Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

On his way back to Xiliang, Ma Chao was weighed down by his worries. He was deeply troubled when he learned of Dong Zhuo's promotion to Prime Minister. He knew that Dong Zhuo now held absolute power in the capital, his influence at its peak. Various factions were constantly vying for power and interests, creating a chaotic situation.

Dong Zhuo, struggling to maintain his position, struggled with pressure from all sides, his tactics becoming increasingly ruthless and brutal. Meanwhile, Ma Chao received news regarding Emperor Liu Xie and his mentor, Lu Zhi, weighing on his heart. It turned out that Emperor Liu Xie now intended to re-enter the throne in Ji Province, inevitably leading to a fierce conflict with Dong Zhuo. This was the situation Ma Chao most hated, yet it was now inevitably upon him.

Ma Chao's heart was filled with conflict and pain. On one hand, he felt Lu Zhi's tireless guidance and earnest hopes for him over the years, a deep bond like that of a mentor and a father. On the other, he felt Dong Zhuo's promotion and respect for him, as well as the immense kindness he showed in saving his Ma family from peril. Further complicating matters, the situation was compounded by the presence of Lu Zhi's daughter, Lu Wan, and Dong Zhuo's granddaughter, Dong Bai, both of whom he deeply loved. Lu Wan's gentle grace and exceptional talent, along with Dong Bai's lively and adorable forthrightness, made it difficult for him to part with them. Ma Chao felt caught in a maelstrom, unsure how to navigate it all. Every choice seemed to bring endless pain and entanglement. He didn't want to go against his master's wishes and completely oppose Dong Zhuo, but he couldn't let go of his feelings for Dong Bai, and at the same time, he couldn't bear to hurt Lu Wan. This intertwined web of emotions and relationships plunged Ma Chao into deep confusion and pain. Faced with this difficult decision, he hesitated, unsure of his future path.

In 189 AD, amidst this chaos, Ma Chao, still two or three days away from New Year's Eve, hurried back to Wuwei City, dusty and dusty. The situation in Western Liang was tense, and no grand celebrations were planned. Cheliji, due to the fighting in Western Liang, also chose not to return to Western Qiang for the New Year. Instead, he accompanied Ma Chao, preparing to help stabilize the situation in Western Liang.

The moment Ma Chao stepped into the mansion, his mother's eyes were full of surprise and love. Tears instantly filled her eyes. Her lips trembled as she called Ma Chao's name. She walked quickly forward and hugged Ma Chao tightly in her arms. The long-lasting longing turned into endless warmth at this moment.

In the hall, Ma Chao's mother took his hand and sat down, her eyes full of concern.

His mother said worriedly, "Chao'er, your father is away at the war. I worry all day long, terrified he might be in danger. I don't know when this chaos will end."

Ma Chao held his mother's hand tightly and comforted her, "Mother, don't worry too much. Father is a veteran of many battles and will surely turn danger into safety. This time when I return, I will do my best to protect everyone."

The mother nodded gently and said, "Chao'er, you've grown up now, and the burden on your shoulders has become heavier. You must be careful."

Ma Chao replied solemnly, "Don't worry, mother. I understand. This time, I've returned with a firm resolve to ensure our Ma family remains strong in these troubled times and to protect you and all your family."

During his conversation with his mother, Ma Chao also learned about recent events. It turned out that while Ma Teng had achieved some victories during his campaigns, he had also faced numerous difficulties and challenges. The enemy's stubborn resistance and the complexities of the situation made Ma Teng's situation difficult. Hearing this, Ma Chao's resolve grew even stronger. He knew he had to become stronger as quickly as possible to better cope with these challenges.

Ma Chao's family also treated Cheliji, who had returned with him, with the utmost courtesy. They were fully aware of Cheliji's importance to Ma Chao and his significance to the situation in Xiliang. The Ma family hurriedly prepared a sumptuous banquet to entertain Cheliji, welcoming him with the utmost sincerity. Everyone treated Cheliji with the utmost respect and courtesy, as if welcoming a distinguished guest. The servants busily and orderly moved around, presenting fine wine and delicacies one by one, each with a warm smile on their face, hoping to convey the Ma family's sincerity and kindness to Cheliji.

After the banquet, Ma Chao went to see Mrs. Lu with a solemn expression. Seeing that Ma Chao had successfully conquered the Eastern Qiang and returned safely, Mrs. Lu's eyes were full of joy and her heart was particularly relieved. She expressed her deep love and sincere concern for Ma Chao.

At this time, Ma Chao informed Madam Lu that he had learned about the news of his master and the emperor, as well as their current situation. Madam Lu's mood instantly became excited, and she could not wait to tell Ma Chao, "Chao'er, since your master has been found, please arrange for someone to send my family to reunite with him."

After hearing this, Ma Chao showed an embarrassment on his face, and explained to Madam Lu: "Master's wife, Master is now in Jizhou assisting Emperor Liu Bian to regain the throne. In this case, they are bound to have a fierce battle with Dong Zhuo. Because Dong Zhuo is now in control of the government, he will certainly not allow the emperor to regain power, which will inevitably trigger a war. Moreover, Jizhou currently has no power base of ours, and the situation is very complicated. Besides, Yuan Shao has always had his own ambitions and calculations. He will never be loyal to the Han Dynasty wholeheartedly. He is more for his own interests. In such a situation, Jizhou will inevitably fall into a war. Therefore, I think it is too dangerous and inappropriate to arrange for you to reunite with Master now. My idea is to wait until the situation in the court is stable and clearer, and the situation of all parties is clarified, then I will properly arrange for you to meet Master. This will also maximize your safety. What do you think, Master's wife?" Ma Chao spoke with reason and logic.

Madam Lu was also an extremely intelligent woman. After hearing this, she quickly thought of the key point. Although she felt regretful, she could only suppress her eagerness to reunite with her husband and asked Ma Chao, "Chao'er, could you send someone to deliver a letter to your master to let him know that his family is safe?" Ma Chao naturally would not refuse Madam Lu's request. He nodded and replied, "Don't worry, Master, I will do it."

Ma Chao slowly stood up and said goodbye. As he stepped out of the room, he immediately saw Lu Wan standing quietly at the entrance of the courtyard. Her slender figure looked so soft and beautiful in the moonlight, like a blooming lily.

Ma Chao's pace quickened involuntarily, and in a few steps he was in front of Lu Wan. Their eyes met, and in that moment, time seemed to stand still. Tears shone in Lu Wan's eyes, the crystal-clear reflections of endless longing and concern.

Ma Chao reached out his hand, gently held Lu Wan's soft hand, and said in a trembling voice: "Sister Wan, I, I'm back." Lu Wan bit her lip, tried hard to control her emotions, and nodded slightly.

"I've been thinking about you all the time these days." Ma Chao gazed at Lu Wan affectionately, his eyes full of love.

"Me too. I look forward to your return every night." Lu Wan responded softly, her voice full of affection.

They held each other tightly, feeling each other's warmth and scent, pouring all their longing into this tight embrace. Ma Chao gently stroked Lu Wan's hair, whispering the sweet words hidden deep in his heart in her ear. Lu Wan nestled in Ma Chao's arms, listening quietly, a happy smile on her face. In that moment, they forgot everything around them, lost only in the joy of reunion and the beauty of being able to confide their endless longing.

Upon learning the news of the Emperor's departure, Xun Yu rushed to meet Ma Chao with great anxiety. His expression was filled with determination and resolve, and upon meeting Ma Chao, he unhesitatingly expressed his deepest desire to leave Xiliang immediately and head for Jizhou without stopping. He longed to be by the Emperor's side and serve him loyally.

Ma Chao listened quietly to Xun Yu's request, and his heart was filled with waves. Then, he looked at Xun Yu with a calm and earnest expression, and slowly soothed him with gentle and sincere words: "Sir, I am deeply aware of your sincere loyalty to the emperor, which is beyond doubt. However, Xiliang, where we are now, is suffering from the unscrupulous invasion of the Xiongnu and has been thrown into chaos by them. The people are suffering terribly in such a turbulent situation and are in dire straits. So I hope that you can have mercy on these innocent people and stay in Xiliang for a while. After all, the current situation is still unstable, and we need to work together to stabilize it. When the situation in Xiliang is truly settled and everything is stable, we will discuss this matter in detail again. It will not be too late to discuss it again." Xun Yu listened to Ma Chao's sincere words, and the original determination on his face was gradually replaced by struggle and hesitation. His brows frowned slightly, and his heart fell into deep thought. For a moment, he found it difficult to make a final decision.