Chapter 19: The Trip to Jing Province
"I still can't believe I lost." Zhao Yun whined to Jiang Wei as they headed back to the Jiang mansion. Jiang Wei gave his friend a pat on the back and laughed. "I lost to the little kid! I lost in a contest looking like me!"
"It's cause you weren't as cute as little Zhao Yun." Qing Wan appeared from behind the walls surrounding the home, "It's been over a month already, GET OVER IT." She placed both hands on her hips and frowned. Zhao Yun glared at the maiden playfully before chasing her around the garden; tackling her onto the ground Qing Wan began attacking him eventually flipping him over.
"Now now." Jiang Wei broke up the two who were struggling to jump on the other, "We're going to be late if you keep this up." Zhao Yun nodded and pushed her off his body, standing up he straightened his clothes and cleared his voice. "Ji Qing Wan, as the prefect of Cheng An, I order you to accompany us to this trip to the Jing Province." Qing Wan froze, the Jing province was a land that she tried to take with her comrades of Wu, but it was stolen from them after the battle at Chi Bi.
"Jing Provinces? Why would I go there?" Qing Wan stuttered, getting off the floor.
"Because we're going for a meeting, and we want you to be there too." Jiang Wei replied, pushing her into her room so she could pack her items. "Lord Sun Jian had sent messengers to the Jing Provinces to request our reinforcements."
"Reinforcements? Wu?" She turned around and stared at Jiang Wei in the eye, "What?" she was worried about the rumours she heard months ago about Wei or Shu wanting to attack Wu because of their lack of spirit. "Would this be because of me?" she whispered.
"What?"
"Nothing, please Bo Yue, explain."
"Well the Wei forces are rumoured to approach the Wu borders, and they need to past by some cities in Shu if it will happen. They want to station some of their men here to prepare a defense attack."
"Against Cao Cao." Zhao Yun finished off, "Since Shu and Wu share the same passion of crushing Wei, why not we work together again? It worked at Chi Bi."
"And you want me there why?"
"Because," Zhao Yun looked down at his feet, "Lord Liu Bei wants to see who uh…helped me." Qing Wan scratched her head, and raised her foot stomping on Zhao Yun's toe angrily. "OW." He shouted, grabbing onto his shoe and hopping around. "What was that for?"
"You didn't explain well enough." She argued, "Now if you do that again…"she raised her foot again. Zhao Yun stepped back and glared.
"Lord Liu Bei heard of the WONDERFUL." He emphasized, "woman who's help me through my BAD TIMES." Qing Wan began to turn red but looked around to avoid their eyes. "Now will you please pack your stuff and leave with us?"
xx
Qing Wan slept peacefully in the carriage full of their luggage and gifts that were given to them to pass onto the people in the Jing Provinces. Zhao Yun often stuck his head into the window of the carriage as he rode beside it with Jiang Wei. "Why do you keep looking at her?" Jiang Wei pushed his hair back and chuckled. Zhao Yun turned around quickly and stared at his friend.
"No I'm not, I'm just seeing if she's going to eat any of the snacks in there." He replied quickly, he tapped his horse gently hurrying to the front lines. Jiang Wei followed behind him and grinned. "Why are you grinning?"
"Have you…"
"NO."
"You didn't even listen to my question." Jiang Wei's eyes widened.
"I know what you were going to ask and no. I'm not."
"Maybe its finally time you forget about my sister." He turned and looked at him, "Reach for the stars, you never know what you may find, Zi Long." He smiled, and walked backwards with his horse to protect the rear end. Days passed as the small group finally approached the borders of Shu's capital, registering their items and people with the guards, Zhao Yun brought Jiang Wei and Qing Wan to his second home. He had a home stationed in the Jing Provinces because he often traveled back and forth, and it would be more suitable if he just bought a house instead of living in the others homes.
"This house is so different from the one in Cheng An." Qing Wan said spinning around in the living room, "Much more empty." She shouted so she could hear her echo. Zhao Yun stared at her weirdly before throwing her baggage in her face.
"Go get dressed, we have to meet the people from Wu soon." She froze. She knew if she met with anyone from Wu, they would recognize her and blow her cover. Zhao Yun stared at her again and began to pull her to her guestroom, "Come on we don't have all day."
"Zhao Yun." She dragged him back towards her, "Aren't you mad at Wu?" Zhao Yun let go of her arm and stared at the wall in front of him. "Zi Long?" she said softly afraid that she angered him. Zhao Yun spun around and smiled shaking his head lightly.
"Even though Hua Yi was important to me, Jiang Wei and everyone in the Shu kingdom. We couldn't let our personal feelings affect our chances of being allies to take Wei down." He explained, "Hua Yi would of want the best for Shu, and allying with Wu is the best thing for Shu right now." Qing Wan looked at him silently she felt angry that Wu was placed as a scape goat for this devil plan, yet she felt sad for Zhao Yun and the rest of Shu to put away this sadness. After all, they lost a great general, a sister, a friend and a fiancé. "Now, are you ready to get dressed?" Zhao Yun shoved her with his finger, Qing Wan grabbed onto his index finger and bit on it hardly.
"YES." She grumbled, pushing him aside and stomping into the room. Qing Wan stepped out minutes later in her formal clothing; her hair was put up neatly. Zhao Yun stared at her, stroking his chin. "What are you thinking?" She placed her hands on her hips; Zhao Yun quickly slashed them lightly.
"You'll wrinkle your dress if you do that." He scolded, he began to look up and down again. "Something's missing."
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes, "Where's Bo Yue?"
"He'll be coming later." He held out his hand and snatched on to hers quickly, "We still have time, let's go to town first." He dragged her outside of the main gates and into the streets. "Where should we go?"
"What are you doing?" Qing hissed as the people were starring at them two, "Let go of me, I know how to walk."
"If I let go, you'd run. I can't let you run." He winked dragging her into the central district, arriving at a jewelry store he pulled her in.
"What are we doing in here?" Zhao Yun released his tight grip from hers and looked at all the hair pins lined up on the red velvet. He picked up various hair pins and hair barettes and measured it as if it was on her head. Qing Wan looked at the olive green one in awe, it reminded her of Lu Xun's gift to her, cept the colour was different. Zhao Yun noticed her stare at the pin and turned around to the man, taking out money from his breast pocket he paid the man double and walked out. Once again grabbing her hand.
"Let go of me!" she screamed as he dragged her to a near by pond. Rubbing his hands together he forced her to sit down on the bench and pulled out her old hair pin, Qing Wan leaped out of her chair as she tried to grab it but was pushed back down. "Zhao Zi Long!" She growled, angry that he threw away the gift from Jiang Wei.