A/N: Many thanks for the reviews! I hope this story lives up to your expectations! ^_^ The capture of Zhen Ji in this story happened during the battle of Guan Du and not in the attack on the city of Ye Jun. As you've read in the previous chapter, I didn't follow the actual events in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. So can we forget whatever we read in the novel (for a while) and pretend that this happened? It's just a fan fiction, after all. ^_^; Disclaimer: Characters depicted in the story aren't mine. They belong to Koei and W-Force.
Of Exquisite Beauty
"I shall play a requiem for you." Lady Zhen Ji stood proud and breathtakingly beautiful as she placed her flute beneath her full lower lip. The mournful notes from her Dark Moon Flute echoed through the massive walls of the burning castle. Their forces were undoubtedly being pushed back by the more powerful Wei Army. And perhaps, the elegy she was playing was for the Yuan Family and not for Wei.
"Lady Zhen, you must flee!" A soldier cried as he withdrew his sword from a Wei soldier's lifeless body. He ran toward Zhen Ji and stopped in front of her; he has sworn to protect his Lord Yuan Xi's wife. And that's what he was going to do until he breathes his last. "Lady Zhen, please!" He called over his shoulder.
Zhen Ji remained deaf to the soldier's pleas as she continued playing. She will never leave the castle. It wasn't because she has deep attachments to it and its residents. No. In fact, she hated the Yuan dwelling. And the despicable family who resided in it. It was honor that kept her from running away. She was once part of this family and she will stay until the last of their stronghold falls. No one may bear witness to her loyalty but she knew, deep within her heart, that she has repaid the Yuan Family. They have given her shelter after all, clothed her, and fed her. The only thing she could do for them was to fight with them until the end.
She closed her eyes as the music for the dead reverberated through the castle.
The Yuan Regime was finally going to end. For this, she was neither glad nor distraught. She merely felt… numb. After all, Zhen Ji was used; was forcefully taken from her home and was wed to Yuan Shao's second son. When the Lord Yuan Xi had gotten tired of her, she was discarded like common trash while he pursued another woman for a concubine. Here, she was left alone to fend for herself and fight against the powerful Wei Army.
She accepted all of these for she knew women have always been treated that way. And perhaps, it will be the same treatment for the years to come. But…
Zhen Ji has always longed for freedom from the suffocating walls of the palace, longed to go back to her home where her family waited for her return. The fall of the Yuan Family would undoubtedly grant her this long coveted freedom.
And she will never let anyone take it away from her!
She opened her eyes, determination burning within their depths. She won't let the Wei Army destroy the palace. She will do it herself, and will take as many enemy soldiers as she can with its downfall. An ear-piercing note rang out of her flute, causing the enemy soldiers around her to breakdown from the unbearable high pitched sound. This also caused the walls and ceiling to shake. The building will soon collapse, and they must flee.
"Run!" She shouted to her bodyguards and led the way to the nearest open castle doors. Burning wooden debris started to fall as the flames quickly devoured the palace. Cries from fallen warriors were drowned by the sound of crashing walls. Zhen Ji blocked the horrible cries around her, silently praying for their souls to their deity. The castle doors finally appeared in her view. Just a few steps away, and freedom shall be hers.
The cold wind of dusk kissed her warm cheeks as they ran outside the palace walls. Freedom… She could almost taste its sweetness. She looked back at the burning castle. The castle will fall just like the sun as it sets in the horizon. All those years of misery for being locked up in that massive prison disappeared along with the ashes. She smiled, and how long it has been since she last did.
"Well, hello, Lady Zhen Ji. So good to see you again." An achingly familiar voice suddenly spoke behind her. Zhen Ji froze. It couldn't be! She has gotten rid of him! Then how…? She shook her head in disbelief. Has he returned to assist the crumbling Yuan Regime? Was he that loyal to Yuan Shao?! She quickly spun around to face her nemesis.
The golden butterfly etched on his breastplate reflected the flames from the burning castle before them, bathing his beautiful face with warm light. He sat tall and proud on his white steed. His Phoenix Talons gleamed wickedly from the light. As always, no emotion on his face can be read. Yet something burned deep in his eyes. Anger? Perhaps. Zhen Ji couldn't tell.
"Lord Zhang He!" A soldier cried in relief, obviously unaware that Zhang He has been banished from their force. "Have you come to aid us?"
"Oh, thank the gods! Lord Zhang He has returned!"
"Lord Zhang He!"
Zhang He ignored the approving soldiers as he watched Zhen Ji take a few steps back. But she quickly collected herself and stopped. He knew she didn't want to show him that she feared him. She stood before him, beautiful and calm, as if nothing happened between them, as if she never wronged him. She appeared to be the very personification of serenity.
But he knew better. Her hands, which were folded in front of her, were slightly trembling. The Lady Zhen knew of the callousness of the warrior Zhang He. She was right to be afraid of him.
"The Wei Forces are advancing." Zhang He finally spoke. His gaze fell on the remaining soldiers before him. All of them were listening intently to him, for they respected his abilities and strength. He was once the best warrior of Yuan Shao, after all. "The Yuan Regime is falling. You have no choice but to flee." His dark eyes met Zhen Ji's. "I will take Lady Zhen to safety."
The soldiers quickly murmured their agreement. The Lord Zhang He was terribly strong, able to protect their lady when the need arises. Their Lady Zhen Ji will be in good and dependable hands.
"You have my gratitude, Lord Zhang He, but I must decline your offer." Zhen Ji finally spoke up, her cool mask back in place. There was a stubborn tilt to her chin as she looked up at Zhang He. "I am capable of taking care of myself." With that announcement, she turned and walked off.
The soldiers were aghast at her reaction. It was the first time they heard the Lady Zhen blatantly disobey an order. An order from a powerful general at that. They quickly turned around to apologize to Zhang He for their lady's behavior. But were quite taken aback to see amusement lighting up his eyes instead of anger.
Zhang He shook his head. "Go." He ordered the soldiers. "I'll take care of her." He then led his horse to the path Zhen Ji took.
The rough path was flanked by tall trees on both sides. It was a perfect place for an enemy ambush. Zhen Ji quickened her pace. Maybe she should have ridden with Lord Zhang He... No! She shook her head. She never considered him an ally the first moment she laid her eyes on the beautiful Zhang He. There was something about him that made her quite wary. She found herself always alert whenever he was around.
It was as if those slanted dark eyes of his could see through her cool disposition. See inside her.
She shivered. Why was she so afraid of him? She somehow knew he wasn't going to hurt her. The rumors about him, which were even nasty at times, never included him being a woman-beater. He was quite popular with the women in the Yuan dwelling and was fondly called the Beautiful Enchanter before. So there was really no reason to fear him. Except in the battlefield.
Still, there was something in him that was quite… predatory.
"Are you going to be stubborn all night?" Zhen Ji visibly jumped when she heard Zhang He beside her. Too immersed in her own thoughts, she never heard the galloping hooves of the warrior's horse behind her. If it were the enemy, she could have been killed by now. "It's not safe for a beautiful woman like you to walk alone, especially in a time like this." Zhang He continued. The lady beside him still refused to speak. "When Lord Cao Cao finds you, he will take you for himself and make you his wife."
That got Zhen Ji's attention. No! She won't let that happen again. She has suffered enough in Yuan Xi's hands. She'd rather not repeat the experience. She looked up at the long haired warrior. "You mean, you're taking me with you? Are you truly going to help me escape?"
Zhang He was silent for a moment. He merely stared at her. Then he suddenly shook his head as if something about her displeased him. When he finally spoke, his voice was quite flat. "Don't get me wrong. I now serve Lord Cao Cao." Zhen Ji's eyes grew wide. He has defected to the enemy! "Your fate with Wei would undoubtedly be the same one when you were brought to the Yuan Family."
"Then I refuse to accept that fate!" Zhen Ji cried out, her eyes flashing with anger. "I will not be forced into submission again!" Freedom was but a stone's throw away. She will never let anyone take it away from her!
Zhang He merely sat, staring at her for a moment. He was quite surprised at her passionate reply. During his stay in the Yuan dwelling, and the few moments he's seen her, Zhen Ji appeared to be meek and obedient. A perfect wife, his fellow generals would say. He scoffed. Yes, a perfect wife for those who led a dull life.
Zhen Ji was flushing with anger. And he found it quite… endearing. Perhaps he could see more of this fiery side of her?
"Never thought I'd see such fire in you." He smirked. "I take it you weren't happy with the late Lord Yuan Xi?" His dark eyes bore on hers. "Why is that, may I ask? Didn't he please you… in bed?" The smirk was still there, as a pitying look settled in his eyes. "Or perhaps, it was the other way around?"
Her eyes grew wide then quickly turned into angry slits. Zhen Ji seethed with rage as she fisted her hands on her sides. Never in her life has she hated another human being as much as she hated Zhang He right now. How dare he say such things to her?! She choked as an unfamiliar lump formed in her throat.
He knew. Zhen Ji gritted her teeth as she turned and continued walking away from him. And perhaps the whole castle knew of her failure. She knew that she has been laughingly called the Ice Maiden behind her back. Because she was incapable of responding to her husband during their intimate moments.
It bothered her before, yes. But not as much as it did now. Zhang He throwing that sordid fact to her face almost made her lash at him with rage. She used all her willpower to stop herself from attacking him. Zhang He's knowledge of her disability shouldn't bother her.
But it did.
Zhang He scratched his head. Now what? What was she getting all huffy all of a sudden? Surely his jest about her marriage couldn't have offended her.
She heard him sigh behind her as he continued to follow her. "I apologize." The words were barely a whisper. He cleared his throat and tried again; Zhen Ji couldn't believe he has spoken them. Then again, she could be wrong. She stopped and whirled around.
"What?" She demanded.
Zhang He frowned as he dismounted from his horse. "You heard me." He took the reins and led the horse toward her. "Here." The handsome warrior held out the reins to her. Zhen Ji looked at him suspiciously, refusing to accept his offering of his white steed. Sighing impatiently, Zhang He grabbed her left hand and dumped the reins on it, mumbling something under his breath about women and their unreasonable qualms. "Take this and flee. Before any of the Caos see you."
For the first time in her life, Zhen Ji was speechless. Zhang He nodded toward her and turned to leave. "T-Thank you." She finally called out to his retreating form. If he heard her or not, she didn't know for he gave no sign. He simply left.
Zhen Ji quickly collected herself and mounted on the horse. Her heart started to beat faster as she galloped out of the forest. Freedom… she can finally go back home. But first, she has to get out of Guan Du. And in order to do that, she has to go past enemy soldiers. Her grip on her Dark Moon Flute tightened. She swung her weapon around her as she galloped past enemy soldiers.
"Halt! You will go no further!" A powerful voice called out to her. She didn't dare look back but continued on to her escape. She leaned forward on the saddle, urging the horse to gallop faster.
Please, please, let me escape, she silently prayed.
But her prayers went unanswered. She felt someone grab her arm and was roughly hauled off her horse. She bit her lip to prevent herself from crying out in pain as her captor's fingers grasped on her flesh; as the small of her back slammed against his breastplate.
"And what do we have here?" Her captor sneered as he settled her on his lap. "One of Yuan Shao's concubines, no doubt?" He placed his rough fingers under her chin and forced her to look at him. And was taken aback by the sheer loveliness of his captive. Although her face was covered with dust and dirt, her beauty was still apparent. His sneering quickly turned into admiration.
She avoided her eyes, which pleased him immensely for it meant that she has accepted that she was his. Her skin was ivory white, soft and flawless. Her lips full, though quite trembling. And her body… she has the curves on the right places.
He could stare at her forever.
"Lord Cao Pi," a soldier called from behind them, "what shall we do with her?"
Cao Pi, their Lord Cao Cao's son, looked back at his captive then to the soldiers around him. "No one touches her. She is mine." He announced. "She will be given my protection for I will soon make her my wife!"
His announcement was met by cheers from his army.
At that particular moment, Zhang He appeared. Zhen Ji, though with her head bowed down, caught the tall frame of Zhang He at the corner of her eye. She discreetly took a quick glance at him and winced. There was exasperation etched on his beautiful face before he quelled it to nonchalance. After all the things he's done for her so that she could escape…
"Zhang He!" Zhen Ji was surprised when the man behind her suddenly called the lithe warrior. She tensed. Did he notice their silent communication?
"Yes, my lord?" Zhang He stepped forward and swept Cao Pi a flamboyant bow.
"The warhorse this woman was using belonged to you." Cao Pi remarked, his eyes narrowing toward Zhang He. There were certain distinctions, marks, put on the horses which were used by the Wei Forces. It was done for easy identification, and this was how Cao Pi noticed that the horse Zhen Ji rode was Zhang He's. "Explain how she got it from you. Has she beaten you in battle?"
Zhang He lied without skipping a beat. "Aye, my lord. She has beaten me in battle." He dramatically placed a hand on his chest. "I found myself unable to mar such exquisite beauty with my deadly talons. After all, I'm a lover of everything beautiful." His gazed flicked over to Zhen Ji, who was staring at him incredulously, then back to Cao Pi. "And I must say what I did was right since you found her much to your liking. What more can uplift a man's ego than a lovely wife decorated by his side?"
Cao Pi nodded his acceptance of Zhang He's explanation. If there's a weakness in Zhang He's skills, it was beauty. The eccentric warrior loved and respected that particular abstract. Cao Pi looked at his timid captive. The woman still refused to look at him. Afraid of him? Perhaps.
Zhang He bowed yet again before Cao Pi and turned to leave. But before he could take another step, his Lord's son called him again. "I hear you served under Yuan Shao before. Do you know this woman?"
Zhang He took a quick glance at Zhen Ji and nodded. "She's the late Lord Yuan Xi's wife. Lady Zhen Ji."
"Zhen Ji, eh?" Cao Pi looked at his captive again. His breath caught yet again at her sheer attractiveness. This woman was dangerous to his sanity. He looked back at Zhang He. "I want you to ride with her, for a familiar face could ease her fears of me and of Wei." Cao Pi waited until Zhang He nodded his detached acquiescence. Without dismounting, he settled Zhen Ji on her feet. Zhang He avoided looking at her and she to him as he led her to his horse.
Zhang He assisted Zhen Ji as she mounted on the large horse. He then seated himself behind her. And the march toward the main camp began.
"You're an idiot for getting captured again." Zhen Ji's head shot up, bumping Zhang He's chin in the process. He swore softly but refrained from rubbing his chin. All eyes were on them, he was sure. Especially on the beautiful woman before him. So any obvious gestures he does will be questioned.
"I'm sorry." Zhen Ji whispered, lowering her head once again. "Please help me escape again." She shut her eyes for her vision of being free was getting dim. And she knew what Zhang He's answer will be.
"That's impossible. We are being watched."
Zhen Ji sighed.
"Why didn't you fight him when he seized you?" Zhang He asked through gritted teeth. If the soldiers around him noticed that he was speaking to her, he will be suspect of having interest in her even though she was already spoken for. And that will not bode well. For him. "Where was the fire you showed me a while back?"
She was silent for a minute. Then she answered. "I… I thought if I showed him I was cold… that I was the Ice Maiden, he'll lose his interest in me." Just like Yuan Xi did. "I guess I was wrong."
"Ice Maiden?" Zhang He asked incredulously. "What nonsense are you talking about now?"
It took all of Zhen Ji's will not to look behind her, at him, to see the expression on his handsome face. Was he telling the truth? Didn't he really know? "It's nothing."
Zhang He snorted. "Nevertheless, being cold to Lord Cao Pi won't change a thing. He has seen you and has fallen for your beauty." He frowned. "And he will make you his wife." Somehow, the fact didn't sit well with him. The Lady Zhen marrying again. He shook his head. It was probably sympathy he was feeling.
"This face of mine is a curse rather than a gift."
"Couldn't agree more." Zhang He mumbled behind her.
And then, there was silence.
Zhen Ji broke it with another sigh. "I'm truly indebted to you. For helping me escape before."
Zhang He scoffed. "Don't think I've forgiven you for what you did to me while I was serving under the Yuan Army." Zhen Ji's hair prickled when she detected the steel edge in his voice. Her heart started to beat faster, a bead of sweat ran down her face as he lowered his head toward her. "It was interesting… that rumor you spread." He growled low in his throat. "About us."