Author's Note: I don't own any of them. Also, I seriously doubt that Zhuge
Liang was anything near like how I write him. So why am I writing him so
OOC? *Sigh* Go read the afternotes. P.S. If anyone knows the name of any of
the generals' wives I would greatly appreciate it. I haev to marry everyone
off after all!
Chapter 5: The Slap
***
Zhao Yun watched as Yue Ying entered the main camp with two enemy generals in tow. She had really done it. It had taken him a while to talk Zhuge Liang into allowing his wife to go off alone in battle. But it looked as though he had been right, and the strategist wrong, for once. He would make sure to collect his money later.
Yue Ying waved, bringing her horse up beside him. "Hello Zhao Yun, how did the battle go?"
"We won. No general was defeated. It looks like even our troops' causalities were not that high." He gave her a smile that quickly melted her bodyguards.
Soon they each clung to him, making sure that he was all right.
Yue Ying rolled her eyes. "Could you please refrain from starting the celebrating early ladies?"
Her guards fell silent and resumed their posts. "We have two new generals. This is general Huang Zhong and Wei Yan."
The older of the two bowed. "I have heard of your prowess on the battlefield."
Zhao Yun smiled. "As I have heard of your abilities and many victories."
The masked general nodded his head, his eyes never leaving Yue Ying.
Zhao Yun frowned. The man was devouring her with his eyes. If Zhuge Liang saw the new general doing that, there would be hell to pay. "Why don't I take them on a tour while you report to Zhuge Liang?"
"That sounds wonderful." She gave a bow to the men.
As she turned to go, the younger man grabbed her arm. "You come back?"
She smiled at him. "How could I not?" She turned to Zhao Yun. "Make sure they're treated well. Wei Yan saved my live."
*Interesting* "I will ensure that they are treated with the utmost dignity Lady Yue Ying."
With a smile and wave she turned and went off in the direction of Zhuge Liang's tent.
"Now gentlemen if you would follow-"
Wei Yan had his back turned towards him and was staring off in the direction that Yue Ying had just taken.
Huang Zhong pulled the general by the arm. "Come along Wei Yan. We'll see what this Liu Bei man is really about."
Zhao Yun mentally rolled his eyes and started the men forward. "You'll each be assigned a tent until we have our own land. You'll be expected to do chores like the rest of us, and help out with the civilians either during the day or at night."
"Feh! They can help themselves. It is below a general to help the masses."
"Those masses will be the people who grow enough food for your troops to eat." Zhao Yun eyes narrowed. He paused then continued on his tour. "Over here is the armory. Guan Yu has been working on a lot of the weapon. I do believe you know him."
Guan Yu came out, and waved. "Yun, I see you brought guests."
"Yes sir. Yue Ying was able to talk them into coming over to our side."
The tall man nodded. "It is good to hear that she has finally started truly participating in battle." Laying down his blacksmith's hammer, he shook Huang Zhong's hand. "You fought an impressive battle."
"Coming from the God of War that is high praise indeed." The old warrior bowed respectfully.
"Yun-chan! Yun -chan!" a small figure tackled Zhao Yun to the floor. "Come play with me!"
Zhao Yun picked the child up, threw him into the air, and caught him. "In a little bit. Let me show the newest generals around."
The child nodded, black locks flying, then ran off.
"Who was that?" Huang Zhong's brow was furrowed.
"Just one of the civilian's children. They're very good at hide and seek." He pointed in the direction the child had fled. "If you look I believe you can see some over there."
They looked over to see a man in green running around with a blindfold on. "Who is that man making a fool of himself? Has he no shame?"
Zhao Yun's voice was ice. "That is Lord Liu Bei, your new liege."
Huang Zhong fell silent. Wei Yan shrugged.
*Maybe this wasn't such a good idea?*
"You what!" A roar reached them. Zhao Yun instantly took off at a run in the direction the yell had come from.
*Please don't let it be the strategist.*
He entered a tent to see Yue Ying 's hand pressed against her cheek where a red mark was already beginning to appear.
"How could you be so foolhardy?" Zhuge Liang's voice was soft. He was straightening his robes, looking as though he was trying to collect his temper.
Zhao Yun looked from one face to another. "Is everything all right?"
"My wife," the strategist spit it out like a curse. "Has just informed me that she talked two generals into coming over to our side. Apparently she allowed them to walk free without consulting me and without first having them give their oath to Lord Liu Bei."
Zhao Yun blushed. "That would be my fault. I told her to come here and report to you while I watched the generals."
Zhuge Liang whirled on him. "Then why are you not there with them?"
"I'll go right away sir," he bowed. "Yue Ying can come along with me to ensure that nothing goes wrong." *Got to get her away from that bastard before he really loses his cool.* Although he had never admitted it to anyone, he knew that Zhuge Liang was not one to trust with a woman. More than once he had spotted Yue Ying walking around the camp with some bruise on her face. He often wondered what kind of bruises marked her body to make her wear armor so bulky that it covered her almost completely in battle.
"She will stay here."
Zhao Yun looked at the woman out of the corner of his eye. Was it his imagination, or was she trembling just the tiniest bit?
"Sir, I honestly think-"
"And that's why you're known as the 'little' dragon, correct? Because your brain is so very large?"
Zhao Yun stiffened. The urge to punch the man was strong.
"What wrong?" The masked general came through the opening of the tent.
Wonderful. Perfect timing. Now all three of us can get a tongue-lashing.
"Who is this?" One of Zhuge Liang's elegant eyebrows rose upward.
"He's called Wei Yan. He's one of the generals that switched sides." Yue Ying's voice sounded small. She stepped once to the left, taking her farther away from her husband.
"And you couldn't have at least brought us a general that didn't reek of dung?"
Wei Yan crossed the floor with a few angry strides. "What you say?"
"Please stand down wind. I do believe the smell might make me faint." He waved his white fan in front of him, as though to circulate more air.
The masked man lunged at the strategist.
Zhuge Liang pulled back a fist and punched the other general in the face. It didn't even slow him down. With a growl, Wei Yan leapt, smashing one fist against the side of the other general's head.
"Stop!" Yue Ying pushed herself between the battling men. "You claimed Liu Bei was your new master." She pointed one finger at the masked man.
He nodded. "This man not Liu Bei."
"This man is Zhuge Liang. The chief strategist of Liu Bei, and my husband."
Wei Yan lowered his head so that his eyes were unreadable.
"And as for you," Yue Ying grabbed her husband's ear. "What do you think you're doing hitting the man who saved my life earlier?"
Her husband shuffled his feet.
"Just as I thought. Now Wei Yan you go, get some rest, and behave yourself. Zhao Yun, please make sure that he is well taken care. I think my husband wants to discuss something with me."
Zhao Yun watched the gleam in the strategist's eye. It brooded no good for Yue Ying. He started to resist when he saw the woman shake her head at him. She was shivering so badly now that he couldn't chalk it up to his imagination. He nodded, shoved Wei Yan out the door, and turned to go. Even before he could make it out the opening he heard the sound of a slap, followed closely by a woman's cry of pain.
***
Chapter 6: Enter Wu. Sun Shiang Xiang has just found out her family is going to force her to marry Lui Bei. Grab the shields folks, ya're gonna need it for the next chapter.
*** Review responses:
Chunsa: Well I hadn't seen any stories with Yue Ying or Wei Yan in it (Beyond a few Gingivere has written.) Plus Wei Yan is yummy. (Give me some of those primal instincts with a little peanut butter on his abs and I would be very happy. -Yes, I am in insane.) Not to mention Yue Ying seems not to like her husband and vice versa in the shorts in Dynasty warriors.
Gingivere the Shadowreave: Actually, Zhao Yun has a very special chapter coming up. I'm considering calling it, three men and a hot spring. *evil evil grin* No! It isn't yaoi. Though I've considering trying my hand at it. I have to admit Wei Yan has stolen my mind. Yes, my mind. Now if only he would return it instead of trying to attach it to his clothes, I would be fine.
The fabulous Lady Qiao: Thanks for the encouragement. Wu is coming up soon. Hurray! The fan girls are going to have to help Lady Sun out. After all, they wouldn't want to disappoint a fellow almost family member, right?
*** Afternote: Basically day in and day out I watch people come into the daycare. A lot of women come in with bruises, usually they wear sunglasses to try and hide their black eyes. I can pull them off to the side and try to get them to leave their significant other all I want. I can talk until I'm blue in the face. Truth is, they usually won't leave. Maybe it's fear. Maybe it's because they don't know any other way. Each time I just feel sick. You can call the cops all you want, but in truth they'll only leave when they feel ready. How much worse must it have been, I wondered, in a world where beauty was prized and a marriage was forever? Well, that little theme is woven in a little with the story line. Gee, I know I'm giving away a lot of plot right here, but I felt I needed to justify myself a bit, plus I don't like Liang, but I don't hate him. Since he's so beloved I thought it would be all right if I used him as a bad guy, since he's rarely used at all in fanfics. Trust me, I'll make it up to him in some other way. Anyhow, I'm trying not to think of too much dark stuff. So I'm off!
Chapter 5: The Slap
***
Zhao Yun watched as Yue Ying entered the main camp with two enemy generals in tow. She had really done it. It had taken him a while to talk Zhuge Liang into allowing his wife to go off alone in battle. But it looked as though he had been right, and the strategist wrong, for once. He would make sure to collect his money later.
Yue Ying waved, bringing her horse up beside him. "Hello Zhao Yun, how did the battle go?"
"We won. No general was defeated. It looks like even our troops' causalities were not that high." He gave her a smile that quickly melted her bodyguards.
Soon they each clung to him, making sure that he was all right.
Yue Ying rolled her eyes. "Could you please refrain from starting the celebrating early ladies?"
Her guards fell silent and resumed their posts. "We have two new generals. This is general Huang Zhong and Wei Yan."
The older of the two bowed. "I have heard of your prowess on the battlefield."
Zhao Yun smiled. "As I have heard of your abilities and many victories."
The masked general nodded his head, his eyes never leaving Yue Ying.
Zhao Yun frowned. The man was devouring her with his eyes. If Zhuge Liang saw the new general doing that, there would be hell to pay. "Why don't I take them on a tour while you report to Zhuge Liang?"
"That sounds wonderful." She gave a bow to the men.
As she turned to go, the younger man grabbed her arm. "You come back?"
She smiled at him. "How could I not?" She turned to Zhao Yun. "Make sure they're treated well. Wei Yan saved my live."
*Interesting* "I will ensure that they are treated with the utmost dignity Lady Yue Ying."
With a smile and wave she turned and went off in the direction of Zhuge Liang's tent.
"Now gentlemen if you would follow-"
Wei Yan had his back turned towards him and was staring off in the direction that Yue Ying had just taken.
Huang Zhong pulled the general by the arm. "Come along Wei Yan. We'll see what this Liu Bei man is really about."
Zhao Yun mentally rolled his eyes and started the men forward. "You'll each be assigned a tent until we have our own land. You'll be expected to do chores like the rest of us, and help out with the civilians either during the day or at night."
"Feh! They can help themselves. It is below a general to help the masses."
"Those masses will be the people who grow enough food for your troops to eat." Zhao Yun eyes narrowed. He paused then continued on his tour. "Over here is the armory. Guan Yu has been working on a lot of the weapon. I do believe you know him."
Guan Yu came out, and waved. "Yun, I see you brought guests."
"Yes sir. Yue Ying was able to talk them into coming over to our side."
The tall man nodded. "It is good to hear that she has finally started truly participating in battle." Laying down his blacksmith's hammer, he shook Huang Zhong's hand. "You fought an impressive battle."
"Coming from the God of War that is high praise indeed." The old warrior bowed respectfully.
"Yun-chan! Yun -chan!" a small figure tackled Zhao Yun to the floor. "Come play with me!"
Zhao Yun picked the child up, threw him into the air, and caught him. "In a little bit. Let me show the newest generals around."
The child nodded, black locks flying, then ran off.
"Who was that?" Huang Zhong's brow was furrowed.
"Just one of the civilian's children. They're very good at hide and seek." He pointed in the direction the child had fled. "If you look I believe you can see some over there."
They looked over to see a man in green running around with a blindfold on. "Who is that man making a fool of himself? Has he no shame?"
Zhao Yun's voice was ice. "That is Lord Liu Bei, your new liege."
Huang Zhong fell silent. Wei Yan shrugged.
*Maybe this wasn't such a good idea?*
"You what!" A roar reached them. Zhao Yun instantly took off at a run in the direction the yell had come from.
*Please don't let it be the strategist.*
He entered a tent to see Yue Ying 's hand pressed against her cheek where a red mark was already beginning to appear.
"How could you be so foolhardy?" Zhuge Liang's voice was soft. He was straightening his robes, looking as though he was trying to collect his temper.
Zhao Yun looked from one face to another. "Is everything all right?"
"My wife," the strategist spit it out like a curse. "Has just informed me that she talked two generals into coming over to our side. Apparently she allowed them to walk free without consulting me and without first having them give their oath to Lord Liu Bei."
Zhao Yun blushed. "That would be my fault. I told her to come here and report to you while I watched the generals."
Zhuge Liang whirled on him. "Then why are you not there with them?"
"I'll go right away sir," he bowed. "Yue Ying can come along with me to ensure that nothing goes wrong." *Got to get her away from that bastard before he really loses his cool.* Although he had never admitted it to anyone, he knew that Zhuge Liang was not one to trust with a woman. More than once he had spotted Yue Ying walking around the camp with some bruise on her face. He often wondered what kind of bruises marked her body to make her wear armor so bulky that it covered her almost completely in battle.
"She will stay here."
Zhao Yun looked at the woman out of the corner of his eye. Was it his imagination, or was she trembling just the tiniest bit?
"Sir, I honestly think-"
"And that's why you're known as the 'little' dragon, correct? Because your brain is so very large?"
Zhao Yun stiffened. The urge to punch the man was strong.
"What wrong?" The masked general came through the opening of the tent.
Wonderful. Perfect timing. Now all three of us can get a tongue-lashing.
"Who is this?" One of Zhuge Liang's elegant eyebrows rose upward.
"He's called Wei Yan. He's one of the generals that switched sides." Yue Ying's voice sounded small. She stepped once to the left, taking her farther away from her husband.
"And you couldn't have at least brought us a general that didn't reek of dung?"
Wei Yan crossed the floor with a few angry strides. "What you say?"
"Please stand down wind. I do believe the smell might make me faint." He waved his white fan in front of him, as though to circulate more air.
The masked man lunged at the strategist.
Zhuge Liang pulled back a fist and punched the other general in the face. It didn't even slow him down. With a growl, Wei Yan leapt, smashing one fist against the side of the other general's head.
"Stop!" Yue Ying pushed herself between the battling men. "You claimed Liu Bei was your new master." She pointed one finger at the masked man.
He nodded. "This man not Liu Bei."
"This man is Zhuge Liang. The chief strategist of Liu Bei, and my husband."
Wei Yan lowered his head so that his eyes were unreadable.
"And as for you," Yue Ying grabbed her husband's ear. "What do you think you're doing hitting the man who saved my life earlier?"
Her husband shuffled his feet.
"Just as I thought. Now Wei Yan you go, get some rest, and behave yourself. Zhao Yun, please make sure that he is well taken care. I think my husband wants to discuss something with me."
Zhao Yun watched the gleam in the strategist's eye. It brooded no good for Yue Ying. He started to resist when he saw the woman shake her head at him. She was shivering so badly now that he couldn't chalk it up to his imagination. He nodded, shoved Wei Yan out the door, and turned to go. Even before he could make it out the opening he heard the sound of a slap, followed closely by a woman's cry of pain.
***
Chapter 6: Enter Wu. Sun Shiang Xiang has just found out her family is going to force her to marry Lui Bei. Grab the shields folks, ya're gonna need it for the next chapter.
*** Review responses:
Chunsa: Well I hadn't seen any stories with Yue Ying or Wei Yan in it (Beyond a few Gingivere has written.) Plus Wei Yan is yummy. (Give me some of those primal instincts with a little peanut butter on his abs and I would be very happy. -Yes, I am in insane.) Not to mention Yue Ying seems not to like her husband and vice versa in the shorts in Dynasty warriors.
Gingivere the Shadowreave: Actually, Zhao Yun has a very special chapter coming up. I'm considering calling it, three men and a hot spring. *evil evil grin* No! It isn't yaoi. Though I've considering trying my hand at it. I have to admit Wei Yan has stolen my mind. Yes, my mind. Now if only he would return it instead of trying to attach it to his clothes, I would be fine.
The fabulous Lady Qiao: Thanks for the encouragement. Wu is coming up soon. Hurray! The fan girls are going to have to help Lady Sun out. After all, they wouldn't want to disappoint a fellow almost family member, right?
*** Afternote: Basically day in and day out I watch people come into the daycare. A lot of women come in with bruises, usually they wear sunglasses to try and hide their black eyes. I can pull them off to the side and try to get them to leave their significant other all I want. I can talk until I'm blue in the face. Truth is, they usually won't leave. Maybe it's fear. Maybe it's because they don't know any other way. Each time I just feel sick. You can call the cops all you want, but in truth they'll only leave when they feel ready. How much worse must it have been, I wondered, in a world where beauty was prized and a marriage was forever? Well, that little theme is woven in a little with the story line. Gee, I know I'm giving away a lot of plot right here, but I felt I needed to justify myself a bit, plus I don't like Liang, but I don't hate him. Since he's so beloved I thought it would be all right if I used him as a bad guy, since he's rarely used at all in fanfics. Trust me, I'll make it up to him in some other way. Anyhow, I'm trying not to think of too much dark stuff. So I'm off!