Here we go, the re-write of the longest chapter I ever wrote. I'll try to halve it. Ehe. I promise after I re-write this one, I'll start continuing again. I just wanted myself to feel better so I re-wrote all of this. X.x Note: I'll split Chapter 12 into two, so Chapter 13 will replace the AUTHORS note page. The actual Chapter 13 (I wrote 14 accidentally) will stay as Chapter 14. Sorry for the inconvenience!

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Disclaimer: Dynasty Warriors belongs to KOEI and what not.

Chapter 12: The Silver Hairpiece

Qing Wan fiddled with the brown comb in her hand she couldn't explain the reason why she was shaking. Usually back home she'd rather her do her own hair then any of her maids to do it anyway. Giving up, she placed the comb on the table and sulked on her stool, staring back at her reflection from the mirror in front of her. Taking her right hand, she slowly touched her cheeks, her eyes, her lips and her nose. The current state she was in reminded her of herself back home when she was missing Lu Xun. These days she had been thinking a lot, from the start of embracing Lu Xun till her and Jiang Wei climbing up the mountain. She knit her eyebrows in deep thought when she was reminded by the story Jiang Wei told. "Who from Wu could do this?" she asked herself, "No one died four years ago, and there isn't a lot of females in the army." She began to calculate all the female generals and their bodyguards. "Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao were with Zhou Yu and Sun Ce on their expedition against Wei. Xiang and me were with Gan Ning and Lu Xun in Jian Ye. Sun Shang Xiang was recovering from the battle she came back from…all our bodyguards would stick with us no matter what. I don't get it."

"Lady Ji?" a knock on her door interrupted her. Qing Wan spun around, dropping the comb that was on the edge of her desk. "Is everything alright?" he asked worried at the noise.

"Everything's okay." Qing Wan quickly replied, "Come in!" the door swung open as the man peered into the room, "Is there something wrong Lord Jiang?"

"Well, you calling me Lord Jiang is something wrong. Just feel free and call me Bo Yue." He smiled, "I was here to see why you were still up Lady Ji."

"Oh please, just refer me to Qing Wan. It's um, suits me more."

"You're wish, well I just wanted to tell you to try to keep your profile low." Qing Wan had made up a lie, telling Jiang Wei that she was a ronin who last stayed in Wu, but had to move because of some personal problems.

"I will, I don't want to disturb anyone to know that I was a ronin from Wu."

"Then get some rest, breakfast will be in the morning." He bowed, closing the doors and walking out. Qing Wan got up from her seat and stretched, she was tired from the mountain climbing she did earlier and was prepared to get a good night sleep. As she was going to blow out the candle she tripped on her stool knocking her bag on the ground.

"Oh god." She whispered running to the bag, ripping the knot open. She began to dig through all the layers she had there until she pulled out a small silk handkerchief. Unwrapping it carefully, she looked down silently at the broken silver hair stick. She picked up the upper half with the dangling roses in the shade of red and pink, a tear dropped down her face as now her most precious memory of Lu Xun was split into two. "There has to be a way to fix this." She whispered trying to stick the two pieces together. Dropping the two sticks onto the floor she sat there silently hoping to find a way to repair it. "I've heard of great blacksmiths in ChengAn, perhaps he could fix it." She smiled wrapping the ornament back into the handkerchief. Blowing out the candle she rested for a long nights sleep.

xx

The rooster made its sounds as the sun was rising slowly, Qing Wan rubbed her eyes and yawned. She was a light sleeper, the slightest noises would awake her. She opened the doors of her room slowly and stuck her head outside, "Excuse me?" she called softly to see if any of the maids were near here, seeing no one she walked out in her pajamas to try to the find the kitchen. Walking around silently she noticed a room behind the guest rooms, on the door were two yellow strips forming an X, and she knew in Chinese tradition meant this room belonged to someone who had died. "Could it be?" she wondered as she walked up to the door, her hands touching the strips gingerly. The door suddenly creaked open exposing a small room covered with white sheets. Qing Wan slowly placed her foot into the room and looked around, from the bed to the vanity table they were all covered with a white sheet. Cept the windows and room were dust free, as if someone cleaned it frequently. A small wooden box on the vanity table caught her eye, walking towards it she opened it up. There lay various hair ornaments, earrings and brooches. She used her fingers to trail the shininess of the silver or gold accessories, as if they were polished by someone recently.

"Ahem." Someone coughed from behind her, Qing Wan spun around closing the box to be faced with the man of the house. "Lost?" he smiled warmly. Qing Wan turned beet red as she walked towards him trying to find an excuse.

"I'm sorry." Was the only thing that came out of her mouth.

"About what?"

"For being nosy and going into your sisters things, I really shouldn't."

"It's okay." Jiang Wei placed his hand on her shoulder, "I would have gotten rid of all of this already, except ZiLong yelled at me for doing so. He just doesn't want to accept the fact that my sisters gone." He scratched his head, "You're up early." He tried to change the subject.

"The rooster woke me." Jiang Wei grinned.

"Hua Yi watched the rooster grow up." He let out a laugh, "It always woke her up too." Qing Wan nodded politely and stared at the empty room. "So what brings you here anyways?"

"I—wanted to find the kitchen to get some water."

"I'll ask Mei Yi to bring it over, then you should come out for some breakfast." Qing Wan nodded as he led her back into her room, just incase she got lost again.

xx

"Your water Lady Ji." Mei Yi, the Jiang mansions lead servant smiled placing the golden pot onto the table.

"Thank you Mei Yi." Qing Wan replied preparing to wash her face, "Mei Yi." She suddenly said stopping the woman as she was going to close the door.

"Yes Lady Ji?"

"Do you know of any great blacksmiths that could be able to fix this?" she asked, taking the silk handkerchief from her blouse and handing it to the lady. Mei Yi picked up the two pieces and expected it, she frowned.

"You see Lady Ji," she started, "ChengAn is known for their four famous blacksmiths. Master Wu from the North West, Master Cheng from the North East, Master Leung from South East and Master Li from South West. But recently, Master Wu died from an old sickness. Master Cheng had moved up to the big city because of his daughters wedding with the lead scholar and Master Leung recently enrolled into the army again."

"And Master Li?" she asked her hopes getting high.

"Master Li, is a good blacksmith." She nodded, "but he's greedy and selfish. To fix your hair piece, it would at least cost the price of this whole mansion!" Qing Wan looked at the woman strangely, "Yes it seems weird. But you see the Li family is one of the richest in the town, they no longer do the hard workmanship they once showed." Mei Yei handed the broken hair stick to her.

"What if I plead him? Or something. I really want to fix this."

"Master Li," she scoffed, "Is a cruel and rude man. I wouldn't plead him for anything. But is there anything else you wish to address me?"

"No it's okay, you can return to your duties." Qing Wan placed a fake smile as the elder woman walked out. Qing Wan took her moneybag and counted the papers and the golden and silver pebbles. "I don't even have enough for a fancy dress." She growled, "How can I fix this?" Frustrated she threw the hair stick onto the vanity table.

"Is anything wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong Bo Yue." She spoke quickly now recognizing the mans voice. "Is there something you need me for?"

"I'm here to apologize, I just received an important notice to go attend to some business matters. I don't think I can show you around the town today."

"It's fine Bo Yue, your duties are much more important."

"That's good, I promise we'll go shopping another day." Qing Wan imagined the man smiling, as he did always. "I'll be back before dinner, please take care."

"Thank you Bo Yue, you too." Qing Wan watched the silhouette of his walk away from her door, "I shouldn't sulk around the house all day." She told herself picking up the hairpiece again, "I'll have to beg even if I have to."

xx

"Master Li has retired the hammer, he'll no longer be attending to these businesses." The guard replied harshly.

"Please." Qing Wan pleaded, "It's very important. I really need to fix this."

"Mam, I've told you over thirty times. Master Li will not attend to this."

"Just let me see him, I'm sure he'll change his mind."

"Mam, if you do not leave, I will have to react harshly."

"What's all this commotion?" a mans voice roared through the gates as the dark red doors opened up. A fairly short but well dressed man stepped out, with at least 4 women behind him. All of them dressed well too.

"Master Li." The guards bowed to their homeowner, "This woman, she says she wants you to fix an item of hers."

"Did you tell her that our Master has retired?" One of the women wearing an orange silk dress snapped, her eyes glaring down at Qing Wan.

"Yes we have."

"Please." Qing Wan ran up to the stairs but was blocked by two spears, "I really need to fix this."

"Father," one of the younger looking females whom resembled the short man glared. "We have to get to the temple."

"That's right," an elderly woman, perhaps the girls mother replied. "Or Xiao Er won't get to see ZiLong." Qing Wan reacted to the name quickly.

"Do you have the money?" the short man asked her, Qing Wan blinked, nodding her head silently. "Then you don't have the right to even STEP on my stairs." He gave Qing Wan a shove as she fell back on the steps and onto the ground. "I don't ever want to see you again, just look at you. Thinking you have the right to even talk to me." He snorted, as the guards placed the spears on Qing Wan's neck. The man and his four women walked past her, each smiling gleefully. Once they walked away, Qing Wan glared at the two men whom still have the spear pointed towards her temple.

"You can release these from my neck now." She spoke quietly, her hands clutching into a fist. After all she had never been treated this way, even if she had her family would make sure she got the proper respect back. The two men spat at her face as they released the sticks and began to laugh. Qing Wan wiped the disgusting saliva off her face and got up. Placing her hairpiece safely in her pocket, she grabbed onto the two men's spears and twisted them off their grips. The two men shocked reacted by each grabbing on to her arm, trying to retrieve their weapon with their other hand. Smiling, Qing Wan shook their hands off her arms and twirled under the spears, which were supported by the two men. As she twirled she raised her right leg up, striking both men in the face and knocking them on to the ground. Pushing her hair behind her ear, she threw the spears back at the two unconscious men. "Amateurs." She called out before walking off to find a pond to wash her face in. "That's better." She smiled as she refreshes her face with the clear water running from the wells, patting her face gently she saw a familiar looking man gagging before falling onto the ground. Quickly she ran over and flipped him over to see Zhao Yun grumbling. "Are you alright Lord Zhao?"

"Hua Yi…" he opened his eyes and looked at her, grabbing onto her arms.

XxEnd Chapter 12

Alrighty, off to do Chapter 13. Which will replace Chapter AUTHORS Note. Which just apologizes for me vanishing for 2 years.
Hope ya liked it:D

xReika