第61部分(第1/7 页)

But　glory　to　him　who　died　in　vain。

Another　poet　wrote　of　the　sad　fate　of　Wang　Zifu　and　his　friends：

Greatheartedly　these　signed　the　silken　roll；

And　pledged　themselves　to　save　their　king　from　shame。

Alas！　Black　death　of　them　took　heavy　toll；

To　write　their　names　upon　the　roll　of　fame。

But　the　slaughter　of　the　conspirators　and　their　whole　households　did　not　appease　the　wrath　of　the　Prime　Minister。　The　Emperor's　consort　was　a　sister　of　Dong　Cheng；　and；　sword　in　hand；　Cao　Cao　went　into　the　Forbidden　City　determined　to　slay　her　also。　The　Emperor　cherished　her　tenderly；　the　more　so　as　she　was　then　in　the　fifth　month　of　pregnancy。　That　day；　as　they　often　did；　the　Emperor；　Consort　Dong；　and　Empress　Fu　were　sitting　in　their　private　apartment　secretly　talking　of　the　decree　entrusted　to　Dong　Cheng　and　asking　each　other　why　nothing　seemed　to　have　been　done。　The　sudden　appearance　of　the　angry　Prime　Minister；　armed　as　he　was；　frightened　them　greatly。

〃Does　Your　Majesty　know　that　Dong　Cheng　conspired　against　me？〃　said　he。

〃Dong　Zhuo　died　long　ago；〃　replied　the　Emperor。

〃Not　Dong　Zhuo………Dong　Cheng！〃　roared　Cao　Cao。

The　Emperor's　heart　trembled；　but　he　gasped　out；　〃Really　I　did　not　know！〃

〃So　the　cut　finger　and　the　blood　written　decree　are　all　forgotten；　eh？〃

The　Emperor　was　silent。　Cao　Cao　bade　his　lictors　seize　Consort　Dong。　The　Emperor　interposed　asking　pity　for　her　condition。

But　Cao　Cao　said；　〃If　Heaven　had　not　interposed　and　defeated　the　plot；　I　should　be　a　dead　man。　How　could　I　leave　this　woman　to　work　evil　to　me　by　and　by？〃

Said　the　Emperor；　〃Immure　her　in　one　of　the　palaces　till　her　confinement。　Do　not　harm　her　now！〃

〃Do　you　wish　me　to　spare　her　offspring　to　avenge　the