As part of an interlocking stratagem, Wang Yun first betrothed his stepdaughter Diao Chan to Lü Bu, then presented her to the powerful warlord Dong Zhuo as a concubine to sow discord between them. Lü Bu was furious. Whenever they met, Diao Chan feigned sorrow with tearful looks.
One day, while Dong Zhuo was at court, Lü Bu rushed to his residence to see Diao Chan. At the Fengyi Pavilion, she said to him desperately, "I have endured this disgrace only to see you one last time and share my heart. I was meant for you, but Dong Zhuo took me by force. We can only meet in our next life…" She then moved to throw herself into a lotus pool. Lü Bu held her back and swore, "How can I call myself a man if I do not marry you?"
Noticing Lü Bu's absence, a suspicious Dong Zhuo hurried home to find Diao Chan gone. Servants told him she was in the back garden with Lü Bu. Dong Zhuo rushed there and roared with anger at the sight of them, causing Lü Bu to flee.
Returning to his chamber, Dong Zhuo found Diao Chan in tears. When questioned, she said, "I was admiring flowers when Lü Bu intruded and made advances. I tried to escape, but he chased me to the pavilion with his lance…" Soon after, the stratagem achieved its goal: Lü Bu killed Dong Zhuo.