Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

With Dian Wei's help, Ma Chao's pressure suddenly eased. He took a deep breath, adjusted his stance, and swung his sword once more. Now, back to back with Dian Wei, they coordinated and engaged Wang Yue, Lü Bu, and Zhao Yun in a fierce, even-handed battle. Inside the palace, the clash of weapons reverberated, sparks flew, and figures shimmered amidst the flashing swords and shadows. Tensions mounted, and no one knew where this thrilling battle would lead.

While struggling to resist the attacks of Wang Yue, Lu Bu, and Zhao Yun, Ma Chao shouted, "Your Majesty, I, Ma Chao, am loyal to the court. Today, I am just angry because I saw Wang Jie slandering the queen. I absolutely have no intention of treason or regicide!" His voice was particularly clear amid the noise of fierce fighting, but the words he shouted were drowned out in the chaos.

The emperor stood aside, watching the battle unfold, a barely perceptible sneer on his face. He shouted, "Marquis Wei, even at this hour, you're still quibbling! Openly resorting to violence in the court, what else could that be but treason? Do you still care about me, the emperor, and this country?" The moment these words left his mouth, the already tense atmosphere reached a crescendo.

Ma Chao's heart trembled upon hearing the emperor's words, and a sudden realization dawned on him. It turned out that this had been a carefully orchestrated conspiracy from the very beginning, deliberately setting up this trap, step by step, to force him into a desperate situation, simply to frame him for treason and legitimately eliminate him. At this thought, Ma Chao felt a surge of despair and anger, but his grip on the sword tightened. He knew there was no escape now; he had no choice but to fight to the death, perhaps for a glimmer of hope.

Seeing the situation was at a stalemate, Wang Jie became anxious. His eyes turned and he shouted at the palace guards at the top of his voice, "What are you all standing there for! Capture the queen, and Ma Chao will naturally surrender!" After receiving the order, the palace guards looked at each other, then crouched down, holding sharp blades, and carefully circled towards Queen Lu Wan. Although their steps were light, they carried a strong sense of oppression.

Liu Bei's face paled as he witnessed this scene. Things had already devolved far beyond what he and the Emperor had planned. He knew that if anything happened to Lu Wan, not only would he be unable to explain himself to his mentor, Lu Zhi, but he would also be scorned by the world. With this thought, Liu Bei was consumed by anxiety. He rushed to Lu Wan, arms outstretched, and shouted, "Who dares to step forward? The Empress must not be harmed!" His voice, resembling that of a hen protecting her chicks, was resounding with anxiety, echoing through the palace. The guards paused, looking at each other, daring not to approach again.

Lu Wan's eyes were red, tears welling up in them. She watched Ma Chao, surrounded by the crowd, with a frantic heart. She bit her lower lip hard and shouted, "Brother Chao, leave me alone! Hurry, leave this place!" Her voice was tearful, yet incredibly resolute. At this moment, she was completely focused on getting Ma Chao out of danger, completely disregarding her own safety.

Ma Chao looked at Liu Bei with a complex expression, a mixture of disappointment and a hint of understanding. He knew in his heart that Liu Bei must know something about this, but at this critical moment, he had no time to dwell on it. Ma Chao took a deep breath and declared, "Brother, I will not inquire further about what happened today. But no matter what, I beg you to protect Wan'er. If anything happens to her, I will not let you go, even if I become a ghost!" He exchanged a resolute look with Dian Wei, and with perfect tacit understanding, they simultaneously exerted their strength to break out of the encirclement.

Ma Chao and Dian Wei coordinated with exquisite skill. Dian Wei wielded the heavy palace lantern with great force, each swing creating a whirring sound that forced Wang Yue, Lü Bu, Zhao Yun, and the others to retreat. Ma Chao, seizing the opportunity, thrust his longsword like a venomous snake, piercing the enemy's vital points. The three were forced back several steps, and the encirclement began to loosen.

As the banquet was about to begin and everyone entered the palace, Pan Feng, Wu Anguo, Ma Chao's personal guards, and Lü Bu's generals Cao Xing, Wei Xu, and Song Xian were placed in a secluded courtyard of the palace. Although there were also fine wines and delicious food, Pan Feng and Wu Anguo were wary from the moment they sat down, their eyes frequently meeting, conveying a sense of unease.

Cao Xing, beaming, held up a wine jug and poured wine for everyone, saying warmly, "Everyone, drink to your heart's content today!" Wei Xu joined in, laughing loudly and urging everyone to eat. Song Xian even pulled one of Ma Chao's personal guards over to him, calling him his brother, his enthusiasm a bit excessive.

Pan Feng pulled a perfunctory smile from the corner of his mouth. He took the wine glass but only took a sip, his eyes quietly glancing towards the palace banquet. Wu Anguo calmly moved his sword closer to his hand and whispered to his guards, "Be careful. I have a feeling something is wrong."

Just then, a faint commotion erupted from the banquet hall. Though indistinct, it conveyed a strange sense of tension. Pan Feng and Wu Anguo instantly stood up, their wine glasses slamming to the ground. Pan Feng, his brows raised, shouted, "Stop drinking! Something's wrong with our lord!" Ma Chao's personal guards also quickly rose, weapons drawn, and defensive stances adopted.

Cao Xing, Wei Xu, Song Xian and others' faces suddenly changed. They looked at each other and drew their weapons.

With the sound of hurried footsteps, palace guards poured out from all directions like a tide, surrounding this remote courtyard tightly. Swords and spears were raised, cold lights flashed, and the atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.

Lü Bu's generals, Wei Xu, Song Xian, and others, displayed a perfectly measured panic. They cried out, "What's going on? Is Your Majesty going to attack our meritorious officials?" as they feigned panic as they approached Pan Feng and Wu Anguo. Pan Feng and Wu Anguo, deeply concerned for Ma Chao's safety, assumed they were victims like themselves. Without hesitation, they shouted, "Brothers, unite our forces and prepare to break out and rescue our lord!"

However, just as the two sides were about to close, Wei Xu, Song Xian, and the others suddenly attacked with a cold glint in their eyes. Wei Xu swung his long sword fiercely, the wind whistling as he slashed towards Pan Feng. Song Xian was also unwavering, turning his body and stabbing Wu Anguo's vitals with his long sword. This sudden attack caught everyone off guard. Several of Lü Bu's personal guards fell to the ground screaming in blood before they could even react. The blood quickly spread to the ground.

Pan Feng reacted extremely quickly. At the critical moment, he dodged to the side and avoided Wei Xu's fatal blow, roaring: "You villains, how dare you plot against us!" Wu Anguo was also shocked and angry. He swung the hammer in his hand with great force, barely resisting Song Xian's attack. He was filled with regret in his heart. Only then did he realize that he had fallen into a trap. These generals of Lu Bu had been accomplices of the emperor's conspiracy from the beginning.

At this time, the courtyard was filled with shouts and cries of killing. Pan Feng, Wu Anguo and Ma Chao's personal guards fought hard, but the palace guards were numerous, and Wei Xu, Song Xian and others were watching them covetously. The situation was extremely unfavorable for them. Every fight was accompanied by splattering blood, and life and death hung in the balance.

Fortunately, Ma Chao's personal guards were among the best of the Western Liang cavalry, combining the valor of the Flying Bear Army with the elite of Gao Shun's Xianzhen Camp, forming a powerful force capable of both cavalry and foot combat. Faced with the sudden attack by Wei Xu, Song Xian, and the others, and the siege by the palace guards, they showed no fear or panic.

A nimble personal guard darted swiftly through the flashing swords and blades, his spear wielding like a dragon emerging from the sea, piercing several palace guards in quick succession. He seized the opportunity when Wei Xu's sword was about to strike, leaped forward, and thrust the tip of his spear directly at Wei Xu's throat. Wei Xu, startled, raised his sword to block the blow. A loud clang rang out, and his arm went numb from the shock.

Another guard, brandishing a broadsword, engaged Song Xian in combat. The sword swung with a whirring force, each blow carrying a tremendous amount of power. Song Xian dodged left and right, appearing extremely embarrassed, his body already covered in several bloody scratches.

Pan Feng and Wu Anguo unleashed astonishing fighting prowess. Pan Feng's immense strength was so immense that every swing of his axe knocked the weapons of the palace guards flying, instantly sending a swarm of enemies falling before him. Wu Anguo's hammer was equally powerful, sending the ground ablaze with dust, forcing the guards to retreat without a trace.

Despite the large number of enemies and the critical situation, Ma Chao's personal guards, relying on their superb martial arts and tacit cooperation, fought hard with the enemy, struggling to hold on in the heavy encirclement, waiting for the opportunity to break out, with only one thought in their minds: to fight out and meet up with Ma Chao.

The palace guards were densely packed, layer upon layer, trapping them like an iron wall. Pan Feng, Wu Anguo, and the others fought tooth and nail, but they found it difficult to break free. Ma Chao's majestic horse, Aurora, was also trapped in this perilous courtyard, paddling its hooves restlessly, its mane rustling in the wind.

Pan Feng's anxiety was flaring. His gaze swept across Aurora, and suddenly, an idea struck him. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Aurora! Aurora! Our lord is in deep danger. We're counting on you to break through the enemy lines!" As if understanding his call, Aurora raised its neck, let out a high-pitched neigh, raised its front hooves high, and suddenly leaped up, its body nimble as lightning. Carrying Ma Chao's weapon on its back, it charged like a fearless beast, charging straight into the encirclement of the palace guards.

Aurora's speed and power were astonishing, knocking the palace guards to their knees wherever it passed. Its sharp hooves kicked and lashed, tearing a bloody path through the impenetrable encirclement. Pan Feng, flushed with excitement, shouted, "Brothers, follow!" He quickly drew his bow and unleashed an arrow, shooting like a meteor at the enemy, clearing a path for the guards behind him.

Ma Chao's personal guards roared in unison and followed closely behind Aurora. They brandished their weapons and engaged in a desperate fight with the enemy, one after another falling before their swords.

The Aurora Horse galloped through the chaotic palace, its hooves whirring, its mane billowing, and its nostrils emitting hot, harsh breaths. Carrying Ma Chao's weapon, it galloped relentlessly through the chaotic palace. It needed no guidance at all, as if it had an invisible bond with Ma Chao, able to precisely sense his master's location.

With each gallop, Aurora's muscles tensed and strained, its powerful limbs sending dust flying everywhere it trampled, leaving the palace guards who tried to stop it far behind. Its eyes gleamed with determination, its gaze focused on only one direction: the palace where Ma Chao lay.

Pan Feng and his personal guards followed closely behind, panting but not daring to slack off. Pan Feng kept drawing his bow and shooting arrows as he ran. With a sharp whistling sound, his arrows accurately shot at those who tried to approach the aurora and hinder their progress.

Led by Aurora, the group was getting closer and closer to the palace and could already hear the sounds of fierce fighting coming from inside.