uarters and questioned the maids。 Presently one told him that the Prime Minister had brought home a new bedfellow the night before and was not up yet。 Lu Bu was very angry。 Next he crept round behind his master's sleeping apartment。
By this time Diao Chan had risen and was dressing her hair at the window。 Looking out she saw a long shadow fall across the little lake。 She recognized the headdress； and peeping around she saw it was indeed no other than Lu Bu。 Thereupon she contracted her eyebrows； simulating the deepest grief； and with her dainty handkerchief she wiped her eyes again and again。 Lu Bu stood watching her a long time。
Soon after he went in to give morning greeting。 Dong Zhuo was sitting in the reception room。 Seeing his henchman； Dong Zhuo asked if there was anything new。
〃Nothing；〃 was the reply。
Lu Bu waited while Dong Zhuo took his morning meal。 As he stood beside his master； he glanced over at the curtain and saw a woman there behind the screen showing a half face from time to time and throwing amorous glances at him。 He felt it was his beloved； and his thoughts flew to her。 Presently Dong Zhuo noticed his expression and began to feel suspicious。
〃If there is nothing； you may go；〃 said Dong Zhuo。
Lu Bu sulkily withdrew。
Dong Zhuo now thought of nothing but his new mistress and for more than a month neglected all affairs； devoting himself entirely to pleasure。 Once he was a little indisposed； and Diao Chan was constantly at his side； never even undressing to show her solicitude。 She gratified his every whim。 Dong Zhuo grew more and more fond of her。
One day Lu Bu went to inquire after his father's health。 Dong Zhuo was asleep； and Diao Chan was sitting at the head of his couch。 Leaning forward she gazed at the visitor； with one hand pointed to her heart； the other at Dong Zhuo asleep； and her tears fell。 Lu Bu felt heartbroken。 Dong Zhuo drowsily opened his eyes； and seeing his son's gaze fixed on something behind him； he turned over and saw who it was。
He angrily rebuked his son； saying； 〃Dare you make love to my beauty？〃
He told the servants to turn Lu Bu out； shouting； 〃Never let him enter here again！〃
Lu Bu went off home very wrath。 Meeting Li Ru； he told Li Ru the cause of his anger。
The adviser hastened to see his master and said； 〃Sir； you aspire to be ruler of the empire。 Why then for a small fault do you blame the General？ If he turns against you； it is all over。〃
〃Then what can I do？〃 said Dong Zhuo。
〃Recall him tomorrow； treat him well； overwhelm him with gifts and fair words； and all will be well。〃
So Dong Zhuo did so。 He sent for Lu Bu and was very gracious and said； 〃I was irritable and hasty yesterday owing to my illness and I wronged you； I know。 Forgive me。〃
He gave Lu Bu three hundred ounces of gold and twenty rolls of brocade。 And so the quarrel was made up。 But though Lu Bu's body was with his adopted father Dong Zhuo； his heart was with his promised bride Diao Chan。
Dong Zhuo having quite recovered went to court again； and Lu Bu followed him as usual。 Seeing Dong Zhuo deep in conversation with the Emperor； Lu Bu； armed as he was； went out of the Palace and rode off to his chief's residence。 He tied up his steed at the entrance and； halberd in hand； went to the private apartment to seek his love。 He found Diao Chan； and she told him to go out into the garden where she would join him soon。 He went； taking his halberd with him； and he leaned against the rail of the Phoenix Pavilion to wait for Diao Chan。
After a long time she appeared； swaying gracefully as she made her way under the drooping willows and parting the flowers as she passed。 She was exquisite； a perfect fairy from the Palace of the Moon。
Tears were in her eyes as she came up and said； 〃Though I am not the Minister's real daughter； yet he treated me as his own child。 The desire of my life was fulfilled when he plighted me to you。 But oh！ to think of the wickedness of the Prime Minister； stealing my poor self as he did。 I suffered so much。 I longed to die； only that I had not told you the real truth。 So I lived on； bearing my shame as best as I could but feeling it mean still to live。 Now that I have seen you； I can end it all。 My poor sullied body is no longer fit to serve a hero。 I can die before your eyes and so prove how true I am！〃
Thus speaking she seized the curving rail and started into the lily pond。 Lu Bu caught her in his strong arms and wept as he held her close。
〃I knew it： I always knew your heart；〃 he sobbed。 〃Only we never had a chance to speak。〃
She threw her arms about Lu Bu。
〃If I cannot be your wife in this life； I will in the ages to e；〃 she whispered。
〃If I do not marry you in this life； I am no hero；〃 said he。
〃Every day is a year long。 O pity me！ Rescue me！ My lord！〃
〃I have only stolen away for a brief moment； and I am afraid that old rebel will suspect something； so I must not stay too long；〃 said Lu Bu。
Diao Chan clung to his robe； saying； 〃If you fear the old thief so much； I shall never see another sunrise。〃
Lu Bu stopped。
〃Give me a little time to think；〃 said he。
And he picked up his halberd to go。
〃In the deep seclusion of the harem； I heard the stories of your prowess。 You were the one man who excelled all others。 Little did I think that you of all heroes would rest content under the dominion of another。〃
And tears rained again！
A wave of shame flooded his face。 Leaning his halberd against the railing； he turned and clasped the girl to his breast； soothing her with fond words。 The lovers held each other close； swaying to and fro with emotion。 They could not bring themselves to say farewell。
In the meantime Dong Zhuo missed his henchman； and doubt filled his heart。 Hastily taking leave of the Emperor； he mounted his chariot and returned to his palace。 There at the gate stood Lu Bu's well known steed Red Hare； riderless。 Dong Zhuo questioned the doorkeepers； and they told him the General was within。 He sent away his attendants and went alone to the private apartments。 Lu Bu was not there。 He called Diao Chan； but there was no reply。 He asked where she was； and the waiting maids told him she was in the garden among the flowers。
So Dong Zhuo went into the garden； and there he saw the lovers in the pavilion in most tender talk。 Lu Bu's trident halberd was leaning on the railing beside him。
A howl of rage escaped Dong Zhuo and startled the lovers。 Lu Bu turned； saw who it was； and ran away。 Dong Zhuo caught up the halberd and ran in pursuit。 But Lu Bu was fleet of foot while his master was very stout。 Seeing no hope of catching the runaway； Dong Zhuo hurled the halberd。 Lu Bu fended it off and it fell to the ground。 Dong Zhuo picked it up and ran on。 But by this time Lu Bu was far ahead。 Just as Dong Zhuo was running out at the garden gate； he dashed full tilt against another man running in； and down he went。
Surged up his wrath within him as the billows heavenward leap。
Crashed his unwieldy body to earth in a shapeless heap。
We shall presently see who the other runner was。
Main Next to Chapter 9 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Lu Bu Kills Dong Zhuo For Wang Yun；
Li Jue Attacks The Capital On Jia Xu's Advice。
The person who collided with the irate Dong Zhuo was his most trusty adviser Li Ru。 Li Ru had not fallen in spite of the shock and at once scrambled to help Dong Zhuo to regain his feet and led him inside to the library； where they sat down。
〃What were you ing about？〃 said Dong Zhuo。
〃Happening to be passing your gates； I heard that you had gone into your private garden to look for your adopted son。 Then came Lu Bu running and crying out that you wanted to kill him； and I was ing in as fast as I could to intercede for him when I accidentally collided with you。 I am very sorry。 I deserve death。〃
〃The wretch！ How could I bear to see him toying with my fair one？ I will be the death of his yet。〃
〃Your Graciousness is making a mistake。 It is the 'plucked tassel' story over again。 But if you remember the banquet of old time where all guests were to tear the tassels of their hats。 In that banquet； King Zhuang of Chu made no fuss about the liberties taken with his queen； although the hat…tassel in her hand betrayed the culprit Jiang Xiong。 His restraint stood him good stead； for the same Jiang Xiong saved his life when he was hemmed in by the soldiers of Qin。 After all Diao Chan is only a handmaid； but Lu Bu is your trustiest friend and most dreaded mander。 If you took this chance of making the girl over to him； your kindness would win his undying gratitude。 I beg you； Sir； to think over it well。〃
Dong Zhuo hesitated a long time。 He sat murmuring to himself。 Presently he said； 〃What you say is right。 I must think over it。〃
Li Ru felt satisfied。 He took leave of his master and went away。 Dong Zhuo went to his private rooms and called Diao Chan。
〃What were you doing there with Lu Bu？〃 said he。
She began to weep； saying； 〃Thy handmaid was in the garden among the flowers； when he rushed in on me。 I was frightened and ran away。 He asked why I ran away from a son of the family and pursued me right to the pavilion； where you saw us。 He had that halberd in his hand all the time。 I felt he was a vicious man and would force me to his will； so I tried to throw myself into the lily pond； but he caught me in his arms and held me so that I was helpless。 Luckily just at that moment you came and saved my life。〃
〃Suppose I send you to him；〃 said Dong Zhuo。
Stunned； she pleaded with tears； 〃What have thy handmaid done？ My honor of serving only Your Highness could not bear being given to a mere underling！ Never！ I would rather die。〃
And with this she snatched down a dagger hanging on the wall to kill herself。
Dong Zhuo plucked it from her hand and； throwing his arms about her； and cried； 〃I was only joking！〃
She lay back on his breast hiding her face and sobbing bitterly。
〃This is the doing of that Li Ru；〃 said she。 〃He is much too thick with Lu Bu。 He suggested that； I know。 Little he cares for the Imperial Rector's reputation or my life。 Oh！ I could eat him alive。〃
〃Do you think I could bear to lose you？〃 said Dong Zhuo。
〃Though you love me yet I must not stay here。 That Lu Bu will try to ruin me if I do。 I fear him。〃
〃We will go to