Chapter 1: The Proposition
A/N: There aren't enough Zhong Hui fanfics to go around, so I figured that I should try one out! I'm extremely obsessed with Dynasty Warriors right now, and found myself sobbing about why Zhong Hui can't be real T_T so to appease my heartache, here's the first chapter of my newest experiment! Read and please review!
I own nothing but the characters I created.
A light breeze meandered through the floral-infused air and the warm light of midday sunlight cast a sparkling sheen across the dappled waters of the pond resting in the center of the meticulously kept gardens of the prominent Song family of Jin. Underneath an arbor of lush violet paper flowers, a beautiful young woman sat with a pile of scrolls open in her lap, completely engrossed in the contents. She was the youngest daughter of the Song clan, the 19-year-old Song Minji. Her rosy lips mouthed wordlessly as her large hazel eyes lingered over the beautifully written characters of the Shijing, a classic collection of prose and poetry, originally intended for male scholars.
Minji possessed a subtle beauty that was described as a charm that crept toward people and caught them off-guard, referring to how demure she seemed compared to her true nature, and she could pass as one of the most beautiful girls in Ji Province. Shining brown locks cascaded down her back in waves, complemented by the pale blue hanfu that she wore, which was decorated with delicate gold stitching, and the sunlight played off the rich locks of her hair. Her proportionate face was elegant and rumor has it, had been used as a template for a renowned court artist. The daughter of a governor, Song Minji was well sought-after by many notable young men, including Lord Sima Shi, the son of the famous strategist Sima Yi. Her intelligence was a rarity in a world of domesticated females, and her particular skill for combat appealed to Generals far and wide, but Yujia never settled for a single man or a proposal to join a faction.
Her mind swam with the prose that seemed to wrap her in a little bubble, and Yujia did not notice that her maid, Jicheng, had been calling for her mistress for the last few minutes. The older girl stood in the doorway leading to the large house with a cautious look, knowing better than to disrupt her mistress when the young woman was studying. Glancing up with a small smile, Yujia tilted her head to the side curiously, wondering what the maid needed.
"Lady Min, your father is requesting you in his study, properly garbed and presentable," Jicheng bowed, a small grin on her impish face. Minji perked up in curiosity at her maid's behavior, before closing the scrolls and gracefully standing, scooping up the skirts of her silk hanfu and starting to pace to the sliding doors that led into her personal quarters. She was quite tall, and stood a good two heads above the petite older girl.
"Did he say why, Jicheng?" Minji asked, hugging the armful of scrolls to her chest lovingly, wondering why her father would want her to dress formally at such a random whim. Her father was always out on court business or cooped up in his study, and she was fortunate if she saw him 4 days out of the week. Both her sisters were married off to noblemen and only one of her brothers resided at home, but he served at court and so Minji was always alone in the house.
Shaking her head, Jicheng stepped to the side to allow her mistress entry, and followed her dutifully to the inner chambers, which were lavishly decorated in peachy silks and satins. Without a word, Jicheng assisted Yujia out of her hanfu and carefully removed a daxiushan* from one of the lacquer chests that was stowed underneath a cabinet. The gown was a pale color, accented with pastels and light green embroidery, although Minji despised wearing the dratted thing. It was painfully discomforting and constricted her waist and chest until she was sure to topple over. Jicheng grimaced as she laced Yujia into it, and stepped back, handing her a pearl comb to place into her hair. Carefully planting it into her hair, Minji scowled at her reflection in the mirror momentarily before beginning to make her way out to the main building of the Song compound, Jicheng following silently behind, with another maid following suit. Quietly padding down the hallway leading to her father's domain, Yujia could hear male voices wafting from the room at the end of the hall, and her curiosity was piqued. Raising an elegant finger to her rosy pout and sidled beside the door, pressing her ear against the thick paper that covered it.
"I'm not quite sure, My Lord. She is quite headstrong—""She cannot pass this up, this is quite the opportunity!" "I will let her make the ultimate decision, although I would prefer for her to accept—"
Minji's arched brows raised at the few words she could snatch, and wondered if her father had yet another pathetic suitor to ask her hand. Glancing back at the two maids behind her with skeptical eyes, Minji nodded to Jicheng, who slowly opened the door and informed the gentlemen that she was outside. "Yes, yes, bring her in, Jicheng!" her father's voice delightedly replied.
Stepping into the large study, Minji kept her eyes averted and bowed deeply, before straightening up and fully getting a look at the visitor, or rather visitors. To her surprise, Minji caught sight of the strategist Sima Yi sitting across a table from her father, and she quickly affected a reverential bow.
"Lady Song, good afternoon," Sima Yi smoothly greeted, standing and politely nodding his head to her.
"Lord Sima Yi, what a pleasure for you to visit our home," Minji replied, in a lilting and gentle voice. She inwardly shook her head at the stupid mannerisms she had to take up, simply because he was a man of high stature and she was a lady, and ladies were delicate little things. She mentally scoffed. Song Minji wasn't an ordinary lady, for she wielded a whip with precision, recited military tactics and strategies, and could recite the works of Zhuangzi by the age of 7, and Sima Yi knew as well as anyone that she could. Motioning over to another person in the room, Sima Yi introduced the other present person with an air of pride.
"Lady Song, I would like for you to meet General Zhong Hui, our newest strategist and officer."
Flicking her large eyes to the man, she was taken immediately by his handsome looks, and a small smile took over her lips as she affected another bow. Returning her eyes to his piercing ones, Minji noted his rigid composure and decided that he could not have been more than three years older than her.
"General Zhong Hui, I pray that today has brought you good fortune," she demurely greeted, sick of the little charade she had to put up.
"Good enough, Lady Song, and the same to you," the young officer replied, his voice devoid of any emotion. To be frank, Minji was surprised that he was not in the least bit enamored by her, who was quite the spectacle when men were around. Not that she was any sort of harlot, but Minji's natural effervescence was appealing to all and she was accustomed to it. The young man intrigued her, and his good looks were such an added bonus. But did he come to court her? She hardly even knew him, though.
"Minji, my daughter, Lord Sima Yi comes today bearing a proposal for you, and I hope you will keep a good mind and make a favorable decision," Song Zhangyun interjected from his cushion, a pleased glint in his eyes. Her father gestured the three to join him around the large, low table and motioned for a housemaid to serve tea, before looking to his daughter expectantly with doting eyes. Minji turned her attention to Sima Yi once more, whose sharp eyes were appraising her.
"Everyone knows of your talent, Lady Song Minji, and we are aware that many have approached you with requests for your talent to be of usage to them. I come today with the same intent, but…" Sima Yi drifted off, pressing his fingers together and watching her closely. Minji returned his gaze inquisitively, feeling the General's gaze on her also. A pleased smirk lit up her features as she nodded for Sima Yi to continue.
"My proposition is that you join Jin as a strategist," the great man bluntly stated, a smile barely touching his thin lips. Minji's eyes widened, surprised at the sudden statement. This was perhaps the largest offer she ever received, for the Simas were renowned for their political and military power and only the most talented officers could ever wish to join their ranks. She knew of many: Wang Yuanji, Deng Ai, Guo Huai, not to mention Sima Yi's own sons, Sima Zhao and Sima Shi.
"Me? A strategist for Jin? My talents are not so substantial as to receive such an honor, Lord Sima Yi…" Minji's voice faltered, still taken by the magnitude of the request. Imagine Minji, as a strategist for Jin, and serving under the Sima clan. No wonder her father was effusive with pride, she thought.
"Join us as a strategist, alongside General Zhong Hui, as well as become one of his subofficers. Your skills will be a force to behold, compounded together. If we gain you as an officer, I will support your father's latest political campaign as a show of gratitude," Sima Yi continued, with a curl of his lip. Minji knew that her father's latest political campaign was one of his largest yet, and she wanted him to succeed. What a clever man, to use such a ploy to gain her. Minji could achieve glory, and success of the kind that could only be obtained by serving such prominent military figures who overthrew empires and conquered borderlands.
After heaving a small sigh, her lips quirked into a smug smile. At 19, Minji was considered a spinster, who should have been married two years before. She played defiant, and took pleasure in charming and spurning every man that came her way. It all led to this, she realized, to something more substantial than being a submissive wife to some man who would have dozens of concubines and many children that were not even hers. After a few tense moments of contemplative thought, she flicked her eyes to Zhong Hui, Sima Yi, and her father before standing.
"I accept your proposal, Lord Sima Yi. I will join Jin, and devote myself to the empire," she firmly nodded, her eyes glinting with a fire within. Oh, what fun she will have, especially when she would be serving alongside such an intriguing young man.
*Daxiushan is a traditional Chinese attire for females, consisting of a robe that goes from floor to the top of the chest and ties with a knot, along with a light overcoat that ties together and a scarf wound around the arms.