The following year brought major changes and surprises for everyone. The year 208 changed everything for the three kingdoms. It was in this year that the battle of Chi Bi was fought. This was the battle in which Shu and Wu forces aligned to defeat their common enemy, Cao Cao.
"You have to let me battle!" Fei pleaded. "It's been so long. This is going to be an important fight. Cao Cao needs me!"
Zhang He looked over at Fei; their young son was attached to his leg. "What about Ti? This will not be an easy battle. I am already risking my life by joining; we cannot risk yours as well."
"Please! I will be fine! Let me go!"
He sighed. "I cannot deny you. You may go. Just, please, stay safe. But you must also remember, I may be allowing you, but there is no telling whether or not Cao Cao will allow you. Remember, this battle is against Sun Quan."
"Yes. But what if I promise to only battle those from Shu?"
"A promise means nothing to Cao Cao."
"Someone can stay with me. They can make sure I have no interaction with Sun Quan. I have to fight this battle!"
"I will ask Cao Cao. I make no promises though, Hanna."
Cao Cao, it seemed, had finally come to easily trust Hanna. He allowed her to join the battle, but did send a guard with her to make sure she went nowhere near the enemy's main camp.
Fei stood beside her husband. They awaited the call to charge. He would stay and defend the ships, while Fei was to charge the field.
"Godspeed, my love." With that, He sent her off.
Fei ran through the ships. All of them had been chained together, by request of Pang tong. Apparently it gave them a more strategically sound field of battle.
"I don't like this," Fei said to her guard. "Something doesn't feel right."
Fei jumped off the ships onto the dry land by which the ships had been docked. She was greeted by a messenger. "Lady Hanna! A message from Cao Cao. Zhuge Liang has ascended the altar. He appears to be praying."
"Praying? What has he got up his sleeve?"
"Cao Cao asks that anyone who is able to go to the altar and try to stop him."
"Well, I am able. I guess I'll try."
With that, Fei took off, departing the messenger's side. She ran, but felt as though it was not fast enough. She did not have her horse and was therefore slowed considerably.
"Lady Hanna! To get to the altar, you have to go past the main enemy camp! I cannot allow you to go!" The guard shouted.
Fei stopped and groaned. "Fine! Then I guess we will have to swim!"
The guard groaned. "You must be joking." But as he said that, Fei had already hit the water. She was small and fast. This made her an excellent swimmer. Her guard, however, was not so lucky. "Lady Hanna! Slow down! I cannot keep up."
"We don't have enough time for that!" she yelled back and continued on.
By the time she reached land again her body ached from swimming. She gladly climbed onto land, dripping wet. She ignored her aching muscles and ran full speed to the altar.
The altar was guarded, of course. Lu Meng was the only person she recognized. She did not truly know him, however. He was a great warrior who had served the Sun family for a long time.
"I cannot allow you to go any further," he said. "Leave now or prepare for defeat."
Fei grinned. "I am always happy to accept a challenge, especially from a warrior of your caliber."
"Well, then bring it on," Both began charging. They clashed in the middle, Fei's sword against Lu Meng's spear.
"Strange… You are the first Wu warrior I have faced in battle."
"Oh? Is that so? Too bad you will not get to face more."
Fei laughed. "I would not be allowed to anyway! I really should not be facing you, but I have to face you to get to Zhuge Liang."
"Lady Hanna! You know you are not supposed to face anyone from Wu!" The guard finally had caught up with her.
Lu Meng appeared puzzled. Fei used this to her advantage, managing a blow to his chest.
He quickly recovered. "It will take more than that to take out me!" He swung at her. She ducked and managed to stick her sword into his leg.
She could see his teeth grit at the pain. She retracted the sword and was preparing for another swing, but was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Zhuge Liang from out of the altar.
"Damn! We were too late!" The guard said. "He's finished the prayer."
"Oh, it is just a prayer!" Fei laughed. "It is not as though it will do anything."
Zhuge Liang approached her. "This prayer shall call on a southeastern wind. This wind shall carry us to victory."
Fei did not know what he meant by that, but the cocky look in his eyes enraged her. Sshe swung her sword, but was blocked by Lu Meng.
Zhuge Liang's eyes went wide. His eyes were fixed on Fei's sword as it was pressed against Lu Meng's spear. "That sword! It looks so much like… Girl! Who are you?"
"My name is Hanna. I am the wife of Zhang He. I serve Cao Cao."
"There is an engraving of a dove just above the hilt of that blade, am I correct?"
Fei froze. "That is correct. How did you know?"
"That sword is stolen property of Liu Bei."
"That is a lie!" she shouted. "This sword belonged to my father! Sun Jian told me so! He would never lie to me!"
At that moment, everyone froze. Lu Meng dropped his spear. "Sun Jian? What interaction have you had with Sun Jian? Who are you truly?"
"Who am I?" Fei rose, suddenly courageous. She knew she could no longer hide. The truth had to come out. "I am Sun Fei! The lost daughter of Sun Jian!"
Lu Meng gasped. "But, no. That's impossible! Sun Fei is dead!"
"And you truly believed that? No, I was captured by Cao Cao. He forced me to hide out, change my name and hair color."
"This is wondrous news!" Lu Meng exclaimed. "Everyone will be so happy to hear that you are alive!"
"May I cut in?" Zhuge Liang said. "You say you are the adopted daughter of Sun Jian?" Fei nodded. "And your name is Fei?" Again, Fei nodded. "What were you told about your true parents?"
"I was told that I am the daughter of Sun Jian's wife's sister. I do not really know much about my father, however. I just know the sword in my hand belonged to him!"
"So, Sun Jian did not lie to you about that then. He did lie to you about your mother, however."
Fei snarled at Zhuge Liang. "What do you know of my parents?"
"You are not Hanna, nor Sun Fei. You were born Liu Fei. Your father is Liu Bei. Your mother was a servant to my lord."
"You lie!"
"No, I do not. There is no way this can be coincidence. You carry my lord's sword and you bear the name Fei. You were raised by Sun Jian. It was in Sun Jian's city that you were kidnapped and the sword was stolen."
"This cannot be…" Fei collapsed to the ground. Everyone else was staring in wonder at either Zhuge Liang or Fei.
"It must be. Liu Fei, you must join our side! Your father has searched years for you. You must come back with me."
"But I have a family! I have a husband and son! I cannot just leave them behind!"
"Liu Fei, I should inform you that you have been betrothed since birth. The man who you are betrothed to just recently saved your younger brother as well. When your father learns you are okay, you will likely be forced to marry this man."
"I cannot go with you then! My heart belongs with Zhang He, my son, and my lord Cao Cao."
"I cannot let you go so easily." Zhuge Liang whistled and motioned towards Fei, looking at Lu Meng. Before Fei could react, she was hit in the back of the head with Lu Meng's spear, causing the world to go dark.
When Fei awoke she had a sudden feeling of déjà vu. It was just like when she had awoken after being captured by Cao Cao. A man sat at the end of the bed Fei had been asleep in.
"Damn. What have I gotten myself into this time?"
"Welcome to Shu," he grinned. "Just came in here to check on you. Looks like you are awake now."
"No, I am still asleep," Fei smiled. "Anyway, who are you, where am I, and what's going on?"
The man ran a hand through his long brown hair. He had a ponytail, which instantly reminded Fei of He. His eyes were soft like He's as well. The same color too. He had a much younger face, however.
"My name is Zhao Yun. You are, well, somewhere. I'm not even sure where. I just know I was sent here to meet up with the party that was to bring you here. Now here we are in some random family's home and I am to keep watch over you."
"Do you know who I am?" Fei asked him.
"Oh no. You have lost your memory, haven't you?"
Fei laughed. "No, I was just wondering how much you had been told."
"Absolutely nothing," Zhao Yun chuckled. "So can you tell me what is going on? And who you are?"
"Well, I was at Chi Bi, fighting for Cao Cao. I ran into Zhuge Liang who informed me that I am Liu Bei's lost daughter. I refused to leave with him, Lu Meng hit me with his spear, and now, here I am!"
"You are Liu Fei?" Zhao Yun grinned. "Amazing! No wonder I was sent here to watch over you."
"What do you mean?"
"You and I were supposed to marry. Your father and my father set it up the day you were born. We were supposed to help end the fighting with our marriage. Of course, I ended up joining Liu Bei later on anyway, so the marriage ended up being unnecessary."
"Oh? So it is you? I should tell you now that I am already married and have a son!"
"I am afraid that will likely not matter in the eyes of Zhuge Liang and your father. It is likely you will be offered to me as a reward for the rescue of your brother."
Fei buried her head in her hands. She was reminded of Zhen Ji and how she had been married before Cao Pi. But Cao Pi had simply claimed her as his own. Would that happen to her?
"Okay, let us just forget about that for now. Tell me, do you know what has happened at Chi Bi?"
Zhao Yun's eyes suddenly lit. "Oh! Yes! Huang Gai set Cao Cao's ships ablaze! It was amazing! Everything worked out according to plan. Pang Tong had helped us by getting Cao Cao to link the ships together! Then Huang Gai set the ships on fire! It was devastating for Cao Cao and the allied forces were able to win!"
"So Cao Cao lost." Her words were quiet. She was worried. She had no idea what was to happen next.
"Fei?" Fei looked up. It honestly felt good to be called Fei again. "Do you hear that?"
Fei listened. It sounded like hoof beats. "Someone is here." The both of them got off the bed and ran to the window.
"It is Liu Bei!" Zhao Yun shouted. "Fei, are you ready to meet your father?"
