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The next day, Lü Bu sat in his residence, his expression dark and brooding. His left hand lightly tapped the table while his right hand gripped the hilt of his sword, a burning anger churning within him. He had sent people to inquire about Diao Chan, but there had been no response. Unable to contain himself any longer, he strode directly into the inner hall to question the concubine by his side.
A timid concubine replied, "Last night, the Grand Tutor spent the night with a newcomer and has yet to rise..." Her voice trailed off, lowering as she dared not meet Lü Bu's fierce gaze.
Lü Bu suddenly stood up, a glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. He snorted coldly, suppressing his rage, and then turned to stealthily approach Dong Zhuo's bedroom. Like a ghost, he glided through the courtyard and arrived at the back window of the chamber, holding his breath as he peered inside.
There he saw Diao Chan leaning against the window, delicately combing her flowing hair with an exquisite wooden comb. The candlelight cast a soft glow on her face, tinged with a hint of melancholy. Lü Bu's gaze was fixed on her every movement when she suddenly paused in her grooming, her eyes downcast, brows slightly furrowed, tears glistening as she took out a silk handkerchief to gently wipe her tears.
Lü Bu's heart trembled, a whirlwind of complex emotions surging within him. His grip on the sword hilt tightened and then loosened again, as if controlled by an irresistible force. Diao Chan seemed to sense something; her gaze flickered toward the window and met Lü Bu's eyes for a brief moment before she quickly lowered her eyelids, her tearful expression making her appear even more pitiful.
Lü Bu dared not linger any longer and hurriedly left. However, after walking a short distance, he found himself torn with conflicting feelings and could not resist turning back. This time, he quietly entered the hall only to find Dong Zhuo seated in the main chamber, leisurely enjoying a meal while holding a jade cup.
Dong Zhuo glanced at Lü Bu with an indifferent tone that carried a hint of probing. "Fengxian, is there something outside?"
Suppressing the turmoil within him, Lü Bu lowered his head and cupped his hands in respect. "Nothing."
Dong Zhuo nodded slightly, indicating for him to stand aside. Lü Bu remained silent but could not help stealing glances toward the depths of the hall. Through the half-drawn embroidered curtain, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure—Diao Chan was gracefully moving behind the curtain. Her gaze seemed to intentionally or unintentionally seek out Lü Bu's eyes, filled with deep sorrow and reluctance as if silently lamenting her misfortune.
Lü Bu was momentarily stunned, his spirit swirling as if caught in an invisible vortex from which he could not escape. His chest rose and fell rapidly; his palms began to sweat slightly as a storm raged within him—both anger and sorrow.
Dong Zhuo coldly observed Lü Bu's unusual demeanor, his expression darkening. He set down his wine cup and spoke with heavy suspicion. "Fengxian, since there is nothing going on, you may leave."
Lü Bu snapped back to reality; a flash of unwillingness crossed his face but knowing he could not disobey orders, he bowed and withdrew. As he stepped outside, his footsteps felt heavy while his gaze involuntarily lingered behind him; his heart ached like it was being cut by knives, unable to quell the deep-seated anger and concern for Diao Chan.
Ever since Dong Zhuo had brought Diao Chan into his residence, he had been completely immersed in her beauty, neglecting state affairs for an entire month without attending to matters of governance. Recently falling ill and confined to bed rest, Dong Zhuo had Diao Chan by his side at all times, attending to him with utmost care. Her tenderness and flattery filled Dong Zhuo with joy beyond measure as he lavished affection upon her without restraint.
In the afternoon, Lu Bu entered the inner hall to visit and unexpectedly found Dong Zhuo deep in slumber. He stepped lightly, his gaze instinctively searching, a burning desire and resentment simmering within him. At that moment, his eyes fell upon the figure behind the bed.
Diao Chan slowly emerged halfway, dressed in plain clothing, her sorrow evident in her features. She gently pointed to her heart and then directed her finger towards the sleeping Dong Zhuo, tears streaming down her face. The glistening tears sparkled in the candlelight, piercing Lu Bu's heart like daggers. He stood frozen, a tumult of unexpressed pain and anger churning within him, his fists clenched tightly, despair seeping from his eyes.
Seeing his expression, Diao Chan's tears flowed even more fiercely, as if narrating her helpless situation and pleading for him to rescue her from the abyss. Lu Bu's breath quickened; he felt as though his heart was being torn in two—one side filled with guilt and reverence for Dong Zhuo, the other with boundless love and sympathy for Diao Chan.
At that moment, Dong Zhuo turned over and groggily opened his eyes. He noticed Lu Bu standing by the bed, his gaze fixed intently on Diao Chan, filled with shock and pain. Dong Zhuo instantly awoke, his face darkening like iron as he sat up abruptly and followed Lu Bu's line of sight—Diao Chan stood behind the bed, tearful and looking pitiful.
Dong Zhuo's face flushed red with rage, anger surging from his chest to his head. He slammed his hand on the bed, his voice booming like thunder: "Lu Bu! How dare you covet my beloved! You have some nerve!"
Lu Bu hurriedly knelt down, panic and shame etched on his face; his lips trembled but he could not utter a word.
Dong Zhuo glared fiercely, gritting his teeth as he shouted: "Someone! Throw him out! He is never to step into this hall again!"
A servant rushed in at the command; though he dared not look too closely, he quickly helped Lu Bu up and escorted him away. As Lu Bu was pushed out the door, he couldn't help but glance back one last time, meeting Diao Chan's tear-filled gaze. In that instant, it felt as if his heart shattered completely. As the door slowly closed, everything fell into an endless darkness and silence.
Fuming with rage upon returning home, Lu Bu clenched his fists tightly; each heavy step seemed to crush his anger beneath him, making the floor tremble. His face was ashen, eyes darkened like a brewing storm ready to erupt. As he passed through the halls, he encountered Li Ru.
Noticing Lu Bu's unusual demeanor, Li Ru stepped forward and quietly asked, "What troubles you so deeply, General?"
Lu Bu shot him a cold glance and angrily replied in a low voice: "That old bastard Dong Zhuo publicly humiliated me! He threw me out of the inner hall all for a woman! I have been loyal to him—this is how he repays me?"
Hearing this, Li Ru frowned slightly, concern flickering in his eyes. He lowered his voice further: "This matter is serious; if the Grand Tutor offends you because of this incident, it could lead to trouble. Allow me to advise you—please remain calm."
Lu Bu snorted coldly and turned away, still filled with resentment; his figure loomed like a mountain on the verge of collapse.
Li Ru immediately went to see Dong Zhuo, clasping his hands in a respectful gesture and speaking earnestly, "Grand Tutor, the affairs of the world are still unstable. General Lu Bu is your trusted right-hand man; how can you easily offend him over trivial matters? If he harbors resentment, the consequences could be dire."
Dong Zhuo frowned, a hint of disbelief in his tone. "Hmph! He dares to have feelings for Diao Chan! How can I tolerate such insolence?"
Li Ru shook his head, speaking with sincerity. "Grand Tutor, the world is not yet in your grasp; this is a critical time for employing talent. If the general feels discontent and turns to the enemy, your grand ambitions may be difficult to achieve. In my opinion, it would be better to summon him tomorrow, offer him gold and silk as a gesture of goodwill, and mend any rifts to avoid future troubles."
After pondering for a moment, Dong Zhuo finally nodded. "Very well, we shall do as you suggest."
The next day, Dong Zhuo sent someone to summon Lu Bu to the inner hall. The hall was adorned lavishly; however, when Lu Bu entered, his expression was cold and his eyes sharp as blades, filled with uncontainable resentment.
Dong Zhuo noticed this and forced himself to suppress his anger, replacing it with a gentle smile and a calm tone. "Fengxian, yesterday I was ill and not in my right mind; my words were inappropriate and may have hurt you. You have fought valiantly for me on the battlefield and achieved countless merits; how could I possibly look down on you? What happened yesterday was purely a misunderstanding; please do not take it to heart."
Lu Bu lowered his gaze and remained silent for a moment before slowly cupping his hands in salute, his tone stiff. "Grand Tutor speaks too highly; I dare not harbor any resentment."
Dong Zhuo observed his demeanor and quickly ordered his attendants to present heavy gifts. "Come! Bring forth ten pounds of gold and twenty bolts of brocade. Fengxian has worked hard; let these serve as a token of my appreciation."
Lu Bu was momentarily taken aback but soon concealed his stern expression, respectfully kneeling to express his gratitude. "Thank you very much for your generous gifts, Grand Tutor; I am truly undeserving."
Dong Zhuo smiled as he helped Lu Bu up, speaking warmly. "Good! Fengxian is indeed my right-hand man; I will continue to rely on you in the future."
Lu Bu forced out a faint smile before taking his leave. However, the moment he stepped out of the hall, the smile vanished instantly, and darkness clouded his eyes once more. His fingers lightly brushed against the hilt of his sword at his waist as he subconsciously glanced toward Dong Zhuo's inner courtyard, where deep within him still burned an endless longing and pain for Diao Chan. Though he stood by Dong Zhuo's side, he felt trapped in an abyss, each step like walking on thin ice, unable to extricate himself.
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