Cao Pi tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for the door in front of him to open. His father and Sima Yi had been holed up in that room forever. There had been a lot of whispering, a lot of arguing, and even more smirking. It was beginning to irritate the prince of Wei. Pi's father was no longer in his prime. Granted, he had many more years ahead of him, but it was time that he started including his son in more imperial business. Especially if this business was hinging on Cao Pi's cooperation and skill.

A crack appeared as the door opened slightly, and a servant peeked through to see the prince's scowl. He immediately yanked it open the rest of the way. Inside, both Cao Cao and Sima Yi were waving their hands over a map. Both glanced up at him as he marched over, but neither seemed surprised that he was there. "What news do you have? I grow tired at being left out of all the planning, father."

"Patience is something you have to learn," Cao Cao replied.

Cao Pi grunted, "Don't patronize me. The two of you have been working on something for months, and all you have told me about it is that its success depends on me. I have as much right as the crowned prince of Wei to know when something involves me as anyone."

"My apologies," Sima Yi said, "but we wanted to make sure that we had something concrete before we spoke to you."

"Spare me." Pi turned back to his father, arms crossed over his chest. "I want some details. Now."

Cao Cao grinned. "Very well." He waved his son over to the map. A few markers were placed along a road shared by Wei and Shu. Pi noticed that the Jiang Provinces, close by, remained untouched. Sima Yi moved across the map from father and son, pointing to the first marker. "Our spies have told us that Lord Man Zhu and Lady Yang Xing are still in Cheng Du. At the rate they are rebuilding, all should be finished within another two to three months." He moved his hand over to two more markers north of the capital. The main road forked in two directions. "We need to act immediately after the capital is set to rights. The plan is to send an ambush and kidnap Yang Xing. If we can manage to subdue her and bring her back to Wei territory, then we have a bargaining tool against both Shu and Jiang. To help us, we should also capture a high ranking member of Liu Bei's household."

"So we take our captives, then split our party in two and take both roads," Cao Pi said, pointing to the fork and the markers. "It sounds good. But I fail to understand how capturing Lady Yang is going to help us. She fears neither death nor torture, and her fellow rabble will not do anything unless they know they can save her. I cannot see them offering land or submission in exchange for her safe return."

Sima Yi nodded. "I had this fear as well. But the information from our spies might make this plan work. It seems that Liu Bei has grown very fond of his guests, and he has a tendency to let his emotions get the best of him. We also know that he is charismatic and a gifted orator. If we strike while the iron is hot, so to speak, we may provoke him into sending his army to attempt a rescue. Our army can crush his, especially if half of them whisk the captives away to an undisclosed location."

Cao Pi nodded and listened while Sima Yi and Cao Cao hammered out the rest of the plan, but his mind was beginning to wander. Rather than discuss more of the details with his father, as he had often done before past battles, he silently returned to his room. Only one lamp was lit by the bed. In it, he could make out the beautiful features of his wife, Lady Zhen. She was already asleep. For a few minutes, he merely watched the rise and fall of her chest, the slight part of her lips as she breathed, the way her hair fell across the pillow. He pulled himself away to look out the window, needing to collect his thoughts and his feelings. Staring at his wife was not going to help. Part of him wished that she was awake. He could use her advice.

His mind wandered back to when he first saw Lady Yang. Any other man would have seen her dress and mannerisms as barbaric, crude, and very unbecoming. Yet, his father had been drawn to her; that much he had seen. At the time, Pi couldn't understand what it was about her that pulled men towards her. Now he was beginning to understand it. Yang Xing possessed an aura of power and influence, probably due to her upbringing in Jiang Si. But it was more than just her authority. She had a gentle nature about her as well. There was a general concern for those around her that continued to baffle him. On top of that, she was an expert in battle, carried an extensive knowledge of magic, and had eyes that would stop you in your tracks.

"It is rare to find you so deep in thought." Cao Pi turned to see the light of the moon dancing in Zhen Ji's eyes. "Is everything alright?"

He turned his attention back to the window. "How long have you been staring at me?"

"Long enough to see that you are thinking too hard," she said.

"I just came back from seeing father and Sima Yi. Their plan concerns me a little."

She sat up, but didn't go to her husband. Pi wondered if she was merely tired or could sense his frustration. "Judging by the look on your face, it is more than just a little."

"It hinges too much on what Yi thinks is going to happen."

"But you do not think he is correct?"

He sighed and turned back towards her, leaning against the window frame. "Yi wants to capture Lady Yang. He seems to believe the cavalry will come riding to save her. I think he's forgetting other important factors."

Zhen Ji nodded in understanding. "Well, I have not met Lady Yang, or any of her lot. All I know is what you have told me of her. She seems too smart to fall for something so simple, or to expect any kind of rescue."

"Then you share my concern." She smiled at him. He felt himself calm down, but he still could not bring himself to smile back. "I feel that there must be another way to lure her in. To capture her is one thing. It is another to keep her here, to make her want to stay. I believe if she made a decision to stay in Wei, it would crush any opposition from Shu or the provinces. But it is foolish to think that she would come to such a decision."

There was silence for a moment. Then Zhen Ji whispered, "Perhaps not. Both yourself and Lord Cao Cao have mentioned a period when her father was alive, a time when visits to her territory were more common. If there was any kind of relationship at all between her father and yours, then there is a chance that you could convincer her…"

"That Wei is where she belongs," he finished, catching on to her idea. "If I could make her believe that Wei knows her best, that she could find no better company that us because her father believed the same thing, we might be able to pull this off."

Liu Bei watched his people from atop his castle walls. From this altitude, they seemed like tiny insect swarming around the capital, going about their business. Not that they acted like insects at all. They were a necessary part of his kingdom and he would not trade a single one of them for anything. But from up here, he could understand why Lord Cao Cao used the bug analogy when talking about his subjects.

He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see his most trusted advisor, Zhuge Liang, who bowed his head respectfully before taking his place beside him. "You are up awfully early, my lord."

"Sleep has not been coming to me easily," Liu Bei answered. "Ever since we woke to the sound of the Yellow Turbans, I find myself constantly in fear of another attack."

"It has been months since they destroyed Cheng Du, my lord. Plus, we have gained the friendship of at least two people who would prevent that from happening." He motioned towards the courtyard in front of them, where a handful of officers were preparing for the day, laughing about something. Among them were Lord Man Zhu and Lady Yang Xing. Had they really only been here a couple of months? It seemed like they had always been there. "But perhaps there is something else that occupies your dreams at night," Liang said, more to himself than to Liu Bei.

The leader of Shu sighed. "I am not sure. I fear attack, but it is from whom that I cannot say."

"Might I suggest a friendly talk with one of the leaders of Jiang? They seem to lighten the mood wherever they go. I happen to know where each of them will be working today." The strategist had a playful gleam in his eyes.

"I suppose you are right." In spite of his worry, Liu Bei grinned. "I can guess where Lady Yang will have positioned herself. Lord Man could be anywhere."

"Lord Man Zhu asked permission to help the villagers replant some of their crops today. He seems to have grown attached to them, and they greatly admire him in return. I believe Lady Yang will be joining him later in the day. But yes, you know where to find her before that."

Zhuge Liang left the top of the wall, allowing Liu Bei to survey a little longer and collect his thoughts. He watched as Man Zhu departed from the group with a young boy, the same one who had been clinging to him the day they returned. Yang Xing left soon after, in the opposite direction. She was not alone either. Bei could not help but grin as Ma Chao accompanied her to the stables, which were almost completely repaired. They had formed a bond quickly after their departure from Jiang Si. At first, it was one of kinship. Liu Bei knew Chao's own story of how he left Jiang Tong, another of the provinces, in pursuit of Cao Cao. With the addition of Xing, Bei now knew more of his officer's history and the friendship they had formed as children. Chao had explained to his lord the ruse they played on the Wei leader before the deaths of their fathers. It amused Bei greatly, having noticed the looks Cao Cao gave to Xing in particular during their introductions.

The bond had strengthened during the reconstruction of Cheng Du. Both Jiang leaders had been eager to help where they could, and one of the buildings that needed the most work was the stable. Ma Chao and Yang Xing had been working on it for weeks. Man Zhu had to explain her love of horses to Liu Bei, something that he had only previously seen in Ma Chao. It was now a joke among the officers, that fate had brought the two best horsemen in China to Shu's doorstep. They were rarely seen apart anymore, and it was more rare to see them outside of the stable. Liu Bei suspected there was something more at work, although he hesitated to tell anyone else about his suspicions. He knew the consequences that such a suggestion would have on both Shu and the Jiang provinces.

Eventually, he made his way down the wall and into the courtyard, where the reconstruction was presently underway. It still amazed him how fast everything had come together. He knew he had good people working under him. Liu Bei continued to wander through the castle until he reached the gate. Zhao Yun was stationed there, monitoring the flow of goods and people going in and out. He bowed low as his lord approached. "Greetings, my lord."

"Good morning to you," responded Liu Bei, raising a hand to his officer. "Tell me, which way did Lord Man Zhu go? I need to speak with him."

Zhao Yun pointed a little down the road, where a handful of villagers were knee deep in mud just off the path. "Shall I accompany you?"

"I need you to stay here and guard the gate. There is no need for concern, Zhao Yun," he added when he saw the worry on his face. "I shall remain in your most excellent sight." Yun bowed low again and nodded, remaining at his post. Liu Bei could feel his watchful presence as he headed down the road. He smiled to himself. Even without guards around him, knowing that Zhao Yun was watching made him feel protected.

Man Zhu took a moment to wipe the sweat from his forehead. He was a seasoned warrior and had done his share of hard labor, but even the strongest needed a break sometimes. He had been hard at work since the sun began to shine. Come to think of it, he had been hard at work since the destruction of the Jiang provinces. Leading people to war, negotiating with his fellow rebels, and rebuilding an entire territory was no easy feat. But he had left his province in good hands. Now the focus was on Shu. They may not be his people, but they were just as deserving of help as those he had left behind.

Teng, seeing his new friend's fatigue, rushed over as fast as his little legs would take him. Zhu smiled as the boy handed him the water bucket. "Do you need a drink?"

"That would be most welcome." Teng giggled as he cupped his hands and brought the water to his lips. "Do you have your mother's cloth with you?" The boy showed him the colorful fabric tied around his waist. "Good. We would not want her to feel left out." Both of them looked up at the rest of the villagers, all busy replanting what had been lost in the raid months earlier. He remembered what they had looked like when he and the others had first arrived. Dirty. Scared. Desperate. They had reminded him of his own people back home after the Yellow Turbans destroyed everything. Now, they reminded him of them again, but in a different way. Now, they were full of hope and renewed strength. It gladdened his heart.

"Ooh, Lord Man! Master Liu Bei is headed this way!" Teng pulled on Zhu's sleeve excitedly, pointing in the other direction. Sure enough, the leader of Shu was strolling down the road unattended. A smile spread across his face again. Even after their first meeting on the battlefield, Zhu felt a certain awe every time he was in Bei's presence. It filled him with pride at being counted among his friends.

The two bowed low as Liu Bei approached. "Lord Man Zhu, I trust that everything is going well here."

"As well as to be expected," Zhu answered, He looked down at Teng, who had cowered a little behind him. Liu Bei was as much feared as he was respected by his people. "Did you need something, my lord?"

"I was actually hoping to speak with you, if it will not interfere with your work."

Man Zhu looked down at Teng again. "Can you keep an eye on everyone and make sure that they are working until I get back, Master Teng?"

The child grinned and nodded, bounding back towards the others in the field. Zhu laughed. "He will grow up to be someone great. I am sure of it."

Liu Bei chuckled. "I must say, I agree with you. Do you mind walking with me? I feel that I express my ideas better when my feet are moving." Man Zhu nodded as they walked further down the road. Those who were looking bowed low to the pair before continuing their work. "I must commend my people for the work they have done so far," he said after they had walked a bit. "It has not been easy on any of us."

"You are blessed to have such loyalty," Zhu commented. "It is rare, and a true treasure."

"About as rare as sleep has been to me these past few weeks."

Man Zhu gave his friend a concerned look. "You have been trouble sleeping?"

"Yes," Liu Bei said. "That is what I was hoping to talk to you about. Both yourself and Lady Yang possess a remarkable amount of knowledge. My hope is that you will ease some of my fears."

The young man nodded. "Rebuilding after an attack is never easy. To this day, I still sometimes dream of the battle that took the lives of my father and brothers. The trick is to remember the joy as well. Look around you, my lord. There have been casualties, yes, but there is a bright future ahead of everyone. The rainbow is beginning to appear now that the clouds are departing."

"This much is true. However, my fears are of another attack. I cannot clear my mind of it long enough to focus on the good."

Zhu frowned. "Another attack?" He paused for a moment. "As much as I dislike using her this way, we can rely on Xing's curse to warn us of danger. She has been happier than I have seen her in years. I do not think the curse has worried her once since we finished off the rest of the Yellow Turbans."

"Would she tell us if her mark flared up again?" Liu Bei cringed slightly as he recalled the first time he had seen it.

"I believe so. If you would like, she will be joining the replanting later this afternoon. I will relay your fears to her and see what she thinks of them. May the gods help whoever decides to attack us now."