Chapter Sixteen: Dong Yuan’s Departure
Dong Zhuo’s Camp.
At this moment, Niu Fu repeated to Dong Zhuo the words Dong Yuan had said about not liking him.
Dong Zhuo said, “Niu Fu, I’m not trying to criticize you, but if Yuan doesn’t like you, what’s the point of forcing her to?”
Niu Fu replied, “My lord, even if Yuan doesn’t like me, I cannot let anyone else have her!”
Just then, a soldier rushed in anxiously, saying, “My lord, Miss Dong Yuan rode off toward Luoyang just now!”
Niu Fu ground his teeth and snarled, “She must be going to see Luo Ang! I’ll go bring her back!”
Dong Zhuo stopped him, “Wait!”
Niu Fu looked puzzled. “My lord, why won’t you let me stop Yuan?”
Dong Zhuo said, “Let her go. Sometimes, she has to solve things on her own. If we always help her, it will only harm her.”
Niu Fu was no fool; he sensed the meaning behind Dong Zhuo’s words and nodded. “Alright. I hope Yuan’s feelings for Luo Ang will be rejected.”
Luoyang. Outside the courier inn.
Dong Yuan, riding a swift horse, arrived outside the courier inn prepared by the court for visiting guests. She hurriedly dismounted and entered.
In her heart, she thought, “Luo Ang, wait for me. I will have you.”
As she stepped inside, she saw the place bustling with lively activity.
Just then, Luo Ang came down from upstairs. Seeing Dong Yuan, he walked toward her.
Dong Yuan, seeing her beloved approaching, shyly stepped forward and said, “Lord Yan!”
Luo Ang asked, “What brings you here?”
Dong Yuan said, “I’ve come to see you about something.”
Luo Ang was puzzled. “See me?”
Dong Yuan nodded shyly.
Seeing her like this, Luo Ang knew her feelings for him had not diminished, and sighed. “Come with me.”
He turned and headed toward his room.
Hearing this, Dong Yuan was overjoyed and followed him eagerly.
Once inside his room, Luo Ang said, “I already made it clear during the day—I have a wife. I cannot marry another wife or take a concubine!”
After closing the door, Dong Yuan looked at him and said, “But I truly love you!”
Luo Ang looked at her and said, “I don’t like taking another wife. So, you should give up.”
Dong Yuan said, “I’m willing to be your concubine.”
Luo Ang asked, “You don’t regret it?”
Dong Yuan shook her head. “I don’t regret it. As long as I marry you, whether as wife or concubine, I’m willing.”
Luo Ang said, “Even if your father agrees, I won’t, because I simply won’t like you.”
Dong Yuan replied, “It doesn’t matter. As long as I like you, that’s enough.”
Luo Ang was at a loss for words about this devoted woman. After all, Dong Yuan’s infatuation was profound.
Seeing Luo Ang hesitate, Dong Yuan coquettishly said, “Aren’t you going to say yes?”
Luo Ang said, “Sorry, I can’t comply.”
Dong Yuan was surprised at how quickly he rejected her.
Luo Ang added, “Sorry, I won’t marry you, and as I said during the day, I won’t take another wife.”
Just then—
Dong Yuan threw herself into Luo Ang’s arms, crying.
Luo Ang was startled. This was his first encounter with such a situation, and having been a bachelor in his past life, he didn’t know how to respond.
Through her tears, Dong Yuan said, “If you don’t agree, I won’t leave. I’ll nag you until you do.”
Luo Ang sighed, “Alright, I agree.”
Dong Yuan’s face lit up. “Wonderful!”
Luo Ang shook his head; dealing with such a willful person was truly daunting.
Dong Yuan happily said, “I’ll go back now and tell my father!”
With that, she cheerfully left.
Luo Ang watched her go, sighing; he wasn’t sure if this would help or harm him.
Dong Zhuo’s camp.
Dong Zhuo and Niu Fu stood at the camp gate, gazing toward Luoyang, worried about Dong Yuan’s safety.
At that moment, Dong Yuan rode her warhorse up to them.
Seeing her safe return, Dong Zhuo asked, “Well, Yuan?”
Dong Yuan dismounted happily. “Lord Yan agreed to marry me!”
Niu Fu couldn’t believe that the woman he loved most was to wed Luo Ang.
Dong Zhuo said, “Is that so?”
Dong Yuan explained everything. “I forced him to agree.”
Dong Zhuo looked surprised. “You forced him?”
Dong Yuan nodded. “Yes, why?”
Dong Zhuo said, “Yuan, I think you should make things clear with Lord Yan.”
Dong Yuan pouted. “No, I just like him.”
Dong Zhuo said, “Even if you like him, does he like you?”
Dong Yuan stubbornly said, “I don’t care, I just like him.”
Dong Zhuo said firmly, “No. Starting tomorrow, I’ll go with you to Luoyang to apologize to Lord Yan.”
Dong Yuan said, “Father, if you do that, I’d rather die in front of you.”
Hearing this, Dong Zhuo slapped her across the face. “I’ve spoiled you too much before, which is why you’re so willful now.”
Seeing her father strike her, Dong Yuan cried and ran back to her tent, unable to believe that the man who always doted on her would hit her over such a small matter.
Niu Fu looked at Dong Zhuo and asked, “My lord, is this really the right thing to do?”
Dong Zhuo said, “Niu Fu, you don’t understand. Though harsh, I do this because if Yuan marries Lord Yan and he treats her badly, what then?”
Niu Fu immediately understood. “Right, how could I forget that.”
Dong Zhuo looked at Niu Fu. “Go and persuade Yuan.”
“Yes,” Niu Fu replied and left.
Dong Yuan’s tent.
She lay on her bed, crying her heart out.
Niu Fu entered, saw her crying, and comforted her, “It’s alright, Yuan. Your father did this for your own good!”
Dong Yuan looked at him, choking back tears. “Even if it’s for my own good, he should respect my choice. I truly love Lord Yan. From start to finish, it’s always been him. Father should consider my future!”
Niu Fu comforted her, “Your father is already thinking about your future.”
Dong Yuan sobbed, “Impossible! He only thinks of himself, never me.”
Niu Fu said, “The reason your father opposes your marrying Lord Yan is because he fears you’ll suffer. Think about it—if you marry Lord Yan and he doesn’t like you, you’ll endure hardship.”
Dong Yuan said, “I’m willing to endure any hardship. As long as I marry the man I love, no hardship is too great.”
Just then—
Dong Zhuo entered and scolded, “Nonsense! I do this because I don’t want to see you coldly neglected by Luo Ang.”
Dong Yuan stood up. “I’m not afraid. As long as I marry the one I love, I don’t care if I’m neglected.”
Dong Zhuo said, “Fine. If you insist on marrying Luo Ang, from tonight on, we are done. Father and daughter severed. Don’t come back.”
Dong Yuan said, “Then I won’t come back!”
She grabbed her cloak and sword and left her tent, heading once more to Luoyang to find Luo Ang.
Dong Zhuo watched her leave again, sighing.
Niu Fu anxiously said, “My lord, are you sure it’s right to let Yuan go like this?”
Dong Zhuo said, “She insists, so I have no choice. I know you love Yuan, but does Yuan love you? This trip to the capital could be perilous for me. By driving Yuan away, I ensure a bloodline remains in our family. I don’t want you marrying Yuan only to be killed soon after. I came to the capital to control the court. You should understand what I mean.”
Niu Fu bowed. “Understood.”
Luoyang. The courier inn where Luo Ang stayed.
Luo Ang stood by the window, admiring the bright moon outside.
Unbeknownst to him, his romantic fate was about to strike again.
Suddenly, someone burst into the room and embraced Luo Ang, who was gazing at the moon.
Startled, Luo Ang turned to see who it was.
Seeing it was Dong Yuan, he was shocked. “What’s wrong? Weren’t you at your father’s camp? Why are you back?”
Dong Yuan said nothing, only clung to him, crying.
Seeing this, Luo Ang softened. “Please let go first. Let’s sit and talk.”
Dong Yuan nodded, choking on her tears, and released him.
Luo Ang turned and helped her sit on the bed. “What’s wrong?”
Dong Yuan cried, “I’ve broken with my father. I have nowhere else to go but here.”
Luo Ang was surprised. “What? You broke with your father? Tell me everything.”
Dong Yuan nodded and recounted the entire story.
After hearing her, Luo Ang said, “Since you’ve broken with your father, I will take you in.”
Dong Yuan hugged Luo Ang tightly, continuing to cry.
Luo Ang held her and said, “Alright, stop crying. Let’s sleep first.”
Dong Yuan looked at him pleadingly. “Can you sleep with me?”
Luo Ang sighed. “Fine, I agree.”