第162部分 (第1/7页)

〃Remember　the　former　attempt　with　Dong　Cheng。　The　plot　was　discovered　and　great　misery　ensued。　I　fear　that　this　will　leak　out　also；　and　both　of　us　will　be　undone。〃

Said　the　Empress；　〃We　pass　our　days　in　constant　disfort；　like　sitting　on　a　rug　full　of　needles。　If　life　is　to　be　like　this；　one　were　better　dead。　But　I　know　one　loyal　man　among　the　attendants　to　whom　I　may　entrust　the　letter。　That　one　is　Mu　Shun；　and　he　will　deliver　it。〃

Thereupon　Empress　Fu　summoned　Mu　Shun　within；　and　having　sent　away　all　others；　they　told　their　distress　to　the　faithful　one。

Emperor　Xian　said；　〃That　fellow　Cao　Cao　desires　the　dignity　of　a　prince；　and　soon　he　will　aspire　to　the　throne　itself。　I；　the　Emperor；　wish　to　order　the　father　of　my　consort　to　make　away　with　the　man；　but　the　difficulty　is　that　all　the　courtiers　are　his　creatures　and　there　is　none　whom　I　can　trust　save　yourself。　I　desire　you　to　convey　this　secret　letter　to　Fu　Wan。　I　know　your　loyalty　and　am　sure　you　will　prove　no　betrayer。〃

〃I　am　the　recipient　of　much　graciousness　for　which　not　even　death　would　prove　my　gratitude。　Thy　servant　prays　that　he　may　be　allowed　to　undertake　this。〃

The　letter　was　given　to　Mu　Shun；　who　hid　it　in　his　hair；　made　his　way　out　of　the　precincts　and　handed　it　to　its　owner。　Fu　Wan　recognized　the　handwriting　of　his　daughter　and　read　it。

Turning　to　the　messenger；　Fu　Wan　said；　〃You　know　the　fellow's　creatures　are　many；　and　one　must　act　with　extreme　caution　against　him。　Unless　we　have　the　aid　of　Sun　Quan's　and　Liu　Bei's　armies；　Cao　Cao　will　certainly　attain　his　ends。　In　this　matter　we　must　gain　the　support　of　every　loyal　and　faithful　one　in　the　court　so　that　within　and　without　there　may　be　a　simultaneous　attack。〃

〃Then；　O　Father　of　the　Empress；　write　a　le