小说园

第263部分（第2页）

Mortified　by　the　course　of　events；　after　his　return　Zhuge　Ke　did　not　attend　court　held　by　the　Ruler　of　Wu；　but　pretended　illness。

Sun　Liang；　the　Ruler　of　Wu；　went　to　the　residence　to　see　his　general；　and　the　officers　came　to　call。　In　order　to　silence　ment；　Zhuge　Ke　assumed　an　attitude　of　extreme　severity；　investigating　everyones　conduct　very　minutely；　punishing　rigorously　any　fault　or　shorting　and　meting　out　sentences　of　banishment；　or　death　with　exposure；　till　everyone　walked　in　terror。　He　also　placed　two　of　his　own　cliques………Zhang　Yue　and　Zhu　En………over　the　royal　guards；　making　them　the　teeth　and　claws　of　his　vengeance。

Now　Sun　Jun　was　a　son　of　Sun　Gong　and　a　great　grandson　of　Sun　Jing；　brother　of　Sun　Jian。　Sun　Quan　loved　him　and　had　put　him　in　mand　of　the　guards。　Sun　Jun　was　enraged　at　being　superseded　by　Zhang　Yue　and　Zhu　En；　the　two　creatures　of　Zhuge　Ke。

Minister　Teng　Yin；　who　had　an　old　quarrel　with　Zhuge　Ke；　said　to　Sun　Jun；　〃This　Zhuge　Ke　is　as　cruel　as　he　is　powerful。　He　abuses　his　authority；　and　no　one　is　safe　against　him。　I　also　think　he　is　aiming　at　something　yet　higher　and　you；　Sir；　as　one　of　the　ruling　family　ought　to　put　a　stop　to　it。〃

〃I　agree　with　you；　and　I　want　to　get　rid　of　him；〃　replied　Sun　Jun。　〃Now　I　will　obtain　an　edict　condemning　him　to　death。〃

Both　went　in　to　see　the　Ruler　of　Wu；　Sun　Liang；　and　they　laid　the　matter　before　him。

〃I　am　afraid　of　him；　too；〃　replied　Sun　Liang。　〃I　have　wanted　to　remove　him　for　some　time；　but　have　found　no　opportunity。　If　you　would　prove　your　loyalty；　you　would　do　it　for　me。〃

Then　said　Teng　Yin；　〃Your　Majesty　can　give　a　banquet　and　invite　him；　and　let　a　few　braves　be　ready　hidden　behind　the　curtains。　At　a　signal；　as　the　dropping　of　a　wine　cup；　they　might　jump　out　and　slay　him；　and　all　further　trouble　would　be　avoided。〃

Sun　Liang　agreed。

Zhuge　Ke　had　never　been　to　court　since　his　return　from　the　unfortunate　expedition。　Under　a　plea　of　indisposition　he　had　remained　moping　at　home。　One　day　he　was　going　out　of　his　reception　room　when　he　suddenly　saw　ing　in　a　person　dressed　in　the　mourning　white。

〃Who　are　you？〃　said　he；　rather　roughly。

The　person　seemed　too　terror…stricken　to　reply　or　resist　when　he　was　seized。

They　questioned　him；　and　he　said；　〃I　was　in　mourning　for　my　father　newly　dead；　and　had　e　into　the　city　to　seek　a　priest　to　read　the　liturgy。　I　had　entered　by　mistake；　thinking　it　was　a　temple。〃

The　gate　wardens　were　questioned。　They　said；　〃There　are　scores　of　us　at　the　gate；　which　is　never　unwatched。　We　have　not　seen　a　man　enter。〃

Zhuge　Ke　raged　and　had　the　mourner　and　the　gate　wardens　put　to　death。　But　that　night　he　was　restless　and　sleepless。　By　and　by　he　heard　a　rending　sound　that　seemed　to　e　from　the　reception　hall；　so　he　arose　and　went　to　see　what　it　was。　The　great　main　beam　had　broken　in　two。

Zhuge　Ke；　much　disturbed；　returned　to　his　chamber　to　try　once　more　to　sleep。　But　a　cold　wind　blew；　and；　shivering　in　the　chilly　air；　he　saw　the　figures　of　the　mourner　and　the　gate　wardens　he　had　put　to　death。　They　advanced　toward　him　holding　their　heads　in　their　hands　and　seemed　to　threaten　him。　He　was　frightened；　and　fell　in　a　swoon。

Next　morning；　when　washing　his　face；　the　water　seemed　tainted　with　the　smell　of　blood。　He　bade　the　maid　throw　it　away　and　bring　more；　it　made　no　difference；　the　odor　was　still　there。　He　was　perplexed　and　distressed。　Then　came　a　messenger　with　an　invitation　to　a　royal　banquet。　He　had　his　carriage　prepared。　As　he　was　passing　through　the　gate；　a　yellow　dog　jumped　up　and　caught　hold　of　his　garment　and　then　howled　lugubriously。

〃The　dog　even　mocks　me！〃　said　he；　annoyed；　and　he　bade　his　attendants　take　it　away。

Then　he　set　out　for　the　Palace。　Before　he　had　gone　far；　he　saw　a　white　rainbow　rise　out　of　the　earth　and　reach　up　to　the　sky。　While　he　was　wondering　what　this　might　portend；　his　friend　Zhang　Yue　came　up　and　spoke　a　word　of　warning。

〃I　feel　doubtful　about　the　real　purpose　of　this　banquet；〃　said　Zhang　Yue；　〃and　advise　you　not　to　go。〃

Zhuge　Ke　gave　orders　to　drive　home　again。　But　before　he　had　reached　his　own　gate；　the　two　conspirators………Sun　Jun　and　Teng　Yin………rode　up　and　asked；　〃O　Imperial　Guardian；　why　are　you　turning　back？〃

〃I　feel　unwell　and　cannot　see　the　Emperor　today；〃　replied　Zhuge　Ke。

They　replied；　〃This　court　is　appointed　to　be　held　especially　to　do　honor　to　you　and　the　army。　You　have　not　yet　reported；　and　there　is　a　banquet　for　you。　You　may　be　ill；　but　you　really　must　go　to　court。〃

Zhuge　Ke　yielded；　and　once　more　set　his　face　toward　the　Palace。　Sun　Jun　and　Teng　Yin　went　with　him；　and　his　friend　Zhang　Yue　followed。　The　banquet　was　spread　when　he　arrived；　and　after　he　had　made　his　obeisance　he　went　to　his　place。

When　the　wine　was　brought　in；　Zhuge　Ke；　thinking　it　might　be　poisoned；　excused　himself　from　drinking；　saying；　〃I　am　currently　ill；　and　I　cannot　drink　wine。〃

〃Will　you　have　some　of　the　medicated　wine　brought　from　your　own　residence？〃　said　Sun　Jun。

〃Yes；　I　could　drink　that；〃　replied　he。