Yeah, I've planned out a new story. Hopefully you'll all support me in it :D. But I'll post it after I'm done this one.

Now let's go see how our drunk man is doing.

And yep, Zhou Yu's style name is Gong Jin and Ling Tong's is Gong Ji, makes me go crazy writing theirs. D:

Xx

Disclaimer: You know what, I don't care. KOEI :(

Chapter 35: The Gift

Jiang Wei strolled through the front gates of the Zhao mansion freely after being let in by Xiao Ling. Ever since he told Zhao Yun the truth (even if it was less than 24 hours ago) he had been smiling because he felt that the heavy package that he's been carrying for years has finally been thrown off. It made him feel twice as good to see Zhao Yun accept the fact so whole-heartedly. Approaching the mans' door he knocked on the door lightly, hearing no reply he simply pushed the doors open and walked in. Inside the small room he could see the Shu general resting on his table with his head on his arms. Jiang Wei scanned the room for any signs of alcoholic beverages lying down, but to his surprise there wasn't any. "He must have not brought any in." he thought, not believing his friend would stop drinking especially after he took a few bottles from his wine cabinet before he left his home. Shaking his head, Jiang Wei placed the carefully written scripts on the table and scrimmaged around for Zhao Yun's stamp. As prefect of Cheng An, Zhao Yun had to review every document before it was sent to the main city, but it being Zhao Yun the stamp was used by Jiang Wei more than him. Finding the stamp wrapped in a yellow cloth he began to mold the red ink carefully, making sure it was the right colour and not too damp for the paper.

"What're you doing here?" Jiang Wei was surprised to suddenly hear Zhao Yun's voice; he turned around to face the Tiger General yawning.

"Wow, you mean you weren't passed out because you drank too much?" Zhao Yun gave him a bewildered stare.

"Of course not!" he shouted, "In fact I haven't touched a drip of alcohol all night." He said with pride in his voice, but his face turning serious right after. "You're sending the scripts already?"

"I have to." Jiang Wei returned a slight smile, "I have to head over to Wu territory by this afternoon so I'm having this sent to our Lord within the next carriage."

"Why are you heading to Wu Territory? Something wrong with the scripts that pirate gave you?"

"Of course not, I'm attending the wedding tomorrow." Jiang Wei cooed before turning his head slightly towards the general, "Qing Wan's wedding." Zhao Yun stayed silent for a bit before replying with a small whimper. "You want to come? You are invited."

"No, I don't want to stir up anything." Jiang Wei placed the stamp down gently on the side and sat down across his friend, both his arms resting on the table. "What?"

"You don't want to go see Qing Wan before she gets married off? You don't want to tell her how you really feel about her?" Zhao Yun replied by rolling his eyes. "Very well," Jiang Wei got up and stamped the document he brought earlier, "I'll be heading out now, I'll tell her you said good luck." He fanned the wet ink with his hand, trying to squeeze any reaction from the man.

"Have fun." Was all he heard, annoyed Jiang Wei rolled up the script and headed for the door. Walking out he stopped in his tracks and said.

"The weddings in the afternoon, when the sun hits its highest peak." The two wooden doors creaked as the sun that shone from outside slowly dimmed out. Zhao Yun gave a heavy sigh and buried his head into his hands. He knew that it was wrong for him to ruin a wedding, even if inside a little bit of him told him that she shared the same feelings. Confused he got up from his chair and strolled outside to the garden, even if it was already autumn the feeling of summer still lingered around China. Walking around his backyard, memories of him and Qing Wan shot through his head like an arrow. From the first time she attended to him when he was ill, to when they'd argued about what to surprise Jiang Wei for his birthday. Many of her memories happened in his home…no many of their memories happened here.

Attempting to clear his mind, he walked into the living room where he saw Xiao Ling returning home with a basket of food, "Master Zhao!" The little girl bowed, "I saw Xiang Ning earlier, she asked me if you liked the hair stick." The girl told him her face full of curiosity. "So did Lady Qing Wan like it?" she pestered her master.

"Don't be so nosy." He replied, "I bet you she didn't even…" he paused remembering the conversation he had yesterday with Jiang Wei. It was when they were still in Jing Territory that he wanted to present to her the hair stick they saw at the festival earlier. He had bought it right after her injury, but never found the right time to give it, so he secretly placed it in her bag when they went to Jing. But it was because of his nosiness he opened the piece of crumbled paper that was inside, finding out the truth about the general. "Bo Yue's house!" he exclaimed loudly running out of the house, he hoped that the hair stick wasn't placed in the bag when it was given to Gan Ning to return to Qing Wan.

"Lord Jiang Wei has already left for Wu Territory Lord Zhao." Mei Yi, the head servant of the Jiang mansion told him before attending to her own duties. He frowned, angry that it was less than half an hour since his friend had visited him in his own home. Checking his surroundings, he charged into Hua Yi's now cleaned up guest room. Cracking his knuckles with his hand, he began to rummage through the small room. In less then five minutes, he had turn the neat room into a servants nightmare. Sighing in defeat he passed by Hua Yi's room, smiling he walked into the abandoned area.

"He says I can't give her up?" he noted all the tables and chairs being swept clean as fresh flowers stood in the middle of the room. As he was leaving a piece of paper on Hua Yi's old vanity table grabbed his attention. Walking over he noticed a hair stick broken in half, and on the piece of paper it had the name Qing Wan.

"We found that in Lady Ji's room after Master gave back her pirate friend the bag." Mei Yi, who was wandering the house looking for the man explained. Her hands on her hips obviously finding the big mess the Prefect made. "Master forgot to bring it back to Wu territory with him though, I was hoping Lady Cheng could fix it in Wu."

"Fix it?" he looked at the object in his hand and analyzed it, it was broken in half from the strongest point of the steel.

"She asked me where could fix it, I told her about our blacksmiths. She said she went to Master Li, guess that old man wouldn't do it."

"This must be very special to her than." He whispered, the hair stick looked like just a normal one the girls wore around town. It was plain in colour and the flower decoration placed on top was cheap, looking at the old lady he asked her. "Do you know when Bo Yue's getting to Wu?"

"Lord Jiang said that he wouldn't be in Wu until late at night, it's a long journey even though the city is right beside ours. More than half a day he said." Nodding he brushed past the old woman, in his hand holding the two broken pieces and rushed into the busy city. Not acknowledging all the greetings he got from the people, he rushed over to the Li Mansion across town.

"Lord Zhao!" the Li's daughter opened the doors, the 16 year old still had the giant crush on the prefect of the city, but after the incidents during the festival, she didn't show it as much. "What are you doing here?"

"I need you to do me a favour Lady Li," the man looked over to see her father coming over.

"What can we help you with?" Master Li greeted. Zhao Yun explained the situation with the hairpiece. The Li man and his daughter tried to cover up lies when Zhao Yun mentioned Qing Wan asking for help, but at the end they admitted they declined it. "My lord, with all due respect. My hammer is already retired, and it takes…"

"I will lend you a blacksmith store, you can clean your hammer." He grunted, handing the man a bunch of money. The eyes of the little man lit up as he ordered his daughter to retrieve his precious prize. Zhao Yun waited anxiously outside the blacksmith shop as the elder worked hard inside. After finally preparing the necessary items, the sun had already set and most people had returned home for dinner.

"What's this for anyways?" the young Li daughter asked the man, "You seemed very rushed Lord Zhao."

"It's a wedding present." He stuttered, "I have to get it to Wu."

"Wu?" the girls eyes grew round and fascinated, "You mean that girl whom I saw at the festival?" The news of Qing Wan's story spread around the lands of Shu and Wu like a horrible epidemic, even though most of the people knew no one really dared to question their Lord about the scandal. "Getting married? That's too bad, I thought you two looked really cute together." Zhao Yun ignored the girls remarks and waited until the doors open and the man wiped the sweat off his forehead as he stepped out. Rushing over to the man, Master Li smiled proudly handing the man a small box, inside with the same hair stick he saw earlier, but repaired and looking better than ever. Thanking the two, he rushed out of the workshop and hurried home. Ignoring Xiao Ling's calls for dinner he ran into his stable and grabbed his glorious white horse. Pulling the reigns hard, he turned the horse around and rushed out of the gates of Cheng An.

xx

Eh, if you're wondering why Zhao Yun suddenly decided to go to the wedding. It's explained later. :D. Next chapter is the last chapter! Is he going to make it? Oh my! Until then! Thanks for reading!

Reika