Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1298 Ma Chao's Affair and Lü Bu's Current Status

On the city wall of Chang'an, dusk was falling, and the setting sun gilded the crenellations with a golden-red hue. Ma Chao stood by the railing, gazing at the dust rising from the end of the official road in the distance, the direction in which Ma Yue had led the Young Lin Army. Though his figure was small, it exuded an indomitable spirit.

"Husband." Dong Bai's gentle voice came from behind, tinged with a hint of reproach.

Ma Chao turned around and saw Dong Bai holding the hand of his second son, Ma Liang, with a little girl with her hair in two buns following behind, riding steadily on the back of a striped tiger. The tiger was huge, with a distinct "king" character on its forehead, but at this moment it was docilely lowering its tail, letting the little girl tug at its mane. It was Ma Chao's eldest daughter, Ma Linglong, nicknamed Tiger Girl.

"Yue'er is still a child, how could you really let him go to war?" Dong Bai stepped forward, his tone full of worry, and reached out to straighten Ma Chao's clothes that had been ruffled by the wind.

Ma Chao withdrew his gaze from the distance, a relaxed smile appearing on his face. He bent down and pulled Ma Liang into his arms, affectionately rubbing his stubble against his son's cheek, making Ma Liang giggle. He then gently pinched Dong Bai's nose and whispered, "He is a son of the Ma family. With such ambition, he can't hide under my wing forever. Tigers can't be raised in a greenhouse; the battlefield is the real school."

Dong Bai blushed slightly at his affectionate gesture and gave him a reproachful look: "The children are still here."

"Dad, Mom, you're so shameful!" Tiger Girl patted the tiger's head and shouted in a clear voice, her little face full of mischief.

Ma Chao laughed heartily and reached out to ruffle his daughter's hair: "You little rascal, you're so clever for your age."

Dong Bai looked helplessly at Hu Niu: "Linglong, get down quickly, don't keep riding Ah Hu, be careful not to fall."

The tiger seemed to understand human speech, shaking its head in dissatisfaction, its amber eyes looking at Ma Chao as if in protest.

“Mom, look, Tiger is unhappy.” Tiger Girl hugged the tiger’s neck and laughed. “It wants me to ride it, saying that it can see further this way.”

Ma Chao clicked his tongue in amazement: "This girl can talk to beasts, could it really be true?"

“Of course it’s true!” Tiger Girl puffed out her little chest and said seriously, “Daddy’s Aurora also told me that it’s tired of staying in the stable. It said it has given birth to a lot of foals, but it hasn’t been to the battlefield for several years. If it doesn’t get some exercise, its bones will rust.”

Aurora was Ma Chao's mount, a pure white steed that could travel a thousand miles a day, and was now the "ancestor" of the herd.

Ma Chao chuckled, "You little rascal, you're making such a convincing story. Did Aurora really tell you that?"

Dong Bai nodded with a smile: "Maybe it's true. Look at the descendants of Aurora, they're very fierce. Others, let alone ride them, will kick you if they even get close. Only Linglong can play with them. She can ride them around without any problems."

Tiger Girl patted Tiger proudly: "Tiger also said that when Dad goes to war, it wants to go with him!"

As if in response, the tiger let out a low growl, which made the tiles on the city wall tremble slightly.

Ma Liang clapped his hands in Ma Chao's arms: "Sister is awesome! Ah Hu is awesome!"

Holding his young son, Ma Chao watched his wife and daughter laughing and playing, and the gloom in his heart caused by the war gradually dissipated. He looked at the last rays of the sunset on the horizon and said softly, "Good, when we go to war, let Aurora and Ah Hu go with us to see the world. Our Ma family's sons and daughters, and this precious tiger, should all see the real world."

Dong Bai leaned on his shoulder, gazing at the stars gradually brightening in the distance, and whispered, "I only pray that you will all be safe and sound."

A night breeze swept across the city wall, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees. Tiger Girl rode her fierce tiger, slowly pacing atop the wall; Tiger's footsteps were steady and powerful. Ma Liang counted the stars in his father's arms. Ma Chao held his wife's hand, his palm warm.

Dong Bai's voice was as soft as an evening breeze brushing against flower petals, carrying a hint of barely perceptible melancholy: "Husband, it's been three years again... As for Sister Wan'er, you two haven't..."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao gazed at the deepening twilight on the horizon, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the bricks of the battlements. After a long while, he sighed softly, "Never mind, let her be."

In these three years, many new lives were added to his life. He had a second daughter with Gongsun Rou, named Ma Fuqu, whose personality was just like her name, always chasing butterflies in the courtyard; he had two daughters with Cai Wenji, a third daughter named Ma Jianjia, named after the phrase "jianjia cangcang" (meaning "the reeds are green and lush"), who read poetry with her mother from a young age; and a fourth daughter named Ma Nishang, who was beautiful and adorable. Even Sun Shangxiang, whose personality was the most cheerful, gave him a fifth son, named Ma Yang, hoping he would be as bright as the rising sun.

Among the many beauties in the tent, some had given birth to sons for him, while others had daughters. Only his childhood sweetheart, junior sister Lu Wan, remained single.

Ma Chao wasn't without the intention of giving her a formal title. After all, they had grown up together since childhood, and over the years she had quietly cared for her younger brother and managed the household affairs in Chang'an. Their affection for each other was deep and enduring, but whenever the matter was brought up, Lu Wan always politely declined.

“I was once the Empress of the late Emperor. Although we are divorced, the Lu family has a good reputation for generations. When my father was alive, he valued family ethics and morality the most.” She always lowered her eyes and spoke in a voice as soft as a sigh. “Now that my father has passed away, I cannot let his posthumous reputation be tarnished because of me.”

Lu Zhi's reputation was as heavy as Mount Tai in the hearts of scholars. He had devoted himself to the late emperor and had long been a symbol of loyalty and righteousness. As his daughter and a former empress of the Han Dynasty, Lu Wan, even after her divorce from Liu Bian, was still seen by the world as carrying the mark of the "former dynasty".

Ma Chao knew her concerns and respected her perseverance, so he could only keep his feelings to himself.

“I understand the bitterness in her heart,” Ma Chao said in a low voice, holding Ma Liang even tighter. “If we force her, we will only be betraying her efforts over the years.”

Dong Bai nodded gently and reached out to smooth Ma Liang's wind-blown hair: "Let nature take its course. We're all in the same place anyway, and we have a long life ahead of us."

Just then, Tiger Girl suddenly patted the tiger's neck and shouted, "Dad, Mom, look! Aunt Zhang seems to be here!"

Following the direction she pointed, everyone looked and saw Zhang Qiying, supported by her maid, her pregnant belly protruding, slowly walking towards the city tower. The golden rays of the setting sun fell on her plain-colored skirt, giving it a soft glow.

"Quickly help her up," Ma Chao ordered, and went to meet her himself.

With a faint smile on her face, Zhang Qiying stroked her belly and said softly, "I heard Yue'er has gone to war?"

"Yes, I've gone to fetch General Lü." Ma Chao helped her to her feet. "It's windy on the city wall, why did you come here?"

"I was bored staying at home, so I wanted to come and see you." Zhang Qiying gazed into the distance, her eyes filled with anticipation. "Maybe I'll be able to catch up with your triumphant return after I give birth to this child."

Dong Bai stepped forward and stood beside her: "We definitely will. We'll get all the children together and make it a lively occasion."

Tiger Girl rode over on her tiger and gently touched Zhang Qiying's belly: "Little brother, you have to come out quickly. When you grow up, I'll teach you to ride Tiger!"

She made everyone laugh, and the atmosphere on the city wall became lighthearted again.

Looking at his wife and children, Ma Chao felt a growing sense of melancholy because of Lu Wan, which was gradually replaced by a warm glow. Perhaps some regrets were inevitable, something he would have to wait and endure. But as long as these people were by his side, life would always move towards a brighter future.

A night breeze began to rise, carrying the distant sound of drums. One by one, the lights of countless homes in Chang'an illuminated the city, like stars scattered across the ground, gently embracing the city about to face a great battle.

Inside the mansion in Yanmen County, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, mingling with laughter from the backyard, creating a rare sense of tranquility. Lü Bu sat on the veranda, watching the figure wielding a spear in the courtyard, a smile playing on his lips that even he himself didn't realize.

That was his eldest daughter, Lü Lingqi, around ten years old. She had her hair neatly styled in a bun, wore a short, fitted outfit, and held a shrunken halberd in her hand, mimicking his moves from back then with great enthusiasm. The halberd's whistling sound swept across the blue bricks, stirring up fine dust, but she seemed oblivious, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead, her eyes filled with stubbornness.

"Practice slowly, be careful not to hurt yourself." Diao Chan came out carrying a bowl of cool tea, her voice as gentle as melting snow in spring. She handed the tea bowl to Lü Bu, her gaze falling on her daughter, her eyes filled with unwavering love.

Lü Bu took the teacup, tilted his head back and drank it all. His gaze then turned to the cradle under the eaves—his two-year-old son, Lü Ao, was lying on the soft cushion, babbling and clutching a small wooden halberd. His chubby little hands were clenched tightly, and occasionally he would lift his head, revealing eyebrows and eyes that were exactly like Lü Bu's, which softened Lü Bu's heart. Ever since the child was born, he always liked to sneak to the cradle during breaks in training, rub his stubble against his son's face, and listen to his giggles. Only then could his heart, which had wandered the battlefield for many years, truly find peace.

In recent years, he has indeed lived a peaceful life. He no longer has the ambition to conquer the world, nor the anxiety of living in constant fear. He spends his days teaching his daughter to practice halberd skills, watching Diao Chan tease Lü Ao, and occasionally taking Red Hare for a stroll in the suburbs. His days are like the flowing water of Yanmen Pass, calm and long.

But after a long period of peace, a slight ripple will always stir in one's heart.

After putting Lü Ao to sleep at night, he would often go to the storeroom alone, looking at the halberd covered with a thin layer of dust, and the Red Hare horse tied up in the stable. The Red Hare was no longer as magnificent as it once was, but its eyes were still as bright as stars. When it saw him, it would paw at him and neigh softly, as if expressing its unwillingness.

Lu Bu reached out, his fingertips tracing the patterns on the halberd—marks left from when he felled an enemy general at Hulao Pass, old scars from his duel with Ma Chao. Memories flooded back, and he stood there, lost in thought, until Diao Chan entered carrying a lantern and said softly, "It's late; you should rest."

He then came to his senses, looked at his wife's knowing eyes, and gave an embarrassed smile: "It's nothing, I was just looking."

How could Diao Chan not know? This man was born for the battlefield, having roamed the world for half his life; the wind on horseback was the scent he knew best. Now confined to this small mansion, even with a wife and children, a trace of loneliness probably lingers in his heart.

“The King of Liang has treated us well.” She would gently hold his hand, the warmth of her palm soothing his coldness. “Yanmen is safe and sound, Lingqi can learn martial arts in peace, and Ao’er can grow up safely. This is already a great blessing.”

Lu Bu nodded, squeezing her hand tighter. He knew Diao Chan was telling the truth. Back then, after his defeat and surrender, Ma Chao not only spared his life but also granted him the land of Yanmen, allowing him to guard the frontier without interference or suspicion. Such magnanimity was rare indeed. He should be content.

He suppressed his resentment. After all, it was already a great favor that Ma Chao had accepted him. For someone of his status, to want to lead troops into battle again was probably just wishful thinking. After all, he had once been a regional warlord, and it was already a great favor that Ma Chao had spared his life. However, now that there were many warlords in the Central Plains, it was the time for good men to make their mark. Especially after having a son, he also wanted to win a noble title for his son for generations to come.