Xia Yue went to bed. It was rare for her to hear her father's praise. She remembered what her father said, when she was about fourteen or fifteen. Her father just returned from visiting Uncle Zhang Hu's home. Apparently they discussed something about Chinese ancient literature and her father was impressed by Sister Zhang Xuan.

They were sitting in the common room. Her father and her mother were sitting on the sofa. She was playing with her brother on the carpet.

Her father told her mother, "Either Brother Zhang Hu really know how to raise his children. Or it's just that his daughter was truly talented. She analyzed things in detail and have a good observation. Her opinion was original. She didn't copy it from anyone. She could explain in a very logical way, step by step, how she reached that conclusion."

As usual her mother would nodded and agree, "Really? That girl must be really smart. From the way you told it, she is wise for her age."

Her father nodded and said, "Yes, and she's just two years older than Xia Yue. But Xia Yue couldn't reach even tenth of her. Whether it in knowledge or analytic skill. I bet Xia Yue couldn't even reach the tenth of her two years from now on."

Her mother glanced at her and said, "Now..., now... everyone is unique. Xia Yue is kind and have pure heart. And look at her, isn't she really pretty?"

It was rarely happened, that her mother would disagree with her father. Xia Yue felt tremendously grateful to her mother. She knew her father care for her. But it was so obvious that her father loved her brother, more than he loved her. Her mother on the other hand, she loved them both equally. Since her father cared so much for her brother, sometimes Xia Yue could feel her mother gave her some extra love.

Xia Yue turned her head to look at her mother and smiled.

It was just when her father turned to look at her. Just as her mother asked him to. Xia Yue saw her father's expression. There was a tint of embarrassment there.

Xia Yue thought to herself, 'Ah... father regret it, saying all that when I'm around.'

She loved her father much, even though he cared for her brother more. Even though her father seemed to amazed more by Sister Zhang Xuan than her.

Her father saw her smile and sighed, "Ah... Xia Yue our daughter is really pretty. Inside and outside. I just wish she's bit more witty. Otherwise, many people will take advantage of her in the future."

Her mother smiled to her and then patted her father's shoulder, "Then..., I ask you as her father, to take care of her. Find a good man who will care for her later in life, when she's old enough to leave us and start her own family."

Xia Yue was blushing when she heard her mother said that, "Ah... mother... why would I want to leave you two? I'll spend my whole life to take care both of you."

Her mother laughed and chided her, "Aiya... this girl. What are you talking about? Of course once you're old enough, you have to marry someone."

And her father added, "Don't talk nonsense now. One day you'll find someone, and if you don't I'll find someone for you."

Xia Yue cringed her nose and pouted, but said nothing. Her mother laughed while her father shook his head, but he looked at her with a gentle gaze.

Xia Yue was changing to her pajamas, while she thinking about all those memories. Her father had a special place in her heart. Although she knew that her mother loved her more, and she was grateful for it. It was the memories of her father that she kept dearly in her heart. Perhaps because it was such a rare occasions. Most of the time, he would not give much attention to her.

So today was another memories, kept inside her heart.

She couldn't help but smiling as she jumped onto her bed and closed her eyes.

She was staring at the ceiling. Somehow she thought about the conversation that happened years ago, about finding a good husband for her. And the incident earlier, when her father praised her beauty. Suddenly her heart beating faster inside her chest.

'Hmm... does father want to marry me to someone...?'

'Am I old enough now?'

'Why did he suddenly looked at me that way?'

Xia Yue was thinking about her father, preparing a man for her. Her father was going to introduce someone to her. She closed her face with the pillow and rolled from side to side on her bed.

'No... no... ah... I don't want to marry yet...', she thought to herself.

'And who is it? Who is the man he want me to marry?'

She tried to think every guy she knew. She couldn't think anyone special.

'Well, father think I'm not that special.... unlike Sister Zhang Xuan...', Xia Yue sighed.

She got up and sat on her bed, hugging her pillow.

She didn't know why but suddenly she thought about Huang Wen, 'Huang Wen... is it's him...'

She was embarrassed by herself and buried her face on the pillow.

'Ah... would that be possible... if it's Brother Huang... I think...'

She rolled on her bed again. That day when they met Huang Wen for the first time, he was her knight in shining armor. The demon was showing his well hung dick and it frightened her and disgusted her so much. She felt helpless and powerless. Suddenly a young man leaped from the window and killed the demon. He was Huang Wen.

She was reminiscing that scene. He was handsome. His unruly hair gave him the wild look. She felt like she was facing a tiger. Wild, strong, dangerous but at the same time beautiful.

It was love at the first sight.

But then..., then she found out that Zhang Xuan made him had sex with her. Suddenly he was her sister's boyfriend. Zhang Xuan, why it had to be her? Her father admired Zhang Xuan. He said she was smarter and better than her. Now she got Huang Wen as well.

Xia Yue wanted to hate Zhang Xuan for that. She did hated her for a while, but then she remembered how Zhang Xuan always cared for her. Besides, even her father said, that Zhang Xuan was better than her. Perhaps, it was better that Huang Wen had Zhang Xuan for his girlfriend. Xia Yue hid her broken heart with jokes and her cheerful attitudes.

She tried to forget about Huang Wen, but then Zhang Xuan proposed the idea.

It was a crazy idea. How could they share Huang Wen between them three? She didn't understand, why Zhang Xuan was so generous?

If she was Huang Wen's girlfriend, she would never let anyone else had their eye on him. But who cares? She could have her hopes now. She didn't dare to hope too much. Even if Zhang Xuan assured her and convinced her many times, she still didn't know what Huang Wen thought about this.

Suddenly she though something else, 'What if father want to marry me someone else, not Brother Huang?.... oh... what should I do then? What should I do?'

So that night at least three people thought about Huang Wen as they slept. Zhang Xuan, Xia Yue and Xia Bao. Surely he would be happy to know Zhang Xuan and Xia Yue were thinking about him. Couldn't say how he felt though, if he knew that Xia Bao also thought about him, as he slept tonight.

---------- o ----------

The night passed uneventfully. The next day, Xia Bao met with Chen Fang to prepare for the expedition. In between their busy work, Xia Bao explained his idea to Chen Fang.

"So we never know how things will develop, but if we have a strong candidate at our side. When you know who, does something that put us all in danger, we could stand behind this person.", said Xia Bao.

"Hmm.. I have no problem with assisting this person. I owe him a lot anyway. We owe him a lot.", Chen Fang replied without any hesitation.

"Yeah... and Zhang Xuan set it up for us. Now, we need to bring him to our side. We must make him to choose us over you know who, if a conflict arise between us. It won't do us any good to help him, if he choose the other side when conflict arise.", said Xia Bao.

Chen Fang frowned his eyebrows, "Hmm... well..., you're talking like some politician and I know nothing about such thing. Just tell me what to do and I'll do."

Xia Bao watched his friend's expression carefully as he answered, "I'm going to give my daughter to him. How about you give your daughter to him too?"

Chen Fang raised his eyebrows, "Are you nuts? What would he think about us? Selling our daughter like some whore to him."

Xia Bao punched Chen Fang on his shoulder, "Don't be a dumb. Of course we don't do it like that."

Chen Fang asked, "Then how are we going to do that?"

Xia Bao sighed, "Don't be silly, use your imagination. We could set up a situation where they will naturally doing it, you know. It's not like our daughters are ugly bitch. Put them in certain situation and it would happen."

Chen Fang frowned again, "I don't think he's that kind of a guy. He won't just screw any girl he had his eyes on."

Xia Bao punched him again, "Of course not, otherwise I won't pick him. Like I said, we should set it up. It won't be easy and it won't happen over night. But we have plenty of times and chances to make them grow closer."

Chen Fang slowly nodded his head.

"So what do you think about it?", Xia Bao asked.

Chen Fang sighed, "I'll think about it. I know he's a good guy, but I never imagine my daughter would have to share her husband with two other women."

"I know what kind of person you are and what kind of father you are. So I won't force you to do it. But I want you to think about it deeply. No rush, we still have plenty of time. Zhu Yuanzhang and Qin Shi Huang began to kill people mercilessly after they unite the land. Before that happened, he will need us, that's why he won't do anything to harm us.", said Xia Bao.

Chen Fang nodded his head, "Hmm... I understand."

"But it would be too late, if we don't make our move now.", said Xia Bao.

While those two were scheming. Zhang Hu gathered 3,000 men. More than 5,000 volunteered to join the expedition. It showed how popular Huang Wen was among the populace. Zhang Hu or to be exact, the grand elder, secretly made a note about it. He wondered how he should put Huang Wen on his place. As long as Huang Wen served him loyally, his popularity among the masses would be a good thing.

But if he couldn't keep Huang Wen under his control, then it would be a threat for him.

The grand elder quietly thought to himself, 'I gave Huang Wen a town and two capable assistants. Hmm... once I expand my influence, I would assign a city to Xia Bao and another city to Chen Fang. That way, I'm going to take two capable men from him and at the same time reduce his portion within our forces.'

From Zhang Hu's memory, the grand elder knew how much Zhang Hu trusted both Chen Fang and Xia Bao. They were just like brothers. There was no chance any of them to betray Zhang Hu. Little did he knew, that by possessing Zhang Hu, he changed some of Zhang Hu's behavior and now those two trusted men thought they needed to prepare a move against him. Him giving Chen Fang and Xia Bao two cities, just as the same like he gave Huang Wen two cities.

The hundreds of years fairies, was to proud of his own age and knowledge. His pride was his downfall. Although it was remain to be seen, whether Zhang Hu would fall along with him or manage to free from him.