小说园

第20部分（第2页）

And　he　picked　up　his　halberd　to　go。

〃In　the　deep　seclusion　of　the　harem；　I　heard　the　stories　of　your　prowess。　You　were　the　one　man　who　excelled　all　others。　Little　did　I　think　that　you　of　all　heroes　would　rest　content　under　the　dominion　of　another。〃

And　tears　rained　again！

A　wave　of　shame　flooded　his　face。　Leaning　his　halberd　against　the　railing；　he　turned　and　clasped　the　girl　to　his　breast；　soothing　her　with　fond　words。　The　lovers　held　each　other　close；　swaying　to　and　fro　with　emotion。　They　could　not　bring　themselves　to　say　farewell。

In　the　meantime　Dong　Zhuo　missed　his　henchman；　and　doubt　filled　his　heart。　Hastily　taking　leave　of　the　Emperor；　he　mounted　his　chariot　and　returned　to　his　palace。　There　at　the　gate　stood　Lu　Bus　well　known　steed　Red　Hare；　riderless。　Dong　Zhuo　questioned　the　doorkeepers；　and　they　told　him　the　General　was　within。　He　sent　away　his　attendants　and　went　alone　to　the　private　apartments。　Lu　Bu　was　not　there。　He　called　Diao　Chan；　but　there　was　no　reply。　He　asked　where　she　was；　and　the　waiting　maids　told　him　she　was　in　the　garden　among　the　flowers。

So　Dong　Zhuo　went　into　the　garden；　and　there　he　saw　the　lovers　in　the　pavilion　in　most　tender　talk。　Lu　Bus　trident　halberd　was　leaning　on　the　railing　beside　him。

A　howl　of　rage　escaped　Dong　Zhuo　and　startled　the　lovers。　Lu　Bu　turned；　saw　who　it　was；　and　ran　away。　Dong　Zhuo　caught　up　the　halberd　and　ran　in　pursuit。　But　Lu　Bu　was　fleet　of　foot　while　his　master　was　very　stout。　Seeing　no　hope　of　catching　the　runaway；　Dong　Zhuo　hurled　the　halberd。　Lu　Bu　fended　it　off　and　it　fell　to　the　ground。　Dong　Zhuo　picked　it　up　and　ran　on。　But　by　this　time　Lu　Bu　was　far　ahead。　Just　as　Dong　Zhuo　was　running　out　at　the　garden　gate；　he　dashed　full　tilt　against　another　man　running　in；　and　down　he　went。

Surged　up　his　wrath　within　him　as　the　billows　heavenward　leap。

Crashed　his　unwieldy　body　to　earth　in　a　shapeless　heap。

We　shall　presently　see　who　the　other　runner　was。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　9　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　9

Chapter　9

Lu　Bu　Kills　Dong　Zhuo　For　Wang　Yun；

Li　Jue　Attacks　The　Capital　On　Jia　Xus　Advice。

The　person　who　collided　with　the　irate　Dong　Zhuo　was　his　most　trusty　adviser　Li　Ru。　Li　Ru　had　not　fallen　in　spite　of　the　shock　and　at　once　scrambled　to　help　Dong　Zhuo　to　regain　his　feet　and　led　him　inside　to　the　library；　where　they　sat　down。

〃What　were　you　ing　about？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

〃Happening　to　be　passing　your　gates；　I　heard　that　you　had　gone　into　your　private　garden　to　look　for　your　adopted　son。　Then　came　Lu　Bu　running　and　crying　out　that　you　wanted　to　kill　him；　and　I　was　ing　in　as　fast　as　I　could　to　intercede　for　him　when　I　accidentally　collided　with　you。　I　am　very　sorry。　I　deserve　death。〃

〃The　wretch！　How　could　I　bear　to　see　him　toying　with　my　fair　one？　I　will　be　the　death　of　his　yet。〃

〃Your　Graciousness　is　making　a　mistake。　It　is　the　plucked　tassel　story　over　again。　But　if　you　remember　the　banquet　of　old　time　where　all　guests　were　to　tear　the　tassels　of　their　hats。　In　that　banquet；　King　Zhuang　of　Chu　made　no　fuss　about　the　liberties　taken　with　his　queen；　although　the　hat…tassel　in　her　hand　betrayed　the　culprit　Jiang　Xiong。　His　restraint　stood　him　good　stead；　for　the　same　Jiang　Xiong　saved　his　life　when　he　was　hemmed　in　by　the　soldiers　of　Qin。　After　all　Diao　Chan　is　only　a　handmaid；　but　Lu　Bu　is　your　trustiest　friend　and　most　dreaded　mander。　If　you　took　this　chance　of　making　the　girl　over　to　him；　your　kindness　would　win　his　undying　gratitude。　I　beg　you；　Sir；　to　think　over　it　well。〃

Dong　Zhuo　hesitated　a　long　time。　He　sat　murmuring　to　himself。　Presently　he　said；　〃What　you　say　is　right。　I　must　think　over　it。〃

Li　Ru　felt　satisfied。　He　took　leave　of　his　master　and　went　away。　Dong　Zhuo　went　to　his　private　rooms　and　called　Diao　Chan。

〃What　were　you　doing　there　with　Lu　Bu？〃　said　he。

She　began　to　weep；　saying；　〃Thy　handmaid　was　in　the　garden　among　the　flowers；　when　he　rushed　in　on　me。　I　was　frightened　and　ran　away。　He　asked　why　I　ran　away　from　a　son　of　the　family　and　pursued　me　right　to　the　pavilion；　where　you　saw　us。　He　had　that　halberd　in　his　hand　all　the　time。　I　felt　he　was　a　vicious　man　and　would　force　me　to　his　will；　so　I　tried　to　throw　myself　into　the　lily　pond；　but　he　caught　me　in　his　arms　and　held　me　so　that　I　was　helpless。　Luckily　just　at　that　moment　you　came　and　saved　my　life。〃

〃Suppose　I　send　you　to　him；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

Stunned；　she　pleaded　with　tears；　〃What　have　thy　handmaid　done？　My　honor　of　serving　only　Your　Highness　could　not　bear　being　given　to　a　mere　underling！　Never！　I　would　rather　die。〃

And　with　this　she　snatched　down　a　dagger　hanging　on　the　wall　to　kill　herself。

Dong　Zhuo　plucked　it　from　her　hand　and；　throwing　his　arms　about　her；　and　cried；　〃I　was　only　joking！〃

She　lay　back　on　his　breast　hiding　her　face　and　sobbing　bitterly。

〃This　is　the　doing　of　that　Li　Ru；〃　said　she。　〃He　is　much　too　thick　with　Lu　Bu。　He　suggested　that；　I　know。　Little　he　cares　for　the　Imperial　Rectors　reputation　or　my　life。　Oh！　I　could　eat　him　alive。〃

〃Do　you　think　I　could　bear　to　lose　you？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

〃Though　you　love　me　yet　I　must　not　stay　here。　That　Lu　Bu　will　try　to　ruin　me　if　I　do。　I　fear　him。〃

〃We　will　go　to