第20部分(第2/7 页)

ing　his　henchman；　Dong　Zhuo　asked　if　there　was　anything　new。

〃Nothing；〃　was　the　reply。

Lu　Bu　waited　while　Dong　Zhuo　took　his　morning　meal。　As　he　stood　beside　his　master；　he　glanced　over　at　the　curtain　and　saw　a　woman　there　behind　the　screen　showing　a　half　face　from　time　to　time　and　throwing　amorous　glances　at　him。　He　felt　it　was　his　beloved；　and　his　thoughts　flew　to　her。　Presently　Dong　Zhuo　noticed　his　expression　and　began　to　feel　suspicious。

〃If　there　is　nothing；　you　may　go；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

Lu　Bu　sulkily　withdrew。

Dong　Zhuo　now　thought　of　nothing　but　his　new　mistress　and　for　more　than　a　month　neglected　all　affairs；　devoting　himself　entirely　to　pleasure。　Once　he　was　a　little　indisposed；　and　Diao　Chan　was　constantly　at　his　side；　never　even　undressing　to　show　her　solicitude。　She　gratified　his　every　whim。　Dong　Zhuo　grew　more　and　more　fond　of　her。

One　day　Lu　Bu　went　to　inquire　after　his　father's　health。　Dong　Zhuo　was　asleep；　and　Diao　Chan　was　sitting　at　the　head　of　his　couch。　Leaning　forward　she　gazed　at　the　visitor；　with　one　hand　pointed　to　her　heart；　the　other　at　Dong　Zhuo　asleep；　and　her　tears　fell。　Lu　Bu　felt　heartbroken。　Dong　Zhuo　drowsily　opened　his　eyes；　and　seeing　his　son's　gaze　fixed　on　something　behind　him；　he　turned　over　and　saw　who　it　was。

He　angrily　rebuked　his　son；　saying；　〃Dare　you　make　love　to　my　beauty？〃

He　told　the　servants　to　turn　Lu　Bu　out；　shouting；　〃Never　let　him　enter　here　again！〃

Lu　Bu　went　off　home　very　wrath。　Meeting　Li　Ru；　he　told　Li　Ru　the　cause　of　his　anger。

The　adviser　hastened　to　see　his　master　and　said；　〃Sir；　you　aspire　to　be　ruler　of　the　empire。　Why　then　for　a　small　fault　do　you　blame　the　General？　If　he　turns　against　you；　it　is　all　over。〃

〃Then　what　can　I　do？〃　said