Guan Yu - Yúncháng
Liu Bei - Xuándé
Zhang Fei - Yìdé
Xiahou Yuan - Miàocái
Cao Pi - Zǐhuán
Xu Huang - Gōngmíng
Li Dian - Mànchéng
Lu Bu - Fèngxiān
Zhao Yun - Zǐlóng
Tao Qian - Gōngzǔ
Xiahou Dun - Yuánràng
Zhang He - Jùnyì
Yuan Shu - Gōnglù
Lady Bian - Bianshi

Zhuyue unwrapped the bandage from her hand and took a look at her wound, a souvenir from the oath ceremony. It had finally stopped bleeding. Cao Cao was not exaggerating when he said it would be a short event. She met him, along with Dun and the others of his inner circle at his home. The ceremony was held in his garden, beneath the open sky next to the plum trees, which were in full bloom. There she made a vow to him, the heavens, and her ancestors to serve him loyally until he reached his goal or until she drew her final breath. The blood that flowed from the cut she made on her palm served as proof of that oath and spilling it on the grass before Cao was proof of her conviction. The whole event lasted no more than seven minutes. The celebration Cao threw after it dwarfed the ceremony entirely.

"Having seconds thoughts?"

She quickly wrapped the bandage back around her hand.

"I was just checking to make sure it didn't get dirty or anything."

"That's diligent of you and also not what I asked."

"It would be a little too late if I did," she replied.

Jia chuckled.

"Too true. You still did not, however, give me the answer I was looking for."

Jia took a sip of the wine in his cup before speaking again.

"Allow me rephrase it. Do you regret what you did?"

"I wouldn't have done it if I had doubts," she replied.

"Well said," Jia said, raising his cup to her before taking another sip.

"Does your husband-to-be have doubts?"

"You're awfully nosey."

"I prefer the term healthily inquisitive."

Zhuyue couldn't hold back the laugh that escaped her. Jia winked.

"Enjoying your feast?"

"Yes. Did all of you get a feast after your oath ceremonies?"

" I can only speak for my own celebration and Dian Wei's. I wasn't present for Master Dun, Master Yuan or Lord Cao Pi's. Both Dian and myself were given a feast. We also had a few lovely ladies that danced for us.

"I see, this must be a dreadfully boring affair for you then."

"Not really. I don't much enjoy the tease. Besides, this Guqin player is amazing. Much better than the one I had."

The song ended and the Guqin player bowed to the group. He left the room to take short break, leaving the group alone.

"Zhuyue."

Zhuyue and Jia's attention turned to Cao who was now standing.

"Today, you have become a sister to all in this room. I expect great things from you in the future," Cao said, holding his cup up to her in salute.

Zhuyue stood, picked up her cup which she had left mostly untouched and mimicked the gesture.

"I won't disappoint."

Cao smiled. "I know."

He lifted his cup finished the contents in his cup. Zhuyue took a small sip from her cup. She sat down and placed the cup back onto her table just as the door to the hall opened once more. Dun entered and bowed to Cao before taking the empty seat next to Zhuyue.

"And it seems Lord Dun has returned," Jia remarked.

Dun sighed as he settled into his seat. His face showed a weariness that wasn't present when he first left. "What did I miss?"

"A toast welcoming Zhuyue as our sister," Jia replied.

"Hmph, good. Didn't want to be here for that," Dun said as he reached over to Zhuyue's table and took her half-full cup, draining it.

"And why is that?" Zhuyue asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Because," Dun began, dropping his voice to a whisper as he leaned in. "I would never do with my sister the things I plan on doing to you tonight."

Zhuyue shoved Dun away from her side and rolled her eyes. It was very hard for her to hide the smile that was creeping onto her face in anticipation for him to make good on that promise. Dun settled back in his seat with a chuckle. The guqin player re-entered the hall and began playing once more.

"I trust you saw Master Yuan home safely?" Jia asked.

"Yeah," Dun replied with another sigh. "I keep telling him he can't hold his drink for shit but he never believes me. What a pain in the ass."

Jia laughed. "He never worries because he always has you to look at for him."

Dun tsked but it wasn't out of annoyance.

"You look tired," Zhuyue remarked.

"You have no idea how much energy it takes to look after a drunk Miàocái. The idiot kept trying to get a courtesan to go back home with him. Kept telling that fool that they would rob him blind as drunk as he was."

Jia nodded solemnly as if he knew exactly what Dun had referred to.

"Sounds like you are speaking from experience," Zhuyue remarked with a raised brow.

"I am, Ling. Father would always force me to fetch him after he got piss drunk and made a fool of himself in the brothel."

"That actually doesn't surprise me in the least," Zhuyue said shaking her head.

"Ah, yes. Your brother Ling was not very well liked amongst the brothel women. I had to step in once when he got particularly aggressive with one of the ladies," said Jia.

"Tsk, that asshole isn't my brother any longer."

"Of course, my apologies. Too bad he got away. It would have been nice to not have to worry about that particular nuisance any longer."

"He's too pathetic to do anything," Dun growled out. It was clear this was a topic that got his blood boiling. Zhuyue could understand it. Though Shan disowned him, he was still a Xiahou. Ling's continued existence brought the Xiahou name shame.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that. He was after all instrumental in capturing Puyang."

"Yeah and now he is useless. He has nothing else to offer Lu Bu or Chen Gong. I'll be surprised if either keep him around."

"True...still he is an unknown and he is desperate. It would be best if we didn't ignore him completely. He should be eliminated as soon as possible."

"No arguments here," Dun replied.

"What do you think Lord Cao will do next?" Zhuyue asked. Jia signaled the servant to refill his cup.

"Our Lord has hinted to me that he has big plans. He will reveal them to us in a formal meeting tomorrow. Let's not worry about that for now. This is your celebration, Little sister. Enjoy yourself! The war will wait for us," Jia said, holding up his newly refilled cup to her in salute before downing it.

Zhuyue decided to take his advice. This was a small moment of relaxation for them. A prelude to the storm to come.

=#=

Diaochan paced nervously as she awaited Bei's arrival. Since Bei bargained for Diaochan's freedom, he made a habit to visit her every day. Bei told himself that he only did it because he felt sorry for the girl. He would tell himself that his want to help her was simply because it was the right thing to do and nothing more. He tried to deny that he had fallen in love with her since the first moment he laid eyes on her. He tried to rationalize his overwhelming want to see her by claiming that he only wanted to be a shoulder she could lean on. He saw that she carried pain within her and he wanted to lessen her burden, but with every visit, every moment spent in her presence, he fell deeper and deeper in love. She was like a drug to him, and he was quickly becoming addicted.

Diaochan was initially wary of these visits. She knew that she was a desirable woman and expected Liu Bei to be the same as all other men who saw her. With every visit, she readily expected him to exercise his power over her and make her his concubine as she had been for Dong Zhou and Lu Bu. This never came to pass. He was always kind to her, he always asked about her well-being, he bought her new clothing, ensured that she always ate and was well taken care of. Her heart slowly began to melt and she began to perhaps foolishly hope that he was someone that genuinely cared for her.

His sincerity moved her so much that she surprised herself by telling him about the ploy she and her adopted father had orchestrated in the name of saving the Han. She expected Bei to be disgusted with her, to hate her and think of her as vile for using her body in such a way, even if it was to achieve honorable goals. He didn't. He told her that she was brave and he expressed his sorrow that she was forced to go through such an ordeal. He looked so earnestly when he said it that she began to believe it. For the first time in a long time, she felt proud of herself for what she did. She was able to look at herself in the mirror and not feel disgusted at the person she saw staring back at her. She even felt a sense of pride. Bei taught her to love herself again and somewhere down the line, she fell in love with him.

Diaochan was eternally grateful to Bei for granting Bu and his people sanctuary in exchange for her freedom, but she was even more grateful for the self-confidence he helped her regain. Part of her was afraid to commit her heart to another man. She truly fell in love with Lu Bu despite her original intentions being to drive a wedge between him and Dong Zhou. If it hadn't been for her treachery, she would still be by his side even now. She didn't want to give her heart to another man for it to be trampled on once more. Bei never rushed her. He never asked her for anything. That is why tonight, on the eve of her nineteenth birthday, she resolved to give herself to him. In all of her life, she never had a choice about who she gave herself to. Even though she loved Lu Bu, it was her father who told her to sleep with him. This was the first time she was choosing who to love. It scared and excited her.

A knock on the door froze Diaochan in her tracks. He was here. She swallowed hard and opened the door to him.

"Your handmaiden pays her respects," Diaochan said with a bow as Bei entered the room. He chuckled.

"I've already told you, you needn't be so formal with me, Diaochan."

She gave him a shy smile in return and led him to the table that sat in the center of her room. Once he was settled in, she poured him a drink. He thanked her and took a drink. Diaochan watched him intently, unsure of how she should let him know what she wanted. Bei set his cup back down onto the table.

"You seem nervous. What's wrong?" Bei asked. His face and voice held such concern. It made her heart melt. He always showed such concern for her.

"My Lord, you are my savior and my benefactor. I owe you so much but I have very little to give-"

"You do not have to give me anything, Diaochan," Bei assured her. She shook her head in disagreement.

"I want to give you something. I-I want to give you something to thank you for all you have done for me."

She stood and took a deep breath. It felt as if butterflies were running rampart within her stomach. Slowly she began to undue the tie to her dress robe. Bei stood up quickly and took her hand, stopping her. She looked at him in confusion.

"I told you, you do not owe me anything. I do not want you to do this because you think have to."

"I do not do this because I owe you...I-I know it may be too sudden and foolish of me to say this but...My Lord, you have captured my heart. I want to be with you...always."

Bei smiled. He had wanted to hear those words from her for so long. He could no longer deny what he was feeling for her. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her closer to him. He kissed her softly and slowly that kiss evolved into so much more. They spent the rest of the night wrapped up in each other's arms.

=#=

Zhuyue stood next to Dun as they waited for Cao to begin the meeting. She was amazed at how composed he looked, considering the vast amounts of wine he consumed yesterday. Jia who had also had far too much to drink at last night's celebration also looked no worse for wear. Yuan on the other hand looked utterly miserable. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there at that moment.

Cao stood and his generals saluted him.

"We have achieved a great victory in recapturing the Yan Province. We must however, continue to push forward. When Lu Bu seized Yan province, he made me realize an important fact. My ambition cannot be realized in a place such as this. I have decided that our new base shall be in Xuchang."

This caused a swarm of mummers amongst the generals. This was surprising news to everyone present. Cao held up one of the three scrolls that sat on the small table before him. The generals went silent immediately.

"Here are instructions on how I want our forces divided. Even if we are moving our main force, we will not abandon Yan Province. It will be fortified to ensure that it cannot be so easily taken over again."

Jia saluted Cao and accepted the scroll from him.

"Zǐhuán," Cao began. Pi saluted his father and awaited his orders.

"I have been...impressed by your performance as of late. For that reason, I am sending you and a group ahead to Xuchang. There are preparations I would like for you to oversee. I expect them to be prepared by the time we arrive in Yu Province."

Ang visibly bristled as his father spoke. His words cut him deeply. Instead of getting angry or sadden by it however, he resolved to do better to be acknowledged by his father.

"Yes, Father," Pi replied as he took the second scroll offered by his father.

"Those who have received orders, please begin preparations now. We have no time to waste and a small margin for error."

Jia picked out the generals whose name Cao had outlined on the scroll he held. The men saluted Cao and went off to follow their leader's orders.

"Gōngmíng, Miàocái, Mànchéng and Dian Wei..." The men called simultaneously saluted Cao.

"You men will be with me," Cao said as he held up the third scroll. "We have received a plea of help from the emperor himself. He wishes for us to stage a rescue."

Cao's words shook Yuan out of his hangover stupor.

"No shit, the Emperor?" Cao nodded in confirmation to Yuan's statement, amused at how alert he suddenly became.

"Ha, looks like I get the fun job this time, Brother," said Yuan as he nudged Dun.

"It's about time Mèngdé makes you do some work. You've been getting a bit soft around the edges," Dun replied.

"Pfft...This is pure muscle," said Yuan. Everyone turned to look at him. The incredulous looks he received spoke for themselves. "Mostly pure muscle...," he amended in a mutter. This struck up laughter amongst the generals.

"Anyway!" Yuan called out over the laughter at his expense. "Why are we saving him?"

"What do you mean why are we saving him?" Asked Xu Huang. "Despite all that has happened, he is still our Emperor."

"Okay...yeah...but wouldn't it be better if...you know..."

"Careful cousin," said Cao with a mischievous smile. "Your words may be considered as treasonous to some."

"But cousin, you know as well as I do that the kid is useless. He has no backbone. He allowed himself to be pushed around by Dong Zhou then Li Jue and Guo Si. He doesn't have what it takes to change this land. What good is someone like that to us?"

"We are simply doing our duty as loyal vassals," Cao replied with a cryptic smile. Yuan could tell there was something behind that smile.

"Okay, now I'm really not buying it. Why are we saving him?"

"You are correct in your assertion that the Emperor is spineless and it is for that exact reason that we are rescuing him."

Yuan gave his cousin a confused looked before realization kicked in. "I get it. You are going to use him too."

"Precisely. He is still seen as the man favored by the heavens. He is a symbol that the people still respect. Having the backing of the Heavenly Emperor would be a great boon. Gain the authority of the Emperor, rally my forces and create a new order...That is my path and the path to ruling this land."

"Ha, well alright then. You know you can count on me to get this done, Cousin. When do we leave?"

"This is a matter of great importance. We need to move quickly. We will leave tonight. Once we reach the city, we will sneak into Chang'an and liberate him. If we are lucky, we can regroup with our forces without resistance and escort him to Xuchang with an armed guard."

"And if we aren't lucky?" Asked Li Dian.

"We do whatever it takes to get back to our troops with the Emperor."

"We will not fail you, My Lord," said Huang.

"Good," Cao said with a nod. "I will be counting on all of you. Prepare for our departure. I want to leave as soon as possible."

Yuan gave Dun a light punch on the shoulder and winked at Zhuyue. "Take care of this guy for me, will you?"

Zhuyue nodded and smiled. "Be careful."

"Always am." Yuan said as he and the others left to get prepared.

"So what do you want us to do?" asked Dun focusing his attention onto his cousin.

"I want you two to escort our families to Xuchang."

Cao's expression shifted. He put a hand on Dun shoulder and looked him in the eye. "Cousin, I already lost too much of my family. I am trusting you to see that I do not lose anymore. Please, get them to Xuchang safely."

Dun nodded. Cao returned the nod and gave his shoulder a small tap before removing his hand.

"I do not expect you two to have any trouble, but be careful none the less."

"I'm not worried about us," Dun began. "I'm worried about you. There is no way you are going to get the Emperor out without a fuss."

"I know. I expect trouble. I am counting on the fact that they won't be able to muster a large enough force fast enough to stop us. We should be able to force our way past any opposition."

"Hmph, just be careful."

"No worries, Yuánràng. I will protect him with my life," said Wei.

=#=

"I guess this constitutes as being unlucky, huh?" asked Dian as quickly ducked backward to narrowly avoid an attack from an enemy that rode beside him on horseback. He released the reigns he was still holding in his left hand to get a firm grip on his weapon. He whipped his wheeled halberd straight into the horse knocking it over. Its rider was tossed off of his steed, sending him careening into the floor with the horse falling behind him. Dian shifted his weapon back into his left hand and grabbed hold of the reigns once more, spurring his horse forward, not wanting to be left behind by the others.

"Unless you think fleeing from Yuan Shao's army is good luck then yeah, I would say we got unlucky," Yuan replied as he steadied his mount. With practiced ease, he turned in his saddle until he was riding it backward. Yuan quickly readied his bow an notched an arrow. He steadied himself against the movement of his horse which was in full gallop. Once he had his target, he let the arrow fly. His arrow struck the throat of a rider that had been chasing behind them. The rider fell over in his saddle, dying instantly. Yuan quickly notched another arrow, then another By the time he was done, Yuan had taken down a total of five enemies. Satisfied, he turned around in his saddle once more and grabbed hold of the reigns.

"How could Yuan Shao have known we were here? This was a secret mission! Has someone betrayed us?" Asked Wei over the pounding of hooves.

Cao's eyes glanced at the carriage that he rode beside which held the emperor. "Yuan Shao's presence here is merely a coincidence," he replied.

"Then how did he know to come here?" Yuan asked.

"It seems the Emperor casted a wider net in hopes of rescue than I originally anticipated."

Yuan sucked his teeth in disgust. Cao knew he was further lamenting the decision to rescue the emperor.

"So Yuan Shao had the same idea that you did." stated Xu Huang.

"Correct. If the "noble" Yuan Shao has the Emperor under his control, he will use his name to make a move. But he does not have what it takes to quell this chaos."

"They are coming from the front as well!" shouted Huang suddenly.

"Come," Cao said in a commanding tone. "The road ahead must be kept safe. We must meet up with the bulk of our forces and ride straight to Xuchang!"

=#=

Guan Yu could hear the beautiful voice of the room's occupant before he reached the door. He stopped just outside of the door, entranced by the beautiful song. It was rare to find such beauty in these times. Yu wasn't sure how long he stood there, listening to the enchanting voice. He was finally released from the hypnotic melody when the song came to an end. Remembering his purpose, he knocked on the door. It opened to reveal a woman cradling a child in the crux of her arm.

"Lord Yunchang!" she exclaimed. It was clear that she was surprised by his visit, but not at all upset at his presence. "It is so good to see you!"

"Lady Nuan, it is always a pleasure to see you and I must admit that it is an even greater pleasure to hear you. I had no idea you could sing so beautifully," said Yu.

Her cheeks began to turn red and she covered her face with her free hand in embarrassment.

"You heard that? It seems to be the only way I can get little Tan to sleep."

"How lucky he is indeed to always be serenaded to sleep by such a sweet voice."

Nuan's face turned impossibly red. "Lord Yúncháng, stop! You are embarrassing me. I am not that good. Have you come to visit little Tan?" she asked lifting the sleeping baby in her arm toward him.

Yu smiled at the sleeping child and ran a finger down its chubby cheek. The baby stirred slightly in his mother's arms but remained asleep.

"While I am certainly glad to visit little Tan, I actually came to see my brother," Yu said as he looked around the room realizing that they were the only occupants. "He isn't here?"

The mother felt the child stir in her arms again as it tried shift into a more comfortable position. She lifted a finger to her lips instructing Yu to remain silent. Turning from him, she placed the child on the bed and piled pillows on either side of him to ensure that he wouldn't roll off. She returned her attention to Yu and ushered him out of the room. Once they were outside of the room, she slid the door close before speaking to him once more.

"My Lord Husband is not with you? He hasn't slept at my side for the past few weeks. Hasn't he been staying with you and Lord Yìdé, working on improving conditions in the Province?"

At that moment, Yu realized that he had stumbled into something unfortunate. His brother had been lying to his wife. He hadn't seen much of Liu Bei in the last few days either. He thought that he had taken time to spend with his wife and newborn son. It was now clear that he had been spending his free time elsewhere and he knew exactly where that was. Before he could go find his brother, however, he had to assuage the fears of Bei's wife.

"Ah, forgive me. I fear I wasn't clear. He has been with us, but he left early this morning to run an errand. I thought it was to check on you and Tan."

"Oh," she said. Her face turned into a soft smile as she bought the lie. "If he does stop by, I will be sure to let him know that you are looking for him. Yu nodded to her.

"Well then, My lady, I shall be off now to search for him elsewhere."

"Oh, Lord Yúncháng. Before you go...I know this is selfish of me to ask, but Tan and I have missed Lord Xuándé so much. I understand that governing the land is of the utmost importance but...is there a way you could help him so that he has more time to spend with his us? N-not all of his time. I know he is very busy but maybe just-"

Yu held up a hand to stop her. She was beginning to ramble. She looked so desperate to have his brother's attention. It sadden him to see her in such a desperate state. He already planned on speaking to his brother about his indiscretions, but this made him even more resolved to do so.

"Worry no longer, My lady. I will...encourage him to take a break and spend more time with you and Tan."

"Oh thank you so much, Lord Yúncháng!" She said giving Yu a sisterly hug. Yu returned the hug then bid her farewell. He set off to where he knew his brother had to be in hopes of talking sense into him.

=#=

A knock on the door stirred Liu Bei from his slumber. He moved to get up but noticed that an unfamiliar weight held him down. He tilted his head to see the top of Diaochan's head resting peacefully on his chest. He ran a hand through her hair and felt her stir. She looked up at him and gave him a small smile. She had such a beautiful smile. Bei pulled her towards him and their lips met. It was a gentle kiss at first that slowly escalated into a more passionate one.

The knock came again. Bei let out a frustrated grunt and nudged Diaochan away from him. She pouted to him and gave him a look that melted his heart.

"It is probably just a servant. Let us ignore them," she said before softly peppering his cheeks with kisses before pressing one on his lips.

Reluctantly, Bei pulled himself away from her, earning another pout. "It could also be my brothers. They know to find me here if they cannot find me anywhere else," he explained.

Diaochan finally relented allowing Bei to get up. He hastily dressed and opened the door. Before him as he suspected stood his two sworn brothers. Yu had a sullen countenance which confused Bei. Fei on the other hand had been attempting to peer past Bei to Diaochan who laid in the bed behind him. Bei noticed this and moved to block his view. He spoke to his brothers with a frown.

"What is it? Has something happened?"

Yu respectfully saluted Bei. "We need to speak with you, Brother," said Yu. Bei regarded them both in silence for a few moments before nodding his head in agreement.

"Allow me a few moments to fix myself," he said as he gestured to his disheveled appearance. Yu nodded and Bei closed the door to fix himself and inform Diaochan that he had to step away for a few moments.

"I wish I had met her before brother did. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. The things I would do to her..."

"You're joking, right?"

"No!" said Fei. "Have you seen her? She's beautiful! Beyond beautiful. I can see why he chooses her over his wife. You can't honestly tell me that you haven't thought about her."

"I have no interest in her and neither should you," Yu replied.

"Gah! You are no fun brother. If a woman like that cannot be enjoyed, what good is she?"

Before Yu can answer, the door opened once more. Bei looked at Fei disapprovingly. It seems he had heard what his brother had said and did not appreciate it. He led them away from Diaochan's door and towards the garden. When they arrived, Bei faced his two brothers.

"What has happened?" Bei asked.

"A great many things it seems," Yu replied. "It seems Cao Cao has rescued the Emperor from Dong Zhou's former subordinates."

"Rescued?! Kidnapped more like it!" spat Fei. Yu ignored his brother's outburst and continued with his report.

"He has moved the Emperor to Xuchang-"

"Not only that! The bastard hasn't even had the Emperor with him for more than few days and he already had him declare Xuchang as the new capital. Can you believe it?! The new capital, a place under Cao Cao's rule. He forced him into it! Cao Cao is no better than Li Jue or Guo Si!" shouted Fei.

Yu stroked the length of his long beard with a frown. He was a little irritated with Fei's constant interruptions, but he could understand his frustrations. Cao Cao's little maneuver had just gotten him a vast amount of power.

"It is as Yìdé says. Xuchang has been declared the capital. Yuan Shao attempted to rescue the Emperor as well but it seems Cao Cao got to him first. They were able to escape the battle with the Emperor in hand. Cao Cao is now known as the Genral-in-chief of the Imperial army."

"Such a prestigious title so quickly? Cao Cao no doubt pressured the Emperor into it. If only we could have gotten to the Emperor first," said Bei. "Why are we so late in finding out this information?"

"We are an army without a strategist and we have meager forces. Information is hard to come by since we do not know where to look."

Bei frowned. A strategist. Cao Cao had a brilliant strategist working for him. Come to think of it, Chen Gong whom worked with Lu Bu was a brilliant strategist as well. It was because of his genious that Lu Bu was able to capture Puyang at all. It was something to consider. If they wanted to be a force which could be taken seriously and to bring peace back to the land, they would need definitely need a strategist.

Bei let out a loud sigh. "It is unfortunate, but we must leave the Emperor in the hands of Cao Cao for now."

"Leave the Emperor in Cao's hands?! We cannot leave him in that villain's hands! We need to march on Xuchang and save him!" Fei declared as he jabbed his finger downward to indicate that it needed to be done immediately.

It was now Yu's turn to sigh. "Brother, did you miss the part when I said we have no strategist and a meager army? In regards to numbers, Cao Cao has a clear advantage."

"Lu Bu! He and his army is are staying here for free. We should put them to work. They could help us rescue the Emperor!"

"Brother," Bei began, adopting the calm tone he normally had to taken when Fei got worked up. "Lord Fèngxiān and his people are still reeling from the defeat they suffered at the hands of Cao Cao. Even if they agreed to help us, their forces aren't in much better shape than ours."

Fei tsked out of annoyance but remained silent as he could not dispute the point his brother had made.

"What do you think Cao Cao will do now that he has the Emperor's backing? Will he come after us? Will he come after Xu Province?"

Yu stroked his beard once more as he considered Bei's question. "I'm not sure. We have interfered in his affairs multiple times. I am certain he harbors ill will towards us. That said, Lu Bu and his people are currently here. I am sure if it came down to it, he would help us defend Xu Province. I am not sure Cao Cao is eager to engage himself in another war with him so soon."

"That isn't very reassuring," said Bei with a frown. "I think it would be wise to reinforce our defenses in case of an attack."

Yu nodded. "I will personally oversee it with Zǐlóng."

"Thank you," said Bei with a smile.

"Unfortunately, that isn't the only topic we need to speak about today."

Bei's smile slowly shifted into a weary frown as he braced himself for more bad news.

"What is it?"

" Yìdé and Lord Cao Bao..." said Yu knowing he didn't have to even finish his sentence.

"Again?" Bei asked Fei in an exasperated tone.

"You don't understand, Brother. He says things about you when he thinks we aren't listening. He isn't loyal to you. You should strip him of his rank and kick him out of Xiapai. Better yet, kick him out of Xu Province!"

"Brother, you constantly say that he is disloyal, but we haven't found any evidence to support your claim. He has been nothing but helpful since Lord Gōngzǔ passed on. His support has made my transition as governor a smooth one."

"You only dislike him because he refused to drink with you," Yu added.

"You can't trust a man that won't share a drink with you," Fei retorted.

"That isn't enough reason to hate someone," Bei chastised.

"That isn't the only reason. He is a traitor, Brother. I swear it."

"There is nothing we can do without proof. We looked into it the first time you brought it up and he has been proven to be an honorable fellow. Please, Brother, make peace with him and if you cannot, please stop antagonizing him," Bei pleaded.

Fei frowned. It was easy for his sworn brother to sway him... at least when he was sober it was. He saluted his brothers. "I...I will relent, for now."

Yu and Bei knew that was the best they were going to get out of him so they would have to accept it.

"There is one more thing, Brother," Yu began. Bei braced himself for more bad news."It is Lady Nuan..."

"Nuan?" An odd look crossed Bei's face. It was if her name had just brought back the memory of the woman he had married. It was clear he hadn't thought about her in the past few weeks. "Is something wrong with my son?"

Yu noted that he wasn't concerned with Nuan's wellbeing but didn't comment on it.

"No, your son is fine but he and his mother miss you."

Bei's emotions were clearly displayed on his face and being as close as they were, it was easy for Yu to read. He felt guilt for neglecting his wife but also a slight hint of anger at being called out on his transgressions.

"Yeah, you've been too busy with the pretty little maiden Diaochan." Fei said with a lewd smile.

Bei's face shifted into one of anger and Yu sighed. Even if he was correct, as usual, he was a bit too blunt with his delivery.

" Yìdé, I do not appreciate the way you act around or speak about Diaochan," said Bei. His tone was as sharp as a blade's edge.

"I've done nothing to that wench. If she says otherwise, she is lying!"

Bei stepped closer to Fei, his fists balled at his sides. "I heard you speaking rudely about her outside of her room! I will not tolerate it, nor will I tolerate you calling her names!"

Fei blinked in surprise. It was rare to see his brother get so worked up. Fei's own blood began to boil. He didn't feel as if he did anything wrong and he refused to be shouted at as if he was a child, even if it was by his lord and sworn brother.

"It was a joke! Why are you getting so angry about it? She is nothing to you but a whore passed on by Lu Bu. She is stringing you along just so her lover can gain sanctuary. You are a fool if you trust her!"

Bei was about to retort when Yu stepped in between the two of them.

"Enough! This is not how we brothers should act! Our bond is stronger than this and no woman should come between us!"

The two men looked at each other, both still seething. "I will not tolerate any further insults about Diaochan, Yìdé," Bei warned. He looked to Yu. "Thank you for letting me know. I will see Nuan."

With that, Bei stormed away from his brother in hopes to cool off.

"Pfft the idiot," Fei retorted as he threw his hands up in the air. "Let him be led around by the dick. See if I care! Tch...I need a drink."

Yu could do nothing but watch as both of his brothers stormed off. This gave him a very uneasy feeling. The three of them have had disagreements before, of course but none that ended with them being so angry at each other. He realized at that moment that Diaochan was a dangerous woman. After what he witnessed, he was certain that it was no coincidence that the woman who once Dong Zhou's concubine became Lu Bu's lover. He was certain that there was truth to the rumors that he killed his adopted father over her. Yu hoped that Fei and Bei would be able to work out their differences before it got out of hand, but if they could not, he would ensure that she would not drive a wedge between them.

=#=

"This is stupid."

"This is proper, Yuánràng" his mother replied tersely.

"We have already fu-" Dun cut himself off, reminding himself that he was speaking to his mother. He amended his previous statement. "We have already been together, she is my wife in body and everything else. What is the point of separating us now?"

"Because you two are not bonded in the eyes of the heavens and your ancestors. You do a great disservice to Zhuyue and yourself by taking her to bed before you have taken your wedding rites."

Zhuyue sat in silence as Dun continued to argue with his parents. She had long ago given up the fight. Dun's mother was a tenacious woman. Zhuyue could see that Dun got his stubbornness from her. Her eyes shifted to the others in the room. Lady Jiao, Lady Bian and Lady Liu had the decency to look as if they pitied Zhuyue being caught in the situation as she was, but their men had no such tact. Yuan and Cao sat there openly grinning at their misfortune. It was a wonder that the fools hadn't burst out laughing yet. Zhuyue had the sneaking suspicion that Cao set up this so called family dinner just to mess with them.

Cao arrived in Xuchang with the Emperor a few days after Zhuyue and Dun had arrived with the families. Cao's group had a tough time punching through Yuan Shao's defenses but they made it through no worse for wear. Cao having not spent time with his family for quite a while thought it best to have a dinner just amongst the family. It was a welcome change from all the fighting and traveling they had been doing lately.

The dinner however, promised to be anything but peaceful. After the events in Puyang, Dun thought it would be better if his parents lived with them in case trouble arose again. There was also the fact that they weren't getting any younger and he wanted to have them closer so he could keep an eye on them. This was fine until Lady Ai realized that Zhuyue's belongings were being moved into Dun's room instead of her own. She insisted vehemently that they stopped their immoral behavior immediately. Unfortunately for all of them, Ai had no qualms about continuing the conversation throughout dinner.

"Your mother is right," said Shan with a sigh. He knew his wife. That woman was like a dog with a bone. Once she got a hold of something she would never let it go. It was actually a quality that attracted him to her but at the moment, it was wearing him out. Perhaps it was his age getting to him.

Dun glared at his father, clearly unappreciative of the comment.

"This is a pointless argument," said Pi in a bored tone. "Just get married."

"I advised the very same for quite some time now," said Cao not bothering to hide the amusement in his tone.

"Yeah brother, just get married. Look how distraught you are making poor mother. You should be ashamed," Yuan said. He was barely able to hold back his fit of laughter as he spoke.

It was clear Dun was visibly annoyed. Yuan knew he would pay for it later, but he would thoroughly enjoy himself now. It wasn't that Dun didn't want to get married. That was far from the truth. Once he finally came to terms with his feelings for Zhuyue, he wanted nothing more than to marry her. The issue was the actual act of getting married. Dun was a private person and weddings were a decisively public affair, especially if his family had anything to say about it. But they were right. There was no point in delaying the inevitable. They had put it off for long enough.

"Fine," said Dun. Ai was elated that she had finally gotten her way. She clapped her hands together.

"Wonderful! We need to began planning this affair."

"Ah, yes!" chimed Lady Jiao. "Oh please allow me to help with the preparations, Mother."

"Oh! I wish to help too!" cooed Lady Bian. She gave a mock pout. "It feels as if I will never get to plan a wedding since my Lord Husband only sees fit to give me sons."

"It is our misfortune, Big sister." said Jiao. "I already have two boys and I bet more will come."

"Well...perhaps it is due to your family line. You two are sisters after all. It can't be a coincidence that you both have had only sons so far," said Ang. Both women glared at him.

"Our fault!? This is not our fault!" said Jiao.

"Yes. I agree. It is their fault!" Bianshi added as she pointed an accusatory finger in Cao's direction.

"Okay okay, enough of that!" chided Lady Ai. "We are getting off topic. You two will help me plan the wedding. Would you like to help as well, Liu?"

Liu shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She always felt a bit awkward at these family gatherings. She was after all only Cao's concubine. She had no real familial relations to any of them besides her children. Bianshi never treated her with any ill will. In fact, she welcomed Liu with open arms. She would joke that she was happy that she was around to give her a break from her husband's overactive libido. While they always treated her as family, she always felt like somewhat of an outcast. It might be because of this reason that she got along well with Zhuyue. She was an outsider, much like her.

"If you would have me," she replied with a soft smile.

"Of course we will have you! You are one of us after all," Bianshi replied with a wink. "Oh! Wait, she's proof! Liu has only had sons as well! It isn't us! Our family line has nothing to do with it!"

"That's right! That's right!" Jiao squealed along with her sister. Ang held up his hands in surrender.

"Damn right it isn't them. It's the Xiahou blood," said Yuan with a grin. "We were made to build strong bloodlines. Don't take that credit away from us! I bet Zhuyue's gonna be spitting out all boys as well."

Spitting out boys. The words echoed in Zhuyue's mind. She knew that she was expected to have children but it always seemed like an abstract thought. Hearing it made it uncomfortably real to her. Would Dun expect her to stay at home and rear the children? There was no way she was going to do that. This was something she was going to have to have a talk with him about.

"Oh hush you," said Jiao, giving her husband a playful slap on the shoulder.

"Oh there is so much to plan! Notices will have to be made up, we have to have a dress made, you will have to pick an auspicious day to be married. Oh, Zhuyue we will need to contact your family..." Bianshi counted off excitedly.

"The only family I have is Xiaolian."

"But what of your father? Or your moth-,"

"Bianshi, that is enough." The authoritative tone in Cao's voice reigned in her excitement. She bowed her head apologetically and remained quiet.

"Look, I don't care who plans it, but I don't want this becoming a big thing," said Dun, cutting through the building tension within the room.

"But this is your first marriage. You have to have a big celebrati-"

"I am not budging on this, Mother," Dun said cutting her off. Ai was ready to argue her point when Shan stepped in. He placed a hand on her arm and shook his head. Ai frowned, clearly disappointed.

"My dear Miàocái, would you be kind enough to shelter Zhuyue until the wedding?" Ai asked. She decided to shift her focus to an argument she had a better chance of winning.

"And why would he need to do that?" Dun asked. He folded his arms across his chest and stared at his mother with a frown. He agreed to the wedding less than ten minutes ago and he was already pissed off with how it was going.

"Tradition states that the husband must retrieve the wife from her family home and bring her to his family home. Since her family isn't here, I figured-"

"Fuck tradition," Dun said cutting her off.

"Language!" Shan chided.

Dun ignored his father. "This is getting to be more trouble than necessary. Let's just get this shit over with. Pick a day this week, decorate my home and we can have a small ceremony there. Since Mèngdé is a member of the Imperial court, he can officiate."

Ai gasped. She couldn't believe what her son was saying. Shan tried to hold her back but there was no placating her. It was Zhuyue stepping which made Ai hold her tongue.

"Though he worded it poorly," she began eyeing Dun. Dun, sucked his teeth in annoyance, refusing to apologize. "...he is right. This wedding is nothing more than a formality to us. It would be best if we only observed a few of the traditions and left out the more outlandish ones. We are still in the middle of a war. We do not have the luxury of such a grandiose wedding. I am certain our ancestors will forgive us."

Ai deflated. It was clear this was another battle she was not going to win but she was determined to have one victory before the night was through. "You two still cannot sleep together until the wedding rites have been observed. It would be best if you stayed somewhere else until it was completed."

Zhuyue sighed. "Fine, Lady Ai. We will abide by your wishes."

"Excuse me?" said Dun with a raised brow.

"Stop being a child. You have gotten your way with everything else. You can live without me warming your bed for a few days."

A tense silence stretched between the two of them. They glared at each other while the rest of the group looked on in silence. One could have sworn to see sparks of anger igniting between them. Dun was the one who broke the line of sight first. He stood from the table.

"Do whatever the fuck you want."

And with that, he left the hall. All eyes shifted to Zhuyue who seemed nonplussed by Dun's outburst.

"I will go pack a few things. Where will I be staying," she asked calmly.

"Um, you can stay with us...It would be easier to plan things if you did," Bianshi answered in an unsure tone.

"Very well."

Zhuyue stood and bowed before leaving the room. Though the source of the tension was gone, there was still an uneasy silence that hung in the air.

"Mother," Yuan called. His voice was unexpected in the silence and it startled her.

"Y-yes?"

"Am I your favorite son now?"

Ai stared blankly at Yuan not finding the humor in his comment. Shan scowled at his son for the poorly timed remark. Cao on the other hand who thought that Yuan's timing was spot on found the humor in the joke laughed heartily.

=#=

Yuan Shao slumped in his chair as he lamented his misfortune.

"Jùnyì? Jùnyì!" he called out.

"Your humble servant is here, Lord Shao," Zhang He replied with a graceful bow.

"Yes, yes..." Shao replied irritably. He wasn't in the mood for his dramatic flair. "Give me an assessment."

"Well...," he began as he pointed a finger to his cheek and cupped his elbow with his other hand. "The bandages we have are absolutely dreadful. They don't match anything I have and they are of such cheap quality. Hardly befitting a man of your stature."

"I am talking about our forces you idiot! Not your sense of fashion!" Shao roared.

Zhang He removed his finger from his cheek to gently grasp his forehead. He shook his head in disappointment. What an absolutely inelegant response. It was understandable that losing a battle would make anyone upset, but it is how you handle the aftermath of the battle that shows your true beauty.

"I am referring to the state of our army. Cao and his men fought beautifully...," Shao glared at him, irked at the description he chose to give Cao's army. "..As a result, we suffered heavy casualties and we do not have adequate provisions to tend to our wounded. We only have these flimsy rags."

He pointed to the dried bloodstained rag that adorned his own arm. Luckily, his wound was mostly superficial and he knew how to take care of himself. The same could not be said for the others in the army.

"I fear that if better supplies are not given to our forces, we will lose more men."

Shao cringed inwardly. Just recently, he had cut funding to his army's medical expenses to make an expansion on his home. At the time it seemed like a sound decision! His army had been on a winning streak and they suffered very little injuries or casualties. There were none that could stand against his army...that is until he faced off against Cao and his men. Damn him! Damn him for getting to the Emperor before him. Why was he even there? How did he even know to go there? The Emperor couldn't have called him for aid. No, no that was an impossible thought. Only a family with noble bearing such as his had the right to guard the Emperor. He would never call on the likes of a man like Cao. That man may wear the noble name of Cao but he was not truly one. Had his father not been adopted into the illustrious Cao family, Cao Cao would have wore the name of Xiahou. He was not a true noble and did not deserve the accolades afford to one of noble bearing.

"My Lord?" Shao jumped at the mention of his name then jumped again when he realized how close Zhang He was to him.

"Get away from me you fool!" he cried out as he swatted at the other man who danced gracefully away from his flailing hands.

"I have been trying to get your attention for quite some time but you seemed to be out of it. I merely wanted to check on your well-being."

"I am fine. Just lamenting the terrible burden that has been placed on my noble shoulders."

Shao sighed heavily and waved a dismissive hand. "I will see that the people are taxed to cover expenses for the war. They cannot hope to be protected for free. They should be happy to give to such a worthy cause."

Zhang He gave him a skeptical look. He was certain that the people would not be quite as enthusiastic as he paints them to be. "Understood, My Lord. Also, it seems that your brother is waiting to speak with you."

Shao sank further into his chair. This was not what he wanted to deal with now.

"Fine, send him in now."

Zhang He bowed to Shao and left to retrieve Yuan Shu. Shao did not have to wait long for his brother's arrival. Shu stormed into Shao's audience chamber with one of Shao's servants on his heels.

"Brother!" Shu declared in anger.

The servant ran in front of Shu and dropped to his knees. He bowed low in respect to Shao.

"Your humble servant announces the arrival of-"

"Shut up you fool!" shouted Shu as he kicked the servant over. "He can already see that I am here. Leave us!"

The servant scrambled back to his feet, clutching the side which Shu kicked and bowed to both men before scurrying out of the door.

"You bastard. You tried to kidnap the Emperor."

Shao righted himself in his chair.

"How dare you accuse me of such! I was trying to save the Emperor. He sent out a plea to me for help! He wanted liberation from his oppressors. Am I not a servant of the Han? Is it not my duty to answer my Emperor's call?"

"Oh spare me the bullshit. If you cared to rescue him before you would have. You only got the idea in your conniving head because you realized you can use his authority to boost your own."

Shao feigned shock at his brother's words. That is exactly what he was trying to do. How was Shu able to discover his intentions so easily?

"I-I have absolutely no idea what you are babbling about."

"You lie poorly brother. You wanted more power and you had no intention of sharing it with me. After all that I have done for you, you were content to just leave me behind!"

"You have it all wrong, Gōnglù. I intended on telling you after I secured the Emperor."

"Precisely when it would have been too late! You have revealed your true colors to me brother. You are a worm in the trappings of a noble and I refuse to suffer your ignorance any longer."

Shao rose from his chair and stood before his brother.

"Choose your words carefully, Brother. It sounds like you are turning your back on our family."

"I am not turning my back on our family. I am turning my back on YOU! You have proven that you are incapable of leading us. The fact that you allowed Cao Cao of all people to escape with the Emperor when you had the upper hand proves that. I will be the one to restore glory to the Han and glory to our family after it has been tarnish by your stupidity."

Shu turn his back on his brother and strode to the door. He paused and looked over his shoulder at the stupefied Shao who remained rooted in the same spot.

"Because we are brothers, I will warn you just this once. Stay out of my way. I will not hesitate to crush under heel you should you try to stop me."

"You will regret your words this day Shu. I swear it!" Shao called out after his brother. Shu did not give any acknowledgement to his threats. Flustered, Shao sat back down in his seat. He called for a servant to serve him wine from the decanter that sat on the table in front of him, but no one acknowledged his call. Grumbling, he served himself. He rose the cup to his lips but no longer felt like drinking. In a fit of frustration, he tossed the cup in front of him and right into Chenglei. Chenglei managed to dodge the cup itself in time but the cups contents spilled on his robe. He looked at the stain then to Shao who looked completely unrepentant of his actions.

"I take it this is a bad time?"

"Get out. I have no time to meet with you today."

"That is hardly the proper way to greet a benefactor, is it?"

Shao let out a sigh of annoyance. He sucked in a deep breath and regained his noble bearing. He lifted his head high and spoke in the manner befitting that of the Yuan bloodline.

"Normally I would be more than happy to greet someone of your stature properly. I would even hold a feast in your honor but today is not a good day. I am dealing with a myriad of issues and I have no time to spare. Please, honor me with your presence another day."

"I am afraid I cannot do that. We have a great deal to discuss," Chenglei replied. Shao dropped all pretenses and let his annoyance show through once more. Why was he surrounded by such fools?!

"You will not bully me into meeting with you at this moment, Chenglei. It seems everyone has forgotten exactly who governs the north. I say it once more: Leave my presence this instant or I shall give you a swift reminder of exactly who it is you are addressing."

Chenglei bowed his head. "It seems that your brother was correct. It would be best if my interest lie with someone who is more willing to hear the words of those that support him. You shall not hear from me again, Lord Shao."

Chenglei bowed once more and turned on his heel.

"So you are in league with my brother are you?! Leave my lands. If I see you here again, I will have you whipped!"

Once Chenglei was out of sight, Shao slumped down into his chair. This was all Cao Cao's fault. He would make sure that he paid in full for the disgrace brought to him today.

=#=

The wedding had only just started and Zhuyue was already tired. Bianshi and Jiao had woken her up ridiculously early to get her ready for the big day. They seemed to be more excited about it than she was. She spent the better part of her morning getting her hair teased and pulled into several different styles by the two women. Liu could only watch on in pity as they treated Zhuyue as their personal doll. Zhuyue wound up developing a headache from the manhandling and threatened them with bodily harm if they didn't pick a style and stick with it. The threat inspired them to settle on a style which they topped off with a golden headdress with tassels that annoyingly obscured her view.

At least her wedding dress was beautiful. Her dress was in the traditional red but had golden phoenixes embroidered throughout it. It felt as if had been ages since she had worn such lavish clothing. Being in such elegant wear reminded her of just how restrictive it was. She felt much more comfortable in her armor or with a simple robe. It took over a week and a half of the servants working day and night to get the dress ready. As a result, the wedding was pushed back a week longer than what Dun had originally wanted. To Zhuyue's surprise, Dun hadn't complained about the extra time. In fact, she hadn't heard from Dun since the dinner. Part of her wondered if he would even show up to the wedding.

"Are you nervous?" Liu asked in one of the rare moments when Bianshi and Jiao had given her some peace.

"Not really. I am lucky in the fact that I already know him. I've already been with him. There are no surprises."

"I cannot help but envy you..." Liu said sadly.

"Envy me? Why?"

"Because you get to be married...I always wanted to be married. When I was a little girl, there was a wedding in my village. Everything was so beautiful and everyone was celebrating. The bride was the center of attention. Ever since I saw that, I wanted to be a bride, but in my current position that will never happen. Don't get me wrong! I love Lord Cao, with all my heart and I am happy for the years we have had together and the family we have made together, but sometimes I wish there could be more...," she trailed off and looked into the distance sadly.

Zhuyue didn't know what to say. Liu was right. In her position as a concubine, she wouldn't get a wedding. Even if Cao treated her as respectfully as he did his wife, she would always be beneath Bianshi.

The two were interrupted by the return of Bianshi and Jiao.

"Why is there such a somber mood in here suddenly?" Bianshi asked as she looked at the two women's faces.

Liu looked nervous. She was having difficulty coming up with an excuse.

"I was just telling Liu that I was afraid that Lord Dun might not show up. He was very upset after the dinner after all and the wedding is taking place at a date later than he wanted...I fear that I might be stood up," said Zhuyue. Liu mouthed a thank you to her and Zhuyue gave a slight nod of her head in acknowledgment.

"Well you do not have to worry about that! Lord Dun is already on his way!" Bianshi exclaimed excitedly.

"Yes, we came to put your veil on," Jiao added.

"Is this really necessary? He already knows how I look."

"It's tradition," Bianshi replied as she began to put the veil in place. Zhuyue sighed. She couldn't wait for this day to be over.

A servant entered the room to inform them that Dun had arrived just as Bianshi had finished getting the veil into place.

"It's time! It's time!" Jiao cooed as the ladies ushered Zhuyue to the entrance. Zhuyue could barely see through the veil and had to rely on the others for guidance. When they arrived at the entrance, she could see the outline of who she believes was Dun. She tried to lift her veil to get a better look but Bianshi slapped her hand.

"What the-"

"You can't remove it!" Bianshi admonished. "He has to."

"Look," Zhuyue began, beyond fed up with how forceful Bianshi was being. "I can't see shit and I want to make sure I'm marrying the right person."

A calloused hand grabbed her own. "It's me. Let's go."

Zhuyue allowed Dun to lead her to an open carriage. Once she was settled, the carriage began on its way towards Dun's home.

"Can you take this veil off now? I don't like not being able to see. It makes me feel vulnerable."

Dun reached over and lifted the veil, tucking into her headdress.

"Just keep it like that for now. Once we get there, pull it back down. I don't feel like hearing my mother's complaining anymore than I already have."

"Glad to hear I wasn't the only one getting harassed about today."

She took a moment to appraise Dun's looks. Dun normally favored wearing dark colors so seeing him in a red wedding robe was odd. It did look good on him though. His colors matched her own but instead of gold phoenixes adorning his robe, he had golden dragons.

"You look handsome," Zhuyue said with a smile. Dun replied with a grunt and nothing more. She felt a little disappointed that he didn't remark on her looks but decided to not dwell on it. It was at this moment that Zhuyue realized that they weren't alone in the carriage. Xiaolian sat on the opposite side of Dun.

"Xiaolian!" She reached across Dun and took hold of the little girl's hand. "I am happy to see you. I wasn't sure he would bring you along."

"Why not?" Dun asked. "Suppose to have a child accompany you to pick up the bride and on the journey back to the home."

"Yes...but I thought it was suppose to be a boy as a symbol for luck in bearing sons."

Dun scoffed at this. "These endless traditions are ridiculous. If the heavens see fit to give us sons, we'll get sons. She's my daughter so if I want her in our wedding, she'll be in it. Don't give a shit what anyone else says."

"No argument here," Zhuyue said with a smile. Xiaolian smiled as well, happy to hear Dun call her his daughter.

"We are almost there, pull the veil back down."

Zhuyue did as instructed. The carriage came to a stop and Zhuyue could hear fireworks being set off in honor of their arrival.

Dun sighed, annoyed by all the clamor happening in front of his home.

"Let's get this over with he muttered."

"Try not to sound so enthusiastic about marrying me, My Lord," Zhuyue said dryly.

Dun noted that his sullen mood was beginning to affect hers. He wasn't actively trying to be difficult, he just would have preferred an intimate affair between the two of them, perhaps in a garden. The two of them swearing themselves to each others before the heavens. Instead of getting that, he got this; Dozens of officials and a host of other strangers he didn't even know who came to suck up to Cao since he now had the Emperor under his thumb. Just as he assumed it would, this wedding ceased being about them and quickly became a political affair.

"Pick up your dress," Dun instructed. "You have to cross over the fire."

Zhuyue did as she was told and Dun guided her safely over it. This was another tradition Dun thought was utterly ridiculous. Not once in his life had he seen an evil spirit. What was the point of making someone step over fire to ward off something that didn't exist?

Dun led Zhuyue to the family altar. Cao spoke a few words to bless their union. Dun was grateful that he kept it short. They both then paid homage to the heavens, to the earth and to their ancestors. Dun lifted Zhuyue's veil once more and the two bowed to each other, completing the ceremony.

Since Zhuyue already knew Dun's parents and because of Dun's insistence, several of normal traditions were skipped. They went straight ahead to the banquet which was a boisterous affair. She was glad to see all of her comrades who came out to celebrate the event with them, but there were so many people she didn't know. Those people didn't seem the least bit interested in her or Dun and it was clear they were there for an alternative reason. This was beginning to remind Zhuyue too much of her old home. Feeling the sudden urge to get away, she slipped out of the banquet unnoticed. She pulled a servant to the side and asked that they fetched Dun for her. They hadn't been alone since Puyang. She yearned to spend time with him alone, especially on the day of their wedding.

She sat in the garden as she waited for him, enjoying the silence. Dun finally arrived, he had frown on his face as he sat beside her. This was oddly nostalgic to her of the first day she met him in her home. It seemed so long ago.

"It's okay to smile you know...at least for today."

"Sorry...I just...this isn't what I had in mind for us."

"Oh? What did you have in mind?" she asked with a raised brow.

"It doesn't matter anymore. What's done is done."

"I want to know. Tell me."

Dun remained silent for a few moments as he debated whether he should share his thoughts.

"I wanted something more intimate. Just the two of us, in a garden or something...Not surrounded by people I didn't know wishing us false platitudes."

"So something like right now?" Zhuyue asked with a smile.

Dun looked around. Indeed they were alone in their garden.

"Yeah...something like this," he confirmed.

"Then let's do it."

"Do what?"

"Swear ourselves to each other with just the heavens as our witness."

"We are already married. What is the point of it now?"

"Because it is what you wanted. To be honest, I think I like your idea better than what we actually had. This didn't really feel like it was for us...so let's do this for us."

Zhuyue stood and reached her hand out to him. Dun stood but didn't take her hand. Instead, he grabbed her and pulled her close to him. The thought and gesture stirred something within Dun that he never felt before.

"I fucking love you, you know that right?"

"Do you? It is so hard to tell when you wear a permanent scowl," she replied with a smirk.

Dun's tone became serious. He looked Zhuyue in her eyes and spoke.

"I'm serious...I love you. You are the first woman I have ever felt this way about and you will be the last. I don't intend on falling like this again."

She smiled. It was so rare to hear him speak so earnestly.

"You are far stronger than most warriors I know. You don't need my protection, but let me be your shield."

A tear rolled down her cheek as the emotion overwhelmed her. She was speechless so settled for nodding instead. Dun wiped the tear away with his thumb.

"We are bound together, till the day we die."

"Till the day we die," Zhuyue echoed. Dun leaned in and gave her a soft kiss. He pulled away and for the first time that day, he smiled.

"You look beautiful by the way...beyond beautiful," he whispered before capturing her lips once more. They held this kiss longer only breaking when they had the need for air. "You'll look even better with this all off..." Dun continued. Zhuyue laughed, not expecting the raunchy comment.

"You just always have to ruin it, don't you?"

Dun grinned before pulling her into another kiss.

Cao stood at the far edge of the garden watching the two. Yuan came out behind him but Cao raised a hand stopping him. Yuan opened his mouth to speak but Cao put a finger to his mouth indicating silence. He didn't want to disturb this moment. He ushered his cousin back into the banquet hall. He pulled a servant to the side and instructed that on his order, no one is to disturb them. The servant bowed and took his place as guard at the garden entrance.

"I thought you were going to tell them about your plans."

"Let them have tonight. It is already bad enough that they will not be able to enjoy each other's company as newlyweds should. I will inform them of my plans to invade Jing Province tomorrow."