Priestess of The Moon

Chapter 4

"Because it won't get him a job," Zhu Hua said curtly, hopping up and then sitting on my table. I was shocked, but couldn't find it in me to tell her to sit on the chairs. Rui, on the other hand, has slipped into a chair so only Yang Jun and I were standing.

"Yes, that's true," he said morosely. "I currently work at the Imperial Archives where all the books in the palace are kept."

My eyes widened.

"The Imperial Archives! I adore the place. I'm allowed to go there once a month to choose some books to read, or otherwise I would have nothing to do here."

"That's a very good way of spending your time. What books do you read?"

"Everything, I've read the all the travelogues, but in particular I love the ones about the West, and I read poems too. I like the poems by—"

"Let's not talk about books." We all turned to Rui, who had suddenly cut in. "I want to talk too."

"Do you not read?" I asked.

"I do." He looked away, brows pressed together. "Books are good, but in the end, they are nothing but second-hand accounts. Reading can't compare to experiencing the things themselves." I tightened my jaw at his scoffing.

What he said was true, but it could only apply to people who had the luxury to experience certain things like going outside. There were people in the world who could only rely on books.

People who were lame and didn't how how it felt to walk and run, people who were sick and couldn't see the outside, and people like me.

"Then do you have something you want to talk about?" I asked, my voice hard.

"Yes." His eyes lit up like a child's the moment I said that. "Our promise." I stiffened at the reminder.

"Don't tell me that you expect me to go outside!"

"Yes, I will! You have to go outside now that I've proved to you I have a friend who is a top warrior and another who is a fine but unmotivated scholar."

"That's not a nice thing to say," I said.

"But true," Zhu Hua said with a smirk. She took some sunflower seeds and apricots from the plate on my table and began to eat without asking for my permission. I didn't feel like it was my room anymore.

"Anyways, with Zhu Hua and my protection you can't refuse going outside anymore," Rui declared.

I sighed and sat down at a chair. I pondered over it before finally whispering,

"If I'm caught, you know you will be—"

"We are all important members of society. We won't be punished."

"Even you?"

Rui turned quiet. "They won't bother with me. I'm not important enough and I have no power."

I stood there, trying to find another excuse.

"I just can't find it in me to go," I whispered. "I have a duty to fulfill."

"A day won't hurt," Zhu Hua said. "Why are you so intent on being obedient? His Majesty is a tyrant for locking you up." I gasped.

"You can't say that!"

"However, I agree it's not right," Yang Jun said. "The outside world is worth experiencing if you truly love literature about the outside world."

I bit my lips. When they all began to side with Rui, it became hard for me to refuse.

"Fine, I have an idea." Rui turned to me and there was his trademark cocky look again. "Do you consider yourself good in games, Li Xiang?"

"Games?" I frowned at the sudden question.

"Like Xiangqi or Go?"

I understood his intentions. I thought about the two. I used to play with my maidservants once in a while, and I was pretty good. I wasn't sure if I still remembered exactly how the chess pieces moved on the board in Xiangqi but I still remembered Go, which was played with black and white pebbles. And if I had to say, I liked Go better.

"Fine. I don't mind having you challenge me in Go," I said.

"And I suppose you know the terms already?" Rui asked.

"I'll go outside if I lose, and you'll let me stay inside if I win," I stated.

"Yes."

"I've never seen Rui so passionate," Yang Jun said with a gentle smile. "Let me warn you though, Lady Li Xiang, Rui is scary when he is serious."

"Which happens once in a blue moon," Zhu Hua added.

"And this time I'll really win and bring you outside," Rui said.

"Why are you so determined anyway?" I asked.

"It's a surprise."

It seemed as if Rui wanted to keep everything a secret from me. Something about it upset me. But who was I to complain? I was only a temporary toy. I didn't even know why I minded so much although I knew.

"I want to change the terms," I suddenly said. They all looked at me.

"Which part?"

"I want to change it so that if I win, you may never bother me again." I looked at Rui. "I don't know what you are plotting, and I won't lie and say I have no interest in the outside world, or that I dislike you, but I am the Priestess of the Moon. My relationships must be kept to a minimum, so if I win, I want to cut off all ties with you guys and never see you again."

"What?" Zhu Hua finally stood up from her spot on my table, a bitten apricot still in her fingers. "Why?"

"I'm not doing this to be cruel," I whispered. "It's the job and the life of a Priestess. I cannot endanger Tang Kingdom. I'm sorry."

Rui's eyes were stormy, but not from anger. It felt as though he couldn't even see me, even though he was looking directly at me.

"Rui?" Yang Jun called his name. "Are you fine?"

"I'm perfectly fine," he responded. "And I understand, Li Xiang."

My heart sank at how easily he accepted it.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet." He walked to me and then leaned into my face. "Thank me after I win. After I win for me—and for the part of you that you are locking up and hiding up."