Ma Chao refused to budge despite Xing Cai's urges for him to move away.

"I cannot allow you get away for hitting Xing Cai," said Ma Chao icily. "How could you have possibly done that? She's carrying your child! Apologise now."

"She is my woman and I can do what I please," said Liu Shan arrogantly.

Ma Chao was disgusted by Liu Shan and shook his head, giving Liu Shan a revolted look. "Women they may be, but they are human! They're not slaves! Xing Cai's not some accessory! She does not belong to you, nor to anyone else but herself!" shouted Ma Chao.

Liu Shan fell silent for a moment before replying. "She did not follow my orders! All who do wrong must be punished!"

"All who do wrong? Then you should be taken to hell and suffer everlasting punishment," snarled Ma Chao.

"How dare you!" hollered Liu Shan. "Guards!"

The two guards surged forward and attempted to take down Ma Chao by attacking from both sides. But Ma Chao, being a Tiger General, and having taken down a greater number of guards before, slipped through them both and went straight for Liu Shan. Ma Chao grabbed him by the neck and slammed him against the wall.

"Put me down!" shouted Liu Shan.

The guards picked themselves up and watched Ma Chao intently.

"If you two move any closer, I'll break his neck," threatened Ma Chao his grip tightening around Liu Shan's neck.

"As if you have the guts to kill me, you dog," said Liu Shan with a smirk.

But Ma Chao smiled back, and this made Liu Shans smirk falter. "You'd be surprised at how willing I am to kill you."

"B-but if you kill me, you'd…you'd be sentenced to death and die as well!" retorted Liu Shan, but his voice was getting slightly shaky.

"If you died, Shu will become a better place. You're a pathetic ruler. All you want to do is have fun. Have you ever thought for the kingdom? I would be willing to give up my life for the good of all people," replied Ma Chao. "And Xing Cai would be better off a widow than be married to you."

"You...!"

Ma Chao noticed the guards trying to move in the corner of his eye. "I said don't move, or I'll kill this bastard!" He tightened his grip on Liu Shan's neck.

"Stop, don't move!" Liu Shan desperately ordered his guards. He turned to look at Ma Chao pleadingly. "Oh please, great general Ma Chao, put me down!"

Ma Chao scoffed. "Resorting to flattery are we now? That was fast." He sighed and glanced over at Xing Cai. "Cai, your misery will soon come to an end." Ma Chao scowled at Liu Shan.

"No…no, please!" begged Liu Shan.

Xing Cai, having watched the events fold out in front of her, had been staring in shock. When Ma Chao had actually addressed her, she snapped out of her trance.

"No! Don't kill him!" shouted Xing Cai.

Ma Chao hesitated and looked over at her. "Why? How can you forgive him?"

"I don't forgive him. But if you kill him, you will die!" Xing Cai rushed up to him and put her arms around Ma Chao's waist, embracing the man. "I want to see you again, Chao. I…" She nestled her head against his back. "I don't want to lose you forever."

Ma Chao stared at the ceiling above him and sighed. He had been thinking how the kingdom would benefit from Liu Shan's death, and how Xing Cai would no longer be subjected to Liu Shan's so called punishments. He had not thought of what Xing Cai would feel if he himself left the world.

Liu Shan, seeing Ma Chao falter decided to press the matter. "Yeah, listen to your love Ma Chao, put me down and spare us all the pain."

Ma Chao looked at the man with anger, but he shook it away. "Liu Shan…if I promise not to disturb you or Xing Cai ever again, will you spare me and allow me to continue serving in the army?"

"Only if you put me down," said Liu Shan hastily and gulped trying to get more fresh air in.

Ma Chao wavered before letting go of him. Liu Shan slid to the floor and panted.

"So…Lord Liu Shan?" asked Ma Chao.

Liu Shan looked up and glared. "Guards."

The two guards instantly rushed forward and grabbed Ma Chao, taking him by surprise.

"What? Hey! This isn't what we said!" growled Ma Chao as he kicked and shoved to get out of the guards' grip. But they were strong, and once they got hold, they weren't going to let go.

"I'll call for others to decide on this case of yours, Ma Chao," snarled Liu Shan, resuming his high and mighty pose because he was out of Ma Chao's grip. He did not want to let Ma Chao off. He wanted him dead. But he knew Ma Chao was a great asset to Shu, so Liu Shan decided to seek out the help of other generals before making a decision. He was also feeling quite sure that the other generals would find Ma Chao's behaviour to be too rebellious, and agree with execution.

Xing Cai stood there holding her head in her hands as Ma Chao was taken out. Had she done the right thing? Had she brought about Ma Chao's doom yet again?

"Xing Cai, Xing Cai," muttered Liu Shan as he shook his head her. "I cannot believe you."

"What…I had to do something to save you, my lord!" replied Xing Cai.

Liu Shan laughed sarcastically before glaring. "Do not tell me you don't mean every single word you said to that wretched Ma Chao!" He brushed everything off the table in anger, sending the items cascading on to the floor. Then twisted around and stormed out of the room, his cape billowing behind him.

Xing Cai watched him leave before looking at her things scattered on the floor. Tears pricked at her eyes, and even though she did not want them to, they trickled out on their own accord. Xing Cai sunk to her knees with a distressed sigh and gathered whatever was left unbroken from the floor.

XXXXXXX

Zhao Yun filed into the hall with the rest of the generals, feeling bad, feeling selfish, that he had suggested Ma Chao to go to Xing Cai. To go to his doom by taking the risk of getting caught.

"What, may I ask, Lord Liu Shan, have you called us here today for?" asked Zhuge Liang for the rest of the group.

"We are gathered here today, to make a decision on what to do about General, Ma Chao," declared Liu Shan.

The generals there gasped and looked at each other, wondering what was happening.

"Is General Ma back?" asked Huang Zhong.

"Indeed he is, and, when he came back, he went to find my wife!" shouted Liu Shan. "And when I walked in on them two, Ma Chao grabbed me around the neck and threatened to kill me!" He waved to a guard. "Bring the man out!"

Ma Chao was taken out by the guards and they made him kneel on the ground in front of Liu Shan. Zhao Yun stared at his friend, and Ma Chao looked back, smiled weakly, then turned away.

"What do you have to say to this, Ma Chao?" asked Liu Shan, his condemning voice projecting across the hall.

"I…please spare me. I promise I'll never ever disturb you or Lady Zhang again," muttered Ma Chao. He bit his lip and stared hard at the floor. He would have never thought he would say such a thing. For a man like him, his pride came before his own life. But now, to Ma Chao, Xing Cai came before pride, everything.

"And how could I possibly trust you, when you tried to kill me!?" shouted Liu Shan.

The whole court stayed silent, awaiting Ma Chao's reply.

"…When I make a promise, I never go back on my words," said Ma Chao.

"I can trust you on that?" said Liu Shan, and Ma Chao swore he could see him roll his eyes.

"It's true, Lord Liu Shan. Ma Chao is always true to his words," commented Huang Zhong. He received a hateful glare from Liu Shan, for Huang Zhong had said something to protect Ma Chao. Liu Shan wanted him dead, but he also wanted the support from other generals.

"I think we all have a good idea about Ma Chao's personality. He maybe a brash person, but he is trustworthy," said Zhuge Liang, stepping out a bit to project his voice. The other generals started nodding and muttering between themselves, making Liu Shan even angrier. But he hid it well and only Ma Chao, closest to him, noticed.

"He tried to kill me!" said Liu Shan. There was an obvious desperation in his voice. But the generals most probably favoured Ma Chao more than their current ruler.

"I give to you my most sincere apologies, and I deeply regret ever doing so and will never do anything to harm you ever again. I promise to serve you loyally forever," articulated Ma Chao, pronouncing each word clearly. He wondered whether Xing Cai was there at the meeting, watching them decide his life or death.

"He…he!" stammered Liu Shan, but he could not figure out what to say.

"Well, let's do a vote to help Master Liu Shan then shall we?" asked Zhuge Liang. "All who are in favour of letting Ma Chao off, put your hands up."

Most people did, the ones that were friends with Ma Chao.

"And all who are in favour of executing him, put your hands up," said Zhuge Liang. The usual people who tended to go with whatever Liu Shan said put their hands up, but they were obviously the minority. "So, Lord Liu Shan, what have you decided to do?"

Liu Shan's face was red, and he was shaking with anger. He wanted Ma Chao dead, but did not want to oppose the many valiant generals in the army who wanted Ma Chao to be set free. "Fine!" he shouted, but it was almost a scream. "You can go free," spat Liu Shan. "But I will demote you to the position of captain in the army. Now go and get out of my sight."

Ma Chao picked himself up and rushed out of the room. He spotted Xing Cai watching him from the shadows of a corner. He regarded her with a nod and a slight smile as he shuffled out of sight. It would probably be the last time he would get to see her.

"You're all dismissed!" yelled Liu Shan, waving his hand to send them all away. He shot the Prime Minister a glare and stormed off. Zhuge Liang did not see the glare and smiled happily.

"Well, Ma Chao's alive. I think it would be such a waste to dispose of him and his talents," said Zhuge Liang with a sigh. "He'll survive as a captain."

The other generals nodded and Zhao Yun decided to speak up.

"Thank you, Prime Minister, for speaking up to save Ma Chao," said Zhao Yun.

"You all wanted him to live, didn't you?" asked Zhuge Liang.

"Lord Liu Shan seemed very angry that he couldn't get the executioner's axe through Ma Chao's neck," answered Zhao Yun. "He was angry at anyone, especially you for speaking as Ma Chao's defence."

"Huang Zhong here was brave too," added Zhuge Liang.

"I was merely telling the truth," answered the elder man.

"I'd best be going now," said Zhuge Liang. With a swish, he turned around and walked out. Zhao Yun exited as well with Huang Zhong. He clenched his fists tightly. He, as Ma Chao's best friend did nothing to defend him at all. Was he not a brave and courageous warrior, the Little Dragon? Zhao Yun felt meek for not speaking and hated himself for doing so.

XXXXXXX

Zhao Yun showed up at Ma Chao's door later on in the day with a small bottle of wine.

"Hey," muttered Zhao Yun. He looked at the house and smiled. At least Ma Chao had returned to his own home.

"Come in," answered Ma Chao. Zhao Yun sighed and entered. The first thing he said was, "I'm sorry."

Ma Chao shook his head. "No worries—"

"No!" shouted Zhao Yun. "If I hadn't persuaded you to go for Xing Cai then none of this would have happened!"

"Shut up, Zhao Yun!" yelled Ma Chao, then he broke into a soft smile. "It's alright really. I don't, and never have blamed you. I'll never bother them again. I'll carry on with life, as I promised..." Ma Chao sighed and sat down. "Let us drink that wine you brought."

Zhao Yun nodded and sat down, pouring the wine into two small cups. "Thank you."

Ma Chao eyed him weirdly. "For what?"

"Don't ask. Just let me say thank you," answered Zhao Yun. He raised his cup. "Cheers."

"Whatever."

Oh crap, that first scene was corny corny corny. *dies*

But anyways, sorry for slow update, and it's a short chapter too…typing up the next one, shouldn't be too slow. And with 'The Fury of a Mare'…it's getting there, I'm writing something. Not that anyone but me would care but hey, I just thought I'd say something in this author's note section.

What kind of chapter ending was that? __

Please read and review, because I like reviews. Thank you.