Disclaimer: I don't own Dw/Rot3k.
A/N: Boy have I taken my entire free time on TS Online? Let's get on with the next chapter of Zhen Ji's arc. Xiahou Dun and Zhen Ji was the very first DW pairing for Lady Zhen in the DW community. Here's her thoughts on Xiahou Dun's new look.
Romance of the DW Pairings 2
Chapter 14: Xiahou Dun and Zhen Ji
Zhen Ji spends her entire life in Ye castle, where her quarters are in the newly built tower next to the main castle. Ye is propitious, yet its beauty remain isolate with the other great cities of the Han. Cao Cao is preparing to attack the south, much obvious, Liu Bei who is taking refuge at Liu Biao's. With a vast powerful army after the Yuan fraction was assimilated, the Han dynasty's climax is inevitable. Alas, she will live as part of the Cao family's rise to power and her son shall inherit a great legacy. But, is this supposes to make her proud?
"Mother?" Cao Rui walked to his mother's room. It concerns him about his mother and father's relationship together. Why she didn't spend much time together with his father and himself. He always attended with his father on inspection trips, yet his mother never joined.
"Yes, that's my son's sweet voice. He matured faster than I had expected with people like Cao Chong who is also young," Zhen Ji thought. Not looking at her son, but look at the viewing balcony where she watches the entire city's cosmetic.
Cao Rui blinked, his mother look pale as the white winter staring out the environment for an hour after he came, so he called out to her again, "Mother, are you alright?"
Zhen Ji gasps as she turns around to face her only son. Worried as he is, she slowly emerge a motherly hug which confused her son in amusement. Although, he is her son, Cao Pi as full legislation of her son's birth right. She has no real control of her son.
"Mother, I've been hugged many times, but never have I've been hugged for no reason. What's wrong with you mother? I came here to bring you the news of Grandfather's council," Cao Rui said.
"Just remember that hug means a lot to me, my son," Zhen Ji said.
"I know you love me but, shouldn't you do that a lot with father?" Cao Rui sighed.
"I've hugged your father many times, that shows a lot to my love," Zhen Ji said in an awkward tone.
"Does love make our family perfect?" Cao Rui asked in curiosity.
"Your Grandfather loves everyone in this family, it perfectly symbols the strength of your father," Zhen Ji said. Then she disengaged the hug and went out to the stairway hall from her room.
Cao Rui is still young to not know the true meaning of love. Yet, he believes his mother truly love his father.
On the way downstairs at the hallway, she releases her real thoughts on her son's concerns. It pains her to hide it, because Cao Rui is too young to understand sorrow.
"If Pi and I were that close, then I would have always been with you everywhere my son…" Zhen Ji thought.
Cao family is far from perfection. There are some of the most hideous truths about the family's darkest empathy. This family is so big half of the wives were formerly wives of the defeated men. And half of the Sons of Cao are even more ambitious than the Great Cao.
At the hall of Ye castle…
This castle couldn't have been more futuristic if not for her husband's efforts after Cao Cao conquered Ye. The secret plan is exactly the tower and a new district that is consume of rich nobles while the old district is where the poor are at. Zhen Ji felt pity that the poor has no equal consistency with the rich, but that's how her life is with rich nobles.
When she gets into the courtyard, there is a man that looks familiar yet the hair is different as if it was cut. The man wears an eye patch, so it must be Xiahou Dun. He looks different and no longer has a scimitar he always wields.
When the two of them cross each others paths, they didn't exchange eye contact just passing by until Xiahou Dun becomes sincere to her presence. Zhen Ji responds with a smirk and suddenly speak out to her impression of Xiahou Dun's new look.
"My my, have you spark a new groovy, General?" Zhen Ji vaguely assumed.
"This isn't some kind of joke, Lady Zhen. I change my looks because I want to look different from my brother Yuan. If you find this impressive, then I have no interest in getting ladies to woo me like cousin Mengde always did," Xiahou Dun scoffed.
"I'm not wooing you; I'm just totally surprised in the change of pace. Knowing more about you, you've lost your eye from Cao Xing, but killed the poor bastard before he can reward his deeds to Lu Bu," Zhen Ji crossed her arms staring at the one eye freak.
"I don't care about that anymore. With one eye to see all, I'm still a man to be feared. This new look won't change that," Xiahou Dun turned after he said. There is enough insolent to assume he changed his personality to become one of those pretty boys like Zhang He. If anyone could be wrong, Xiahou Dun will tear anyone apart. His furious behavior is very improper, but which is worst, her husband's perfectionist attitude or Xiahou Dun's psychotic behavior. He doesn't like Guan Yu and hates that his name spread all over this force while he's still Cai Yang's murder.
"Will you excuse me, my Lady; I must attend to Cao Cao's council; by the way, your son is becoming such a talented boy for his age. I hope my son and him shall work together ensuring the future of the Cao family," Xiahou Dun said.
Before he can make his way to the audience, Zhen Ji rushed to join with him. Meeting councils aren't her personal activities, but it would be nice to fill her in on the southern campaign.
"Don't just end our conversation yet, I'm joining with you to the council while we talk more about your new look, General," Zhen Ji drag her arms on Xiahou Dun playfully.
"Whatever…, I'm in a very serious mood and it makes me paranoid," Xiahou Dun sighed.
"I like serious people, General and that is referring to you," Zhen Ji grinned.
Cao Cao's meeting council...
Everyone already there except Sima Yi, nobody knows why he's absent. But, Cao Cao doesn't care since he had enough advisors and strategists at his disposal.
"Now we're all set for the Southern Campaign. Liu Biao has passed away leaving his youngest son in charge courtesy the Cai family. They will commend to surrender to my ranks while we pursuit Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang," Cao Cao announced.
"Who is Zhuge Liang?" Zhen Ji whispered at Xiahou Dun.
"He's that bumpkin from Long Zhong. He indeed is clever…clever enough to piss me off on my defeat at Bo Wang," Xiahou Dun quietly snarled.
"He was defeated?! " Zhen Ji took a shocked expression. Liu Bei won an impossible battle against Xiahou Dun, yet Dun was accompanied by the other generals who are already famous after the Battle of Guan Du. Why didn't her son tell her about this? If Liu Bei was that powerful, it couldn't have just been Zhuge Liang, while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were known to be very formidable powerhouses, but with so little talent in Liu Bei's army, it's amazing how the change of power play turned from Cao Cao to Liu Bei.
Upon learning more about the recent events, she sees the man who switched sides to Cao Cao named Xu Shu but the guy felt depressed of being here. What the hell is going on?
"How did my husband take of this news?" Zhen Ji asked. Xiahou Dun give a glare at the wife of the man who made a joke out of Xiahou Dun's defeat.
"Your husband made fun of me and said that I always get out of control and lose focus on the solution going on. I was…careless…" Xiahou Dun muttered.
"Wasn't that ironic? Besides, we have no idea what this Zhuge Liang is capable of. If it was my husband out there, he'll share the same humiliation as you if not worst," Zhen Ji said.
"You're sharp for an intelligent woman, my Lady," Xiahou Dun chuckled.
"I grew up studying, not linger with jewelries and such. Don't get me started on courting men for pleasure. People in this council often look at me as one of the whores," Zhen Ji rolleyed.
"That lady over there keeps staring at you, Ji. Don't let Pi's lapdog win the favor," Xiahou Dun nod his head at the direction where Lady Guo is. She's next to Cao Pi and is watching Zhen Ji while Cao Pi too focused on his father's speech while whispering to Cao Zhen.
"Oh, she's just pissed off about not getting any babies to make besides Pi keep trying his hardest to get his manhood work on that pussy," Zhen Ji taunted, trying to imitate Guo Wang's jealousy.
Xiahou Dun burst out laughing, causing the entire audience focus on Xiahou Dun. Cao Cao is taking aback by his serious cousin's odd laughter.
"Uh, Dun. What's so funny?" Xu Zhu asked.
"Hahahah, oh that's a classic! Never have I seen humor this sick!" Xiahou Dun thought. He changed his serious mood into a joy of calm and excitement. Did Zhen Ji just tame the beast?
"It's already everyone. Xiahou Dun been having a bad day so I cheer him up a bit," Zhen Ji mischief smile stunned the audience.
"Luo just what the hell did you tell him about?" Cao Pi thought glaring at his impossible wife. His servant just stare at Zhen Ji with death threaten looks.
"Dun never was that refreshing and he's so serious, he's now laughing. Laughing about what?" Xiahou Yuan glanced at his brother.
"What is so funny about Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang making a fool out of my army?" Cao Cao give a terrified look.
"Hhahaa, no cousin…it's …it is not that…oh god…hahahahaahha!!" Xiahou Dun continued laughing.
"Lady Zhen sure has the power to change our most fearsome general after his loss," Zhang Liao said. Just looking at the one eye freak from changing his hair and outfit and now can take such a joke that he don't know what's so funny it's about.
"Excuse me, my Lords. I must dismiss myself from the inconvenient. He's just having a bad day…" Zhen Ji bowed. And look at Xiahou Dun one more time who still laughing and she turn to look at Lady Guo giving thoughts like "I want to kill this slut so bad!"
"You just don't know when to keep your own mouth shut, Ji! Be grateful you're still alive…still alive…" Lady Guo angrily thought.
Zhen Ji closed her eyes and then slowly leaves the meeting. She got everything she know about the incident except one missing piece of the puzzle. What really made Xiahou Dun so pissed after his loss?
"If Liu Bei is winning his battles then who in his army is the most efficiency of that force who is making theses battles so difficult and pissing Xiahou Dun off?" Zhen Ji thought. Carefully it puzzled her when the Liu Bei army was defeated before the battle of Guan du and then re emerge at Ru Nan and took refuge in Liu Biao's territory and meeting Zhuge Liang. Things are getting interesting now.
Next Pairing: Cao Pi and Zhen Ji