Cao Ang - Zǐxiū
Zhang Liao - Wényuǎn
Zhang Fei - Yìdé
Guan Yu - Yúncháng
Lu Bu - Fèngxiān
Cao Cao - Mèngdé
Lady Yan's hands worked in a rhythmic motion as she worked on her embroidery. She tried to block out the sounds of fighting that floated through her open window. Her mind wondered just how safe they were in their home. Since Lu Bu had went off to battle, things have gotten worse. The people were already angry, but things escalated almost as soon as he rode out of Puyang's gate. He would have to gain control of the people again, squash this rebellious nature of theirs. Blood would need to be shed once more.
She continued her work as her mind wandered to other thoughts. Perhaps it would be easier to just use the chaos to get lost. Use it to leave Lu Bu's side and be free of him once and for all. Her heart was torn. Once she loved him with a passion that burned brighter than the sun, but she could feel that inside, there was a change within her. That love didn't burn as brightly as it once did. Her chest no longer got tight at just the sight of him. Her body did not react when he touched her. The love she once had for him, waned. She could attribute Diaochan's arrival as part of the reason.
Lu Bu has taken woman before. Not many knew the lecherous side of the greatest warrior in the land, but she did. She was forced to deal with it for years. Bu sometimes liked to take the women of his fallen foes as trophies, enjoying them till he grew tired and discarding them as if they were trash. Bu was even known to covet the wives of allies that still lived. Yan knew that this was his right as a man and she never begrudged him of this, despite the pain it made her feel. Diaochan was far from the first woman he has brought to his bed, but she was the only woman that Bu ever looked at with love. That wasn't an honor that Yan could even claim to have. It was reserved for Diaochan and Diaochan alone.
It was the day Bu brought an injured Diaochan to their home following the battle of Hulao Gate. That was when she first saw it. He held her so very tenderly and looked at her fragile frame with such worry that Yan no longer felt love for Lu Bu burning in her heart, but jealousy. Jealousy that this woman had gotten the one thing she had always desired from him.
Things only got worse after the night Lu Bu killed Dong Zhou. The small flickering flame of love Yan still held for Lu Bu was snuffed out when she learned that Lu Bu had fled with Diaochan and left her and their child to fend for themselves. If not for Gao Shun's aid, she has no doubt that they would have died. Yan drew her finger back, realizing that she was so absorbed in her thoughts that she had pricked her finger. She put the injured digit in her mouth and sucked lightly, drawing the blood from the pinprick.
Gao Shun...her hero, her savior. He came to them because of his loyalty to Lu Bu. Yan wished that Bu had commanded him to save them, but that wasn't the case. Shun just knew that she and Lingqu were unaccounted for and made it his business to rectify that. He was so kind to her and Lingqu. He watched out for them, protected them. Was it any wonder that she fell in love with him after being in a loveless marriage for so many years? Yan thought about giving herself to him and once almost did, but thought better of it. Shun was loyal to his master. Yan knew that he would never do anything against him and if Lu Bu found out that she had propositioned one of his generals, he wouldn't hesitate to kill her. Yan was once again left with unrequited love.
Yan's door flung open, making her jump. Relief and a tinge of happiness flooded her when she saw who had entered.
"We need to leave!" said Gao Shun as he barged into Yan's room. As if remembering his manners, he hastily dropped to his knee and bowed to her.
"Why? What has happened?" Her eyes went wide in alarm. "My Lord Husband...is he...is he?" She couldn't bear to finish the sentence. A lump emerged in her throat and she found it difficult to swallow. It seems the love she had for Bu wasn't completely gone. Shun reached a hand out to comfort her, but thought better of it and drew his hand back.
"As far as I know, he is fine. The last report I got was that he only just arrived to Dingtao. The issue is, Cao Cao has also sent forces here. They will be upon us soon. We do not have enough forces to turn away the enemy and there is dissent in the ranks. Many have already abandoned Lord Lu Bu's cause and plan on allowing Cao Cao's forces to take Puyang. There is fighting in the streets and it is clear that our side is outnumbered. I need to get you and Lady Lingqu out of here, now."
Lady Yan remained silent as she processed this information. She nodded numbly. It seemed that they would be forced to run again. She had a feeling this day would come soon. The unrest of the people had been escalating for months now and it has finally reached a crescendo. The question was, where would they go now? As if reading her mind, Shun supplied the answer to her unspoken question.
"I will take you to Lord Lu Bu's side. He will not lose Dingtao against Cao's forces," Shun said resolutely.
So that was her fate? Was she forever to be tied to him? Part of her wanted to leave. To run away from the chaos even though its arms were ever reaching. If she fled and asked Shun to leave with her would he? What a foolish question, of course he would not. She was sure that Lingqu would not either. That girl was determined to show her father her worth. Her choice was already made for her, there was nothing that could be done.
"I understand," she began. "But you must save Diaochan as well."
This surprised Shun, as evident from his face.
"Lord Lu Bu would not be pleased to know that we left her," Yan informed him. Shun seemed to think about this.
"But...wouldn't you be happier if we left her?" He asked. He seemed to want to take the words back as soon as he spoke them, but it was too late. He lowered his head, as if asking for forgiveness. What a good man Shun was...always looking out for her.
"I..I will not lie. I would be, but my will is not what matters. It is Lord Lu Bu's," she replied.
Shun nodded slowly as if he was convincing himself that Yan's words were true.
"I will fetch her then. Please, get Lady Lingqu and meet me in the inner courtyard."
Yan nodded with a soft smile that dropped from her face as soon as Shun's turned his back to her. Her reasoning for saving Diaochan had nothing to do with benevolence. If she going to be made to continually suffer, then so shall the little toy.
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While Cao and his forces assaulted Dingtao, Jia and Cao's sons made their way to Puyang. By the time they arrived in Puyang, the fighting had died down. The dissidents had either subdued or killed the forces still loyal to Lu Bu. The gates to Puyang laid open with a few soldiers and residents waiting outside of it, waving a flag of surrender.
Jia stopped his horse a fair distance from the gates and motioned for the others to stop as well. Jia surveyed the area looking for signs of an ambush. Cao Ang nudged his horse closer to Jia's.
"What are we waiting for? They are surrendering," said Ang.
Pi sighed. His brother seemed to have recovered from his bout of cowardice and now seemed to be in a rush to prove himself to their father once more. He knew that Cao Cao was disappointed with him and he wanted desperately to change his opinion.
"If you are so eager to blunder into a possible trap then by all means, rush forth, Elder Brother," Pi replied.
"Please do not do that, Zǐxiū," said Jia as he continued to survey the area.
"Do you think that I am an idiot or something?," Ang snapped, annoyed.
"My apologies. I didn't mean to insinuate that you were foolish enough to follow an obviously terrible suggestion."
Jia turned to the two brothers with a small smile. "I think it would be prudent to send out a scout to verify the situation within Puyang,"
"There is no need for all that. They are obviously surrendering. If you are all too cowardly, I will go," Ang said. He spurred his horse forward and galloped to the gate.
"Ready to recant your previous statement?" asked Pi in a mirthless tone.
Jia sighed and took off after Ang. Pi and the other brothers followed shortly after.
"They want to surrender. They are loyal to father," Ang said once Jia was close to his side.
The man that was speaking to Ang acknowledged Jia. He saluted and spoke.
"That's right. We no longer wish to serve Lu Bu. He is a terrible master that does not care for his people. We wish to serve Lord Cao Cao. We even took care of those that were still loyal to Lu Bu. Those that didn't surrender, were killed..."
Jia could tell that the man was purposely not telling them something.
"But?" he urged.
"But...Lu Bu's family and that treacherous Ling managed to escape before we could get to them,"
That was unfortunate. Having Bu's family as a bargaining chip would have been a great boon. Still, they got the prize of Puyang without having to lift a finger. Jia smiled. What a fortuitous turn of events. It seems that Lu Bu was a worse ruler than he originally assumed.
"Well-,"
"We accept your surrender," Ang said interrupting Jia.
Jia cast a glance at Ang but said nothing. Little Ang seemed to want to take charge. Cao Cao didn't hide his displeasure with Ang as of late and Ang obviously wanted to get back into his good graces. He was fine stepping back as long as he didn't do anything stupid. Well...anything else stupid. He would omit Ang running into a possible ambush from Cao when he gave his report. He discretely took a glance at Cao Pi. Pi had a frown on his face but seemed to let his brother run the show.
"We will move our troops in and secure the town. Another group should patrol to see if they could find the trail of his family," Ang announced to their forces. Jia saluted Ang.
"As you wish," he replied. He gave the orders to the troops. Hopefully things were going as well for Cao Cao as it had for them.
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"Planning on abandoning Master Lu Bu? I don't blame you. To be honest, I have been toying with the idea myself," said Chen Gong as he watched Zhang Liao mount his horse.
"I am not abandoning him. I am going to retrieve his family," Liao replied.
Gong scoffed. "Cao should have them by now. I have no doubt that he sent forces to capture Puyang while he distracted us in Dingtao."
"I told Gao Shun about the secret passage. I instructed him to flee with Lady Lingqu and her mother if things seemed to get worse within Puyang."
Gong rose a brow. He clearly looked impressed. "How very astute of you," he remarked.
"It wasn't hard to see that the situation in Puyang was deteriorating rapidly. I had a feeling that once we left, it would only get worse. I wanted to make sure Lord Lu Bu's family would be taken care of."
"Well, if anything, that should make Master Lu Bu happy. He's been in a...sour mood since our utter defeat in Dingtao," said Gong. It was easy to pick up the bitterness carried in his tone.
Liao held his tongue. There was so much he wanted to say about that battle, but it was pointless. Pointing fingers now would amount to nothing. It didn't matter why they loss. What mattered was that they loss and now they were vagabonds once more. If Lu Bu and Chen Gong could not convince Liu Bei to let them stay within Xu Province, Lu Bu's ambition would end before it truly began. Liao wasn't sure if that was really a bad thing. His opinion of Lu Bu was slowly shifting. He was truly the strongest warrior in the land, but he was a man that lacked honor. None of this mattered. Lady Linqu and her mother were innocent people in all this. If anyone found them and was able to discern who they were, he had no doubt they would use them to gain leverage over Lu Bu. He had to go make sure they were safe.
"I will bring them back safely," Liao said. Gong gave a shrug. It was clear he didn't care one way or the other. This annoyed Liao but he wasn't surprised. Gong never pretended to care about anything other than being known as the world's greatest strategist. Truly, Liao had found himself allied with some deplorable men. Was this really the way to find the answer he was looking for?
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Cao and his forces marched into the district of Puyang with his head held high. His carried a regal bearing that onlookers couldn't help but stare at in awe. Jia and his sons greeted him.
"You have done well," said Cao as he dismounted.
"We didn't do anything," Jia replied. The people were fed up with Lu Bu's rule and took matters into their own hands. We have several soldiers who wish to join your cause and the ones that did not are currently being held captive."
"Truly? They rose up against him?" Cao burst into laughter. He knew Lu Bu was a terrible ruler but even he could not have predicted this.
Lu Bu believed in the philosophy that might makes right. This was evident in how he handled the battle of Dingtao. There was no semblance of strategy in his actions. He merely charged headlong into battle and tried to beat it into submission. He truly was a beast among men, wild and unpredictable. Such a savage did not have what it takes to rule anything. Cao would need to put that beast down soon. He was a barrier in his path to quelling the chaos in the land.
"I will hear a full report later...for now, I need to address the people," said Cao. He turned to see that the citizens of Puyang as well as soldiers, new and old had gathered around him, waiting expectantly.
"You have suffered greatly in my absence and for that I am sorry. Mere words are not enough to alleviate the suffering you had to endure, but they still need to be heard. I make two promises to you. Things have been bad. Perhaps the worse they have ever been, but we will recover from this. We will work until we can ensure that no one, man, woman or child will go hungry as long as they live here again!"
The crowd erupted into cheers. Cao soaked up the admiration of the people. Some might say that it was an outlandish claim that he was making, but he knew that it was not. While he was in power, Yan Province prospered. His people did not go hungry and there was relative prosperity...Well at least as much prosperity that could be had in a land wrought with chaos. Lu Bu's inept rule did much damage to the work that he had put into the province and he would essentially be starting from scratch, but he was confident that he could do it once more.
The cheers finally died down. Cao Cao spoke once more. The second promise I make to you is this, for as long as I draw breath, Yan Province will never leave my hands again. I vow to do everything in my power to take care of it and its people."
More cheers. They were happy. Then again, after what they had to endure under Lu Bu's rule, they would love anyone who stepped into power at the moment. Cao Cao had to secure their love, their loyalty and he knew just the way to do it.
"This begins now. In a few hours, we will distribute rations amongst the people."
More cheers, louder than the last. That was it. That was what he was looking for. The look in their eyes of pure admiration and love. He was their savior and these people would die before letting someone take over Puyang again.
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'So Puyang has fallen as well...' Those words repeated in Lu Lingqu's mind. They were spoken by her father upon seeing them again. Thanks to Gao Shun and Zhang Liao once more, they were saved from her father's enemies. Instead of expressing joy or relief upon seeing them again however, the only thing he remarked on was his loss of Puyang.
Was there a point in coming back? He didn't seem to care if they were there or not. It seemed that others cared more about their safety than he did. Her mind and heart warred with itself. One said that he did love them, but he had just suffered a great loss and had to focus on that. She needed to get stronger so she could help him prevent such losses in the future. The other said that there was no love between them. There hasn't been for a long time, if ever. Her father loved two things, himself and the thrill of battle. There wasn't room in his heart for anything else.
Previously, her heart held her ear. That hope of love drove her to train as hard as she did, to be a warrior worthy of his love. Lately, however, her mind began to speak louder. As time passed the war revealed the uglier sides of her father. Her mind began to smother out the protests of her heart till it was nothing more than a whisper.
"You will get wrinkles if you think so hard, my daughter."
Lingqu turned to the voice of her mother who was standing behind her. She cupped her daughters face in her hands and moved her thumbs to her forehead to smooth out the skin that had bunched together. Lingqu eventually dropped her eyebrows, making the job easier for her mother. Satisfied, she moved her hands back to her cheeks.
"That's better. We cannot have you looking older than you are if we hope to marry you off."
"I have no interest in such things," Lingqu replied.
Her mother gave a soft chuckle. "Nonsense, you would not deny your poor mother grandchildren, would you?"
Lingqu push her mother's hands away from her face and frowned. "I am a warrior mother. I have no time to think of such things."
"You are a woman first, Lingqu and such things should be on the forefront of your mind. You are almost of age."
"Then I have to train harder. I need to prove to father that I am more useful on the battlefield than as some man's wife."
"What a cruel daughter I have, denying her mother grandchildren!" Yan said. There was no malice in her words, her face held a smile as she spoke. She knew her daughter's ambitions and had come to terms with it. She was the daughter of Lu Bu. It isn't hard to believe that she would live and breathe for battle as her father did.
Lingqu folded her arms across her chest and gave her mother a childish pout, which only made her smile more.
"If I were a boy, I wouldn't have to worry about such things," said Lingqu.
"But I am glad you are not a boy. I am glad that you are my perfect little girl," said Yan, pulling Lingqu into a hug. Lingqu didn't move at first, but as usual, feeling the warmth of her mother's embrace broke through her hardened exterior. She unfolded her arms and wrapped them around her mother, inhaling her smell. She always smelled of flowers and though she never told her, she loved the smell. It was safe, familiar.
"Mother," Lingqu asked as she pulled away from her. "Does father love us?"
"Of course he does, but it is hard for your father to show love. He is a man who was forged in battle and thrives on it. Showing something as soft as love is a sign of weakness. That is something he cannot afford."
"He showed it to, Diaochan," Lingqu replied. Her mother's smile faltered at hearing Diaochan's name. Lingqu noticed this and continued.
"Father's face is always so stern and angry. He always seemed so dissatisfied. When he was with her...he smiled. I loved his face when he smiled like that."
Yan was frowning now. She turned her face from Lingqu so she wouldn't see the emotions that were playing across visage. She knew this of course. She had seen it herself. To hear the words from her daughter, however, it caused a pain in her heart unlike anything she had ever felt before.
"You...like Diaochan?" She asked. The question came out in a soft, unsure voice.
"I...," Lingqu paused and considered how to answer. "I don't like her, but I don't hate her either. When father was with her, that was the only time he smiled. It was the only time I got to see a different side of him. I-I would pretend that he would be smiling at me, rather than her. I am thankful to her for allowing me to see that side of him. That said, I can never forgive her for betraying him and for leaving us for dead."
Yan let out a breath of relief. A part of her had a fear that her daughter might care for Diaochan more than her. It was a silly thought that should never have entered her mind but she could not help it. She had already lost her husband to her. It would kill her to lose her daughter as well. She was relieved that it wasn't the case. Yan cupped Lingqu's head once more and place a soft kiss onto her forehead.
"Your father loves you. Do not think anymore of it," said Yan. Lingqu did not reply as her mother left her side.
Her mother always said the same words to her, but she noticed that this time, it was not reflected in her eyes. She didn't believe what she said and like her, it seems that she too was having doubts of her father's devotion to them. Lingqu no longer wanted to have these depressing thoughts. She needed to get her mind off of things. She made her way across the camp they had set up outside of Xiapi. The soldiers that she passed looked tired, defeated. They had been camped out here for a few weeks since they fled Yan province and many were wondering how long they would be allowed to stay here. Liu Bei seemed hesitant to let them within the city. She didn't know the politics of it all, but she knew that many people feared her father's power, and rightfully so.
She came across the tent she had been searching for.
" Wényuǎn?" she called out to the occupant inside of the tent. She could hear the sounds of rustling from within before the man in question emerged from the mouth of the tent.
"Lady Lingqu?" He asked questioningly.
"Are you busy? Did I interrupt something?"
"No," he replied. He hadn't been doing anything other than maintaining his weapons.
"Can I come inside?" Liao looked back to his tent then to her.
"No," he replied. He saw her face fall at the rejection and hurriedly explained his response. "It wouldn't be...proper."
"But I need to speak with you," she said in response.
"Then let's take a walk," he replied. This seemed to satisfy her and he led the way. They walked in silence. Liao waited for her to initiate the conversation. As they navigated their way through the maze of tents, soldiers they passed took time to pay their respects to him. He took time to acknowledge each one. So many of the soldiers respected Liao. It was different from when they interacted with her father. They feared him or respected them because he was so far above them. This was different. There was a mutual respect that came from the men that acknowledged Zhang Liao. It seemed much more genuine.
"They really respect you," said Lingqu.
"We have shed blood together and as a result, developed the type of bond that can only be forged on the battlefield. There are few bonds stronger."
"They have shed the same blood with my father, right? Why does the respect they show you feel so different?"
Zhang Liao struggled to answer this question. He couldn't tell Lingqu the answer to that question. He knew the love she held for her father and he wouldn't be the one to dispel that illusion.
"What did you want to speak about?" Liao asked, opting to avoid answering the question altogether. Lingqu noted the avoidance and decided to let it go.
"Will you leave us?"
Zhang Liao stopped walking and turned to face her. Lingqu mimicked his actions. She didn't notice it until they stopped, but they were on the outskirts of the camp. They had relative privacy here.
"Where is this coming from? Has someone said something?"
"No, nothing like that. We currently do not have a home to call our own and we took heavy losses in the last battle. Many people who are upset with father has abandoned his cause. I was wondering if you would be leaving us soon as well."
He knew what she said was true. He knew some of the soldiers that have abandoned Lu Bu's service.
"I have no plans to leave," Liao replied.
Lingqu smiled. She was relieved to hear that news that Liao would not be leaving them. She did not want him to leave. He helped her become a stronger and smarter fighter. He was there for her when her father was too busy to be. He didn't replace her father, not by any means. He was more like a friend to her. An irreplaceable staple in her life.
"I'm happy to hear that," said Lingqu. Liao looked at her, one brow arched but he did not say a word.
"There is something else I wish to ask you. Can we train? I-I want to get stronger...for father. I want to get stronger so we do not have to run away ever again."
"Strength is not the only thing you need to win a battle."
"I know! I know. But I need to be stronger so I can be of use to him," said Lingqu.
"Then we will train," said Liao. Lingqu saluted him. He could see the determination in her eyes. Liao wondered if Lu Bu knew how truly exceptional his daughter was.
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"Do you remember the plan, Master Lu Bu?" Gong asked.
Bu gave a grunt of acknowledgement. He wasn't happy about this arrangement but a change needed to be made. They could not stay nomads forever. They needed a new place where they could build back up their forces. They needed a base they could operate from. In order to get this, they had to get on Liu Bei's good side. Lu Bu felt disgusted at the prospect of having to suck up to Liu Bei. While he did acknowledge that it was due to his intervention that he was not captured or killed by Cao Cao, he didn't feel as if he owed him anything. The last thing Lu Bu wanted was to be in the service of anyone else ever again.
"Master Lu Bu, I need to make sure that you truly understand," Gong implored.
"I'm not an idiot. I know what needs to be done," Bu barked.
"That includes Diaoch-," Gong began but was cut off abruptly by Lu Bu.
"I said I understand!" Bu yelled. Gong raised his hands in surrender. He knew that Bu wasn't happy about this arrangement, but Gong was certain that this was the only way they could secure a place within the city.
"Then I will leave this in your hands," said Gong. Bu grunts again in acknowledgement, the scowl on his facing showing exactly how he felt about this plan.
Liu Bei and his brothers arrived at Lu Bu's tent later that evening. As per Gong's suggestion, Lu Bu had a meal prepared for the brothers. Lu Bu greeted them warmly. He bade Liu Bei sit at his table. It was considered a great honor for a guest to sit with the host. Liu Bei humbly accepted this honor and sat next to Lu Bu. Dinner had passed and Lu Bu called for wine to be served. Diaochan entered the tent and bowed shyly to the men within. Bei's eyes were glued to her the moment she entered. He was taken aback by her flawless beauty.
Lu Bu bade Diaochan to serve Liu Bei first and she did so. The dress she wore hugged her figure and showed just the right amount of skin in all the right places. When she bent forward, Bei's eyes followed her every motion. Bu clinched his fist beneath the table, reminding himself that this was necessary. Diaochan's eyes met Bei's and she gave him a smile. If he had known her, he would have realized that the smile never reached her eyes. It was a false smile that hid the sadness that that lay just beneath the surface. But he didn't know her so he could only smile back, bewitched by her beauty as so many men have been before. Diaochan moved on to serve the others. She bowed once done and left the tent to prepare herself for what was to come.
Bu lifted his cup in front of him and held it out to Liu Bei.
"Little brother-," he began. At hearing this, Zhang Fei flew into a rage. He slammed his drink down, forcing its contents to spill over the lip of the cup and onto the table.
"You dare call him, Little brother?! You have no right!"
"Brother, please," said Guan Yu, though he leveled Lu Bu with a hard glare as he spoke.
"Brother," said Liu Bei. "Please, sit down."
"He disrespects you. He calls you little brother when he has no right to do so!"
"I am sure he means no disrespect," said Bei. "Please, sit down. This was to be a peaceful evening."
Reluctantly, his brother sat back down. It was clear however, that he was not happy about this situation.
"I did not mean any disrespect," said Bu. "I only say it because I feel a kinship with you. When that coward Cao Cao attacked Xu province, I seized Puyang to help you."
Zhang Fei tried to sprang to his feet again to dispute this, but Guan Yu's hand placed firmly on his shoulder kept him in place.
"I have only tried to do what was right for this land," Bu continued. "I slew the villainous Dong Zhou, I attacked the treacherous Cao Cao but everywhere, people treat me with scorn. I hope you will not do the same, Little brother."
Bei's face gave nothing away but he did not like being called little brother by this man. There was something about it that felt off to him. He didn't ask for the right nor had he earned it, yet he was doing so. It felt disrespectful. Bei pushed the thought from his mind. Bu seemed sincere when he said he meant no disrespect and he spoke true about his actions. He has done great things for the land and he has been treated with scorn by all others. He lifted his cup to Bu and bowed his head.
"I drink to your services and to your health. You truly have done great deeds for this land and it should be acknowledged," said Bei.
Bu bowed his head and the two men drained the liquid from their cups.
"Will you come with me? There is a gift I wish to give you," said Bu as he put his cup down.
"There is no need to give me anything," said Bei.
"There is need," said Bu, speaking over him. He stood and waited for Bei to do the same. Reluctantly, Bei stood and followed him out of the tent. Bu led him to a smaller tent and bade him to enter. Bei looked at the entrance curiously then entered. Inside, he saw the beautiful Diaochan sitting on her bed. It was clear that she had been waiting for them.
"My lady," said Bei, bowing to her. Diaochan bowed her head to him.
"My Lord, please come in."
Bei moved further into the tent and Bu entered behind him. Bei stood awkwardly in the center of the tent, unsure of why he was here.
"Be comfortable, Little brother," said Bu. There was a strange tone to his voice that Bei could not place. Bei looked for a place on the floor to sit when Bu stopped him.
"Sit on the bed, Little brother. Go on."
Bei looked between Bu and Diaochan. Diaochan moved over on the bed to make more room for him. Bei slowly sat down, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.
"She is beautiful, is she not?" asked Bu. His eyes on Diaochan as he spoke. Bei looked between the two again. While Bu was looking at her, she was looking at everything but him. Her face had a soft smile which looked more sad than anything else.
"Yes...," Bei began, "She is extremely beautiful."
"She is yours," said Bu.
Bei almost chocked at Bu's words.
"W-what?" He asked, sure that he hadn't heard him correctly.
"She is yours. My gift to you. This is the least I could do for what you have done for us," Bu answered.
"I-I couldn't possibly-," began Bei.
"Please, Little brother. Do not turn away my gift. I wish I had more to give to you, but we have little left to give. Accept her for the night with my heartfelt thanks."
Bei was stunned by Bu's words. They seemed to be spoken with sincerity. He looked at Diaochan. He would be lying if he did not say that she was the most beautiful woman he has ever seen in his life. He would also be lying if he did not say that he desired her. He wasn't sure why Lu Bu was willing to give such a enticing woman up, but he did not have the inclination to turn him down.
"If you are sure, then I accept your gift."
Bu clapped him on the shoulder, a bit harder than was necessary. "Then enjoy yourself tonight. I shall tell Yúncháng and Yìdé."
Bu gave one last hard look to Diaochan which made her shrink back slightly. He saluted Liu Bei and left the two of them alone in the tent.
Silence stretched between the two of them for a few moments. Diaochan closed her eyes. Internally, she tried to ready herself for what she was about to do. She opened her eyes to find Liu Bei staring at her curiously. She gave him an alluring smile and stood before him. His eyes followed her every action. Slowly and seductively, she began to slip off her clothing. Bei's eyes widened and his hand caught hers, stopping her.
"W-what? What is it? What have I done wrong?" She asked frantically. There was clear fear in her voice.
"Nothing," Bei assured her. "I just...are you sure you want to do this? Is Fèngxiān forcing you to do this?"
Diaochan turned her head, feeling tears beginning to well up in her eyes. She begged herself to not cry. Not now.
"N-no, My lord. I want to do this. Please, let me do this."
Liu Bei placed a hand on her cheek and gently turned her head to face him. It had been so long since someone treated her with such tenderness. She found herself trapped between fear and longing. Fear that he would turn out to be just like Dong Zhou and Lu Bu. Longing that he would be better than the both of them. Someone that would protect her. An unbidden tear rolled down her cheek and Bei wiped it away with his thumb.
"We don't have to do anything. Don't worry. I won't tell him. I will tell him that you did exactly as you were told."
"W-why?" Diaochan asked, her voice breaking.
"I have no desire to see anyone suffer. Least of all a beautiful woman such as yourself," Bei replied with a smile.
Diaochan did not return the smile. She found it impossible to do so at this moment. All the sadness and pain that she had to endure for the past few months burst forth at that moment. She began to sob freely. She felt foolish for doing so in front of complete stranger but she could not help herself. Bei pulled her into his arms and let her cry.
A long time passed before Diaochan finally stopped crying. Through it all, Bei was patient, rubbing her back soothingly and telling her that everything would be okay. She pulled herself away from him and stared at him with bloodshot eyes and a flushed red face. She knew she looked terrible and that thought made her want to cry again, but she held it in this time.
"I'm...sorry. I should not have done that," she said in a soft voice.
"You have no reason to apologize," Bei replied.
"I cried all over your robe," Diaochan said mournfully. Bei let out a chuckle.
"Do not worry yourself over something so small."
"Please allow me to wash it for you,"
"There is no need."
"Please...allow me to do this small thing. It is the least I could do," Diaochan implored.
Bei regarded her in silence for a few moments before nodding his accent.
"If that is what you wish."
"It is...thank you."
Silence filled the room once more. It was a more comfortable silence than earlier. Bei wanted to ask her so many questions, such as what happened to her to make her cry so, but he refrained from doing so. He didn't know her well enough to inquire about such a topic. He would have to wait for her to tell him when she was ready.
"Will you truly not tell him?" Diaochan asked, breaking the silence.
"You have my word," Bei replied.
"I-I have another question. One that I know I have no right to ask, yet you may be my only chance."
"What question is that?" Bei inquired, intrigued.
"Will you keep me? I am not asking for something like marriage. I know I am not worth that. I only ask that you keep me as your concubine. I swear that I would serve you well."
"Why do you think you are not worthy of marriage?" Bei asked.
"I know I am not...not after what I have done."
Bei found this curious. How could this enchanting woman think herself as unworthy of marriage? He wanted to ask her this, but did not pry on this topic any further.
"Why do you wish to become my concubine?"
"I don't want to go back to him. Please...don't make me go back to him."
Diaochan placed her hands on his chest as she stared up at him with pleading eyes. Bei felt his heart break. What the hell did Bu do to this woman? He could hardly turn her down after that. Bu said that she was his gift to him, but he was certain that he only meant that for the night and not permanently. He wasn't sure that Lu Bu would be willing to part with such an alluring woman as this. He would have to offer him something of equal value in order to secure her release. He thought hard as to what he could trade for her and it came to mind. He was certain his brothers would not like it, but he considered it a small price to pay. Bei would allow Lu Bu and his people to stay within Xiapi.
=#=
One by one, Cao Cao's guest were led to their seats within his banquet hall. There was a sense of unease amongst them. It has been a few months since Cao wrested Yan province from Lu Bu's hands. To the surprise of those who betrayed him, he did not seek revenge against them. He focused instead on dealing with the famine epidemic and stabilizing the economy. It was thought that perhaps Cao had decided to forgive those who willingly betrayed him in favor of Lu Bu...that was until they received a summons from Cao to attend a banquet he was holding in Puyang.
Now the night of the banquet was here and they were being led into the room. Upon their arrival, they noted that the hall was already occupied with a few of his cousins Yuan and Dun and Dun's betrothed, his lead strategist and his son Cao Pi. So far, there was nothing that raised alarm bells, but many of the men still felt uneasy.
Yuan nudged Dun in the ribs to get his attention, taking his focus off of watching the guest file into the room. He leaned closer to him and whispered.
"I can't believe you brought Zhuyue to this."
Dun shrugged. "Cao requested her presence specifically."
"Mèngdé asked for her? That doesn't seem a little weird to you? He never invited my wife anywhere."
"Your wife doesn't fight in his army," Dun replied.
"That's true, but still...doesn't it seem a little weird?"
"Mèngdé doesn't do anything without a reason. He wanted her here for a purpose."
"But he didn't tell you what it was?"
"No, but I have an idea about what it is...," Dun said. He wasn't sure he was ready this. He knew that in a way, Cao was showing great favor to Zhuyue by doing this, but at the same time, this would put her in more danger. Dun had faith in her skills as a warrior, but as the man to be her husband, he wanted to shield her from danger as much as possible. It was a contradictory thought. He loved Zhuyue for her strength but hated that the same strength now caught Cao's eye. Dun also wasn't thrilled about letting Zhuyue to see the uglier side of war that was going to be displayed tonight. There was no point in continuing to shield her from this. She wasn't a child and sheltering her wouldn't do her any favors. She had to see exactly what she was getting into. She had to understand all sides of the war. The ugly underbelly that isn't spoken about aloud. The necessary evil that they all have to endure behind the scenes.
Once the last person was seated, the banquet was underway. Cao greeted his guest warmly and spoke nothing of the betrayal. Food was brought out before them on platters by servants. The traitors were hesitant to eat, but did so after seeing Cao and his family enjoying the meal. The evening was a peaceful one, filled with good food and good wine. Laughter filled the halls, though it was mostly Cao and his family members that laughed. The ones who betrayed him sat uneasily, only exchanging nervous smiles.
"Well!" Cao began, clapping his hands together. The motion made a few of the men jump. "It has been a pleasant evening. I thank you all for coming."
That was it? They were free to go? Several of them breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly began to stand.
"Oh! How terrible of a host am I?," Cao began. Dread filled the men. This was it. It was coming. "You have been here all this time and I offered no entertainment. Forgive me," Cao said, saluting his guests.
"P-please do not think nothing of it, My lord," Said one of the men. Cao knew him as one of the first who offered loyalty to Lu Bu. Cao eyed the man and smiled, though it was not reflected in his eyes.
"I cannot let you go without letting you hear a song," Cao replied. Slowly, the men sat back down. Servants came back into the room and refilled their wine cups. They eyed it warily, certain that it was poison. Once again, Cao's people drank from the cups and they took this as proof that it was safe. They too partook of the drink as the music began to play and a dancer entered the room.
Zhuyue rolled her eyes at the woman who danced sultrily to the music for the men in the room. She always found it baffling how a woman swaying her hips managed to make a room full of warriors such a rapt audience.
"Why are you scowling again?"
Zhuyue turned to see Dun studying her. Was she scowling? It seemed to be a habit she has developed as of late. Or perhaps it was one she always had and Dun was the only person who bothered to tell her.
"I didn't realize I was," she answered truthfully.
"You always do when you are thinking about causing bodily harm to someone. So what pissed you off now?" He asked.
"Nothing has pissed me off," she replied.
"You're lying. But if you don't want to tell me, that's fine."
"Not enjoying the show?" She asked, switching the topic.
"Ah, so that's what it was."
She knowingly scowled this time.
"I just wished Lord Cao would get on with it," said Zhuyue, lowering her tone so only Dun could hear.
" Mèngdé is a performer. He loves putting on a show. I agree it's pointless, but what can you do?" Dun replied in a low tone.
"Tell him to get on with it," she muttered.
The dance was finally over. The woman bowed to the men. Some called for an encore, but Cao dismissed her.
"I am glad you have enjoyed the entertainment thus far. We have just one more performance before you can go."
The doors opened once more and soldiers entered the room, led by Dian Wei. They dragged bound men in to the center of the room. In an instant, the room was an in uproar.
"What is the meaning of this Cao Cao!?" One man questioned. Wei and the soldiers moved to block the doors. The realization dawned on them that the very thing they feared was now coming to pass. Cao did not forget the betrayal. He would mete out his justice, here and now.
"Sit down!" Cao commanded. His voice was a resounding boom full of power. The men felt fear in their bones and could do nothing but reluctantly follow his command.
"I am sure you recognize these men," said Cao, gesturing to the bound men that sat on their knees in the center of the room. "These were just a few of the men who fought at Lu Bu's side in Dingtao."
There were murmurs amongst the men. They were worse for wear, but they indeed did recognize them. Some of the bound soldiers were Xue Lan, Li Feng and Wu Zi. Like most of them, they were once loyal to Cao Cao, but betrayed him when Lu Bu came into power. Cao stood and unsheathed his sword.
"They had no qualms about betraying me. They even went so far as to face me in battle. Tell me, what do you think I should do in the face of such an offense?" He said as he approached the men slowly. He circled around them as he spoke, stopping when he was positioned behind them.
The room was silent. The men looked between themselves knowing that any answer they give could easily be applied to them.
"Come now," Cao began, turning to face his guest. "No one has any suggestions?"
"T-times were hard a-and many were forced into a precarious position, My lord. P-perhaps they should be forgiven?" said one of the men known as Xiu Wei.
"Forgiven?" asked Cao with an incredulous smile. "You are telling me to reward betrayal with forgiveness?"
Xiu Wei sat back, knowing that his suggestion was a foolish one.
"Does anyone else have a suggestion?" Cao asked. "A viable one?" He added.
The room was silent.
"Fine, I will answer for you," said Cao. With a swipe of his sword, he beheaded Xue Lan. His head toppled to the floor amidst gasps.
"There is no point on standing on ceremony any longer," Cao said with a sigh. He grabbed a cloth and cleaned his blade. "Those who betrayed me, you know who you are. You will die here tonight. Your families will be joining you shortly. I want this to be the last thoughts you have before you die. This is the price you will pay for your betrayal."
Chaos erupted in the hall. Swords were drawn and the fight ensued. Dun did not move, choosing to refill his drink instead. Zhuyue was baffled by this. Shouldn't they do something? She began to fidget, unsure as to whether she should join in or just stay put. Eventually, she sprang to her feet, feeling as if she should do something rather than sit on her hands. A hand around her waist pulled her back down. She struggled against it at first but ceased when she realized that it was Dun. He pulled her back down and kept his hand there to keep her in place.
"Shouldn't we be doing something?" She asked.
"Like what?" Dun asked. "They don't need our help."
He was right. They didn't need any help. The men were fighters but they weren't a match for Cao's forces. They were plied with wine and food, which made them sluggish and clumsy. Wei took several men on himself, dispatching them with such ease that he actually had a bored look on his face. Cao lured these men into a sense of comfort then shattered that illusion and rewarded them with death.
Zhuyue turned to look at Cao who watched the grim scene with a stoic expression. He felt her eyes on him and turned to meet her gaze. They locked eyes. Zhuyue found herself being pulled into his gaze. The longer she stared, the more uncomfortable she felt. There was something in that gaze. Something that made her feel unsettled. She broke the gaze first, preferring to look anywhere else at that moment. She looked around the room. Out of everyone, only five people that Cao had invited remained. Only five people remained loyal to him when Lu Bu had taken over. There were over twenty officials that he had invited, which were now nothing more than bloody heaps upon the floor.
It was done. The traitors had been punished. Wei stood in the center with Cao's troops. Blood dripped steadily from his axe. He didn't even seem the least bit winded. This wasn't even a warm up for him. Cao stood once more and addressed the remaining officials.
"To me, loyalty is of the utmost importance. You few are the only ones that remained loyal. You did not allow yourselves to be bullied or bought."
Cao saluted the remaining five officials. "For that, you have my thanks."
The men stood and saluted Cao. "There is no thanks to be given," said one. "We have only done what was honorable. You are our leader It is only natural that we remain loyal to you."
Cao smiled and saluted them once more. The banquet was officially over. The officials filed out of the hall, not sparing another glance to the falling bodies on the floor. The extra soldiers that had entered with Wei also left, closing the doors to the hall behind them. Zhuyue watched all of this in silence. She was unsure of how to feel about everything that had just transpired. Certainly the men who betrayed them deserved to die, but he said he would kill their families as well. Was that completely necessary? It felt a bit cruel.
"Zhuyue," Cao called. Zhuyue turned her attention to him, surprised to hear him say her name. She slowly moved to stand when Cao waved a hand ordering her to stop.
"No need to be so formal. Stay seated."
She did as she was told and saluted him. "Yes, Lord Cao?" She asked.
"Did this bother you?" Cao asked as he gestured to the dead bodies that littered the floor. She turned her head to look at the bloodied corpses. The blood from the bodies soaked the carpet beneath them. Some of the faces she could see were frozen in fear. Did the death bother her? No, not really. They deserved it. Did the fact that he would kill their families as well bother her? Yes. She looked around the room to see everyone focusing on her, waiting for her answer. She returned her gaze to Cao and spoke.
"No...but...," she hesitated.
"But what?" Cao pressed.
"Do you have to kill their families as well?"
"Does that bother you?"
"Yes," she answered honestly.
"Good. It should. I take no pleasure on taking the life of the defenseless. Life is precious and should be cherished. That said, anger is a powerful thing. The anger of a loved one over something perceived as an unjust death could cause people to do terrible things. Leaving their families alive could orchestrate my own demise. Do you understand that?"
Zhuyue considered this. She put herself in the position of family of one of these men. If someone she loved was killed by their enemy would she let it go? No. She would move heaven and earth to see that they joined them in the afterlife. She could understand his way of thinking.
"Yes," she replied.
"Good," Cao said with a nod. He tilted his head and thought for a moment before asking the next question.
"Do you think less of me?"
"I think you may be a cruel man. You gave them a false sense of security only to kill them. Perhaps it would have been a better kindness to just kill them."
Cao laughed.
"You are right. At times, this war requires cruelty. Cruelty is a harsher teacher than kindness. The officials that remained loyal will continue to do so thanks to this display," Cao said as he gestured to the bodies that littered the floor. She could not deny that this was an image that would stay with someone for a long time to come.
"Zhuyue," Cao began. "The people in this room are considered to be some of my most trusted allies.
Zhuyue looked around the room. Yuan, Dun, Wei, Jia and Pi were the only ones left in the room.
"I trust them with my life," Cao continued. "You are important to my dear cousin..."
Zhuyue did not have to look at Dun to know he rolled his eyes at that comment.
"As a result, you have become important to me. You have proven yourself to be a talented warrior with a lot of potential. I would like to count you among my most trusted."
Zhuyue was speechless. She didn't quite understand what was happening. She didn't know Cao saw her in such a way. It makes sense though. He did seem to go out of his way to ensure that Yuan Shao could not get to her. He protected Xiulan and Xiaolian when they had only just met and he accepted her into his family without hesitation.
"Tell me, Zhuyue, would you swear your undying loyalty to me?" Zhuyue pressed her lips into a tight line. She wasn't sure how to respond to that. When she originally came, her allegiance was to Dun and Dun only. As long as Dun fought for Cao, so would she. If Dun ever chose to leave Cao, she would do so without hesitation. Now Cao was asking her to swear her allegiance to him? This was not a vow that could be made lightly.
"That's a bit of a heavy question to throw on someone so suddenly, isn't it cousin?" Dun asked with a frown.
"I know...but it is something that I need to establish. I need to know if Zhuyue is someone I can trust with my life unquestionably."
"You already have my allegiance, My lord," Zhuyue said carefully.
Cao smiled. "Ah, yes. But that is only because my cousin has commanded it to be. I want to know if you will fight for me, of your own volition."
Zhuyue looked around the room again. Cao had said that everyone in this room had made the same oath that he was asking of her. That means that Dun has done so as well, right? She looked at him and as usual, he had that frustratingly hard to read face of his on. It was clear that he wanted her to make this decision on her own. If Dun had already made the vow, then he had no plans on abandoning Cao. He would serve him until the day he died. For that reason she shouldn't have a problem serving him right? No, she was looking at this the wrong way. This wasn't what Dun would do. This was what SHE would do. She was her own person with her own mind and Cao was asking HER to make the decision, not Dun. She had to make this choice for herself. She mulled it over, her thoughts on the type of man Cao was and if he was truly the person she believed could quell the chaos. Was he a person worth fighting for? Was he a person worth dying for?
Zhuyue stood and saluted Cao. "Forgive me for taking so long, My lord."
"It is not a decision to be made lightly," Cao replied. "Had you made the decision immediately, I would question your resolve."
"I vow, My lord. I vow to serve you loyally for the rest of my life."
"Would you kill for me?"
"Yes, My lord."
"Would you die for me if necessary?"
"Yes, My lord."
Cao returned the salute. "I thank you for your vow. There is a small ceremony that will need to be performed to solidify this bond before the heavens. Once done, I will consider you as one of my inner circle. Fear not, I would never ask you to do something against my cousin. I meant what I said before. He is dear to me. More so a brother than a cousin. You need not fear of ever having to raise a hand against him."
"Thank you, My lord," Zhuyue replied. Though she seemed completely un-phased by his words, she was breathing a sigh of relief internally.
