Waiting Game (Zhuge Liang)

[Zhang Lihua]

time after time

The sun was setting as the woman woke. She came awake in a start, sitting up and running her fingers through her sleep tousled hair. She looked around her and noticed a burning candle on her bedside. Sighing as she realized no one was with her, she inhaled the smell of Bei Shurong...she had slept in his robe to keep her warm.

A frown touched her face even as she shrugged it off and stood up. Folding it, she remembered saying her goodbyes that same morning. Her cousin, Guan YinPing's eyes had fear in them... but determination. It bothered her that someone like her cousin who have memories of war branded into her mind at such a young age, but it was necessary. Changing into slightly thicker dress and robes, she pulled her hair back and grabbed her sword.

Walking out of her room, her eyes scanned her house. It wss coming together slowly. Less things had been broken.... probably because she had slept during the day.

"My lady...." she turned her head and narrowed her eyes at the female servant bowing in front of her. "What?" she snapped, watching the female tremble slightly. Still, she grabbed the note and dismissed the woman. Taking a second to read it, she sighed. Her presence was requested by Zhuge Liang...


Rolling her shoulders, it was dark by the time she stepped out of the carriage and had her presence announced to Liang's servants.

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This takes place when Bei Shurong and Guan YinPing are leaving for Jiameng Pass, before Chengdu!

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[Sima Yi]

Zhuge Liang usually went to bed at a late hour, as his mind often kept him up at night, and he found sleep to be quite impossible until both body and mind were at rest. He was kept abreast of even the slightest change in Liu Bei's condition, and so far nothing had changed. Kongming had sent urgent letter to physicians across the land, such as Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing, but so far he had received no responses.

At this hour, Zhuge Liang had requested Zhang Lihua's presence to discuss a matter related to Liu Bei's illness. Kongming was in his study, an austere place devoid of the trappings of a man of knowledge, as Kongming believed true knowledge needed not be displayed. He sat behind his guqin and began to strum the strings delicately, knowing his guest would soon arrive.

[Zhang Lihua]

Who was playing that annoying instrument? Her lips tightened as she followed the servant, approaching where the sound was coming from. She disliked music... or perhaps it was the happiness it brought people. Either way, it bothered her. Still, she followed the servant. As he opened a door, she knew.

Zhuge Liang was playing it. Why did it not surprise her? Taking a calming breath, she bowed her head to him. Uncaring that she was interrupting, sne spoke. "My lord, you requested for me?" Her tone automatically was seductive... it was Zhuge Liang she was talking to.

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Notes go here!

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[Sima Yi]

Kongming continued to strum at the guqin, occasionally stringing together a melody, but otherwise his mind drifted elsewhere. He was soon aware of Zhang Lihua's presence, yet he did not draw his attention away from the instrument before him.

"Lady Zhang, I apologize for summoning you at this hour," Zhuge Liang said, at last looking towards her, and directing her towards a seat nearby. "However, there is a matter we must discuss that I believe is better dealt with now rather than later."

Zhuge Liang moved from his seated postion, fan in hand, and stood before the Lady Zhang. He was dressed in white, his hair in a causal topknot. "We must consider the future of Shu, and think of possible alternatives should Lord Liu Bei not revive. I know that you have had these same thoughts...haven't you, Lady Zhang?"

He stared at Lihua with one a look of cool intensity.

[Zhang Lihua]

a world on fire

She wanted to break the guqin, it was more annoying than a flute. However, she forced a smile and moved to sit down, wondering why he was even playing it. Probably to annoy her... but oh well.

When he began to use his fan she wondered... were the rumors true? It would make sense... but now wasn't the time to think like that...

When he mentioned successors if Liu Bei died....her purple eyes went cold and flat. He knew she had poisoned Liu Shan. Did he have proof? No. But he knew. "If you want me to swear loyalty to Liu Shan... well you know how I feel about him, don't you?" She raised an eyebrow at him, her smile fading.

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Notes go here!

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[Sima Yi]

Zhuge Liang sighed softly, shaking his head gently. Although he had strong suspicions as to the poisoning of Liu Shan, Kongming would not raise any accusations towards Lady Zhang. While his silence could very well make him an accomplice to an attempted murder, the fact he knew was a useful tool he would careful wield to deter such actions in the future.

"With all due respect, Lady Zhang, I would prefer for us to not speak of the past, for it is the future that we must concern ourselves with," Zhuge Liang began, beginning to pace, as he usually did whenever he was about to speak at length. "Lord Liu Shan is Lord Liu Bei's only male successor, and as such he will rightfully ascend to the throne. And yet, the young master still has much to learn about the world and the careful craft of leading the state. To that end, he must have one who can support him..."

Zhuge Liang ceased his pacing and turned to face Zhang Lihua. "That is what I ask of you...That you marry your ambition with Lord Liu Shan's inexperience, and aid him in guiding Shu to a new age. I shall assist you in this."

[Zhang Lihua]

pretty hurts

She was amused he hadn't accused her of the poisoning. So he wanted to brush it off? He had a plan then. That would be the only reason he was playing nice. Lihua tapped her fingers on her arm as Liang began to pace. She listened and her fingers paused.

she stared at him. She must be dreaming. She pinched her arm and felt the small pain. Nope, not dreaming. He wanted her to support Shan... support the child she had tried to kill. "How much... support are you suggesting?" she wanted to know before she committed.

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Notes go here!

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[Sima Yi]

Zhuge Liang smiled.

    "You must marry Liu Shan and become his queen. You will then be known as 'Queen of Hanzhong', and he will be king. When the time is right, perhaps then you will both ascend to the throne as emperor and empress, but none of this is certain. As his queen, you must do your marital obligation and provide him with an heir--a son," Zhuge Liang said all this with his usual placidity. He knew that Zhang Lihua would chafe at the idea of having to be intimate with someone like Liu Shan--someone she saw as her own brother, despite the level of respect she had for him. Yet it would be nessecary for her to do this, for the road to power was not an easy one, as Kongming had told Liu Bei himself many times before.
    Zhuge Liang closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, as though it pained him to speak whatever was on his mind. "Your duties as queen aside, I would be remiss if I did not address the relationship you share with General Bei Shurong," Indeed, Zhuge Liang had knowledge of the affair. He surmised that if Lihua knew her love for Bei Shurong would not endanger her chances of becoming queen, then she would be more willing to go along with plan as a whole. "Perform your role as wife accordingly, and you may continue your affair to your pleasure."

[Zhang Lihua]

are you happy with yourself?

At first, she waited for him to laugh. Perhaps he had drank too much. This was obviously a joke. But he didn't laugh. He didn't smile. He had lost it.
That is what it was. Zhang Lihua began tapping her arm again, staying quiet until he finished.

And then she laughed. Her laugh lacked humor though. "You, my lord, need more sleep of you think I'd let that chil- my younger cousin marry me. He will bring the fall of Shu if you name him as King anytime soon. " she spoke softly in an even tone as she stated at Zhuge Liang.

"And if you think that the people would like their fearless General being a toy to a queen, think again. You know they wouldn't stand by it." she straightened her posture and sighed softly. "Shan isn't ready yet. It'd be too much stress on him. You know that. " For the first time, it seemed like she cared about the child.

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Notes go here!

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