Having ridden to Meiwo palace, he tied up Red Hare at the entrance, and, halberd in hand, went to the private apartments to look for his father. Instead of finding Dong Zhuo, however, he found Diaochan. Once more, his thoughts turned away from military matters and to her. Surprised by Lu Bu's sudden appearance, she told him to go out into the private garden where she would join him soon. He went, taking his halberd with him, and he leaned against the rail of the Phoenix Pavilion to wait for Diaochan. After some time, she appeared, swaying gracefully as she made her way under the drooping willows and parting the flowers as she passed. With tears already in her eyes, she came up to Lu Bu and began to weep as she spoke.
"Although I am not the trueborn daughter of the Minister Wang Yuan, he has adopted me and treated me as his own child. When he pledged to marry us, it was the happiest day of my life. But to think that the wicked Prime Minister would steal me as he did! I have suffered so much from him. I wished to commit suicide to hide the shame, but I could not because then you wouldn't know the truth. So I've lived on, bearing my shame. But now I've seen you for one last time, I can truly end it all. I'm no longer fit to marry you, but I will still prove my loyalty to you!" After finishing, Diaochan seized the rail and attempted to leap into the pond, only to be caught by Lu Bu. Holding her close, Lu Bu began to weep as well.
“I knew it. I always knew that you were true,” he sobbed. “But only we never had a chance to speak.”
Diaochan then hugged Lu Bu tightly.
“If I cannot be your wife in this life, then I swear I will in the next” she said.
Lu Bu frowned. "If I cannot marry you in this life, then I am no hero.” he replied. "Before I met you, Diaochan, I was content to be only a warrior. But having met you, I can no longer say that such things content me. The entirety of all under heaven could be mine, and I could be the Emperor himself, but I would still not be contented until we are together once more. But nevertheless, I have returned to report a great victory to Dong Zhuo, and I fear that the old rebel suspects us. I must not stay too long." He then turned, as if to leave.
Diaochan clung to his arm, pleading, “If you must fear the Prime Minister so much, I shall never see another sunrise.” Lu Bu hestiated, and turned to Diaochan again. “In the deep seclusion of the palace, I heard the stories of your martial prowess; you were the Warrior Without Equal, the Man Worth One Thousand Troops, the Flying General. Little did I think that you of all heroes would rest content under the dominion of a cruel man!" Once more, Diachan began to weep. Shame flooded Lu Bu's face. Leaning his halberd against the railing, he hugged Diaochan, soothing her with words. He no longer wished to leave; for him, nothing in the world mattered more than Diaochan.
In the meantime Dong Zhuo had been informed that Lu Bu had returned to Chang'an with news, and wishing to greet him, he took leave of the Emperor and his court and returned to his palace with haste. At the gate he found Red Hare tied to a post, riderless. Questioning the guards, he soon learned that Lu Bu was already within the palace. He then sent away his servants and proceeded alone to the private apartments. Lu Bu was not there. He then called Diaochan, but heard no reply. Asking a maid where she was, he soon learned that she had gone to the gardens with a guest. Dong Zhuo then went into the garden, and there he saw his adopted son and his concubine embracing each other, with Lu Bu's halberd leaning on the railing beside him.
"Unfilial son! Unfilial son! How dare you do this to me!", Dong Zhuo bellowed in rage. Lu Bu turned, saw who it was, and quickly ran away. Grabbing Lu Bu's halberd, Dong Zhuo ran in pursuit while continuing to yell at Lu Bu. But Lu Bu was a warrior in his prime while the constant feasts and drinking had taken a toll on Dong Zhuo's fitness. Seeing no hope of catching the runaway, Dong Zhuo hurled the halberd. Lu Bu easily dodged the object and continued to run. Picking it up, Dong Zhuo continued in his pursuit. But by this time Lu Bu was far ahead, and there was no hope of catching him. Just as Dong Zhuo was running out at the garden gate, he crashed into another man running in. The other man was no other than one of Dong Zhuo's most trusty advisors, Li Ru. Li Ru had not fallen, and at once scrambled to help Dong Zhuo to his feet and led him to the library, where they sat down.
“What brings you here?” asked Dong Zhuo.
"Your excellency, I happened to come to report that Lu Bu's army had crushed Yuan Shu's force to a man, and had heard from an attendant that you had gone into your private garden to meet with your adopted son. Then suddenly, Lu Bu comes running by and cries out that you wanted to kill him, and I was coming in as fast as I could to try to understand the situation when I accidentally collided with you. I am the most sorry, and will accept any punishment you have for me."
“The unfilial son! How could I deal with seeing him toying with my own concubines! I will have severely punished, if not put to death!” replied Dong Zhuo, still irate.
“Your excellency, if I may advise you. To punish Lu Bu is to make a severe mistake. It is just like the 'plucked tassel' story. During a banquet thrown by King Zhaung of Chu, he made no fuss over the liberties taken with his queen, even though the tassels betrayed her secret affair with the general Jiang Xiong. This restraint paid off, for the same Jiang Xiong saved his life and his kingdom over and over from the armies of Qin. Diaochan may be your beloved, but she is only a woman. Lu Bu, on the other hand, is your adopted son and heir, and he is also your most capable commander and has recently delivered to you a massive victory over the coalition. If you were to give Diaochan up to him, you would win his undying gratitude, and he will destroy for you the remaining coalition warlords. I beg you, your excellency, to think it over.
Dong Zhuo hesitated a long time as he sat murmuring to himself. After some time in deep thought, he replied “What you say is right. I will not punish Lu Bu, and will consider giving him Diaochan."
Satisfied, Li Ru took leave of the Prime Minister and went away. Returning to his private chambers, Dong Zhuo then had the attendants call Diaochan in. “What were you doing with Lu Bu?” he asked.
Diaochan began to weep, saying, “Your concubine was in the garden among the flowers, when he rushed in on me. I was frightened by him and ran away. He asked why I ran away from the son and heir of the family and pursued me right to the pavilion, where you saw us. He had that halberd in his hand all the time. I felt he was a vicious man and would force me to his will, so I tried to throw myself into the lily pond, but he caught me in his arms and held me so that I was helpless. Luckily just at that moment you came and saved my life.”
“Suppose I send you to him,” Dong Zhuo asked.
Diaochan looked at him, stunned. She resumed her weeping. "What has your concubine done to anger you? It is a great honor to serve you, and your concubine could not stand being given to a mere subordinate, especially a brute such as Lu Bu! I would rather die." And with this, Diaochan seized a dagger and pointed it at her throat. Plucking the dagger from her hand, Dong Zhuo embraced her and laughed.
"I was only joking." he said, trying to console her. Diaochan continued to sob.
"This is Li Ru's doing." she continued. "He is in cahoots with Lu Bu, and wants me to go to him. I know that he suggested that you send me away to your underlings. He cares not for your reputation. Oh, how much I despise that man. Though you love me yet I must not stay here. That Lu Bu will try to ruin me if I do. I fear him.”
Dong Zhuo stroked his beard. After a moments hesitation, he comforted Diaochan. “We will go to Meiwo tomorrow, you and I, and we will be happy together and have no cares. I shall make you my wife, and every want of yours shall be seen to and taken care of.” With these words, Diaochan dried her tears and thanked Dong Zhuo.
The next day Li Ru, came again to ask Dong Zhuo if he had made up his mind. When Dong Zhuo replied that he did, and that he had decided to keep Diaochan for himself despite knowing Lu Bu's desires, Li Ru attempted once more to persuade Dong Zhuo to send Diaochan to Lu Bu.
“He and I standing in the relation of father and son. You know that I cannot send him my one of my own ladies,” said Dong Zhuo. “But I will not punish him for the incident in the garden, and am willing to put whatever he has done behind us and pretend as if it never happened. You may inform him of this, and try to alleviate whatever concerns he has as much as you can."
“You are not being manipulated by that woman, are you?” said Li Ru.
Dong Zhuo's face turned red. Furious at the accusation, he shot back at Li Ru, “Would you, too, like to give your wife to somebody else? Do not question my decision on about this any further. Whatever I have chosen, it is final. She is to stay with me, and I will make her my wife.
Bowing his head in acknowledgement, Li Ru left the chamber. When he got outside, he cast his eyes up to heaven in frustration, crying, “We are all dead men, all slain by the hand of this woman!”