AU: i am terribly sorry for the late up date ... my schedule was so full! ... okay i was like making excuses ... sorry about that ...

okay here is the new chapter! i just write it ... now my hand aches a bit XD

if you guys can remember the peached coloured book i took that idea from the anime titled saiunkoku monogatari, i just use it cause it has the same meaning from the anime ... and some what it is like a chinese story with all that emperor and stuff XD it was a good anime ... one of my favourites XD

please enjoy! and don't forget to review review! thank you so much! love yah guys!

Weak and fragile yet she chooses to ignore this, just to defend her so called friend. Xing told her that she will check out what is happening, after a few minutes she came back telling her what was all the fuss about. Gathering all the strength left in her, she stood up on her both feet and walk out of the room. Xing was shocked; she was wounded deeply and doesn't have that strength to walk on her own but just to defend her friend gives her courage to do so.

Walking as fast as she could, ignoring her aching body, she felt her wounds were starting to open, caressing it to close but it still hurt. Every turn she takes, she felt that she wasn't even getting close to where she wants to be. Finally after a few turns and walk in the long ally way she has finally reached her desired place.

Holding the knob of the door, her wound bleed, it was pulsing hard then it turn numb, she thought it was okay, now that she can't feel it. Xiao Qiao pulls the door open with all her might and she succeeded. Xing followed her, she was concerned for her, and keeping her distance she followed her, in case that she might collapse but she is strong.

"Wait! Stop" Xiao yelled, she have caught all the attention of the people in the room, all of them were shocked even her. Seeing her husband already home, she felt terrible, she doesn't even dress pretty, her hair was a bit mess and she doesn't have make up on, how could she welcome him with this get up she thought.

"Xiao" Da Qiao and Zhou Yu sighs.

Without knowing what were they discussing about, Xiao assumed that it was about her, taking her own life but, other people might think the other way, a murder, and all hands point to Shin Shui, which is she can't allow to happen.

"Do-don't blame Shin for w-what happened to me, i-it was, it was all my doing, s-she has nothing to do with this" Xiao stepped inside, leaving the door half open.

"Xiao my sister" Da Qiao approached her, holding her in the shoulders and then cup her face "What happened?"

"Sis" she touched her sister's hand "I committed suicide" then she smiled

Da Qiao's eyes widen "C-committed s-suicide?" she repeated

Xiao nods and step away from her sister, walking towards Sun Ce

Zhou Yu was controlling himself to approach her because if he did Da Qiao might stop him from touching her, after what happened. Examining his wife from head to toe, his fierce eyes stop at her wrist "Xiao" he sighs.

"Lord Sun Ce, please do not punish Shin Shui, it was all my fault, she didn't know what I was planning on that night, I was confused, depressed and distraught at everything, I was not in the right mind w-when I done it" Xiao's eyes was getting teary "I couldn't just sit and watch while she is suffering because of me, after all I did to her she still stayed on my side"

"Milady" Shin sighs, Xiao glance at her giving her a weak smile then turn back to Sun Ce

"Please just let us continue this on some other time" Zhou Yu interrupted, walking towards Xiao

"No!" Xiao yelled, making Zhou Yu pause "Lord Sun Ce?" staring straight to his eyes

"Oh Xiao" Da Qiao sighs

"I understand but this could not just end like this, we have rules and process that we need to go through to end this case, I hope you understand" Sun Ce said maturely

"I understand" Xiao nods

Zhou Yu continued his pursuit, holding her in the shoulders, not that tightly but gently "Xiao you must rest now" he ripe a piece of his cloths and wrapped in around her hands

"Zhou Yu" she stopped his hands from doing it "I'm sorry, maybe It's a bit late, and I don't dressed properly, I look like I just woke up but" she looks up to meet his hazel nut eyes "Welcome home my lord" she smile. She smiles like she wasn't wounded at all.

Da Qiao look at her hand, the one Xiao touched it was covered with blood, she felt stupid and bad, why she didn't notice, her young sister was bleeding.

"Xiao" Zhou Yu pulled her into a hug "I'm here now, I'll take care of you" he whispered

Returning the hug "I'm sorry" she sighs and then collapse. She thought everything is done, everything she has was all a lie, but after Zhou Yu hugged her she realize that it's not. He truly loves her.

Shin Shui, watch this lovely moment, on her side she can feel that Da Qiao is glaring at her.

Xing on the other hand was waiting outside, she doesn't want to hear what is happening inside but the door was half open so accidentally heard everything. So my lady Shin is serving Lady Xiao, yet she doesn't know that it was all just a lie she thought. Feeling bad for Xiao, she wanted to know the true reason why Shin is doing all this, she is not convinced that she is just doing this because she love him or to have her child a father, when Ryu does not call her mother.

Who are Ryu's parents? Why Shin is claiming that he is her son? Why she can't move on to Zhou Yu?

In the other room Sun Ce and Da Qiao were alone, Sun Ce was gazing at the window with his hands placed in his waist, and Da Qiao wrapped her arms around his waist, rubbing her face on his stiff back "Well a kitten wants to play?" he teased "I just want to hug you alright" she respond. Sun Ce faced her "Are you still worried about Xiao?" his face was serious, she simply nod "I can't help it, she is the only family I have left" he cupped her face "Da, we're making out own family and she will soon, our family will grow bigger and bigger" he smiled softly "Everything will be alright now" reassuring her "It's hard to believe that" stepping out from the hug, turning her back on him "Xiao must know what I saw, she might do this again when she knew that we're lying, I'm lying on her" she is staring to tear up.

"Da, Zhou Yu is here, did you see the smile on her face" Sun Ce said

"He is the reason why my sister is feeling this stress" turning around facing him "I don't trust him anymore, I don't want him for my sister, Sun Ce" she walk close to him, placing her hands on his chest "Please annul their marriage"

"DA! Are you hearing yourself right now?" he holds her hands and slowly removing them but not letting them go "I can't do that"

"Of course you can!"

"Da do you think your sister will be happy if I do that?" she turn silent for a moment "Da, if Zhou Yu is the one who cause all this, he will be the one who will fix this"

Sun Ce was trying to keep the situation under control but it's hard when the people involved in this case were the people you love. On Da Qiao's side as a protective sister she doesn't want anyone hurting her sister but in this case she will get hurt again. Will she say it or not?

Zhou Yu watch his wife sleeping on his bed, lips parted, hair on her sides and her cheeks are turning red again, her usual glow is coming back. He smiled watching her sleep; everything will be alright now he thought. He felt he got the bed sit in the house watching her sleep, but he was interrupted.

The door open, it was Shin, carrying a tray of tea, she bowed and place the tray in desk, Zhou Yu just watch her frowning "You may leave now" he simply said "Will she be okay?" she asked "Please" he stood up flipping his hair walking towards her.

"Don't act like you really care for her"

"I am, I do care for her" she protest

"If you do? Why you will not going to let this happened"

"You heard what she said, I didn't know what was she was planning on that night"

"But you have the gut to hug me on that night? Even kiss me earlier this morning; do you think I don't know what are you doing?"

"Do you really thing you know what am I doing?"

"You're easy to read Shin"

"You're easy to fool Yu"

Zhou Yu and Shin were glaring at each other staring at each other's eyes. Both of them still have feelings for each other but rage and hurt were building every time they saw each other, remembering all the pain they both felt.

The next day came. The intense situation has come down, but for the court ladies it grew more. Shin was preparing breakfast for Xiao Qiao, it was a daily routine, and it supposed to be easy but the stares and whisperings of the ladies making it uneasy.

"Serving Lady Xiao just to get close to Lord Zhou Yu, how pathetic" "Can't believe it" "Yesterday Lady Zhou even protected her" "How ungrateful of her" "I thought she was kind" "What a façade personality" "Maybe she has the bitchy attitude"

Even thought they were whispering she could still hear them all. Pouring tea in the teapot, placing it in the tray and then she walks out of the room, saying nothing but she glared at them on her way out.

The situation changed, it turns up side down, and now all eyes are on her. Damn it, why that didn't die she cursed silently while walking.

Xiao Qiao was woken up the sun rays on her face coming from the window. She looks more lively this time but her wound still hurt but not that painful like yesterday. Staring at the window, she closed her eyes, remembering how she met the love of her life.

"Xiao!" the sixteen year old Da Qiao shouted her sister's name, following her running around the castle grounds "Come on sis!" the fifteen year old Xiao Qiao mocked her older sister "Xiao!" Da got tired following her, she stopped and catch her breath, seeing her sister paused, she approached her with concern "Da?" tilting her head "Are you mad at me?" Xiao asked. Da didn't respond, her face was covered by her bangs "Sis" Xiao called again "You know I have my period, my lower abdomen aches" Da said whimpering then she sat in the ground.

"I'll get you something to make the pain go away!" Xiao said cherry and started running away "Xiao! Where are you going?" Da was matured at young age, she decided not to follow her and wait for her return. A young man walks towards her "What is the damsel doing in here alone?" the boy asked, Da looks up, that's a Sun family crest she thought seeing the necklace of his, the boy offered his hand, she shyly took it, helping her stand up "T-thank you" she bowed "You look pale, are you alright?" he cupped her face, making her blush hard "I-I'm fine!" the boy smiled at her "My name is Sun Ce" placing his hands onto his waist "The son of Lord Sun Jian" he proudly introduced "My name is Da Qiao, t-the daughter of the Late Qiao Xuan" her eyes sparkle as she smile, and this have captured Sun Ce's heart.

Xiao was happing on her way to the kitchen, she pause of a minute seeing a young man sleeping under the tree, she tilt her head examining it, is it a boy or girl? She mentally asked herself. Distracted she turn and walk towards the sleeping figure, it has a book on its face, making her hard to know if it's a she or a he. Kneeling down in its side and stretch her arm to remove the book slowly, not wanting to wake it up. She succeeded, art of war she sighs reading the cover of the book then turn her attention to it. Her eyes widen, cheeks blushed and she dropped the book. It was the twenty years old Zhou Yu.

Xiao Qiao got astonished in his feminine looks. The book she dropped fell in his delicate part, he stood up from the sudden pain he groan, it surprises her making her stood up not sure what she just done "What are you doing?" he whimpered still in pain "I-I'm sorry! I-I thought you we-were" the young girl was shaking, d-did I just hurt him? She thought and then she started crying.

Xiao cried loudly and then fell on her knees, Zhou Yu got guilty making a young girl cry, he watch her cry, thinking "Did I scare you? I'm sorry" his delicate part doesn't hurt anymore, he got close to the crying girl "Please don't cry anymore, I'm sorry" but she is still crying.

He stood up thinking of what will make her calm down, he looked up seeing an apple, he jumped and reached the fruit, then took out a handkerchief, rubbing it around the fruit and then kneel in front of her "Here" he hand her the apple, it caught her attention making her stop. Her huge brown puppy eyes looks up at him. Zhou Yu smiled seeing that she calm down a bit, this make Xiao's face red, wow how handsome, she complemented him in her mind "Don't cry now" using his handkerchief he wiped dry her tears.

Xiao Qiao's daydream was interrupted when she felt something on her side, it was Zhou Yu, he slept beside her, but his position was difficult to watch. He didn't leave my side? She mentally asked herself. His face was relaxed when he was sleeping and his bangs were covering his forehead. She brush away his bangs and lean down on him, just to give a kiss on his forehead.

"A kiss on the forehead means he/she wants to protect you" she remembered it from the novel that she was reading before.

AU: well that was quite a short one! sorry! i promised that i will up date faster ... but it turn out to be the opposite ... sorry ... please reveiw review! thank you so much!