Chapter 10

Hefei, China 2017

"Hey Leila, do you want to try some of the bubble tea?" Meaghan said as she pour some of the juice from the blender to a cup. She carefully placed a scoop of black tea bubbles inside.

"Umm no thanks." The real Mei Xua said as she scoped about the tiny dorm kitchen. Mei Xua has been in this future about five months now. Life was different here. She had to study history and go to a school for older children.

She also had to learn how to drive a vehicle. It was scary at first and Mei Xua almost ran someone over and Meaghan had to pull the E-brake up fast. that was the last time Meaghan trusted Mei Xua to drive.

Mei Xua learned to adjust to this time. She was confused but after trying to find all possibility of making her way home, she had no choice but to give up. She was also curious about the real Leila. Glancing about Meaghan's tiny home, she pictures of Leila and her hugging each other. Leila was a clear beauty.

Her black ebony hair flown in pretty curls at the end. Her skin was porcelain but it had a hint of tan while her eyes were a shade of deep brown. Mei Xua could see her resemblance in her. They did look awfully alike.

"So what do you want to do today?" Meaghan asked.

"I dont know. I got some studying to do-" Mei Xua lied. She wanted to go to a historical site and not be accompanied by her newly made loud-mouthed friend.

"Ugh fine. Im gonna call it a night of studying as well. call me when you change your mind." She said.

Mei Xua smiled and nodded her head. she grabbed her bag and walked out of the house and into the streets of HeFei.

China, circa 197 ADZhang Liao managed to bring Leila back to the castle. She was unharmed, and she was quite comfortable even.

"Our Lord is no monster. He has a vision, you see. He is trying to put the Han back together." Leila countered.

"No, your Lord is a tyrant and wants to overthrow the weak Han Emperor and place himself on the throne!" Liao yelled at her.

Leila growled. "Wrong! Tell me why the Emperor is a guest at our Lord's estate."

"Because he is forcing the Emperor to write decrees on grounds of stating his purpose to invade lands of other warlords."

"Its their fault that they truly believe they are some Lord because they hold some province! They all have an Emperor to follow and obey not proclaim themselves as their own ruler!" Leila huffed and walked further ahead of Zhang Liao.

"There goes that spitfire." Gao Shun laughed. "You okay if we leave her here? I am positive she can find her way back to the pretty humble palace herself."

Zhang Liao looked at Leila as she walked further ahead. He stopped and turned to his comrades. "Let me see if she can, first. You may all turn back. I will follow after."

They nodded their heads and proceeded with his orders.

"Lady Guo, this is where we must part." He stated so loudly that Leila stopped her tracks.

"Part?"She asked puzzled.

"I am sure a lady of your knowledge knows how to get home safely."

"Matter of fact, I do. Thank you for company." She said as she turned around.

"Til next time-" He said but was interrupted by a neighing horse nearby.

"Winter Moon! You came back!!" Leila yelled as she hugged her beloved horse. Leila got on her horse and looked at Liao. "Before you go, Lord Lu Bu should know better than to ignore his men's advice but he's too damn stubborn and only thinks of his strength, so that will be the end of his life!" Leila yelled.

She could sense his anger as he said, "thanks for the advice, Lady Guo. Goodbye."

Leila grinned and kicked Winter Moon roughly so that she ran off at top speed.

"Lady Guo Mei Xua! Where have you been?!" Lady Bian yelled when Leila entered through the servant's headquarters.

Leila groaned. This will never end.

"Lady Yin has said you ran off trying to ride. It is well in the evening and you just arrived. You missed afternoon tea, your tutor sessions with Lady Yin, and music lessons. I will have to report you to our Lord!" Lady Bian yelled.

"My apologies, my lady. There was a rain spring and I didn't - couldn't travel in such conditions. By the time it cleared and I could come back, it was late. I apologize, respectfully." Leila looked at the sneer from Lady Yin and frowned.

Lady Bian did a glance over at Leila and sighed. "You're excuse. Someone, get her dry and a fresh pair robes. We will continue your studies tomorrow." She turned to Lady Yin and said, "You may retire for the evening, Lady Yin. Goodnight, ladies." And with that, Lady Bian got up and left Leila alone with her two handmaidens.

She almost noticed the tiredness and weariness that a young lady of thirty six could have on the rested shoulders of Lady Bian. Leila almost pitied the lady. However, she was Lord Cao's favorite and with it, she had the honors of overseeing the harem as well as the children.

Children. Leila shivered. That was her future. Marriage. She closed her eyes again. No, it will not happen. I refused. Leila thought to herself. She returned to the present, shivering.

"My lady, you are cold. Let's bring you in a hot bath." Her handmaiden, Ling, said as she gathered Leila in her arms.

That did sound lovely. A nice hot bath after a battle with mother nature.

Spring 194 AD

It was dead in the night when a loud bang erupted from the front chambers. A forceful bang erupted again, just this time very loudly from the last.

A handmaiden came in Leila's room and slowly lit a candle.

"What's that noise?" Leila whispered.

"Someone is at the front door! A guard will see to it." Ling said as she covered the light from the candle.

Leila got up from her bed, and went to her dressing corner. She gathered an outer robe and covered herself completely, tying the sash well.

"My lady, please. it is not safe." Ling quietly said.

"Shh- You stay here.. I can protect myself." Leila said as she grabbed the sword her father left her.

The banging from the front brass door became louder and thicker as she walked along the long corridors and almost reaching the entryway.

Guards lined up along the walls. Cao Cao did leave a few officers behind, probably to be safe since someone can try to attack homebase.

"My lady, Please return to your chambers." A guard said.

"No." Leila sternly said. She grabbed her sword. "Let them in." She turned to one of Cao's officers, Cao Ren.

"Open the front door."

With that, all guards raised their weapons as the lock on the door lifted up. The brass door swung open as soldiers emerge within.

"Zhang Miao betrayed Lord Cao! He has given up Yan province to Lu Bu. Lu Bu declared himself Governor because of this betrayal! We have fought and fought but the officers have given up and sided with Lord Lu Bu. We need to alert our Lord!" An elite soldier bowed his head.

Leila looked around the room. Murmurs all about, people running about, worried. She almost cursed herself.

It was without a doubt Zhang Liao told Lu Bu about the campaign against Xu that they seized the opportunity to take Yan. But why Zhang Miao? Why?

"Silence, everyone!" The chatter stopped as they looked at her. "Answer me. Who persuaded Zhang Miao?"

"A man named... Chen Gong."

Leila looked about the room.. Cao's old comrade. "You!" She pointed at an Elite guard. "Go, grab five of you. Run to Xu Province. Tell Lord Cao Cao of this urgency. He needs to retreat. Meet me at the sheds. We must stop Lu Bu."

"Lady Guo, a woman's place is within the palace, studying." Lady Bian stated.

"No- not when war is present!" She said as she ran to the shed. Winter Moon was bored and so was she.

Ling met her with the armor at the shed and she slipped into it perfectly.

"Fits like a glove." Leila smiled.

Maybe her father knew all along that boredom was not her style.