Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The emperor, however, remained firmly in the leading position. After hearing Liu Bei's words, he gently waved his hand, his expression remaining calm, and said:

"Uncle, I have always claimed that this is a family dinner. If it is, then those present are all my family, so why should we be so fussy? I believe that all of you are of high moral character and know your limits, and will definitely not do anything that violates etiquette. Moreover, Concubine Lu and you are from the same school, and we have a fellow disciple friendship. It is only natural for us to meet and reminisce about the past. Could it be that Concubine Lu is no longer your junior sister? Uncle, please do not worry too much, just relax."

After hearing what the emperor said, Liu Bei had no choice but to sit down helplessly, but he sighed in his heart, feeling that the situation was becoming more and more complicated and unpredictable.

The emperor silently observed Ma Chao's expression, and happened to see a flash of joy and anticipation across his face. The eagerness and anticipation in his eyes were fully revealed in that moment. The emperor took in this subtle change in expression, but said nothing. A slight smile played at the corner of his mouth, and then he gave another order:

"Hurry up and invite Concubine Lu to come as well. Don't delay this rare moment of reunion."

The atmosphere in the palace became increasingly subtle and complicated due to this series of actions, as if an invisible storm was quietly brewing beneath this seemingly peaceful banquet.

Inside the main hall, a grand banquet was bustling with activity. At that moment, Concubine Gongsun, with her graceful steps, slowly approached the banquet table. Today, she felt incredibly confident, for she knew her father, leading a mighty force of 100,000 cavalry, had arrived to support her within the palace. Their goal, after all, was to seize the supreme throne of empress from Lu Wan.

Besides, the emperor's attitude towards her had actually changed significantly in recent days. His gentle words and caring eyes seemed to truly treasure her. But Concubine Gongsun had no idea that all this was just a deliberate attempt by the emperor to sow discord.

Today, Consort Gongsun was dressed in an extremely gorgeous dress, made of the finest silk and embroidered with exquisite patterns. Under the bright lights of the hall, it shimmered with a dazzling light, like a fairy stepping out of a painting. She walked with a light, yet arrogant air, as if she were already the mistress of the palace, about to rule the country.

When she appeared, the originally lively and noisy crowd suddenly seemed to be paused. The atmosphere in the entire hall froze for a moment, and then a whisper was heard.

When the Emperor saw Consort Gongsun approach, a smile of incomparable warmth immediately spread across his face, a smile that seemed to melt the winter ice. He said loudly, "Come, come, my beloved concubine, come and meet your father. The Marquis of Ji is traveling to Chang'an, and you and your daughter are reunited. I am truly filled with joy!"

Upon hearing this, Concubine Gongsun's face immediately lit up with enthusiasm, but her gaze swept across everyone, filled with disdain, as if no one in the hall was worthy of her attention. She walked directly towards her father, approached him, gently gathering her gorgeous dress, and then performed a formal ceremony of obeisance. After doing this, she threw herself into her father's arms, hugging him tightly, and said coquettishly, "Father, I've been looking forward to seeing you here for so long. How is your health?"

Gongsun Zan watched his daughter affectionately address the emperor, and he couldn't help but wonder if she must be enjoying a harmonious relationship with him in the palace, leading a perfectly happy life. With this thought, he glanced at Ma Chao, who was standing nearby, and a flicker of dissatisfaction crossed his eyes. In his mind, the position of empress should have been his daughter's. If Ma Chao hadn't used his power to pressure the emperor, he would have already crowned his daughter as empress.

With this thought in mind, Gongsun Zan eagerly reached out and touched his daughter's silky hair. He then gently patted her hand and said earnestly, "My daughter, your father has fought hard for the Han Dynasty in Youzhou and served the country. You should also serve the emperor wholeheartedly in this palace and never let anyone underestimate you."

The emperor spoke again, his voice gentle yet brimming with undeniable authority. "My beloved concubine, please take your time to reminisce about the past with your father. Everyone in this hall is my trusted minister, someone I consider my right-hand men. Come forward and greet them one by one."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Gongsun subsided a bit and assumed a polite demeanor. She bowed slightly, then walked clockwise towards Lü Bu...

From the moment Lu Bu entered, there was always a playful smile on the corner of his mouth, as if the disputes about the queen's enthronement that were about to take place in the hall were nothing more than an insignificant farce to him, and the cramped and tense atmosphere did not affect him at all.

He sat at the table, devouring his meal with relish, oblivious to the others, his manner of eating rather uninhibitedly. Only when he saw the Imperial Concubine Gongsun approaching did he unhurriedly set down his chopsticks, casually wipe his mouth with a handkerchief beside him, and then stand up. He straightened his clothes, bowed respectfully, and said, "Excuse me, Imperial Concubine Gongsun. I am Lü Bu of Bingzhou, and thanks to Your Majesty's great grace, I have been granted the title of Marquis of Wen. I am honored to be here today to meet the Imperial Concubine." He bowed his head slightly, awaiting the Imperial Concubine Gongsun's response.

Concubine Gongsun paused, gently looking up at Lü Bu. Lü Bu's carefree, carefree demeanor and his unbridled eating and drinking left her with a tinge of disdain. But she knew full well that her target wasn't this seemingly undisciplined Lü Bu. So, she lifted the corners of her mouth slightly, letting out a gentle smile. Her voice was soft yet indescribably charming, "Ah, this General Lü is truly majestic and powerful. Just look at his bearing; he's a true hero. Your Majesty and I are relieved to have a figure like you supporting the Han Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Lu Bu still had that unruly smile on his face as he responded, "Thank you very much for your kind praise, Your Majesty. I will serve Your Majesty's grand plan with loyalty and devotion, even if it means death." His words were sonorous and powerful, and his slogans were resounding, as if he were really a loyal minister who was wholeheartedly serving Your Majesty.

After exchanging pleasantries with Lü Bu, Princess Gongsun turned her gaze to the Minister of the Interior, Wang Yun. Wang Yun, since Lü Bu's arrival, had been quietly observing Princess Gongsun's every move. His sharp eyes caught every glimpse of Princess Gongsun's slightest disdain for Lü Bu.

You have to understand that Wang Yun's current power and wealth were all tied to Lü Bu. The emperor didn't have much of a favorable impression of these old ministers, and Wang Yun, who came from a prominent family, knew that he had to be firmly tied to Lü Bu in order to have any say in the court. Therefore, the slight disdain shown by Empress Gongsun towards Lü Bu truly displeased him.

Wang Yun, a true fox, remained unmoved, even when he was displeased. He bowed slightly, a gentle smile plastered on his face as he chuckled softly, "The Imperial Concubine is truly beautiful, and you and Your Majesty are deeply in love. As your humble servant, Wang Yun, I, the Minister of the Interior, sincerely wish you eternal youth."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Gongsun was immediately flattered by Wang Yun's flattery. She couldn't help but laugh softly, and said in an even more cheerful tone, "Situ Wang is indeed a loyal and loyal minister. Look at what he said, it's really very pleasing to the ear."

At this moment, Concubine Gongsun turned lightly and saw General Yan Gang, seated at the back of the table behind Gongsun Zan. Seeing the Concubine turn, he hurriedly took two quick steps before her, bowed solemnly, and spoke aloud, "General Yan Gang, I am honored to accompany you today to serve Your Majesty. It has been a long time since I last saw you, young lady. Seeing your affectionate relationship, I am truly delighted. Rest assured, young lady, I am here to protect you and Your Majesty with all my might. No mishaps will be tolerated."

Concubine Gongsun knew Yan Gang was a longtime family official and acquaintance, a trusted aide to her father. So she hurried forward, gently helped him up, and said softly, "General Yan, you're too polite. You've been through thick and thin with my father for many years. To me, you're like an uncle. I hope you'll continue to serve me wholeheartedly."

After finishing the greetings here, Princess Gongsun seemed to deliberately avoid Ma Chao who was sitting on her right, and slowly came to Liu Bei with lotus steps.

Liu Bei sat upright, his expression solemn and dignified. Seeing Consort Gongsun approaching, he quickly rose and saluted, cupping his hands in a respectful bow. He said, "Your Highness, Liu Bei, is a descendant of King Jing of Zhongshan. Thanks to my humble contributions in the court, I have the honor of serving Your Majesty. Today, I am honored to be here and meet the Consort."

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei behind him saw that their elder brother was so serious and did not dare to be negligent. They quickly stood up together and bowed like Liu Bei.

Over here, the emperor, watching this scene from his throne, smiled and quickly introduced, "My beloved, this General Liu Bei is no ordinary man. He's not only a loyal minister who has dedicated his life to the country, but he's also a member of the Han royal family and the emperor's uncle! Furthermore, he once studied under Master Lu, along with your father-in-law. So, he's actually your uncle. You should get to know him well."