East of the River: Home of the Sun Clan sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“My goodness, this is
well-planned, isn’t it,” Lady Wu chuckled. “I’m already a little less worried.”
“And two of the men that I’ve found, they’ve read books on warfare as
well,” Sun Jian explained further. “So that’ll be three of us at least that
know a bit about strategy. I mean, it was a ‘bluff’ strategy that I used to
scare the pirates, and that worked, so with all of us working together… we can
win easily.”
“I should like to meet these men,” Lady Wu said.
“Uh… yes, perhaps that might help to reassure you further,” Sun Jian
replied hesitantly. “But, uh… just one thing, my lady…”
Sun Ce awaited his father’s request to his mother amid awkward silence.
“Go and play, Ce,” Lady Wu ordered, and Sun Ce retreated.
“Forgive me for saying this,” Sun Jian murmured, “but-”
“Don’t be rude to them…?” Lady Wu giggled. “I am not a fool, Husband. I
am well aware that I am a fortunate woman indeed to be married to a man that
allows me to speak my mind, even when he’d rather I didn’t. I am aware that I
must be the dutiful wife in unfamiliar company… have I not done so before…?”
“Always,” Sun Jian recalled. “Forgive my asking such a thing, for you’re
right, you’re no fool.”
“Your new son is strong, like Ce,” Lady Wu said as she wiped drool from
the side of her child’s mouth. “He dribbles a lot, but I imagine that’ll stop
when he’s older.”
“Dada!” the child squealed.
“…Hello,” Sun Jian chuckled. “Well, he seems smart enough, as well.”
“I wonder,” Lady Wu said, “if we can risk thinking about his adult name
yet.”
“Ce was fine, and I don’t agree that it’s bad luck to plan ahead,” Sun
Jian replied. “I think that we can go ahead and call him something if we wish.”
“You’re his father, so it is your choice,” Lady Wu said.
“…‘Quan’,” Sun Jian declared. “Let’s call him ‘Quan’.”
“Mm… a powerful choice, if I guess you right,” Lady Wu giggled.
“We’re blessed to have two strong sons already,” Sun Jian said. “May we
have more.”
“… … …Well, it’s me that has
to give birth to them, so I can’t expect you to understand,” Lady Wu sighed. “I
think I might be pregnant again, actually, so you may get your wish sooner than
you thought.”
Sun Jian’s smile faded, and he said, “Ah… well, in that case, it would
be wrong of me to leave you, so maybe I could-”
“Have you, or have you not, already sent a letter to your friend Zhu
Jun, telling him that you’re on your way…?” Lady Wu asked.
“…I have, yes,” Sun Jian admitted sheepishly.
“Well, then there are no ‘maybes’; you’re on your way northward,” Lady
Wu declared. “I have help, so do not fret.”
“But your brother could-”
“I already said ‘No’!” Lady Wu chortled. “All I have to deal with is
some small, rowdy children… there’s a big, rowdy man that needs watching far more, I think.”
“…Alright,” Sun Jian conceded. “But I am sorry that I didn’t consult
you, at least.”
“You did the right thing,” Lady Wu insisted. “If these men are as decent
as you say - and I believe you, you’re a good judge - it would not have been
sensible to mess them about, and tell them that you needed to ask your wife’s
permission. You acted quickly. Now you should start preparing to leave. We’ll
be fine.”
Sun Jian looked at Quan, smiled, and said, “He’s got your eyes.”
“I thought he had yours,” Lady
Wu retorted. “Ce certainly has, and no mistake. He’ll follow your path… so make
sure you give him a decent one to follow.”
“I shall,” Sun Jian promised. “This is the beginnings of our path to
better things.”