I love this pairing so much! And thanks for the review guys! It may not be as popular as my humor fanfics, but still I like writing this!

Summary: Ma Chao said that he would always love Xing Cai no matter what, but when Xing Cai marries Liu Shan their love is put to the test. However, Ma Chao is not ready to give up and fights to be with her even to the very end. Ma Chao x Xing Cai

My Heart Is Yours

Chapter four: Tenant; Never Let Go of Love

Ma Chao stirred in his bed. He slowly opened his eyes only to have bright burning light rush into his eyes.

"Please, tell me that was merely a nightmare…" he muttered.

"That was no nightmare," a voice to his right said, "it was real."

Moving his head, Ma Chao saw Zhao Yun, sitting by his bedside. The other general looked anxious and yet happy to see Ma Chao awake once more.

"You collapsed after that struggle with the guards." Zhao Yun explained as he helped Ma Chao sit up, "I know that you have not been eating much for the past week and that must have drained your strength, hence the sudden loss of consciousness."

Bitter hatred filled Ma Chao as he tightened his hand into a fist, "What left have I now?" Ma Chao murmured, "I truly loved her and I gave her my all, but was it not enough? And even justice, whom I had fought for all these years, has abandoned me. My family too, I lost it long ago! What else can be taken away from me but my life? I have nothing to live for…"

Zhao Yun hanged his head, "Please don't say that, Master Ma Chao…" he said, "Besides, if you truly love her, why are you going to abandon your love for her?"

Looking at Zhao Yun scornfully, Ma Chao sighed, "But everything I hold dear has already been taken from me."

"Then, you have nothing to lose…"

Ma Chao looked at Zhao Yun skeptically. "What are you saying?"

"Well, now that you have nothing to lose, you can risk yourself for Xing Cai's sake. Nothing else can be taken from you, so why must you fear anything at all? Now, you can gain everything once again without fear." Zhao Yun explained, "What can hold you back?"

Excitement seemed to fill Ma Chao, but he was still doubtful.

"Do you want me to persist loving Xing Cai? I know I would love her forever, but…"

"Don't say but," Zhao Yun said, "I'm sure she is still waiting for you."

Ma Chao nodded, "Thank you. Thank you for standing by my side…"

General Zhao Yun, do you want to help him out? There's more than one way to do so…

"Yes, you are right and this is that other way."

Meanwhile, Xing Cai was in her room in deep contemplation. She stared at her face in the large mirror that stood before her bed that she was seated on.

Did she do the right thing?

What Ma Chao had done truly proved to her that he loved her dearly and she knew that she could still turn to him, but she was now the wife of Liu Shan and she knew that he could have Ma Chao imprisoned or even worse, he could have Ma Chao - killed.

Suddenly, tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Maybe…" she wept, "If we had loved earlier or you had asked me to marry you, we could still be together. Were we in love at the wrong place and at the wrong time?"

Pain burned in her heart as she looked at her tears fall on her lap. She held her chest and felt the stone once more. "Ma Chao…"

But now her path had been set and she knew that she had no choice but to forget Ma Chao. There was no where else to go but forward.

As she gripped the stone, Xing Cai ripped it off her neck and raised her arm to fling it.

Tears fell down like raindrops upon her lap as she was about to throw it against the mirror.

Then, memories rushed in.

Thank you, Ma Chao, I'll keep this present near me forever. I promise to keep it close to my heart always.

She was chocked by her very own sobs as she clasped her hand on the stone once more.

Xing Cai, I love you and I vow that I will love you forever no matter what.

Then she brought it against her chest.

She couldn't throw it away for it was her only piece of hope left. Even if she had chosen her path, she could not throw it away for deep inside she was firmly certain.

Ma Chao was the one she loved the most and nothing could change that.

Xing Cai cried and fell on her bed, pressing her face into the mattress as tears fell down on the bed.

She had not known it but right outside the palace, Ma Chao was waiting outside the gates, waiting for the proper opportunity to sneak in and get his chance with Xing Cai.

Only very few stars were out that night and the sky was empty.

He looked up at the crescent moon and felt engulfed by its beauty and eerie light. He was resolved to love her for eternity. "Xing Cai, I won't let go of you!" He then clenched his fists as he walked towards the gates of the palace.

"I will never let go of love!"

Short chapter, I know, but I'll make the next one better.Of coursehe's not going to barge in and kill all of Liu Shan's guards, he's gonna use stealth but there might be some fighting scenes.