I've been thinking about this prompt for quite a while now due to an older story of mine. This might be short and will switch between 3rd Person Limited for both Li Ai and Zhang Liao. Please let me know what you think?


He was a disgusting man, vile. A traitor, a tyrant and horrendously the most powerful man in China as of the year 189. Dong Zhuo sat on his stolen throne, large form clad in expensive robes as he was tended to by one of his concubines that many knew as Diao Chan. Deep, disgusted eyes looked at the poor woman having to pour him drink after drink while several other women stood behind him obediently waiting to be summoned. When the monster's scratchy voice bellowed out, he commanded the attention of the entire throne room through sheer fear alone.

"Lu Bu!" Dong Zhuo exclaimed excitedly to the warrior, completely disregarding the other man who had stood next to the general the entire time. Zhang Liao refrained from narrowing his eyes and just took a deep, silent breath to calm himself. The quiet warrior had faithfully served under Lu Bu for a short amount of time but had quickly become the star warrior's right-hand-man. Unfortunately, his dear Lord had taken to serving under the filthy tyrant known as Dong Zhuo, who Liao fervently abhorred. "I'm taking the battle went well, yes?" He was referring to the slaughter of a small rebel force looking to dethrone Dong Zhuo- there had been quite a few as of late.

"Not even a challenge," Lu Bu replied haughtily, earning a disgusting cackle from his adoptive father.

"Good, insolent curs thinking they can rise against me," Liao kept silent, though his thoughts bounced angrily in his head. Eyes shifting slyly to the man next to him, Liao could see the gears turning in Lu Bu's mind as well. The tension had been growing between the warrior and the Lord and while Lu Bu had not said anything to Liao, he very easily noticed it, though it seemed as if Dong Zhuo hadn't noticed himself. "If that's all you have to report, you can leave now," Though phrased politely, his tone was anything but. "I am due for a hot bath and a-"

"Lord Dong Zhuo!" Before the sentence had finished leaving his chapped lips, a frantic eunuch stammered into the throne room next to the two warriors and threw himself into a deep bow.

"Imbecile! What is the meaning of this? You haven't been summoned, leave!" Dong Zhuo spat loudly, violently chucking his metal goblet full of rice wine at the man. Scrambling to dodge the cup, the eunuch rose his body up and down into a series of bows.

"Apologies, my Lord, but I've just received word that a large coalition is rising up for an attack!" Normally the notorious duo wouldn't be concerned, but the frantic tone in the eunuch's voice made Liao and Lu Bu exchange glances.

"This is what you interrupted me for?" Zhuo barked, slamming his fist onto the armrest of the throne. "One hundred or one thousand, I have crushed every rebel force that has stood against me!" The eunuch opened his mouth to protest with more words of warning, but the tyrant cut him off. "Away with you before you lose more than your manhood!" Taking a visible gulp, the man dipped once more into a bow before scrambling off. Giving an irritated huff, Zhuo moved to take a drink before realizing he had discarded his chalice only moments ago. "Li Ai!" The man barked louder than before, obviously agitated. Scrambling, a young woman behind Dong Zhuo rushed forward with a tray of several cups, kneeling and dipping her head in submission. "I shouldn't have to call you to do your job!" At his last word, he had snatched a cup so forcefully, it frightened the woman making her drop the tray and letting the other cups clatter to the stone floor and down the stairs. "Useless girl!"

Liao watched one of the silver goblets roll at his feet before seeing the woman clamber to pick them all up as quickly as possible. Her eyes stayed glued to the floor until she saw the one next to him. Cautiously looking up to the general, Liao felt a sting in his stomach when their eyes locked. The girl couldn't have been much older than her late teens, maybe still in them as far as he was aware. Long chestnut brown hair put into an intricate half bun, adorned with a gold and purple hairpiece and pulled to the side of her head. A heart shaped face with strong and stunning features- as if Liao expected anything else from Dong Zhuo's concubines. Her hazel eyes flashed with absolute terror and it made Liao sick.

"I-I'm so sorry, my Lord." Li Ai stammered to Zhang Liao, placing her face to the carpeted floor before picking up the cup.

"You're lucky General Liao is a generous enough man to not impale you where you grovel!" Zhuo informed as the girl scurried back up the throne stairs. Liao had almost missed what the lord said, his attention focused intently on the young concubine who fell back into her place behind the throne, looking as if she were about to cry. "You needn't be kind to this wretch, General. If she perturbs your stay here, a good beating might do her good. She's a troublesome girl, that one." Liao hadn't missed a word of his next statement nor the flinch that came from the girl at his words. A fire shot through Liao's body at the suggestion, but he chose to pick his words carefully.

"I'm sure she won't be any trouble to me, Lord Dong Zhuo." With a 'humph' and one last glare to Li Ai, Zhuo took a long swig from his refilled cup.

"Now leave me, I have a busy schedule." Covering his fist in his left hand, Liao turned to leave after Lu Bu who had silently began going without even a gesture- though Dong Zhuo learned it was best to ignore it. Turning his head slightly to look at the girl one more time, his stomach dropped at the dejected expression she wore and slightly feared for her well-being, though he tried to push the thoughts away as he and his Lord left the throne room.