Chapter 3: She shall be mine!
"Niu Fu, why are you suddenly interrupting us?" Dong Zhuo asked with a scowl, his mood soured as he saw one of his other sons-in-law and a military commander under his command barging in, disturbing his fantasy of banging Empress He.
"I apologize, father-in-law," Niu Fu said hastily, bowing low. "The Imperial Tutor wishes to speak with you, father-in-law. He has also demanded that the Emperor be escorted under his supervision, citing his seniority and reputation as a respectable scholar."
Dong Zhuo's face darkened with irritation.
"What do you think we should do, Li Ru? Should we entertain this old fool's demands?" His gaze shifted to his trusted advisor, knowing full well that Li Ru had a sharper mind for handling such matters.
Li Ru's lips curled into a malicious grin, his mind already spinning with schemes. "Since he's so insistent on taking the Emperor, we should let him—provided he can pay the price we demand."
"Father-in-law, according to the promotions and promises from the Empress Dowager, your rank is above his. You can use this as leverage."
Dong Zhuo chuckled cruelly, the pieces of the game falling into place in his head.
"Bring Lu Zhi to me, Niu Fu," he ordered with an evil smirk stretching across his face.
"Yes, my lord!" Niu Fu saluted and quickly went to fetch the Imperial Tutor.
Moments later, Lu Zhi entered, bowing deeply.
"Lord Dong Zhuo," he began respectfully, "I must express my concerns. It is inappropriate to have such a large number of troops escorting the Emperor within the palace. From this day forward, we will assume this responsibility and ensure the Emperor's safety ourselves."
Unlike Empress He, who had been tricked by the false loyalty Dong Zhuo displayed, Lu Zhi saw through his façade.
Dong Zhuo's ambition to usurp the Han Dynasty's authority was evident in his every action.
If Dong Zhuo were truly committed to protecting the Emperor, why had he amassed so many troops in the capital and the palace?
A loyal minister of Han would station the bulk of the troops outside the city and only bring in a moderate number to maintain order.
Lu Zhi knew Dong Zhuo's intentions and was determined to sabotage his plans before they spiraled out of control.
But Dong Zhuo wasn't one to be easily undermined. His eyes narrowed as he barked out a cold command. "Men! Seize Lu Zhi and his followers! They intend to hijack the Emperor, just as the eunuchs once did!"
At his word, the soldiers drew their swords, pressing the blades against the necks of Lu Zhi and his men without a moment's hesitation.
Lu Zhi was caught off guard, his face pale with cold sweat trickling down his forehead.
He had underestimated Dong Zhuo's ruthlessness. As loyal as he was to the Emperor, he had no intention of dying so foolishly.
Who would have thought that Dong Zhuo would blatantly threaten him in front of the Emperor himself?
Desperate to defuse the situation, Lu Zhi hurriedly protested, "Lord Dong Zhuo, I fear you have misunderstood my intentions. We had no plans to hijack the Emperor. Since you are so capable and willing to take on this responsibility, we will trouble you no further."
Dong Zhuo's grin widened with satisfaction at Lu Zhi's submission.
With a dismissive wave of his hand, he commanded his men, "Lower your swords."
The soldiers obeyed, and Lu Zhi exhaled shakily, relief flooding his veins as he realized he had narrowly escaped death.
Then Dong Zhuo smirked, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Since we're both here with the same intent, let's go together, Imperial Tutor. From this point onward, we'll be allies in court. The Emperor of Han has granted me the title of General-in-Chief and given me permission to enter the palace freely. For the Emperor!"
"Yes, we will be friends, General Dong Zhuo. For the Emperor!" Lu Zhi roared back, pretending to be flattered, though deep inside, he was boiling with rage.
All he wanted was to slice this bastard into a thousand bloody pieces, making him grovel and suffer for the humiliation he felt now.
The men around them, both Lu Zhi's retinue and the Xiliang troops, roared in unison.
"For the Emperor!"
Their voices rang out, echoing across the road like a thunderstorm of forced loyalty.
From behind the carriage, Empress He watched with evident satisfaction.
She had feared that tensions between these two men would erupt into conflict, but it seemed her worries had been for nothing.
The misunderstanding had been resolved quickly, and their loyalty to the Emperor was clearly displayed.
This only made her trust Dong Zhuo more. If someone as respected as Lu Zhi approved of him, it could only mean that Dong Zhuo was truly loyal. That was how her mind worked.
Lu Zhi's reputation was not easily earned, after all. He had been the one to crush the Yellow Turban Rebellion, ending one of the empire's greatest threats and was among her late husband's most trusted ministers.
On top of that, he had mentored many of the empire's most notable figures, including Gongsun Zan.
A man of his caliber supporting Dong Zhuo? That was proof enough for her.
At last, they reached the capital, returning to Luoyang. Empress He sighed in relief, her heart lightened by the sight of the city.
It was over.
She would return to her rightful position as Empress Dowager of the Han Dynasty.
She gently stroked her son, Liu Ban, the young Emperor of Han, who sat trembling beside her.
The boy was still shaken after being kidnapped by eunuchs, those supposed "trusted" servants of the palace.
It had been a terrifying experience, one he wouldn't forget anytime soon.
After dismounting, Dong Zhuo's forces secured the palace gates and stationed men to guard every corner of Luoyang.
The city now belonged to him, and he knew it.
Inside the palace, Empress He turned her attention to Dong Zhuo with a grateful smile. "General Dong Zhuo, your loyalty and the loyalty of your men will be rewarded handsomely once we've dealt with these matters."
Dong Zhuo saluted, his face a mask of humility. "We will take our leave, Empress Dowager. I believe the Emperor needs you more than we do."
His voice was calm, but his eyes flicked to the trembling boy who clung to his mother like his life depended on it.
Dong Zhuo could feel the pathetic fear radiating off the young Emperor, especially when their eyes met.
The boy looked away immediately, too scared to even breathe in Dong Zhuo's presence.
The warlord hid his contempt with a polite smile, but inside, he sneered.
This weakling was supposed to rule the empire? It was almost laughable.
Still, he kept his face humble, bowing slightly to maintain his mask of loyalty.
Empress Dowager He, deceived by the warlord before her, didn't refuse his departure and turned her attention back to her son.
"Let's go, Liu Ban," Empress He said, rising gracefully. Her hips swayed naturally as she walked, completely unaware of the effect it had on the man behind her.
Dong Zhuo's hungry eyes locked onto her swaying ass, his breath quickening as filthy thoughts filled his head.
Every step she took only fueled his twisted desires. He imagined her in his bed, under him, screaming his name as he claimed her over and over.
His cock stirred at the thought, and he licked his lips.
When she disappeared behind the doors of her chambers, he finally tore his gaze away, his arousal still pulsing through him.
He left soon after, his mind focused on one thing: fully conquering this place.
Once he had control, he'd enjoy Empress Dowager He in every way, claiming her for himself, her ass, her pussy, her body and her heart.
He imagined bending her over, grabbing her hips, and pounding into her ass from behind with his big cock until she screamed his name, making her his in every way.
But for now, patience was key. Soon, this palace—and she—would belong to him.
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