What Lies beneath the Ground
Chapter 1 – The Lotus and the Princess

Poise. Grace. Eloquence. Sophistication. Those are all essential elements to living up to the public’s standards of being a woman. How much further must I push myself to obtain perfection?

Had her thoughts been in competition with one another, they would have fought over who would reach her brain first. Not being the case, her mind was somewhat put to ease as her lips silently formed the four aforementioned words. Her right hand’s fingertips curled around the long sleeve of her hanfu garment. It was intricately decorated with the finest embroidery in the Three Kingdoms. Over shades beautiful lavender silk were flowers of pastel hues. It was far more feminine than she would have liked to be wearing at all. It appeared she did not have the ability to choose her apparel at this current moment.

As the red ink met the rice scroll before her, the distinct sound of the door opening faintly caught her attention. Even if she was fully aware of her surroundings, she would pretend she was locked into her own world. She was joined by another female who looked like she was much more comfortable. As opposed to the womanly apparel, she was decked in a more juvenile style: a tunic-like object covered by a leather vest and a pair of shorter pants beneath. Around her waist was an obi-like ribbon and all material centred was around a lovely shade of jade green. Brown eyes met the extravagant hairpiece of her older sister and she could wait no longer. She clapped her hands together in an enthusiastic fashion.

“Mei-Mei!” continuing to speak, she edged over to the table.

How irritating. No matter how she wanted to be left alone, she was bound to be interrupted. Jing Mei was not one who was fond of being disturbed. Then again, she wasn’t fond of much of anything. On any other typical day she would have ignored he fellow girl. Her younger sister sounded anxious, however, and it would have been a lie to say she wasn’t the least bit curious.

“Jing Daio, you are trying my patience.” Her tone was filled with distaste. If her companion was intelligent she’d know not to press her luck. The pair of different coloured eyes glanced up briefly, full of expectation.

The younger female pursed her lips out of a vague questioning expression. Mei had been more irritable lately…not that she wasn’t typically. A nod of the head was given and she planted her hands upon the surface of the table.

“China is at war! The peace in the Three Kingdoms is over!” Not getting a response she took a couple steps back and began to pace the exquisite rugs upon the floor. It seemed the nation was often at war. It was inevitable, really. There were three separate groups in the kingdoms: the Wei, the Shu, and the Wu. No matter how it seemed an age of prosperity was beginning, lust and greed were so good at controlling the people. That was what caused a war in the first place. Daio lifted a hand to her lips and then looked to the other.

Time to explain.

“Lord Cao Pi’s forces are being taken out. Either Qing or Yan is next. Judging by how this opposition has been moving, it’s more likely that something bad will be happening to us and our home.” There was more that she wanted to say, but she was feeling hesitant.

That really was most interesting. Mei’s head lifted again and she studied her sibling’s expression. She’d started to put aside her calligraphy brush and rather, allowed her hands to rest upon her lap. Was it possible for Qing to fall? She was never fond of these sorts of situations. Daio knew not to discuss such topics it was absolutely necessary. Her eyebrows of the ebony hue knit together in thought.

“What information do we have on this opposing force?” She almost loathed asking that. If they didn’t have any information, that left them fairly defenceless. Oh, how she would have liked to… “Well? Do not make me wait longer than necessary. War is far from a play thing to me.”

Daio knew that. While she knew next to nothing about her elder, she was fully aware of what feelings war would stir up. On the other side of the table, she sat down and fidgeted with a few scrolls, unsure of where to start.

“His name is Zhao Fei. Rumour has it that he’s devastatingly handsome. He’s supposed to be from the west of the Wei Dynasty. I think he intends to become the new ruler.” She lifted her hands to cradle her chin and appeared to grow the oddest wistful look about her. “He sounds strong. He takes no prisoners, so I guess that means anyone they catch, he kills. I suppose he would be more bent on getting higher-ranking officials.” Sadly she didn’t know anything more. If she’d been able to see the man, then perhaps she would have been more informed. The likelihood of that happening, however, was not probable. Mei had a tendency to be a bit over-protective. It must have been that maternal instinct taking hold.

Zhao Fei…this man was trouble. What could his reasoning be to overtake Cao Pi? Did he want the Wei Dynasty under his control? Or…his wife? She was having difficulty remembering who that was. Lady Zhen Ji, perhaps? Yes, yes. Zhen Ji, the provocative woman…with the even more provocative leader. It was only too expected. Daio’s words floated in and out of her mind, only retaining what she deemed as important. What it all really came down to was that the opposing force needed to be stomped out. Doing that…was much easier said than done.

“What this Zhao Fei wants with Lord Cao Pi or the Wei has nothing to do with me.” Mei had continuously reminded herself that she was not to be biased, but rather to stand for her own beliefs. The idea of the Three Kingdoms repulsed her, and frightfully so at that. “He will not, however, lay his hands upon this land of our own, this land of Qing.”

Daio loved it when she heard that tone. It meant there was a plan around the bend and that was exciting. Ever since she could remember, her older sister had been renowned for her schemes. In spite of such a compliment, Mei had changed drastically following her fourteenth birthday. She hoped this could be a return of the former girl. She reached out her hands and pushed the rest of Mei’s scrolls aside. “Tell me what you’re thinking!” The look she received made her blink a couple of times.

Okay. So Mei-Mei doesn’t have a plan…yet. It just means she’s thinking…right?

It sounded a little farfetched. Her expression darkened slightly and she looked around Mei’s room. It had always been intricately decorated, but over the years, the walls had accumulated various objects, most being from the younger children in the town.

Jing Mei was not merely a young woman. She was quite an accomplished one. Half of her was soft like the clouds and pliable like the lilies in the wind. The other was hard, like bamboo, never changing, never bending to another’s will. While many believed her to be fulfilling her role as a female in society, most knew of her daily activities in town. Mei excelled in the arts of fan dancing and sword fighting. She took it upon her own to teach the children the ways of her skills. It was difficult, however, with the kind of lifestyle she led. This new change of events, though, gave Daio what she thought to be a wonderful idea.

“Mei, it’s been a while since you’ve…you know. I think China could use the help. And if not the nation, then Qing definitely can. Why don’t you contact him? Shang.”

That was far more than uncalled for and Mei’s face showed it. Cai Shang. He was her alter ego, so to speak. He was the other part of her, although a part that had not been seen for a while. During her earlier years, Mei had been renowned for her initiation of uprisings and revolts against Lord Cao Pi and other leaders who had hoped to take over her beautiful land of Qing. She did, however, fall to that particular man’s blade once it was discovered that she and Shang were on one body and one mind. Again, it was years before and all those who knew, save for a couple were now deceased. The feeling of nostalgia that washed over her brought an overwhelming sense of nausea. She shook her head slowly in disapproval.

Never again. China rejected my ideas and me. If they desire my aid so much, Lord Cao Pi will need to come to me personally. My life is no longer on the battlefield.

Daio knew this was going to be a difficult task, but she was up for a challenge. Besides, somewhere inside was that spirited maiden, the one she had missed so much. If only she could get just a glimpse of it to show.

“Whaaat? You won’t?? Why not?” She took one of Mei’s hands and squeezed it gently, “Because of what happened before? You always told me to be persistent, so you need to be the same way! You’ll succeed this time! The only one who can save Qing is you! Besides, there are so many people who will follow you, like me.” Trying to examine her older sister’s face, she was having much difficult in obtaining an explanation. “Unless…the reason you won’t is because of Zheng Yu—“

The other smacked the belatedly retreating hand, an echoing sound in the few brief moments of silence that followed. Mei’s facial expression hadn’t changed too much, but her tone held something. Just a little. “It is not that!” In an attempt to regain her composure, she rose to her feet and brushed herself off. Daio had just hit on an interesting note.

Zheng Yu. He was the man who had changed her life so. She was thirteen when her parents chose an appropriately aged twenty-one year old man to become her husband. His family was well off and he could provide her a most becoming future life. A year later, the wedding was held, followed by the death of her parents. In spite of those events, her spirits remained high until a couple years later.

Prodded by the fellow female, Mei plucked her mind from the river of memories and then shook her head, slower this time. “It is nothing, Daio. Unifying China under a single idea where people’s thoughts and hearts can be as one…that was once my dream. I am a woman, Jing Daio. Perhaps Cai Shang would have been appropriate before, but now I am uncertain.” It was the simplest way for her to put it. She was actually trying to avoid any unnecessary thought.

The younger one’s lips parted and she edged over to Mei before she tugged upon the skirt of her outfit. “Mei-Mei, you’re the only one who can do this! You have to at least try. This might make your life so much better. I mean…you’re always taking care of me and Lord Zheng. You deserve to do what you want to do. Even if no one else knows it, there’s no doubt that you really want to pick up a sword and swing it around. You have always been happiest when influencing a change. That’s what I want to see.”

Honesty and sentimental concepts were not always the best thing to discuss with Mei. She was about as likely to admit that she had any such feelings as she was about to pretend she liked any other man besides her husband. That often made things far more difficult than they needed to be.

They were indeed touching words. Mei was a little irritated that her sister knew her so well. It wasn’t that she disliked her lifestyle. She just couldn’t forget how wonderful it was to hear her opponent surrender before her. She, too, was fond of power…and would be the last to admit such. She remained silent, merely thoughtful. How would she handle this? Cai Shang would be essential. If she had him, though, she would indeed succeed…this time. This Zhao Fei, he would most certainly pay with the dearest price: his own life. Finally, she nodded and pulled her material from the younger hands.

“Very well. Once more I will don the armour and take to the fields. I leave you responsible for all other things. Any and all questions, however, may be directed to me…or more precisely…Cai Shang.”

One squeak. Then a smile. Those were followed by the clapping of Daio’s hands and another squeaking sound. Nothing pleased her more than knowing Cai Shang was going to make his appearance. It’d been a while and it was going to feed that side of her that wanted to unify China. The Three Kingdoms becoming one, it really was a dream come true. From what she had noticed, most citizens wanted the same. They could bring that…with some work.

“I will take care of things on my end. All you need to do is lead us…and knowing you, it’ll be the path to victory.”