"I am sorry to do this to you." The old man hung his head in shame but the beautiful young maiden shook her head and stroked his cheek lovingly.
"I will do it Father. I swear to you."
Wang Yun sighed sadly. "I had hoped for such a brighter future for you but the land is in such turmoil. Dong Zhuo and his adopted son are true beasts. They have enslaved the Emperor and abused the people. The regional lords have declared war and I must aid them as best I can. As an old man this is all I can do. You are my soldier, my only soldier. Together we will stop these tyrants."
Diao Chan nodded, her gaze determined. "I will fight for you Father."
Wang Yun smiled back, resolved on their fate. "Then I will present you to Dong Zhuo. Never before have I wished you were not so lovely but as you are he will desire you as soon as he sees you. You must flatter him Diao Chan and gain his ear. He is a repulsive man in many ways but do not shrink from him. Soon enough he will introduce you to Lu Bu and the second phase of our plan will begin."
"I understand Father. I will be as a spider to these insects. A killing spider who lures them into her web."
"I hope so for I will not be able to protect you. You must use all your arts of allurement to gain their attention. You may have to… give yourself to them. How I wish it were not necessary!"
Diao Chan grasped his hand in reassurance. "But it is Father. It will be my soldier's duty. I will endure it. And I have already prepared for it."
"I know how well you have prepared. And that grieves me most of all." Wang Yun sighed again, but he knew there was no choice. "Very well. Let us go to Lord Dong Zhuo." Together they set off for the Imperial Palace at Luoyang.