Chapter 1

The banquet halls were lit up, and the smell of food lingered in the halls of the palace. A ceremony was about to take place and every general in the Wu army was about with a task to complete. Pacing about the main hall Sun Quan stood looking over Zhou Yu's shoulder at a piece of parchment that held the list of duties. With a slight look of worry he glanced to his strategist before moving once more to his throne.

"Do you really think this is the best idea? I mean you know..." Sun Quan asked a slight bit of guilt in his voice.

"My lord don't you worry about a thing." The best of his elder brother stated calmly, "Its not like your sister despises the man. I beg to differ actually, the times they have crossed on the battlefield they seemed quite friendly with another. Lord Liu Bei and Shang Xiang will make a fine couple, while in the end it benefits the kingdom quite a bit."

The fact that Zhou Yu could so easily talk as though he had been in position made him rather annoyed, but he said nothing. Sun Shang Xiang would on this day wed to Liu Bei when he arrived and things needed to be absolutely perfect for the occasion. Besides the girl was eighteen, quite a few years past the time that most girls were married. Then again his sister was not normal. Not at all in fact, her hair worn cropped short for battle and lack of feminine hobbies wasn't much better. She refused to wear dressed and always demanded to be on the battlefield with Quan after Sun Ce's death.

Lightly he tapped his forehead with his finger, internally fighting the mixed emotions he had of the situation. While Sun Quan battled with himself, Zhou Yu began reading off the list of tasks of what the officers should be doing:

-Gan Ning was to get the wine

-Huang Gai was to follow and make sure Gan Ning did NOT drink any of it yet.

-Tiashi Ci would take care of meeting Liu Bei half way.

-Lu Meng and Ling Tong were to take care of security

-Lu Xun would aquire some entertainment

-The Qiaos would decorate the audience hall and make sure the food was ready.

-Zhou Tai was to help the Qiaos in anyway they needed.

-Sun Shang Xiang would be getting ready with aide from a few of her lady guards

"Letting Gan Ning get the wine? Thats dangerous" Sun Quan noted pulling himself away from mind wars.

Zhou Yu only smiled half heartedly before folding up the piece of parchment, "Well that is why Huang Gai will be assisting him. But also I couldn't figure out what on earth he would do besides get the wine...I certainly don't need him and Ling Tong encountering each other much, for it would definiately become a mess."

"Those two..." The lord of Wu muttered shaking his head at the very mention of it.

Soldiers quickly drew up their horns, playing the single note it released to signify that Liu Bei had arrived. Everyone in the palace were soon drawn to the dining hall to await their guest and provide him with a friendly greeting. It was hard to smile however upon the face that they once called enemy. Though the kingdoms of Wu and Shu had worked together at Chi Bi, the battles between another were still frequent. Was this a sign of a peace to come or was there something else behind the events about to happened.

It was clear the moment that Liu Bei entered the hall that he was still baffled as to what was happening. All it appeared he knew was that Sun Quan wanted to meet with him, but what was with all the generals? Silently he wished he had brought his sworn brothers along with him, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei could certainly stand against any of these men here.

Chaos filled the room in which Shang Xiang was preparing herself. The princess was heard struggling against something while another woman was heard laughing. Sun Shang Xiang gasped quickly for air as the strings to her dress were pulled tighter.

"I can't breathe! Ming undo it nooow!" She whined detesting the idea of her having to wear a dress. To her it was a type of torture that her brother was trying to enforce on her, if she had to marry a man why not in her armor! Men could wear armor anytime they wanted so why couldn't she!

Ming Yue chuckled softly loosening the materialy before gracefully beginning to tie a bow. The girl that was assisting her, Ming Yue, was a member of her elite troup of guards that she had about her most the time. But this young lady was a little different then the rest of the group. This girl was actually someone Sun Shang Xiang could call friend. Her brother Sun Ce had returned with the girl one day when she was younger and told them to treat her like a member of the Sun family. Other then Quan no one had a good idea where the girl had come from, or as to why Sun Ce brought her back. Sun Quan though kept it silent as though it was some big secret.

She was a pretty creature that normally remained behind the scenes, but for once she was getting to intigrate with the rest of the army. Shang Xiang only came out for the occasional battles and for training, then the other days she spent away in the castle. Ming Yue's dark hair was let down for once, since normally it was pulled back in two buns so that it wouldn't get in her way while fighting. A faint smile spread.

"Are you excited?" Ming Yue asked her friend in a hushed whisper, "I mean marrying Liu Bei"

"I'm not sure. I'm excited but nervous. I don't even look pretty in this dress..."

"You look gorgeous Shang Xiang...If Liu Bei thinks you unattractive in this then he definiately has bad taste in wives."

"Thats another thing. What wife number will I be! i really hate this I play second to no other woman!" As the princess tried to make a wild gesture with her hand, but she was again forced to settle by her friend. Since they could not easily tie her hair back, Ming Yue had gone and pulled out a hat of some sort "Hah! I knew short hair had its advantages!"

Ming only continued to adjust the hat accordingly, a faint smile pressed on her lips as she did her hair.

"Mingy...why are you so quiet this evening? It makes me scared when you're the one being quietly."

"Its nothing Princess. Just doing a little thinking, with you getting married what am I ever to do without having to watch out for you all the time." The girl sighed fakely as though distrought, "Your husband does that now! Aie me...How long and dull the rest of my days shall be with out my Shang Xiang to fight with. She will be too busy bearing little children of the Han to fight."

Shang Xiang quickly gave the girl a nudge to the stomach shaking her head, "I'm certain someone will take you into their unit. I mean hell you are part of my elite guard, Ming Yue, your skills are not that of a simple soldier. Though I am disappointed I am not allowed to have you join me to where I go."

Setting down the brush she had fixed the princess's hair with, Ming Yue gazed in the mirror with a little smile, "Well time to meet your King." Her voice seemed rather faded and distant as she spoke those words. Precious moments were now to become nothing but memories now. It was as though she was loosing another family member.

"Don't worry, Quan will still be here."

"I know Quan will, but you and Ce both now will be gone..." she murmured softly, "At least your death is not the reason you leave."

Sun Shang Xiang only nodded her head to Ming Yue. The girl had been almost as broken up as Da Qiao at his passing. However it wasn't that she was in love with him on why she had cried so hard. Sun Jian and him were the reason she had come to this palace. It seemed like so long ago, but in memory it was still as vivid as when it happened. Moving to the door Ming Yue opened it for the princess then went down the stair with a little smile on her face.

"After you.."