bookrebus Chapter 740 Lu Wan loses control of her emotions
Chapter 740 Lu Wan loses control of her emotions
At that bustling yet shrouded in mystery, Liu Bei keenly caught the emperor's gaze, a wave of emotion stirring within him. While fully aware of the complexities of the situation, mindful of Ma Chao's sincerity, he couldn't help but want to make another plea for him. Leaning forward slightly, Liu Bei spoke tentatively, "Brother, your deep concern for our homeland of Xiliang is admirable. However, I'm curious as to what long-term ambitions you hold dear."
Ma Chao didn't think much of it. All that came to his mind was the tragic scene of the people of Xiliang being harassed by foreign invaders. Without hesitation, he said, "Xiliang is currently under attack from foreign invaders. The people are in dire straits. I just want to return to Xiliang as soon as possible and relieve their suffering."
Liu Bei nodded slightly, a subtle glint in his eyes, and then he asked, "What if one day the world is at peace and there are no more wars and disputes? What are your plans, my dear brother?"
Ma Chao thought for a moment, then said with a determined look, "If that day ever comes, I will stay in Xiliang, protecting the people and keeping the land safe. That will be enough for me in my lifetime."
Ma Chao's words, though seemingly simple and unadorned, stirred intrigue in both the emperor and Liu Bei. In the emperor's eyes, Ma Chao, despite his earnest words, simply sought to protect Xiliang and its people. This meant he wouldn't easily relinquish his military power, further solidifying the emperor's belief that Ma Chao held his own. The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and cast his gaze back at Liu Bei, a look that seemed to say, "Just as I expected."
Liu Bei sighed inwardly. He knew Ma Chao had no ulterior motives, only a single-minded devotion to the people. Yet, in the complex power struggle at court, Ma Chao's words had become grounds for suspicion. At this point, he could no longer offer any defense for Ma Chao, and could only silently endure the delicate and tense atmosphere, awaiting the next developments.
The emperor had a smile on his face, but a barely perceptible light flashed in his eyes. He opened his mouth and said slowly, "Marquis Wei's great victory in the Liangzhou battle is truly a blessing for our dynasty. I am deeply encouraged. Today is such a grand occasion, we should drink to our heart's content and put state affairs aside for now." His voice was calm and gentle, with the majesty and affinity unique to a superior.
After saying this, the emperor turned his gaze to Ma Chao and Liu Bei, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. He continued, "Lu Wan was also delighted to hear that Marquis Wei had returned victorious. As your junior sister, she has always been thinking of you. Today, let her also offer a glass of wine to Marquis Wei and the emperor's uncle as a token of her appreciation."
At these words, everyone at the banquet was startled for a moment, then smiled appropriately, and began to murmur in agreement, praising Lu Wan's loyalty and righteousness. Ma Chao was a little surprised, but he couldn't refuse. He even felt a tinge of longing; it had been so long since he'd seen Lu Wan, and how could he not miss her? He simply bowed and expressed his gratitude. Liu Bei bowed slightly, his usual modest smile plastered on his face, but a thoughtful look flickered in his eyes.
The emperor watched Ma Chao's reaction calmly, a trace of complacency welling up in his heart, yet he maintained a kind smile on his face. All of this was part of his carefully planned strategy, and this was just a crucial part of it.
He knew perfectly well that Ma Chao had just returned from his campaign in Liang Province, having achieved remarkable success and was now at the height of his fame. If he rashly attacked Ma Chao now, he would undoubtedly be placing himself in the spotlight, with widespread public outcry. How could he easily give up? This would lead to public discontent and unrest in the court, a situation he absolutely did not want to see.
In the eyes of the emperor, Lu Wan, that shameless woman, was both Ma Chao's weak spot and the key to achieving his goals. Thinking of the sincere friendship between Lu Wan and Ma Chao, the emperor felt an indescribable hatred, but beneath this hatred, he also keenly perceived the immense value hidden within it. Knowing their bond, the emperor became increasingly certain that if he wanted to deal with Ma Chao, targeting Lu Wan would be the most effective way to achieve twice the result with half the effort.
The emperor had already carefully planned everything. He saw this celebration banquet for Ma Chao as the perfect opportunity to put his plan into action. He planned to use Empress Lu Wan's status at the banquet to arrange a meeting between her and Ma Chao.
The emperor knew that Ma Chao's love for Lu Wan was deep and solid, and that their friendship was as firm as a rock. If he could just give Lu Wan some guidance during their meeting, causing her to be treated a little harshly in front of others, or even deliberately create a scene where she felt humiliated and wronged, Ma Chao, with his explosive temper and his deep concern for Lu Wan, would surely lose control and turn hostile and do something outrageous.
By then, even if Ma Chao had just achieved great merit, he couldn't rely on his achievements to act recklessly and become arrogant in front of the entire court. After all, in this solemn court banquet, acting presumptuously against the emperor because of the empress was absolutely intolerable. The emperor was no longer the person who could be bullied by Ma Chao at will. If Ma Chao dared to act impulsively, the emperor would have the right to punish him. How could a minister dare to commit such a treasonous act against the emperor because of the empress, the mother of the country? If Ma Chao made a mistake, the emperor would punish him, which was in accordance with the will of heaven and the order of the court. No one in the court could object.
The emperor had secretly sent a message early on, informing Lu Wan that she was to toast Ma Chao at a banquet today to celebrate his triumphant return and reward him for his outstanding military achievements. The moment Lu Wan received the decree, a sense of unease welled up in her heart. She vaguely sensed that the emperor might be hiding some hidden agenda behind this, and she felt that this was a deeply inappropriate matter.
However, she hadn't seen Ma Chao in the past year or two, and her longing for him had already spread wildly in her heart, growing like wild grass. Ma Chao was the person she thought about day and night, and this unbreakable feeling made her unable to make up her mind to refuse him even though she was full of doubts.
Normally, Lu Wan despised the emperor's actions and disdained to curry favor, always wearing no makeup. But today, at the thought of meeting her beloved Ma Chao, her heart raced uncontrollably. To present her best self before Ma Chao, she meticulously selected the most opulent empress's attire and sat before a bronze mirror, meticulously applying her makeup. Every stroke was imbued with her deep affection and attachment to Ma Chao. Even though she knew there was no chance of their relationship progressing further, she simply wanted Ma Chao to see her at her most beautiful. To her, just being able to see him properly was enough.
Soon, Empress Lu Wan sauntered into the banquet hall. She was a graceful figure, but following behind her, aside from the towering guard Dian Wei, the maids looked like a makeshift staff. Though she held the title of Empress, she had never actually commanded these servants.
Lu Wan's arrival instantly captured the attention of everyone at the banquet. And from the moment Lu Wan appeared, Ma Chao's gaze was fixed on her like a magnet, unable to move even a fraction away.
Lu Wan suppressed the surging longing within her heart and bowed demurely to the emperor, performing the rituals of an empress. Then, she accepted the respect of all the officials. After everyone rose, the emperor, with a look of affection on his face, affectionately took Lu Wan's hand and walked over to Ma Chao.
The emperor's voice was resounding, his words sincere, as he lavished praise on Ma Chao's remarkable military exploits before the entire court. The praise in his words seemed to overflow. After his praise, the emperor smiled and said to Lu Wan, "Empress, General Ma Chao has rendered such an unparalleled service to our dynasty. Please offer him a glass of wine on my behalf as a token of my appreciation."
Only then did Lu Wan slowly turn her gaze towards Ma Chao. The man before her was the one she had longed for. His face had become a bit weathered after two years of fighting abroad, but his heroic and handsome appearance hadn't diminished in the slightest, instead, it had even gained a touch of mature charm. Lu Wan's heart suddenly throbbed as she looked at Ma Chao, nearly losing her composure. She could only take a deep breath and force herself to remain calm.
Lu Wanlian moved lightly, her delicate hands trembling slightly as she poured wine for Ma Chao. The crystal-clear wine created subtle ripples in the cup. Ma Chao's gaze was fixed on her face, so mesmerized that he even forgot to take the wine glass.
"Marquis Wei?" The emperor's slightly suggestive reminder awoke Ma Chao, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face. He quickly reached for the wine glass. He tilted his head back and drank it all, his Adam's apple rolling. The wine seemed to carry a thousand words, the deep affection they had shared in the past, the complex emotions of reunion after a long separation, all swallowed by him.
Lu Wan looked up at the white hair on Ma Chao's temples, and it felt as if a heavy hammer had struck her heart, a wave of piercing pain spreading through her. Those two strands represented his deep affection for her. The once high-spirited young man was now scarred by the years and the flames of war. Her eyes welled up slightly, and she was on the verge of tears, but she could only suppress her emotions, lowering her eyes, trying to conceal the turmoil within her.
Ma Chao put down his wine glass and briefly met Lu Wan's eyes. In that moment, a thousand words flowed through their eyes. They both forgot where they were, their eyes only focused on each other, forgetting their next move.
Wang Jie, who was sitting among the officials, had already been arranged by the emperor. He deliberately provoked, squinted his eyes, and spoke in a sarcastic tone: "Queen, you are so caring towards Marquis Wei, which really opens my eyes. I have never seen you so attentive to Your Majesty on weekdays. Do you have an extraordinary friendship with Marquis Wei?" As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar at the banquet. The officials looked at each other, not daring to breathe.
Lu Wan's face instantly turned pale as paper, and her delicate body trembled slightly. She looked at Wang Jie with trembling eyes, her voice trembling with anxiety and grievance, "Sir Wang, Marquis Wei and I are only fellow disciples, and we have absolutely no intention of overstepping the bounds. I hope you won't make wild assumptions and ruin my reputation!"
Seeing this, the emperor slowly stood up, a seemingly conciliatory smile on his face, but his words were as sharp as a knife: "My dear, please don't be so excited. I am aware of the friendship between the Queen and Marquis Wei. However, Queen, as the mistress of the harem, your every move affects the reputation of the royal family. Your behavior today is bound to cause misunderstandings. Although I trust you, you must also consider the opinions of the people of the world."
These words, seemingly meant to mediate, actually put Lu Wan in an even more awkward position. The emperor characterized her behavior as "inevitably misunderstood," confirming Wang Jie's baseless accusations and leaving Lu Wan speechless. Tears welled up in her eyes, and the feeling of humiliation washed over her like a tide.
Seeing Lu Wan being wronged, Ma Chao's rage surged. He quickly drew his sword from his waist, and with a flash of cold light, he pointed the tip of the sword directly at Wang Jie and roared, "Wang Jie! How dare you slander the Queen? If you don't apologize to the Queen today, I will not forgive you!"