Well, I'm back, readers and I've FINALLY got this chapter here! The file has been sitting in the computer for a few months since I've posted in Livejournal.

I want to thank Diao Lover and all those who actually reviewed the story!

Here it is. Enjoy. I'm stuck in a Writer's Block of chapter 12 :(

Romance of the Wei XI: Ending a Long Night

Cai Wenji opens the wooden door to let Zhang He and the ailing Sima Yi in. She pulls the covers back on the bed that is by a window in the study room. The general helps the strategist sit and removes his curled shoes.

"I will leave you two here, my lord, "she said eying on Zhang He to clue him in on what he needs to do. He slowly looks at Sima Yi and then a hesitant look at her. The songstress gives him a wink and leaves the room.

"Junyi, are you going to stand there...or...you're gonna help me?"

"Of course, my lord."

Sima Yi stands up to get Zhang He to undress him. The long hair man steps in front if him and unfasten his buttons.

"Junyi, thank you for helping me back there."
"You're welcome, Zhongda. I couldn't leave you there."

Sima Yi's robe drops to the floor.

"Do you need your underpants, Zhongda?"
"Yeah. It's over there."

Zhang He brings the pants to him as Sima Yi sits back on the bed.

Cai Wenji walks around outside the room waiting for the dancing warrior to come out. She folds her hands in front of her thinking about the man who she is fond of. His sense of poetry and music is known throughout the land is what intrigues her. What attracted this young woman is his charisma, his altruism for his friends especially for Lady Cai herself.

When he isn't cold and calculating, according to her, can be pretty handsome.

That man is no other than-

"My poor Zhongda! He's so worn out!" Zhang He sighed.
"And he even smiled at me!"
"Oh. Did you tell him?"
Zhang He hangs his head low. "He's too intoxicated to listen to anything like that. I'll wait until he is sober."

She smiled, "at least that went well then."

The pair hears some commotion from down the hallway where they were. Zhang He and Cai Wenji look at each other and go to peek around the corner.

"WHAT? THAT BASTARD!"
"Captain Lo, calm down!"
I don't care if he's our lord's son! How dare he get his smutty hands on Little-Bit! If I was Lord Cao Cao, I would of whopped his ass!"

"Whoa! Easy there, big guy!" Dian Wei consuls him placing his hand on the captain's shoulder.

"Sorry, man, my bad. She reminds me of my little niece back at home, man!"
"Hey, nothing wrong with being sentimental, that's why you're my type of captain!" He gives him a pat on his back.

"Thanks, general."

Xu Ting cuts in.

"Okay, that's all nice and everything, but, Nu Wong, where are Lord Cao Cao and the others?"
"Well, he said that they should go ahead and get it out of the way."

Zhang Liao's eyes light up in surprise outside the banquet room of hearing the news from Xu Huang.

"Do you mean just like that? Mengde couldn't wait until morning?"

Xu Huang crosses his arms.
"I know, it must bother him a lot to get the divorce preceding started."

Zhang Liao rubs his goatee, "hmm. So that was what Lord Zhong Hui told Cao Mengde..of what Lord Cao Pi was doing."
"Yes. It was him who told me of the whole ordeal."
"He was at the banquet so how did he know?"

Xu Huang stands right in front of his colleague.

"The soldiers who trained with Lady Sha told him."

"Look, Xu Ting, if you're so observant why did you had me to tell on Lord Cao Pi? I don't know where they went!"

"He's right, man. It's family business. Our lord doesn't want bad news like this to spread around like a wildfire."

"Yeah," Dian Wei agreed. "Knowing how he is, he's an expert on discretion."

Then, a couple of footsteps invade the conversation.

"So, our Lord Cao Pi has been a naughty little boy?"
The bodyguard greets them, "Lord Zhang He, Lady Cai Wenji. I guess you guys heard the whole thing."
Zhang He answered, "not quite."
Captain Lo clench his fists and growl under his breath.

Xu Ting chuckled.
"Well, my lord. I guess that answered your question."

Cai Wenji steps in.

"Where is Zhen Ji?"

The soldier replied again, "if I know better, probably back there knocking Lord Cao P's brains out!"

Xu You walks to the small crowd with his hands behind him.

"I have an urgent message for the generals. You three can stay here." Captain Lo and the other two soldiers stand in attention.

"Lord Cao Cao has received a distress note from one of the officials in Xuchang. The remnants of the Yellow Turbans have attacked and plundered villages across our territory."

Dian Wei slaps his forhead. "Oh no! Not this again!"

Xu You continues, "He has also received messages saying that Wu and Shu are dealing with them too. The attacks are in certain parts of China. Lord Cao Cao wants us to get prepared for battle in two days."

Zhang He looks concerned.

"Don't worry, my lord," said the strategist. "I will send a note to Lord Sima Yi."

Nu Wong heads off along with Xu Ting.

"Captain! We must find Sha-chan right now!"
"Yeah, we better before Lady Zhen does, Cap'n!"

"Right. Meet you in the field, generals."

They all bowed as the three swiftly walk down the halls of the palace.

"I'll see you then, Xu Huang."
"Alright, Wenyuan. You still need to get more rest "
"Will do. Goodnight, my friend."

They bid each a good night and Zhang Liao opens the door to his room.

What he finds, or rather, who he finds makes his heart jump.

"Lady Zhen?"

"General, please forgive me. I can't be in the same room with him!"

He relaxed. "So, the divorce has already been final."
She looks at the floor. "Yes."
The general smiled faintly as he closes the door.

"Well my Lady, that means you're a free woman!"
"Lord Cao Cao said that he's making arrangements for me to be in a new chamber."

"Where?"
She steps closer to him.

"Here...but..how? I know he's not saying that I'm moving in with you."

"That would be interesting," he thought.

"To be honest, Lady Zhen, I will be moving into my new house in the morning...as you can see some of the things are missing."

She looks around and takes notice of what she remembered when she was in his room the last time, that he was right.

"Heh. I know. I was kind of startled when I woke up from my nap. They took out the lighter materials while I was asleep!"

Zhen Ji laughs.

"I guess when it comes if it's Lord Cao Cao's orders, they're orders."

Zhang Liao chuckles. "That's about it."

"Question is, how are we suppose to sleep?"

The general can feel his heart pounding in his chest.

"I can...sleep on the floor."
"Nonsense. The leader of Wei's elite generals needs a good, sound rest. Besides, I don't want to degrade you that way."

"Are you sure?"
"I can trust you, Lord Zhang Liao. You have been so kind to me."
"...alright."

Zhen Ji hops on his bed and pulls the cover over her.

"Zhen, it's not big enough for two of us."
She smiles gently at his blushing face.

"How cute. Don't worry. Now, come to bed and get some rest," she said patting on a spot right next to her.

Zhang Liao is a bit dazed.

"I must be dreaming!"
"I'm going to sleep." She turns around towards the wall with her head on half of a pillow.

Zhang Liao removes his outer vestments away from her and change to his undergarments. Zhen Ji still face the wall hearing the ruffling of fabric.

"Are you done?"
"Yes. I'm coming."

He takes a big, hard gulp as he slowly slides in the bed beside her. He tries to make room trying not to touch her.

"Sorry. Are you sure, Lady Zhen?"
"Hmm, mmh."

He turns from the sleeping woman and tries to drift to sleep.

The warmth from her body keeps him awake, so as his keeping Zhen Ji's eyes open.

The pair simultaneously turn to face each other.

"There's enough blanket, general."
"I told you it's not enough room, Zhen Ji. Why here? Why not with Lady Cai?"
"Oh...I've never thought about it."

Zhang Liao looks away from a moment.

"I'm sorry for what happened back there...with Lord Cao Pi."

She lets out a hard sigh.

"Don't worry about it. He can do what he wants."
"Are you sure you can sleep like this...with me?"

She smiled.

"How many times are you going to ask me?"
"Forgive me. It's very unusual for me, my Lady."
"We can just hold each other to make room."
"That's what you've been wanting to do?"

She comes closer, wrapping her arm around his waist.

"Yes. I feel more at ease with you in here, Zhang Liao."
"Zhen Ji," he whispered.

He flips he blanket to cover them in the moonlit, latern lit room.

Zhang Liao wraps his arm around the sleeping young woman pulling her closer to him.

"Goodnight, my Princess."