小说园

第19部分（第1页）

ld　be　seen。　Could　she　be　of　any　use　she　would　not　shrink　from　a　myriad　deaths。〃

A　sudden　idea　came　to　Wang　Yun；　and　he　stuck　the　ground　with　his　staff。　And　he　said；　〃Who　would　think　that　the　fate　of　Han　lay　on　your　palm？　e　with　me！〃

The　girl　followed　him　into　the　house。　Then　he　dismissed　all　the　waiting　attendants；　placed　Diao　Chan　on　a　chair　and　bowed　before　her。　She　was　frightened　and　threw　herself　on　the　ground；　asking　in　terror　what　it　all　meant。

Said　Wang　Yun；　〃You　can　sympathize　with　the　people　of　Han；〃　and　the　fount　of　his　tears　opened　afresh。

〃My　lord；　as　thy　handmaid　said　just　now；　use　her　in　any　way：　Thy　handmaid　will　never　shrink；〃　said　the　girl。

Wang　Yun　knelt；　saying；　〃The　people　are　on　the　brink　of　destruction；　the　prince　and　his　officers　are　in　jeopardy；　and　you；　you　are　the　only　savior。　That　wretch　Dong　Zhuo　wants　to　depose　the　Emperor；　and　not　a　person　among　us　can　find　means　to　stop　him。　Now　he　has　a　son；　a　bold　warrior　it　is　true；　but　both　father　and　son　have　a　weakness　for　beauty；　and　I　am　going　to　use　what　I　may　call　the　chaining　plan。　I　shall　first　propose　you　in　marriage　to　Lu　Bu　and　then；　after　you　are　betrothed；　I　shall　present　you　to　Dong　Zhuo；　and　you　will　take　every　opportunity　to　force　them　asunder　and　turn　sway　their　countenances　from　each　other；　cause　the　son　to　kill　his　adopted　father　and　so　put　an　end　to　the　great　evil。　Thus　you　may　restore　the　altars　of　the　land　that　it　may　live　again。　All　this　lies　within　your　power：　Will　you　do　it？〃

〃Thy　handmaid　has　promised　not　to　recoil　from　death　itself。　You　may　use　my　poor　self　in　any　way；　and　I　must　do　my　best。〃

〃But　if　this　gets　abroad　then　we　are　all　lost！〃

〃Fear　not；〃　said　she。　〃If　thy　handmaid　does　not　show　gratitude；　may　she　perish　beneath　a　myriad　swords！〃

〃Thank　you；　thank　you！〃　said　Wang　Yun。

Then　Wang　Yun　took　from　the　family　treasury　many　pearls　and　bade　a　cunning　jeweler　make　therewith　a　fine　golden　headdress；　which　was　sent　as　a　present　to　Lu　Bu。　He　was　delighted　and　came　to　thank　the　donor。　When　Lu　Bu　arrived；　he　was　met　at　the　gate　by　Wang　Yun　himself　and　within　found　a　table　full　of　dainties　for　his　delectation。　He　was　conducted　into　the　private　apartments　and　placed　in　the　seat　of　honor。

Lu　Bu　said；　〃I　am　but　a　simple　officer　in　the　palace　of　a　minister。　You　are　an　exalted　officer　of　state。　Why　am　I　treated　thus？〃

〃Because　in　the　whole　land　there　is　no　hero　your　equal。　Poor　Wang　Yun　bows　not　to　an　officers　rank；　poor　Wang　Yun　bows　to　his　ability　〃

This　gratified　Lu　Bu　mightily；　and　his　host　continued　to　praise　and　flatter　and　ply　him　with　wine　and　to　talk　of　the　virtues　of　the　Prime　Minister　and　his　henchman。

Lu　Bu　laughed　and　drank　huge　goblets。

Presently　most　of　the　attendants　were　sent　away；　only　a　few　kept　to　press　the　guest　to　drink。

When　the　guest　was　very　mellow；　Wang　Yun　suddenly　said；　〃Let　her　e　in！〃

Soon　appeared　two　attendants；　dressed　in　white；　leading　between　them　the　exquisite　and　fascinating　Diao　Chan。

〃Who　is　this？〃　said　Lu　Bu　startled　into　sobriety。

〃This　is　my　little　girl；　Diao　Chan。　You　will　not　be　annoyed　at　my　familiarity；　will　you？　But　you　have　been　so　very　friendly；　I　thought　you　would　like　to　see　her。〃

Wang　Yun　bade　Diao　Chan　present　a　goblet　of　wine；　and　her　eyes　met　those　of　the　warrior。

Wang　Yun　feigning　intoxication　said；　〃My　little　child　begs　you；　General；　to　take　a　cup　or　two。　We　all　depend　upon　you；　all　our　house。〃

Lu　Bu　begged　Diao　Chan　to　sit　down。　She　pretended　to　wish　to　retire。　Her　master　pressed　her　to　remain；　saying　that　she　might　do　so　since　the　guest　was　a　dear　friend。　So　she　took　a　seat　modestly　near　her　master。

Lu　Bu　kept　his　gaze　fixed　upon　the　maid；　while　he　swallowed　cup　after　cup　of　wine。

〃I　should　like　to　present　her　to　you　as　a　handmaid：　Would　you　accept？〃　said　Wang　Yun。

The　guest　started　up。

〃If　that　is　so；　you　may　rely　upon　my　abject　gratitude；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

〃We　will　choose　a　propitious　day　ere　long　and　send　her　to　the　palace。〃

Lu　Bu　was　overjoyed。　He　could　not　keep　his　eyes　off　Diao　Chan；　and　loving　glances　flashed　from　her　liquid　eyes。

However　the　time　came　for　the　guest　to　leave；　and　Wang　Yun　said；　〃I　would　ask　you　to　remain　the　night；　but　the　Prime　Minister　might　suspect　something。〃

Lu　Bu　thanked　him　again　and　again　and　departed。