AU: Yeah! finally i updated ! XP ... sorry i am updating late much lately, i got tons of school works and such ... any way here is the new chapter! please do forgive me if i have wrong grammars, i got excited writing what's in my head resulting i type fast, not looking at the monitor if its right ! do stupid of me! okay okay! enjoy! please please please review review ! thank you so much *hugs*
Standing in front of the mirror, she slowly pulling the edge of the ribbon to untie her hair, it has grown longer than she expected, picking up the white powder of makeup applying it in her delicate face, putting eye shadow making her eyes sparkle and finally the crimson red lips. Staring at the mirror, gazing at her new look, it has never cross her mind do this but anger have consumed her. Her innocence have disappeared quickly, you can never recognize her any more.
The morning raise, Shin is on her way to her mistress's chamber, knocking lightly "Good Morning Lady Zhou, I'm coming in" announcing her arrival, slowly opening the door, sun light rays flash on her face making her close her eyes "Oh Shin, you've finally arrive" slowly opening her eyes revealing Xiao standing in front of her "Mi-my lady?" jaw drop and eyes widen "W-what happened?" ask in shock "It's beautiful right?" twirling around. Shoulder and legs were showing, hair down and wearing high heels, Xiao smile at her mischievously "Come on let's go to the city" still in her cheery voice she hops on her way to the door, Shin eyed her in total shock "Wha?" she sigh, noticing that her servant is not following she turn to her "What are you standing there for? I told you, let's go to the city" ordering her "But Milady dress like that?" crossing her arms and glare at her.
"What wrong with this?"
"It's too short; you're like wearing a towel or you're not wearing anything at all"
"The hell you care"
"But-"
"Ah if you don't want to come with me, just say it, how annoying"
Xiao turn her back at her and started walking, Shin let out a sigh and follow her. While walking in the corridors, the servants and court ladies of the castle stare at the new Xiao Qiao, Xiao didn't care she continue walking, hearing the whisperings of the crowd she pause, Shin stare at her in confuse. Xiao started walking towards the two court ladies, the two bowed at her "Lower" Xiao said, the two look at each other puzzled "I said bow lower!" Xiao said, placing her hands in her waist, the two do what they have ordered "Next time the both of you whispered, make sure you're the only one who can hear it" said in a husky tone, the two look terrified. The crowd stares at them with bothered faces.
Xiao have reach the front gates, turning at her back "Call a carriage now" shouting at Shin "Yes, right away" Shin bowed and started looking, Xiao lean on the gate while watching Shin. After a few minutes Shin finally caught one, panting she walks to Xiao "Milady the carriage have arrive" Xiao frown at her "What took you so long!?" yelling at her "Milady I-" trying to explain "Ah shut up, I want to walk now" she started walking and glare at the carriage, Shin followed her with a bothered face. Walking in the busy streets, she examines every store "How pathetic" Xiao sighs "Milady, what exactly are you finding this time?" Shin ask at her back "Shut up I can't decide" frozen at her answer "What the?" Shin murmured. "Please try this!" "Buy here it's cheaper!" the market is at its usual noise, searching again in the city Xiao eyed at the products and then to the vendors, Shin followed her quietly.
"Have you seen how she dresses now?" "Yes we did!" "It's so reviling!" "So her true colors are now showing" "She looks like she came out from the red-light district" "It suits her very well" "The same with her shitty attitude" Da Qiao heard clearly the chattering, confused and hurt she turn her back and walk away as if she didn't hear anything. Her lady in waiting told her that Xiao Qiao have arrive from the city, leaving her knitting she rushed to her young sister's chamber, to see with her own eyes if those rumours she heard was true.
Opening the doors violently, frowning at her "Xiao?" eyeing her from foot to head and head to foot, realizing what she heard earlier was true, her cloths and hair has changed, walking towards her "Xiao, w-what happened?" asking in concern. Da Qiao can sometimes predict her if she have problems, keeping it all to herself, often times she told her not to carry grudge or do this alone, but Xiao is determine to fix her own problems by herself, even though she is suffering inside.
"Da!" Xiao stood up "Don't barge in like that, its distracting" Da hold her in shoulders, holding her still and looking straight to her eyes "Xiao, what's wrong?" shoving her arms, turning her back at her.
"Nothing" she sighs
"Nothing? Xiao, I told you many times before-"
"If I have a problem I should tell it to you, instead of keeping it all by myself?" Xiao finished her sentence, facing her
"What is it? What's wrong, tell me" holding her hand, showing her sympathy
"How could I tell you?!" shoving her hand away from hers and step backward
"What you mean?" Da is getting anxious
"Ever since Zhou Yu and I got back here, I wanted to tell you everything but I can't"
"Why you can't? I understand you Xiao"
"No you don't ... And perhaps you'll never will" looking down, hiding her face
"Why can't you tell me!"
"You really want to know why? Huh!" looking up on her glaring
"You're carrying a child!" she yelled
"What?" Da sighs in shock, she wanted to tell her badly about her pregnancy but Sun Ce wants to announce it first when he comes back home.
"You're pregnant!"
"H-how did you know?"
"Oh God! It's so obvious! Do you really think I would not notice it? The way you eat, drink and walk! Your attitude" Xiao's eyes is getting teary, yet you can see that she is angry
"I'm not dense as everyone thinks"
"Xiao ..." Da didn't know what to say. She never thought that her sister have this kind of attitude, now she just realize, she don't know that much who is Xiao Qiao
"What? You will deny it?"
"Xiao, I"
"How could you! How could you do this to me! For all of the people, I didn't expect you to lie to me! Keep secrets to me!"
"Xiao! Believe me I wanted to tell you about this, but Ce he-" trying to explain
"Just stop, I don't want to hear anymore" turning her back on her
"Xiao..."
"Da, your pregnant, you mustn't be stressed"
"Xiao Qiao listen to me!" Da gets angry
"This is the reason why I don't want to tell you my problems! Because you will let your self-involved and then if you got hurt! People will blame me for it! So please! For the better of both of us, please ... Just let me be ... Leave me alone" those words were not usually coming out from the innocent and charring Xiao Qiao.
"Xiao, can you forget what have happened that day, it was so long ago"
"Shin, please escort Lady Sun out my room" Xiao said calmly. Da Qiao turn to see Shin, eyes widen and shock, she haven't notice that they we're not alone. Shin bowed and walk towards Da "For how long you were standing there?" she asked "I-" answering politely "Why you didn't step out of the room and give us privacy!" she cut Shin's words "Why you didn't excuse yourself when we were having this conversation" Da yelled at the servant, Xiao turn around.
"Don't blame her, I told her not to leave my side, she was just following orders"
"Even if-"
"Don't bring this out on her! She has nothing to do with this!"
"Ever since she got here you've been acting strange!"
"So you think I was influenced? Put the blame on her huh, just to ease that guilt of yours!"
"Xiao that's not it!"
"Then what is it then?"
The Qiao sisters stare at each other; Xiao Qiao's eyes were fierce for the first time. The sisters fought several times, but this was the first time Xiao raised her voice to her older sister Da Qiao. Shin didn't do anything, putting her head down not wanting to interfere or get involved at the situation. "If you're finish, please leave, I am tired" once again Xiao turn her back on her sister "Escort her to her chambers" she added "There is no need, I can do it by myself" Da walks out of her room, closing the door behind her violently. With heart and emotion's broken Da don't want to talk to her own sister any more letting a tear fall from her face "Where is my sister" she mumbles while walking away from the sister she used to know.
"Milady?" Shin sighs, calling her mistress "Leave me be for a moment, your dismissed" Xiao respond not facing her servant "Have a good night Lady Zhou" bowing gracefully as she left her room. Walking slowly at the corridor, gazing at the huge garden within the castle grounds, feeling the cold breeze making her hug herself she closed her eyes, savouring this peaceful moment. Until a young court lady show up behind her "Report" Shin said turning around, facing her.
The young girl has the same age as Xing. She was found by Rei Xou, she was a street child, Rei found her got hit by a carriage that she was riding, she felt bad leaving her like that so she brought her in the castle and treat her wounds personally, by that time she was still twelve. "What's your name?" Rei asked, the young fragile girl looks up to her "My name is Kochou" Rei has no husband nor child, so she kept and raise Kochou like her own daughter, she gave her surname so that no one will question Kochou. Like Shin, Rei teach Kochou everything she knows.
It was hard for Rei Xou to keep a child in the castle at those times; she was serving the late Wu Lord, Lord Sun Jian. Even Lord Sun Jian questioned Kochuo, she explained everything, begging him to let the child stay, Sun Jian felt bad if he will order to throw the child away so he agreed, telling Rei that she will be responsible for Kochou, Rei smile in relief that her request was granted.
Kochou walked to her room, opening the door slowly, she paused hearing someone was coughing in pain "Rei?" she mumbles. Opening the door wide revealing Rei coughing, covering her mouth "Rei!" she rushed to her side "W-what's wrong?" asking in concern, Rei check her handkerchief and immediately hide it from Kochou "I'm fine dear, there's no need to worry" cupping her face "But you were" Rei smiled at her, reassuring her that she is fine "It's just a little cough, it's nothing" Kochou clench her fist, she knew Rei was lying to her "I told you before, let me do all the work, you should rest" she protest.
"Kochou Xou, I am the head court lady, I must to my responsibility-"
"Even though you're ill?" Kochou cut her words
"I am not ill"
"It shows from your face that you are, that was the exact thing my mother told me" she looks down "Then when I came back home, I found her lying in the ground ... lifeless" pulling Rei into a hug "Don't leave me please, I beg you!"
"Kochou, I'll never leave you" returning the hug, brushing her hair.
The land was muddy because of the rain; it was hard to neither walk nor run. The battle of Ying Province had turn into a bloodbath; many men were stab and killed. Gan Ning and Ling Tong were asking for assistance, Lu Xun and Lu Meng are holding while Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were planning for a new strategy. "Damn that Zhuge Liang, I knew it, he use himself as a decoy" clenching his fist "So what are we gonna do now? How about the reserve troops?" Sun Ce suggested "Your right" a new idea has pop out of Zhou Yu's mind.
"Ah!" Xiao screamed in terror as she stood up, sweating and panting "Milady!" Shin rushed to her "Milady, what is it?" calming her down "Zhou Yu, he, Zhou Yu" Xiao sighs "What is it? What happened to Zhou Yu!" Shin asked panicking "He-he got stab, a-at the ba-back" tears staring to fall from her eyes, she held Shin's arm, leaning "Please tell me he'll be alright! Shin!" Shin was shock as well, shaking her head "Mi-milady, i-it was just a dream" she return into her posture "Lord Zhou Yu is a skilful man, I'm sure he will be back here without a scratch" sitting next to her "A-are you sure?" Xiao asked sobbing "I'm sure."
After three days, Xiao Qiao is still in her new outfit, revealing clothes and make-up Whenever the sisters cross paths they will avoid each other, avoiding eye contact, they were like total strangers. It is really tragic that the strong bond of the Qiao sisters have was broken by a mere rumour.
"Xiao w-what's wrong?" I approached her, crying in the dark corridor "They called me stupid and annoying". Later that evening I overheard my cousins talking about my sister Xiao, that she was stupid and annoying, I got angry and approached them immediately, giving them a piece of my mind. But I was so young and naïve and they were grown up, they beat me up and throw me in the back of our manor. The maids have found me nearly dying; they brought me to the nearest infirmary. Father, mother and Xiao came afterwards. I told my father what have happened to me, Xiao heard it all. Ever since then she didn't talk to me about her problems. I think she blame herself for what have happened to me, but I don't blame her, I did it all by myself. After that incident father decided to leave the Qiao manor, to keep us safe from our own cousins, it was very sad but before we left I heard one of the Qiao elders blame Xiao for this accident. We moved to Jiang Dong, it was huge and scary at first but after meeting our father's friends and comrades we feel safe and happy.
Until now she doesn't want me to get involved in her problems, so she kept it all by herself, feeling the burden all alone. No wonder she snaps like that, after all the problems she has alone. I want to help her, I want to be here for her, but I don't know what exactly her problem is.
AU: guess i created a new Xiao Qiao? i think so ... tell me if i did! please please review review ! thank you so much !