Then who shall be the chosen of the fair？
The dance ended。 Dong Zhuo bade them lead the maiden in； and she came； bowing low as she approached him。 He was much taken with her beauty and modest grace。
〃Who is she？〃 said Dong Zhuo。
〃A singing girl。 Her name is Diao Chan。〃
〃Then can she sing？〃
The master bade her sing； and she did so to the acpaniment of castanets。 There is a measure describing her youthful beauty：
You stand； a dainty maiden；
Your cherry lips so bright；
Your teeth so pearly white；
Your fragrant breath love…laden；
Yet is your tongue a sword；
Cold death is the reward
Of loving thee； O maiden。
Dong Zhuo was delighted and praised her warmly。 She was told to present a goblet of wine to the guest which he took from her hands and then asked her age。
She replied； 〃Thy unworthy handmaid is twenty…one。〃
〃A perfect little fairy！〃 said Dong Zhuo。
Then Wang Yun rose and said； 〃If the Prime Minister would not mind； I should like to offer him this little maid。〃
〃How could I be grateful enough for such a kindness！〃
〃She would be most fortunate if she could be your servant；〃 said Wang Yun。
Dong Zhuo thanked his host warmly。
Then the orders were given to prepare a closed carriage and convey Diao Chan to the Prime Minister's palace。
Soon after Dong Zhuo took his leave； and Wang Yun acpanied him the whole way。
After he had taken leave； Wang Yun mounted to ride homeward。 Half way he met two lines of guards with red lamps who were escorting Lu Bu who was on horseback and armed with his trident halberd。
Seeing Wang Yun； Lu Bu at once reined in； stopped； seized him by the sleeve； and said angrily； 〃You promised Diao Chan to me； and now you have given her to the Prime Minister： What foolery is this？〃
Wang Yun checked him； saying； 〃This is no place to talk； I pray you e to my house。〃
So they went together； and Wang Yun led Lu Bu into a private room。
After the usual exchange of polite greetings； Wang Yun said； 〃Why do you find fault with me； General？〃
〃Somebody told me that you had sent Diao Chan to the Prime Minister's palace in a covered carriage： What does it mean？〃
〃Of course you do not understand。 Yesterday when I was at court； the Prime Minister told me he had something to talk to me about in my own house。 So naturally I prepared for his ing； and while we were at dinner he said； 'I have heard something of a girl named Diao Chan whom you have promised to my son Lu Bu。 I thought it was mere rumor so I wanted to ask if it was true。 Beside I should like to see her。' I could not say no； so she came in and made her bow to the lord of lords。 Then he said that it was a lucky day and he would take her away with him and betroth her to you。 Just think； Sir： When the Prime Minister had e himself； could I stop him？〃
〃You were not so very wrong；〃 said Lu Bu。 〃But for a time I had misunderstood you。 I owe you an apology。〃
〃The girl has a small trousseau； which I will send as soon as she has gone over to your dwelling。〃
Lu Bu thanked him and went away。 Next day he went into the palace to find out the truth； but could hear nothing。 Then he made his way into the private quarters and questioned the maids。 Presently one told him that the Prime Minister had brought home a new bedfellow the night before and was not up yet。 Lu Bu was very angry。 Next he crept round behind his master's sleeping apartment。
By this time Diao Chan had risen and was dressing her hair at the window。 Looking out she saw a long shadow fall across the little lake。 She recognized the headdress； and peeping around she saw it was indeed no other than Lu Bu。 Thereupon she contracted her eyebrows； simulating the deepest grief； and with her dainty handkerchief she wiped her eyes again and again。 Lu Bu stood watching her a long time。
Soon after he went in to give morning greeting。 Dong Zhuo was sitting in the reception room。 Seeing his henchman； Dong Zhuo asked if there was anything new。
〃Nothing；〃 was the reply。
Lu Bu waited while Dong Zhuo took his morning meal。 As he stood beside his master； he glanced over at the curtain and saw a woman there behind the screen showing a half face from time to time and throwing amorous glances at him。 He felt it was his beloved； and his thoughts flew to her。 Presently Dong Zhuo noticed his expression and began to feel suspicious。
〃If there is nothing； you may go；〃 said Dong Zhuo。
Lu Bu sulkily withdrew。
Dong Zhuo now thought of nothing but his new mistress and for more than a month neglected all affairs； devoting himself entirely to pleasure。 Once he was a little indisposed； and Diao Chan was constantly at his side； never even undressing to show her solicitude。 She gratified his every whim。 Dong Zhuo grew more and more fond of her。
One day Lu Bu went to inquire after his father's health。 Dong Zhuo was asleep； and Diao Chan was sitting at the head of his couch。 Leaning forward she gazed at the visitor； with one hand pointed to her heart； the other at Dong Zhuo asleep； and her tears fell。 Lu Bu felt heartbroken。 Dong Zhuo drowsily opened his eyes； and seeing his son's gaze fixed on something behind him； he turned over and saw who it was。
He angrily rebuked his son； saying； 〃Dare you make love to my beauty？〃
He told the servants to turn Lu Bu out； shouting； 〃Never let him enter here again！〃
Lu Bu went off home very wrath。 Meeting Li Ru； he told Li Ru the cause of his anger。
The adviser hastened to see his master and said； 〃Sir； you aspire to be ruler of the empire。 Why then for a small fault do you blame the General？ If he turns against you； it is all over。〃
〃Then what can I do？〃 said Dong Zhuo。
〃Recall him tomorrow； treat him well； overwhelm him with gifts and fair words； and all will be well。〃
So Dong Zhuo did so。 He sent for Lu Bu and was very gracious and said； 〃I was irritable and hasty yesterday owing to my illness and I wronged you； I know。 Forgive me。〃
He gave Lu Bu three hundred ounces of gold and twenty rolls of brocade。 And so the quarrel was made up。 But though Lu Bu's body was with his adopted father Dong Zhuo； his heart was with his promised bride Diao Chan。
Dong Zhuo having quite recovered went to court again； and Lu Bu followed him as usual。 Seeing Dong Zhuo deep in conversation with the Emperor； Lu Bu； armed as he was； went out of the Palace and rode off to his chief's residence。 He tied up his steed at the entrance and； halberd in hand； went to the private apartment to seek his love。 He found Diao Chan； and she told him to go out into the garden where she would join him soon。 He went； taking his halberd with him； and he leaned against the rail of the Phoenix Pavilion to wait for Diao Chan。
After a long time she appeared； swaying gracefully as she made her way under the drooping willows and parting the flowers as she passed。 She was exquisite； a perfect fairy from the Palace of the Moon。
Tears were in her eyes as she came up and said； 〃Though I am not the Minister's real daughter； yet he treated me as his own child。 The desire of my life was fulfilled when he plighted me to you。 But oh！ to think of the wickedness of the Prime Minister； stealing my poor self as he did。 I suffered so much。 I longed to die； only that I had not told you the real truth。 So I lived on； bearing my shame as best as I could but feeling it mean still to live。 Now that I have seen you； I can end it all。 My poor sullied body is no longer fit to serve a hero。 I can die before your eyes and so prove how true I am！〃
Thus speaking she seized the curving rail and started into the lily pond。 Lu Bu caught her in his strong arms and wept as he held her close。
〃I knew it： I always knew your heart；〃 he sobbed。 〃Only we never had a chance to speak。〃
She threw her arms about Lu Bu。
〃If I cannot be your wife in this life； I will in the ages to e；〃 she whispered。
〃If I do not marry you in this life； I am no hero；〃 said he。
〃Every day is a year long。 O pity me！ Rescue me！ My lord！〃
〃I have only stolen away for a brief moment； and I am afraid that old rebel will suspect something； so I must not stay too long；〃 said Lu Bu。
Diao Chan clung to his robe； saying； 〃If you fear the old thief so much； I shall never see another sunrise。〃
Lu Bu stopped。
〃Give me a little time to think；〃 said he。
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 Bu's 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 g