Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Lu Zhi's health deteriorated, his condition worsening. He waited for the arrival of the renowned physician Zhang Ji, and only two weeks after leaving Hua Tuo, his condition suddenly deteriorated dramatically. Now, he had begun to speak incoherently, his life like a candle in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment. Recently, Lu Wan requested to return home temporarily. The Emperor, ever adept at superficiality, naturally offered no objection and even visited him regularly. Mrs. Lu, now completely distraught, felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She simply sat by Lu Zhi's side, completely unsure of what to do.

With the war between Jizhou and Youzhou settled, the emperor issued a decree, and Liu Bei and his men returned to Chang'an. Upon hearing the news, Liu Bei was utterly shocked and rushed to the Lu residence to take charge. He knew that if Lu Zhi had truly passed away suddenly, leaving this large family, young and old, without a leader, it would be difficult to smoothly manage his funeral.

Lu Yu looked at the situation before him. He was facing a life-or-death separation after all. He was still young, and though he was the future head of the Lu family, he was filled with fear. He couldn't help but ask Madam Lu, "Mother, shouldn't we also notify our eldest brother, Ma Chao, to return?" Unaware that Lu Wan and the emperor were only superficially harmonious, Ma Chao looked up at Lu Yu and said, "What good would it do to notify Chao'er now? What if Chao'er returns and learns that your sister and you are married to the emperor as concubines? What if there's a scene? We shouldn't bring more trouble to the country."

Through tears, Lu Wan said discreetly, "Mother, I'm right. Let Brother Chao come back. He's respected Master his whole life. If he doesn't come back, I'm afraid... when he does, things will be even more chaotic." Madam Lu sighed and said, "If you decide this, and he comes back and causes trouble, I'm afraid your father won't be able to handle it."

But since Lu Wan had already spoken, Lu Yu felt it was necessary. He returned to his room, his mind in turmoil. He picked up his pen, the tip trembling slightly on the paper. After a moment's thought, he slowly wrote a letter to Ma Chao.

"From Brother Ma Chao:

I'm glad to see you. I have something important to share with you. My father, Lu Zhi, is seriously ill and his health is declining. He is now in critical condition. Everyone in the family is distraught. Although I am the only male in the Lu family, I am also worried and uneasy in the face of this situation. We all know that my eldest brother has always respected my father. If you can handle this matter as soon as possible and return to take charge of the situation, we will be grateful. The entire Lu family is eagerly awaiting my eldest brother's return.

Lu Yu respectfully presents.

After writing, Lu Yu gently blew the ink dry, carefully folded the letter, and sent it to Ma Chao as soon as possible. He prayed silently in his heart that Ma Chao would receive the letter soon and return as soon as possible, bringing a glimmer of hope and stability to the precarious Lu family.

Lu Zhi, who was lying on his sickbed, was talking nonsense every day, muttering about the late emperor and the Han Dynasty. Those words were full of nostalgia for the past and worries about the Han Dynasty, which made everyone present heartbroken. Every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's heart hard. They looked at the once majestic Lu Zhi in this state, and their hearts were full of sadness and helplessness. Lu Zhi had been upright all his life and devoted himself to the Han Dynasty. Now, at the last moment of his life, he was still thinking about the late emperor's kindness and the Han Dynasty. How could such loyalty and persistence not move people? Everyone gathered around Lu Zhi, listening to his nonsense, tears quietly sliding down their cheeks. They prayed silently in their hearts, hoping that Lu Zhi could suffer less pain, and that the Han Dynasty could be as stable and peaceful as Lu Zhi wished.

At this moment, the emperor, having heard that Lu Zhi was gravely ill, came to visit him once more. Dressed in finery and a look of concern on his face, he entered the Lu residence, surrounded by a crowd. Everyone in the Lu residence knelt to greet the emperor. The emperor raised his hand slightly, motioning for everyone to rise, and then walked straight to Lu Zhi's bedside. Looking at Lu Zhi, breathless and babbling, on the bed, a complex wave of emotions welled up within the emperor. Lu Zhi had lived a life of integrity, devoting himself tirelessly to the Han dynasty, yet now he had fallen to such a state. The emperor sighed softly and instructed his attendants, "Seek the best physicians and do everything in your power to treat Grand Tutor Lu." With one more glance at Lu Zhi, the emperor slowly turned and cast his gaze upon Liu Bei, a look that spoke volumes. The moment their eyes met, Liu Bei understood and silently followed the emperor to the Jingshi Hall. Lu Yu, Lu Wan and others stood where they were, looking at the departing backs of the emperor and Liu Bei. They felt as if a huge rock was pressing on their hearts, filled with anxiety and uneasiness.

In the quiet Jing Chamber, the emperor stood with his hands behind his back, a look of worry in his eyes. He looked at Liu Bei and said slowly, "Uncle, it seems that Master Lu's health is becoming increasingly serious. I'm afraid he will only live for a few days. How are the funeral arrangements going?" Liu Bei bowed slightly and replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured. All arrangements have been made. I will bury Master with the rites of a marquis, and all specifications will be followed to the highest standards."

The emperor nodded slightly, a trace of relief on his face. He continued, "I am relieved that my uncle is overseeing the arrangements. However, I have a slight concern that I need to discuss with you." Liu Bei's expression straightened, and he bowed again, saying, "Your Majesty, please speak frankly." The emperor frowned slightly, his tone grave. "Master Lu is apparently dying, yet Ma Chao is still leading the troops in the campaign against Tianshui. His campaign against Tianshui is merely a cover, and he is not giving his all. If he had been fully committed, he would have returned to the court long ago. However, if news of Master Lu's passing were to reach him now, he would surely return. And there is one matter that my uncle needs to take care of." Liu Bei paused, then said, "Your Majesty, please speak frankly. Ma Chao has always been sensible of the overall situation, so how could he not understand? Moreover, Lu Yu has already sent a letter. Unless the war becomes critical, I'm sure Ma Chao will rush back to take charge."

The emperor sighed softly, a trace of helplessness on his face. He said, "Uncle, you don't know, but I've already married Senior Sister Lu Wan. Ma Chao is deeply in love with Lu Wan. If he suddenly got wind of this news, and without Lu Zhi to restrain him, I'm afraid he'd make a scene."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's thoughts surged like a tide, his face filled with shock. He hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, how could you be so foolish? You know full well that Ma Chao and Lu Wan are in love, childhood sweethearts, and have long been in love. There are countless beauties in the world, so how could you turn against your general for a woman? Ma Chao's power cannot be underestimated. The people of the northwest obey only Ma Chao's orders. If Ma Chao becomes angry and resentful over this matter and truly rebels, it would be a recipe for disaster." Liu Bei's previous composure instantly waned, and he continued anxiously, "Your Majesty, this is truly risky. The situation is already complicated, with Master gravely ill and Ma Chao's uncertain stance in Tianshui County. Acting like this could only lead to chaos."

The emperor looked distressed and explained to Liu Bei, "Uncle, since I ascended the throne, I have been working hard for the Han Dynasty day and night, and I have been unable to sleep. How could I be a person who is greedy for beauty? I married Lu Wan for a reason. You also know that Ma Chao's prestige in the northwest is very high. If he only listened to Lu Shi's words all his life, now that Lu Shi is seriously ill, you should have heard about what he did in Tianshui County. If he was really devoted to the court, why would he delay the army and waste time there? He acted like this before Lu Shi left. If Lu Shi left, he would be unrestrained. I will... How can I persuade him? I married Wan'er to be my consort for this very reason. With Wan'er mediating, if a prince is born, with Master Lu's guidance and Wan'er's affection, and with the prince's half-Lu blood, I think Ma Chao will continue to serve the country. I, too, have a hard time. Otherwise, who can restrain Ma Chao? Ma Chao is like a sharp sword; wielded well, he can conquer the lands and slay rebels. Without the restraint of his scabbard, he could backfire, and the Han Dynasty would be truly in danger.

The emperor laid out his difficulties one by one, and Liu Bei, after listening, gradually emerged from his shock and began to reflect. His brow furrowed, he paced back and forth in his secret room, weighing the pros and cons of this matter. After a long deliberation, Liu Bei sighed, "Alas, Your Majesty is indeed thoughtful. However, this matter is extremely risky. The slightest misstep could lead to unforeseen consequences. Our only option now is to proceed with caution and try to prevent Ma Chao from taking drastic action upon learning of this. Your Majesty should consult with the imperial concubine as soon as possible and have her prepare a response plan. At the same time, you must strengthen your efforts to appease and control Ma Chao to ensure stability."

The emperor said with some distress: "Alas, uncle, Wan'er is soft on the outside but strong on the inside. She was dissatisfied with Master Lu's suggestion that she be my concubine, and now we are only superficially close. Although she did agree to help mediate the matter with Ma Chao in the future, I am afraid that Ma Chao will not be able to accept his return. The court now depends on you, uncle, and Generals Guan and Zhang to coordinate all matters, and we must also keep an eye on Ma Chao's reaction after his return. I have also left Zhao Yun in Lu's house. If Ma Chao gets emotional, you must stop him and persuade him. With your support and Wan'er's persuasion, I think he will slowly come to his senses. I'll ask Master Lu to leave a letter. If I can calm him down and keep him from getting too agitated, I think he'll be able to come to his senses once we've dealt with Master Lu's affairs. The world is still unstable, and we still need him to contribute to the country. And besides, Lü Bu has also arrived to report. He needs your support as well. Without Ma Chao, the northwestern power, you, the Emperor's uncle, wouldn't be able to balance Lü Bu and Gongsun Zan alone."

Liu Bei was secretly worried after hearing this. The emperor did have his own difficulties, and he was also a thoughtful person. Just by hearing the emperor say this, he knew that the emperor was also thinking very far ahead. He couldn't help but persuade him: "Your Majesty, don't worry so much. We will do our best to restrain Ma Chao. Ma Chao is also a person who understands morality and will definitely be able to figure it out. Your Majesty, please rest assured. Although the current situation is complicated, as long as we work together, we will be able to deal with it properly. Master has devoted his life to the country, and Ma Chao will not disappoint him. Your Majesty can communicate more with the imperial concubine and ask her to do her best to appease Ma Chao. At the same time, we can also make preparations in advance in case of unexpected situations when Ma Chao returns. Your Majesty, don't worry, we will share your worries and work hard for the stability of the Han Dynasty."