AUTHOR'S NOTE: I honestly did not forget I had this!! I had notifications on the amount of following so I decided and promised myself to write chapters. I just keep forgetting! Sorry, new job, new car, and trying to buy a house does that to yourself, ya know?

Here it is, the long awaited chapter!!

Chapter 3

Leila woke with the rising sun. The smell of meaty pork buns steaming away with the lingering scent of jasmine tea filled the air of a traditional Chinese breakfast.

She stretched her arms wide and fixed herself as her downy nightgown fell in the most unusual places. She didn't think she was that skinny but maybe, the real Mei Xua was skinnier than her. Leila sighed and ran her hand through her hair. Shit! Isn't today the day? She thought to herseld and suddenly, she felt as though the walls had closed on her and the air was vanishing as her breathing labored.

The emotions came and she cried. She tried fighting it but she couldn't. She looked to her right and noticed all the luggage packed away. Sure, it wasn't 21st century luggage but it was just boxes and chests of Meixua's belongings. If Leila didn't have a heart, she felt really bad for the real Meixua that her belongings were being confiscated without her permission.

Breakfast was already placed on her table. She noticed it had a bowl of porridge with some salted eggs and fried dough. She saw the delicious meatbuns served in its bamboo pot as well as the tea simmering in its tiny pot. Her stomach growled and she grabbed a meat bun and shoved it in her mouth without thinking.

"My oh my, you are hungry." A voice appeared in the connecting corridor.

Leila gasped and instantly kneeled. "My lord…"

Her mother came in the room and kneeled as well. "My lord, I apologize I have no servants to show you the study."

Leila looked down at the floor under her. If only it could swallow her. How did Lord Cao Cao get to her chambers? The house wasn't that big anyways but still, one could tell the difference between a study and a damn bedroom.

"It is not your fault, Lady Li. I happen to find myself caught in your artistic abilities of paintings and stumble on Lady Guo's chambers. I must take my leave now." He walked so graciously that one couldn't hear his footsteps on the flooring. He bowed his head at Leila's mother as Leila continued to stared down.

"My lord, we will be ready in a moment to take leave," Leila responded. She wanted this day over with.

All she heard from Cao Cao was a slight chuckle. And then, a footsteps of a marching army came through the hallway. After a while, the footsteps fainted and the sounds of armor stopped.

"Are you crazy, child? How dare you talk to him in such a manner! I knew your father should have taught you better!" Her mother yelled and slapped Leila's face.

Leila held her hand to her red cheek and stared down at her feet. "If he wants me to give up the strategies to win his war, I should have a say! I don't need to listen to him or wait for his permission to talk. I am just as equal as him!" Leila barked.

"oh hush it! I don't need you being killed either. Hurry up with your breakfast so we can get on with it! I am already tired of your attitude. May the Heavens have mercy on you and have a tutor for you when you arrive in Court!" her mother shook her head and started searching for a garment that was presentable yet comfortable for Leila on the ride to the Xuchang.

After breakfast, Leila was wrapped in a silky green robe with her hair adorned with peacock clips and feathers. She clutched her father's scrolls tightly to the backpack she would carry with her in the carriage.

She eyed the soldiers grabbing her belongings and throwing them in the carriage.

"Hey! Be careful with that stuff! It's fragile!" Leila yelled.

"Sorry, my lady." The man answered and bowed to her.

She continued eying them as the corner of her eye flashed her mother accepting a huge payment of gold bars from Lord Cao Cao. Behind him, he had his trusty bodyguard, Xu Zhu. Xiahou Dun stood behind them so not to have anyone lay a hand on Cao Cao.

Leila recounted her history books and she remembered how they were related but then again, the historians never confirmed it.

She noticed some other soldiers and officers standing at the entrance of her mother's estate. She couldn't really tell who's who but eventually, she will.

"My lady, what is this book? It is so heavy that it weighs like a piglet!" One of the soldiers joked.

Leila turned from her gaze at the officers and looked at the item the boy mentioned. It can't be, can it? Leila thought. Her heart jumped a bit. "quickly give it here!" She yelled. The boy handed her treasured piece.

It was Leila's history book of the Three Kingdoms from the 21st century! Leila was shocked. If this was here and survived the warp hole, maybe other things were here as well! Maybe there was a way back to the 21st century and the real Mei Xua could come back! Leila's mind raced as she flipped the pages of her book. She saw her handwriting and highlighting from when she was in college. Maybe it was possible! She could go back home!

"Are you ready, Lady Guo?" Xiahou Dun asked.

Leila's mind traced back to her present time and stared at him. "Yes, of course." She clutched her bag of scrolls and her heavy textbook.

"If I was you, I'd throw big book and bag of scrolls in the carriage as well." Xiahou Dun said.

Leila gazed up at him puzzled. She saw Cao Cao mount on his precious horse as Xu Zhu got on his. "What for?" she asked.

Striding so calmly, Cao Cao came to her on his horse and nodded to one of his officers. "Li Dian, get her."

Li Dian smiled and went quickly to the back of the house.

"I am riding in the carriage right?" Leila asked.

"My lady, the book and the bag of scrolls?" Xiahou Dun asked as his hand reached out.

"On one motion, no one is to look through my items!" Leila demanded.

Xiahou Dun gave a look at Cao Cao who just gave a shrug.

"You heard the lady! No one is to look through the lady's belongings." Xiahou Dun said.

"I hope we find Lady Guo a tutor when we arrive back to Xuchang. Hopefully, Lady Bian has secured a spot for someone who has the audacity to control you." Cao Cao whispered so softly but everyone could hear it.

Leila's cheeks burned as the men laughed.

The attention thwarted when Li Dian emerged with a beautiful mare of white skin and white beautiful mane.

"She's yours, Lady Guo." Cao Cao said as he rode away.

Leila, taken back, stepped up to the mare and touched her snout. "Mine?" she asked surprisingly.

"Yes. She's yours! What are you going to call her?" Li Dian asked as he got on his.

Leilla thought for a bit and replied, "Winter Moon. She is beautiful." Leila nuzzled her face against her new friend.

"Well, come on! Get on with her! We need to arrive to Xuchang in two days!" Xiahou Dun yelled.

Leila's feet didn't move. They froze as she stared at Winter Moon.

"You don't know how to ride?" He asked.

Leila cursed herself and shook her head.

Feeling aggravated with her foolishness, Xiahou Dun lifted her up and placed her on the horse. "There!" he shouted at a nearby soldier. "Take the reins and lead the horse. Guess we'll teach you to ride on the way to Xuchang."

Suddenly, everyone moved out towards the entrance and onto the court at Xuchang. Leila took one last look at her mother who was so occupied with counting her golden bars that she forgot she had company. Leila, feeling upset, turned around and looked onward to her new future. She still had hope she will be going back to the 21st century. Home was only a freak accident away!

"Oh and you're welcome, Lady Guo." Cao Cao shouted from ahead.

"Well, those tutor lessons better come quick." Xiahou Dun chuckled.

Leila could already feel how the future was going to be. She was just going to make the most of it until she was back in her comfort zone.