Eh, sorry for the wait. (For me anyways it's a long wait). I've been feeling a bit restless to write lately, no not because I don't want to write. I love writing, but some people (friends, cough) have really been tugging at my ability to write and some other stuff.
So in this time I've been planning another story, if I don't get super lazy I think I'll post it up. Promise me you'll support me though! I'm kidding, if it sucks you don't have to :D. (Which most likely it will). Anyways, on with the story!

Mm, after this one, it's going to be 2 more chapters. I promise.

Xx

D-i-s-c-l-a-i-m-e-r: K-O-E-I owns us all.

Chapter 34: Advice

Qing Wan waited excitedly at the docks early that morning, she watched as the giant fleet docked on board as hundreds of people began to rush out. Standing on the tips of her toes, she called out to a young man who stepped off and looked around carefully. "GONG JI!" she screamed, waving her hands madly. The man dressed in a red jumpsuit type outfit with his hair tied back in a ponytail waved and smiled running over to her. "Gong Ji! I missed you so much." Qing Wan cried running into the arms of the man. The tall Wu general separated from the maiden and took a deep breath of air.

"It's great to be back in the Wu territory." He exclaimed as the two friends walked away from the docks and onto the pathway where many families were being reunited.

"How'd you get our letter so fast?" Qing Wan asked the man. The Wu Kingdom found it odd when they had received a note from Jiang Nan saying that Ling Tong would be arriving in Wu territory. After all the wedding date was rushed the day before and the letter sent right after. There was no way he could receive the letter and get on a boat and arrive in time, Qing Wan and the rest of them expected him to not show up at all.

"Letter?" Ling Tong stared at her funny but was returned with the same glare.

"About the wedding being pushed to tomorrow?"

"The wedding is tomorrow?" Ling Tong shouted loudly but quieted down to see various stares from the peasants.

"You never knew?" Ling Tong scratched his head and explained his situation to the Wu bride. The reason why Ling Tong had come to Wu territory earlier than expected was because of family problems. Ling Tong was sent by Sun Jian to capture any remaining pirates that traveled along the Jiang Nan river, this way both of Ling Tong's wives had to accompany him and were often secluded from the rest of the city because they had to live on a boat. Ling Tong being a workaholic often neglected his two wives, causing them to bicker among one another often. One day the two wives got into a big argument on who got to spend the night with Ling Tong, confused and annoyed Ling Tong angrily yelled at his two wives which forced to two women to returned home in rush of tears. Feeling lonely and seeing no sign of his wives returning he decided to come to Wu and visit the gang.

"You see it's not that easy having two wives." Ling Tong rubbed his forehead, "Often I get so confused."

"Gong Ji," Qing Wan slapped the mans back and laughed, "You're lucky you get to have two beautiful woman serve you."

"You know if it wasn't for Gong Jin and Bo Fu I would of never agreed to take them both as my wives?"

"Think about it this way, you saved Gong Jin and elder brothers lives. You know how rowdy the Qiao sisters get." Ling Tong sighed. It was four years ago when this incident all started. Zhou Yu, Sun Ce, Gan Ning and Ling Tong were all fishing along the rivers when they went on a campaign to learn about the people in the country. Accidentally, Zhou Yu and Sun Ce ran into two women who were bathing and were unfortunately caught by both of the women's fathers. When the two men heard of Zhou Yu and Sun Ce's vast riches they plotted a plan to force them to marry their daughters, making up a rule that in the country when two men see two virgin women bathing they would have to wed them. Not wanting to be in a tight situation when they got home to their wives, Zhou Yu and Sun Ce introduced the two women to Ling Tong and Gan Ning. Hoping that the girls would fall in love with the two charming bachelors. Luckily for Gan Ning the two women were repelled by all the tattoos and the pirates rudeness and fell in love with Ling Tong. Bribing Ling Tong, Zhou Yu and Sun Ce eventually convinced Ling Tong to marry both of them as equal wives, the two girls didn't disagree being best friends.

"You're right, plus I get a kick of hearing 'Supreme Master Ling Tong Gong Ji, owner of Zhou Yu and Sun Ce' every time I return." He grinned. The two continued walking down the dirt path that led back to the city until Ling Tong stopped in the middle. "Why are we walking?" he asked her not noticing that it was only the two of them before. "No one else from Wu came to pick me up?"

"Don't be so sad Gong Ji." She reassured him, "I just asked to come pick you up by myself cause I want to go somewhere."

"You mean?"

"Yep, I think it's about time we visited my parents and Uncle Ling." Ling Tong nodded, it was a long time since he's visited his father's gravesite.

Both Ling Tong and Qing Wan's parents were buried in a mountain located in the Wu territory; it was a special mountain where all great generals and their families who represented Wu would be buried. Sun Jian would personally choose who gets the high honour of being buried there because the mountain beside it was the Sun's memorial area where many of the great Sun ancestors were buried.

"Father! Mother!" Qing Wan exclaimed, rushing over to the giant tombstones that lay in the ground. After Qing Wan's fathers death, Qing Wan's mother passed away from shock not after. Qing Wan's mother, who served Lady Wu (the mother of the Sun children) was also very liked by her highness and was offered to be buried beside her husband. "How's it going?" the young maiden spoke softly, using her long sleeves to wipe the names of her parents. Ling Tong stood beside her, his hands folded across his chest. "I'm guessing Xiang Wan must have told you what have happened these months." Whenever Xiang Wan was unhappy, she would always come up to the mountain to gain comfort by talking to the two gravestones. "But on the bright side," she began opening the little basket they picked up when they passed by the temple. Taking out a small plate with apples and pears on top, she gently placed the plate in front of the two huge statues. Digging into the basket she pulled out a stack of incents sticks.

"Here." Long Tong handed her a small candle that he obtained from the small temple that was built in honour of the men. Qing Wan lit three incents at a time, praying to both her parents before sticking it in the dirt.

"Father, Mother. I'm happy to tell you that I'm going to get married to Bo Yan, again." She laughed saying that, remembering that she came here almost a year ago telling them the same news. "Don't worry, I promise I'll get married this time." She looked over to Ling Tong who was kneeling in front of his own father's gravestone. Ling Tong's father Ling Cao had already passed away for over 10 years now. Qing Wan who was only 12 at the age of her Uncle Ling's death remembered the drastic change in the 18-year-old boy. He was often angry and moody, especially if he saw Gan Ning. Luckily the two became best of friends when Gan Ning saved his life during a campaign, and Qing Wan was happy to see one of her role-models back to the way she adored him as. "I'll be back." She whispered to her parents and brought the basket over to Ling Cao's gravestone. Kneeling beside him she pulled out a plate of mantou.

"Eh?" Ling Tong looked at her funny before replacing it with a laugh. "Father, remember Qing Wan?"

"Of course Uncle Ling remembers me." She snarled, "Uncle Ling, I brought you your favorite lotus mantous!" she bowed three times, "I'm getting married tomorrow too! I hope you'll have a lot of fun watching with my parents tomorrow! Have big parties for me!" she joked. The two of them continued having conversation with the elderly spirits for hours until they noticed the time, paying their last respects the two began walking down the mountain path. The two held small chats about politics, war and even gossiping about their own friends until they reached the back garden of the Wu castle. Over in the far corner, the two saw Lu Xun and Er Ling walking beside one another as they strolled down the garden.

"Who's that?" Ling Tong asked, who have not seen Lu Xun's wife.

"That's Lu Xun's wife, Er Ling."

"Ah, so that's her?" Ling Tong nodded, and looked over to Qing Wan. "You're okay with being a concubine?" Qing Wan looked at him funny, Ling Tong already knew she was going to be Lu Xun's second wife yet he didn't bring it up till now.

"Of course I am."

"Are you ready?"

"What?"

"I know you're all grown up Qing Wan." He leaned on the rail as they walked under the sitting area, "You're very lucky that you get to marry someone you love."

"Gong Ji…"

"Marriage isn't what you think it is, you may think you're attracted to him right now, but you're going to be a second wife Qing. You're going to have to share your time, your love, and your attraction with another woman. I know you're rushing the wedding because of Lord Sun Jian's condition but have you really thought it through?"

"What are you saying?"

"I'm not trying to imply anything, I think you and Bo Yan make the best couple there is." He paused, and watched as Lu Xun and Er Ling playfully chased each other from far away. "Actually, ignore what I've said." He turned and gave her a slight slap on her shoulder; "I shouldn't be taking my own marriage failures and be passing it on to you as advice." Qing Wan looked at him silently, she knew what he meant. Ling Tong was forced to be married to these woman, of course he'd have to be attracted to him some how, but it wasn't real love, but was her love real love?

"Not everyone's relationship is as lucky as Sun Ce, Zhou Yu and the Qiao sisters." He added.

"Yeah." She looked over to Lu Xun who seemed to finally notice the two. Waving frantically, he pulled Er Ling across the field to where they were. Both Qing Wan and Ling Tong noticed Er Ling's joyous grin turn into a frown and slowly carve into a frightened stare.

"Gong Ji!" Lu Xun rushed over and gave his friend a quick hug. "Ah, let me introduce. This is my first wife, Er Ling. Er Ling this is Ling Tong Gong Ji from Jiang Nan."

"Nice to meet you Lord Ling." She said quietly, avoiding eye contact with both the general and maiden. "I'll be heading back in first." She bowed, hurrying away.

"Don't mind her, she's…"

"Forget about it." Ling Tong interrupted, "Let's go find the rest of them."

xx

Mantou: Chinese Bread.

Eh yes, nothing exciting happens anymore does it? Next chapter will be up before this week ends, I promise. The events in the next chapter will be happening at the same time all this stuff was happening. So the next chapter doesn't mean the wedding day. Haha! Till then! Thanks for reading, review please!

Reika
PS: Hardest part of any story writing is the chapter name. Sigh.