Sun Ce returned to south China. He buried his father then stationed the army at Jiangdu. He received earnestly people who went to him. Gradually he gathered many capable people to work for him.
Dong Zhuo in Changan heard that Sun Jian was dead. He was pleased by the news, and said, "That removed one of my biggest worries." And he asked, "How old is his son?" It was answered, "Seventeen." Dong Zhuo didn't think much of it. He was now running the Capital as if he owned it. He promoted his brothers to army posts and in charge of the imperial guards. All of his relatives, old or young, were named lords. He ordered two hundred fifty thousand labors to build another palace a hundred miles from Changan, and named it Meiwu. The size and the format is identical to that of the Emperor. He stored twenty years of food in the palace. Then he selected eight hundred boys and girls to live in the palace. All of his family lived there. The palace was filled with gold, jade, silk, and pearls. Dong Zhuo went between his palace and Changan, every month or half a month. All of the ministers had to see him off at the city gate. Sometimes he set up a banquet by the road and drank with the ministers. One day, Dong Zhuo was leaving Changan, and the ministers were seeing him off. Dong Zhuo invited them to a banquet by the road. Just at that time a few hundred prisoners from the northern frontier passed by. Dong Zhuo ordered them stop and stay. He then had some of their hands or feet amputated, others had their eyes poked out, or the tongues cut off, or put in a big pot and boiled. The screams were heard everywhere. All the ministers were scared and dropped their chopsticks. Dong Zhuo continued eating and drinking as if nothing was happening. Another time, Dong Zhuo invited the ministers to a banquet. In the middle of it, Luu Bu came to Dong Zhuo and whispered something to him. Dong Zhuo smiled, "Good." And he ordered Luu Bu to take Minister Zhang Wen from his seat. After awhile, guards came in carrying a plate with Zhang Wen's head in it. Everyone was scared to death. Dong Zhuo said, "Don't be afraid. Zhang Wen had planned with Yuang Shu to assassinate me. But Yuan Shu sent a letter that was delivered to my son Luu Bu by mistake. You don't need to be scared."
Minister Wang Yun returned home after the banquet. He kept thinking about what happened, and couldn't calm down. At night, he strolled into the garden. He stood by the plants and wept. Then he heard a long sigh from the pavilion. Wang Yun went to see who it was. It was a maid named Diao Chan. She was bought when she was young, and was taught singing and dancing. She was good at both. She was sixteen years old now, and was very beautiful. Wang Yun treated her like his own daughter. Wang Yun heard her sighing, and angrily asked, "Are you having an affair with someone?" Diao Chan hurriedly knelt down and said, "No. I wouldn't dare." Wang Yun asked, "Then why did you sigh?" Diao Chan said, "Please allow me to speak frankly." Wang Yun said, "Of course you can tell the truth." Diao Chan said, "I was brought up by you. And was taught singing and dancing. You treat me well. I don't know how I can repay you. I noticed recently that you looked very worried. I guess you must be worrying about the country's affairs. I did not dare to ask. Tonight you seemed to be very nervous. That's why I sighed, because I couldn't think of a way to help. If there is any thing that I can do, I'm willing to die for it." Wang Yun knocked his cane on the floor, "Who could have thought that the Han dynasty is saved by a maid. Please come with me." They went into the house. Wang Yun ordered everyone out. Then he let Diao Chan sit down, and knelt before her and started to kowtow. Diao Chan got up and knelt down, and asked, "Why are you doing this?" Wang Yun said, "Please mercy all of people of Han." And his tears came down. Diao Chan said, "As I have said, I'll do anything, even to die." Wang Yun knelt on the floor and said, "The people are suffering, the government is in great danger. Only you can save them. Dong Zhuo will usurp, and no one can stop him now. Dong Zhuo has an adopted son. His name is Luu Bu. He is an extraordinary fighter. I observed that both of them are womanizers. Now I can set up a double trap. I'll first promise you to Luu Bu, then give you to Dong Zhuo. You will then take opportunities to make them mistrust each other, and make Luu Bu kill Dong Zhuo. To restore the Han dynasty, to save the people of this country, will all depend on you now. Will you do it?" Diao Chan said, "I will do it. Please start your plan now." Wang Yun said, "If anyone knows this, we will all die." Diao Chan said, "I will keep it secret." Wang Yun thanked her again.
The next day, Wang Yun took out a few large pearls he had saved, and had them made into a golden crown. He secretly sent the crown to Luu Bu. Luu Bu went to Wang Yun's home to thank him. Wang Yun prepared a good dinner, and greeted Luu Bu at the door. After they sat down, Luu Bu said, "I am only a general working for the Prime Minister. You are a Minister in the government. Why are you so kind to me?" Wang Yun said, "There is no other hero than you in the world today. I respect you as a person, not your rank." As they ate and drank, Wang Yun did not stop praising Luu Bu and Dong Zhuo. Halfway through dinner, Wang Yun sent everyone else out, and asked Diao Chan to come out. Diao Chan already carefully did makeup. Wang Yun said, "This is my daughter. I'd like you to meet her." He asked Diao Chan to pour wine for Luu Bu. Diao Chan looked at Luu Bu, and Luu Bu just stared at her. Wang Yun pretended to be drunk. He said, "My child, give the general some more wine. We all depend on him." Luu Bu asked Diao Chan to join them and sit down. Diao Chan did not refuse (**Note: This was extremely improper for an unmarried woman in ancient China). Wang Yun said, "General is my close friend. Daughter you can sit with us." Diao Chan then sat beside Wang Yun. Luu Bu couldn't move his eyes off her. Wang Yun said, "I want to give my daughter to you as your concubine. Would you like to take her?" Luu Bu stood up and said, "If you do, I can never repay you." Wang Yun said, "We will choose a good date and send her over." Luu Bu was in heaven. He kept looking at Diao Chan, and Diao Chan always answered his stares. After the dinner, Wang Yun said, "I would have liked to have you here over night. But I am afraid that your father wouldn't like it." And he sent Luu Bu off.
A few days later, Wang Yun went to see Dong Zhuo. He took an opportunity when Luu Bu was not with him, and asked, "I would like to have the honor to have the Prime Minister in my home for dinner." Dong Zhuo said, "I will certainly come." Next day in the afternoon, Dong Zhuo came. A hundred armed guards first went in and stood at both sides of the hall. Dong Zhuo then came and sat down at his seat. Wang Yun went in front of Dong Zhuo and knelt down. Dong Zhuo ordered servants to take Wang Yun to his seat. Wang Yun said, "Prime Minister, you are better than any great statesmen in history." The dinner lasted till dark. Wang Yun asked Dong Zhuo to come to the back room. Dong Zhuo ordered the guards to leave. Wang Yun said, "I have learned to read the stars since I was young. Last night I looked at the stars and discovered that the time is up for Han dynasty. It is the time for you to take the crown and proclaim yourself the Emperor." Dong Zhuo said, "How can I dare to do that." Wang Yun said, "You deserve it." Dong Zhuo laughed, "If I ever become the Emperor, you will be the Prime Minister." Wang Yun said, "I have a maid that dances very well. Would you like to see?" Dong Zhuo said, "Very well." Wang Yun pulled down the screen, and asked the music to be started. Diao Chan came out and danced behind the screen. After the dance, Dong Zhuo asked her to come over. Diao Chan went to the front of the screen. Dong Zhuo was moved by her beauty, and asked "What's her name?" Wang Yun said, "Diao Chan." Dong Zhuo asked, "Can she sing?" Wang Yun asked her to sing a song. Dong Zhuo praised her continuously. After the song, Wang Yun asked Diao Chan to serve the wine. Dong Zhuo held the wine glass and asked, "How old are you?" Diao Chan said, "Sixteen." Dong Zhuo laughed, "You are like a goddess." Wang Yun stood up and said, "I will give this girl to Prime Minister." Dong Zhuo said, "That is very kind of you." Wang Yun said, "She is fortunate to be able to serve the Prime Minister." Dong Zhuo thanked Wang Yun. Wang Yun immediately prepared a carriage and sent Diao Chan to Dong Zhuo's home. Dong Zhuo also left. Wang Yun sent him all the way to home, then he went back.
On his way back, he saw two rows of lanterns coming up to him. It was Luu Bu. He went up to Wang Yun, held his clothes, and asked, "You promised your daughter to me. Why did you then give it to the Prime Minister? Do you take me as a fool?" Wang Yun interrupted him and said, "This is not the place to talk. Let's go to my home." They went to Wang Yun's home. Wang Yun said, "Why did you reproach me?" Luu Bu said, "I got the report that you sent Diao Chan to Prime Minister's house. Why did you do that?" Wang Yun said, "I thought you already knew. The other day, Prime Minister asked to come to my home. I prepared a dinner for him. During the dinner, he asked me, 'I heard that you have promised your daughter to my son. I want to make sure so I come here to ask myself. Also I want to see her first.' I couldn't refuse him. After Diao Chan met with her father in law, he said, 'Today is a good date. I'll bring her home and marry her to my son.' I couldn't stop the Prime Minister." Luu Bu said, "Please forgive me. It was my mistake." Wang Yun said, "I will send some of her stuff over to your place later." Luu Bu then left.
Next day, Luu Bu did not hear anything about Diao Chan. He went to Dong Zhuo's house and asked the maids. They told him, "The Prime Minister is sleeping with the new girl. He is not up yet." Luu Bu was enraged. He sneaked into the back of Dong Zhuo's bedroom. Diao Chan was already up. She was combing her hair by the window. She saw a reflection from the pond outside the window. She recognized it was Luu Bu. She showed an unhappy face, and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. Luu Bu looked for a long time, then left. He returned shortly. Dong Zhuo was up by then, and sat in the hall. He saw Luu Bu, and asked, "Anything to report?" Luu Bu said, "Nothing." And stood beside Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo was eating. Luu Bu looked around, and noticed a woman behind a curtain, showing only an eye. She was looking at him. Luu Bu knew it was Diao Chan. He couldn't keep his concentration. Dong Zhuo noticed Luu Bu's strange behavior, and got suspicious. He said, "If there is nothing, you can go now." Luu Bu reluctantly left.
Since Dong Zhuo took Diao Chan, he stayed with her all the time. He did not attend to anything else for over a month. Dong Zhuo had a minor illness. Diao Chan took very good care of him. This made Dong Zhuo like her even more. Luu Bu went to Dong Zhuo's bedroom to see Dong Zhuo. He was sleeping. Diao Chan stood at the back of the bed and stared at Luu Bu. She pointed at her heart, then pointed at Dong Zhuo, and tears went down her cheeks. Luu Bu's heart broke. Dong Zhuo woke up. He saw Luu Bu was staring at the back of the bed. He turned and saw Diao Chan standing there. Dong Zhuo was angry. He said, "How dare you flirt with my woman." He ordered the guards to take Luu Bu out, and ordered that Luu Bu would never be allowed into his bedroom again. Luu Bu met Li Ru on his way out. He told all about it to Li Ru. Li Ru hurriedly went to see Dong Zhuo. He said, "Prime Minister is going to rule the whole country. Why did you mistreat Luu Bu for a minor matter? If he is not loyal to you, it will be big trouble." Dong Zhuo asked, "What do I do now?" Li Ru said, "You can ask him to come back, and give him gold and silk, and sweeten it with nice talk. That should take care of it." Next day, Dong Zhuo asked Luu Bu to come to his bedroom, and said, "The other day when I was sick, I did not know what I was doing. Please don't take it to seriously." He then give Luu Bu ten pounds of gold and twenty yards of silk. Luu Bu thanked him. Although he is still serving Dong Zhuo, all he was thinking about was Diao Chan.
After Dong Zhuo got well, one day he went to see the Emperor. Luu Bu held his spear and followed. When Dong Zhuo was talking to the Emperor, Luu Bu took the opportunity and sneaked out. He went to the house of Prime Minister. He went directly to the bedroom and found Diao Chan there. Diao Chan said, "You can wait for me by the pavilion in the rear garden." Luu Bu went to the pavilion and waited. After awhile Diao Chan came. She cried to Luu Bu, "Although I am not Minister Wang's real daughter, he treated me like his own. Ever since I saw you, I wanted to marry you and serve you my whole life. Now I have been raped by Dong Zhuo, I cannot live any more. The only reason that I haven't died is I want to see you one more time, to say goodbye. Now my wish is fulfilled, I have nothing to live for. My body is dirty and cannot serve you. I will die in front of you to show my innocence." She held the fence by the pond, and started to jump. Luu Bu held her body, and cried, "I know your heart. You don't have to show me." Diao Chan took Luu Bu's hand and said, "I cannot be your wife this life. I hope I can serve you next life." Luu Bu said, "I can not be a man if I cannot make you my wife this life." Diao Chan said, "If you can save me, please do it soon. I cannot endure it any longer." Luu Bu said, "I came here today when Dong Zhuo is occupied. If I stay here long he will be suspicious. I need to leave now." And he started to leave. Diao Chan dragged on Luu Bu's clothes and said, "You are so afraid of that old man. I am hopeless now." Luu Bu stopped and said, "Let me think of a good plan." Diao Chan said, "I thought you were the only real hero in this world. Who would think that you are afraid of another man!" Then she just cried. Luu Bu felt so ashamed. He put aside his spear and hugged Diao Chan. He tried to calm her with warm words. The two of them could not separate from each other.
Dong Zhuo was talking to the Emperor, when he noticed that Luu Bu wasn't there. He immediately left and returned home. He saw Luu Bu's horse was in the front. He asked, "Where is Luu Bu?" The guard said, "In the back." Dong Zhuo ordered the guards out. Then he went to the back, but could not find Luu Bu nor Diao Chan. He asked a maid, she said, "Diao Chan is in the rear garden." Dong Zhuo went to the rear garden, and found Luu Bu and Diao Chan tightly holding each other under the pavilion. Luu Bu's spear is aside. Dong Zhuo yelled in anger. Luu Bu was surprised and ran. Dong Zhuo took the spear and chased Luu Bu. Luu Bu was fast. Dong Zhuo was too fat and couldn't catch Luu Bu. He threw the spear at Luu Bu. Luu Bu knocked it down. By the time Dong Zhuo picked up the spear again, Luu Bu was gone. Dong Zhuo ran out of the garden, and ran into a man. Dong Zhuo was knocked into the ground. If you want to know who this man was, read the next chapter.