Cao Cao gasped for air, his face white as a sheet. Zhou Yu speedily applied the paste. Before he could get far, a commotion roused their attention.
From outside, a soldier spoke. “Wang-daren, if I could trouble you…”
Immediately suspicious, Zhou Yu turned an inquiring gaze to Diaochan, who motioned for him to remain calm. “I will deal with this.”
She walked into the corridor and as she closed the door behind her, she turned to see Wang Yun standing in the middle of the courtyard.
“You all… The audacity!” he shouted.
“We apologize for the offense, Wang-daren.”
A military general strolled forward; he wore a robe embroidered with a black qilin,20 a martial headpiece sitting like a crown atop his head. Like an elegant tree of jade in the wind, he had an air about him of grace and coordination. Under his dark eyebrows that were like an eagle spreading its wings, he had deep-set eyes with pitch-black pupils dusted amber. Standing a whole head taller than his subordinates, the general stuck out like a crane in a flock of chickens.
“This humble official had no other choice,” he explained. “Grand Preceptor Dong’s orders. We must find the assassin today.”
“General Lü,” Wang Yun replied coldly, hands resting on the cane planted on the ground in front of him. “Does the Marquis of Mei still think I’m harboring thoughts of assassination?”
“It seems like the Lord Minister of the Masses is not aware,” Lü Bu said. “Three days ago, there was an assassin who, under the guise of offering up a sword, managed to wound Grand Preceptor Dong. We learned the assassin is still in the city. Please pardon our intrusion. Search!”
Wang Yun’s expression wavered as Lü Bu’s subordinates scattered across the residence and started to search. Nodding at Wang Yun, deciding not to waste any more words, Lü Bu walked on his own into the corridor.
At the same moment, Diaochan exited a room nearby, and the two all but crashed into each other. Lü Bu reflexively reached out to steady her, and Diaochan’s flowerlike face lost its color.
She bowed. “Greetings, General.”
When Diaochan lifted her head, their eyes locked. Both fell silent. Wang Yun, who had followed behind Lü Bu, arrived to the scene, and he introduced her.
“This is my daughter Diaochan. Diaochan, why haven’t you apologized to the general yet?”
“Pardon me,” Diaochan said softly.
“It’s…it’s all right.” For a moment, Lü Bu’s cold, composed face twisted into an awkward expression, but he just as quickly recovered.
“Why doesn’t my daughter lead the general inside so he can search?” Wang Yun piped up, his crafty brain working away. He glanced meaningfully at Diaochan.
“That should be acceptable,” Lü Bu said coldly. “Lead the way.”
Diaochan bowed again before proceeding to guide Lü Bu through the corridor to the side chambers. As Lü Bu followed, his gaze swept over her from head to toe. He wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how to strike up a conversation. Abruptly, Diaochan came to a stop in front of him, and unable to halt in time, Lü Bu almost bumped into her again.
She turned around. “General, this is my room… I don’t know if…”
“Leave it be,” he said, with a wave of his hand. “Let’s go to the side courtyard.”
Diaochan took Lü Bu through the arched doorway and toward the back courtyard. They paused by the pool as the autumn breeze blew past. Fallen leaves drifted on the pond’s surface, and an old servant swept the ground just past the entryway.
“That’s the extent of it,” Diaochan said. “This is the study. Does the general wish to go inside?”
The soldiers started to enter, but after catching a glimpse of Lü Bu in the back courtyard, they turned away to continue their search elsewhere. As they were leaving, Lü Bu spoke to one of his subordinates.
“Give the order not to search the lady’s personal rooms.”
The soldier outside the door responded affirmatively. Diaochan’s heart thumped. When she turned, she noticed Lü Bu was observing her.
“Why are you nervous?” he asked, searching her expression.
Diaochan did not reply as she walked to the edge of the pond and then gazed at the crisp, clear water.
“I would like to ask you one thing,” he said from where he stood behind her. “Has Cao Cao been here? Tell me the truth.”
“What does the general mean? No such thing has happened.”
The corners of Lü Bu’s mouth curled up slightly, his focus landing on the door of the small shed.
A hand reached out behind the window and cleanly swiped across the windowsill.
“No?” Lü Bu asked, turning and leaping onto the railing of the corridor. He jumped down in front of the door, shoving it open.
The room was completely empty.
An autumn breeze brushed through the shed’s window, bringing with it the scent of blood to the outside hall. Lü Bu stared.
Hidden underneath the windowsill on the other side of the shed facing the stable, Zhou Yu cradled his blood-soaked hands, and Cao Cao, leaning against the foot of the wall, drank wine. The corners of Cao Cao’s lips twitched upward as he gave Zhou Yu a big thumbs-up.
Lü Bu examined the top of the windowsill. He slid a finger across it, only for it to come up clean; no dust. Diaochan entered behind him, and he turned his head to study her. After a moment of silence, he exited the shed.
“My father would like to invite the general to stay for a cup of wine,” she hurried to say.
Lü Bu glanced briefly at her, seemingly wanting to depart. However, a moment later, he accepted. “Then lay out the wine.”
Zhou Yu and Cao Cao struggled back inside, a bit worse for wear. Both of them released a long breath.
“I must leave the capital as quickly as possible,” Cao Cao said quietly.
“You have to rest for a few more days,” Zhou Yu replied. “If you leave in your condition, you’ll be captured before long.”
“Then you must come with me,” Cao Cao said.
“To see Yuan Shao?”
Though Zhou Yu trained himself to remain alert to the situation at hand, his heart leaped. If he could successfully reach Yuan Shao’s coalition, he could see Sun Ce.
“Come, follow me,” Zhou Yu said.
After checking for hidden sentries, Zhou Yu began to lead Cao Cao to Qiao Mao’s residence.
“Yuan Shao is incompetent at strategizing,” Cao Cao said. “I must first return to Xu Province and meet with Tao Qian.” Zhou Yu did not respond, and so Cao Cao continued, “You look like you have guts and possess a meticulous mind. You are not prone to passivity, or you would not carry a sword, so you have enough martial skills to protect yourself. With you keeping me company on the journey, my safety is practically guaranteed.”
After pondering for a moment, Zhou Yu shook his head. “I have not finished dealing with matters here, so I am unable to protect Cao-gong on this journey. Please forgive me.”
Cao Cao smiled faintly, but he didn’t insist.
“Is this Governor Qiao Mao’s residence? I was just about to go find him,” he said.
Zhou Yu nodded and led Cao Cao into Qiao Mao’s hall. He pushed the door open and let Cao Cao walk in. Upon seeing him, Qiao Mao immediately blanched, shocked. Zhou Yu shut the door, leaving the two of them inside the hall to speak. He laid his hand on the hilt of his sword, standing guard.
As soon as he heard loud laughter from Cao Cao and Qiao Mao, he knew they would be fine. Reassured, Zhou Yu left.
That night, Cao Cao took up temporary residence in Qiao Mao’s estate, and he drank with Qiao Mao until late into the night. In contrast, Zhou Yu tossed and turned in bed, the words of Sun Ce’s letter racing through his mind. What did he mean, seek refuge with Lü Bu? Was Lü Bu actually on their side?!
He didn’t dare rashly side with Lü Bu, so he called over Fei Yu and penned a letter, asking Sun Ce for more details. He then sent the falcon flying away. Judging from the direction the bird flew, he estimated it was heading toward the Hulao Pass or somewhere thereabouts.