Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Dian Wei extended his arms, blocking everyone's path like a gate, and shouted, "The young lady is already asleep. Please do not disturb her. Leave immediately." The emperor froze in place, his face slightly displeased, but he tried his best to control his emotions and said, "General Dian, this is my imperial concubine. It's unreasonable for you to stop her like this, isn't it?" Dian Wei ignored all the rules and etiquette and said in a gruff voice, "Stop talking. Leave immediately. I don't know if what you are talking about is proper etiquette or not. I only know that the young lady is asleep. You should leave immediately, or you will embarrass me, General Dian."

The night wind blew, causing the flames in the lanterns to flicker. The emperor stood there, his face gloomy and uncertain. The palace servants lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound. Dian Wei stood guard at the palace gate with a determined look on his face. The atmosphere was so tense that it seemed to freeze. In the surrounding darkness, countless eyes seemed to be spying on this scene, while Lu Wan in the palace was completely unaware of the stalemate outside, immersed in her own thoughts. The emperor gritted his teeth, thinking about a response, but for a moment he didn't know what to do. Dian Wei stood still like a door god, guarding the palace and Lu Wan behind him.

The sharp-eyed palace servant saw that the situation between the emperor and Dian Wei was tense, and was afraid that the emperor would vent his anger on him. Without waiting for the emperor to give orders, he quietly turned around and left, and hurried to notify Wang Yue and Shi A to lead the guards to come.

Wang Yue was shocked when he heard this, knowing that this matter was of great importance. He hurriedly led a group of guards, including Qu'a, to Lu Wan's palace. They were dressed in armor and held weapons, and their footsteps were hurried, and the clashing of armor made a crisp sound.

The emperor's heart instantly soared when he saw Wang Yue and Shi A arrive with their men. He straightened his back, looked at Dian Wei sternly, and said, "Dian Wei, I pity your loyalty and do not wish to embarrass you. Leave immediately, and I will forgive you. Otherwise, you will be committing treason, and I will arrest you on the spot. You will die in vain."

Wang Yue and Shi A, along with their guards, surrounded Dian Wei. They all looked serious and aggressive. Dian Wei looked at their large numbers, but he showed no fear. His eyes were as firm as iron. He clenched his hands and pulled out the twin iron halberds on his back with a "swish". The twin iron halberds gleamed coldly in the moonlight. He held them across his chest and said loudly, "I don't know what you are talking about. I only know that the young lady said she wanted to rest, so I won't allow anyone to disturb her. I will be here to protect her. If you want to fight, then fight. What do I, Dian Wei, have to fear?"

Wang Yue saw Dian Wei still so arrogant, and then saw the emperor's face becoming increasingly ugly. The emperor's hands were shaking slightly, and his anger had reached its peak. He drew the sword from his waist with a "clang", pointed the sword at Dian Wei, and was about to attack.

At that moment, the palace door swung open with a creaking sound. Lu Wan, clad in a gorgeous attire, could not conceal her fatigue and determination. She held an exquisite dagger, unsheathed, against her fair neck. Everyone was startled by this scene.

Lu Wan addressed the emperor and the crowd, "Don't embarrass Dian Wei. Your Majesty, I know your intentions. In the future, I will prioritize the country and allow Brother Chao to serve the country. I won't let him oppose you, and I won't do anything with him that would bring shame upon the royal family. Your Majesty, your goal has been achieved. Allow me to live peacefully in the palace. If you insist on forcing me, then Lu Wan will die here today. Ma Chao, now the commander, is away. If he learns of this, the northwest will immediately revolt, and the situation will be out of control. This is how it is. Please consider this for yourself, Your Majesty." Lu Wan's voice, though soft, was firm and powerful, echoing in the silent night and causing everyone present to fall into deep thought. The emperor stood there, unsure whether to advance or retreat, his expression shimmering, unsure of what to do. The night wind blew, lifting the hems of everyone's clothes, and the atmosphere was so heavy that it seemed as if water could drip out.

Liu Bian felt the rage burning in his heart, as if it was about to burst through his chest and burn everything to ashes, but he forced a wooden smile on his handsome face. This smile looked particularly strange under the interweaving light and shadow of the cold moonlight and the dim palace lanterns. The laughter echoed softly in the silent palace, like the cry of a night owl, startling the insects in the surrounding grass into silence. He narrowed his narrow eyes slightly, looked at Lu Wan with a sharp gaze, and said softly: "Oh, my beloved, there are so many things to do at the wedding banquet today, you must be exhausted. The preparations for the wedding today are complicated, and you have worked really hard. Since you are tired, go to bed early. I will come to visit you another day."

After saying this, his handsome face still wore a smile that seemed as warm as the sun. He turned to Wang Yue, Dian Wei and the others, and said in a voice that was a little higher, but still with unquestionable majesty: "Put away your weapons. Look at you all, how disrespectful! I am exhausted from organizing the wedding today. Let's go, don't disturb the imperial concubine's rest here. I also need to go back to bed early."

His eyes seemed to casually sweep over everyone, but they held a chilling glint that made everyone's heart tremble. Then, he raised his chin slightly, his gaze resting on Dian Wei, and spoke softly, "General Dian's loyalty to his master is truly commendable. Come, I reward you with 50 taels of gold and a set of precious armor." Then, he leaned slightly to face Lu Wan, his eyes filled with concern, his voice as gentle as a breeze across the lake, "My beloved, it's late autumn now, and the night wind is chilly. Please return to the palace quickly, or you'll catch a cold."

Liu Bian finished speaking, then gently waved his sleeves, turned his head to look at the trembling palace attendant beside him, and gestured with his eyes for the light to be lit. He turned and left with seemingly steady steps, but the hem of his robe trembled slightly in the night breeze, as if revealing the turmoil within its owner. A closer look revealed that his slender, white fingers, which usually penned documents, were now trembling slightly, revealing the surging rage he suppressed within.

Wang Yue and the others hurriedly bowed to the emperor's departing back, their bows perfectly etched, a gesture of profound respect. Their gazes followed the emperor's retreating form until the bright yellow figure vanished at the end of the winding palace corridor. Shi A, still seething with indignation, snorted softly through his nostrils. Though quiet, the sound was audible in the stillness. His eyes were filled with resentment, and he glared fiercely at Dian Wei. Dian Wei showed no sign of weakness, his eyes as large as copper bells glaring furiously. His hands tightly gripped his twin iron halberds, the veins in his arms bulging with the strain, as if he were about to swing them again. Wang Yue, observing this, gently raised his hand, patted Shi A's shoulder, and shook his head slightly. His eyes held a profound meaning, warning Qu Amo not to act rashly. Then, he slowly turned and left with his troops. The clinking of armor echoed through the empty palace courtyard, like a suppressed song of sorrow.

Lu Wan stood quietly, her lavish attire fluttering gently in the night breeze. She gazed at the emperor as he retreated, her eyes filled with a complex mix of helplessness, guilt, and a hint of determination. After a long moment, she sighed softly, took light steps, and slowly turned to walk into the palace. The heavy vermilion palace door closed behind her with a dull thud, shutting out all the noise.

As the emperor returned to the palace, his attendants cautiously surrounded and waited on him, their heads bowed, not daring to utter a word. The palace lanterns swayed gently in their hands, casting flickering shadows on the palace walls. The emperor's mind replayed the previous scene, each image like a sharp blade, piercing his pride. His expression flickered in the light, a reflection of his restless heart. He clenched his fists, vowing to himself that he would not let this incident pass unnoticed. A cold glint flickered in his narrow eyes, like the coldest star in the night sky.

Returning to his usual slumber palace, the emperor strode into the hallway and abruptly turned. The palace attendants watched in fear as the wrath raged, not daring to breathe. The emperor no longer suppressed the rage within him, a rage that seemed to consume him completely. His eyes, red like an enraged lion, he swiftly approached Wang Yue and, with a clang, drew the longsword from his waist.

He swung the icy, gleaming sword wildly, slashing at everything in the shop, from the tables and chairs to the curtains. Each blow was filled with anger and resentment, and he kept shouting, "This bitch! She and Ma Chao have a long-standing relationship, and she thought I didn't know? And now she's speaking so openly about it. What does she think of me? What does she think of the royal family? I'm the Son of Heaven, the ruler of the world, and how dare she humiliate me like this!"

The palace attendants paled with fear, falling to their knees with a thud, their bodies trembling like sieves, yet daring not to utter a sound. Qu'a tried to dissuade him, but just as he took a step forward, Wang Yue quickly grabbed his arm. He squeezed hard, and Qu'a understood, standing still obediently. Wang Yue, meanwhile, stood aside, head bowed, eyes slightly raised, watching the emperor vent his fury.

The emperor continued to hack away furiously, his sword ripping the silken curtains apart, sending sawdust flying everywhere. The crackling sound echoed through the palace, like the emperor's furious roar. Veins popped on his forehead, and sweat streamed down his cheeks, soaking his collar. After a long moment, the emperor, having vented his anger, seemed to have exhausted all his strength. The longsword in his hand fell to the ground with a clang. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

He waved his hand feebly at Wang Yue, who quickly leaned forward. The emperor's voice was hoarse and weary, "Master Wang Yue, can you take down Dian Wei?" Wang Yue gritted his teeth, a fierce glint in his eyes. "Your Majesty, it's easy to take down Dian Wei in the palace." The emperor listened, his teeth gnashing as he pondered, his facial muscles twitching slightly with anger. After a moment, his momentum waned again, a faint expression of weakness on his face. He waved his hand and said, "Forget it, let's discuss it later." He slowly closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, as if all his strength had been drained. The palace was in shambles. The palace attendants remained kneeling on the ground, no one daring to move. The atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating.