Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The night was as dark as ink, the sound of fighting ripping through the silence. Seeing Dian Wei fighting bloody battle in the courtyard, Cao Ang suddenly raised his arm and shouted, "Brother General, I'm here to help you!" Before he even finished speaking, he led his guards into the battle like sharp swords, their gleaming swords instantly splitting the attacks of two armored soldiers. Amidst the flashing swords, Cao Ang caught a glimpse of Lu Wan, huddled behind a screen. He then blocked the incoming spear and shouted, "But Sister Lu Wan?!"

"In the blood mist, the woman curled up behind the screen suddenly looked up, her pale face revealed between her messy black hair: "I am Lu Wan, I wonder who the general is..." Before she finished speaking, the guards behind Cao Ang rushed into the battle group like tigers and wolves. He flew with his long sword to force back the enemy soldiers and shouted loudly: "I am Cao Ang, the son of Cao Cao! I once studied under Master Lu. Don't be afraid, sister! I am here to protect you!"

Meanwhile, Cao Ren and Cao Hong were terrified. Having just finished enduring Cao Cao's scolding, they turned and found Cao Ang was gone. The two brothers exchanged a glance, weapons drawn, and rushed into the night. Turning the corner, they saw flames shooting skyward from the Lu residence, the deafening sound of fighting. Cao Hong shouted, "Not good!" The three of them immediately rushed over, only to see Cao Ang and his personal guards surrounded by numerous armored soldiers.

"Don't hurt my young master!" Cao Ren's steel sword was the first to slash into the enemy formation, followed by Cao Hong's iron halberd. Like a violent storm, they slaughtered Lü Bu's men and drove them back step by step. After the soldiers fled in panic, Cao Ren wiped the blood from his face and frowned, asking, "Young master, the lord just ordered not to clash with Lü Bu's army. What are you doing..."

Cao Ang leaned his sword against the ground, panting heavily as he pointed at Lu Wan: "Uncle Zixiao, this is the daughter of the late great scholar Lu Zhi, my senior sister! If you don't help someone in need, how can I, Cao Ang, live in the world with dignity?!"

Cao Ren's questioning was shattered by the reverberations of swords clashing, but Cao Ang waved his hand without even looking back, his blood-stained cloak sweeping across the messy ground: "Uncle Zixiao, please wait a moment!" Before he finished speaking, he had already stepped over the threshold, crushing the jade hairpin with the sole of his boot, and leaned over to help the trembling Lu Wan up.

"Senior sister, you're frightened." Cao Ang took off his cloak and wrapped it around her thin shoulders. Blood beads on the sword tassel dripped into the cracks of the blue bricks. "What happened? Who are these two warriors who risked their lives to protect you?" His eyes swept over Dian Wei, who was covered in blood but still standing with his spear in his hand, and Li Tong, who was leaning against the wall and gasping for breath. His eyes were full of respect and confusion.

Lu Wan clutched her bloodstained sleeve, the jade buckle on her wrist pricking her painfully. She gazed at the shattered house, remembering her mother's pale face before she fainted. Her voice suddenly trembled, "Ever since Senior Brother Liu withdrew, our Lu family has lost its protection... I'm sure the General is aware of the fact that we were taken to the city walls in broad daylight." She raised a hand and pointed at Dian Wei. "Dian Wei was originally under General Ma's command, and for many years he had secretly protected the Lu family. Captain Li Tong, along with him, was seriously injured while rescuing General Ma, and is now being nursed back to health at Senior Brother Liu's residence."

With Liu Bei's overnight evacuation of Chang'an, his residence and the Lu family were left without protection. Liu Bei's family was emptied of their belongings, leaving only Dian Wei, who was recovering from his injuries, and Lieutenant Li Tong, along with their servants and maids, trapped in the city. During the day, Lu Wan and her family were taken to the city walls as leverage against Ma Chao. Thanks to Ma Chao's cautious approach, the Lu family was spared. When this news reached Dian Wei and Li Tong, they were lying on their beds, their bandages still scabbing from their sword wounds. They had fought bravely to protect Ma Chao from the siege on the day of the Chang'an Incident, nearly dying, only to be saved by Liu Bei's intervention.

Dian Wei clenched the iron halberd at the head of the bed, his knuckles turning white from the strain. For years, he had secretly guarded the Lu family under Ma Chao's orders, and had long considered them his own family. Now, upon learning that Lu Wan was in danger, a raging rage welled up in his chest. Li Tong, despite the pain, rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping across the fire outside the window as he looted wantonly. He said in a deep voice, "Lü Bu's men are bloodthirsty. If the Lu family has no one to protect them, they will be doomed tonight." He tore off the bloodstained cloth wrapped around his waist and slammed his sword against the sole of his boot. The sharp blade reflected the cold, resolute glint in his eyes.

The two men grabbed their weapons, supported each other and rushed into the night, coming to the Lu family to guard them. They just happened to meet Lu Bu's subordinates coming to plunder, which led to the previous scene.

Cao Ang's face darkened, veins bulging from his clenched fists. He turned to gaze at the still-burning courtyard, the flames illuminating the rage dancing in his eyes—in this Chang'an City, loyal and honest people were not allowed to live in peace!

Cao Ren was extremely anxious. He grabbed his personal guard and whispered, "Report to the lord immediately! Tell him that the young master is fighting with Lu Bu's troops in Lu Mansion!" The sound of horse hooves disappeared into the night like a sudden rain.

Cao Cao was conferring with Lü Bu, Wang Yun, and others in the Secretariat. The flickering candlelight on the desk cast their shadows on the wall, making them look like ghosts. Suddenly, a personal guard entered with a panicked look on his face, anxiously searching the crowd for Cao Cao. Knowing the delicate situation, he dared not speak rashly. Instead, he winked at Cao Cao from the corridor. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, leaving tiny streaks on the blue brick floor.

Cao Cao's heart tightened. Glancing at the look on his guards' faces, he felt something was amiss. He forced himself to remain calm, bowed to Lu Bu and the others, and apologized, "Everyone, I'm feeling a sudden stomachache and need to leave for a moment." Without waiting for a response, he hurried down the corridor.

As soon as he turned around the corridor, the personal guard rushed up and said in a low voice: "My lord! The young master is fighting with Lu Bu's subordinates in Lu Mansion! General Cao Ren is afraid of accidents, so he specially sent me to report the news!" Cao Cao felt his temples throbbing, and a surge of anger rushed to his head. He seemed to have appeared in front of him the image of Cao Ang trapped in the siege. He grabbed the collar of the personal guard and said with gritted teeth: "Hurry up and prepare the horse!" Then he turned around, suppressed his anger and went back to the hall, and said in a deep voice: "An emergency occurred, and Cao had to go first. I hope you will forgive me." After that, he didn't care about the surprised eyes of the crowd, strode out of the Shangshu Terrace, jumped on the horse, and galloped towards the direction of Lu Mansion. The horse whip made a loud and crisp sound in the air, startling countless crows on the roadside.

Cao Cao's mount reared in front of the Lu residence. He gazed at the corpses of soldiers scattered across the courtyard, at Cao Ang's bloodstained cloak, his eyes blazing with rage. Before he could dismount, his whip lashed at Cao Ang's back like a venomous snake: "You beast! Your father has repeatedly warned you not to cause trouble, yet you keep provoking Lü Bu! How can our two armies coexist in the future?!" The tip of the whip brushed Cao Ang's ear, leaving a hideous crack on the porch column.

Cao Ang had barely opened his mouth, but before he could utter a single word, he heard the soft tinkling of his rings and pendants behind him. Lu Wan straightened her disheveled clothes, shuffled lightly over to Cao Cao, and knelt in greeting. "It's been five or six years since we parted in Luoyang. I never thought General Cao would look as charming and elegant as ever."

Cao Cao's grip on the whip paused slightly as he surveyed the woman before him. In the flickering candlelight, her hair was disheveled, her skirt bloodstained, yet her expression of dignity remained undisguised. He frowned, bewildered: This woman looked so unfamiliar, how could she be so direct in recounting her past experiences in Luoyang?

"May I ask, my lady, who are you?" Cao Cao was interrupted by Lu Wan's gentle voice before he could finish his words. "My name is Lu Wan, and my father is Lu Zhi." She raised her head, a flicker of reminiscence in her eyes. "In the past, the general and my father served in the same palace. I often served by his side and witnessed the general's demeanor."

Cao Cao was so shocked at hearing this that his whip nearly fell to the ground. He hurriedly raised his hand to straighten his clothes, his expression becoming respectful: "It turns out to be the Empress! I blame my poor eyesight. When I first saw you in Luoyang, you were still a little girl. Now you have grown into this state, I dare not recognize you!"

Lu Wan shook her head slightly, and said with a wry smile, "General Cao, please don't embarrass me. Those palace past events are long gone. General, just call me Lu Wan." She looked at the messy courtyard, her eyes dim. "Now, I am lucky to be able to survive in this chaotic world."

Cao Ang took the opportunity to step forward, his brows furrowed, and he looked at Cao Cao with a firm gaze: "Father! Back then, you sent me to study at Mr. Lu Zhi's house. Sister Lu Wan and I were classmates and as close as brothers. Now that Master Lu is dead, the rebel army under Lu Bu broke into my house and burned, killed and looted. If I stand by and watch, how can I face Master Lu in the afterlife?" His words were sonorous, and every word was filled with unquestionable determination.

Hearing this, Cao Cao slowly lowered his raised whip, and his tense expression gradually relaxed. Thinking of Lu Zhi's profound knowledge and noble character in the past, the anger in his heart turned into a long sigh. He stepped forward and patted Cao Ang on the shoulder, his eyes full of satisfaction: "Good! Good Zixiu! You are worthy of being my son, Cao Cao! Mr. Lu Zhi is a great scholar of his generation, teaching and educating people, supporting the country, and benefiting the world. His mansion will not allow these chaotic troops to act recklessly! What's more, Miss Lu Wan was once the mother of the country and was extremely noble. How can we sit idly by and watch her suffer such a disaster today!" After that, he turned to look at Lu Wan, his eyes filled with respect and apology, "Miss Lu was frightened. This matter is due to my failure to discipline her strictly. I hope Miss will forgive me."

Lu Wan had just opened her mouth to speak when she heard the rapid clatter of horses' hooves approaching, accompanied by the clang of armor clashing. "Squeak!" The remaining door to the Lu residence was violently kicked open, and Lü Bu strode in, his Fang Tian Hua Ji held upside down. Behind him, his personal guards formed a forest-like formation, the cold gleam of the halberds' tips making the blood-red hue in the courtyard even more glaring.

"Cao Cao!" Lu Bu's golden crown shook violently, and the blade of his halberd pointed directly at Cao Cao's throat. "Your good son has repeatedly ruined the plans of my brothers. He thinks that my Bingzhou Iron Cavalry is made of clay?! Today we must end it all!" Before he finished speaking, Cao Hong roared and thrust out his halberd. The iron halberd collided with the Fang Tian Hua Ji with a loud bang, sparks flew everywhere, and a gust of wind was raised.

"Wait a minute!" Wang Yun stumbled out of the crowd, the hem of his python robe stained with mud. "You are all pillars of the court. We will have to serve under the same rule in the future. Why bother..." He signaled Lu Bu to restrain himself, but saw that the other party's eyes, which were as sharp as a poisonous blade, were still glancing at Cao Cao.

Cao Cao calmly straightened his robe, stepped forward and bowed deeply to Wang Yun. "Master Wang, please understand! It wasn't my son who deliberately caused trouble. It was General Lu's soldiers who openly looted the Lu Mansion." He stepped aside to let Lu Wan behind him. "This is the former Queen Lu, the mother of the country. If anything goes wrong..." He suddenly changed the subject, his cold eyes swept over Lu Bu, "Not to mention that we can't bear the blame, I'm afraid that Ma Chao from Xiliang, who is eyeing Chang'an covetously outside the city, will destroy Chang'an to avenge his beloved!"

Wang Yun's forehead was covered with cold sweat, and he hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "It's a misunderstanding! It must be a misunderstanding! Fengxian, why don't you quickly restrain the soldiers?"

Lü Bu's painted halberd slashed with a sharp sound against the blue bricks, and the veins in his forehead throbbed at his temples. He stared intently at Lu Wan, who smiled serenely behind Cao Cao. The sound of the war drums of the Western Liang cavalry seemed to rumble in his ears. The ferocious image of Ma Chao, sword drawn and mounted, during the day, now overlapped with the frail figure before him. Rage surged in his chest, but he swallowed it and turned abruptly.