醉赤壁

With her permission, his thumb dipped further beneath delicate hem of her silken slipper, and with ease it was displaced and removed. The second soon followed, exposing another slender foot, and it was with the extension of her leg and the trust she placed within him that her weight shifted from the tree’s sturdy limb, through her body, and into his exposed and steady palm. While he did not expect her to all but leap from the leafy branches of the apple tree when its support was gone, Cao Cao was prepared to catch her regardless, and the hands that had given her miniscule but solid surface to rest upon fell out from under her in favour of finding placement behind her thighs and lower back.

While her body shook, perhaps in fear of collapsing to the ground, Cao Cao remained standing firm like a rock amidst violent, stormy waves. Though upon understanding that she was, indeed, safe and sound, her trembling stopped, and she leaned away from the safety of his body with what could be noted as curiosity.

“Lady Xiaoqiao,” he began smoothly, features relaxed, yet oddly stoic in contrast to her expressive display, “there is no need for an apology. So long as you are safe, it is all that matters.” He shifted her weight and adjusted his arms beneath her more appropriately, allowing slender frame to fit neatly into the crook of his arms as he whisked her away from the tree, the dirt, and anything that might mar her dainty feet any further.

“And I presume that you are.” Safe, that was. A low rumble amusement rolled up within his chest, however it could not be heard and it was hardly shown upon the features of his face. Given Xiaoqiao’s predicament, it was likely that she would be able to feel the contained thunder within his chest as he carried her towards the lengthy stone staircase, though even then the dull vibration was fleeting, for Cao Cao moved to set her down; mindful of her exposed feet and gentle figure.

He knelt then, setting the silken slippers unto the ground in order to pick her foot up by her heel, and just as he removed her footwear mere moments before, Cao Cao slid the first, then the second back into place.

“All I ask is that you endeavor to be safe in the future in the event that I am not there.” He bowed his head thereafter, a limb reaching out to curl his fingers beneath her palm. Her knuckles were drawn towards his lips, though he was careful not to overstep his bounds.

         “You may call me Cao Cao, my lady.”

“Oh!” Xiaoqiao certainly did not expect him to actually sweep her off her feet. She felt her face become flushed with red, but she wasn’t complaining about the treatment she was receiving one bit. What she was experiencing felt like one of the many fairytales she read, and she couldn’t believe she was actually living one. Luoyue became alert and followed after her owner to where Cao Cao had carried her, knowing full well how easily impressionable (especially when it involved handsome, charming men) her owner was, and wanted to keep her on her toes.

She watched him put her slippers back on for her, observing his generous attentiveness towards her. With a cheeky smile and teasing tone, Xiaoqiao asked him, “Do you tell that to all the pretty girls you meet?” Then became stunned and speechless when he started to bring her knuckles close to his lips - again, like out of her fairytales where a prince would kiss the princess’s hand.

“Cao Cao…” Xiaoqiao repeated, making note to remember his name. She felt something in her gut, and it wasn’t the butterflies from earlier. Had she heard his name somewhere before? It felt very familiar to her, yet she couldn’t pinpoint where–

Suddenly, Xiaoqiao gasped and stood up from the steps she was sitting on, her hands covering her open mouth. She realised who she was in the presence of: the famed hero of chaos she heard many tales of, and someone her father spoke very highly of. Before she could say anything else, Xiaoqiao felt a large hand pat the top of her head.

“There you are, Endian.” Qiao Xuan wanted to make sure his daughter obeyed his order to stay close to the palace while she ventured. “Ah, and I see you’ve become acquainted with Lord Cao Cao. It’s good to see you, Cao Cao.” Qiao Xuan removed his hand from his daughter’s head to properly greet him, hands together and with a bow. “I hope my daughter was on her best behaviour in your presence. She often tends to get herself in trouble due to taking action before thinking about the possible outcome.”

Bringing the Emperor into Xuchang under the banner of Wei opened a copious amount of doors, however it also provoked mixed reactions and discontent. Many insinuated that it was a ploy to usurp the imperial throne; even some within Wei’s own ranks were wary, though it was those who knew Cao Cao most that understood the path he walked–even if it made him out to be a tyrant, he would proceed and see his ambitions through.

He was beginning to make preparations for his own ambitions–such as alliances and minor truces to support future endeavours in the name of the Emperor, and it was through such actions and planned activities for the future that would prove his path to be the right one. But while his ambitions were his own, they did not go without the cultivation of others. The official Qiao Xuan, for an example, was one of the few who realized promise in Cao Cao’s youth, and it was the same man who suggested he pay a visit to the government official Xu Shao for evaluation. It was from the foreshadowing words from Qiao Xuan and the evaluator that enabled the birth of the hero of chaos: ‘a hero in chaotic times’ they said, ‘but a villain in times of peace’.

It was with the announcement of Qiao Xuan’s unexpected arrival that carried Cao Cao through the bustling streets of Xuchang, strides smooth, pace even. His movement through the residential and public sectors into the quieter quadrant reserved for officials and government workers was swift; eyes forward, phoenix-emblazoned mantle billowing gently behind him. As he drew close to the steps leading upward into the Emperor’s palace, he paused at the feminine chatter with a quirk of his brow, and from a distance he observed. With a careful shuffle of his own steps, his initial path was derailed and rerouted towards a healthy apple tree, and to the young woman who put the needs of her noble mare before her own.

With his pace slowing, Cao Cao first approached the contented horse, a gloved palm extended towards the end of its nose to announce his presence without startling it, and only after recognition did he turn his gaze skyward, and into the entwined limbs and leafy greenery of the tree’s canopy.

“Xiaoqiao, I presume?” He announced firmly, reaching up towards her to settle the palm of his hand beneath one of her dangling feet, “you have your father’s features. I have heard much of you.” A second hand met with the first, and strong fingertips pressed gently against the back of her heel, though before proceeding any further, he prompted:

“May I?” The pad of his thumb rolled up against the delicate tendon above, curling carefully beneath the slipper’s mouth and against her skin, “I do not wish to see you come to harm, my lady. Please, allow me to assist you.”

"Huh? Yes... that's right. You know my father?" Stranger danger, normal girls would’ve thought– Xiaoqiao knew not who the older man that approached her precious Luoyue was, but considering Luoyue did not protest to the mysterious stranger, Xiaoqiao felt that he wasn’t anyone to fear. Luoyue was a good judge of character like that. Hesitant at first, the young lady let her feet down for Cao Cao to remove her little pink slippers. That was just the easy part; now she had to do her part and move in, which made her uneasy. Even if Cao Cao was there to help her down to safety, there was still the risk of falling in the process. She was worried about injuring him if she fell, should things not go as planned.

– but she needed to take the chance and trust her savior. Slippers removed, Xiaoqiao slowly and carefully extended her leg towards Cao Cao, the tips of her toes just barely touching his fingertips. Slowly again, she leaned closer so that her foot was now in the palm of his hand. Now, she was getting somewhere. A deep breath, Xiaoqiao gained further confidence to scoot further down, but she lost her balance when she was no longer seated on the tree branch. She gasped in surprise, but with quick thinking, she threw herself at Cao Cao, wrapping her slim arms tightly around his neck. Xiaoqiao shook, fearing the worst, but when she felt his body against hers, the shaking stopped; she didn't crush him like she feared she would.

Xiaoqiao glanced up and took a closer look at her savior. The first thing that was drawing her to him were those dark keen eyes; those eyes that could pierce through the heavens themselves. How could a mere mortal carry such power in their eyes?