Oooh, I'm back! :D I wonder how this story will go… not that I don't have any plans . WELL… moving on, I'm really excited to see whether I would even get any reviews for this story…and if I do, would they be from the prequel or new reviewers… Anyways, HI! If any new readers want to get a background about my OC and her relationship with Ma Chao, you may read the prequel, Trust: A Dangerous Gamble OR you could TAKE THE CHALLENGE and just read this story without any background information. :) At your own risk of course~

Reminders that this is AU just in case I forget to post this in the summary (like I did last time). Shu has already united China…AND this does not follow the actual history of what really happened… in history. So… yah.

ANOTHER THING (I'm so sorry T-T) I didn't mention this in the prequel but MY OC IS A MARY SUE. You have been warned… in a way. The reason why I didn't mention this before was because I didn't feel the need to. For some reason, a lot of girls back in Ancient China were depicted as all-around perfect maidens… But meh, just ignore my little perspective thing. Let the story begin!

"Promise me that you'll keep our children safe. I have a strong feeling that there's still a lot ahead of us. Cheng, Jun, Meng Xiang, and even the little life inside me need you more than ever."

Ma Chao held Mei Xin at arm's length and studied her carefully.

"Why are you talking like this?"

Mei Xin stared at the moon.

"I sense a strong wave coming. It's my job to protect our little ones until it ends…"

"There is no need for such a promise." Ma Chao said, shaking Mei Xin by her shoulders.

Mei Xin looked at Ma Chao straight into his eyes.

"Promise me."

Ma Chao woke up from his sleep as memories continued to pass through his mind. He rubbed his forehead with his right hand and turned his head.

"Hua Qing…" Ma Chao murmured as he rubbed his eyes. No one responded and Ma Chao felt an empty, cold area next to him.

'Where could she be?' Ma Chao pondered as he changed out of his sleepwear. After he was done, the door burst open and several giggles and screams erupted in the room. Three children ran straight for Ma Chao, almost toppling him back down onto his bed. Ma Chao laughed and sat back down on the bed.

"Father! Father! I want to learn how to hold a HUGE sword like you do!" Ma Cheng, Ma Chao's eldest son exclaimed while pulling on Ma Chao's' right hand. Cheng was five years old and reminded Ma Chao of his youth.

"No, Father! Teach me first!" Ma Chao's second son, Ma Jun exclaimed with the same enthusiasm. A year younger than Cheng, four-year-old Jun shared Cheng's passion for fighting but was, to Mei Xin's relief, slightly calmer than Cheng.

Ma Chao soon felt a small itch at his knee and he looked down. Ma Meng Xiang, Ma Chao's elder daughter was pulling at his pant leg, wanting to sit on her father's lap. Ma Chao smiled and wriggled his arms free from his sons to pick up Meng Xiang. He placed her on his lap. Meng Xiang was the apple of Ma Chao's eye, providing a spitting image of Mei Xin when she was just a mere infant at the age of two.

"Hush, your youngest sister is still sleeping." Ma Feng Xi was the newest addition to the Ma household.

"Jun, Cheng, have you two seen your mother this morning?"

The two boys looked at each other and said bluntly, "no".

"Father," Meng Xiang cooed, "Ask me?"

Ma Chao pet her hair, "Meng Xiang, have you seen your mother?"

"Mmmhmm!"

"Where?"

Meng Xiang pointed outside and murmured, "Big, huge, gold, house," and smiled.

'Gold house?' Ma Chao thought.

Just then, a person stepped into the room.

"Mommy!" the kids yelled. Cheng and Jun quickly raced to Mei Xin as Meng Xiang struggled to climb down from her father's lap. Meng Xiang fell and hit her bum, leading her to start crying. Mei Xin chuckled for a little bit before rushing over to pick her up.

After a little while, Meng Xiang stopped crying. "Mommy, Daddy was asking where you were!" Cheng said.

Mei Xin smirked. "Was he now?" Mei Xin said as she turned her head to face Ma Chao, who was facing the other direction, finding the bed post very interesting.

"Xiao Ling!" Mei Xin yelled out. A servant quickly shuffled in.

"Servant here, Madam," Xiao Ling said.

"Take them to their breakfast. We will join later."

"Yes, Madam," Xiao Ling said. The children and Xiao Ling walked out of the room, leaving Mei Xin and Ma Chao to themselves.

"I suppose you have some explaining to do," Ma Chao finally said.

"Do I, Lord Husband? It is not my place to say," Mei Xin murmured enough for Ma Chao to hear.

"Other than I, there is only one other that you may obey. What has the Royal Family want of you?" Ma Chao asked, concerned with Mei Xin's relations to her extended family.

"I expected no less from you, Lord Husband." Mei Xin bowed her head slightly and said, "If I was just another housewife without a care in the world except for the gossip that can bring down a whole kingdom, I would surely tell you."

"Except, wife, you are not just another housewife," Ma Chao said with a sigh.

Mei Xin looked at her husband and sighed as well, remembering what happened at morning.

Mei Xin bent her knees slightly and kept her eyes faced to the floor. "I give my greetings to your Highness."

"At ease, child," an elderly voice soft said. Mei Xin stood up straight but kept her eyes glued to the floor.

"What brings your Highness in need of my service?"

"Recently, a foreign ambassador has entered into our court," the Empress Dowager said. "I am to suppose you have heard this as well."

"Yes, your Highness, I have," Mei Xin replied with certainty.

"Look at me, child."

Mei Xin lifted her eyes up slowly.

"Ahh, you have changed since you were but a child. Blush fills your cheeks nowadays," the Empress Dowager said. Mei Xin remained silent.

"Enough of that then. I believe you have heard of this foreign ambassador's… well, I would say rumors, correct?" The Empress Dowager stood up from her chair and walked slowly towards a plant atop a desk.

"I have, your Highness."

The Empress Dowager used a finger to wipe a small surface on the desk.

"One misunderstanding can lead to a kingdom's downfall. This foreign ambassador has caused many large kingdoms to fall to their knees. As one of us, I'm sure you do not hope for our downfall." The Empress Dowager blew the dust off her finger.

"Of course not, your Highness." Mei Xin looked at the plant in front of the Empress Dowager.

"Then you should know what to do."

With this, the Empress Dowager swiped the plant from the table and the plant went crashing onto the floor. Mei Xin widened her eyes but didn't move an inch.

"As you say, your Highness."

"Mei Xin!"

Mei Xin snapped out of her trance and looked at Ma Chao.

"Is anything wrong?" Ma Chao asked.

"Nothing. I only went to see the sunrise. That was all."

Ma Chao believed her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and used his other hand to grasp her hand. Mei Xin rested her head onto his shoulder.

"Everything is fine."

This would be one of the biggest lies that Mei Xin would ever tell her husband.

So… yah. Nothing much to say. Review? :D