Prologue - In a Fallen City
The sounds of battle raged through the streets of Xiapi. Even the private compartments of the grand house they were staying in were not safe from the sounds of metal clashing with metal and the cries of fallen opponents.
A more pressing matter for Lady Liu Gan, however, was the cries filling her own chambers. Lady Mi was not taking this turn of events very well. She lay on one of the couches, her face buried in her arms, wails of distress mingling with undecipherable words that no doubt were prophecies of their doom.
With a sigh Gan left her vigil by the window. As the battle had grown closer, she'd kept watch in vain for a rescue party. It was now becoming painfully obvious there would be none. Things must be dire indeed for the forces of her husband and his sworn brothers.
Crossing over to kneel next to the couch Mi was occupying, she stroked her younger sister's hair gently. "Mi, please don't be so distressed. We must keep hope."
Mi sniffled, but did not raise her head. "If you're trying to raise my spirits with noble speeches instead of just admonishing me to have some dignity then things must truly be bad."
Gan bit her lip, trying to decide how to answer. She didn't want to lie and give her sister false hope, but if she admitted how grim the situation was Mi would no doubt start wailing again.
"You're not replying!" Mi suddenly sat up in alarm. "I knew it! We're going to die!"
"We don't know-"
"The soldiers will storm the house and slice us to pieces with their swords! Or block the exits and set the house on fire! Or maybe even publicly execute us!" Mi's eyes grew wide with horror as she speculated on their demise. "Do you think they'll behead us? Put our lifeless bodies in the town square and order no one to mourn us?"
There were times she appreciated Mi's imagination, but not when the young woman's thoughts took a turn for the grim. She could have done without the morbid imagery. "We are not generals, I doubt we will be publicly executed or placed in the town square. Still, if we are to die, let us do so with the dignity of our rank."
"I don't want to die with the dignity of my rank." Mi argued. "I don't wish to die at all. Not here and not now at the very least."
Further arguement was cut off by a crash and shouting from downstairs. Mi gasped, gripping Gan's arm in a painful grasp she barely registered. A few cut off cries followed, and Gan wondered what loyal retainers had died attempting to protect them. She wasn't sure whether to silently honor their bravery or curse them for the folly.
"Check all the levels!" A voice shouted from down the hallway.
"They're here! They're here!" Mi squeaked, gripping her arm harder.
Gan winced, but rose to her feet right as the doors burst open and soldiers entered. They seemed to pause upon seeing them.
"I am Lady Liu Gan. What is the meaning of this intrusion?" She demanded of the group.
"This city has been retaken from rebels of the Han Empire by the Prime Minister Cao Cao." one soldier told her bravely.
"Be that as it may, I protest your intrusion on these premises. I demand to see someone in authority."
There seemed to be a moment of uncertainty, but their reaction to her told her these were soldiers from the capital who were used to obeying the commands of the nobles. She relaxed a little as they seemed to confer. Then one hurried back down the hall.
With luck, they'd find a young, inexperienced general she could persuade into sparing them - atleast temporarily. Somehow she doubted they'd be spared entirely. But each delay gave more opportunities for a rescue. Or even the possiblity of arranging for their own escape if neccessary.
The city was pretty much in their hands now. The soldiers defending it who hadn't already surrendered would soon be defeated. The whereabouts of Zhang Fei and Liu Bei were unknown. With luck, their troops would bring back news of their defeat.
However, there was still Guan Yu to deal with. Though they had him trapped, it seemed as if they were at a standstill. He could not advance back toward the city, but no one had managed to capture him either.
As he turned to head out a soldier ran toward him, looking a bit out of breath. "General! General Xiahou Dun!"
"What is it? What has happened?" He frowned down at the soldier, who seemed hesitant now that he had his attention.
"Well, you see, sir, we were searching the houses for hidden troops."
"I'm aware of that. I gave the order. Did you find any?"
"No, sir. But, well, it seems that the wife of Liu Bei and her sister remained in the city. She asked to see someone in charge."
"And?"
"You're the only person I've found so far."
The others had probably already returned to camp to discuss how best to subdue the cornered Guan Yu. He should return there as well, but it seemed this would have to be dealt with first.
Though he already knew his cousin's standing orders, delivering them was a different matter. Instead of attending the war council he'd be stuck reassuring two hysterical woman no harm was going to come to them. Silently cursing his misfortune, he turned his steed around. "Lead the way." He ordered. The man nodded, and headed back up the street he had come down.
Much to Gan's relief, Mi had released her death grip on her arm. They were now seated side by side on the couch, waiting for the soldier to return with one of his superiors.
"Xiahou Dun! General Xiahou Dun approaches!" The cry went up from outside the room.
Gan felt her hopes plummet. Luck was not with her this day it seemed. A lower general she perhaps had a chance to beguile or overpower. But a senior general was far less likely. And tales of Xiahou Dun's loyalty to his lord were already legendary.
Still, she stood up from the couch as steady footsteps approached the door - straightening and stiffening her back and raising her chin slightly higher. The doors burst open a second time as the Wei general entered.
Mi shifted on the couch to be closer to Gan's standing form, her hands gripping the edge of the seat until her knuckles turned white. When the general focused his single eye on her, his expression coloring with distaste, she gave a soft whimper. Gan took a step to the side to stand protectively in front of her sister and force his gaze to her - meeting it with an outward calm she didn't truly feel.
Xiahou Dun couldn't stop the brief look of disgust that came to his face upon seeing the girl quailing on the couch. The fact that this was exactly what he'd expected didn't make the sight any less pathetic. He cursed the other general's hasty return to camp - assuredly one of them would be better suited for this particular task. It certainly wasn't his strong suite.
He paused when the other woman stepped in front, her figure rigid and her overall expression calm - if not a bit haughty. This would be Liu Gan, he guessed, from her show of protection as much as the more elaborate decorations of her robes. He had to admit he was impressed with her gall. More than one lord had fallen blubbering and weeping at his feet to beg him for his life. By contrast Liu Gan gave off an aura of serene calm - the stiffness in her posture her only sign of discomfort. There was a certain defiance to it - standing so calmly while surrounded by her husband's enemies.
A part of him recalled that this wasn't the first time Liu Bei had been forced to flee lands for his safety. He couldn't recall how long he'd been wed - his contact with him had been rare even when he worked with Cao Cao - and he wondered how many times his wife had been through the ordeal with him. Marriage to the noble but unlucky lord could certainly not have given her a peaceful life.
Slowly he bowed deeply to her, reminding himself of his purpose here. "Lady Liu. Lady Mi. I hope our presence has not caused you undue stress."
Gan paused, feeling a bit wary over such a polite start to the conversation. One did not tend to make a show of acquiescence before lopping someone's head off. Their safety had to be atleast temporarily assured. But why? "I fear I must disappoint you, General. For a battle to occur nearly upon her own doorstep is a most distressing thing for a woman. Let alone to have soldiers invade her private chambers."
For someone claiming to be distressed, she was acting awful imperious, he couldn't help but think. Still, he accepted the rebuke with an incline of his head. "I apologize. My men were under my orders to search for soldiers hidden in the houses."
"As there were none to find, I believe it would only be polite to withdraw them and allow the households to return to their routine."
"Such was our intention." Xiahou Dun informed her, feeling slightly nettled. "Still, I find myself concerned for you and your sister's safety in this perioud of unrest and political instability. Since your husband did not see fit to leave you any protection, I'll gladly leave a troop of my own men to guard your step."
Gan's mouth twisted slightly before she schooled her expression. As if any guards left behind would not have been slain by the very soldiers in the room! The troops left to guard their safety would no doubt prevent their leaving as well. "That's very generous of you, General. We'll of course accept your offer." Not that they had any choice in the matter.
"In that case, we'll take our leave." He stood, glancing at the soldiers briefly. They immediately began to exit one by one.
"General, a moment." Gan called as he was about to leave as well.
He frowned, turning back. "Lady Liu?"
"...Is there news of my husband?"
"...None, lady." He answered honestly. She nodded, turning away. Despite the obvious dismissal, he found himself hesitating. She seemed less tense now that she had that answer. Somehow, though, she seemed less strong as well. "When there is news, I will tell you." He found himself promising.
Gan turned back, a surprised look crossing her face. "I would be most grateful."
Not quite sure why he'd made that offer himself, he could only bow once more before turning to stride from the room.
End Prologue
This story is based partly off of Dynasty Warriors, and partly off the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The original inspiration from it comes specifically from the Guan Yu's Escape scenario in Dynasty Warriors 3.
Yes, I know, Mi was Liu Bei's second wife - not Gan's sister. For a couple reasons, I've switched them to being sisters. If you like, you can take it that Liu Bei later marries Mi. Part of the reason I changed it was because reading the novel it never felt like Mi was Liu Bei's wife anyway. She isn't mourned when she dies - except by Zhao Yun - and there's much less seen of her than even Gan. She's in charge of Liu Chan during the escape from Chang Ban - and for one wife to care for another wife's child? That doesn't seem quite believable. Also, just for the sake of this fic, I need Mi to be extremely loyal to Gan. And most dual wives were not that close!
This fic basically surrounds Gan, and if you couldn't tell, Xiahou Dun. The title comes from the official title Liu Bei gave Gan in history. One translation of which is The Lady of Imperial Regret. So, given how I plan this story to progress, I thought The Lady of Regret was a fitting title.
Please hit that little review button down there and tell me what you think so far!
Han Xiang