Sweet Trade

Chapter 4

Broadside of Affections


Cao Ren sat quietly on the bed while Zhang Liao muttered to himself about people minding their own business. "You know they're just trying to be helpful."

"Helpful?" Liao scoffed.

Ren sighed. "Chan and Yuan just want everyone to be as happy as them…."

"I appreciate that, but they need to quit playing matchmaker with me. I'm glad Chan found a man she actually can love, but she needs to figure out another way to get over what she did to Lu Bu and pay her penance some other way. Preferably, one that doesn't involve me."

"Liao, is she really the only one who feels guilty about Lu Bu?"

"Don't start this again."

"Why not? It's always been there and it's a hurdle I'm sick of trying to overcome."

Liao ran his hands thru his hair and looked at the ceiling. "Ren…"

"You've been so hostile lately."

Liao closed his eyes and tried to collect himself. Recently he had been quick to anger and he knew it had everything to do with the anniversary of Xia Pi. "Sorry."

"I'm not really complaining," Ren gave a sheepish smile. "I have to admit it's very arousing. Makes me think all those people aren't wetting their pants because you scare the piss out of them…"

Liao let his eyes open and looked down as the stocky officer on his bed. Almost Ren's entire face was red with embarrassment. "So that's why you made that little girlfriend joke earlier?"

"Well…" Ren cleared his throat and put his hands on his knees.

Liao let a smile touch his lips and he took a few steps forward to be able to run his hand through Ren's hair. "What exactly where you thinking about when you were supposed to be defending that fort in the last battle? Hmmm?"

"I'm sorry…supposed to be?" Ren's embarrassment faded and he looked up at Liao's mischievous grin. "I was thinking 'Damn, I thought Liao could handle one little girl by himself…maybe I should have sent a Cao to protect him from a half-dressed woman.'"

Liao had to laugh as he pushed Ren back onto the bed and climbed on top of him to pin him down. He actually couldn't wait to introduce him to the newest Wei officer, the shallow little pirate was the embodiment of everything Ren detested about human nature. That could wait. He ran his hand over Ren's stubble and held his jaw in his hand as he kissed him.

Xu Mingzhu was in heaven! The Xu Chang bazaar was full of relics and treasures that would fetch top dollar back in Jian Ye. She even unloaded an entire trunk of valuables that were strewn across southern battlefields like dandelions for a tidy profit. So far everything was turning out to be well worth the trip! Cao Cao had even given her with a much nicer uniform than she had in Wu. The silk alone was worth more than last month's paycheck.

Cao Cao proved to her that his reputation was not exaggerated and she still had a stupid grin on her face. Where Sun Jian was playful, Cao Cao was devious. Her thoughts were momentarily hijacked by the memories of Zhou Tai's touch and she felt the glow begin to fade. She was used to the carefree life of the 'sweet trade', even if she was no longer on the water. Why was it that a creeping sense of betrayal was encroaching on her bliss?

I want you to come back home

She could hear his husky voice clear as a bell echoing in her head. This was not like her, she didn't get attached and she most certainly was not capable of betrayal. She only fought for herself so there was nobody to betray. So why did the heavy coin purse in her pocket make her want to head back for the river and forget this nonsense.

I want you to come back home

Her eyes scanned the market as she left the bazaar and she decided to go have a look around the guardhouse and barracks. Those two places would be invaluable resources for information, just in case Wu really did turn out to be home. She made some casual conversation with vendors, guards and civilians as she took a tour of the town, trying to look more like a recruit than a spy. They seemed very content with Cao Cao's rule, spirits were high and everything was well staffed and taken care of. An attack here would inevitably end in defeat and she doubted any attempts to cause discord would succeed.

Content with her first days work, she decided to return to the training grounds where the other officers were. If she could avoid the love-struck Diao Chan she could possibly find out more about these men other than sexual preferences. She didn't make it very far as Diao Chan spotted her instantly and waved. To complicate matters, Zhang Liao rode up on his horse to participate in training. Now Diao Chan was certainly going to let her imagination run wild.

Zhang Liao dismounted and handed his horse off to a new recruit. He wanted to see how Cao Ren's clinic on the art of defense was progressing. He didn't make it that far as Chan ran over to start harassing him. He was going to put an end to this now before his headache could return.

Chan's smile broadened. "Where have you two been?"

"Enough is enough." Liao growled. "I will say this once and only once. That woman is the most despicable individual I have ever come in contact with and I would never stoop so low as to touch her."

Mingzhu put her hands on her hips. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. You represent the most vile human characteristics I can imagine. You have no honor, even to the point of completely disgracing yourself with every action you make. You live only for entertainment and money, valuing nothing that isn't material or have monetary value. Defecting for a higher pay rate and abandoning your people. You disgust me."

"This from a man who worked for Lu Bu." Mingzhu scoffed. She had no time to brace herself for his reply as his hand flashed in front of her eyes and made contact on the side of her face, throwing her off to the side. She hit the ground and tried to roll away from another attack, but her head screamed and her vision began to blackout. For a simple backhanded hit, there was enough force to practically knock her unconscious.

Liao was unable to make another move as Cao Ren's body slammed into his and tackled him. He struggled against the man, but he had the upper hand.

"Dammit Wenyuan, no." Ren struggled to pin him. "Calm down!"

Mingzhu felt like her brain was scrambled; she was seeing doubles and was too dizzy to even sit up. That was a damned powerful hit.

Diao Chan ran over to the girl and tried to help. "You don't talk about Lu Bu, not like that. Not with him."

Mingzhu put her head back down on the ground and put her hand to her cheek where the man's knuckles had impacted. "Shit."

"Just lay still." Chan looked over at Liao who was trying to shove Ren's bulky body off him to no avail.

"Liao, you're supposed to be better than this." Ren plead and shoved him back down into the dust. "Life has value, even if it's hers."

Liao looked into those sorry brown eyes above him and quit fighting. He saw pity and concern and knew right now more than ever he owed him an explanation. Ren deserved to be the one person who he could be vulnerable with.

Ren sat up and bounced back on his feet, something a casual observer mighty have been surprised by. He held his hand out to help him up off the ground as the pirate girl groaned in pain ten feet away. His pain is so much deeper than yours, kid.

Liao took the offered hand and allowed Ren to pull him to his feet. "Sorry. Moment of weakness."

"Son of a bitch gave me another concussion." Mingzhu moaned as Diao Chan came to check up on her in the infirmary.

"He's very touchy about Lu Bu." The beauty sighed and felt like she owed the woman an apology. She had been the one to start all this with her teasing and matchmaking attempts. "I just thought he liked you, I shouldn't have pushed so hard. It's just been so long and he's a good man."

"Who are we talking about?" Mingzhu asked, feeling like a victim of brain damage.

"Liao."

"Don't know him as well as you think, apparently."

Xiahou Yuan quietly entered the room and gave a weak smile. "How are you feeling?"

"I can see why Cao Cao gets headaches." Mingzhu closed her eyes. This was hell. Not only was she getting abused, but these people wouldn't leave her alone! What the hell was wrong with everyone here?

"Chan, I think you should let her get some rest?" Yuan held out his hand for his lover and pulled her over to him when she took a hold.

"Sorry, again." Chan smiled and left with her beloved.

Mingzhu wondered if there was anywhere in Xu Chang where she could get away from these people. She buried her head in the pillow. This was insane, was everyone in Wei a lovestruck idiot?

Yuan closed the door and kissed Chan on the forehead. "Darling, I think you should leave Liao alone."

"But…"

"I know. I know you want to make up for using him back then, but this isn't the way. He's a very straight forward kind of guy, just go tell him you're sorry and…." Yuan paused, and kissed her hand. "Accept that he's got my cousin to share that pain with. You have me."

"Are they that serious?"

"I think so, but they're just about as discreet as Zhang He and Xu Huang. They want to keep what they have private to avoid degrading it."

Chan put her head on his shoulder and her arms around his waist. Zhang He liked to act like a player to protect the man he truly adored. Maybe there was one thing that Mingzhu said that made sense. Relationships make you vulnerable. In war, as Chan could easily attest, those were weaknesses an enemy wanted to exploit. "I guess I don't understand, I could never hide my love for you."

"Not hide, cherish." He said and leaned in to kiss her.