Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/291

RV 286 (AN LU-SHAN) soon returned to favor. Though Ming Huang had slipped from the position of virtuous ruler into the depths of debauchery, he had not relinquished all semblance of justice and common-sense. In due course, Kui-ling returned to the Palace, nor was his position in any way besmirched.

By way of greeting, he said to Li Lin-fu, "Though a snake get into a bamboo tube it is hard to change its wriggling disposition."

That evening, even tea had a bitter taste to the Premier. He tried to reflect calmly, but reflection had an ugly face. If Kui-ling had succeeded in diverting the forces of Ming Huang once more toward good government, his position as Prime Minister would have been but nominal. Only a weak Emperor needs a strong prime minister. For Li Lin-fu, power was a drug. It revitalized him into astounding energy. Nevertheless, Kui-ling remained, a thorn in his side that he could not get rid of. And because Kui-ling was so steadfast, honors were heaped upon him. It was a stimulating novelty to discover such a man among Court officials. There had been a noteworthy occasion when Kui-ling had warned the Emperor of the perfidious conduct of An Lu-shan. The incident had caused so little impression on the mind of Ming Huang that before the day's end no trace of it remained. Not even when months later Kuo-chung made similar charges did he recall the warning of Kui-ling. He had so absolute a faith in An Lu-shan, no onslaught of words could shake it.

But Li Lin-fu remembered and resented the RV 286 (286)