Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/287

 “As I have spoken, so be it; I could not break faith,” replied Ts‘ao.

“Whenever I hear where Uncle Liu is I must certainly go to him, even if through fire and water. It may be that there there will be no opportunity of taking leave. I trust you will understand the reason.”

“If Liu Pei should prove to be alive you must certainly be allowed to go to him. But I fear that in the confusion he may have lost his life. You may set your mind at rest and let me make enquiries.”

Kuan Yü thanked him. Then a banquet was prepared in his honour. Next day the army started on its homeward march.

For the journey to the capital a carriage was prepared for the two ladies and Kuan Yü was its guard. On the road they rested at a certain post station and Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, anxious to compromise Kuan by beguiling him into forgetfulness of his duty, assigned him to the same apartment as his sisters-in-law. Kuan stood the whole night before the door with a lighted candle in his hand. Not once did he yield to fatigue. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s respect for him could not but increase.

At the capital the Minister assigned a dignified residence to Kuan Yü, which he immediately divided into two enclosures, the inner one for the two ladies and the other for himself. He placed a guard of eighteen of his veterans over the women’s quarters.

Kuan Yü was presented to the Emperor Hsien who conferred upon him the rank of General. Soon after Ts‘ao made a great banquet, inviting all his advisers and fighting men, solely in honour of Kuan Yü, who sat in the seat of honour. Beside this he received presents of silks and gold and silver vessels, all of which were sent into the ladies’ quarters for their use and keeping. In fact from the day of arrival in the capital Kuan Yü was treated with marked respect and distinction, banquets and feasts following each other in quick succession.

Ts‘ao Ts‘ao also presented him with ten most lovely serving girls; these also were sent within to wait upon his two sisters-in-law.

Every third day Kuan Yü went to the door of the women’s quarters to enquire after their welfare, and then they asked if any news of the wanderer had come. This ceremony closed with the words “Brother-in-law, you may retire when you wish.”

Ts‘ao heard of this extremely correct behaviour and thought all the more of the man for it.

One day Ts‘ao noticed that the robe Kuan Yü was wearing was old and frayed. Taking his measurements Ts‘ao had a new one made of fine brocade and presented it to him. He took it and put it on under the old robe, so that the latter covered it.