Failure
Xiahou Dun paced anxiously outside of Cao Cao's quarters, unsure of how to break their unfortunate loss to such a man. Peering his head through the door way, he noticed Cao Cao busy overlooking different parchments while picking up his brush from the ink.
"Xiahou Dun…" He spoke loud and clear, never lifting his head. "How long are you going to pace in front of the door?"
"Oh..!" Even though he knew Cao Cao knew of his presence, his question took him off guard. "I bring news…of our current battle in Chang Ban."
"Yes… Do tell." Cao Cao slowly looked up to await his cousin's news, setting his brush down. "Where is Liu Be?"
"We failed in our attempts at sabotaging his escape. Apparently his infant child was there, as well…"
"And what of the child?" Cao Cao pushed himself away from his desk as he stood.
"Failure." Xiahou Dun hesitated before answering.
Cao Cao fell silent, leaning his fists on his desk. Gritting his teeth, he glared through narrowed eyes while raising a fist to slam it into his desk.
"We need to put an end to him!" He snapped.
"It appears the peasants of the surrounding villages were touched by Liu Bei's benevolence… They rushed to aide his escape immediately." Xiahou Dun nodded before giving a respectful bow.
"So the people love him, do they…?" Cao Cao rose. "Then burn those villages to the ground. We'll smoke the rat out of his hole if we have to…"
Xiahou Dun nodded as he turned, Cao Cao waving him off as he sat back down.
"Oh, and my cousin…" Cao Cao stopped him just as he reached the door way. "I trust you won't disappoint me again…"
Dun froze, feeling the threat in Cao Cao's words, but only paused for a second before resuming his exit. Cao Cao was not pleased to hear his news, but it couldn't be avoided; though would burning the homes of villagers really do any good? At any rate, it wasn't Xiahou Dun's choice in the matter. Perhaps after a day of cooling down, Cao Cao would come to reason and think more level headedly, and retreat his orders.
In the quarter halls of the fortress, Zhuji took to walking the corridors of the Wei compound. It always cleared her head to do so, even if every male she passed tried to make a pass at her. She was concerned with what Cao Cao could want from her. The man was starting to get reckless, she could see that, but still he was an excellent leader. Cao Cao was continuing to gather support, particularly from the Emperor. It would eventually make him an unstoppable force.
Her mind came back to earth when she caught a flash of light blue…and a tall hat. Oh…crap.
Sima Yi turned his head in her direction just as she was about dive into an empty room. Thinning his lips he strode over to where she was hiding.
"Hellooo," he said smoothly, grinning like a deranged wolf.
Zhuji rolled her eyes and propped her hand on her hip, "Lord Sima Yi…aren't you supposed to be with your husband? Cao Pi is probably missing you nag his ear off."
"If he would just remember not to put his boots in the main foyer…wait," Sima Yi realized what he was sounding like. He shook his head, "No…no…you're not pulling me in again."
Zhuji cocked her head and smiled, patronizingly rubbing his arm, "Oh, my lord…is it that time of the month for you again?"
Sima Yi wrinkled his nose and gave furious, flamboyant, waves of his arms to dislodge her hand off his person, "Stop that!"
Zhuji folded her arms over her breasts with a sigh, looking impatient, "What do you want? I'm assuming you don't want any of my…special services."
Sima Yi inhaled, mouth open for a moment, before he finally responded, "Eww…no. God knows where you've been."
"Then what is it?"
"I came to mock you openly. What does it look like? I was wondering how Lady Zhang Lien got her body cut open, when you were supposed to be guarding her. Cao Cao has special designs for her and Zhang He nearly had a bitch-fit when he found out…until he saw fit to swoon dramatically into Xiahou Yuan's arms. He cried like a little boy who wished he was a little girl."
Sima Yi's eyes fell to a point on a wall behind Zhuji as his mind wandered to the event.
"Look, my lord, I wasn't there because apparently Cao Cao wanted to ensure I was alive for his own designs; of what I don't know. Don't you? I would imagine one of those gossip ladies at your Xianqi club would have his designs down pat."
Shaking his head, Sima Yi crossed his own arms, pondering about Cao Cao's sudden interest in the wench. Of course, he knew it wasn't sexual interest. Cao Cao had not been seen anywhere around Zhuji's quarters. It had to be something else; something important. Yet, why hadn't Cao Cao told him anything? He usually did. Maybe Jia Xu had an idea. The man had knack of predicting Cao Cao. Heck, that was how he got hired.
Or perhaps Cao Cao wanted to keep some things up his sleeve.
Sima Yi bade Zhuji a mocking farewell before he stalked off.
The air was heavy in her nostrils as Zhang Lien pounded through the charred village. The smoke of the ruins wafted into the air and it stunted her vision. Her boots were black with ash and dark patches were smeared on her cheeks.
Her progress into nowhere was stopped when shining silver gleamed through the grey fog.
Zhang Lien seethed at the figure in silver armor.
"You deserve to die, Zhao Yun of Shu!" she shouted, but Zhao Yun stood still, not reacting at all to her shout, like he hadn't heard her.
Lien thought to be quicker on the draw and threw her spear at him. It was a foolish move and as much as warriors liked to use spears as long range weapons, once thrown it left the bearer defenseless.
Zhao Yun leaned off to the side and the spear whizzed past him.
Shit.
He responded by charging at her, and sliced across her abdomen. She fell backwards, hands clutching the fresh wound, staring up at the Little Dragon with fear. His wide dark eyes shined with terror as well.
She gasped and stared down at her fresh wound, hands stained with her blood..
Green blood…
Zhang Lien jerked awake with a shuddering gasp. She was afraid to move much and remained on her back, gathering her senses as she became aware of her surroundings. Blinking a few times, she realized that she wasn't bleeding and her healed wounds were indeed closed.
Sighing through her nose, she only turned her head to the side, finding a tall, beautiful man sitting in a chair not far from her bed, biting his otherwise perfect nails down to the cuticle in concern.
Lien managed to work her voice, though it was deep and throaty from under use, "Lord Zhang…He?"
"Oh, my dear!" Zhang He rushed to his sister's side, gently laying his hands to her shoulders as she tried to sit up. "You must continue to rest… You were injured fairly badly."
"No… I need to walk it off. I must best him…" Lien tried pushing his hands away, but to no avail. He gave his stern look while his persistence paid off; the young woman cooperated.
"Best who, the 'Little Dragon'? It appears he has gotten to you." The man moved Lien's blankets, looking at her bandages which had become warn, frayed, and darkened by dried blood and body moisture. "These simply must be changed at once!"
Lien remained quiet, the words 'he has gotten to you' passing through her ears like a knife. No way would she let such a man get under her skin, especially that of the enemy. Shu disgusted her. Their proper, well rounded, 'put the people first' attitude could drive her batty. Wrinkling her nose, she frowned at the thought. Zhao Yun was a man of honor, so why purposely leave his opponent alive for a later battle? He knew of her status in Wei, so it wasn't unlikely for her to entertain the thought of retaliation.
Zhang He guided his sister onto her side, undoing her bandages from the back. With a furrowed brow, he struggled against the strength of the bandages before grabbing a dagger from the end table, slicing them up the center.
"That should do the trick…" He muttered, feeling her flinch against every pull of the bandage.
"Easy, He…" She held her arms over her bare chest as he took the ratty bandages away. "That hurt."
"Aww…" He gave a playful mock. "It matters not your status, you are still just a child…"
"Am not." Lien gaped, frowning. "In our parents' eyes, I should have been wed long ago."
"Our parents' eyes were corrupt, my dear sister. To taint such a beautiful innocence…" He spun around in a dancing motion. "If you hadn't come to me at the time, I would have scooped you up at the ceremony if I had to!"
"Please bandage me…" She gazed down at her abdomen, seeing the change her body was going through. Her wound appeared fresh, though no blood seeped through. Lien merely wrote it off as a thin layer of skin keeping herself from bleeding once more.
He nodded while quickly moving over to her, grabbing a wet cloth from a pale beside her bed. Zhang Lien watched as he cleaned her wound, his gentle hands moving gracefully across her stomach to wash away any dried blood. Within seconds, he was wrapping new bandages around her, this time being a little gentler about bundling it up in the back.
As he was helping her wrap her wounds, Lien couldn't see the genuine concern and guilt on his face. He kept it as unanimated as possible, but given his personality he could be so transparent. His silence bothered her.
"Lord Zhang He?"
"Hmm? What is it, my lovely sister?"
"Something's wrong…" she said vaguely. She heard a sigh and Zhang He stepped away from her wrappings, and fully into her vision. Zhang He's jaw was set tight, the graceful arch of his brows scrunched flat as his brow furrowed. She was used to seeing him loose and graceful but now his body was wound tight.
"What's the matter?"
His features eased, "I fear for you sister. The time is upon us that I repay my debt to Cao Cao for taking us in at Guan Du."
Zhang Lien's stomach plummeted. So soon?
"Are you serious? I just told you how I feel about marriage."
"I know, I know," the tall man whispered bending down in front of her, "Cao Pi's not a bad catch…if it weren't for Zhen Ji…"
"…whom he swept off her feet at Guan Du," Zhang Lien reiterated like she was reciting an overused proverb. "I have other things on my mind."
"Well, they haven't told me yet—wait—what other things?"
Zhang Lien absentmindedly ran her hand over the covered up wound on her abdomen, chewing her lip. Unfortunately, Zhang He could see right through her.
"Not that bastard again."
The young woman flinched at the vulgar name rolling off Zhang He's tongue. He normally never subjected himself to saying such unsightly words, but that rat disguised in silver armor hurt his sister. He'd curse to the high heavens if he ran into him.
"My lady, you need to stop thinking about him. He hurt you, yes, but seeking retribution…or whatever…is how most great warriors fall, hence why I took out my own anger about this travesty on Zhuji."
"You didn't…"
"Yes!" Zhang He swirled in place. "I subjected my beautiful self to bitch-slap another of equal beauty!"
"She didn't do anything wrong."
"I know," Zhang He slumped. "That's why I'm avoiding her."
Withholding laughter, Zhang Lien fell back into the bed, nestling in, feeling her energy draining.
With a small smile, Zhang He reached down and brushed a few strands of her hair away from her brow. His touch was oddly soothing.
"Rest well," he whispered, watching as the girl's eyes begin to close.
He stood by her side until her breathing evened out and she was in a deep slumber. Quietly, he crept out of the room, closing the door with care. With a heavy sigh, he pressed his forehead against the wooden panels. Relief flooded his chest. Zhang Lien was okay…for now. That was until Cao Cao decided to cash in on a few debts. Why had he even agreed to offer his lovely, beautiful sister as a token to that man? Well…Zhang Lien wasn't betrothed yet.
Groaning softly he turned to head down the hall, but he found Zhuji standing directly behind him.
"Gahh!" he yelped jumping backwards, hand over his rushing heart. The courtesan had her hands on her hips, head cocked. Zhang He inhaled a breath, "Jeesh! Don't do that! Now I look all flustered!"
"Oh, Zhang He," she mocked with a sadistic grin, "Looking flustered is the least of your worries right now."
"Look, I'm sorry I hit you. I was distraught."
Zhuji shrugged, "Oh please. You can't hurt a woman even if you tried."
"Then what's with you looking like you're going to kill someone? Did you have a run in with Sima Yi?"
"For your information," Zhuji pressed her finger into Zhang He's broad chest, "I did and he must've had his girdle in a twist. Seriously, I now know why Cao Pi looks so angry all the time. I would look that way too if I had to be stuck with you two bozos for days on end."
Zhang He smirked, "My little viper…so graceful, yet so poisonous."
"You must me confusing me with Zhen Ji," she scowled at the nickname.
"Well, do you want me to escort you to your room? I'd rather not bicker while my dear sister is trying to rest."
Zhang He held out his large pale hand and Zhuji eyed it. She trusted Zhang He more than other men. He was one of the few men that weren't motivated by fighting and libido. He was more dimensional than that and she was forever grateful for that. She took his hand and left Zhang Lien to rest.
Zhuji glanced up to Zhang He as they strolled down the long corridor, away from Zhang Lien's room. Zhang He attempted to wine and dine the woman on his arm, but to no avail. His charm would work on anyone else, if he chooses, but not Zhuji.
Hours had passed since Lien was left to rest. Night had fallen, and the majority of the soldiers, maids, cooks, and concubines had been asleep for a while now. Lien turned in her sleep, the pain in her stomach sending a jolt through her body, her eyes shooting open. With a groan, she shifted to sit up. Luckily her injury was healing fast, though the memories weren't.
"Same dream…" She sighed, almost being able to smell the smoke from the burning village; Zhao Yun's eyes still haunting her.
Sliding out of her bed, she wrapped her robe around her before making her way to her door. Pulling it open, she glanced down the dark hall, seeing a soldier guarding the hall. Hesitant, she closed the door behind her as she walked across the hall, slowly pushing the neighboring door open.
"…Zhuji…?" She whispered before looking, fearing what she may find in her friend's room in the middle of the night. "You up..?"
"It's fine." The woman in question sat up. "Another sleepless night?"
"Yes." Lien answered, entering Zhuji's room while shutting the door behind her for privacy. "I can't seem to shake this dream I keep having…"
"You never were one for sleeping…" Zhuji smirked, pulling her long black hair over her shoulder, twirling her fingers in the lose waves her hair created. "You couldn't wait until morning?"
"I apologize." She gave a slight bow.
"No, no…" She sighed. "It's not as if someone like me needs the beauty rest, or anything."
Lien laughed slightly at Zhuji, seeing her soft playing smile as she invited the young woman to take a seat next to her.
"Now, do tell… Was this dream exactly the same or different?"
"The same. Zhao Yun is mounted on his horse, angrily staring at me in the middle of a burning village…" Lien sighed. "The man won't leave my dreams…"
"Hahaha, oh my dear… It seems as if you are taken by the man." Zhuji played with Lien's troubles.
"Possibly… I wake up intrigued by him a little more each time."
"Perhaps you are confusing your infatuation with fear? The man did knock you unconscious in one blow…"
"Mm… It's possible. Though why do I wish to fight him again?"
"You're the type of person who enjoys conquering your fears..? Do heed my warning; get those longing feelings away from you… Zhao Yun is a dangerous man." Zhuji brushed her own hair with her fingers.
"Perhaps…" Lien sighed.
"Go get some rest, child." Zhuji gestured the young woman off to bed. "At least try sleeping a full night for a change."
With a smirk, Lien did as requested, leaving her friend's room for the night.
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