As Lu Bu decendent of Jiu Yuan was in his own private black smith barn a messenger came to him. Lu Bu noticed the puny man waiting for the enormous beast to finish sharpening his spear. Stepping off the petal and turning the sharpener off Lu Bu straightened his back and took his giagantic posture. "What is it, scum?"
"I was sent with a message from Ding Yuan and Dong Zhou. They wish your presence at tomorrow night's party to enjoy wine and entertainment."
Lu Bu cocked an eye brow contentemplating the thought of free entertainment and wine. He was after all a man that enjoyed good wines. A little smirk came onto the mans face. "Return and tell your Lord that I will be there." Lu Bu said. As long it was not his money spent he could not decline. The messenger stood in place admiring the warrior; this infuriated the warrior. "Well on with you!" Lu Bu screamed pointing the man out of the barn.
Ding Yuan, Dong Zhou and Lu Bu sat at the center table. The huge room was filled with ten other tables where Dong Zhous' soldiers sat awaiting the entertainment promised. Lu Bu sat directly across from Dong Zhou facing the stage, and Ding Yuan to his left. Dong Zhou sat the closest to the stage for when his concubines came to dance and sing he would surely be the one they danced for. Until that moment came his women served as maids and served all the men, all his soldiers.
"So let us get to business, shall we." Ding Yuan said and looked directly at Lu Bu. "To best serve our future emperor we would like to join our forces. Your services shall not to unpaid. Up front will give you a beautiful horse; Red Hare have you heard of him?"
"Yes I have heard of the damn thing. You think an animal will bribe me to join your army. I am Lu Bu no army deserves my loyality." Lu Bu angrily stood from his chair. He stood so swift the chair fell from all four behind him.
"My Lord Dong Zhou wishes to know how much gold you wish for your attribunes."
Banging his hand against the table shaking the other officers mugs and plates Lu Bu burst into a yell. "How dare you waste my time with such nonsense! I travel from far to hear this rubbish from your mouth-" A soft tug at his armor surprises Lu Bu he turns his posture almost striking the concubine realizing how fragile she was Lu Bu stopped himself just in time. "I'm sorry sir, would you like some more wine." The women held a pitcher of wine; stunned by her beauty and innocence Lu Bu was silent. Feeling rather weak Lu Bu took a step back an regained his balance. "uh. . Why, yes. . Please." The woman took a step toward the chair and filled his mug. "I'm sorry sir, I must have knocked over your chair; let me get that." Still mesmorized by this women it took a few moments for her words to register by the time he had realized she was apologizing for his doing she was half way to the ground to set his chair upright. "No it's my fault I must – ou" He said rushing to stop her. He moved too quickly to stop his head from smashing into her.
While Lu Bu and the mistress was on the floor Ding Yuan was thankful for what had just happened infront of him. Once Lu Bu had regained his posture he would approach the question again and this time he knew the warrior would not decline. Wang Yun was absolutely right this maiden was irrestistable even to the most feared man of the land. Yes this concubine was certainly the best gift Dong Zhou had received. If this women left the mighty Lu Bu dazzed he couldn't wait until he could see her on the battlefield. Entrancing the soldiers into her beauty, yes this was the perfect rise of Dong Zhou!
The two giggled on the floor and rubbed their heads from the clash. They both reached eye contact for a briefy second as soon as they connected she immediately looked away. "Are you all right?" Lu Bu asked concerned his hard head not only of thinking too highly about himself but also his pysical structure was terribly hard. "Yes, sir." The lady whispered standing to her feet, as did he; he brought his chair up right with his rise to normal posture. "I am deeply sorry my Lord. . " She paused for she did not know his name. She did not know how this huge warrior was. "Lu Bu" He briefly stuck out his chest and raised his head high impressed with himself. Back to his normal self; he was not sure what had over power him a second ago but he knew he would not let it happen again. Usually when the name Lu Bu was announced the man saw fear rise in their eyes but this was abnormal. "Ah." She said un impressed and walked away.
Turning to the table hoping none of the other men had seen his clumsy moment but knew that this was impossible. Lu Bu stared at the men with his all star famous glar. "What are you scum looking at?"
Smirking Ding Yuan said. "She could be yours."
"What? Who. Pa A woman? Lu Bu needs no woman. They weaken your ability to fight. Only a fool would deprive himself the freedom of the battle field. You have a deal. I will take my horse now and deliver the gold to my house tomorrow afternoon."
"Great. We have an accord then?" Lu Bu and Ding Yuan sealed the deal.
On his ride home on the Red Hare Lu Bu could not concentrate on the ride or the deal. But what had come over him in his interaction with concubine. All the people of the land was timid of him, not the other way around. He had never been speechless especially in front of a mistress. He was the mighty Lu Bu!
"My lady you were amazing tonight. Your voice is like an angel." Diao Chan's servant said to her as the mistress combed her long brown hair and stared in the mirror.
"Thank you for your kind words. I am glad it is over with." The servant could sense sadness in her voice.
"My lady what is bothering you?"
"I do not conconde this, my father was traded me away like a pig for some tribal ritual. My song and dance should be saved for the one I love not for the pig Dong Zhou!" A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"With your beauty you could have any man you desired, I'm sure of it."
"Your words are useless. I belong to Dong Zhou."
The maiden was silent as was her servant. Her servant watched the woman but got excited when a little smile came across the maidens face. "What, what is it?"
"Tell me about this Lu Bu." The mistress only knew one thing about the warrior; to successfully full fill her fathers wishes he was the man to slay Dong Zhou.
Fear came over the servants face. "No one really knows the warrior. All of us servants are scared of him. He is the most feared man in China. It is said he is equal to over ten thousand soldiers All that is said about him is that he does not know the meaning of the word mercy. He doesn't have an eye for women."
Diao Chan remembered her encounter with Lu Bu, the man she met was not the man this woman spoke of. "He looked at me." She said softly. Her servant looked up surprised. "What would you have of him?"
"I would have him steal my heart." Diao Chan said rolling a scarf in her hands while day dreaming in the mirror.