Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/60

 was nine years of age and the reign-style was changed to Ch‘u-P‘ing or The Inauguration of Tranquillity.

As chief minister Tung Cho was arrogant beyond all reason. When he bowed before the throne he did not declare his name; in going to court he did not hasten. Booted and armed he entered the reception halls. Never had such a thing been seen before. Li Ju impressed upon him constantly to employ men of reputation so that he should gain public esteem. So when they told him Ch‘ai Yung was a man of talent he was summoned. But he would not go. Cho sent a message to him that if he did not come he and his whole clan should be exterminated. Then Ch‘ai gave in and appeared. Cho was very gracious to him and promoted him thrice in a month. He became a Shih-chung and seemed to be on most friendly terms with the tyrant.

Meanwhile the deposed ruler, his mother and the Lady T‘ang were immured in the palace and found their daily supplies gradually diminishing. The deposed Emperor wept incessantly. One day a pair of swallows gliding to and fro moved him to verse.

The messenger, sent by Tung Cho from time to time to the palace for news of the prisoners, got hold of this poem and showed it to his master.

“So he shows his resentment by writing poems, eh! A fair excuse to put them all out of the way,” said Tung.

Li Ju was sent with ten men into the palace to consummate the foul deed. The three were in one of the upper rooms when he arrived. The Emperor shuddered when the maid announced the visitor’s name.

Presently Li entered and offered a cup of poisoned wine to the Emperor. The Emperor asked what this meant.

“Spring is the season of blending and harmonious interchange and the Minister sends a cup of the wine of longevity,” said he.

“If it be the wine of longevity you may share it too; pledge me first,” said the Empress.

Then Li became brutally frank.

“You will not drink!” cried he.

He called the men with daggers and cords and bade her look at them.

“The cup, or these?” said he.

Then said the Lady T‘ang, “Let the handmaiden drink in place of her lord. Spare the mother and her son, I pray.”