This One Love

Chapter 7


Zhang Fei quietly watched Lady Yue Ying sharpening her scythe, trying to muster the courage to talk to her. It had been a week since he had attacked her, and he’d kept himself well away from her and her husband in that time. He had barely remembered what happened that evening, and had wanted to string his own self up once he realized what he’d done to her. The guilt from the incident was eating him alive, and it was the need to at least try to make things right that had him stepping out of his concealed spot so Ying could see him. She started and jumped up to defend herself, but tilted her head in confusion when he raised his hands in surrender.

“Please Lady Ying, don’t be alarmed … I … I came to apologize to you.” Zhang Fei prayed she wouldn’t decide he was better off dead and use her scythe on him, but then he remembered he deserved it and resigned himself just in case.
“Apologize?” Ying couldn’t hide her curiosity; she hadn’t expected this from the general. She lowered her scythe as she watched him scratch the back of his neck, trying to get his words straight.
“I didn’t know what I was doing that evening when I grabbed you, and I honest to gods didn’t mean to do that. I’m not normally a pushy man in that manner when I’m drunk, and I’m not sure what was put in the wine, but I’m really very sorry about attacking you … just wanted to ask that you forgive me.”
“I knew you were drunk, Zhang Fei, I could smell that much, and considering you were barely able to pronounce the small words you used, its not surprising that you didn’t know what you were doing. Perhaps it was just bad wine … no matter, I’ve already forgiven you for what you did. We have to work together, and we’ll be fighting alongside one another once I’m back in fighting condition, so I’d rather not have bad blood between us … you never know when you’ll need help.”

Zhang Fei couldn’t help the slight smile that crossed his lips at her words. She truly was an honorable woman, and not given near enough credit around the castle by the other soldiers. He’d have to see to changing that now that they were on speaking terms again.

“I thank you, m’lady, and look forward to having you back alongside us in battle soon. How is your shoulder healing?”
“Well, that little incident re-opened the wound, but it’s healing quickly and the doctors have said I may be able to remove the stitches and start working the muscles in the next week or two.” Ying wished Fei didn’t drink as much … he was a much friendlier man when he was sober.
“I’m glad to hear that, Lady Ying. I will take my leave now and let you go back to what you were doing … thank you for understanding.” And with that, Fei headed back inside the castle to go raid the wine room. Definitely not getting that drunk again, though Fei told himself.

Ying watched him walk away, and then swung around as she heard her husband’s low growl of anger, and had to grab the front of his robes to keep him from moving around her to follow the man.

“Zhuge, please wait … he only came to apologize to me for what he did that day, he wasn’t causing trouble.”
“He what?” Zhuge couldn’t keep the shock out of his voice at his wife’s statement. He hadn’t known Fei to ever apologize for mistakes he’d made when drunk. Then again, there weren’t many times when the man wasn’t drunk, and drunken men know no shame or guilt.
“He apologized for attacking me. And since I know that’s not usual behavior for him, I accepted the apology … things need to be sorted if we’re going to be around each other here at the castle, and he really did look like he felt guilty over the whole incident.”
“Very well, if that’s how you feel, I’ll leave it be.” Zhuge had to admit, it was admirable of Fei … if only they could keep him from getting so drunk in the future.
“Thank you … what brings you out here? I thought you had a meeting with our lord?”
“The meeting was dismissed early and since I didn’t find you in our room, I thought you might be out here tending your weapon or armor.”
“I was going crazy sitting in the room with nothing to do, so I came out here to get some fresh air.”
“I see … well, would you like to take a walk through the gardens?”
“That would be nice,” Ying smiled as she took the hand her husband offered, laying her scythe on the worktable. Everyone knew who the weapon belonged to, so it wouldn’t be bothered before she returned to get it.

And so Zhuge led his wife through the gardens. They talked a good deal of the time, discussing the weather changes and how that would affect coming battles, talking about their units and how well the soldiers had been doing during both their absences. They talked about the progress on her juggernaut invention and how it was almost finished and would be testable soon, and also about his arbalest invention that had been used successfully in a recent battle. And part of the time they just walked quietly, enjoying each other’s company. Once they reached the pond in the center of the gardens, Zhuge stopped his wife and turned her towards him, smiling as she raised an eyebrow in question.

“Things have been interrupted the last few weeks by people coming and going, asking for me or checking up on you,” Zhuge said as he pulled his wife closer, wrapping his arms lightly around her waist.
“Oh?” Ying had a feeling she knew what her husband was talking about, but wasn’t sure how to react.
“Yes, and its been very frustrating. So, while we are alone and nobody knows our whereabouts to interrupt us, I’ll try again. I’ve waited a long time to be able to do this and cant any longer.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Zhuge gently tilted Ying’s chin up and pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.

Ying thought her world was going to turn upside down. As soon as her husbands lips touched hers the outside world started fading away, and she wrapped her good arm around his neck as she tilted her head more to encourage her husband to continue.
His wife’s compliance fueled Zhuge’s desire, and he ran one hand up to support the back of her head as he deepened their kiss, tightening his other arm around her waist to hold her against him. He lightly ran his tongue along her bottom lip, asking permission, and had to force back a groan when she parted her lips to let him explore her more deeply.
Ying moaned softly as her husband started exploring her mouth, and, gaining a bit of courage, moved her own tongue to meet his. Encouraged by the quiet groan the action caused, she continued the gesture, quiet sounds of pleasure moving between them as the kiss grew more heated until they finally had to part for air, still holding each other tightly.
Zhuge stood there with his cheek pressed against his wife’s, trying to right his breathing as the world slowly came back into focus around them and he once again heard the water trickling through the large pond. He would have to remember not to take a kiss that far in a public place again, and thanked the gods he had robes to cover the signs of his desire. He never thought it was possible for a single kiss to affect a man so … but then again, love tended to do things like that to people.

“I think … that we should stop for now, else I’m going to forget we are in a place where others can happen by and see our actions.”

Ying almost blushed at what her husband was implying. So their kiss had affected him as much as it did her. Truth was that her body was screaming for his in a manner that both frightened and delighted Ying. All this feeling, and it was just their first kiss …

“And I think you have a good idea, my husband,” Ying replied, laughter lacing her voice.
“I think that it is nearing dinnertime anyway,” Zhuge kept his wife held close to him as he led her back through the gardens towards the dining room, the kiss still on his mind. Things were going to start getting very interesting.