Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Lu Zhi's words stirred a wave of emotions within Lu Wan. She pondered her father's words. Indeed, if the emperor remained suspicious of the powerful military officials, even if Ma Chao didn't intend to rebel, he would not let him off. Even when the empire was at peace, Ma Chao would find it difficult to rest. And if Ma Chao truly intended to rebel, even after her father's death, he wouldn't find peace. Perhaps by marrying her to the emperor, and for her to mediate, she could truly avoid conflict between the emperor and Ma Chao.

Thinking of this, Lu Wan felt a little better. After all, she could still do something for Ma Chao. Tears welled in her eyes as she kowtowed once more, her forehead pressed against the cold ground. She said, "Father, don't worry. I understand." Madam Lu watched this scene from the side, silently shedding tears. The room was filled with a heavy and sad atmosphere. The breeze outside the window blew gently, but it couldn't dispel the solemn atmosphere.

The urging voice of the ceremonial officer outside kept coming, "The auspicious time has arrived, the imperial carriage must return to the palace." The voice echoed in the courtyard with unquestionable urgency.

Lu Wan gently stood up, the hem of her gorgeous dress swaying slightly with her movements. She slowly turned to face her mother, tears in her eyes, and bowed deeply to her mother. Her mother's face was filled with sorrow and reluctance, but she fought back the tears and nodded slightly.

Lu Wan turned and left her father's room. In the courtyard, all preparations for the wedding were complete. Red silk silk fluttered, and the palace attendants stood respectfully by, waiting for her to board the carriage and depart. Lu Yu, a young but solemn-looking boy, looked at his sister's grief-stricken face, his eyes welling up. He couldn't help but cry out, "Sister," his voice trembling with reluctance.

Lu Wan stopped and opened her arms, and Lu Yu quickly ran into her arms. Lu Yu leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Sister, why didn't you tell Brother Chao?" Lu Yu had always been a well-educated, serious and upright gentleman. The fact that he could say such words was enough to prove the deep brotherly bond between him and Lu Wan, as well as the sincere friendship between him and Ma Chao.

A bitter feeling welled up in Lu Wan's heart. She closed her eyes slightly and said, "Brother, it's too late. Father's health is failing, and the Lu family will depend on you to support it from now on. I will definitely pray for our family in the palace." Her voice was soft but with unshakable firmness.

Lu Wan continued softly, "My dear little brother, no matter what reward His Majesty bestows upon you, whether it be an official position or a title of nobility, you will not accept any of them. Just stay at home and study. We, the Lu family, must not get involved in this palace struggle. We still count on you to bring honor to our family in the future."

With tears in his eyes, Lu Yu looked up at his sister and said, "Sister, you've suffered so much." Lu Wan gently patted his shoulder, a gesture filled with comfort and reluctance. Then, she slowly let go of his hand, turned around, and walked step by step toward the magnificent carriage. A gentle breeze blew, ruffling her hair, but it couldn't dispel the deep sadness of parting. Surrounded by palace servants, she seemed a little lonely and forlorn. The decorations on the carriage shone in the sunlight, as if telling of the unknown life in the palace. Lu Yu stood there, watching his sister retreat, tears finally streaming down his cheeks.

As Lu Wan was about to step out of the Lu Mansion, Dian Wei, like a moving iron tower, appeared. He was dressed in a black suit that highlighted his muscular build, and the twin iron halberds on his back shone with a chilling light in the sunlight. He took long strides and sprinted out of the mansion, shouting in a powerful voice, "Miss, wait a moment. I, Dian Wei, will accompany you into the palace!"

The emperor's soldiers, seeing the imposing man approaching, immediately rushed forward as if they were facing a formidable enemy. Dian Wei's thick eyebrows arched, his eyes wide with anger, and without a word, he charged forward with his iron fist. His fists whistled, and with just three punches and two kicks, the guards who had rushed forward were sent flying backward like kites with their strings cut, falling to the ground and groaning in pain.

At this moment, the emperor's guards, Wang Yue, and his apprentice, Qu'a, both wore solemn expressions, ready to strike. At Wang Yue's signal, Qu'a leaped forward, shaking his sword in a flurry of swordplay, and lunged at Dian Wei, intent on stopping the tiger-like warrior. Dian Wei, however, remained calm, effortlessly dodging the incoming thrusts with a sideways motion, then launched a powerful punch at Qu'a. Unable to evade, Dian Wei's punch struck Qu'a in the shoulder, sending him stumbling backward. Steadying himself, he gritted his teeth and charged forward again, only to be met with Dian Wei's ferocious attack. After only three or five rounds, he was knocked to the ground by a single kick. Seeing Qu'a about to be injured, Wang Yue's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he couldn't resist striking. With a swish, he drew his sword from his waist and, with lightning speed, charged at Dian Wei.

Dian Wei hadn't intended to use a weapon, but Wang Yue, worthy of being the world's greatest swordsman, unleashed a fierce, swift, and devastating blow. Forced back by the sharp blows, Dian Wei felt momentarily overwhelmed. With a roar that threatened to shatter everyone's eardrums, he yanked the twin iron halberds from his back. In an instant, a flash of cold light flashed, and Dian Wei swung the halberds toward Wang Yue. The halberds and the sword collided with a resounding metallic clang, sending sparks flying.

The entire wedding procession was stunned by this scene. They stood there with their eyes wide open and their mouths hanging open, at a loss as to what to do. Even the ordinary people on the roadside who were originally watching the excitement with great joy were stunned. They whispered to each other and discussed: "What's going on? Why did they start fighting?"

The emperor, also filled with confusion and uneasiness, quickly walked over to Lu Wan and whispered, "My beloved, what...what's going on? What's going on with this strong man?" Lu Wan, worried about Dian Wei's safety, furrowed her brows and hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, this is a retainer of my Lu family, who has always protected my family. Now he's worried about me and wants to come into the palace with him to protect me." The emperor pondered the pros and cons of this, his expression shifting as he stared intently at the two men still engaged. The battle between Dian Wei and Wang Yue intensified, and the tense atmosphere seemed to freeze the air around them.

The emperor stood there, his eyes flickering, his mind a tangle of confusion, rapidly calculating the pros and cons. He thought, if word got out that Dian Wei, who seemed somewhat reckless, was allowed into the palace, there would surely be much criticism within the court. However, this man had previously served as a guard at the Lu residence, and his loyalty to the Lu family was unquestionable. And judging by his previous skill, he was truly remarkable. If he could be recruited, he would surely become a formidable general, a powerful asset to his own cause.

Looking at the palace now, even though he was the Son of Heaven, the palace no longer held much sway over the world. Concubines were scarce, so even if such minor matters were unreasonable, they weren't irreparable. Furthermore, the most important thing right now was to ensure that nothing went wrong with the wedding ceremony and that Lu Wan was successfully married. Only then could he continue to manipulate Ma Chao, keeping him loyal to him and consolidating his throne.

Thinking of this, the emperor cleared his throat and said loudly: "Master Wang Yue, and that man, stop fighting and go into the palace together." The emperor's voice echoed in the air with unquestionable majesty.

When the two heard the emperor's call, Wang Yue was the first to withdraw his attack. He slowly sheathed his sword, stepped back, and bowed slightly to the emperor. Hearing the emperor's words, Lu Wan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said to Dian Wei, "Dian Wei, stop fighting. Come here."

Upon hearing Lu Wan's urgent voice, Dian Wei immediately sheathed his twin iron halberds. He strode swiftly to the carriage frame and knelt on one knee, his strong knee firmly planted on the ground. He bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Miss, please." Lu Wan nodded lightly, lifted the hem of her skirt, and stepped on Dian Wei's knee to climb onto the carriage. Dian Wei then stood up, holding his twin iron halberds upright behind him, guarding Lu Wan's carriage with an imposing presence, like an insurmountable mountain.

Seeing that all the turmoil had settled, the emperor raised his hand slightly and continued his command, "Forward." Following the emperor's command, the wedding procession regrouped and set off, a mighty procession heading for the palace. Wheels reeled, hooves clattered, and the common people on both sides of the road gave way, their eyes filled with awe and curiosity as they watched the retreating procession, secretly speculating about the events unfolding within the palace. The sunlight bathed the procession, seeming to gild it all, yet unable to conceal the undercurrents surging beneath the bustle.

Night fell over the palace, its walls ablaze with lights. Having completed all necessary formalities, the emperor finally breathed a sigh of relief. A banquet filled with fine wine and delicacies awaited him, and he drank two cups of wine. Thinking that Lu Wan had just arrived, he felt he couldn't neglect her. A surge of eagerness surged within him, and he rose and walked toward Lu Wan's palace, intent on bestowing her with favor and love.

In the distance, several palace servants led the way, lanterns in hand, their dim lights flickering in the night breeze. As they drew closer to the palace, the emperor saw that the candles inside had gone out, leaving a dark and hushed scene. Dian Wei's towering figure stood before the palace, like an unshakable fortress.

The emperor approached Dian Wei with a friendly smile, wanting to talk to him and build a closer relationship. He said, "Dian Wei, I appoint you as deputy chief of the palace guards. Together with Master Wang Yue, you will protect the palace security. Your position is second only to him. I will rely on you in the future." As he spoke, he reached out his hand, wanting to pat Dian Wei's shoulder affectionately. Dian Wei's eyes suddenly glared, his large, copper-bell-like eyes revealing a stubborn and unruly look. He shouted, "I don't care about being a commander or deputy commander. Don't touch me."

The emperor's hand paused awkwardly in mid-air, then slowly retracted. Still forcing a smile, he said, "Well, we're still a little unfamiliar. We'll get closer in the future. And why are the lights out so early in the palace on our wedding day?" Then, turning to the trembling palace servants beside him, he said with a hint of annoyance, "How are you serving? Hurry and light the lights." Upon hearing the order, the palace servants quickly replied, "As you command," and hurriedly prepared to enter the palace.