Chapter 3: Love and Hate

When inside, Zhou Yu was rushed to a physician who removed the arrow from his shoulder without incident. Half a day later the entire army arrived and they were welcomed home with cheers and shouts. Sun Jian entered Zhou Yu's chambers to find Aven Yu and the physician there, "how is he?" "He's fine, I removed the arrow without incident. He just needs rest." The Physician told him. Sun Jian signaled Aven Yu to follow him. He walked with her to make sure he was out of earshot. "My Lady," he whispered, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but if you want to stay here and still stay alive. You must take up a disguise as one of the cleaning girls." She looked at him, but understood. "I'll let you have help and only clean those rooms of the people you know, like your bodyguard, Zhou Yu and Zang He." She nodded.

A young girl younger than Aven Yu came to Sun Jian, "you wanted to see me, my lord?" "Yes, this is the new girl I was telling you about, take very good care of her and if a problem should arise tell Zhou Yu." "Very well, my lord." In addition, he left. "Follow me, dear. We must get you out of those filthy clothes."

Over the next few days' things went smoothly. Zhou Yu was up and about healthy as ever. Aven Yu did as she was told and always cleaned Zhou Yu's room last. Thus, they could talk when she was done. Sun Shang Xiang and Zhang He spent a lot of time together, though they seemed to argue more than anything else. Sun Jian started wondering what would happen if Wu were to be married into both Shu and Wei. He shuddered to think about it. Sun Quan also noticed his sister and the new comer getting too friendly for his liking.

One morning Aven Yu and Jade were walking down the passage when three stable boys cornered them. "Look here, lads. We got ourselves some fresh meat." He gave an evil grin. "Get outta here, Jade, you've had your turn." The second one said as Jade ran. The third one pinned Aven Yu against the wall and sniffed her hair. "She smells funny." "What are you talking about?" He sniffed her again as she tried to wriggle from his grip. "She smells…sweet-" he never finished the sentence because Zhou Yu had knocked him out behind him stood a wheezing Jade. Aven Yu ran to him, she was close to tears. He put his arm around her and held his sword to their throats. "You touch her again, and I'll kill you." They gulped and ran.

He lowered his sword and put his other arm around her as she buried herself in his chest. "Jade, go tell Sun Jian." She nodded and left. Aven Yu loved it right here in his arms, she wouldn't mind marrying him. He led her back to his room where he had food brought up. She sat down with a blanket around her. It started raining when Sun Jian showed up. "I'm very sorry, Aven Yu, the boys have been imprisoned." She looked up, "release them." both men looked at her, "they didn't know who I was and I'm sure the threat of death had given them a good scare." Sun Jian scratched his head and nodded, "very well, you are right." With that he left.

Zhou Yu looked at her, "Are you sure? I mean they did try to…" his voice trailed off. "Rape me?" she finished the sentence for him. "Like that hasn't happened before? You forget I was stuck with Cao Cao for sometime. Thanks for coming to my rescue." "No problem, if they had their way, our kingdom would've been destroyed." Her eyes dropped to the floor. "Is that the only reason? To save your precious kingdom?" he sat down next to her, "No, it's not. It's because you're my bride to be." She looked at him and he kissed her gently. They broke apart and she put her fingers on his lips, "promise me, you won't dishonor me." He smiled and kissed her fingers, "I promise." then he got up and walked to the door. "I think you'd better stay here tonight, I'll make myself a bed on the floor and I'll speak to Sun Jian about a job change." With that he was out the door.

A few things changed over the next few days, she received her own room with her own bodyguards and she was introduced into the court as Zhou Yu's fiancé. The generals were waiting for Cao Cao to make his move. No one had any idea where he was. Even Liu Bei was worried, but happy that his niece was to be married and to a fine warrior like Zhou Yu.

Cao Cao on the other hand was furious, he was so mad that he started suffering from insomnia. How could the failure of one general cost him so must, well at least Zhang He was dead, or was he? One of his generals was dead, killed by that boy Sun Ce. His spies reported a new unknown soldier was in the Wu army. Maybe this matter was worth investigating.