You must be wondering where I was the past month. Well, a month had passed with lack of creativity, Russia, and depression.
"Are you sure you want to go?"
Ling Yuechai cast her eyes down, looking at her feet as she walked to the direction of her fan. Of course she wanted to follow the two officers from Cao Wei- it was a great opportunity, her golden chance, the only time to get away from it all, to have freedom, rights, and a life of luxury.
"You'll regret it," Zhang Guining snapped at her, "I'm sure you will. Then, you'll come running down here with tears leaking out of your eyes, begging to be fed here again."
Yuechai tried her very best not to roll her eyes. She looked around the room to see if she had left anything important or valuable, and picked up her traveling sack when there was nothing to take anymore. Bowing her head at Guining, Yuechai slowly walked out, bowing at the sight of Sima Yi and Xu Huang.
"Lord Sima, Lord Xu, I am ready…" her voice trailed away as she heard familiar voices- the other orphans.
"Yuechai! Yuechai! Yuechai!" Yanzi was ahead of all of them, being the fastest so far. Before the young woman could even blink once, Yuechai was pushed onto the grassy ground, having at least a few dozen children hugging and squashing her.
"Yanzi, Lian…" she whispered, tears threatening to roll down her cheeks.
"Yuechai, don't go!" Yanzi cried, sniffling into her collarbone.
"But I…" She choked on her own words- lies, lies, lies. She didn't have to go. She just wanted to go. It was all so selfish of her, putting her happiness before the other younger orphans'. How could they even like her because of that?
"Yuechai, we should get going now." Yi informed her as Xu Huang pulled on the reins of their horses.
"Alright, Lord Sima," the girl replied, the title 'lord' accidentally on purpose slipping from her tongue. She gave the other orphans a final hug, promising to visit as soon as she could with a lot of presents, and quickly walked over to the two Wei officers. Huang asked if she had a horse, and Yi told her to climb onto his when she shook her head.
"Now," Yi began after settling himself behind her, "is there anything you forgot?"
Again, Yuechai shook her head. She did not have much personal items, and had only packed seven sets of clothing, a few pieces of cheap jewelry, a fan, and tea leaves in a tiny pouch- just in case if Huang or Yi were thirsty, though she had a feeling that there were enough food from just the two officers.
A sudden neigh from the horses caught her off-guard, and, as they rode off and away from the orphanage, she was still waving goodbye, a smile of sadness engraved on her pale face.
Many hours later, the three stopped at a cozy-looking inn. It was quite small, but Sima Yi had predicted that it would take them around seven days to arrive at the capital of Cao Wei, and therefore must rest at whatever's available. Unfortunately, only two rooms were left for them to stay the night, and Yuechai was forced to share one with Yi- Xu Huang was sent to the one next door with the guards.
At least it's got a double bed, the poor girl thought to lighten her own sadness, Or else you'd have to sleep on the floor.
After changing into their sleeping-clothes (each having to shut their eyes when the other proceeded to slip out into the nude), the two stared awkwardly at the bed, set aside a wall like all other beds in the whole of China, unsure what to do. A few silent minutes passed, then Yuechai whispered, "I suppose I should get in first…"
At Yi's mechanical nod, she climbed in robotically, but pulled the blanket up just to hide just a tiny bit of her chin, shuddering at the sudden stirring of Yi's faint warmth, and was glad that her thick hair hid her bare shoulders. They lay there nervously, at least five inches apart, trying not to touch each other.
Three hours passed, and Yuechai was awoken at a sudden movement beside her arm. She turned her head to see Yi disrobe, leaving only a pair of pants clinging to his body. His long, brown hair flowed down to his back, dotted with beads of sweat, trickling like little snakes and rivers. Yuechai found herself staring at him for a moment, and before she knew it, reached out her arm to touch his shoulder.
Yi did not jump or shiver at her touch, but instead gestured her to sit next to him at the edge of the bed. She did so, trying the best she could to hide her chest as naturally as she could. It wasn't long before Yi started to talk.
"You have an interesting personality, Yuechai."
Yuechai felt her color rise as she mumbled a 'thank you', and was grateful for the darkness surrounding them. It was uncomfortably hot, and the room was stuffy. No one bothered to open the windows, since the wind was not even there.
"There's something I want you to do, Yuechai."
"I'll do anything, L- Zhongda." After all, he took her from the orphanage and let her share the bed with him, did he not?
Yi sighed softly. Yuechai tried very hard not to look at his eight-packed stomach (for he fought as well as strategized), but in the end had to steal a small glance. She cast her gaze away when he began speaking again.
"I want you to learn," he said quietly, "To learn proper etiquette- not that you're not polite- and to behave like a real lady."
