Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ma Chao remained petrified, sleepless, silent, and refusing to eat or drink. He followed all the proper etiquette expected of a son, solemnly and respectfully carrying out the funeral for the man he respected most. During those days, he seemed to be cut off from the outside world, his heart filled only with the memory and remembrance of his master.

After the funeral, Ma Chao didn't leave his general's residence for three days. During these three days, no matter how anxiously his generals worried about his health and condition, or the emperor's seemingly concerned but actually ulterior motives, he didn't respond at all. For three whole days, he didn't even leave his room for a moment.

Inside the general's mansion, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive. Generals paced anxiously outside, fully aware of Ma Chao's stubbornness and persistence, yet unable to do anything about it. They worried that Ma Chao would be devastated by his grief, and even more worried that the situation would be further complicated by his silence. The emperor's decree, while seemingly concerned, concealed a sense of temptation and unease. The emperor, eager to utilize Ma Chao's talents but wary of his strength, was deeply suspicious of him. Ma Chao's silence only deepened his misgivings.

Behind closed doors, Ma Chao was lost in his own world. His face was filled with exhaustion and sorrow, his eyes empty and lost. He pondered his future, his master's instructions, and the fate of his family, country, and the world. These three days had been a spiritual cleansing for him, a process of gradually moving from grief and pain to calmness and resolve.

Three days later, Ma Chao walked out of his room, his expression normal. Outside, anxious Xu Huang, Xu Shu, Zhang Liao, and Zhang Ren gathered around him. Seeing Ma Chao's expression unchanged, they quietly eased some of their worries. However, their worries weren't completely dissipated; they were merely temporarily suppressed.

Xu Huang looked up at Ma Chao. When his eyes fell on the strand of snow-white hair at Ma Chao's temple, his heart suddenly tugged, as if being tightly grasped by an invisible hand. He was heartbroken. The strand of white hair was like a sharp thorn, piercing deep into his heart. Xu Huang slowly stepped forward and knelt beside Ma Chao. He held Ma Chao's legs tightly with his hands and cried with a trembling voice: "General, I know how painful your heart is! You have endured too much these days. Your master... he just left like that, but he threw all these responsibilities and pressures onto you. I feel really sad! You have done your best for your master, but he... And that woman Lu Wan, I really misjudged you before. I thought she and you were in love and would always be by your side. Who would have thought that for the sake of wealth and glory, she would abandon you and climb the emperor's high branch. How could she be so cruel? General, you were so good to her and protected her everywhere, but she was so heartless. I am really angry!" Xu Huang became more and more excited as he spoke, his emotions like a flood about to burst the dam. He stood up, waving his arms and shouting, "General, just say one word. At worst, we can rebel against the court and avoid this bullying. We have soldiers and generals, so why should we be afraid of them? We won't tolerate this bullying!"

Xu Shu was secretly surprised when he saw Ma Chao's expression remained unchanged. He knew that Ma Chao's calmness at this moment was not a good thing; it was the calm before the storm. Xu Shu thought that the general must have buried all his pain deep in his heart. If it exploded, the consequences would be disastrous. He hurriedly grabbed Xu Huang, stopping him from saying anything more. Xu Shu whispered, "Gongming, stop talking. Aren't you just rubbing salt into the general's wounds? The general is already suffering enough right now, don't add fuel to the fire."

Zhang Liao also hurriedly said, "Gongming, please shut up. What you said is inappropriate. The general has been through so much, and he knows what's right. We should trust him instead of giving him random advice."

Ma Chao smiled calmly, saying, "Don't worry about me. I've been thinking a lot these past few days. Since my master has determined that I, Ma Chao, am rebellious, I will show him how loyal I, Ma Chao, am to the emperor and my country. Wan'er, although she has made this choice, I don't blame her. It was her parents' will and the matchmaker's words, and she may have her own reasons. Just keep normal." Ma Chao spoke calmly, but the more composed and composed he was, the more apprehensive the four generals became. They wondered what this immense grief would hold for Ma Chao's mind. They worried that he was suppressing all his emotions, and once they erupted, it would be like a volcanic eruption. But for now, they could only silently stand by Ma Chao's side, waiting for him to slowly emerge from this gloom, praying that he would not be consumed by pain and anger.

As soon as news of Ma Chao's departure spread, all factions held their breath, anxiously awaiting his next move. However, Ma Chao showed no signs of abnormality. He inspected the troops brought from Xiliang as usual, as well as Xu Rong's 40,000-plus Xiliang cavalry stationed outside. The emperor was filled with doubts, unsure if Ma Chao had truly come to his senses, and his concern remained lingering.

During a court meeting one day, Ma Chao unexpectedly appeared in the palace. He stood quietly and dignifiedly at the head of the generals, his sword still drawn and his shoes still on, even though they should have been removed. It wasn't that the gatekeepers didn't want to stop him; it was simply that Ma Chao's presence among the over 40,000 Western Liang cavalry outside the city walls was enough to intimidate them. The guards at the Golden Palace quickly reported the incident to the emperor, who was horrified. He informed Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei to attend the meeting, and, while keeping Zhao Yun and Wang Yue at his side, he slowly made his way to the court. The emperor was uneasy, unsure of Ma Chao's intentions. He observed Ma Chao's calm figure, speculating on various possible scenarios, fearing the situation might spiral out of his control. Various factions also nervously watched the court proceedings, awaiting the outcome of this uncertain meeting.

Wang Jie and a group of civil servants newly promoted by the emperor were the first to launch a fierce attack on Ma Chao. They reported to the emperor: "Your Majesty, Ma Chao is a perverse and arrogant person. He even entered the palace with a sword and shoes on. He has no rules at all. Such behavior is extremely disrespectful. Your Majesty should punish him severely to restore order to the court." Upon hearing this, the emperor glanced at Ma Chao. Ma Chao was as calm as water, without any movement, just staring at him calmly. The emperor thought to himself that he must not anger Ma Chao at this time. So, he hurriedly eased the atmosphere and said: "My dear Ma, you are loyal to the emperor and love your country. You are my right-hand man. And with the advice given by Master Lu on his deathbed, you will definitely be the person in my court who will stabilize the Han Dynasty in the future. How can you judge him by common sense?"

The emperor then addressed Wang Jie, saying, "My Lord, you are truly making a mountain out of a molehill." Then, striking while the iron was hot, the emperor declared, "I would like to take this opportunity to announce that from now on, Ma Chao, the Marquis of Wei, may enter the palace bearing his sword and boots." Ma Chao remained calm, as if none of this had anything to do with him. Meanwhile, the courtiers were whispering among themselves, discussing the matter. Some were shocked by the emperor's decision, while others worried that Ma Chao's power was too great and might lead to unforeseen events. The atmosphere in the court became extremely tense and delicate.

Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Zhang Ren were also among the generals. Xu Huang looked down at the ministers whispering among themselves and shouted, "What? Even if my general comes to the palace with his sword and shoes on, what will happen? If you have any objections, just say it!" His words were filled with arrogance and provocation. Ma Chao did not intervene, allowing Xu Huang to speak. This ferocious glare from the ministers filled them with fear, and they dared not say anything. They knew Xu Huang's unparalleled bravery, and with Ma Chao at their side, they dared not provoke him. For a moment, the court fell into a subtle silence, and the air was filled with tension. Those ministers who had originally wanted to object could only suppress their dissatisfaction, not daring to express it. Ma Chao's silence made them even more confused about his intentions, unsure of the next move of this general with such a large army.

The emperor looked at Ma Chao and chuckled, breaking the deadlock. He said, "General Ma Chao is so busy with military duties. How could he find time to attend the court meeting today?" Ma Chao stepped forward calmly, not even kneeling. He simply bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I do have a memorial to present." The emperor said, "Your Majesty, you are too polite. Please submit it as soon as possible." Ma Chao slowly spoke, "Lu Wan, the daughter of Master Lu, is gentle and serene, beautiful and intelligent, with outstanding talent and noble character. She is gentle and kind, a true role model for women. Your Majesty, I believe Lu Wan should be made empress. I ask for your decision."

As soon as these words were spoken, the court was in an uproar. No one had expected Ma Chao to make such a suggestion.

The emperor's face was filled with a wave of uncertainty, his hatred reaching its peak. He had already made his stance clear before Master Lu's funeral hall, but Ma Chao still wanted to meddle in the emperor's family affairs, which was truly embarrassing for the emperor.

Wang Jie stepped forward and said, "Marquis Wei's suggestion is truly inappropriate. This is the Emperor's family affair, so how can we, as outsiders, interfere?" The Emperor was about to nod his approval when Ma Chao stood, sword drawn, staring directly at Wang Jie and saying, "Who are you? How dare you refute my suggestion? If the Emperor finds it inappropriate, he will rebuke me, not allow you to interfere. Besides, matters of the Imperial family are not private affairs. All matters under the heavens are the responsibility of the Emperor and his subjects. Lu Wan possesses both virtue and talent; making her Empress will greatly benefit both the state and the people."

Ma Chao's words were like a hammer, striking the court. Everyone was intimidated by his aura, and for a moment, no one dared to speak. The emperor's face was ashen, yet he knew full well that a direct confrontation with Ma Chao was not the right moment.

The emperor suppressed his rage and tried to soften his expression. He cleared his throat and said, "Lord Ma, I understand you're acting with the best interests of the country in mind. However, with Consort Gongsun and Consort Lu already here, this matter is truly serious. Should we consult General Gongsun Zan? After all, General Gongsun is a high-ranking official at court, and this matter concerns the safety of the harem and the overall well-being of the court."

The emperor's words clearly indicated his intention to direct the matter towards Gongsun Zan, creating mutual fear between Ma Chao and Gongsun Zan, and thus allowing the matter to drop. He hoped this way would resolve the current difficult situation, avoiding offending Ma Chao while also preventing further escalation. Meanwhile, the emperor was secretly observing Ma Chao's reactions, ready to adjust his strategy at any moment.