20 SLEEPING BEAUTY

Everyone had return to their manors as the sun went down. Bian waited for Meng De by his manor's door. Meng De walked towards his manor to see Bian standing there waiting. He had just return from Lady Ding's manor after caring for Lady Guo. "Consort Bian," Meng De said. "General Cao Cao," Bian looked up to see him. "What is it?" he asked opened his manor's door. "Prime Minister Cao Song had left," she said. "I know," Meng De said rubbing his neck. He was tired and wanted to rest. "Did you talk to him about our agreement?" Bian tried making out the words. "I did not," Meng De said bluntly. Bian looked at him trying to see if he was lying, "I..what...we..why?" Bian was confused. Meng De had promised her. "I do not need to, it is my decision," Meng De said seeing her disappointment in him. "You promised me?" Bian said upset. "I did not promise you anything," Meng De said looking at her trying not to care about her tears in her eyes.

Meng De ignored her reaction and walked into his manor. Then he felt a hand on his wrist to turn around to see Bian holding onto him. Bian closed her eyes as tears rolled down her face and opened them to look at Meng De trying to not fall on her knees to beg, "I gave you what you need," she said in her most calming voice, "please do not go back on your words." Meng De got irritated and grabbed Bian's wrist quickly, "if it was my brother who you are going to be wedded to, would you even prostitute your way out of it?" he asked in a stern voice. "No," Bian responded meaning she wasn't that type of person but Meng De took it as if she would rather be with General Cao De. Meng De tighten the grip and went closer to her face, "even so, you are mine," he said scoffing at her. He lets go of Bian's wrist and close his door, leaving Bian outside of his manor.

"Please," Bian sobbed, "I am willing to give this child to you and Lady Ding, I will disappear," Bian offered as much as she can. Meng De refused to open the door as Bian cried outside his manor. He is tired and angry. He is tired from all the work from the palace as a general. Yuan Shao causing trouble and everyone looked at him as it is his fault that Yuan Shao is out of control. Yuan Shao was his best friend, when they were growing up together, who had betrayed the Emperor. Everyone expects him to know Yuan Shao best in order to capture him. He is tired after caring for Lady Guo. This is the first time, his heart ache for his child as he sees her lie in bed sick. All he could do was punish the consorts, but not find medicine to cure his daughter's fever. He is angry at his powerless self. He is angry at Bian for being so clueless at his feelings for her. His heart ache knowing she does not return those feelings. He kicked his stacks of books and punched the door that opened to the study room from his bedroom. He laid down on his bed, closed his eyes keeping in his feelings.

Meng De opened his eyes before dawn. He doesn't know when he had already fell asleep last night, he was still in the same position. He needed to practice fighting so he woke up immediately. He opened the door to call for Servant Bo, but he sees Bian asleep by his door. He was surprised that she was still waiting on him after he had ignored her. He squats to watch her sleeping soundly in the warm air. He caresses her face, "delicate one," he said moving strands of her hair out of her face. He carefully carried her bridal way into his room and laid her down on his bed. Bian shifted herself to sleep comfortably. He looked at the scatter of books and went to get one. He came back to Bian and placed the book next to her. Meng De remembered how yesterday she didn't even get to pick out a book at all because of the commotion of Lady Guo.

He walked out his manor and went to knock on Servant Bo's room in the consort's hall. "Yes," Servant Bo rubbed his eyes to see Meng De. He immediately bowed, "I am sorry I overslept," Servant Bo said. "Get my bath ready after I practice," Meng De commanded. "Yes," Servant Bo said. Meng De left to the court yard to practice. As Servant Bo watch him walk away, Servant Bo tilted his head in confusion. This had been the first time ever in Servant Bo's life in serving Meng De that he had come to knock his door in the morning to tell him what to do. Servant Bo refresh himself and went to Meng De's manor to find Bian sleeping soundly at his bed. Servant Bo avoid any other glimpse of Bian and block his mind of any assumptions why Bian was on Meng De bed again. He continues to his chores.

Bian woke up as the sunlight hits through the windows. Bian turned to find herself somewhere similar, until she noticed it was Meng De's room. Bian quickly check herself to see her fully dressed. She sighs and sees a book next to her. Bian slowly grabbed the book and opened it to read it. She was happy that it was a book she hasn't read. Bian looked at the stack of books to find it in a scatter. "What happened?" Bian wondered. She stood up and went to organize the scatter books. "Let them be," Meng De said behind her. Bian turned to see Meng De in his bath robe as water dripped out of his hair. Bian quickly turned away in embarrassment, "I am sorry, I did not know you were taking a bath," Bian said. "Servant Bo can clean them later," Meng De informed Bian about the scatter books. "Yes," Bian said and stopped cleaning. "Go take a bath," Meng De said. Bian nodded, "are you finished in putting on your clothes?" Bian asked and there was a silence. Then, Meng De came up behind Bian. Bian can smell his lavender musk scent. She turned to directly face him as their nose almost touched each other. Bian stared at him then stepped back to almost fall by tripping the scatter books. "Careful," Meng De said as he grabbed Bian's waist to pull her towards him.

"Thank you," Bian said fixing her posture and pushing Meng De's arms away. She sees Meng De had already got dressed. "I shall go now," Bian said as her body's temperature rise. "Where?" Meng De asked. Bian looked at him confused, "consort's hall," she said, "to take a bath." "You can take a bath here," Meng De said. "I cannot," Bian rejected. "It is not like you have not taken a bath here before," Meng De scoffed at her. "It was because of a different situation," Bian said looking away. Meng De picked her up in bridal way. "Let me down," Bian kicked. Meng De walked towards his bath room towards the bathtub. Bian sees what he was going to do, like he did before, throwing her into the bath tub. "Yes, yes," Bian said on top of her lungs, "I will take a bath here." Bian didn't want to be thrown in there again. Meng De stopped and let her down. Bian looked at Meng De, not wanting to take a bath in his bathtub. "Did you want me to strip you first?" Meng De said playfully. Bian covered her chest and quickly shook her head no, "I can do it," she said. Meng De cleared his throat and walked out the bath room.

Bian entered the bathtub. She sighs and hated the fact that Meng De was stubborn. She quickly washed herself and got out to get dressed. She checked to see if Meng De was still in his room to see no one. She sighs and walked out of his manor. Servant Bo passes by Bian. "Servant Bo," Bian called. "Yes, Consort Bian," Servant Bo said. "Where is General Cao Cao?" Bian asked wanting to converse about what happened last night because she wasn't done. "We have guest, General Cao Cao is meeting with them in the living room," Servant Bo informed her. "Guests?" Bian wondered. "Yes, follow me," Servant Bo said knowing Bian will be surprised.

Bian walked into the living room to see two similar figures. She also spots Lady Ding up early before breakfast was served. "Bian," Ling called. Bian noticed it was her older sister Ling and her now husband Chang. "Sister Ling," Bian said in excitement and walked fast to hug her sister. Ling went up to Bian and both of them hugged. "I missed you," Bian said as tears rolled down her face. Ling smiled happily, "I am happy to see you again," she said. Ling lets go of Bian. "What are you doing here?" Bian asked curious. "Father and mother had received the message, they are in shock," Ling said frowning. "I am sorry," Bian said. "Do not be, we are happy for you," Ling said with mixed feelings. "I am happy for you," Chang said as he reached them. Bian lowered her head in ashamed to receive compliments from both of them. "We will talk later," Ling said. Ling, Bian, and Chang sat down to converse with Meng De and Lady Ding.

Mother Yan entered after Ling, Bian, and Chang had sat down. "Lady Yan," Ling and Chang greeted her. "You are here," Mother Yan smiled at them to greet them back. "Sit mother," Lady Ding said guiding Mother Yan to sit down. "I see that Bian's family have received the message well," Mother Yan said, "good to see you two again." "Yes," Chang said squeezing Ling's hand. "It is good that you are here to join us for the wedding," Mother Yan said. "I have come to serve Lady Ding," Ling said informing everyone in the room. Bian looked at Ling in shocked. Lady Ding nodded, "yes, I have sent message for Consort Ling to serve me since Bian will become a Lady," Lady Ding smiled. "Yes," Mother Yan smiled, "that is a good idea." "With that, I have looked around to see if any families in need of any physician, and there is a family down the road that I will look into," Chang said. "Since you are here," Meng De said to Chang, "little Lady Guo is running a fever, if you can please check her," Meng De said. "Is that so?" Chang said, "lead me to her." Meng De nodded at Lady Ding to take Chang to go see Lady Guo.

"It is good that Chang is physician," Mother Yan said to Ling, "you two have come in time to help." Ling smiled, "thank you Lady Yan for thinking highly of Chang and I." "I am happy that you are here," Bian said holding onto her sister's hand. Ling looked at Bian seeing the sadness behind her eyes. "Lady Yan and General Cao Cao, may we be excuse to talk privately?" Ling asked them. "Yes," Mother Yan allowed Ling and Bian to leave.

As Ling and Bian left to privately talk and catch up on their lives, Chang and Lady Ding had returned from Lady Ding's manor. "How is little Lady Guo?" Meng De asked. Chang nodded, "she does have a fever because of the heat," he said, "but I have a medicine can help ease the fever." Mother Yan gasped, "our family physician mentioned that he does not have a medicine for children's fever, and you do?" Chang smiled, "it is a newly discovered medicine for children, I will provide it if you allow it," Chang said. "Yes," Meng De answered, "anything to cure little Lady Guo." "Yes," Chang smiled, "will do." Chang excused himself, "I will return tonight after obtaining the medicine," he said and left.

Mother Yan sighs, "Physician Chang is very capable," she compliments. Lady Ding smiled, "Physician Chang had always been generous," she said. Meng De looked at these two ladies in front of him admiring Chang. Meng De wondered if that is why Bian was into him because of his smile and generous gestures. "When Physician Chang returns, do not let him leave, we will take him as our family physician," Meng De said. "That is good," Mother Yan responded. Lady Ding smiled in agreeing.