Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The lights were just beginning to come on, and the banquet had already been going on for nearly half an hour. Everyone was either toasting or chatting and laughing, and a lively atmosphere filled the palace. Just then, Lu Wan arrived late.

She was dressed in a plain dress. The material seemed ordinary, yet it exuded a uniquely elegant aura, like a secluded orchid, quietly emitting its own fragrance. The cloak she wore behind her was also extremely ordinary, without any ornate decorations, yet this simplicity gave people a unique sense of intimacy.

Lu Wan, with delicate steps, slowly entered the brightly lit hall. Inside, the charcoal burned brightly, a warm warmth washing over her face, a stark contrast to the chill outside. Perhaps because she'd worn thicker clothes last night, the warmth now made her look a bit bulky. Lu Wan gently raised her hand, her slender fingers gently untying the ties of her cloak. Dian Wei, who had been silently following behind her, hurried forward and steadily caught the slipping cloak, his movements clean, efficient, and respectful.

Lu Wan led the way, her figure lithe and graceful, each step seeming to tread upon the hearts of the crowd, gentle and soft, yet revealing an indescribable dignity and grandeur. Dian Wei followed closely behind, like a loyal guard, his towering figure imbuing an incomparable sense of security. Thus, the two slowly arrived at the bustling banquet.

At this moment, the emperor, seated high on his throne, had long been eagerly awaiting Lu Wan's arrival, his eyes fixed on the palace gate, eager for her arrival. Finally, when Lu Wan's figure came into view, a glint of light flashed in the emperor's eyes. The moment Lu Wan entered, the emperor said with a face full of attentiveness, "My beloved, you are finally here! I have been waiting anxiously for you." He was an expert at putting on a show in front of the public, and these words undoubtedly played a trick on both sides. Even so, he did display a superficial warmth towards Lu Wan.

Lu Wan, however, seemed oblivious to the emperor's courteous words, continuing to walk forward at a leisurely pace. Behind her, Dian Wei followed closely, his stern face etched with an unquestionable determination. However, just as they were about to enter the deeper part of the palace, reaching the core area of ​​the banquet, they were stopped by a eunuch. Relying on his limited influence within the palace, the eunuch stretched out his hand to stop Dian Wei, muttering something about palace rules. Seeing this, Dian Wei snorted coldly, the sound like a winter wind, piercing his bones. He swung his arm, shaking off the eunuch's hand, and continued his domineering pace, following closely behind Lu Wan, as if nothing could stop his determination to protect her.

The Emperor's calls continued, but Lu Wan remained impassive, showing no sign of excitement at his "enthusiasm." She continued to walk at a steady, measured pace, until she finally reached the center of the banquet hall. She stood still, facing the Emperor, and respectfully and methodically performed a standard court ceremony, her manners impeccable and impeccable.

At the banquet, everyone's eyes followed Lu Wan's figure. Among them, Ma Chao, who was sitting on the side, locked his eyes on Lu Wan the moment she came out, and could not move his eyes away. He looked at Lu Wan and saw a hint of sadness on her face. That sadness was like a light cloud, lingering around her eyebrows and eyes, making people feel pity. Moreover, Lu Wan had obviously lost a lot of weight, and her originally slender figure now looked even more fragile, as if a breeze could blow her down. Ma Chao's heart was filled with pity, but he could only bury this emotion deep in his heart.

As for Lu Wan, she meticulously adhered to palace etiquette. After performing the solemn formalities before the Emperor, she stood quietly, awaiting his next instruction. Her dignified and graceful demeanor resembled a beautiful painting, drawing a long, drawn-out gaze. Just then, the Emperor rose from his high seat and slowly descended, seemingly intending to personally support Lu Wan. But just as the Emperor's hand was about to touch her, Lu Wan tilted slightly, deftly avoiding his support. Then, under his gaze, she straightened and stood still, like a pure white lotus, maintaining her purity and independence amidst the hustle and bustle of a palace banquet.

The emperor saw Lu Wan avoid his support, but he didn't care. He continued with an eager face, "My beloved concubine, today the Marquis of Ji has come to Chang'an specifically to pay homage to Master Lu, and I have also participated in the worship ceremony. Look at those sitting here, they are all your fellow disciples. They have come here without any hesitation to pay homage to Master Lu, my father-in-law. Master Lu has made outstanding achievements throughout his life and has made great contributions to our Han Dynasty. How can I not host a banquet to entertain them? And as Master Lu's biological daughter and their younger disciple, it is only right that you come and greet them."

Upon hearing this, Lu Wan simply replied calmly, "My father has passed away. Since he's gone, why bother with all this fuss? If you truly wish, just bring two sticks of incense, three taels of paper money, and go directly to my father's grave to pay your respects. My father dedicated his life to his country, always busy and toiling, never having a moment of leisure. Now that he's gone, let him rest in peace. Don't let these cumbersome formalities keep him from resting."

After hearing Lu Wan's words, the emperor could not help but say in a stern voice, "Alas, my beloved concubine, as a child, how can you speak so? Such words are quite disrespectful. It is precisely because Master Lu devoted his life to the Han Dynasty and died for it that he deserves such honor after his passing. Moreover, the Marquis of Ji came from afar and upon arriving in Chang'an, he immediately rushed to pay homage to Master. How can we ignore his sincere filial piety? Now, my beloved concubine, please stop saying such words."

Lu Wan continued, "Your Majesty, the man has passed away. My father's spirit in heaven must surely understand everyone's thoughts. However, the country is currently facing difficulties. Holding such a grand memorial ceremony will inevitably foster extravagance, which is not good for the country or the people."

However, the emperor was unwilling to listen to Lu Wan's remarks. As soon as Lu Wan finished speaking, he interrupted her and said, "Alright, my beloved. As you know, the Marquis of Ji was delayed by state affairs and was unable to attend Lu's funeral. He was filled with regret. So, upon arriving in Chang'an, he immediately thought of coming to pay his respects to his master as a token of filial piety. Moreover, they also missed you, but they considered that it would be inappropriate for you to attend the funeral in front of all the civil and military officials, so they did not let you come. Now that the memorial service is over, they hurriedly notified you to come so that you can reminisce with your fellow disciples. I have my own arrangements for state affairs, and with these trusted ministers around, how could anything go wrong? Alright, my beloved, quickly go and greet the fellow disciples."

Lu Wan, however, did not greet each person individually, as Consort Gongsun had done before. Instead, she walked straight into the room, standing tall and straight, her expression calm. She first slowly surveyed the room, her gaze as calm as water, as she swept over everyone present. Whether it was the fearsome Gongsun Zan, the unparalleled bravery of Lü Bu, the renowned benevolence of Liu Bei, or even her former lover, Ma Chao, all were swept over by her calm and indifferent gaze.

After looking around, Lu Wan opened her red lips and said, "Thank you, senior brother Zhong, for coming to pay homage to my father again in this cold season today. My father devoted his life to serving the public and always regarded the revival of the Han Dynasty as his own responsibility, and devoted his entire life to it. As his disciples, you should uphold his simple style and don't go to such great lengths to hold sacrifices in the future. You must know that the country is in a difficult situation now, and the country should be the most important thing in everything. I hope that you senior brothers can inherit my father's will and restore the glory of the Han Dynasty in the future. Thank you here." After speaking, she looked around again, and then saluted to everyone without being humble or arrogant.

When she looked at Ma Chao, she didn't linger for long, her gaze simply glancing across before moving away. After completing her greetings, Lu Wan turned to face the emperor, her tone calm but resolute: "Your Majesty, since we have already met, and the brothers have already hosted a banquet, please treat them well. I am not feeling well, and as a member of the harem, it is not proper for me to meet with an outsider. I will take my leave first." With that, she made a gesture to leave.

Seeing this, the emperor was secretly anxious. He had finally created such an opportunity for Lu Wan to appear and gather with everyone. How could he let her go so easily? He immediately rushed forward, intending to grab Lu Wan's arm to keep her, but Lu Wan reacted very quickly and dodged slightly. The emperor only grabbed the corner of her clothes. The emperor hurriedly said, "My dear concubine, today is a family banquet. There is no distinction between high and low. Moreover, these are all Lu Shi's former proud students. Today, we have finally gathered together. You are also here to drink a glass of wine with them. This will also fulfill Lu Shi's teacher-student relationship. Moreover, these are all my trusted ministers in the court. I regard them as my arms. My dear concubine, your presence here shows my solemnity and importance." The emperor was thinking about this. Every time he spoke, he kept talking about Lu Shi and the government. He knew in his heart that he and Lu Wan had no feelings for each other, and he also knew that what Lu Wan was thinking about in the palace now was her father's last wishes and her father's earnest expectations before his death, so he used this to persuade Lu Wan to stay.