AU: Hey yeah people ! here is the new chapie ! with a partnership with ElGato44 ! thank you very much ! please do leave a review ! we would like to know what do you think about this new chapter ! thank you very much ! review review ! :D
"Xiao, what took you so long?" Da Qiao asked, standing up and turning to the door. Seeing her sister distracted, she walked towards her and hugged her "What's wrong?" Xiao Qiao returned the hug and buried her face into her shoulder.
She let out a sigh "Xiao?" Da called, while brushing her hair, after a few seconds she heard her sobbing and Xiao's tears began to wet her shoulder.
The news spread all over Jiang Dong, and the people were split about the news. Some were happy for Zhou Yu's return and the other half was disgusted. Most ladies were happy, most of all court ladies, but not all. Still some were disgusted after hearing that he had a child by another woman.
"I can't believe it! His coming back!"
"Oh this must be fate!"
"Stop it! Don't you have any dignity? Lord Zhou Yu's a philanderer."
"He sure has the nerve to come back."
"Will he be with his child and that woman?"
"I wonder what Lady Xiao will do if she found out about this." Court ladies remained quiet as possible, not wanting to talk about this, but their tongues were itching to spread the word.
"Please, Xing, stay out of this," Shin said as she stood up closing the door "I'll handle this." She gave Xing a small smile. Xing could not do anything but nod. Even though she wanted to help her but this is a family matter, a family problem, she must not butt in.
"That brat has guts to interrupt us," Yan spat.
"Shut up. Keep her out of this!" Shin yelled as she turns around to face them.
"Well then you finally show your true colors."
"Stop it Yan, this is not you!" Zhou Tou said. Yan paused and turned to him, he was frowning at her.
"Why? Are you shocked Lord Zhou Tou?" Shin crossed her arms and glared at him "Can't believe that your beloved wife has a big mouth?"
"You're the one who should talk!" Yan responded, "You're nothing but a **!"
Shin's eyes widen as she never thought about that incident. "What? Do you think I wouldn't know?" Yan mocked. "Oh how many men laid with you each day?"
"Shut up."
"Could you tell us what you were doing? Why you were so famous?"
"Shut up!"
"Oh come on! Tell me ... Do you get sore after ten men screwed you?"
"SHUT THE ** UP!"
"This is enough!" Zhou Yu finally talked, glaring at the Shui sisters, "This will not solve anything!" The two turned silent and Zhou Tou was stunned to hear his younger brother's full powerful voice. "The issue here is why Shin took your son and why she came to me, ruining my life, that's all! We are not going to discuss this disgusting topic!"
The room was field with silence; once again Zhou Tou broke that silence. "I would guess this all started after that raid at the plaza, were every influential clan was caught." Yan and Shin were shocked. They didn't know about that.
"Luckily Lord Li Shui escaped the plaza before the guards of Jiang Dong came. Every head of household was there. Every one of them were caught and beheaded the next day." Zhou Yu stood still, crossed arms while listening.
"This would be my fault, entirely" Tou said in a low tone.
"Milord! It's not your fault! You know that!" Yan shouted as she took hold of his hand but he shoved it away "You know it's my fault!" he continued "I was there before father killed him. I should have stopped him but I just stood there, watching him die!" He looked straight at Shin.
Shin was shocked. All her sister told her was that Lord Zhou Yi was the one who killed her father. She didn't tell her that Tou was there as well. Tears flowed from her face once again, remembering her beloved father, holding her, loving her, her father, Li Shui.
The night ended, finally the truth was revealed, Zhou Tou thought, he was holding that inside him and now he finally let go, now his new goal was to catch up to his son and apologize to Shin. She was the one hurt most by this since she and her father were very close.
In her chambers, Shin lies in her bed, staring at the ceiling, her tears dry on her cheeks. She couldn't cry anymore, and her eyes hurt. "Papa ... Was I a bad girl? I was just avenging you ... I should be happy because my plan worked, but why do I feel like this? I feel like I just made everything worse. Sister Yan is mad at me. The person I love, Yu ... is angry. Does everyone hate me? Is everyone mad at me?"
"Shin" Shin was interrupted when someone called her from the door. She thought she was just hearing things and then it repeated with a knock. "Shin, are you awake?" the voice was stern, she stood up and open the door slowly, her eyes widen seeing Zhou Yu was standing there. "Yu ..." she sighed. "May I come in?" he asked politely.
The two sat on the floor, near the balcony. The moonlight was the only source of light in the room, and Shin was hugging her knees while Zhou Yu was sitting next to her. It was their exact position when they were young, the day after their wedding.
Zhou Yu stole a glance at her face. Her eyes were swollen, showing that she was crying. "Shin" he sighs, not so sure what to say. Shin just stared at him.
"Shin, on behalf of my father…I am truly sorry. I apologize for what he has done," he said well and clear.
Shin could not believe it. He swallowed his pride just to apologize to her. "Yu..." she sighed. "I apologize again for what I have said before, I judged you without knowing the reason behind it," he continued.
"Yu ..." she said again. "I am sorry," he looked down. He was alarmed when Shin hugged him but he didn't move a muscle.
"It's not your fault ... I'm sorry too" she said murmuring in his muscular shoulder.
"It's because of our father-" Shin silenced him with her lips, kissing him, but he did not welcome kiss. He remained still. "It's not your fault, it was your father's. I was a fool to avenge my father, when the person who murdered him is already dead. I was living in the dream of the dead, I truly deeply apologize for what I have done to you," she said and then cupped his face, caressing it. "As for Lady Xiao Qiao, she is a true person. I feel terrible for using her in all of this." Hearing Xiao's name made Zhou Yu feel guilty about this situation. She was his wife, why he didn't tell her about his past? They both vowed that they would be together in sickness and in health but in his case he kept it all to himself, making Xiao suffer in trying to keep up, making her misunderstand everything.
The next day in Zhou manor, it seemed that everyone in the manor had a glimpse of the confrontation last night. Many were whispering and chattering about it. So this happened in many places not only in Jiang Dong. Yan Shui hadn't calm down yet. Her anger swallowed her completely. She wanted to punish her own sister for what she did. She wanted to hurt her, see her suffer like her when she lost her child, letting her feel the pain she felt, but there is something in her that's stopping her: her love and care for Shin.
Yan didn't know what to choose: her child or her sister. It was hard and so difficult. Remembering everything she had done to Shin ever since she set foot in the manor once again. 'What a welcome that was' she thought, pain and anger all in her heart, and she couldn't think properly. No matter what she did, her sister would always pop in her mind. Every time she saw Ryu, it reminded her of Shin.
Yan was in the balcony, staring at nothing, deep in thought. Zhou Tou came into the room, letting out a deep sigh as he approached her, wrapping his arms around her waist, hugging her from behind. He leaned his head on her shoulder. Yan welcomed the embrace by holding his arms and leaning against him, closing her eyes.
"Tou … what should I do?" she asked, almost whimpering.
"I do not intend to punish her but … what she did was punishable by law … and as a governor of Lujiang … I must do it," he clearly said. Yan faced him with a teary eyes "What are you going to do with her?" asking in concern. Tou narrowed his eyes and hugged her again. "I am sorry but …" he whispered to Yan. Her eyes grew wide as she heard what was to happen, and her tears fell down from her face.
Xiao Qiao finally calmed down. She was crying ever since heard about Zhou Yu's return. Da Qiao doesn't know what caused her sister to be like this. Nevertheless, he helped her get to her chamber and get some rest.
"Zhou Yu ... He's coming back ..." Xiao murmured underneath her bed cover.
Da Qiao returned to her chamber, where Sun Ce was searching for something. "Ce what are you doing?" she asked puzzled. "I was trying to find my old tonfas," he responded while searching the cabinets and boxes. "Tonfas? what for?" she placed a hand on her unborn child while walking closer to him. "I'll give him a smacking welcome" he chuckled after finding what he was looking for. "I got it!" he yelled in excitement.
"Wait? Who sre you referring to?"
Sun Ce kissed her on the forehead and placed a hand on her womb. "I'll explain later" he said and quickly left the room.
"Him?" Da Qiao's eyes grew wide as she guessed who was it was. "Oh Xiao Qiao" she gasped as she realized what was going on with her sister.
"What?! That's absurd!" Zhou Yu roared at Zhou Tou. He slammed his fist on his brother's desk in disbelief. He could not believe what he just heard. "Who the hell made that regulation!" he demanded. Tou just opened his eyes and look at him calmly. "Father." he simply said. Zhou Yu's hands started to shake as he heard who ordered it. "It can't be," he gasped.
"Shin Shui's case was not a small deal … the father's regulation was approved by the emperor and Lord Sun Jian … I am sorry but we must do what is done," he stood up and patted his brother's shoulder, "I don't what this to happen."
"You can't stop it? You are the governor of Lujiang. Surely you can do something," Yu pleaded.
"Zhou Yu, I cannot bend or break the law," he responded in a low voice as he left Zhou Yu in the room alone. Before leaving, he softly said, "It will happen in a week. Tell her or don't, but she will know this somehow. Rumors travel faster than you thought." He closed the door.
"Milady!" Xing yelled as she ran into Shin's room, panting, "Milady Shin!" Shin turned around fat her desk, "Xing what is it?" She stood up, approaching the young girl. "Why are you panting? What's wrong?" she asked concerned. "Milady I ..." staring at Shin, tears started to form in Xing's eyes as she looked down.
"Ahh ... so you found out" Shin sighed as she stepped back from her and returned to her seat. "Lady Shin ... You knew?" Xing asked, slowly approaching Shin.
"Unfortunately yes" Shin turned around to continue what she was doing. Xing stared at her with an expression of downright pity.
The day came for Shin Shui's trial. It was held at the inner walls of the Zhou Manor. Before his death, Zhou Yi made sure that his manor was luxurious and huge, expanding its walls and every room.
Only select people were allowed at the trail. The night before, Shin was finished writing. Staring at her work, she smiled. She was interrupted when someone knocked. She thought it was Zhou Yu so she answered the door. It wasn't Zhou Yu. Her eyes widened, seeing her sister standing in front of her door.
"Yan" she whispered.
"Shin could we talk for a moment?" Shin blinked, not quite believing what she was seeing.
The Shui sisters took a stroll around the Zhou manor gardens. The wind was cold as ice, and could be heard over the silence.
"Shin," Yan started, breaking the silence between them. Shin glanced at her in response. "Why ... Why did you do it?" she asked. Slowly tears were forming again.
Shin stared up at the sky, closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "I was not on my right mind. All I was thinking was to avenge father. But ... after I heard about Lord Zhou Yi's death, I changed my plan. And moved to Zhou Yu and Zhou Tou. In order to hurt them, only one thing came to my mind and … that was this," she said clearly.
Shin was not feeling guilty for what she had done. After she heard her punishment, she fully accepted it.
Yan could not believe it, her sister had matured but in a wrong way.
"Shin," she sighed as she held her hand.
"Didn't I tell you? Don't do it!" tears started to fall from her face but Shin just smiled at her.
"It's alright, sister, I'm fine," Shin looked down, trying not to cry.
"Oh Shin!" Yan could not stop herself, and pulled Shin into a hug. Shin's tears fell as she whispered, "I'm sorry ... I'm sorry ... I'm sorry." She repeated it over and over again as Yan's hug grew tighter.
"Please let me in!" Xing insisted, begging the guard to let her in, but the guard was instructed not to let anyone in. It was a very strict rule. Only select people were allowed at the trail: Zhou Tou, Yan Shui, Zhou Yu and five officials of Lujiang Province. Shin Shui, in chains was smiling, to the surprise of the officials. Her time in this world is was almost up.
Yan Shui stared at her with pity and pain. Zhou Yu was furious. His father's constitution was so strict. Punishments were brutal and there were no exceptions. Zhou Tou experienced this many times. He always put a calm face, not letting his good kind heart make the decision but what was right and wrong.
"Shin Shui" the vice governor began. "You are here-"
"I know why I am here!" Shin interrupted, "This is my last day to see every one of you." She turned to her sister, "Yan, my beloved sister, please forgive me for what I have done. You are lucky to have a son like Ryu." She smiled at her sister and then she turn to Zhou Yu, "Yu ... I am sorry, please tell Lady Xiao Qiao that I was grateful to meet her and I am sorry for spreading rumors about her. None of them are true."
"Wait!" Yan yelled as she ran towards Shin, embracing her. Zhou Yu clenched his fist. He couldn't take this. Yan stepped back, stroking Shin's cheeks, "I will always remember you … my sister … Shin Shui."
Shin responded with a huge smile as her tears fell, "Thank you sister." The guards took her away and forced her to kneel in front of the blade, putting a black bag on her head. "Farewell" she was still smiling. Yan couldn't watch this. She ran outside, opening both doors, and Xing's eyes grew wide as she saw the blade strike down Shin Shui.
AU: so guys ! what do you think ? leave a review ! thank you so much !