Author's Note:

Thank you for choosing my fic to read! To those who follow my writing, a big thank you to you! It truly helps knowing that somewhere, someone is actually taking the time to read my work. Thanks again!

I've always been interested in the lives of the females in the Three Kingdoms era. I don't feel that there's enough back story to the women's lives, but that is a good thing in a way as it gives me a little creative room. Truth be told, I am a SSX/LB fan. After I finished my fanfic, Arranged Love, I had considered writing another one about them, but my story ideas seemed to fall short of my expectations. While writing Arranged Love, I had an idea to write a story about each of the main women of DW and I somehow came up with Zhen Ji's story. So, I decided to take a stab at it! I hope you enjoy!

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Echoes of the Heart

Chapter 1

"I'm sorry my daughter, I have ruined your life even before you started it." A man said as he stared at his young daughter with tears building in his eyes.

The girl looked up at her father and forced a smile. "Father, you have done so much for me. No matter what I do, I can never repay you for giving life to me." She answered politely, knowing there was only one correct response.

The girl was about 11 years old with long dark hair flowing loosely in the air like all other maidens. A small beauty mark under her left eye accentuated her face. Her skin was flawless and she held the demure of a noble lady. It was clear that in time, she would grow to be a beauty.

"No." The man answered sadly. "Your father has failed you. What kind of father agrees to wed his daughter to ailing man?" He placed his hands on her shoulders. "You are a good daughter, you don't deserve this." He paused for a moment as a single tear fell from his eye. "But your mother left us too early and your father has lost the family fortune. Lord Yuan Shao is the only one who can help keep our family business running. I'm so sorry." He shook his head. "I'm so sorry."

The girl placed her hand on her father's face, and still with the forced smile replied, "I understand." She did understand, but that didn't mean she liked the idea. Who would want to marry a man who is constantly ill? But it was as her father said. If he didn't marry her off into the Yuan family, she and her father would have to live on the streets.

Her father gave her a weak smile. "I'll tell you what. Anything you want, I will try to give to you."

The little girl nodded her head vigorously as she faked excitement. Nothing could erase the dread she felt.

... ... ... ... ...

She had traveled with her father to the Hebei region in order for him to discuss "business", but the girl knew they had come to secure financial aid from Yuan Shao and to commit to the marriage arrangements. She was disheartened and prayed that some sort of act from the heavens would end the marriage arrangements and somehow let her father find money to continue the business. She knew it was all a hopeful dream, but she wanted to believe there would be more in her life than what her father was leading her to.

As they entered the marketplace, a shrill scream alarmed them. Surprisingly to them, no one else in the market bothered to look for the source. There in a dirty alleyway, the father and daughter duo saw several children surrounding something. Some of the kids were throwing rocks and others were kicking. All of them had a sickening smile to their face as they called out to whatever they surrounded. "Useless!" One shouted. "You should just die!" Another laughed as she threw a rock. "Stupid ugly pig." And the names seemed to get worse even though the little girl did not understand some of their words, but the tone was clear. All of the kids were dressed in dirty rags. There was no doubt these kids were beggars; homeless and likely orphans.

Watching them in utter surprise, the little girl managed to get a glimpse of what they surrounded; a little girl, younger than she. "Father!" She pulled on the sleeve of his shirt. "Father! You have to help that little girl!"

"What?" He asked in surprise. "They're beggars, it's none of our concern."

Looking at his eyes, she knew he meant to ignore them. But there was someone in pain and something must be done. "You said I could have anything I want right?"

"Well... yes, but..." before he could finished, she continued.

"I want that little girl to be my maid." She said as she pointed the poor figure in the center of the group. "Get her for me."

"Why do you want that filthy thing? Daughter, you can..."

"I want her! Father, you said I could get whatever I wanted. Were you... lying?"

Cursing himself for agreeing to such nonsense, he looked around him and found broomstick lying on the side of a building. He grabbed it and walked towards the kids. He whipped the broomstick against the side of the walls to make a loud snapping noise. The kids all looked up at him in surprise while he did it again. "Beat it!" He shouted in an angry and authoritative voice. "Beat it now, or I'll beat you!" The kids seem to pause for a moment contemplating whether to jump him or run. Seeing as he wore more elegant clothes, they decided to scatter. They realized that if they attacked a nobleman, they would all eventually get caught and be killed.

Soon all that was left was the little girl in the middle. She was curled up in a ball protecting her head and her arms and legs showed cuts and bruises all over. "Hey." He called out to her as friendly as possible. She stayed in that position for a few moments before she realized no one was hurting her anymore and looked up at him. "I am Zhen Yi." He said to her. "What is your name?"

Her eyes blurred from all the tears but she managed to squeak out, "Li Xiang." With her bruised arm and dirty sleeves, she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Thank you for saving my life, sir."

When he saw her eyes, he was a little stunned and a bit afraid. "No. You should thank my daughter, she is the one who saved you." Without taking his eyes off of her, he waved for his daughter to come. He thought that one look at her, his daughter would change her mind about having her as a maid.

"Hello." His daughter greeted politely as she came to his side. She gasped when she saw the girl. "Your eyes!" She shouted in surprise. "They are green!"

A flood of new tears burst from the little girl's eyes. "Please don't hurt me!" She sobbed.

His daughter quickly took out her handkerchief and began wiping the tears away. Zhen Yi wretched a little seeing such a beautiful cloth touching a dirty and possibly diseased person.

"I won't hurt you." His daughter said reassuringly. Li Xiang seemed to believe her words as the tears slowed. "I think they're very beautiful."

"Really?" Li Xiang asked in surprise. "The other kids call me a demon. Especially since my eyes change to grey sometimes."

"They are very unique." It was true what she said though. Green eyes didn't exist with the Chinese people. And whatever they didn't know or could not explain, they would simply believe it was a demon or the act of a demon. This ultimately made people fear or hate the unknown.

Li Xiang gave a strained smile to the girl. "As you have saved my life, my life now belongs to you."

"You will be my daughter's personal maid. You will do everything she says without question and you were serve her with your life." Zhen Yi interrupted.

"Yes... my lord."

... ... ... ... ...

Li Xiang was eating her sixth steamed bun as she watched her mistress pull out a wooden flute and began to play a most lovely, but sad tune. Lord Zhen had left the girls in the marketplace as he rushed off to meet Yuan Shao. Although Xiang was a beggar, even she knew who Lord Yuan Shao was. He was the richest man in Hebei and she knew every morning, afternoon, and night he had tables and tables full of food. And it would be delicious food! Full of meat and things she didn't know what was what, but she was certain it would be tasty. She knew he would never go hungry, something that she experienced almost every day of her life. But now it would be different. Maybe now she would have a full belly when she slept. After all, her new mistress gave her six steamed buns. Six!

"What song is that?" Xiang asked with a mouthful of bun.

Her mistress stopped playing for a moment to respond. "It is called, 'My Home'. My mother used to sing me it all the time." She said sadly before resuming her song.

The two of them were sitting by the pier watching the vegetable lady washing her greens in an attempt to make them look fresher and thus easier to sell. Xiang had just finished her last bun when there was a crash at the pier. Startled, she jumped from her seat on the crate and saw a small boat crash into the pier. An intimidating man rushed off the boat clutching his head in pain as two other men attempted to help him walk onto the pier, but the intimidating one was thrashing his body about and shouting in pain.

This man looked very regal in a purple outfit and a flowing cape behind. He wore copper coloured shoulder pads that was embellished with gold. His mustache and beard were trimmed neatly and a sword hung on the side of his waist. Xiang was terrified of this man. His face wore a painful scowl and his shouts seemed to cause the earth to rumble. Her mistress on the other hand stopped playing the flute and observed the situation quietly.

"ARGH!" He shouted again, still clutching his head and thrashing around. He moved so roughly, he slammed into one of the men, causing him to fall down.

"Cousin," the man that was still standing spoke out. "Take a seat and try to relax. Your thrashing will make your headache worse." He was a big burly man.

"I need you to shut up or I`m going to slice your neck with my sword!" The man with the cape threatened as he fumbled with the sheath of his sword. Before he could pull out the sword, he screamed in pain again, and clutched his head once again.

"You should try dipping your head in cold water." Her mistress suddenly said.

"Mind your business little girl!" The burly man said as he reached to grab his own sword to threaten her.

"Get me cold water!" The man in the cape demanded.

"But my lord," The man that had been pushed began but was cut off by the caped man who was obviously the leader of the group.

"Get me the damn cold water!" He demanded again. "I will try anything to get rid of this pain!"

The burly man rushed to the vegetable lady and took her basin and dumped all the vegetables to the ground. He dipped the basin into the water and rushed back to his lord. He placed the basin onto a crate where the caped man bent over and sank the top of his head into it. He remained in the position for several moments as those around were silently, holding the breath and praying his pain was gone.

A few more moments passed before he pulled his head out of the water, no longer shouting. "Ah." He breathed in relief. Then he looked at Xiang's mistress. "What is your name, little girl."

"Zhen Ji, my lord." She said as she gave a polite bow.

"And where did you learn this?" He said as he gestured to the basin of cold water.

"My mother used to suffer from chronic headaches. This was a remedy for her."

The man stroked his beard thoughtfully as water dripped from his head. The other two men watched in silence. "How old are you, little Zhen Ji."

"I am eleven years old this coming moon, my lord." She replied.

The man stroked his beard again. "Intelligent, polite, and pretty." He seemed to conclude. "You know," he began as he approached her. "I have sons about your age." He grabbed her chin and tilted it up so he could see her more clearly. "I think you would make a good wife to one of them." The two men's jaws dropped open in surprise at their lord's words, but neither of them said anything.

"It would be an honour to have such a thing bestowed upon this humble child." she paused momentarily to find the right words. "Sadly, it is not I who can decide my fate in marriage as my father has already betrothed me to another." She said looking down, as if she was truly upset.

"Hmph." The man grunted in distaste. "And who are you betrothed to?"

"Yuan Xi, son of Yuan Shao."

"Yuan Shao." He repeated in amusement. "Yuan Shao." He said again, glancing back at his party. They too seemed a little amused by the name. "Well little Zhen Ji," He said as he reached into his breastplate for something. "Since you cannot be my daughter-in-law, let me give you this." He pulled out a rectangular gold plate and held it up for her to see. "This, my little dear, will protect you. Should anyone try to cause you harm, just hold this out for them to see."

He placed the gold plate into her hand and motioned for his men to go. They all boarded the boat and headed off as if they were never there. Zhen Ji took the plate and held it up into the sun. The gold shined brightly, but Zhen Ji could easily make out the words on it. Cao Cao.

... ... ... ... ...

[Years Later, Yecheng]

Bells were ringing loudly, voices shouted, and screams could be heard. Servants and maids were running about in a crazed manner, grabbing whatever they could carry and running towards the back door. "Run for your lives!" Someone shouted. "Cao Cao's army has breached the gates! All is lost! Run for your lives!" One maid tripped and fell to the ground, but no one bothered to stop and help her up. In fact, people continued running, some stepping on her as if she wasn't there. A hand reached down and helped her up. Even though she was only on the ground for a short while, her arm was bruised, and her face was cut.

"Where is Lady Zhen?" She asked the maid.

"I saw her last near the bedchambers." The maid grabbed her arm and advised, "you should leave too Xiang, it's not safe here anymore."

Li Xiang shook her head. "I must find Lady Zhen first." She said before rushing off towards the bedchambers.

The shouting continued and warnings of the breach echoed everywhere throughout the Yuan household. What is she doing there at the bedchambers? Xiang wondered. There is no time to waste!

The warning bells rang louder and faster signalling the enemy was close. "Lady Zhen! Lady Zhen!" Xiang shouted as she neared her mistress' bedchambers. The doors were flung open.

She raced into the rooms and found Zhen Ji gingerly opening a small case from under the bed. There was a sparkling hair piece in the box when she opened it. Xiang thought it was strange that her mistress would hide something like that under the bed when she had several other hair pieces that looked similar. However, Zhen Ji took the hair piece out and brushed her fingers to the edge as if looking for something. When she found the spot, she took the tip of the hairpiece and poked at the edge. Surprisingly, it revealed a false bottom. She pulled the piece out and saw a familiar gold plate sitting underneath. Zhen Ji took the plate in her hands and turned to Xiang.

"Xiang, take this," she handed the gold plate to her. "and take my mother-in-law and run as far from here as you can. This will protect you two if anyone should find you."

"But my lady!" Xiang protested. "Leave her, my lady. She was never kind to you anyway!"

"No, Xiang. It is my duty as her daughter-in-law to protect her. Go now Xiang, there isn't much time!"

"But what about you?"

"The Cao army is looking for Yuan blood. Someone in the Yuan household must..."

Zhen Ji didn't have to finish. Xiang knew what that meant. Zhen Ji was going to sacrifice herself so that the old crone could live. How horrible. Xiang thought to herself. Duty means nothing. "I cannot leave you my lady. I swore my life to you."

"Do you remember when my father was alive? Do you remember when we first met? You promised my father you would listen to me without question. You would do as I say. And I am saying now for you to take mother-in-law and run. She should be in the ancestor's hall. Go!" Zhen JI said as she pushed the girl out.

"Where will you go my lady?"

"The courtyard. I want... to be surrounded by beauty in my... last moments." She struggled to say. It was clear she was afraid of death, but somehow, 'duty' overwhelmed all other feelings. "Now go!" She said again.

The bells stopped ringing and moments later, a loud crash sounded. The Cao army had broken down the doors.

... ... ... ... ...

"Take all the women alive!" Shouted a burly man. He was dressed clad in heavy metal and held an equally heavy shield. Judging from his stature and armour, he was a general of high ranking.

"Yes, General Ren." Shouted the army of men behind him before another man interrupted.

"No! Kill them all! Leave no survivors!" Commanded a young handsome man. He wore a scowl on his face and carried a long sword. Despite his age, the men around feared him. Even the general, Cao Ren seemed to obey him. "Do as you wish with them, but leave no survivors." The men around him shouted in victory as they rushed to continue their onslaught.

"But Master Cao Pi, we can't risk killing Zhen Ji. Lord Cao Cao specifically wanted her brought back alive." Cao Ren whispered to Cao Pi so the other men could not hear. It was rude enough that he was questioning Cao Pi's leadership.

"You idiot." Cao Pi scoffed. "She is the lady of the house. She would be one of the first to escape."

Cao Ren nodded in understanding. It was reasonable and likely, but Cao Pi had an ulterior motive. He wanted Zhen Ji dead. Even though it was going against his father's wishes, he couldn't help it if someone 'accidentally' killed her without knowing it. And it would be easy to get out of it. He would plead ignorance to his father and at worse case, he would simply use one of his men as a scapegoat and put the blame on him. "Stupid wench." He cursed under his breath as he swung his sword on the fallen 'Yuan' plaque at the entrance of the house, splitting it into two. "Yuan." He said as he spat on the plaque. "Such cowards. Running away with their tails between their legs and leaving their women to defend the household."

... ... ... ... ...

Xiang found Lady Yuan in the ancestor's hall as Zhen Ji had said. "Mistress," she said as Lady Yuan pushed the ancestor's table roughly to the side causing the family plaques to crash to the ground. Normally, this was a great insult to the ancestor's, but Lady Yuan didn't seem to care. She got onto her hands and knees and was searching for something on the floor, "we must leave!" They could hear cries from outside, the sound of swords cutting through flesh, and the sound of men laughing. Fear and panic was rushing through her veins as she realized that the Cao army was actually enjoying this slaughter.

"You've been a good faithful servant to us, Xiang." Lady Yuan said in a panicked voice. This was strange to Xiang as it was well known that Lady Yuan hated both her and Zhen Ji. She would often blame things on them and punish them for it. So when Lady Yuan was complimenting her, Xiang knew there would be no good coming out of it. "It is time to prove your worth now Xiang." She said as she found a small groove in the floor and pulled a trap door open. Then she rushed towards the maid and said, "Protect me with your life." before pushing her out of the hall, and slamming the doors shut.

Unprepared for the shove, Xiang fell forward only to bump into something metal. She looked up to confirm her fears and found herself into the arms of a soldier. "Well, look at what we have here." He said with a smirk. "Her eyes are a little strange though, but she looks pretty enough and has a nice body." Xiang tried to break free from him and run, but he easily held her tight. "And she's feisty! We should have fun with her first." He turned to his acquaintances and gestured his head towards the door. "Go check if she has any friends in there."

One of the men kicked the door open just in time to see the trap door close. "Looks like a rat has gone into hiding." He laughed.

Xiang continued to struggle in the soldier's arms. "You can't kill us. You can't kill us." She said over and over again as she attempted to reach into her clothes to pull out the gold plate Zhen Ji gave her, but she could not move against the soldier when he held onto her like a death grip.

The other man easily found a way to open the trap door. There was a scream before his sword drove down towards the sound. The scream turned into an awful gurgle and when the man pulled his sword back up, deep crimson red blood dripped along the blade. Xiang wanted to shut her eyes to burn that image away, but she couldn't even find herself to move anymore.

The soldier threw her to the ground and began creeping towards her like a hungry animal when she remembered how to move again. She fumbled through her clothes, cursing at how many layers there were and praying to the heavens to protect her. The soldier was almost upon her when she felt the cold metal in the folds of her clothes. "You can't kill me!" She shouted as she pulled out the gold plate, holding it up as her life depended on it.

... ... ... ... ...

As Cao Pi entered the Yuan house, he was disgusted by the sight. Bodies were strewn everywhere, screams and shouts could still be heard, and his men paraded the area like animals. He would have to discipline them when they returned. This was not dignified for the Cao army, and he would certainly not be remembered as a ruthless general, but, his distaste for the Yuan family was enough to allow it for the time being. The Yuan family had opposed his father for years now, they deserved what was coming.

Cao Pi had his sword in hand. The blade was still shiny and sharp without a single drop of blood on it. He wasn't going to kill anyone here except her. She must die. He had never met her before, but years ago, when his father had returned home from a trip, he had been bewitched by a girl named Zhen Ji. His father always brought her name up and said she was his star. He talked about how she made the world clear to him. He talked about her so often, Cao Pi's mother cursed her name in disdain once, calling her a whore and a witch. His father had gotten so furious at her, he ordered her to receive 10 beatings with the bamboo stick. After that, she couldn't sit or lie on her back for a whole week because of the pain.

So, when his father had demanded that Zhen Ji be found and brought to him alive before Cao Pi left on this campaign, his mother secretly told him to dispose of her so that his father would come to his senses. Bewitched or not, Cao Pi knew that Zhen Ji must die. If she could make a great man such as his father feel so much after one meeting, she could easily make a whole nation fall to their knees. Such power was too dangerous.

As Cao Pi neared the courtyard, the sound of music could be heard. It was a sad and familiar tune and the closer he got, the more powerful the song sounded. Suddenly, the men around stopped what they were doing and fell to their knees. Some of them began crying as they wailed about missing home. Then it dawned him, the song sang about home. It was one often sung by mothers to their children.

The witch. He thought angrily and he entered the courtyard. Her powers are dangerous. He reminded himself. I will not be affected by her magic.

There in the middle of the courtyard, under a beautiful blossoming peach tree, stood a slender woman playing on a flute. She wore a beautiful yellow gown and her long dark hair was pinned up to indicate her married status. Her back was turned, but he instinctively knew this was the woman he had been seeking for.

He didn't bother to sneak towards her. He wanted her to know he was there. He wanted her to know he was coming for her. And most of all, he wanted to see the fear in her eyes as he pierced his sword through her. As he approached her, she continued playing on the wooden flute. He took his sword and rested it on her shoulder, dangerously close to her neck. She stopped playing.

"I seek a woman named Zhen Ji." He said.

"I am Zhen Ji. Wife of Yuan Xi." She said boldly.

"I have come for your life, Zhen Ji."

"Then take it." She said as she turned to face him.

Cao Pi froze for a moment as he saw the beauty in front of him. Her skin was smooth, her lips were luscious, and her eyes seemed to sparkle. She held her head up and Cao Pi could see the slenderness of her swan-like neck. A small beauty mark under her eyes seemed to make her ooze femininity. He had never seen such a beautiful woman in his life before. In his position, as the son of Cao Cao, he could have any woman he wanted. Yet standing in this moment, the only woman he wanted was the one who stood before him, boldly facing death.

"What a shame." He finally said after regaining composure. His purpose here was to kill Zhen Ji. He could not let his resolve falter.

As he swung his sword at her, a voice shouted, "By order of Lord Cao Cao, you cannot kill her!" And in the reflection of his blade, he could see the unmistakable gold plate of his father.