A/N: Wow last chappie got long hehe! It's so much fun to make Gan Ning act
fatherly! =.= Wow I feel like the plot is going no where . . . hmm . . .
oh well. Ok, an anonymous Wei fanatic has been at my throat to get me to
do this, so I will. The Wei people will come back out of the middle of no
where and they'll all be one big happy family, k? And I love you! WHEE!
wink
=================================
Hua Wan, Daughter of Pirates
Chapter 4
'The Cocky Dude from Wei'
=============
((Still Gan Ning's POV))
Dang, Liu Bei really doesn't like me. Oh well, I don't really care. Liu Shin and Hua Wan laughed, but the boy with Hua Wan didn't. He stared in amazement at all of us, like he had never seen a human being before. Kind of made you uneasy, but curious at the same time.
"So who's your friend, Hua Wan," I asked.
"He's my friend, Zhou Lin," she said timidly.
"Friend? Looks like just a commoner to me," Liu Shin said.
I looked at the young arrogant prince. He had light hair and his father's facial features, but he hadn't inherited either of his parent's kinder personality traits. Besides his social skills he did take after his mother's love of battle and was constantly accompanying them to skirmishes despite his age of only twenty-one. I turned back to my daughter and . . . looked just like her mother 'in a certain time of the month'. In other words . . . she was PRETTY mad!
"Just a commoner? For your information Liu Shin, he basically saved my life, and if not then he sure saved me a ton of bodily harm. Also, can you not address him like a normal person? Like he's even here?" Hua Wan spat at him.
I could see Zhou Lin feeling sort of uncomfortable so I decided to do some Gan Ning-magic and get him out of here. So I stepped over to him and grabbed his arm, dragging him behind me as I walked back to Diao Wan's rooms, leaving my now very angry daughter behind.
"DADDY! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" she yelled.
"OVER THE RAINBOW!" I yelled back over my shoulder.
"What?" I heard her mutter.
"Uh . . . sir?" Zhou Lin asked.
"Yeah, kid?" I answered.
"Could you let go of my arm? It's kind of hard to be dragged backwards and keep from falling in front of the girl you like- I mean your daughter," he said.
I had to laugh. I guess I never thought of how intimidating it could be to have me as the father of 'the girl you like'. I never had to worry about that, thankfully. NO IN-LAWS RULED! I let go of the kids arm and gave him a wink . . . but then I thought about it . . . a young boy . . . plus MY DAUGHTER . . . equals . . . A COUPLE! I walked in a sort of angry daze till I saw Diao Wan walking down the hall to meet me.
"Hello, love!" she greeted and kissed me on the cheek.
Ahh . . . her kiss was still o-so-satisfying!
"Hello, Wan," I said.
"Oh hello . . . who might you be?" she said to Zhou Lin.
"The name's Zhou Lin, ma'am. I'm a friend of Hua Wan's, she's back that way," he said pointing behind him.
"Oh, no need to be so formal! I'm Diao Wan, her mum," Diao Wan said.
"This is actually her boyfriend. Did you know anything about it?" I blurted.
"Well I'm not exactly- I mean! - Not really . . . we're just friends I guess, but I sort of do- I mean I don't- well she is pretty- I . . . uh," Zhou Lin stammered nervously.
"BOYFRIEND! YES!" she squealed in delight.
I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Hua Wan, Liu Shin, and Liu Bei walking towards us.
"Mother!" Hua Wan called out, embarrassed.
"What? I'm just so happy for you! So when is he proposing?" Diao Wan asked excitedly.
"Dear . . . I think its best we just leave the kids alone for now," I said as I pulled her away from the group.
"Wait! Not without me you're leaving! I need to talk to you too," shouted Liu Bei.
"What about me?" asked Liu Shin.
"Stay with Diao Wan and her boyfriend," Liu Bei responded.
"WE'RE NOT TOGETHER!" blurted Zhou Lin and Hua Wan at the same time.
. . .
Liu Bei, Diao Wan, and I had been walking down the hall for several minutes before Liu Bei decided to talk.
"Wei had contacted me and Sun Quan in a proposal for peace between the kingdoms. At this point in time Shu and Wu occupy territories in the Wei lands. Furthermore, over these pasty years Cao Cao has passed on and his eldest son, Cao Pi, now occupies the throne. I have not done any sort of agreement with Cao Pi, nor have any of my advisors, so I do not know whether to trust this young ruler or not. I need you two to return to Wu and talk with Sun Quan about his comments and opinions on this proposal by Cao Pi. Afterwards I would like one of you to return and tell me. I do not want to send a messenger in case of interception of some sort of enemy," he said while walking in-between us.
"I will do so, sir, in the mind that you helped me into this position I am now," said Diao Wan.
"Thank you, Lady Diao," Liu Bei answered.
"No problem, Bei," I said and patted him on the back.
"Don't touch me," he said coldly.
"Aye, sir!" I said.
((Earlier, now in Hua Wan's POV))
We all stood in silence as my parents walked down the hall with His Majesty Liu Bei. A very uncomfortable and awkward silence. Zhou Lin and I were shifting our feet slightly at my mother's comments, and Liu Shin was looking at his feet in embarrassment at his comment about Zhou Lin. We all just stood there waiting for one of the others to speak . . . but that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. So I decided to try and break the deadening silence.
"Sorry bout that Zhou Lin, my mom's crazy," I said.
"Heh . . . it's alright," he said.
I smiled; he was blushing from head to toe. Maybe he likes me? Oh well, I'll just have to wait to find out. I didn't want to do anything with Liu Shin around. Finally Liu Shin started a conversation and we talked for a long time before the adults returned. They were still talking intensely but slowly became quiet as we reached hearing distance of their whispers. The three of us stopped talking and looked over to them.
"Hua Wan, please escort your boyfriend to the palace gate," my mother said.
"He's not my boyfriend mom," I said with clenched teeth.
"Suuuure," said Zhou Lin teasingly, which took me off guard, "Common, do come along, sweetheart."
He gave me a wink and grabbed my hand and linked fingers. I blushed madly as he lead me around the corner and out of sight.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Just playing along," he said with a laugh.
"Playing, huh? Then why are you still holding my hand –tightly- I might add," I said.
"Uh . . . well . . . it's a perfectly logically reason!" he stammered.
"Oh, really?" I said.
"Yes," he said, "I like you."
His answer caught me off guard and my heart skipped a beat. I stared at him in a stupor. He stopped walking and pulled me close. He felt so warm . . . and smelled so sweet. He lifted my chin up and kissed my lips. Warmth filled me all over in a downward wave of happiness. My stomach tingled with butterflies as he pulled away and I could tell I was blushing again for my cheeks were burning hot. He took his hand from my chin and stroked my cheek as he looked down into my eyes. I stared up at him –still in a daze- into his big dark blue eyes that I had never given their full credit to before. They were the exact color of the evening sky just before the sun sets completely. We stood there, his right hand linked with mine, and his left caressing my cheek. Then, almost like an instinct, our lips came together again. I had found something I had never felt in life . . . love for someone that wasn't in my family. All of a sudden he pulled away quickly and I looked up surprised. He was flushed slightly in his cheeks.
"I'd better go," he said and ran off down the hall to the exit.
I turned to look to see what might of set him off like that. Then I saw Li Wu. He was standing about three yards behind and his expression wasn't the happiest in all of China. In fact he looked rather disgusted, but he did just witness his older sister getting kissed.
"I can't believe you!" he yelled.
"What? Why are you so angry?" I asked confused.
"Angry? That is a definite understatement! You let a commoner kiss you?" he bellowed.
"Yes, and shut your trap about all that commoner business," I snapped.
He looked fairly taken aback, but he just stared me down. He ground his teeth together. He had such bad habits. I could sense him searching for something to say and the tension between us grew.
"No, I forbid you to ever see him again!" he yelled.
"What? You can't do that! I'm seven years older than you are! And I'll be twenty-one once winter comes!" I protested.
"I don't care. I'm your brother. I do have the greater authority," he said.
"Greater authority? You make no sense. There is no logic in your statement, brother! I'm older and Mother certainly doesn't have a problem. Neither does father! Your opinion on the matter is overruled," I said, ice in my words.
I could tell I had thrown him for a loop. He just stomped away angrily. As he left Liu Shin walked up.
"Your father told me to tell you to pack you things. You're all leaving tomorrow morning for Wu," he said.
My mind raced. What would we be leaving for?
. . .
I hate Wei! Why of all times must they decide to make peace? Oh well, I have a way with working around inconveniences. Two days ago we arrived at Wu and spilled the news to Sun Quan. Of course that was after he danced with joy at the fact my parents were alive. They talked for a long time with Sun Quan. A group of Wu officers were now on their way to Shu: Sun Quan, Lu Xun, their wives, and my parents. I was the stowaway. The one that is hidden in the baggage. The very, very, very uncomfortable baggage.
"Ow! Why didn't I just follow behind, I know the way . . ." I groaned after several hours.
I had an umbrella in my back, a sword hilt poking my side, sitting on a large uncomfortable trunk, and its handle was right on my tail bone. I shifted around trying to get in a comfortable position. I soon found that this task was literally . . . impossible. I thought for a moment. My plans were this: Come back to Shu to meet up with Zhou Lin by hiding in the enclosed baggage compartment in the back of one of the carriages; Hop off in the town were no one will notice; then . . . well I'd think of that part when the time came. All I knew right now is that I wanted to be in Shu. I wanted to be with Zhou Lin. I collapsed onto the horribly uncomfortable luggage and closed my eyes to think. It was only about a minute later when I felt the carriage slow and the roar of the city. I waited till I didn't think anyone would notice and opened the door to the baggage compartment. I quickly thrust myself out and did a nice summersault onto the ground for a landing. I quickly got out of the way of the following carriage and disappeared into the crowd.
((Later, Diao Wan's POV))
I stood one step behind Gan Ning. One step. No closer, no farther. I sighed. They should define step sometime, Gan Ning's strides weren't exactly normal. His feet were huge compared to mine as well. I laughed in my head and continued to stand. We were set up in the traditional fashion for formal dinners such as this. First, we were to receive our guests. Second, we then would go and eat. That was Gan Ning's favorite part. Third, we would do some more ceremony stuff that involved Wei becoming an ally again. But somehow, I didn't feel that Wei wanted to truly become our ally. It seemed impossible to me. Cao Cao's ambition had always been to rule all of China, certainly it would of been his son's. "Oh well," I thought.
We were all in the entrance hall of Shu's capital palace. The representatives of Shu stood to our right, in the center of the hall. Guan Yu, Liu Bei, and Zhang Fei stood with their wives one step behind them. I could see Sun Shang Xiang standing behind Liu Bei. She waved at me when she saw me trying to catch her eye. The representatives of Wu were: Lu Xun, Sun Quan, their wives, Gan Ning, and myself. Gan Ning stood on the right of Sun Quan. Lu Xun was on Sun Quan's other side. Lu Xun's wife, also Sun Quan's niece and Da Qiao's daughter, was a spunky young lady that was the complete opposite personality of my own daughter. Yet, she was Hua Wan's best friend when they both had been children.
Our attention was suddenly diverted to the front door as it was pulled open by several soldiers. Several dark figures appeared in the door frame, facial features hidden by the bright sunset behind them. The first one walked into the hall with a cocky kick in his gait. The shadow lifted from his armor and face. I guessed that he was Cao Pi. He had overconfident eyes. Like he had something hidden and it was too good to keep hidden under a straight face. Like he thought no one could tell that he was going to do something, but the white knuckles in his tightly clenched fist gave it away.
"Greetings, Emperor's Liu Bei and Sun Quan," he said with a loud voice.
Both rulers bowed their heads in greeting for a moment. The other hidden figures from Wei emerged out of the shadow of the sunset. They walked to Cao Pi in the same formation as we were standing in. Zhen Ji stood behind Cao Pi. Xiahou Dun on Cao Pi's left, and Sima Yi on his right. Xiahou Dun's wife stood behind him. There was an empty spot behind Sima Yi. I guess he wasn't married, or his wife just flat out refused to be seen in public with him wearing that awful hat. Suddenly, a overly happy Zhang He skipped in. Yes, he was skipping.
"HELLO to my fellow butterfly-scouts!" he squealed.
We all stared in shock and utter surprise.
"Oh golly-gee! Wrong room, my Monarch Leader! The butter-fly scout meeting is down the hall to your left!" piped up Lu Xun.
We all now stared at Lu Xun in shock and utter surprise.
"Hehe, silly me! Thank you!" Zhang He called as he skipped out.
There was an awkward moment of silence as we all stared at Lu Xun in silence. Lu Xun's wife rubbed her forehead in frustration with her husband.
"Shall we go to dinner?" asked Liu Bei, breaking the silence.
Several nods and mumbles of agreement followed. Everyone walked towards the dinning hall, but Gan Ning stopped and waited for me to catch up. He offered his arm and I took it. Then we walked and followed everyone. Well actually I did this sort of jog number to keep up with his huge strides like I had been doing for all our twenty four years of marriage. We came to the dinning all and entered a room full of organized chaos. Servants flew around with all kinds of trays, foods, plates, and other assortments of things that you need for a feast such as this.
"Shall we, my little love dumpling?" Gan Ning asked me.
I laughed at his silly pet name. He always made something up to humor me.
"Of course, my studdly pirate captain," I replied, a teasing smile on my face.
"Dang . . . I love it when you call me that," he said with a far off look.
====================================== ========================
A/N: Hewwo! Yes, I'm sorry it took so long but things do pass by quickly during summer. Yet slower during the last days of school. I love the smell of a finished chapter in the evening. Ouch . . . note to self: Next time in marching band practice remember to put sun screen on the back of one's legs. Sunburn in that little joint thingy in the back of your leg is NOT fun. I repeat: NOT FUN!!! Yes. Ok. Yeah. Well I'm now going to make more excuses for the late chapter: Got a boyfriend. Time and love are enemies in the universe. Dumped the boyfriend. I know, I'm such a heart breaker, but he brought it upon himself he did. Marching band. Once you join marching band . . . you have no other life. Ok our practice schedule is this: Monday practice from 1:30-6:00 until June 28th where we practice every weekday from 1:30-6. For those of you who don't have very good math skills like myself: that's four and half hours. Yeah. Ok, well as you Obviously see: ZHANG HE IS BACK! even though he was decapitated by Gan Ning in like chapter five or six in Phoenix Swords and Ex-Pirates. I just love making pansy jokes . . . yeah . . .(Ever notice how my story titles give a whole new meaning to the words: LAME and CHEESEY!) Ok, also I just got a new computer and it surprisingly doesn't have Microsoft Word gasp so I'm in Word Pad. And gasp again it doesn't gasp have gasp SPELL CHECK! GAH! As much as I loathe spell check I need it cuz my spelling skills stink to high heaven and the lowest pits of hell. That bad yes. So if anyone wants to give me some smart mouth review about my spelling skills . . . go to hell. Sorry, and excuse my teenage French there, but you get the point now don't you? I just thought I'd tell you even though I know some- person- who-wishes-not-to-be-named-but-knows-who-she-is is going to anyway. (I love you some-person-who-wishes-not-to-be-named-but-knows-who-she- is!!!! hug dances with hobbits) Ok, I'm going to end this with one last note: I LOVE HOBBITS! And Gan Ning . . . but that's obvious.
=================================
Hua Wan, Daughter of Pirates
Chapter 4
'The Cocky Dude from Wei'
=============
((Still Gan Ning's POV))
Dang, Liu Bei really doesn't like me. Oh well, I don't really care. Liu Shin and Hua Wan laughed, but the boy with Hua Wan didn't. He stared in amazement at all of us, like he had never seen a human being before. Kind of made you uneasy, but curious at the same time.
"So who's your friend, Hua Wan," I asked.
"He's my friend, Zhou Lin," she said timidly.
"Friend? Looks like just a commoner to me," Liu Shin said.
I looked at the young arrogant prince. He had light hair and his father's facial features, but he hadn't inherited either of his parent's kinder personality traits. Besides his social skills he did take after his mother's love of battle and was constantly accompanying them to skirmishes despite his age of only twenty-one. I turned back to my daughter and . . . looked just like her mother 'in a certain time of the month'. In other words . . . she was PRETTY mad!
"Just a commoner? For your information Liu Shin, he basically saved my life, and if not then he sure saved me a ton of bodily harm. Also, can you not address him like a normal person? Like he's even here?" Hua Wan spat at him.
I could see Zhou Lin feeling sort of uncomfortable so I decided to do some Gan Ning-magic and get him out of here. So I stepped over to him and grabbed his arm, dragging him behind me as I walked back to Diao Wan's rooms, leaving my now very angry daughter behind.
"DADDY! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" she yelled.
"OVER THE RAINBOW!" I yelled back over my shoulder.
"What?" I heard her mutter.
"Uh . . . sir?" Zhou Lin asked.
"Yeah, kid?" I answered.
"Could you let go of my arm? It's kind of hard to be dragged backwards and keep from falling in front of the girl you like- I mean your daughter," he said.
I had to laugh. I guess I never thought of how intimidating it could be to have me as the father of 'the girl you like'. I never had to worry about that, thankfully. NO IN-LAWS RULED! I let go of the kids arm and gave him a wink . . . but then I thought about it . . . a young boy . . . plus MY DAUGHTER . . . equals . . . A COUPLE! I walked in a sort of angry daze till I saw Diao Wan walking down the hall to meet me.
"Hello, love!" she greeted and kissed me on the cheek.
Ahh . . . her kiss was still o-so-satisfying!
"Hello, Wan," I said.
"Oh hello . . . who might you be?" she said to Zhou Lin.
"The name's Zhou Lin, ma'am. I'm a friend of Hua Wan's, she's back that way," he said pointing behind him.
"Oh, no need to be so formal! I'm Diao Wan, her mum," Diao Wan said.
"This is actually her boyfriend. Did you know anything about it?" I blurted.
"Well I'm not exactly- I mean! - Not really . . . we're just friends I guess, but I sort of do- I mean I don't- well she is pretty- I . . . uh," Zhou Lin stammered nervously.
"BOYFRIEND! YES!" she squealed in delight.
I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Hua Wan, Liu Shin, and Liu Bei walking towards us.
"Mother!" Hua Wan called out, embarrassed.
"What? I'm just so happy for you! So when is he proposing?" Diao Wan asked excitedly.
"Dear . . . I think its best we just leave the kids alone for now," I said as I pulled her away from the group.
"Wait! Not without me you're leaving! I need to talk to you too," shouted Liu Bei.
"What about me?" asked Liu Shin.
"Stay with Diao Wan and her boyfriend," Liu Bei responded.
"WE'RE NOT TOGETHER!" blurted Zhou Lin and Hua Wan at the same time.
. . .
Liu Bei, Diao Wan, and I had been walking down the hall for several minutes before Liu Bei decided to talk.
"Wei had contacted me and Sun Quan in a proposal for peace between the kingdoms. At this point in time Shu and Wu occupy territories in the Wei lands. Furthermore, over these pasty years Cao Cao has passed on and his eldest son, Cao Pi, now occupies the throne. I have not done any sort of agreement with Cao Pi, nor have any of my advisors, so I do not know whether to trust this young ruler or not. I need you two to return to Wu and talk with Sun Quan about his comments and opinions on this proposal by Cao Pi. Afterwards I would like one of you to return and tell me. I do not want to send a messenger in case of interception of some sort of enemy," he said while walking in-between us.
"I will do so, sir, in the mind that you helped me into this position I am now," said Diao Wan.
"Thank you, Lady Diao," Liu Bei answered.
"No problem, Bei," I said and patted him on the back.
"Don't touch me," he said coldly.
"Aye, sir!" I said.
((Earlier, now in Hua Wan's POV))
We all stood in silence as my parents walked down the hall with His Majesty Liu Bei. A very uncomfortable and awkward silence. Zhou Lin and I were shifting our feet slightly at my mother's comments, and Liu Shin was looking at his feet in embarrassment at his comment about Zhou Lin. We all just stood there waiting for one of the others to speak . . . but that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. So I decided to try and break the deadening silence.
"Sorry bout that Zhou Lin, my mom's crazy," I said.
"Heh . . . it's alright," he said.
I smiled; he was blushing from head to toe. Maybe he likes me? Oh well, I'll just have to wait to find out. I didn't want to do anything with Liu Shin around. Finally Liu Shin started a conversation and we talked for a long time before the adults returned. They were still talking intensely but slowly became quiet as we reached hearing distance of their whispers. The three of us stopped talking and looked over to them.
"Hua Wan, please escort your boyfriend to the palace gate," my mother said.
"He's not my boyfriend mom," I said with clenched teeth.
"Suuuure," said Zhou Lin teasingly, which took me off guard, "Common, do come along, sweetheart."
He gave me a wink and grabbed my hand and linked fingers. I blushed madly as he lead me around the corner and out of sight.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Just playing along," he said with a laugh.
"Playing, huh? Then why are you still holding my hand –tightly- I might add," I said.
"Uh . . . well . . . it's a perfectly logically reason!" he stammered.
"Oh, really?" I said.
"Yes," he said, "I like you."
His answer caught me off guard and my heart skipped a beat. I stared at him in a stupor. He stopped walking and pulled me close. He felt so warm . . . and smelled so sweet. He lifted my chin up and kissed my lips. Warmth filled me all over in a downward wave of happiness. My stomach tingled with butterflies as he pulled away and I could tell I was blushing again for my cheeks were burning hot. He took his hand from my chin and stroked my cheek as he looked down into my eyes. I stared up at him –still in a daze- into his big dark blue eyes that I had never given their full credit to before. They were the exact color of the evening sky just before the sun sets completely. We stood there, his right hand linked with mine, and his left caressing my cheek. Then, almost like an instinct, our lips came together again. I had found something I had never felt in life . . . love for someone that wasn't in my family. All of a sudden he pulled away quickly and I looked up surprised. He was flushed slightly in his cheeks.
"I'd better go," he said and ran off down the hall to the exit.
I turned to look to see what might of set him off like that. Then I saw Li Wu. He was standing about three yards behind and his expression wasn't the happiest in all of China. In fact he looked rather disgusted, but he did just witness his older sister getting kissed.
"I can't believe you!" he yelled.
"What? Why are you so angry?" I asked confused.
"Angry? That is a definite understatement! You let a commoner kiss you?" he bellowed.
"Yes, and shut your trap about all that commoner business," I snapped.
He looked fairly taken aback, but he just stared me down. He ground his teeth together. He had such bad habits. I could sense him searching for something to say and the tension between us grew.
"No, I forbid you to ever see him again!" he yelled.
"What? You can't do that! I'm seven years older than you are! And I'll be twenty-one once winter comes!" I protested.
"I don't care. I'm your brother. I do have the greater authority," he said.
"Greater authority? You make no sense. There is no logic in your statement, brother! I'm older and Mother certainly doesn't have a problem. Neither does father! Your opinion on the matter is overruled," I said, ice in my words.
I could tell I had thrown him for a loop. He just stomped away angrily. As he left Liu Shin walked up.
"Your father told me to tell you to pack you things. You're all leaving tomorrow morning for Wu," he said.
My mind raced. What would we be leaving for?
. . .
I hate Wei! Why of all times must they decide to make peace? Oh well, I have a way with working around inconveniences. Two days ago we arrived at Wu and spilled the news to Sun Quan. Of course that was after he danced with joy at the fact my parents were alive. They talked for a long time with Sun Quan. A group of Wu officers were now on their way to Shu: Sun Quan, Lu Xun, their wives, and my parents. I was the stowaway. The one that is hidden in the baggage. The very, very, very uncomfortable baggage.
"Ow! Why didn't I just follow behind, I know the way . . ." I groaned after several hours.
I had an umbrella in my back, a sword hilt poking my side, sitting on a large uncomfortable trunk, and its handle was right on my tail bone. I shifted around trying to get in a comfortable position. I soon found that this task was literally . . . impossible. I thought for a moment. My plans were this: Come back to Shu to meet up with Zhou Lin by hiding in the enclosed baggage compartment in the back of one of the carriages; Hop off in the town were no one will notice; then . . . well I'd think of that part when the time came. All I knew right now is that I wanted to be in Shu. I wanted to be with Zhou Lin. I collapsed onto the horribly uncomfortable luggage and closed my eyes to think. It was only about a minute later when I felt the carriage slow and the roar of the city. I waited till I didn't think anyone would notice and opened the door to the baggage compartment. I quickly thrust myself out and did a nice summersault onto the ground for a landing. I quickly got out of the way of the following carriage and disappeared into the crowd.
((Later, Diao Wan's POV))
I stood one step behind Gan Ning. One step. No closer, no farther. I sighed. They should define step sometime, Gan Ning's strides weren't exactly normal. His feet were huge compared to mine as well. I laughed in my head and continued to stand. We were set up in the traditional fashion for formal dinners such as this. First, we were to receive our guests. Second, we then would go and eat. That was Gan Ning's favorite part. Third, we would do some more ceremony stuff that involved Wei becoming an ally again. But somehow, I didn't feel that Wei wanted to truly become our ally. It seemed impossible to me. Cao Cao's ambition had always been to rule all of China, certainly it would of been his son's. "Oh well," I thought.
We were all in the entrance hall of Shu's capital palace. The representatives of Shu stood to our right, in the center of the hall. Guan Yu, Liu Bei, and Zhang Fei stood with their wives one step behind them. I could see Sun Shang Xiang standing behind Liu Bei. She waved at me when she saw me trying to catch her eye. The representatives of Wu were: Lu Xun, Sun Quan, their wives, Gan Ning, and myself. Gan Ning stood on the right of Sun Quan. Lu Xun was on Sun Quan's other side. Lu Xun's wife, also Sun Quan's niece and Da Qiao's daughter, was a spunky young lady that was the complete opposite personality of my own daughter. Yet, she was Hua Wan's best friend when they both had been children.
Our attention was suddenly diverted to the front door as it was pulled open by several soldiers. Several dark figures appeared in the door frame, facial features hidden by the bright sunset behind them. The first one walked into the hall with a cocky kick in his gait. The shadow lifted from his armor and face. I guessed that he was Cao Pi. He had overconfident eyes. Like he had something hidden and it was too good to keep hidden under a straight face. Like he thought no one could tell that he was going to do something, but the white knuckles in his tightly clenched fist gave it away.
"Greetings, Emperor's Liu Bei and Sun Quan," he said with a loud voice.
Both rulers bowed their heads in greeting for a moment. The other hidden figures from Wei emerged out of the shadow of the sunset. They walked to Cao Pi in the same formation as we were standing in. Zhen Ji stood behind Cao Pi. Xiahou Dun on Cao Pi's left, and Sima Yi on his right. Xiahou Dun's wife stood behind him. There was an empty spot behind Sima Yi. I guess he wasn't married, or his wife just flat out refused to be seen in public with him wearing that awful hat. Suddenly, a overly happy Zhang He skipped in. Yes, he was skipping.
"HELLO to my fellow butterfly-scouts!" he squealed.
We all stared in shock and utter surprise.
"Oh golly-gee! Wrong room, my Monarch Leader! The butter-fly scout meeting is down the hall to your left!" piped up Lu Xun.
We all now stared at Lu Xun in shock and utter surprise.
"Hehe, silly me! Thank you!" Zhang He called as he skipped out.
There was an awkward moment of silence as we all stared at Lu Xun in silence. Lu Xun's wife rubbed her forehead in frustration with her husband.
"Shall we go to dinner?" asked Liu Bei, breaking the silence.
Several nods and mumbles of agreement followed. Everyone walked towards the dinning hall, but Gan Ning stopped and waited for me to catch up. He offered his arm and I took it. Then we walked and followed everyone. Well actually I did this sort of jog number to keep up with his huge strides like I had been doing for all our twenty four years of marriage. We came to the dinning all and entered a room full of organized chaos. Servants flew around with all kinds of trays, foods, plates, and other assortments of things that you need for a feast such as this.
"Shall we, my little love dumpling?" Gan Ning asked me.
I laughed at his silly pet name. He always made something up to humor me.
"Of course, my studdly pirate captain," I replied, a teasing smile on my face.
"Dang . . . I love it when you call me that," he said with a far off look.
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A/N: Hewwo! Yes, I'm sorry it took so long but things do pass by quickly during summer. Yet slower during the last days of school. I love the smell of a finished chapter in the evening. Ouch . . . note to self: Next time in marching band practice remember to put sun screen on the back of one's legs. Sunburn in that little joint thingy in the back of your leg is NOT fun. I repeat: NOT FUN!!! Yes. Ok. Yeah. Well I'm now going to make more excuses for the late chapter: Got a boyfriend. Time and love are enemies in the universe. Dumped the boyfriend. I know, I'm such a heart breaker, but he brought it upon himself he did. Marching band. Once you join marching band . . . you have no other life. Ok our practice schedule is this: Monday practice from 1:30-6:00 until June 28th where we practice every weekday from 1:30-6. For those of you who don't have very good math skills like myself: that's four and half hours. Yeah. Ok, well as you Obviously see: ZHANG HE IS BACK! even though he was decapitated by Gan Ning in like chapter five or six in Phoenix Swords and Ex-Pirates. I just love making pansy jokes . . . yeah . . .(Ever notice how my story titles give a whole new meaning to the words: LAME and CHEESEY!) Ok, also I just got a new computer and it surprisingly doesn't have Microsoft Word gasp so I'm in Word Pad. And gasp again it doesn't gasp have gasp SPELL CHECK! GAH! As much as I loathe spell check I need it cuz my spelling skills stink to high heaven and the lowest pits of hell. That bad yes. So if anyone wants to give me some smart mouth review about my spelling skills . . . go to hell. Sorry, and excuse my teenage French there, but you get the point now don't you? I just thought I'd tell you even though I know some- person- who-wishes-not-to-be-named-but-knows-who-she-is is going to anyway. (I love you some-person-who-wishes-not-to-be-named-but-knows-who-she- is!!!! hug dances with hobbits) Ok, I'm going to end this with one last note: I LOVE HOBBITS! And Gan Ning . . . but that's obvious.