Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

However, Ma Chao did not give the emperor such an opportunity to be vague. With a formal and serious expression, he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, how can Empress Gongsun be compared with Empress Lu? I have heard for a long time that Empress Gongsun is arrogant and domineering. She is not a person worthy of being the mother of the country. Therefore, there is no need to ask General Gongsun Zan's opinion. If General Gongsun Zan is dissatisfied, he can challenge my 300,000 cavalrymen from Xiliang. I have expressed my petition today. Your Majesty, please consider it again." His words were all about the strength of Xiliang's soldiers and horses. If the court did not obey, it would bring disaster in an instant.

The emperor, caught in a dilemma, spoke with some difficulty, "General Ma Chao, do you think it's imperative to establish a queen now?" Ma Chao replied, "Uncertainty about the queen's position will cause unrest within the palace, and unrest in the palace will be difficult for Your Majesty, who will also have to attend to the trivial matters of the harem. Wuji, following Master's orders, pledged to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and to help Your Majesty revive the Han Dynasty. Naturally, every aspect must be considered." The emperor then added emphatically, "Marquis Wei, are you truly committed to what you have said?" Ma Chao replied, "This is my only request: to establish Concubine Lu as queen. In the future, Ma Chao will lead the Western Liang cavalry as the imperial talisman, eradicating injustice throughout the land."

Seeing Ma Chao's words reach such a point, the emperor knew that if he didn't make a decision, Ma Chao would not give up. He nodded and said, "My dear Ma, the Marquis of Wei is truly dedicated to state affairs, emulating the style of Master Lu. Since that's the case, I will comply with the Marquis of Wei's request. The ceremony of enthroning the empress will be held soon."

The atmosphere in the court was tense and oppressive. The emperor, though disgruntled, was helpless. Ma Chao's forceful approach had achieved his goal, but this only exacerbated the conflict between him and the emperor. The other officials, some worried, some silent, pondered the impact this power struggle would have on the court.

Of course, none of this concerned Ma Chao. At this moment, Ma Chao had only one thought in mind. Since his master wanted Wan'er to marry the emperor to protect the Lu family's prosperity after his death, he would forcefully push for her. Since she was already a concubine, why not just become the empress? Since he couldn't be with Wan'er forever, he had to do his utmost to help her achieve a higher position.

Ma Chao's heart was filled with helplessness and resoluteness. He knew he couldn't change his fate, but he didn't want Wan'er to suffer any injustice. In this complex situation, he could only express his love and protection in this way. His eyes were firm and persistent, as if declaring to the world that his deep affection for Wan'er would not waver despite any difficulties. Although the road ahead was full of thorns, he would continue for Wan'er without hesitation.

After the court meeting, the emperor, filled with rage, summoned Liu Bei and Xun Yu to discuss matters. His face darkened, and he declared, "Ma Chao has been so rude today, interfering directly with my family affairs. And now, he's trespassing into the palace, showing no respect for me. How can I sleep peacefully?"

Liu Bei paused for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, please consider this carefully. Ma Chao's determination to make Concubine Lu Empress shows the depth of their friendship. Furthermore, the fact that he's stated his request suggests he's already let go of the Concubine's position and is merely working to consolidate her position. Whether she's made Empress or Concubine, she'll be part of Your Majesty's harem, and he'll give up on this fantasy. Furthermore, his deep bond with the Concubine ensures Your Majesty can use him with greater confidence."

Xun Yu also bowed and said, "Your Majesty, if you and the imperial concubine give birth to a prince soon, Ma Chao will not have any other intentions. He is simply unwilling to give in now. Moreover, by threatening Your Majesty in the court today, he will not be suspected of forming a clique for personal gain in the future. Even if General Gongsun Zan becomes dissatisfied in the future, Your Majesty can report this to General Gongsun and blame Ma Chao, thus preventing him from being misled. Ma Chao's actions have also alienated him from the court officials, and he can only serve as a loyal minister to Your Majesty."

The emperor was delighted after hearing the two men's explanations. After all, this analysis showed him that the situation was favorable to him. However, a hint of dissatisfaction remained on his face. He frowned slightly, as if still pondering the pros and cons. After a moment, he slowly said, "Hmph, even so, Ma Chao's actions today are indeed excessive. But let's leave it at that for now, and we'll deal with it later." The emperor knew that he couldn't show too much joy at this moment. He had to maintain his dignity and leave room for future control of the situation.

Inside the harem, the news of Lu Wan's proposed empresshood was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up waves. Concubine Gongsun's jealousy and hatred burned like a raging fire, threatening to consume her whole.

Her once delicate features were now savagely etched with rage, her beautiful eyes blazing with fury. She longed to rush upon Lu Wan and devour her alive. Concubine Gongsun stormed towards Lu Wan's palace, but before she could even reach the gate, the towering figure of a man ruthlessly blocked her way. The man, a towering figure, guarded the palace with such authority that Gongsun could not possibly cross. She glared at him and attempted to force her way in, but he remained motionless, determined to carry out his mission.

With no other options, Concubine Gongsun could only leave in anger. Since their marriage, Lu Wan had secluded herself in the palace, avoiding interaction with outsiders. This left Concubine Gongsun at a loss, and her anger only grew stronger.

Finally, Concubine Gongsun could no longer bear her anger and stormed to the Emperor's presence, causing a scene. Upon seeing the Emperor, she burst into tears and complained, "Your Majesty, please help me! Why should Lu Wan be made Empress? Since entering the palace, I have served Your Majesty wholeheartedly and diligently, never slacking off for even a moment. And Lu Wan, relying on Ma Chao's power, is trying to take my place. Your Majesty, you cannot allow Ma Chao to act so arrogantly. He clearly doesn't take you seriously!"

The Emperor looked at the exasperated Concubine Gongsun, feeling helpless. He frowned slightly, trying to comfort her, "Don't be angry, my dear. I'm helpless about this matter. Ma Chao is indeed arrogant and domineering, and he's determined to make Concubine Lu his empress. I can't do anything about it. Moreover, he even mentioned disrespecting General Gongsun Zan. What can I do?"

After hearing the emperor's words, Consort Gongsun became even more furious. "Your Majesty, you are the emperor, the ruler of the world. How can you allow yourself to be manipulated by a minister? You should immediately order Ma Chao to be severely punished and let him know that your majesty's majesty is inviolable. Otherwise, the court will still be ruled by him, Ma Chao. Your Majesty, you cannot be so weak!"

The emperor secretly groaned inwardly. He certainly wanted to punish Ma Chao, but the situation was complicated, and with Ma Chao commanding a large army, he dared not act rashly. The emperor could only continue to persuade Consort Gongsun: "My dear, calm down. A direct confrontation with Ma Chao is not appropriate right now. I will find a way to slowly weaken his power. Don't worry, I won't let you suffer any injustice."

But Concubine Gongsun refused to listen and continued to cry and cry, filling the entire palace with her anger and dissatisfaction. The emperor was caught in the middle, torn between the two sides, and the situation in the harem became more complicated and tense because of this struggle.

As the emperor watched the still-crying Concubine Gongsun, his thoughts became increasingly clear. He knew he couldn't allow the situation to continue like this; he had to find a way to counteract Ma Chao's growing power. Gongsun Zan was undoubtedly a pawn he could exploit.

The emperor secretly plotted how to sow discord between Gongsun Zan and Ma Chao. He reasoned that Gongsun Zan commanded a large army and held considerable influence within the court. If he could make Gongsun Zan resent Ma Chao and cause a conflict between the two, he would reap the benefits.

While trying to appease Consort Gongsun, the emperor was secretly formulating a plan to instigate Ma Chao. He could, at an opportune moment, casually reveal to Gongsun Zan Ma Chao's arrogant behavior, particularly his domineering behavior in court and his contempt for Gongsun Zan. The emperor was confident that, given Gongsun Zan's character, he would inevitably resent Ma Chao.

At the same time, the emperor could also create opportunities to cause conflict between Gongsun Zan and Ma Chao. For example, when allocating resources or handling government affairs, he could deliberately favor one side, causing dissatisfaction on the other side. This would gradually strain the relationship between Gongsun Zan and Ma Chao, and the emperor could skillfully maneuver and seize the initiative.

A glint of cunning flashed in the emperor's eyes. He knew that this game of instigation needed to be played with caution, so as not to let either side discover his intentions too early. But if he handled it properly, he could weaken Ma Chao's power and consolidate his own dominance.

The Emperor also harbored the desire to show his favor to Lu Wan. He was eager to share the good news of her impending empresshood, hoping to bolster her favor and secure her as soon as possible. The Emperor believed that only by allowing Lu Wan to truly live with him and give birth to a prince could he secure the thorny pawn that was Ma Chao. He was well aware of Ma Chao's deep affection for Lu Wan, and if he could use Lu Wan to contain Ma Chao, his rule would be greatly enhanced.

However, Lu Wan's indifferent nature and attitude towards him left the emperor completely baffled. Her constant indifference, her seeming indifference to everything, made her difficult for the emperor to fathom. And the towering figure of Dian Wei, for whom the emperor both loved and hated him, was a powerful figure. He loved such a formidable general, believing that if he could capture Lu Wan, Dian Wei would be his own instrument, adding immense strength to his rule. But he hated Dian Wei's ruthless lack of respect for others, constantly standing between him and Lu Wan, preventing him from making any further advances. Every time the emperor attempted to approach Lu Wan, Dian Wei's imposing presence acted like an insurmountable barrier, deterring him. The emperor was consumed with frustration, yet helpless. He could only secretly contemplate how to overcome these obstacles, win Lu Wan's heart, and achieve his political goals.