The journey back to Cheng Du had, indeed, been a long one. Mei Li forgot about it in an instant once they reached the city's gates. People lined the roads and the tops of the walls, shouting and cheering and waving their soldiers inside. Once she had adjusted to the sheer number of people, she had to adjust to the city itself. Li was taken aback at its beauty and magnitude. All of the villages she had lived in until that moment were nothing compared to the sight before her. It almost brought her to tears.
Peasants and noblemen alike overtook the soldiers as they entered the city. Li saw women throwing themselves at husbands, brothers, fathers and cousins, showering them with praise and affection. Men had come in from the fields and embraced their sons and countrymen while they passed by. She even noticed a couple of soldiers break formation for a second to see to elderly family members.
"Lady Mei, you seem overwhelmed," Pang Tong said from her left side.
"I've never seen so many smiling faces before. It is almost enough to erase the pains of the past, to see so much joy around you."
Jiang Wei pointed ahead of the group. "Just wait until we reach the castle."
It was indeed a sight to behold. The castle was large enough to encompass her entire village within it. Green banners and rich decorations lined the walls and the columns. Men and women of all shapes, sizes, and stations leaned against the railings and waved to the approaching mass. If the city of Cheng Du was stunning, than the castle and its inhabitants were magnificent. Mei Li suddenly felt out of place. She was an outsider, unused to such finery and energy. She said a silent prayer that her presence did not interrupt the festivities around her.
"That is our lord," Zhao Yun said from over his shoulder. He pointed to the steps in front of the castle. At the top was a man of middle years. He wore richly decorated robes of emerald and gold. On either side of him were men who towered over him, also clad in green garments. Yet each of their smiles was the same. She was beginning to see why her companions held their master in such high regard. To allow such a welcome for them, to stop all activities in order to personally greet them upon arrival, spoke well of the leader of Shu.
The three officers halted their horses a short distance from the base of the steps. Jiang Wei quickly dismounted and held his hand out to Li. He gave her an apologetic look as she winced in pain. "I'm sorry we couldn't make the ride more comfortable."
She smiled and waved him off. "It was much more pleasant with your company, Master Jiang. Discomfort is a small price to pay for it."
Pang Tong waddled over and bowed to them. "I'm going to head up and give our lord a brief report. I assume you all have business to attend to." He looked at Li and tipped his wide hat to her. "I must say, your voice made that trip most memorable. It certainly beats sharing war stories. Thank you, my lady."
She bowed to him. "The pleasure was mine, Master Pang."
He turned to the other two. "I'll see you all later then. Don't forget to dig out the banquet finery. I'll eat my hat if our lord hasn't already planned one." With a final bow he wandered off into the crowds.
"A banquet?" Mei Li looked up at Zhao Yun. "He would have one this soon?"
"Most likely," he said. "Lord Liu Bei likes to keep his people happy before all else. The formalities and details of our mission will be dealt with behind closed doors for the next few days. The celebrations will be immediate though. It eases the peoples' minds and alleviates their worries."
"Well look what the tiger dragged in!" A male voice boomed from within the crowd behind them. Mei Li turned to see a man walking towards them. She guessed that he was another officer, based on the striking armor he wore and the intricate helmet tucked under his arm. Behind him was a woman who looked to be a little older than Li. She was dressed in a similar fashion to the man, something that struck Li as odd. The younger woman had never seen a female warrior before. All of the other women around them were either nobility or servants. Li wondered just how talented this female officer was to secure a spot among the ranks.
Zhao Yun clasped the new arrival on the shoulder. "Lord Ma Chao, it is good to see you."
"Likewise," the man said. He turned to Jiang Wei and shook his hand. "Master Jiang, I trust that everything went well. Master Zhuge Liang has been rather bored without you around."
"I doubt that very much. Such a great mind does not easily fall into boredom. Still, your comments please me." Wei turned to the woman and bowed his head. "Lady Yang, I hope you have been keeping your husband in line."
She put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. "He's one to talk about other people's boredom. The man has been going insane since you left. I hope you're both planning on sparring with him tomorrow. I'm out of energy."
Chao swatted at Lady Yang. She jumped just out of reach and grinned at him. "Must you tarnish my pride, darling?"
She slipped her arm through his and kissed his nose. "I have to keep you on your toes somehow."
Li watched the two of them and felt her heart swell. She had heard Ma Chao's name before as well, although only once. Like Zhao Yun, he was known for his feats on the battlefield as well as his skill with horses. And like her new companion, she was allowed to see another side of him kept out of the tales. He reminded her of both Yun and Wei with his playful nature and strong sense of kinship. His wife seemed to be very much like him. She hoped that she would get to hear their story while she was here.
Lady Yang turned her eyes to Mei Li. "Oh, and who is this? Yun, don't tell me you've been out rescuing people again."
He laughed and gestured for Li to step forward. "Actually, she's the one who rescued us. This is Mei Li. She was a member of Zhang Yui's household. Because of her bravery and information, we were able to track Yui down and prevent the total slaughter of his village."
"Another heroic woman," Lady Yang said. She strode over and took Li's hands in her own. They were calloused and rough, but her grip was gentle. "Welcome to Shu, Lady Mei. We're honored to have you with us."
"Thank you, Lady Yang."
She chuckled. "Call me Xing." She turned back to Zhao Yun, who was eying her with some amusement. "I hope you're not planning on sending this tigress to the servant's quarters, Yun."
"Tigress?" Li questioned.
Xing nodded firmly. "You have the air of a tiger," she said. "A beautiful and graceful creature on its own, yet brave in the face of danger."
Jiang Wei laughed. "That would describe her perfectly, Lady Yang."
"Indeed." Ma Chao pulled Zhao Yun into a headlock and grinned at the girls. "I'll take this one up to see our lord, shall I? Xing, you take Lady Mei to a guest room and get her cleaned up. I'm sure she'd welcome the break from these two. Lord Liu Bei will probably want to speak to her later, before the feast." Yun tried to say something in response but Chao's grip was too tight.
Xing rolled her eyes again and took the reins of Yun's horse. "Of course, o beloved husband of mine. We'll come and find you when we're ready. And don't suffocate your friend like that. Our lord will be inconsolable if you kill a favorite officer of his."
Chao bowed to the girls, nearly tripping Zhao Yun in the process. Jiang Wei handed the reins of his horse to Xing as well and followed them, laughing and clutching his sides the whole way. Xing shook her head. "Men," she said to herself. "Well, shall we get these guys settled before we head up? It'll only take a minute."
"Oh…of course." Mei Li followed Yang Xing through the crowds and towards the stables. Most of the men there gave polite nods to Lady Yang while she removed the saddles and led the stallions into their stalls. "Um, Lady Yang, may I ask you something?"
She raised her eyebrows at Li. "Of course. And there's no need to be so polite. Save that for the true nobility."
"Well, I've noticed that there aren't many women like you here."
Xing gave her a confused look for a moment, then smiled in realization. "You're wondering about my status here. You're right; there aren't many other women who fight with the army. I was a warrior before I met my husband. Part of our arrangement was that I remained a fighter after we married." She reached into the nearest stall and scratched the horse's head. "I've also been good with horses since I was little, so I was allowed to work in the stables when not out fighting. It's unusual, yes. But it's the only kind of life I've known. Lord Liu Bei was kind to let me continue doing work that I love."
She led Li back outside and into the palace. Most of the serving women who passed them gave the pair curious looks. Mei Li noticed that very few cast them dark glances like she had expected. She was a unknown female with a checkered past being treated like a friend by Lady Yang. Li added it to the growing list of oddities in Cheng Du.
"Are you okay?" Yang Xing asked after a while.
"Everything's just so…different. I'm not used to this finery or such commotions." she looked down at the floor. "And I'm not used to being treated like a normal woman."
Xing made a sniffing noise. Li was surprised to see her expression had turned sour. It looked strange on such a delicate face. "Been treated poorly in the past, I take it." Li nodded. "We're not like that here. Everyone, no matter their station, is treated with complete respect. Our lord is just and fair. Anyone who oversteps their boundaries are swiftly dealt with. Whatever you put up with in the past, you won't have to deal with it anymore here."
They reached a room away from the crowds and commotion. Xing pushed Li inside and waved a group of serving women over. "Could I get some water drawn for a bath and brought to this room, please? I'll need someone to grab a robe and some garments from my room as well." The girls bowed and hurried off.
"Oh, Lady Yang, I don't need-"
"Yes you do," she interrupted. "My husband's orders. I'm sure Zhao Yun would have said the same thing if he wasn't choking."
Li sat down on the edge of the large bed. If this was a guest room, she couldn't imagine what the officers' chambers looked like. The bed itself was situated in the center of the room. A chest was placed at its foot and a writing desk was propped up near the window. Below them was the inner courtyard. It, too, was bustling with activity. "It's beautiful," Li said.
"We aim to please," replied Xing, amused. Minutes later, the girls had returned with a tub of water and a handful of garments. One of them stayed behind on Xing's insistence. "Alright, Lady Mei, let's get you cleaned up."
Li hesitated. "Um, Lady Yang, my body's not really fit for others to see."
She snorted and marched the younger woman to the adjacent room where the tub was waiting. "I'm not going to judge you, Li."
"But-"
"Look, I can guess as well as anyone why you're scared. Abuse does scary things to a person's mind. I went through it myself before I married my husband."
Li's eyes grew wide. "Really?"
"Yes. But I overcame it and I believe that you will do the same. You've found strong protectors in Zhao Yun and Jiang Wei. You're safe here." She gave Li's hands a gentle squeeze. "I know it's hard, but I need to you keep being brave. Yun said that you did a heroic thing, and he is not a man to lightly label something as such."
Li took a deep breath. "You're right. Forgive my foolishness."
To her surprise, Yang Xing enveloped her in a hug. It was comforting. "There's nothing to forgive. Now get into the tub before the water gets cold."
Xing said nothing as she and the serving girl helped Li disrobe and step into the basin. It made Li feel better knowing that someone else understood her plight. Again, she wished she knew Lady Yang and Ma Chao's story. "So, have you given any thought to what you want to do here?" Xing asked as she washed Li's hair. "There's no idle folk in Shu. Even the women have jobs to do besides hanging on a man's arm." She chuckled at her own joke. The servant also grinned.
"Well, the doctor in camp offered to take me on. He and Zhao Yun seem to think I should teach the court songstresses though."
"You can sing?"
"Yes." Li smiled at the memory of her journey to Cheng Du and how happy the men had been to hear her sing. "My voice has long been a source of pain and agony. It served only to catch the attention of the wrong men. To be able to use my gift positively would be a welcome reprieve."
"I'll say this about Lord Liu Bei's dancers and singers - they look stunning when they're performing. I've always been a bit on the rough side, so I could never get up there and do something like that."
The serving girl giggled. "You dance better than most of them, Lady Yang."
"It depends on the dance."
Li turned to look at her new friend. "You dance?"
"I only know a few from my native territory up north. The dances we learned were meant to energize our troops and prepare them for battle. Now they're done in celebration. They tend to be a bit aggressive for court."
"Our lady looks like a goddess when she's dancing," the servant said. "Don't let her fool you."
"Hey, we weren't talking about me. I think some new songs would do the court singers well, Li. They tend to get a bit bland after a while. Plus most of what they sing is old. Not many of them are confident enough in their skills to write something original. You would give them the spark of life they need."
Xing and the servant helped Li out of the tub and dried her with a few towels. "Besides," the girl said as she worked on Li's hair, "the court performers are highly respected in Shu. None of them are used as concubines and many are treated with great reverence by our lord's men."
"They're not quite noblewomen," Xing added, "but they're about as close to it as you can get."
A knock on the door pulled Lady Yang from the room. Li mulled over this new information. Working with the doctor would be good. He had already accepted her and she knew he would treat her well. But the idea of being able to share her talents and not be seen as a whore was appealing. She loved to sing. After the praise she had received from her companions, she knew that her music would be enjoyed in Liu Bei's court.
"You look like you've made a decision," Xing said when she came back.
"If what you say about these songstresses is true, then I think I've found the best way to repay everyone for their kindness."
Xing smiled. "That's good news, especially since they're ready for us. Let's get you dressed. We'll be hard-pressed to show our lord how you can contribute to his court if you're naked."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mei Li was shaking by the time she and Lady Yang had reached the throne room. Her companion has insisted the entire walk that there was nothing to worry about, that Lord Liu Bei was a gentle and fair man, and that she only needed to answer a couple of questions. It didn't make Li feel any better. She was used to being thrown into uncomfortable situations, but she didn't know how to react to a positive one. She reminded herself of Lady Yang's words. I am a tigress, she said to herself. I stood up to those soldiers. I can stand up to Lord Liu Bei.
The doors opened. Yang Xing took Li's arm and guided her into the room. Despite its size only a handful of men occupied it. A couple of noblemen were standing off to the side, deep in conversation about something. Everyone else was at the other end of the room. Taking a deep breath, Li tried to calm herself as she mentally prepared her responses.
Liu Bei was seated on his throne, watching her with curiosity and eagerness. The two giant men from before still flanked him. To the right of the trio stood Jiang Wei and another, older man. Wei whispered something to him and he nodded in understanding. Li had to look away when her eyes met his. There was something unnerving about his gaze. To the left of the men stood Ma Chao. His armor had been removed and he now wore a simple robe and pants. He waited until the girls had bowed to Liu Bei before holding his hand out to his wife. She gave Li's arm a squeeze and walked over to her husband.
Zhao Yun stood at the foot of the throne. He beamed at Li as she took her place next to him. "You look lovely, Lady Mei. I trust that Lady Yang was not too hard on you."
"Not at all. I very much enjoyed her company."
"Good." Yun turned back to Liu Bei. "My lord, this is Lady Mei Li. She is the one who provided the information that led to Zhang Yui's capture."
Liu Bei bowed his head to her. "I am honored to meet you, my lady. Lords Zhao Yun and Jiang Wei have given me the details of your journey here. I am indebted to you for the aid you have given my men. Rest assured that Zhang Yui will be brought to justice."
Li bowed low to him. "It is I, Lord Liu Bei, who is indebted. My life has been one of misery and abuse. It has since been transformed by the kindness your men have shown to me. They have spoken to me at length of your wisdom and virtue. I, too, believe in the ideals that serve as Shu's foundations. If there is any way that I may repay you for the chance at a new life here, I will gladly do it."
She knew she had won him over before she lifted her head. Murmurs of approval filled the air around her. She noticed the men around Liu Bei regarding her warmly. Jiang Wei slipped her a wink from his position. Lady Yang gave her a thumbs-up from beside her husband. Zhao Yun's smiled grew wider.
"It does my heart good to know that we have brought you joy, Lady Mei. You are welcome to stay with us as long as you like. I have heard from Lord Zhao that you have brought several talents with you to Cheng Du."
"I have, my lord," she said. "I possess a musical streak that has long been suppressed. Several of your officers have told me about the songstresses you retain here at court. It would be an honor for me to aid them with both creation and performance. If this does not please you, I can turn my hand to any other serving tasks you present."
He surprised her with a laugh. "Your voice has indeed captivated many of my officers. Lord Pang Tong said that you put the songbirds to shame with one note."
Jiang Wei stepped forward. "If our lady is up to it, perhaps she will give a sample of her work at the banquet tonight. It would be an good opportunity to let the people know of your recent success against the Yellow Turban remnants. It would also help to win over any of her fellow villagers that may be hesitant about joining us."
"Your suggestions have merit," said Liu Bei. "Very well. Lady Mei, shall we expect a performance from you this evening?"
"It would be my pleasure."
Liu Bei stood from his seat and closed the distance between them in a few strides. Li immediately sank into a bow, but he stopped her with a wave of his hand. "You have placed quite a spell on my officers, Lady Mei," he whispered. "I hope to understand its nature tonight." He took a step back and bowed his head. "Welcome to Shu, Lady Mei. Zhao Yun, can I trust you to make sure that she is settled? I would also like her to meet the other performers as soon as possible."
"Of course, my lord."
Lady Yang stepped forward and bowed. "Lord Liu Bei, I offer my assistance as well. It has been an honor to help Lady Mei up until now and I would relish the chance to continue."
"That would be most welcome." He turned to the rest of his men. "I thank you all for your presence during this council. We will continue with the matter tomorrow morning. For now, I ask that you all return to your families and prepare for this evening."
Mei Li found herself surrounded by her friends as the room began to empty. "I'd say you made quite an impression," Yang Xing said. "I knew you could do it."
Ma Chao nodded in agreement. "I'm looking forward to hearing you sing, my lady. These two haven't stopped talking about it." He laughed when Zhao Yun began to turn red. "The proof is written across your face, my friend. I'm sorry I wasn't a part of this mission. Any chance to tease the Little Dragon is too good to pass up."
Jiang Wei patted Yun on the back. "We'll get him tomorrow in the training yard."
Despite himself, Yun chuckled. "I'm planning on it. Xing, which room did you set Li up in? I want to take her to meet the girls, then I want her to have some privacy to prepare her song."
"She's in the guest room in our wing. It's the one right next to the room my attendants use." Xing made a face of annoyance. "I figured it would be the best place since it's close to both of our chambers and has easy access to the courtyard."
"That's perfect. You're as sharp as always, Lady Yang." He turned to Li and offered her his arm. "Shall we be going? I'm not sure how long you need to prepare."
She took it and smiled. "They come to me pretty quickly. It shouldn't take long."
Chao smacked Yun on the back and chuckled. "Be gentle with him, ok? Yun's a fighter at heart. He's not used to escort duty."
Xing whacked her husband's arm away from Yun. "Will you behave?"
Yun ignored them and pulled Li away from the group. "I'll see you tonight," he shouted in their direction. As soon as they were outside in the hall, he let out a huge sigh. "I'm sorry about that. Ma Chao has been a good friend of mine since he joined Shu. Like Pang Tong, he speaks plainly and openly, and I know he is only looking out for my best interest. Sometimes he fails to take his audience's reactions into consideration."
"There is no need for apologies. You are lucky to have such good friends here."
"They're your friends as well, Lady Mei. Lady Yang has taken a liking to you. Jiang Wei and Pang Tong feel protective of you."
Li looked up at him. He suddenly seemed nervous, focusing all of his attention on the path in front of them. "What about you?" she ventured.
He took a moment before answering. "I guess I feel protective of you as well."
She felt a little disappointed. It was silly, and she didn't know what other response she had expected from him. "Lord Zhao, may I ask you something?" She tried to change the topic, concerned by her own feelings. "Why did Lord Ma tell me to be gentle?"
His cheeks turned red again, but he shook his head and grinned. "You already know of my reputation on the battlefield. When it comes to domestic affairs, my skills are rather shaky. The other men find it amusing."
"You mean you have trouble with women."
"To put it bluntly, yes. My interactions with them have not always been pleasant. I have been approached by many men trying to marry their daughters and sisters off to well-known officers. A man in my position must look beyond continuing his family name. I have to consider what a match would do to my lord and my fellow officers. If it would make them look bad, I cannot marry the woman in question. My job as a high ranking officer has also put a dent into possible marriage plans." He frowned. "I did not mean to burden you with such a thing, Lady Mei."
She gently patted his arm. "You have helped me with my problems. I would like to do the same for you if I can."
"You are too kind to me."
"I don't think such a thing is possible, my lord. You do nothing but give to those around you. I witnessed it back in camp and I've seen it continue here. If the least I can do is listen when you need to talk, I will gladly do it."
"I thank you, Lady Mei." He stopped in front of a large door and knocked. She could hear a dozen female voices on the other side. An elderly woman poked her head out from behind the door and looked them over. She squeaked when she saw Zhao Yun. Within seconds she had thrown the door open and ushered them both inside. Several well-dressed women were scattered about the large room. All of them regarded Li with large, curious eyes. They're so young, she thought, even compared to me.
The older woman bowed to Yun and took his hands in her own. "My lord, what an honor it is to see you! I trust your campaign went well."
"It did, and thank you for your concern, my lady. I have brought you a gift." He nodded towards Li. "This is Lady Mei Li. She has asked to join the other songstresses and would like to participate in tonight's festivities. I can account for her voice and her creativity. She will be a perfect addition to your group."
"If you say so, then it must be true." She walked around Li and looked her over. "How quickly can you make up a song?"
"I can sing one now if you'd like."
The woman grinned broadly. "We shall get started right away. Thank you, Master Zhao. I will make sure she and the other girls are visions of beauty tonight."
Yun nodded and turned to go. "I look forward to it. Lady Mei, I will send Lady Yang to fetch you shortly. And I will see you tonight."
"Thank you, Lord Zhao Yun."
As soon as he was gone, the room erupted in a fit a giggles. The old woman pushed Li towards the girls and forced her onto a floor cushion. "You must be talented to have Zhao Yun singing your praises."
"Really?"
One of the girls leaned forward. "He's only the most eligible bachelor in Shu right now. It's near impossible to make him look at a woman, let along converse with one. You're so lucky!"
"I hope to see what it is about you that's captivated Zhao Yun so," the elderly woman said. "You look like you'd be good for him." She immediately cut off Li's protest. "Enough about that for now. I want to hear you sing. Girls, pay attention. I have a feeling that tonight's performance is going to be one of the best we've ever given."