Cao Cao stood somberly off to the side with his wife Lady Bian as he watched people come forward to pay their final respects to his son. Xiong had finally succumbed to his illness. The only solace Cao had was that his son had passed on while in his sleep. At least his final moments were not painful, unlike the majority of his life. Xiong would try to put on a brave face but Cao could see how much he suffered. He was always a weak child. Cao knew that he wouldn't survive much longer. He had time to emotionally prepare himself for the inevitable. Perhaps that was the reason he did not shed any tears. That wasn't to say he didn't feel anything over the loss of his child. What parent wouldn't?

His wife hadn't been the same since Cao Xiong died. He was her youngest, her baby and she treated him as such despite Cao chiding her for doing so. When he passed, she was beside herself with grief and Cao noticed that something within her died along with him. This hurt Cao deeply because despite the vast amount of concubines he had, Bianshi always held a special place in his heart. He wanted to help her, to see that beautiful smile of hers again. He closed his eyes in thought and opened them when it came easily to his mind. He would give her another child. She was still young and could bear another one with little risk to herself and the child. Of course he was not trying to replace the one they lost in her heart, but he knew that she would not be able to go on the same as before if she did not have another one. Once she realized she was with child again, she would be able to begin healing and go back to the vibrant woman he married.

Resolved in his decision, Cao shifted his focus to look at the faces of his children. They were all clad in black dress robes as they stood next to the coffin of their deceased brother. They shed the tears for Xiong that he could not. All except for Pi. Pi stood next to his brethren, his hands folded behind his back and his face dry. His lips were fixed into a frown, but besides that he showed no emotion. Pi was so close to Cao in many ways. He was strong, intelligent and goal driven. He knew how to bury his emotions deep down and do what needed to be done. He was the ideal person to be Cao's heir when the time came. Yet, he was not Cao's choice. That honor went to Cao's favored son Chong.

Pi knew of Cao's adoration for Chong as did the rest of his brethren. Cao did not hide the favor he held for Chong from his other children. Pi wished to be the heir to what he knew would be a grand legacy but, he also trusted in his father's wisdom. If he felt that Chong was the better man to succeed him, he would follow and serve him to the best of his ability.

"You do not shed tears for our brother," Chong said.

Pi looked up to his older brother from the coffin.

"I do not," He replied.

"Do you not feel any sadness over his loss?" Chong asked.

"Zihuan does not know how to cry. Even when being disciplined he does not shed a tear," Ang spoke up.

"Crying won't bring him back. Me shedding tears is pointless," Pi replied.

"Your tears let the deceased know that you cared," Chong answered.

"So not crying means that I do not care for my brother? Ridiculous," Pi replied.

"Did you care, Zihuan?" Zhang asked. "Do you care for any of us? Would you ever shed a tear for any of us?"

"Do you ask the same questions of father? He has not cried either. Does that mean he does not care?" Pi retorted.

"Emulating father won't make him favor you. We all know that he holds Chong above us all," Zhang hissed.

"SILENCE!" Cao thundered. "Cease your bickering this instant. Have respect for the memory of your brother."

All of the boys immediately fell silent in fear of their father's retribution. The Xiahou family entered Cao's home led by Xiahou Shan. They moved in a line, each kneeling before the coffin to burn a piece of joss paper followed by saying a prayer. Cao watched in silence as each member of the Xiahou family knelt before his son's coffin with somber expressions. The men were the first to pay their respects. Shan was first followed by Dun who took a very brief time to pray. Cao knew his cousin was absolutely horrible when emotion was involved so he did not begrudge him his abruptness. Yuan, though moderately better at sorting through and understanding his emotions was similarly horrible at expressing any emotions that may make him seem overly vulnerable. While his prayer for Xiong was longer than Dun's, it was not by much. Once again, Cao did not feel anger or disrespect at this. He knew that it wasn't because they did not care, it was simply because they had trouble expressing it. Even Cao's own prayer in public had been brief, preferring to mourn in private.

Lady Ai went after Yuan, being the matriarch of the family. She sobbed loudly as she knelt in front of the coffin. Dun had to assist his mother with getting to her feet after her prayer was done. Yuan's wife and their sons paid their respects next. It was rare to see Yuan's mischievous sons so dispirited. It truly did not suit them. Xiahouji was next. She looked absolutely devastated at the loss of Xiong. She sobbed softly into the stuff rabbit she clutched tightly to her chest. She took the longest time at the coffin, and Cao could only hear snippets of her impassioned prayer. He found this curious as he wasn't even aware that the timid girl and his son were close. The rabbit she desperately clung to had an air of familiarity about it but he did not know why. He shook his head of the thought as he felt he had better things to think about than where girl got her toy from.

After the main Xiahou family said their prayers, Zhuyue approached the coffin with Xiaolian at her side. It was kind of them to pay their respects, especially since they were truly not obligated to do so. While it was true that Zhuyue would soon be married into their family, she hadn't been yet and had no obligation to perform any duties required of a wife. It was a kind gesture on their part, one that he would remember. Cao watched as Zhuyue and Xiaolian knelt before the coffin and prayed for the soul of his departed son. He idly wondered why Xiaolian chose to approach with Zhuyue and not her sister. His eyes shifted to Xiulan and saw the frown etched on her face as she watched them. Xiulan did not seem to be particularly pleased at Xiaolian's declaration to be a warrior at the dinner they had so many weeks ago. He wondered if that had something to do with the current arrangement. Cao shakes his head of the thought. Once again, it was a wasteful thing to dwell about.

He watched as Xiulan knelt to offer her prayer. She was the last one. It seems Ling did not deem this important enough to show up to. That man seemed to revel in pushing Cao's buttons. It was becoming a tiresome game, one that Cao felt needed to be stopped sooner rather than later. Perhaps it was for the best that Ling did not show up. Cao had no doubt in his mind that if he did, he would have found some way to cause a disruption. Dun and Yuan stepped off to the side where Cao stood.

"Mèngdé...shit...This is-," Yuan paused as he searched for the words. "I couldn't even imagine what I would do if...," Yuan trailed off again and his eyes glanced over to his two sons. Cao didn't need to hear the rest of the sentence to know what he was thinking.

"I pray that you never have to know this feeling, Miàocái," Cao said with a sigh. Yuan nodded solemnly.

Dun regarded the two men in silence. He did not have a child of his own so he could not pretend to know the pain that Cao felt. It was unfortunate that Xiong died so early. Idly Dun wondered if this was the very reason why Cao had so many children. In case a few died of illness, he always had a spare. He knew the thought was in poor taste so he kept the comment to himself.

"Le-let me through. I said LET ME THROUGH!" Came the slurred voice of a man outside of the Cao home. Ling burst through the door and wavered on unsteady feet. He looked around the room with glassy eyes and gave the stunned room a lopsided smile. A servant rushed in after him and dropped to his knees immediately.

"I am sorry, My Lord. I tried to keep him from coming in but he insisted he was family."

"Am I not family? Can I not share in your grieffffff?" Ling replied, laughing after slurring the word grief. Lady Ai moved to her son's side quickly. She was mortified by her son's behavior. Not only had he come drunk, he was wearing a red sash! He knew that wearing red at a wake or funeral would invite misfortune to the deceased's family. Such disrespect could not be allowed. She needed to try to salvage this situation before it got out of hand. She could see Dun and Yuan's angers already flaring out of control. They would not let this offense go unanswered. Ling may have pushed too far this time. Ai placed her hand on Ling's arm and tried to pull him toward the door.

"Nephew, please I beg your forgiveness. Ling does not understand tradition. Please forgive him. Ling, enough! Please. This is a time of mourning," said Ai. Ling pulled his arm roughly away from his mother and elbowing her in the face as he did so. She fell to floor, covering her face after letting out a wail of pain.

Dun and Yuan were on him in an instant. At that moment, Ling was not his brother. He was another fool who had overstepped his boundaries and was going to be cut down like the dog he is. Dun wrapped a his hands around Ling's neck and slammed him roughly into the door, lifting him up into the air as he did so. Ling sobered up immediately and flailed at Dun with his hands and feet, trying to get him off of him. Ling might as well have been attempting to strike him with a feather as Dun did not feel any of his hits. Ling's flailing was stopped by Yuan wrenching his arm up and over his head roughly. He pulled it to the other side farther than it was meant to go. One more tug and it surely would snap. During all of this, Zhuyue and Lady Jiao moved by Ai's side to see if she was alright. Ling had struck her roughly in the face near her eye. The red splotch around it denoted the bruise that would adorn her face soon.

Shan placed a firm hand on Dun and Yuan's shoulders. Dun's head turned to the intrusion, a murderous look in his eye. Ling's struggling became weaker as Dun choked the life out of him. Recollection reached Dun and his features softened marginally.

"Let him go," Shan said. Dun wanted to argue, he wanted to ask his father if he was insane. He wanted to remind him that they had given too many chances to Ling and this was why he had become the way he was. His rebuttals died on his lips before he could even voice them. In all his years, Dun had never saw the look on his father's face that he did today. Yuan had already released Dun, able to reign in his anger faster than his adopted brother. Dun hesitated for a moment then complied with his father's wishes, slamming Ling against the door once more for good measure before releasing him, allowing him to fall hard to the floor below. Ling held his throat gingerly as he gasped for air. That bastard truly meant to kill him. His arm and his back ached and he was sure he had bruises. Yuan and Dun truly did not hold back. Shan turned to face Cao and bowed low to him.

"Please forgive us. Such disrespect on your day of mourning cannot be excused with mere words but they are all I have."

Cao knelt next to his uncle and brought him to his feet.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Uncle," Cao said as his eyes shifted to Ling. Shan's eyes followed Cao to his wayward son. Both men knew that Ling would not apologize for his actions. Shan lowered his head in shame.

"I do have to apologize. It is by my inaction that this was able to happen today. Please, forgive me."

Cao Cao gave his uncle a pat on the shoulder and a short nod. Shan nodded in reply and turned back to his family.

"We are leaving," Shan commanded.

Dun was furious. To see his mother hurt by Ling's negligence, to see his father begging for forgiveness for Ling's actions, it got to him. Dun could feel a ball of anger burning in his chest. Had his father not stopped him, Ling would have been dead by his hand and he wouldn't have batted an eye about doing so. He wanted to kill him and if Ling so much as looked in his direction again, he still might. As of this day, he only had one brother, Yuan. In his mind and heart, he disowned Ling as a brother. Dun felt his anger consuming him, bubbling within him the more he thought about what just occurred.. If he didn't get out of Ling's presence, not even his father would have been able to stop him from giving into the desire to murder him.

Shan bowed to Cao and his family once more before turning on his heel and leading the way out. His family followed in silence. They arrived at Shan and Ai's home first. Before Dun and Yuan could move on to their homes, Shan asked that his sons join him. His voice was strong and full of authority. In all the time Zhuyue had been here, she had never heard Dun's father speak with such strength. He always seemed like such a gentle old man but at that moment, she could see where Dun got a lot of his mannerisms from.

Ling did not seem at all pleased with this request. He was intent on ignoring it, walking off to his room within his parent's home. A heavy hand clamped down on his shoulder and squeezed. Ling winced under the pressure. Fed up with being bullied, he turned around and swung his fist, intent on hitting whoever had grabbed him. He assumed that he would see Dun or Yuan. They were always throwing their weight around and bullying him due to his smaller stature and lack of prowess. His eyes went wide when he saw that the person who grabbed him was none other than the Xiahou patriarch. The momentum was now driving Ling's hand and he could not pull back the punch. He was going to hit his father in the face. To the surprise of him and everyone watching, Ling's fist was caught within Shan's hand.

"Your emotion clouds your judgment. Always acting, never thinking, life requires a balance of the two. I tried to teach you but you refuse to learn," said Shan as he released his son's fist. "Yuan, will you please ensure that Ling follows us?"

"Yes, Father," Yuan replied dutifully as he gave Ling a rough shove in the direction of the house.

Once inside, Shan waited till his sons were sitting. His eyes remained on Ling who seemed to wither under his gaze. It seemed that he finally might have pushed just a bit too far.

"Ling, you are my son. For this reason, I have turned a blind eye to your antics when I should not have. We coddled you and gave rise to your intolerable personality. My inaction has fueled your stupidity and others have suffered because of it."

Ling's eyes widened astonished that his father spoke to him in such a way. He emotion ran through a gambit ranging from shock, disappointment and sadness before settling on anger. He rose to his feet quickly and opened his mouth to speak only to be silenced by his father.

"SILENCE! Your words are as empty as your head. I will no longer tolerate the nonsense you spew out of it. I have put up with you for far too long. You are a grown man but have done nothing with your life. You have no dreams, no aspirations. You are content to sit around and lay with whores. No more!" Shan paused and moved to stand directly in front of Ling. He fixed him with a hard glare.

"Today...today you went too far. Not only did you bring shame to our home, you brought misfortune to our family. That was the final straw, Ling. You have brought dishonor to this family. From henceforth, you are no longer a part of it. You are no longer my son."

"W-what?" Shan stammered. Yuan's eyes lit up at the words, pleased with this turn of events.

"You will leave this home immediately. You are not allowed to take anything but the clothing on your back. You are no longer of the Xiahou clan. You no longer have the honor of using that name. Our Gods will no longer guide your steps, from this day forward you walk alone. Now leave my sight. You are trespassing," said Shan. The disgust he felt with Ling was evident in his tone.

"Y-you can't do this to me! What will I do? Where will I go? You are sentencing me to death father!" Ling pleaded.

"I AM NO LONGER YOUR FATHER. Do not call me such. It is vile coming from your tongue," Shan replied.

"You cannot just disown me! I am still of your flesh! Please, Father! I know that I was foolish, I am sorry. Please, give me another chance!" Ling pleaded. He dropped to his knees and grabbed the bottom of Shan's robes, clutching it tightly. Shan ignored Ling's pleading and turned his head to Dun.

"Yuánràng, if this man refuses to depart from this home after I leave, kill him."

Dun bowed to his father showing an understanding and acceptance of the request. Shan nodded and yanked his robe from Ling's grip. He turned his back to his pleading former son and walked out of the room. Ling could only watch in utter shock, his mouth agape. How could his father be so cruel? How could he toss him aside so easily? Yes, he knew that he had provoked this action. He was always pushing, trying to see how far he could go, but he never would have expected this outcome. It was too cruel. He couldn't do this to him. His mother! She would talk sense into him. He just had to speak to her. Ling rose to his feet slowly. In his peripheral he could see the elation on Yuan's face. It made him sick to his stomach that the bastard was taking so much pleasure in his misfortune. He turned his head to Dun, the expression on his face, as always was unreadable. Would his brother follow his treacherous father's final words and slay him?

Dun rose to his feet as well. Ling let out a bitter laugh. "Will you kill me brother? Will you follow the words of the mad man who wears the skin of our father?"

"I have but one brother and it is not you," Dun replied. "I do not know you. You mean nothing to me and I will crush you as easily as I crush an insect beneath my boot. I will forgive your insolence just this once, but speak ill of my father again and it will be the last words you utter. Leave."

Ling shook his head, he expected as much. He would need to find his mother. She would stop this insanity. Ling left out of the same door as Shan, intent on finding his mother. Dun and Yuan followed behind him. Ling did not have to look far as his mother was standing outside along with the other women.

Ling gathered that his father had already told her of his decision to outcast him. Her face was wet with tears and he could see that one of her eyes had gotten a nasty bruise on it. She would most likely be upset that he hit her, but he could claim it was an accident rather than a fit of anger. The tears on her face told Ling that she still cared for him. His mother always held a soft spot for him and he would manipulate it to his advantage. Ling walked in front of his mother, a dejected look upon his visage.

"Mother, would you cast me out as well? Your son born from your womb? Do you no longer hold any love for me? Will you too abandon me to squalor?" Ling asked, dropping to his knees in front of his mother. He hated having to beg her. He could feel the bile rise up his throat but he forced it down. He would swallow his pride if it meant he would not be cast out.

"You dare?!" Shan cried out, furious at how Ling was trying to manipulate his mother. Ai placed a hand on her husband's arm. He looked to her and she shook her head.

"Please, let me speak, Lord husband," said Ai. Shan seemed to mull this over in his mind before relenting. He gave her a nod but his face could show that he was vexed by this. Ling wanted to laugh out loud in his father's face. He had his mother right where he wanted her.

"Oh, Ling," Ai began, regarding her son who was staring up at her with sad eyes. "How long I have wished to hear you call me mother without disdain in your voice. Today is the first day you have done so since you were a little boy. It breaks my heart that you only do it to gain my favor, not because you truly love me. Where did I go wrong with you Ling? Why do you hate me so? Why do you hate all of us so?"

"Mother, I don't ha-" Ling started to say, the lie rolling off his tongue easily before his mother's cry interrupted him.

"No! No, Ling. Do not lie to me. Please, not now. Just tell me the truth."

Something inside of Ling snapped at that moment. His pride had taken one too many blows today and he refused to endure it any further.

"You want to know why?" Ling asked with venom in his tone as he stood back up and glared down to his mother. She nodded hesitantly, suddenly unsure if she truly wanted to know.

"Oh don't hold back now mother. You had such fire in you a minute ago. Did it die out already? I'll be more than happy to tell you why I hate every single one of you," Ling spat out as he glared at the people around him.

"I hate you all because you exist. Simple isn't it?" He gave a bitter laugh. "Your very existence is offensive to me and you-" He looked around at his family, a wild look in his eye. "all of you look at me as if I was below you!"

"Ling, we never-" Ai started

"SHUT UP!" Ling screamed. "I could see it in your eyes. All of you always looked down on me. Every single one of you! Always making me feel like I am inferior because I wasn't as strong as your favored sons. But you know what I realized? I don't need to be strong. I am smarter...smarter than all of you! I don't have your foolish sense of honor holding me back either."

Ling fixed his glare on his father and with anger lacing his tone, he spoke.

"So you know what, father? Go ahead, disown me. I don't care. But I will vow this before the heavens that I will get my revenge...on all of you."

With those words spoken, Ling turned his back on the people that once called him family with his head held high. It would not, however, be the last they saw of him.

-#-

Tao Qian read the scroll before him again then let his eyes drift to the chest filled to the brim with of teals of gold.

"Can I deliver a favorable answer to Lord Yuan Shao?" The messenger asked.

Qian looked up to him a bit startled, having momentarily forgotten that he was even in the room with him. His eyes scanned the scroll once more and he sucked in a deep breath. What Yuan Shao was asking...It was an unjustified murder. There was no other way to look at it. Cao Song has done nothing to him, yet Yuan Shao was asking him to slay he and his entire household at his behest. He claimed that Cao Song had committed crimes against the Han and his death was warranted but Qian wasn't sure he believed it. Everyone knew of the brewing rivalry between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. Qian was certain that this was just another play by Shao to get back at Cao. But to go against an innocent man, it was dishonorable. He looked at the chest again. That said, he owed Cao Cao nothing and he knew the man had loose morals at best. Perhaps it would be in his best interest if he assisted Shao in this venture. Shao was poised to win this feud and it would be best to be on the side of the winner lest they turn their fury against him. That chest full of gold did make a compelling argument for Yuan Shao as well.

"Tell Yuan Shao that it would be my honor to act for the glory of the Han. What he asks will be done," Qian said.

The messenger nodded and bowed to Qian before hurrying out the home to deliver the message to his lord. Qian waited until the messenger was gone before addressing one of his servants.

"Tell Zhang Kai I need to speak with him about an issue of great importance," The servant nodded and went off to do his master's bidding.

-#-

Cao Song and his household arrived in Hua, a county within Xu Province. It has been a arduous journey but it was soon at an end. After they leave Xu Province, it wouldn't be much longer before they reached Yan Province, the home of his other son, Cao Cao. It has been too long since he last saw Cao. Song was looking forward to looking upon his son once more. It would be good to visit with his elder brother and his family as well. Before they can make the rest of the journey however, they needed rest. He was not a young man and his bones were weary from the extended travel. How fortunate they were that Tao Qian had offered them such hospitality.

Song's other son, De seemed to be highly suspicious of Qian's hospitality and wanted to refuse it. Qian chastised his son and told him that they had to accept the offer lest they risk offending him. After a fair bit of complaining, De finally acquiesced with his father's wishes, under the stipulation that he take the first watch. Song allowed his son the request and retired to his quarters with one of his concubines.

De's watch passed by uneventfully. He grew tired and changed shifts with one of the household guards. He retired to his quarters and was almost asleep when a sound outside stirred him from his bed. He padded groggily to his door. He pulled them open and was rewarded with a sword in his gut. Shock washed over him as his mind processed the fact that he was stabbed. He looked at his assailant, he was a soldier...one of Tao Qian's men? He knew it! Beyond the men, he could see that his guards were taken unawares. Their corpses littered the ground. He felt his own lifeblood dripping out of him. His body felt heavy and he wouldn't have much time left. With his dying breath, perhaps he could at least save his father.

"FATHER R-," De's words were cut short as his assailant ripped the sword from his gut and swung it at his throat. De's words became incomprehensible gurgles before he fell to the floor in a heap.

Unbeknownst to De, he was heard. His father, still being vigorous despite his age, was in the throes of passion with his concubine when he heard his son's voice. Annoyed, he threw on a rob and stepped outside of his room. He was dismayed when he saw the body of his son and members of his household before him. The man who slew his son bore down on him. Song's grief was temporarily forgotten as he managed to side step the sword being thrust at him. He slammed the doors closed, trapping the man's arm within it; the pain causing him to drop the sword. Song grabbed it and thrust through the door straight into the man's chest. The man let out a groan of pain before he stopped struggling. Song pulled the sword out and saw that it was coated with fresh blood. Letting the sword drop at his feet, he cautiously opened the door and the assailant fell forward into the room, unmoving. Song turned back to his concubine who was screaming in fear at the scene before her.

"Shut up you fool! You'll bring them on us!" The woman let out a few muffled cries as she covered her mouth and tried to snuff out her own tears.

"Come, quickly! We must flee!" She nodded and dressed as quickly as she could before following him out of the door. Song led the way, peeking around corners to make sure the path was clear before they ran. He spotted a narrow alleyway that seemed to be devoid of any enemies. He grabbed her hand and ran for it as fast as he could but was pulled back when his concubine fell. Managing to retain his footing, he turned back to help her to her feet. Her ankle seemed to have been twisted during the fall. Song leaned down to her to give her his shoulder to lean on when he felt something hard hit his back. He looked down and saw lit by the light of the moon that hung overhead, a blade protruding from his chest, covered in his blood. He coughed and blood spilled from his lips. His concubine was screaming, her eyes wide in horror.

Song closed his eyes, feeling his strength flowing from him as rapidly as his blood spilled out of his body. With his last breath, he asked the heavens to watch over his son Cao Cao.