Author's Note- Phew! Sorry happy new year, everyone! holidays and new year's happen :) im back with a promised chapter. and excuse punctuations, I am writing it on a tablet and shit, I dont like using caps.

Chapter 7

When you think of Ancient China, You think of the Great Wall, the Silk Road and elaborate traditional dances with their beautiful silky robes. An abundance of tea that every country in the world sought to obtain. Palaces and pagodas, so articulately perfected in a slightest bit, standing after all those years. Emperors and Empresses were surrounded by loyal courtiers and audience halls as great as a big entryway. Then, you imagine the wars that were fought and all the men who were sacrificed. And how it was praised to have sons...

Leila looked about her chambers. It was ornate, indeed, with all the beauty and treasures the Han dynasty could make. She tucked a beautiful jade dragonfly one would use as a hair accessory, in her pocket. Part of it was because she thought it would amount to something when she returned home. Leila then marched herself along the walls and noticed the beautiful decorated paintings that adorned her walls. They were painted with watercolors, one was painted with oil. She took one and rolled it into the smallest square she can and tucked it into her pocket. Again, being a college student back at home, treasures from the past will make you rich.

There was a faint knock at the door as Leila was sizing up a golden statue of a lion. Leila cursed under her breath and tucked the small gold bars inside the vase. She assumed the vase was a good size luggage to bring back to the 21st century.

Lord Guo Jia appeared through her chamber doors and Leila felt like screaming at the guards for letting him enter without her consent. "Master Guo Jia," Leila bowed.

"My lady." He proceeded with the proper introduction. "Our Lord Cao Cao has requested your presence at the strategy meeting today at noon."

Leila nodded and said, "I shall be there." she noticed his gaze went to her table where her breakfast was. Leila's cheeks flushed.

"I suppose money rather be in the vase as the magnolias die?" He remarked, noting how she placed gold bars in the vase.

"Ah yes. Currency sometimes liked to be wash." Leila said, almost fainted at her remark.

She could sense the chuckle from his smirk as he said, "My lady Guo. I must take my leave. I will see you at noon."

"At noon, Master Guo Jia."

"Oh and Lady Guo, do not forget your scrolls." He stated as he walked from the room.

Leila let out a huge sigh. What was next anyways? She ran to her history book and saw that Li Jue and Guo Si took the emperor captive. Cao Cao had a strong hold in Xuchang where she was and he got the Emperor secured in place. Using his name, he was able to wage war against the other warlords.

"I am assuming... Lu Bu is next." Leila said as she flipped her history book. As she continued to read, she noticed a dark point in history and gasped. Cao Cao's father was stationed elsewhere... and he was going to be murdered.

Leila bit down on her dumpling and quickly ran out to see Cao Cao, even without a presence.

"Have you seen Lord Cao Cao?" Leila asked the guard.

He shook his head.

Leila, finding him useless, ran to the harem. She knew how much he loved his ladies.

"Oh look who decided to join our ranks?" A harem lady sneered.

"Hush it or I'll treat you like the whore you are." Leila yelled back.

"Oh my! She thinks she is more powerful than we. When I birth the Emperor a son, guess whose head will be on a stake?" The harem lady pouted and all her loyal followers laughed.

She must be Emperor Xian's favorite. Leila rolled her eyes. "Oh and you think he will allow that?"

"Don't get too cocky. You have yet to prove yourself worthy. I bet you'll just end up as one of us." The other girl laughed.

"Why! I am gonna get you-"Leila ran quickly to the girl and laid a fist into the girl's face. All the surrounding girls gasped and screamed in unison.

"Lady Guo Mei Xua!" A stern lady voice fell over the harem.

Leila fell backwards and bowed to the almighty Lady Bian.

"Lady Guo, I expect you better than this. Do not harm your sisters." Lady Bian exclaimed.

"My apologies. Some words were exchanged and I, for one, like to use physical gestures." Leila lied.

Lady Bian searched her reply and sighed. "What is you want of, Lady Guo?"

"Lord Cao Cao... where is he?" She asked.

"If anything, he will be with his army, preparing for their next invasion." Lady Bian exclaimed.

Leila's heart pounded. Cao Song's death would affect everyone. She, at least, could prevent it. "I must beg your pardon.. excuse me." Leila rushed off.

As she was leaving, she heard Lady Bian say to the girl. "Go wash yourself up. A courtier would be picking one of you for the Emperor tonight."

Leila ran as fast as she could to the training grounds. She cursed Cao Cao to have such a large palace. No, not Cao Cao. The Emperor. Cao Cao was just hosting.

"My dear Lady Guo! Please pace yourself. Are you startled?" Officer Li Dian asked when Leila reached the grounds.

Leila huffing and puffing. "I'm quite alright, Li Dian. I am just looking for Lord Cao Cao."

Xiahou Dun crept up to her side and retorted, "if you're looking for our Lord, he is most likely with the Emperor Xian. The world is not at peace, as you may know." His tone of voice made Leila feel like she was in deep shit.

"Well, I have urgent news to tell him!" Leila exclaimed.

"Lord Cao Cao is in an important meeting. He is trying to get The Emperor's written decree to invade Xiapi(?)."

"Am I not of importance" She demanded.

"You are when we have a written decree." Xiahou Dun said as he turned back to his soldiers.

"Sorry Lady Guo. You just gotta wait it out. Come on! The guys can entertain ya!" Li Dian said as he looked at her.

Leila, feeling defeated, walked with him.

"What is you seek, Lady Guo?" Leila could tell by that voice anywhere. That deep, stern yet charismatic voice that was smooth as dark chocolate.

Everyone turned and bowed as did Leila. "My lord-" Leila said. She cleared her throat, about to make her statement, choosing her words wisely.

Just then, a man, on horseback, mounted quickly to the training grounds. When he got off his horse, you can see the arrows on his back as blood gushed from his orifices and he bowed but he fell on the dirt. "My lord! We have an emergency!" A messenger came.

"Tao Qian has launched an attack on your father-" Leila said as a whisper.

Cao Cao turned to face her.

"Our Lord's father, Cao Song, has been slained by Tao Qian! The traitor ambushed your father!" The messenger said.

Cao Cao turned to the messenger and back at Leila. "Help the boy." He said in a harsh tone.

Leila, frozen, stared at the bleeding boy. Was he talking to me? she asked herself. she watched the boy as he bled.

Then, the palace guards picked him up and led him to the palace.

The world spun as Leila looked around. A Buzzing sound like a bee flashed around her as sparks of white and black mixed with the sun's ray of light dwindled in front of her.

Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Li Dian, Yu Jin, Guo Jia, Cao Ren and Cao Hong, and others circled up to Cao Cao and Leila.

Cao Cao stared into the distance at the rising sun, as if Heaven betrayed him, and yelled with all his fiber of his being.

Leila's heart sunk. She was too late. Seeing him cry in bewilderment transported his feelings to her... and she fell down on her knees and cried.

She only met the man for a short time but it symbolizes that this was real. People die and this isn't a dream.