Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Shi A, following closely behind the Emperor, felt a surge of turmoil within him. Just yesterday, he had witnessed the Emperor's face brimming with rage, a rage that threatened to consume everything around him; and an endless hatred that surged towards the Imperial Concubine like a cold frost. But now, the Emperor seemed a completely different person, his face brimming with a warm and gentle smile, his every word and gesture a breath of fresh air. Shi A was filled with confusion, unable to fathom the Emperor's intentions behind this change in attitude. The Emperor's profound nature left him secretly astonished, yet filled him with awe and caution.

He leaned slightly to the side, took light steps, and quietly approached his master Wang Yue. He raised his hand slightly, and touched Wang Yue's arm with trembling fingers. That light touch seemed to carry his full of doubts and uneasiness. Shi A's eyes were inquiring, hoping to get some answers or enlightenment from his master. Wang Yue naturally noticed his apprentice's small movements. His eyes were still looking straight ahead, seemingly calm, but in fact his mind was racing. He raised his elbow and seemingly nudged his apprentice casually. That one move contained a lot of information. He was telling his apprentice that the most important thing now was to continue to stay in place and fulfill their duty to protect the emperor. In this palace, the situation changes rapidly, and they cannot be distracted or reckless. Shi A understood, nodded slightly, and his eyes became firm again. He stopped talking and refocused his attention on the movements around him, ready to deal with various possible situations at any time.

As the eunuchs hurried in to announce the emperor's arrival, Lu Wan slowly rose from her seat in the palace. She wore a plain dress, the color of the lightest cloud in the night sky, devoid of any garish ornamentation. Her hair was simply tied up with a wooden hairpin. Her face was simple and unadorned, as if the world's troubles had nothing to do with her. Her expression was calm and composed, without a single ripple.

Soon, she emerged from the palace with graceful steps. Seeing Lu Wan emerge, Dian Wei shifted slightly, automatically retreating behind her. Lu Wan took a few steps forward, bowed slightly, and whispered, "Your Majesty, what are your instructions?" Emperor Liu Bian's expression was gentle, as usual, with a faint smile on his face, and he unconsciously moved closer to Lu Wan.

Seeing this, Lu Wan subconsciously took a few steps back, putting some distance between them and the Emperor. Seeing this, Liu Bian couldn't help but laugh and whispered, "Wan'er, why are you so defensive? I promised you I wouldn't disobey you, and I won't go against your wishes. I came here today to tell you that it's time to return home tomorrow. At the court meeting today, I appointed my father-in-law the Marquis of Fanyang County and also gave Lu Yu an official position to give him some experience. You should also be prepared. We will return together tomorrow, and don't let your father-in-law and mother-in-law notice anything unusual."

Lu Wan lowered her eyes slightly, bowed respectfully to the emperor, and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your reward. However, I am still young, my mind is immature, and my knowledge is limited. I am afraid I am not yet capable of holding a high position. Let him concentrate on his studies and serve the court when he grows up. I will behave normally when I return home, so as not to alert Your Majesty or your family and cause you any embarrassment." Liu Bian's lips curled up into a gentle smile. "Okay, then, you can continue to rest. Also, you are a little plain today. As an imperial consort, you should still be dressed formally, and your makeup should be more formal tomorrow. I have also had the furnishings in your palace reselected and rearranged, and the workers will be installing them. I will ensure that you live comfortably in the palace." The emperor's words were sincere and impeccable. Lu Wan had no choice but to bow and thank him again.

The emperor nodded slightly and said, "Since that's the case, Wan'er, I won't disturb your rest. I still have government affairs to attend to. You should go back and rest." With that, the emperor turned and walked away with steady steps. Lu Wan could only stand there and respectfully bid the emperor farewell. As the emperor's figure gradually faded, Lu Wan sighed softly and turned back to the palace, her figure looking a little lonely in the afterglow of the palace.

After the emperor returned to the palace, Shi A and his master Wang Yue did not follow him in. Shi A slowly approached Wang Yue and whispered, "Master, the emperor was so angry last night, but today he's so calm and even treated the imperial concubine so well. I have to say, His Majesty's ability to endure is truly outstanding. It's the imperial concubine, however, who seems a little ungrateful."

Wang Yue raised his head slightly, his eyes calm as he spoke, "Your Majesty is so patient, he must have great ambitions in mind. We just need to serve him well. As for the affairs of the imperial concubine, it is not for us to interfere. After all, it is the emperor's family affair. The emperor has such a heart. As long as we perform our duties conscientiously, we will surely be reused in the future."

Shi A nodded and said, "Of course, Master. With your skills, you will surely be able to rise to prominence beside the emperor in the future." Wang Yue raised the corners of his mouth slightly, smiled proudly, and did not argue.

"Yes." Shi A narrowed his eyes slightly and continued, "This Dian Wei is so reckless, but his skills are so amazing. It seems that the emperor is very dissatisfied with him. Master, should we think of a way to deal with Dian Wei so that His Majesty can fulfill his wish?"

Wang Yue folded his arms, frowned slightly, and said in a deep voice: "Dian Wei's martial arts are not inferior to mine. It is not easy to defeat him easily. For a moment, I don't know where to start."

A glint of cunning flashed in Shi A's eyes, and he said, "Let's first find this man's weaknesses. We can't let him show his hand so easily. I've noticed he's honest and straightforward. Perhaps we can try to get close to him first, and then strike once we find his weakness." Shi A was calculating. In his opinion, Master Wang Yue's appointment as the commander of the palace guards was a matter of course. However, upon Dian Wei's arrival, he was appointed deputy commander by the emperor, which made him extremely dissatisfied, and he wanted to eliminate Dian Wei.

Shi A's words resonated with Wang Yue. As the commander of the emperor's guards, Wang Yue felt he held a superior position. However, Dian Wei's martial arts rivaled his own, and if he wasn't suppressed, he might threaten his position in the future. Both master and disciple came from the common people, not particularly skilled in battle, and possessed a certain degree of the narrow-mindedness and calculations of ordinary people.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Yue slowly said: "What you said does make some sense. But Dian Wei is deeply trusted by His Majesty, so we must be extremely careful in our actions and must not act rashly. Let's try to get close to him first, feel out his attitude, and see if we can find an opportunity." Shi A nodded repeatedly and replied: "Master, don't worry, I will be careful. Let's start with daily trivial matters, pretend to be friendly with him, and wait until the time is right..." Shi A made a gesture of wiping his neck, and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

At that moment, the setting sun cast its last rays across the palace walls, stretching their shadows outward. Master and disciple stood there, each calculating how to gain greater advantage in the palace's power struggle and eliminate dissidents. Their figures seemed so small and ambitious within this magnificent yet fraught palace. Unbeknownst to them, the ever-changing dynamics of the court were beyond their control. Every step they took was like treading on thin ice, a single misstep could lead to irreparable destruction. But at this moment, blinded by profit and jealousy, they no longer cared much but focused solely on how to bring down Dian Wei.

Return trip

The next morning, sunlight filtered through thin clouds, scattering down onto the palace's glazed tiles, refracting a dazzling light. The emperor rose early and, attended to by palace servants, donned an exquisitely splendid brocade robe and a golden crown. He appeared majestic and imposing. He carefully composed himself in the bronze mirror, his eyes filled with anticipation and profound meaning.

Soon, he and his attendants headed for Lu Wan's palace. Along the way, a gentle breeze blew past, lifting the corner of his clothes, as if adding a touch of lightness to this special journey. When they reached the palace gate, the emperor wore a gentle smile and walked in with steady steps.

Lu Wan had already been waiting in the palace. She was dressed in a gorgeous palace dress, her makeup exquisite, yet a hint of fatigue and helplessness could not be concealed in her eyes. The emperor approached her and gently took her hand. Lu Wan was slightly startled, but quickly regained her composure and cooperated with the emperor. The emperor approached Lu Wan and whispered, "Wan'er, I'm returning home today. Don't worry." Lu Wan nodded slightly and replied softly, "Your Majesty, I understand."

The two walked out of the palace side by side, and the palace maids knelt in greeting. The emperor helped Lu Wan onto the beautifully decorated carriage, and then climbed in himself. The carriage slowly started, the sound of wheels rolling on the stone pavement. The emperor occasionally exchanged a few words with Lu Wan, his voice gentle, and Lu Wan responded one by one, but there was a hint of distance between their words.

The procession marched towards the Lu residence in a mighty procession. The emperor sat in the carriage, a smile plastered on his face, his gaze occasionally glancing out the window, as if contemplating the events of his upcoming visit to his parents' home. Lu Wan sat quietly beside him, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes unconsciously, a mixture of emotions welling up within her. But to avoid worrying her parents, she tried to appear natural, occasionally offering the emperor a faint smile.

As the carriage moved forward and got closer to the Lu Mansion, the emperor and Lu Wan each had their own thoughts, preparing for the upcoming reunion with their family.

Inside the Lu family compound, the atmosphere seemed bustling with joy, but in reality, there was an undercurrent of worry. Mother Lu, dressed in a plain yet dignified dress, paced back and forth across the room, her handkerchief tightly clutched. She paused occasionally to gaze out the window at the long-sweeped road, her eyes filled with worry.

"Yu'er, is your sister doing well in the palace?" Mother Lu asked softly, her voice trembling slightly. Lu Yu stood by, his brows slightly furrowed. "Mother, my sister is incredibly intelligent and will definitely handle everything in the palace. Don't worry too much." While Lu Yu tried to comfort his mother, his heart was filled with anxiety.

Mother Lu sighed softly, "Although your sister has always been sensible, the palace has strict rules and people's hearts are unpredictable. Since she entered the palace, I have never felt at ease." She walked to the chair by the window and slowly sat down, her eyes still fixed on the door. Lu Yu walked forward and gently massaged his mother's back. "Mother, when your sister and His Majesty return today, we will know what happened to her."

Lu Yu, too, was consumed with worry. He recalled his sister's gentle smile before entering the palace, wondering if she had suffered any injustice. He tried to appear calm in front of his mother, but the anxiety in his eyes was hard to conceal. The family had prepared everything for the return visit, but Lu's mother and Lu Yu paid no attention to the elaborate decorations and sumptuous dishes, their thoughts preoccupied with Lu Wan's impending return. Their hearts agonized during this wait, hoping only to see Lu Wan soon and find some relief from their longing and worry.