Chapter Two
Zhao Yun stood solemnly in front of the three stone memorials side by side in the grounds of Bai Di castle. Lying neatly in front of each stone tablet respectively were a pole blade, a sword and a bronze pike, all of which were polished and cleaned of any visible souvenirs of battle. A large splay of fragrant peach blossoms was arranged in the center of the raised platform where the tablets stood, a memoir of the oath the three brothers had taken years before. The smoke of incense curled skywards, mingling with the scent of the flowers.
Yun offered a last bow to the three and began to head back to the castle. It was only mere days since the disastrous battle at Yi Ling and the memories were still fresh and painful in Tzu-lung's mind. His greatest regret, however, was the fact that he had been unable to avenge Liu Bei's death. The news of the fall of the Shu commander had spread quickly across the battlefield, as had the fire, which only heartened the soldiers of Wu further. The Shu army had had no choice but to retreat.
Reaching the doors to the castle's inner rooms, Zhao Yun spotted a servant hurrying towards him. The man bowed low when he reached him and stated, "Master Liu Chan requests your presence in the throne room." Yun nodded in affirmation before waving him off. He knew that as Liu Bei's first son, O-tou had every right to succeed him—but Yun just wished that he knew him better. He turned left down the hallway towards the throne room.
The throne room looked almost exactly as it had when Tzu-lung had been there last, but Bei's absence gave it a completely different feel—one that seemed almost threatening. Wandering why he felt this way, the general walked up the aisle between the officers, noticing out of the corner of his eye that they were whispering amongst themselves as he passed. Further unnerved, Yun knelt in front of Liu Chan, bowing his head respectfully. "You asked for me, my lord?"
"Yes," O-tou replied curtly, surveying Zhao Yun with what could almost have been distaste. "A soldier has reported that you were the only officer besides general Zhang Fei present during my father's death. Is this true?" This question was so unexpected, that Yun didn't answer right away. He could see no significance whatsoever in the query. Hesitantly, he nodded. "And you knew that Lu Xun was heading the troop that general Zhang's force was battling?" Again the perplexed general affirmed this. "Yet you did not warn my father or make any attempt to stop him?"
At this last statement, realization dawned on Tzu-lung. He stood indignantly, forgetting that Chan was now his superior. "Are you accusing me for Yuan-te's death?" he demanded, temper flaring dangerously. Liu Chan's stony expression and contemptuous glare confirmed this suspicion. Yun took a threatening step towards him, causing the bodyguards around him to tense. "How dare you even suggest this O-tou! You of all people should know my loyalty to Lord Liu Bei. I would never do anything to put him in harm's way!"
Yun looked desperately around the room for a trusting expression, but no, everyone seemed either suspicious or angry. Finally, his temper got the best of him and he turned to leave. He would NOT stand having everyone he trusted treat him like a traitor! However, he found his path blocked by two crossed spears and had to stop. He glared at the two guards and one of them seemed slightly intimidated, but neither moved.
"I have not yet dismissed you, Zhao," Liu Chan said coldly from behind the general. Tzu-lung didn't turn but answered stiffly, "With all due respect, sir, I have no intention of staying if I am not treated justly." The murmurings of disapproval fell on his deaf ears. Liu Chanmay behis new sovereign, but his worth was still to be proven.
"You are only making the situation worse for yourself with this insolence!" O-tou said, rage tinting his voice. Here Zhao Yun looked over his shoulder at Liu Chan with narrowed eyes, a look of pure defiance. Then before anyone else could stop him, he pushed his way past the guards and left the throne room, his cape swirling in his wake.
Yun stood on the balcony overlooking the population of Shu, arms crossed and face expressionless. A part of him was slightly ashamed by how he had acted, but somehow, he could feel no regret. Liu Chan just couldn't be compared to Liu Bei… Perhaps that was it. He heard light footsteps behind him and he looked back to see who it was.
Immediately, he recognized the girl to be Xing Cai, Zhang Fei's daughter. He gave a brief nod of greeting before looking back down at the city streets. The sight of her reminded him that a new generation now ruled the kingdom of Shu. Almost everyone Yun had really been close to, were now either retired or dead—he seemed to be the only one left.
"General Zhao?" Xing Cai said tentatively, easily sensing his mood. Yun nodded curtly without a backward glance to show that he was listening. "Lord Liu Chan has just passed judgment over you. I'm sorry but… he says that you are no longer welcome in the kingdom of Shu."
Tzu-lung stood straighter, a dark smile spreading across his face. "I thought so," he said in a flat monotone. "Then I guess I'll be going now." As he passed the young warrior, Cai caught his arm to stop him. He stopped and looked at her with a stony demeanor. "I just wanted to say that I don't think you had anything to do with my uncle's death," she said, slightly flustered. "I'm sure this problem will sort itself out somehow.
Zhao Yun's look softened slightly. It was a brave try, but Xing Cai just didn't understand. No one did. "I thank you," he said softly, before gently pulling away and moving into the hall. He didn't need much, just perhaps his Fierce Dragon and steed. He would head back to Chang Shan and hope that the Gongsun family would still welcome him.
He was sickened by his own attempt at optimism.
Soon, Yun found himself striding towards the city gate, only his spear in hand as he had not been allowed to take anything else. He glanced back andsaw that Liu Chan was standing on the balcony he himself had been on moments before. Flicking his gaze back forward, he noticed that the peasants in the vicinity were pausing to watch him. So, Liu Chan had decided to announce his disownment…
The Tiger General finally stepped out of the boundaries of Bai Di and stopped for a final look at the city. But no sooner had he turned around, did the gates boom shut, cutting Yun off from the place that had been his home for so many years.
Zhao Yun sought refuge in the shade of a nearby forest nestled against a mountain range less than a li away. On foot it would take weeks if not more to reach his homeland—IF they would even accept him. Either way, the trip would be hard without any food. Then again, since Liu Chan had been kind enough to announce that Tzu-lung had been kicked out of Shu, there would be little chance that cities would even let him into their gates.
Obtaining food from the provinces of Wu or Wei was out of the question, thanks to Yun's prowess on the battlefield. It seemed like thereWAS nosolution to his problem.Feeling hopeless, Zhao Yun slid to the foot of a nearby tree and leaned his head against the trunk. Where did one without a home go?
End of Chapter Two