Chapter 1- One and the Same
She wasn't as beautiful as Lady Zhen Ji or the famous Diao-chan, wasn't as strong-willed as Sun Shang Xiang of Wu or Zhu Rong of the Nanman tribe. She wasn't as innocent as the Qiao sisters, Da and Xiao of Wu, wasn't as intelligent as Lady Xing Cai or Yue Ying of Shu. She was Ming Wei, younger sister of Dian Wei. She was Aya Cao Cao's personal spy.
"I'll kill for you, only you my master" the raven haired girl stared down at the marbled floor. Her hair was tied in a low braid that trailed down her back and away from her face. A pattern of black marks starkly shown in swirls around her right eye and cheek. Her skin was tanned like a peasant and she looked like an Amazon standing next to the concubines and high ranking officials castle dwellers. She was dressed in a black dress that stopped at her thighs so it wouldn't hinder her in a fight. Her legs were wrapped up in the same black cloth like stockings and her right arm was wrapped up in bandages. Wei's leader Cao Cao sat triumphantly on his throne staring at her with his beady black eyes. Like a hawk watching a mouse ready to swoop down and kill it in an instant.
"That's what I like to hear Aya" he said and with a wave of his hand he dismissed her. Quickly she stood and hurried out of the marbled room. Sima Yi, Cao Cao's chief strategist watched her slender form slip behind the wooden door. A cruel smile played on his lips.
"She is a good spy, we can use her for the plan" he said with a sickening tone to his voice. Cao Cao turned towards his strategist and glared at him.
"You seem to praise her a lot; I know she is the best. She will be the key to bring down Wu and Shu. They have bothered me enough, it is time I unite the land and rule over all the territories." Cao Cao said waving Sima Yi away.
"I trust you can fix any flaws in the plan Sima Yi" Sima Yi bowed to his ruler and disappeared out of the throne room and headed towards his study.
"Ming Wei!" The said girl turned around and smiled as General Zhang He reached her side. He was graceful as always his robes fluttering around him like he was constantly locked in a dance. The sight almost made Ming laugh. Though after being in Cao Wei for a couple of years; Ming had gotten used to the sight of the general in strange outfits and makeup. Along with the occasional dance, posture, and vernacular.
"You were neither on the training ground nor in the stables, I thought you had died" Zhang He joked with a teasing smile. His weapon Phoenix Talons were resting at his side ready to be drawn if any battle were to occur. Ming Wei shook her head a smile playing on her pale lips.
"General Zhang He, I am not always confined to the stables. I was out on personal business" she stated softly, but still sarcastic enough to make her point known.
"You are usually away for long bouts of time on your personal businesses" he whined. She had to admit General Zhang He's whining was enough to make her mentally gag and physically grimace. It was like a two year old child whining for candy. Ming Wei seriously hated children; the things were just gross and didn't heed any advice given.
"Oh General Zhang He I do not mean to worry you, How are the steeds doing?" she asked recovering from her sour face. Zhang He shrugged in utter confusion. Of course he wouldn't know a thing about horses. Zhang He only focused on 'beautiful things'. Yet how could he not see the beauty in those majestic creatures? "Then I should go attend to them"
A smile graced Zhang He's lips which made Ming Wei smile as well. She loved General Zhang He a lot. Though at times he was enough to drive her crazy and make her want to go on a killing spree. He was one of the only officers to treat Ming reasonably well. The others just ignored her or made her life hell. They often complained when their horses were not treated as well as the others. The thing was that Ming treated every horse the same as a human being. She bowed to Zhang He and began to walk away a job settling in her mind and giving her nagging orders to fulfill.
"Ming Wei you really should put your hair up sometime instead of having it lie limp down your back" Zhang He called. Ming Wei turned towards the general again and pulled at her loose locks.
"My hair is not limp General Zhang He" she said defiantly then without another word, she walked towards t he stables. Turning the corner of the hall Ming almost ran into someone squarely in the chest, but she quickly veered to the right and spun into a pillar. She straightened herself out and looked at the man she almost ran into.
"Oh I'm so sorry General Xiahou Dun" she spoke in a timid, apologetic voice and stared down at her feet. The man scared her to death with his tall and intimidating stature. He didn't yell at her or glare, just merely grunted. Ming Wei figured he hated her after she spilled tea on him in the mess hall. He responded to her apology with another grunt. The worldwide language of guys, a language no woman would ever understand. Ming walked around him and bowed again. Then she turned and scampered off down the hallway.
Passing a door on her way to the stables Ming momentarily stopped. Debating with herself she finally raised her hand and knocked. Several minutes transpired before the door opened up. In that time, Ming was able to fully enjoy and relish in the sight of the giant oak door. The craftsmanship of it was beautiful, but not one for being an architect Ming just stared as her sarcastic thoughts ensued. The beautiful Zhen Ji wife of Cao Cao's son Cao Pi stood in front of her, her hair pinned up in a perfect ornate twist and her makeup perfect as usual. She was dressed where as her husband sat on the edge of the bed without a shirt on.
"I am so sorry if I had interrupted Lord Cao Pi, Lady Zhen Ji" Ming Wei said and bowed respectfully to the couple. Ming Wei timidly stepped past a waving Zhen Ji and stood near the door. The room was large, larger than Ming's and her brothers combined. The color scheme was a contrast of blues no doubt Zhen Ji's doing. Even their bed was larger than Ming's and Dian's combined. Plush pillows were scattered about and a large vanity mirror sat on the east side of the wall. Doors leading to a balcony were left open on the West side of the room. Ming secretly looked around reveling in the luxuries of the rich and powerful, but she would be dead if caught. Not by Cao Pi of course he had no need for such frivolities. No she would be murdered by Zhen Ji, the female whom everyone respected and loved, it was Zhen Ji's ideas and she would never want anyone to copy what she had done. No one moved for what seemed like hours until Cao Pi lost his temper.
"Well what is it Ming Wei your presence here irritates me" he barked out sitting on his bed like a throne. Maybe he was just practicing; it was a good place to practice. A bed is much more comfortable than the actual throne chair. His wife moved to his side. Ming Wei stared at the pair. Such a beautiful and yet dangerous pair. Everyone in Wei would never compare to Cao Pi's conniving nature even if they were combined. Zhen Ji's beauty and brains were things any girl would want yet could never achieve.
"Lord Cao Cao is planning on sending Aya out on a mission to Wu" she spoke cautiously. "Somehow the plan involves Shu as well"
"Father is sending his personal spy to infiltrate Wu…how is this important information Ming Wei it happens all the time" Cao Pi growled out irritatingly.
"He's sending her there to stir up a fight" Ming Wei sighed out.
"To cause a fight how is that going to further our takeover of the territories? Father is losing his mind in his old age" Cao Pi stood up and paced back and forth.
"Why not send Aya to kill both Sun Ce and Liu Bei?" Zhen Ji asked. Ming Wei shrugged and looked longingly at the door to get away from these two. It was a mistake coming here and telling them this, but she was in league with both of them. Ming would rather have Cao Pi on the throne than his father.
"I don't really know I don't get all that political stuff" Ming Wei said and turned towards the door. "I just care for the horses" after those words, she left in a hurry. When the door closed Cao Pi sat back on the bed and placed his head in his hand.
"What I don't get is how a horse mistress can disappear for days on end and acquire this type of information" he spoke out. His wife shook her head slightly. Oh what her husband did not know.
Ming Wei stood in the stables and stared at all the horses whining in their stalls. A horse whining was nothing like a child, Ming actually welcomed it. Satisfied with her work of all the horses brushed out and fed, Ming turned and walked outside into the night air. The moon was out high in the night sky. It was a starless night in Wei, but it was always like that. Like the stars were hiding from them, fearful of their power. Taking a deep breath Ming Wei found she was content with staying near the stables. She often spent nights in with the horses. They calmed her down and gave her a chance to think straight. Horses were majestic creatures, often fearless when it came down to things.
"Another night in the stables Ming Wei?" she turned towards the male voice.
"Master Sima Yi" she said softly bowing towards her superior. Actually almost everyone residing in the castle were her superiors save for the maids and cooks. She shook her head back and forth. "I was contemplating it actually" The strategist stepped up beside Ming and looked up at the sky. His purple robes a striking contrast to Ming's dark blue robes. "If I may inquire Master Sima Yi as to why you are out here, I would have figured you would be in your study going over battle strategies and notes"
"I came to see you Ming" Sima said with a smile. She couldn't be sure whether it was a genuine smile or a fake, plastered one. Sima Yi was brilliant at deception and could trick even the most intelligent of enemies. He stepped near her, took a strand of her hair, and twirled it around his fingers. Ming Wei made no move towards him nor away. She stood still in the moonlight with her superior.
"You didn't have to come all the way out here to see me" Ming Wei said with a small voice. Sima Yi chuckled. A rare occurrence with him, usually he was stoic and sometimes cruel. Discomfort began to settle into her stomach, becoming a permanent resident whenever she was in the presence of this tactician. Ming sent him a smile and then bowed his grip on her hair loosening and her locks slipping out of his fingers.
"I do think I will return to my room now if that is alright Master Sima Yi" Ming looked at him to see if he would protest but he said no such thing nor betrayed the answer on his face. He just merely nodded at her. "Good night Master Sima Yi"
"Good night Ming Wei" Sima bid her good night and stalked off towards his study. She couldn't help but think of him as a serpent. Ming headed off towards her chamber for a nights rest. She needed it for tomorrow was a war meeting where Cao Cao would rattle off his newest plan on taking out Wu and Shu. The plan that was most certainly thought up by Sima Yi and this plan would most certainly involve Aya.
Aya stood at the windowsill and stared out into the night sky. She soon grew bored and took a seat on the windowsill to start sharpening her knives. They would need to be sharp and clean for her next mission. A proper working weapon would ensure the mission to go smoothly and the kill to be clean and easy. She wouldn't have to sit in the targets quarters and repeatedly stab them, giving the guards more time to get there and hinder her escape. She traced her fingers over the polished blade, it glinted in the moonlight. Aya's eyes scanned out her window and to the stables, a smile gracing her lips.