New Three Kingdoms Tales: Starting as the expressionless Liu Bei

As dawn broke, Lü Bu sat alone on the stone steps in front of the Wanle Palace.

His eyes were red and swollen, clearly indicating that he had cried all night.

The cold morning wind blew in through the palace gates, making his thin battle robe flutter in the wind. He remained motionless like a stone statue, staring blankly at the tightly closed palace gates in front of him.

A eunuch peeked out from the side door and, seeing his state, quickly stepped forward and advised, "General, you've been sitting here all night. Go back and rest."

Lu Bu seemed not to hear him at all, not even lifting his eyelids, and simply said two words: "It's nothing."

The eunuch tried to persuade him several more times, but seeing that he had no reaction, he could only sigh, shake his head, and retreat.

Their secret plot was bound to be overheard. Just then, Wang Yun found himself in the position of the eavesdropper.

He was wearing a faded old official robe. Seeing the figure sitting on the steps in the distance, he quickly walked over, stood beside Lü Bu, and asked with feigned surprise:

"General Lü, why are you sitting here all alone? There's still an hour and a half before court starts, you've come way too early."

Upon hearing his voice, Lü Bu slowly raised his head, revealing a pair of red and swollen eyes.

His lips moved, his voice hoarse and weary: "I'm not here to attend court. I just want to see Diao Chan in her wedding dress."

Wang Yun knew the whole story perfectly well, but he still pretended to be confused, frowning as he asked, "Want to see Diao Chan? You shouldn't have come here."

Lu Bu shook his head and muttered to himself, "It's closer to her here."

Seeing his distraught appearance, Wang Yun knew that the time was right.

He glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then bent down and whispered in Lü Bu's ear, as if revealing a huge secret:

"General Lü, please forgive my bluntness, but Diao Chan is not in the palace at all."

Lu Bu frowned sharply. Seeing that Wang Yun had only said half a sentence and then stopped, he grabbed Wang Yun's sleeve in a panic, his voice trembling, "Then where is she?"

Wang Yun then straightened up, let out a long sigh, and slowly revealed the truth:

"General, don't you know? Last night at the first watch, Diao Chan was carried into Mei Wu in a small sedan chair to serve the Prime Minister."

These words were like a knife, piercing Lü Bu's heart.

He froze for a moment, then sprang up from the stone steps, grabbed Wang Yun's arm, and his voice trembled with shock: "What did you say? Mei Wu?"

Wang Yun felt a sharp pain from his grip, but still nodded calmly.

He looked into Lü Bu's eyes, which seemed to be spitting fire, sighed, and hesitated to speak.

"I'm worried, alas..."

Lu Bu was so anxious that the veins on his forehead bulged. He grabbed Wang Yun by the collar, his voice almost screaming, "What are you worried about? Tell me! What are you worried about!"

Wang Yun slowly raised his eyes, looking at Lü Bu's face, which was twisted with rage, and said, word by word, "What am I worried about? To be honest, I can't say for sure myself."

"I only have a small guess, and I hope the general will consider it carefully before I speak it. Since Diao Chan has already been taken into Mei Wu, I'm afraid she's already on the Prime Minister's bed."

Lu Bu shuddered violently, his hands involuntarily loosening their grip on Wang Yun's collar, and he staggered back two steps.

He shook his head, saying incredulously, "No, this is impossible! The Prime Minister himself told me that Diao Chan was destined to become the Emperor's Imperial Concubine!"

Wang Yun nodded, then sighed, his tone full of sympathy, yet tinged with a barely perceptible hint of incitement:

"Yes, the Prime Minister not only said this to the General, but also to all the officials in the court. Otherwise, how could he openly take Diao Chan away? This is really hard to believe."

He paused, then took a half-step closer, lowering his voice even further, as if revealing a secret he had just acquired.

"However, I just happened to run into an inner court servant. He told me personally that last night, he was the one who carried the lantern and led the palace sedan chair that Diao Chan was riding in into Mei Wu."

Lu Bu felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if someone had grabbed his heart and twisted it hard.

He clutched his chest in agony, gasping for breath, and let out a hoarse roar: "Beast! Dong Zhuo, you old beast!"

Wang Yun stood aside, seeing that Lü Bu's emotions had been completely ignited, and subtly fanned the flames, his tone full of regret and indignation:

"My daughter should have been the General's beloved wife, whom he married through proper channels. But the Prime Minister, using the Emperor's name, forcibly took the General's sweetheart. Such a thing is truly an act of beastly depravity."

"If this gets out, the Prime Minister might not care; his reputation is already ruined. But General, how will you face people after this?"

Lu Bu suddenly turned around and slammed his fist into the stone pillar next to him.

With a loud crash, rubble flew everywhere, and the stone pillar, as thick as a bowl, was smashed to pieces by his punch.

Without even glancing at the pile of rubble, he swung himself onto Red Hare, flicked the reins, and the spirited steed galloped off towards Meiwu like a red lightning bolt.

Wang Yun stood there, feigning ignorance, and shouted at the departing red figure, "General Lü, where are you going? Are you coming back for dinner?"

Lu Bu did not answer, but simply spurred his horse onward and galloped away, disappearing at the end of the long street in the blink of an eye.

Wang Yun watched the figure disappear into the distance, then slowly straightened up and patted the dust off his sleeves.

The old face, which had just been filled with sympathy and pity, slowly revealed a smile of triumph.

Soon after, Lü Bu spurred his horse and galloped wildly, Red Hare's hooves flying, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived at the gate of Meiwu.

He dismounted and strode towards the gate of the mansion. Just as he crossed the threshold, a gatekeeper eunuch hurriedly came forward, bowing and blocking his way, speaking in a low, apologetic voice:

"General, the Prime Minister has just woken up. If you have anything important to say, please tell me first, and I will go in and inform you."

Lu Bu glanced down at him, his eyes filled with murderous intent, and uttered only one word:

"roll."

The eunuch's smile froze instantly, and he inwardly groaned.

The man before him was Dong Zhuo's adopted son, whose fighting prowess was unparalleled. How could a mere eunuch like him dare to offend him?

But if he just let people in like that, he wouldn't be able to bear the consequences if Dong Zhuo investigated later.

He steeled himself and took another step forward to block the way, his voice trembling with tears:

"General, you really can't go in! Please don't make things difficult for me. If I let you in like this, and the Prime Minister blames me, I'll lose my life!"

Lu Bu was furious. This lackey was blocking him from the left and right, clearly trying to buy time for that old scoundrel!

He whirled around, staring into the eunuch's eyes, his voice escaping through clenched teeth, each word distinct and forced:

"If Dong Zhuo could kill you, why can't I? If you dare to stop me again, I'll chop you down right now!"

The eunuch trembled at the undisguised murderous intent in his eyes, involuntarily taking two steps back, and dared not utter another sound.

Lu Bu stopped looking at him and angrily walked towards the inner courtyard. The fire in his heart was burning brightly, and his steps were quick and hurried, but thanks to the strange power in his body, he did not make a sound when he stepped on the bluestone slabs.

He silently made his way through the corridor and headed straight for Dong Zhuo's bedroom.

Just as I reached the door, before I could even push it open, a series of unpleasant sounds came from inside.

Diao Chan's voice was soft and weak, as if she were refusing or pleading: "Prime Minister, you should get up and go to the morning court."

Then came Dong Zhuo's rough, greasy voice, hoarse from just waking up and with undisguised intimacy:

"Oh my darling, you really wore us out last night! Why are you going to court today? Come on, lie down for a while longer!"

He paused, as if turning over, then chuckled twice and recited triumphantly.

"Haven't you heard the saying, 'The spring night is too short, and the sun rises too high, so the emperor no longer holds morning court'? Today, I'll make an exception and not go! Come, come, come lie down with me for a while longer!"

Lu Bu stood stiffly outside the door, as if his soul had been ripped out.

His hand, which had just been extended to the door, froze in mid-air, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

The raging anger that had been churning in his chest all along instantly turned into bone-chilling ice water, pouring down on him.

His hands slowly fell to his sides, and he stood motionless outside the door, forgetting even to breathe.

You traitor Dong Zhuo! I will never forgive you!