The Fall of Wei and Shu

Chapter 3

Sun Jian, my Honored Father,

To avoid any delay reading this letter may cause, I will keep my words brief. I have great news for my family and my lord. I carry within me the an heir to the great legacy of the Lu and Sun family. If you should see fit, please have the other two letters I have sent to my brother Gan Ning and my husband.

One thousand years good health to you.

Ai Rong

Ai Rong sealed the letters and gave them to her fastest messenger, pretending to glare at Shang Xiang as the younger woman danced around happily.

As the women chattered happily, the cook came out holding a tray with two bowls that smelled sweet. When she lifted the lid from one of the bowls, Ai Rong went pale again. The dish, which had always been one of her favorites, was beef cooked in a sweet sauce. The ex pirate turned away, shuddering and saying a quick apology as she dashed away to be sick in an empty pail.

The cook sighed and shook her head sadly.

"I had hoped that her favorite would make her feel better. It worked when I was pregnant with my children. Ah well, I'll go get her rice and soup."

The cook walked away with the tray with the bowls, shaking her head and shouting for bowls of rice and soup to the rest of the kitchen staff.

Shang Xiang walked over to her older sister, gently pulling her hair away from her face while she vomited, grimacing. She handed Ai Rong a handkerchief when the woman finished throwing up, earning her a shaky thanks.

"The cook said that was your favorite. It stinks that you can't eat it. She'll bring us some rice and soup."

Ai Rong gave a tiny laugh, standing after she had wiped her mouth and blew her nose, rinsing the bit of cloth in a bowl of water.

"I try to look on the bright side. If I could eat everything I wanted to, I would be getting so fat that Xun would want to take a second wife."

They laughed at the thought of Lu Xun taking a second wife. He hardly knew what to do with Ai Rong when she was going through her menstruating, dealing with a second woman during that time may kill him. Shang Xiang sat under a peach tree, smiling at her sister.

"Well, I'm just glad that you're not all cranky yet. When Da is pregnant, there isn't any talking to her."

"Meh, gimme time. I'll be a cranky fat bitch in no time, I'm sure. You know how I get during my monthly pollutions, I might be even worse pregnant."

They laughed again.

"Maybe we should only send you into war during that time! You'd kill everything on the battlefield until you passed out from exhaustion!"

They laughed harder at the mental picture the thought made, tears leaking out of their eyes and kicking their feet against the ground.

As they lay together on Ai Rong's bed that night, Shang Xiang took her sister's hand and held it tightly. Ai Rong was confused at first, then heard the ragged breathing that usually went with tears.

"Hey, what's the matter? Am I that ugly?" she joked, earning her a pinch on the arm.

"No. I just never noticed how much I missed this, missed you. Liu Bei and his family are great, and I love going into battle and training and everything… But I kinda feel left behind."

"Left behind? How?"

"Well, you're going to have a baby. You will be able to go back to the fighting eventually-"

"Maybe. Xun is a huge worrywart."

"You know what I mean. Father will call me back eventually. He can't have Liu Bei around forever. He's too much of a threat."

Ai Rong nodded, sitting up and putting her arms around Shang Xiang, who sighed sadly.

"Well, little sister… When that day comes, I'll be right there beside you."

Shang Xiang smiled and let the older woman gently play with her hair, humming softly.

I think motherhood will suit you well, Ai. You're doing it already… She thought as she nodded off, feeling safety in the warm embrace of her adopted sister.