Three Wishes for This Life

Blurb

[Past and present lives, modern and ancient]

The history books recount only a few brief lines, glossing over countless storms of blood and violence, yet the war that began with the Battle of Mingtiao, when Xia fell and Shang was founded, has continued to this day.

A game of chess plotted for a thousand years, disrupted by events four hundred years ago, is finally coming to an end. The sealed memories of a past life have been unearthed once more. What choice will they make?

In this life, there are only three wishes: first, peace throughout the land and a happy people; second, power in my hands and prosperity for my family; third... may you be safe, and may I never have to ask after you again.

"A pawn must know its place. Thinking you can turn around and oppose the player is sheer folly."

"Remember, I was the one who gave you your throne. The peace we have today was bought with the lives of countless soldiers. If you continue living in such debauchery, I will drag you down from that throne myself." "I wish you'd died three thousand six hundred years ago. Then you and I could have grown old together and shared a grave."

"Return to the palace and prepare the funeral rites. Mihu has been at war with our kingdom for years, and our people have suffered terribly. Now the Empress has sacrificed herself to protect the people of Miying. There is no way my soldiers can swallow this. Once the mourning period is over, we march. I will flatten all of Mihu!" "Sometimes I really want to kill you, but I can't. I hate myself for being unable to do it, when your hands are stained with so much blood."

"From beginning to end, all I ever wanted was the freedom to live in peace, unnoticed by anyone. But I have never been able to choose my own path. Step by step, imperial power has bound me tighter and tighter, until now I have become imperial power itself."

Bonus scenes

Yin Xiao: At the end of the Xia dynasty, three thousand six hundred years ago, I found Jiang Su badly wounded in the woods and took him home to treat him. I thought ours would be a doomed love, but who knew the red threads around our wrists were made of iron chains? Four hundred years ago, I went to Miying as a spy and ran into him again. Now, I've unexpectedly been reborn as Yihen. I remember nothing of the past, and I've met a mysterious young master surnamed Ling. This man really is different.

Ling Mingcheng: Four hundred years ago, when I first met my wife in the desert, she pressed a dagger to my throat. I thought this woman was nothing like the rich young ladies in the capital. Luckily, she later pretended to have lost her memory and became my wife. Now that we've met again in the modern era, she's still as adorable as ever. She even came to steal from my place.

A few things to know:

1. The main plot takes place in the modern era, but both ancient and modern civilizations exist.

2. The story uses flashbacks, gradually revealing events from four hundred and three thousand six hundred years ago as the truth comes to light. As a result, much of the story takes place in ancient times.

3. Both leads are powerful, and everyone is a villain. The main story has a tragic ending, while the extras have a happy ending. Read according to your preference.

Theme: First come national grievances, family vendettas, and the greater good of the people. Only after that comes romance.