Disclaimer: Characters depicted in the story aren't mine. They belong to Koei and W-Force.
Of Exquisite Beauty
"Are you going to sleep the day away or what?" Zhen Ji slowly opened her eyes and stretched languorously on the bed as Zhang He sat beside her, leaning over her with an amused expression on his face. "I've been waiting for you to wake up," he grinned when she focused her slumberous gaze on him, "I've been out to the village and back four times now."
"What time is it?" was her sleepy reply.
"It's almost noon."
She bolted upright, narrowly missed hitting Zhang He's nose had he not quickly moved back out of her way. She clutched the blanket to her chest as her gaze shot to the open window, "What? It's that late already?"
Zhang He took in her disheveled appearance, her flushed cheeks and her reddish lips which were swollen due to his kisses, and thought that she had never looked more beautiful to him before than right at that moment. He felt the familiar stirring in his loins and quickly clamped it down. It wouldn't do good if he acted on his pleasures again. Instead, he shot her a worried glance, his eyes dancing in mock innocence as he said, "I didn't. . . tire you last night, did I, my lady?"
A pillow thrown to his grinning face was the answer he got. Zhen Ji stood up, wrapped the blanket around her body, and walked toward the closet to get fresh clothes. Aware of Zhang He's eyes on her, she turned around to look at him, "I'd appreciate it if you'd look away while I dressed." She was able to say it calmly, almost nonchalantly, but the mischievous smile that crossed Zhang He's face didn't buy her forced indifference.
"Why? I've already seen all of you."
Zhen Ji harrumphed. "If you'd just stop looking at me so intently. . ." She bit her lip and her face turned crimson. She had never before dressed in front of a man, not even in front of Yuan Xi. He had always left her alone after taking her to bed and retreated to his own chambers for the rest of the night. It was during that time that she would quietly don her clothes, clean herself of his scent, and return back to bed, thinking when Yuan Xi would tire of her, when he would stop using her.
And it was also during that time that she would console herself, tell herself that this was what having a cursed beauty always brought. Pain and dishonor. For she was always sought by many yet was only to be used like a trinket to enhance the pride and popularity of a man. She was never to be treated like a human being, but like a porcelain doll to be shown off to feed the envy of other men. And it was the nights that she was most wary of. For it was then that Yuan Xi forced himself on her, released his pent-up desires on her. And it's all because of her wretched beauty.
But that was her fate and she had learned to accept it.
"Don't be afraid of yourself, Ji," Zhang He said soberly after a long silence, making Zhen Ji think that he had once again read her mind. She looked up and found Zhang He still sitting on the bed, yet his gaze was fixed on the window. "You are the most exquisite woman I've ever laid eyes on," he continued, "And I'm sure a lot of men would agree." He turned his head and fixed his dark gaze on her, an emotion she could not clearly define flashed in his eyes, and then it was gone. "You have to be proud of your gift, not view it as a curse."
"But it is a curse," she replied vehemently, "Those men. . . Those men who tried to harm me before. . . It was me that has made them act so thoughtlessly."
"No, it's a gift," he countered softly, "Your hurtful experiences with men who only thought of you as a mere object of desire made you think otherwise." He shook his head and sighed, "It wasn't your fault, Ji."
"My. . . fault?"
"These men turning into beasts just so they could have you," Jun Yi explained, frowning as he remembered the countless stories he heard about the Lady Zhen almost being raped by overzealous soldiers had she not known how to fight, to fend for herself, "It's not your fault that they were so shallow, so weak."
Zhen Ji stared at him in surprised confusion. How could he have known how she felt? With the short time they spent together, he had seen right through her icy façade, had scoffed at her aloofness, and had found the passionate woman who had been resting beneath her calm exterior. No one had attempted to look pass her hauteur. For the people around her, Lady Zhen Ji was but their unfeeling doll, their detached empress. But for Zhang He, she was a woman, and an equal.
And she loved him for that.
"I'll protect you," Zhen Ji looked up when she heard him speak again. His dark gaze held hers for a long time, Zhen Ji felt herself being drawn to him deeper and deeper. "You may not like my stratagems but I swear I will protect you from these beasts."
Zhen Ji watched when Zhang He finally stood up and walked toward her. She gave no resistance when he enfolded her in his strong arms and pulled her toward him, his head dipping as he kissed her. She had never believed in men, but Zhang He taught her differently. He was the first who she actually trusted.
I'll protect you, his words rang in her mind. Aye, she knew he would. And she only hoped that he was acting on his own and not because he was ordered to do so.
As she was about to wrap her arms around his neck, he tore his mouth away from her and stepped back. After breathing in to regain his control, he looked back at her and smiled at her bemused expression. "You better dress up, my lady," he said scooping down to retrieve the blanket that she dropped to the floor and wrapped it around her, "I'll take you out to the village for something to eat. I bet you're starving."
At the mere mention of food, Zhen Ji heard her stomach grumble. Zhang He chuckled and kissed her forehead. He then moved back and walked toward the door. "I'll wait for you outside," he said before he stepped out of the room.
'I'll protect you' eh? Zhang He scoffed at himself as he stepped outside their cottage. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. How he could have promised her such a thing was beyond him. He was barely stopping himself from losing control and yet he still claimed responsibility for her? Aye, he knew he could protect her from the others. But who was going to protect her from him?
* * *
Zhen Ji reached for the other side of the bed and realized that it was empty. She sat up and looked around the room. The full moon hung brightly in the dark sky, bathing the small room with a soft light. Where was Zhang He? She thought as she sat in the stillness of the night.
She and Zhang He walked around the village that afternoon, enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of Jie Shi and the lively company of its villagers. It was the first time they were seen outside together. And a married couple who they had recently met had no qualms about pointing that out to them. Zhang He smiled impishly, draped an arm across Ji's shoulders, and told them that their nights had always been busy that one of them usually had to sleep in late because of exhaustion. The couple laughed when they saw Zhen Ji glare at him, a faint blush staining her cheeks.
"You must really love your wife!" The man said laughingly and both did not miss the ambiguousness of his statement.
"Aye, I do," was Zhang He's simple reply. And to prove to them how much he loved her, he swept her up her feet, winked at the couple, and carried a silently fuming Zhen Ji back to their cottage.
Her fury, however, was forgotten when he gently placed her on their bed, kissed her tenderly, and started to undress her. This power he held over her, it was frightening. Yet, curiously, she wasn't afraid anymore. She loved the man wholeheartedly and knew that there was nothing to fear about him.
She just sincerely wished that he loved her back.
Zhen Ji stepped out of the cottage, looking around for any sign of Zhang He. Where was he? She wondered and walked around the sleeping village, with the moon as her only source of light. The soft splash of the waves as they hit the shore was the only sound that shattered the silence in the area. The refreshing sea breeze played with her long dark hair as she strolled toward the rear of the village. As she rounded on a corner, she saw Zhang He standing by the deep well, speaking to someone in low tones. Zhen Ji was about to walk toward him but stopped when she recognized the person he was talking to.
"Going back to Wei, are you?" It was Zhao Yun.
"Aye, first thing tomorrow morning," Zhang He quickly replied. Zhen Ji paused and sighed. So, they were finally going back to the army tomorrow. Their time together in the village had come to an end. But why hadn't he told her? And why plan ahead without consulting her first? She was about to step out to make herself known but the mention of her name stopped her.
"And the Lady Zhen?"
"What about her?" was He's nonchalant answer as he shrugged. "We'll go as planned. I'll leave her to your capable hands. She wouldn't like this sudden arrangement but. . . be assured, she won't know what's happening until it's too late."
Zhen Ji paled. Still, she remained to listen. What arrangement? What was he planning? Was he planning to sell her out to Shu? No! There must be a misunderstanding and she was staying until she found out what He meant.
"Gotten tired of her already?" Zhao Yun chuckled.
There was a long silence before Zhang He spoke up again, "Goes to show I don't see anything beyond the surface, eh?" He sighed out loud and Ji can almost imagine him reverting back to his old self, the cold blooded, flamboyant general of Wei, "I am, after all, a lover of everything beautiful."
Zhao Yun detected a hint of sarcasm in the Wei warrior's voice and narrowed his eyes, "Will you deliver Lady Zhen Ji to me tomorrow personally?"
"You must be joking!" Zhang He laughed at the mere thought of it, "After this treachery I'm pulling, do you think I would want to take her to you?" He shook his head, his shoulders still shaking with mirth, "You would have to raid our cottage, my friend. But don't expect to see me when you do that. I'd be long gone by then."
Zhen Ji's knuckles went white as she clenched her fist. She weakly leaned on the wall for support, afraid that her knees would give in at the information she had accidentally stumbled upon. Zhang He, the man she loved, the man she had trusted, really was going to betray her! He had said so himself!
"And when I return to Wei," Zhang He was saying, "I will show the Cao Family her headdress. I shall tell them that I have failed in my duty to protect her and that she was dead."
"But wouldn't your failure stain your name as a peerless warrior?"
"My name has already been soiled the moment I decided to act on this plan," He said solemnly, "I'm doing this purely for personal reasons. I don't know if Ji would forgive me for this but I do hope she would one day."
Forgiveness? Zhen Ji almost choked. He was asking for her forgiveness? That treacherous snake! How dare he even think that she would after--? Zhen Ji's thoughts were cut off when she heard Jun Yi chuckle, a sound that reeked of malevolence that Zhen Ji found herself gagging. How could she have even been in love with a lowly bastard like him?
"I should get a reward for this, you know?"
Zhao Yun scoffed, "You don't deserve a single cent after this scheme of yours. I should be the one who receives just compensation."
This time, both of them laughed. And Zhen Ji felt really sick. She turned around and fled, careful of any sound that might alert the two devious rats. Yet due to her hasty departure and the darkness of the night, she didn't notice a clay pot that was standing in her way. She stumbled upon it and expelled a tiny gasp as it crashed on it side. When the laughter behind her stopped, she quickly got to her feet and ran toward the forest.
Zhang He and Zhao Yun stilled when they heard the noise behind one of the cottages. Was someone spying on them? The Wei General quickly leaped on the cottage's roof and scanned the area. Due to the darkness, he almost missed the figure that was running away from where he stood. Long dark hair ran down the person's back. He was quite in a hurry to leave as if the devil himself chased after him. He was about to ignore the whole thing when he did a double take. The person running toward the forest suspiciously looked like. . .
Zhao Yun's head snapped up when he heard Zhang He swear in a vicious streak. He never knew that the nonchalant warrior had such a colorful vocabulary. Zi Long watched in amusement as the lithe warrior jumped down from the cottage and sprinted after the spy. Based on the eccentric warrior's actions, he would bet his right arm that the person he was chasing was Lady Zhen herself.
"I guess the mission's aborted, eh, Jun Yi?" he called laughingly after the Wei General.
"Shut the hell up!" was his rather discourteous answer.
* * *
Where in damnation was she? Zhang He swore as he stopped on a tree branch and surveyed the area. A slight movement on the corner of his eyes caught his attention, he quickly swiveled to that direction and sprang forward. By the deity, if he lost her now. . .
Zhen Ji continued to run, dodging low branches and hanging vines as she looked for a safe place to hide. She wasn't prepared to confront him yet. She must first think of a plan to outwit him. She spouted unladylike curses. Zhang He was a dangerous enemy. Not only was he well-known for his cunning mind, but he was also known for his strength and skill. She gritted her teeth. What a fool she was! How could she have fallen for someone like him?
She looked behind her to see if Zhang He was following her and sighed in relief when he wasn't. The shock of discovering Jun Yi's treachery was fast turning into dark rage. How dare he use her? He was as bad as the others. No, he was worse! At least the others were honest enough with their feelings toward her. They desired her and showed it, but that was all there was to it. While he played with her weaknesses, acted like he was a friend, pretended that he cared. But all for what? To get himself in her bed? And then get rid of her now that he's tired of her?
Light footsteps behind her pulled her out of her reverie. She looked back and realized that Zhang He was now right behind her. "Ji! Wait! You don't understand!"
"Stop following me!" She cried angrily, increasing her already fast pace.
"Then stop running away!" was Zhang He's exasperated response, easily catching up with her now that he had found her. No way was he going to let her go again.
To her utter horror, he caught her. The impact made them both fall. They rolled down the slope of the uneven forest ground, with Zhang He taking the brunt of it. He wrapped his arms around her, and acted like a cushion until they stopped, knocking the breath out of them for a second. When Zhen Ji recovered, she tried to get away from him. He cursed under his breath and rolled on top of her, effectively pinning her down and taking away her freedom of movement.
"Get off me!" She screamed and tried to push him away. He caught her arms and pressed them on the ground. Seeing that she could not physically do him harm anymore, she attacked verbally. "You snake! I was a fool to trust you!" she shouted, "How could you even plot something so vile behind my back? You deceitful bastard, I hate---"
"Damn it! I did it for you!" Zhang He yelled back, finally losing his patience with her. Ji stared back at him in astonishment. She had never seen nor heard him get angry before. It was a rather interesting sight to behold. But then, she was livid so she fought right back.
"You did it for yourself!" she hissed, buckling her body to get him off her, "Let me go!"
"No, I won't," He answered through clenched teeth. Ji glared at him in response. He sighed and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath at the same time to calm himself down. When he looked back at her, he was in control of his emotions once again, "There's no way I'm going to let you go now. You mean too much to me."
His words almost melted her anger. But he was a man she could no longer trust, she reminded herself. She wasn't going to believe the lies that were coming out of his eloquent mouth. So she didn't bother to reply.
"You don't believe me," Zhang He said quietly, a vulnerable look flashed in his eyes before he quelled it down to a blank look.
Zhen Ji shut her eyes when she saw fleeting emotion that crossed his handsome features. No, she didn't want to feel anything for him. "Why should I? You're a liar."
"No, Ji, I never lied to you," there was a little hint of alarm when he answered. "I may have lied for you but never to you."
"Really?" was her cold, uncaring reply.
"Ji, no, don't shut me out," he pleaded softly with her. But it was already too late. The dark eyes that met Zhang He's were detached, unfeeling. They were the same eyes that she always had back in Yuan, haunted, distant, and lonely. "Damn you, Ji! Don't do this!" his jaw clenched, "Don't think I've forgiven you for what you did to me back in Yuan!"
"Ah, so that's why you betrayed me. It was to get back at me, wasn't it?" Anger flashed in her eyes but it quickly disappeared, and Zhang He was encouraged by it. If he wanted her back with him, the only way was to anger her. At least anger was better than indifference.
"I just thought it was time to make the rumors you spread back in Yuan about us true. Don't you think so?"
Again, there was a flash of anger but Ji didn't reply.
"Yet, I still wonder why you told everyone that we were sleeping together that time," He looked at her and met her dark glare, "Was it to prove to everyone that you were no Ice Maiden or. . ?" The words died in his lips when he remembered the times he saw the Lady Zhen back in Yuan. She was cold and aloof, had always avoided him as if she hated the mere sight of him. He had tried to befriend her since she was his lord's wife but to no avail. He had concluded that she truly hated him but couldn't figure out why. He had done nothing to her, so why was she being hostile?
Everything changed when he met her again in Guan Du. That was the first time he had a glimpse of the woman behind her calm exterior, saw the passionate woman who had always longed for her freedom. He was intrigued by her but he decided to let her go. A big mistake since it delivered her right to Cao Pi's hands.
It was then that he couldn't stop thinking of the woman that was Lady Zhen. He admitted that he was fascinated by her but he also knew that it was wrong. She was forbidden to any other man but Cao Pi. That was why he tried to get away from his duty, tried to ignore her whenever it was possible. It was done to suppress the growing attraction he had for her. But. . .
Zhang He focused back on her, his eyes widening slightly as realization sunk in. Could it be? Was that the same reason why she avoided him before? Why she never acknowledged him whenever they passed by each other? Why she kept on ignoring him?
It was called self-preservation, wasn't it?
"You spread those rumors about us to get rid of me, didn't you?" There was no accusation in his eyes, only mild curiosity. And Zhen Ji wondered what he was thinking all this time that led him to that question. But yes, he was right. She did it for her own sake. The man, she had to admit, was too astute for his own good.
"You're heavy," Ji said instead of answering him, "Get off me. I'm---"
"As confused as you are," he continued for her. He released her arms and eased himself off her for a bit, "Ji, this deal I made with Zhao Yun. It was to protect you, not to betray you." When she remained silent, he went on, "I wanted him to look after you while I'm gone, while I prove to everyone back in Wei that you have perished. So that no one from that army would bother you anymore."
You may not like my stratagems but I swear I will protect you from these beasts.
His words echoed in her confused mind. Had he meant every word? Was he truly willing to sacrifice his name, make the country remember him as a failure, for her?
"After receiving punishment from Wei," he continued, "I was to quit the army and come back here to get you. We will assume different names and live as normal people just like here in Jie Shi." He sighed, "I'm aware that I'm acting selfishly but. . ."
"Why. . ?" Ji asked, her heart beating wildly in her chest. She didn't know why she believed him after what happened, why she wanted to trust him again. She just somehow knew that he was telling her the truth. That in fact, he himself might have fallen for her. "Why would you do this for me?"
"I. . . I honestly don't know," he answered and avoided her eyes, missing the look of disappointment that crossed her face. "I just wanted to be with you, I guess," he confessed ruefully.
Zhen Ji looked back at him. Well, that was no declaration of love but at least he felt something for her. Desperate fool that she was, Zhen Ji was going to grab onto that little hope that he sparked inside her heart. If he hadn't learned to love her, then she would teach him. She was hopelessly in love with the man and she would do anything to keep him by her side. And for that, she would forgive him for his oversight.
"Just. . . don't start planning without consulting me first, all right?"
"Ji. . ."
"And you need not return to Wei," she focused on a spot on his chest, "If you just asked me, I would have agreed with your plan."
Something flashed in his eyes again. "You mean. . ?" he started then frowned, "But I thought you wanted to return to Wei?"
"That's because I thought you wanted to go back," Ji admitted, "I have seen your restlessness the other night. So I assumed. . ."
"I was restless because I was debating if I should go with the plan or not," He explained and sighed, "What a fool I've been."
"We both were," she said, reaching up to cup his handsome face, "Next time, share your thoughts with me, hm?"
"I will," he promised and bent his head toward her to claim her lips. It was then decided that they were leaving the village the day after tomorrow to start living a life of their own. Wei might be looking for them but China was a large country. It was easy to disappear from the great nation's surface just by assuming another identity. Wei would soon give up on them and leave them in peace. And that was their greatest wish.
* * *
"Hmm. . ." Zhang He tilted his head to one side as he stood behind Zhen Ji and spanned his hands on her tiny waist. Zhen Ji was standing by the window the next day, watching the waves, when He suddenly appeared behind her, "I think you're getting fat, Ji."
She gasped and turned around to face him, "I most certainly am not getting fat!"
"Must be the fish, hm?" He laughed and pulled her toward him, "It's all right though. You're too sexy anyway that it's almost sinful."
"And you're complaining?" she asked incredulously.
"Outward beauty isn't everything, you know?"
Zhen Ji was flabbergasted, "And this coming from you? The once flamboyant General of Wei?"
He chuckled, "Let's just say I've discovered that the inner beauty was more appealing than the outside."
"Well, in my case, I think one must maintain her beauty on both outside and in," she reached up and played with the lock of dark hair that rested on his broad shoulder. As she twirled it around her fingers, she looked up at him and wrinkled her nose, "Your hair's getting drier everyday."
Zhang He widened his eyes in horror as he ran a hand through his dark mane, "No! Really? My beautiful hair?"
"It's the salty breeze," she laughed and pulled him inside the room, "Come." She sat him down on the edge of the bed and positioned herself behind him. She started brushing his hair until it was restored to its original soft condition.
"You know," Zhang He spoke up when silence filled the room, "I was thinking of having my hair cut before we leave this village." Her hands pausing from braiding his hair in one loose plait, she looked up and her gaze met with his on the mirror before them. "It's the symbol of my intent to end my life as a warrior and to start a new one with you," he said solemnly.
"But," Ji returned her gaze on his hair and continued braiding it, "I like your hair as it is. It's beautiful."
"Really?" He grinned when she looked back at him, surprised at his sudden change of tone, "Well, that's a relief. I'd rather want to keep it long myself."
"Then why bother asking me about it?" Ji planted her hands on her hips in mock anger, a thin brow raised.
"I just wanted to know how you felt about it," he shrugged, "After all, my hair's much prettier than yours. Mine's a healthy mass and shines like silk while yours---"
"You great brute! Stop teasing me!" She laughed and lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck in a playful headlock.
As if oblivious of her choking him, he asked with a brow raised, "And what are you doing, my dear?"
"Murdering you?"
"Well, you have to kiss me first," he grinned and angled his head toward her. She quickly complied and kissed his smiling lips.
The door suddenly swung open, startling the lovers as they quickly parted. Zhen Ji sat frozen on the bed, her eyes widening in horror when their unwelcome guest stepped inside their room. Zhang He's face blanked from any emotions as he stood up and stared at the man who had interrupted them.
"Lord Cao Pi."
* * *
A/N: Well now, a cliffhanger. That sucked. But don't worry, the next and probably the last chapter's coming up. You guys won't wait long, I promise. ^^; Thank you so much for the reviews! I hope you liked this chapter. Sorry if it was a little mushy but. . . ehh. *shrugs* ^^;