A/N: Phew….. I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAACK! Wedged in some time to write Chappie 5 (hooray!) Alrighty, have fun!
Chapter 5: The Rescue
Jiang Wei stared out at his balcony. His hair ruffled in the wind. 'It was 3 days ago…..' Jiang Wei shook his head, and heard his mother's soft moan. Jiang Wei turned to one of her nurses. "How is she?" he asked. The nurse looked at her coworkers. "She's burning up, my lord." the nurse answered. Jiang Wei sighed, and headed to the door. "I need some time to think. Make sure Mother gets rest." he responded, and left. He went to the stables, mounted his horse, and took a ride.
As he rode, Jiang Wei observed the hard-working rice farmers in their flooded fields. Children ran and played on the streets. There were hustling people in the small city of Tian Shui, bartering, sewing, working. "This may be the only time I can have peace…" he said to himself. Suddenly, there was a commotion. Guards suddenly ran up to Jiang Wei. "MY LORD! There is a woman in distress at the river!" one cried. "She's drowning!" cried another.
Frantic, Jiang Wei rushed to the nearby river, where there was a crowd of people. Jiang Wei dismounted, and shoved his way to the edge. On the other side of the river was a pale white horse, whining loudly. "Where is she!" Jiang Wei cried to one of the peasants. "There! At the riverbed! Her foot is stuck!" the peasant responded. Without a word, Jiang Wei plunged into the river. The current was strong, pulling him away from his target. He fought it, and managed to grabbed the woman's hand. 'She's of noble blood' he thought, eyeing her expensive clothing. He pulled himself closer to her foot, and took off her shoes, freeing her. He then grabbed her body, and rushed to the surface. He took a big gulp of air, and grabbed the outstretched hand of a peasant's. The loud cheers echoed in his ears, as another peasant wrapped a blanket around Jiang Wei's wet figure. Then all of a sudden, Jiang Wei pulled off the blanket forcefully, and everyone went silent. Jiang Wei kneeled down, and put his hand on the familiar woman's cheek. "Nu Wa…… " he whispered softly.
The peasants watched as Jiang Wei mounted his horse, holding Nu Wa's body in front of him. He rode swiftly past the frightened people, and carried Nu Wa to a bed. "How could you….." Jiang Wei said softly. Then suddenly, a maid came in. "My lord?" she asked nervously. Jiang Wei looked at her calmly. "Take good care of her." he replied, and left.
Jiang Wei quickly sent a letter to Liu Bei of Nu Was whereabouts, explaining what happened, and that he'd return her as soon as possible. Knowing this would satisfy and cease Liu Bei's worries, Jiang Wei sighed, and bleakly sat in front of his oak desk.
Growing tired of waiting after two days, Jiang Wei decided to visit his mother. He was surprised to see his mother sitting up on her bed. His mother smiled, and motioned him to sit on the chair beside her bed. "Son." she said. "I hear you have a guest." Jiang Wei didn't respond. The old woman sighed. "I also heard that you saved her, and that she was of the Liu line." she continued. Again, Jiang Wei was silent. Jiang Wei's mother than took his hand in hers, and said: "You look very much like your father. And, you are very much like your father. Brave… wise….." Jiang Wei's mother stroke his hair. "You're a young man now. Shouldn't you have a wife by now?" she asked. Jiang Wei held a emotionless expression. "I guess I've been too busy studying." he replied. His mother chuckled. "Why study when you're already successful?" Jiang Wei looked at her bed sheets. "I want to improve myself. I want to be a better person." Jiang Wei's mother's smile brightened. "You've already become a better person. Look- you've provided me a better home, you've become Lord Zhuge Liang's apprentice, all you need is someone you can be happy with. Ah…… look at me. I'm pushing you. Just let me get some rest now, I'm still sick." said his mother. Jiang Wei kissed his mother's forehead, and left.
As he closed is mother's bedroom door behind him, Jiang Wei stared at the room across the hall. "I guess I should visit……." he said to himself, and opened the room door….