the thought she's having and later might get some sleep.
She sat down on the bench and lifted her eyes to the night sky. Darkness stretched endlessly but only broken by the light that beams from the moon and stars.
Footsteps comes to where Mei Yue is. To her surprised she saw the least person she expected to come.
"Young Master Zhiyan…" she murmured and took a bit of a deep breath
Zhiyan on the other hand stared at her for awhile.
"Why do you have the hairpin that I'm supposed to give to my mother?" he asked as he looks at the hairpin that's on Mei Yue's hair
Partly it was according to Mei Yue's plan to wear something so precious towards Zhiyan. So that he could notice her and might as well leave some expression that could make her the bride.
Mei Yue remove the hairpin that's holding her hair, causing for it to sway down.
"I've been meaning to give it back to you and this day seems to be that day" she uttered
Zhiyan reached for it and it reminds him of his mother. He has a lot of emotion inside but was force to hold it in.
Zhiyan then left Mei Yue alone without saying anything.
Mei Yue then followed Zhiyan's figure with her eyes and she can't help but to think, "Why does it have to be you?" she had thought