Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The two women's words, uttered out of ignorance, were like a cold, sharp blade, piercing Ma Chao's heart without mercy. He was struck by lightning, speechless, and a surge of unspeakable pain welled up in his heart. Every moment of his time with Lu Wan flashed through his mind like a movie. The love they once shared, pure and deep, now seemed so distant and unattainable, leaving him in such a heartbreaking state.

Sun Ce and Zhou Yu had been watching Ma Chao's reaction closely. Seeing his expression suddenly darken, like the oppressive gloom before a storm, their hearts skipped a beat, their nerves pounding. They were fully aware of the complexities of this situation, the sensitivity and thorniness of it, but at this moment, faced with such an awkward and weighty atmosphere, they felt their words choke, unsure how to break the suffocating silence.

Ma Chao exhaled deeply, suppressing the agonizing pain in his heart. With red eyes, he explained to the two women, "Wan'er was promised to the Emperor as his wife before Master died. Now, she has been made Empress by the Emperor, and her status is unparalleled."

Ma Chao's words shocked both Qiao sisters, their faces filled with disbelief. Xiao Qiao spoke first, her tone tinged with confusion and bewilderment: "Brother Ma, how is this possible? You and Sister Lu Wan have been childhood sweethearts, your friendship is deep. How could she marry the emperor so easily? Is there some hidden reason?" Da Qiao followed suit, "Yes, brother, we all know about your relationship with Sister Lu Wan. This is so sudden and unbelievable."

Ma Chao lowered his head slightly, was silent for a moment, and slowly said: "This matter is indeed helpless. How can I go against my master's dying wish? Moreover, the situation at that time forced me to marry the emperor for the sake of the overall situation." After hearing this, although Er Qiao still had doubts in her heart, seeing that Ma Chao was in so much pain, she did not ask any more questions.

Da Qiao showed reluctance. She gently held Xiao Qiao's hand, looked at Ma Chao, and said softly, "Brother, we know you are sad, but the world is unpredictable. Sister Lu Wan is the queen, so I believe she will be safe and sound in the palace."

Xiao Qiao curled her lips and muttered, "That being said, I still feel like there's something strange about this. How could it be so fine... Oh, never mind. I'm sorry for you, big brother. You must be feeling so bad."

Ma Chao gave a bitter laugh and raised his head, his eyes filled with helplessness and loneliness. "I also hope that she can always be happy and free, but fate plays tricks on us. Now she is in the palace. Although she seems extremely noble, she is actually walking on thin ice. I just hope that everything is going well for her. If I have the chance, I will definitely protect her."

Zhou Yu patted Ma Chao's shoulder and said soothingly, "Brother, things have come to this point. There's no point dwelling on it. It's a comfort that you're able to protect Wen Ji now. As for Lu Wan, if she needs us, we brothers will certainly do our best."

Sun Ce hated Liu Biao bitterly because his father Sun Jian was ambushed and killed by Liu Biao. This hatred also spread to the imperial court. After all, Liu Biao was a member of the Liu royal family, but he did such evil things, which made Sun Ce no longer have any respect for the imperial court.

Seeing Ma Chao in such agony, Sun Ce's long-suppressed rage suddenly ignited. His eyes widened, his fists clenched, and he spoke passionately, "Brother! Since Lu Wan isn't having a good time in the palace, why should you continue to endure the humiliation of that foolish emperor? At worst, we can rebel! With our combined abilities, we can definitely snatch Sister Wan'er back from that prison-like palace! The hatred of having your wife taken away is too much to bear!" With that, he slammed the table, shaking the cups and plates.

Upon hearing Sun Ce's bold statement, everyone was struck by lightning, their hearts trembling with fear. After all, in a world where the Han Dynasty still existed, openly mentioning rebellion was an act of treason. However, everyone couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions. They knew Ma Chao's status and prestige well. The pain of having his wife taken away would have been like a huge rock weighing on anyone's heart, difficult to swallow.

Ma Chao's face was solemn and serious. He stared at Sun Ce with a sharp gaze and spoke slowly, enunciating each word. "Wan'er and I share a deep bond, but it's ultimately just a personal relationship. Furthermore, all of this is the solemn instructions given by Master on his deathbed. While your words may seem impassioned, they concern matters of national importance. They are no joke, and you must not act rashly or impulsively. The world belongs to all people, and all actions should be based on the stability of the nation and the well-being of the people. How can I, simply because of my personal feelings, disregard the greater good and act so recklessly as to undermine the nation's plans? Even though this hurts my heart like a sharp blade, filling me with resentment and unwillingness, Master's final words weigh as heavily as Mount Tai. How dare I disobey?"

Zhou Yu was thoughtful and quick-witted, and he immediately said, "Brother, since Bo Fu and I saw those two striking white hairs of yours, we have been worried and wanted to find out the truth, but we have never had the right opportunity. After hearing what you said today, I think you must have been worrying about this matter day and night, and you are too angry, so you look so haggard." Ma Chao suppressed the grief in his heart like surging waves. The pain was like countless steel needles piercing his heart. His lips trembled slightly, and he nodded gently to Zhou Yu, letting out a heavy sigh: "Yes, Gongjin. This matter is like a thorn that is deeply embedded in my heart. Every time I think of it, I feel heartbroken. This breath is like a heavy burden that makes me breathless. However, when I cast my eyes on the people of the world, I know that my personal feelings are of no importance in the face of the welfare of the people. "Before, it was truly insignificant. The current imperial court, after weathering storms, has finally achieved some stability. But across the land, the warring states are divided, each with its own independent armies, like tigers and wolves lurking around. If the imperial court loses its authority again due to our reckless actions, the various factions will surely intensify their aggression against each other. In that case, not only will the Han Dynasty, which has lasted for centuries, be destroyed, but the innocent people of the world will once again be plunged into dire straits and displaced. Already, the people are struggling in the mire of war, their lives mired in unbearable hardship and despair. If the war continues unabated, when will they be able to escape this sea of ​​suffering and see their day of hope?" Ma Chao's words were filled with endless sorrow and helplessness, each word seeming to exhaust all his strength, yet revealed a sincere concern for the people of the world.

Sun Ce and Zhou Yu gazed at the glaring white hairs on Ma Chao's temples, striking in the candlelight, and a wave of deep heartache welled up in their hearts. Those two strands of white hair seemed like the cruel marks left on Ma Chao by time and pain, telling of his inner torment and struggle. The eyes of the two Qiao sisters, Da Qiao, were already reddened, tears welling up in their sockets, falling like beads from a broken string. They couldn't help but quietly raise their hands and gently wipe away their tears, feeling sad for Ma Chao's deep affection and helplessness, and lamenting the fickleness of fate in these troubled times.

Ma Chao noticed the growing solemnity at the banquet. He truly didn't want to ruin the hard-earned joy of the gathering, so he forced a smile and said, "Speaking of which, our gathering that day was truly unforgettable! Everyone painted, danced, and even composed poems to express their feelings. It was truly a joyous occasion. Since our hasty separation in Luoyang, we've all been on our own journeys and experienced so much. It's a rare opportunity to be together again today, so let's not dwell on those troubling things."

Sun Ce, unwilling to let his grief linger, quickly chimed in, "Yes, speaking of that day, I think of that rough fellow. I wonder where he is now? Such a rugged and uninhibited man, capable of chasing a tiger across a stream, is truly a rare warrior!" Ma Chao, instantly intrigued, took up the conversation, "Are you talking about Dian Wei? Ever since we met, that fellow has been loyally following Master Lu. After Master Lu's death, he devoted himself to protecting the Lu family and even now serves as Lu Wan's bodyguard." Zhou Yu, upon hearing this, could not help but sigh, "Such an act of loyalty is truly admirable. He truly is a generous man!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao put away their chaotic and complicated thoughts and talked enthusiastically with everyone about the interesting things that happened during the past gatherings. Laughter and joy gradually echoed in the room again.

The feast, a vibrant and heartwarming atmosphere, unknowingly stretched into the middle of the night. Ma Chao was weighed down by worries from beginning to end. Although he tried hard to maintain a smile in front of everyone, attempting to create the illusion of joy, behind that smile lay unspeakable pain. His brothers were keenly aware of his forced smile and knew the torment he was feeling. They understood that Ma Chao was constantly on edge and under immense pressure. Perhaps, during this rare moment of reunion, a few more drinks, with the power of alcohol, would temporarily help him forget the pain that lingered so closely and ease his repressed emotions. So, everyone tacitly agreed and began to drink more. Before they knew it, everyone had drunk a little too much.

Supported by his brothers, Ma Chao staggered back to his own residence, his steps unsteady. As soon as he entered the house, all his strength seemed to drain him away, and he collapsed headfirst onto the bed. The alcohol quickly spread throughout his body, blurring his consciousness, and he soon fell into a deep sleep.

He slept for an unknown amount of time. In this chaotic state of half-awake and half-asleep, Ma Chao faintly sensed a cool ray of light filtering through the slits in the curtains, gently falling onto the bed. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze hazy and drowsy, and suddenly realized that tonight was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Moonlight, like water and silver gauze, poured into every corner of the room, casting a dreamlike halo over it.

Gazing at the bright moon hanging high in the night sky, casting its radiant light, Ma Chao felt an unbearable bitterness well up in his heart. On a day that should have been a time for family reunion, he was instead filled with melancholy. His thoughts drifted involuntarily to the distant past, to Wan'er. He wondered if everything he was doing could truly bring her happiness. The past flashed through his mind like a movie, the beauty of the past intertwined with the helplessness of the present, weighing heavily on his heart.

However, fate's trajectory, like a wild horse unleashed, had long since deviated from his intended course. Numerous unexpected events had plunged him into a state of flux, leaving him unable to control his own fate. Despite feeling helpless, pained, and unwilling, he could no longer stop it. He could only watch helplessly as fate's torrent swept him relentlessly forward, powerless to change it, leaving behind only a heart full of sorrow and sighs...