Disclaimer: Tell me.

...

"Yunchang is leaving," China said softly.

He felt that snow should be falling, cold and hard and bitter. Yet so soft, all a-flutter.

He watched as Cao Cao tried to stop him. He offered Yunchang gifts. The finest robes, gold. Treasures. Anything to make him stay. Offered him gifts imperial yellow.

"It is an awful lot like bribery, isn't it, Xiao Wei?" And there was no reply, for the eyes of Wei were hard and gem-like, glittering in a light they held on their own. Watched as Guan Yu cast the robes into the dust, as easily as if he was dropping rubbish into the river.

"The only gift he takes is Chi Tu, to return to his brothers," Yao continued, his murmuring the water over pebbles, flowing through the ears of Wei. "When, Cao Wei, will you return to yours?"

And together, they watched the retreating back riding off into the distance. Into the journey of a thousand miles.

It was only at night, away from the eyes of the court, that Wei struck his brother, unfilial, unloving, a burst of frustrated fire.

"Why, Da Ge?" Wei yelled, his sleeves flying away from Yao. Yao held his cheek, felt the warmth of the sting. "Why must it be this way?"

What way?

Yao shook his head, bitterly.