Читаем Three Kingdoms Romance полностью

Then the Emperor designate, Prince of Chenliu, went to the upper part of the hall to receive congratulations. After this the late Emperor — now Prince of Hongnong—, his mother, and the Imperial Consort, Lady Tang, were removed to the Palace of Forever Calm. The entrance gates were locked against all comers.

It was pitiful! There was the young emperor, after reigning less than half a year, deposed and another put in his place. The new Emperor was Liu Xian, the second son of the late Emperor Ling. He was nine years of age, five years younger than his deposed brother. The new reign-style was changed to Inauguration of Tranquillity, the first year (AD 190).

Becoming the Prime Minister, Dong Zhuo was most powerful and arrogant. 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. He amassed a wealth exceeding any other's.

His adviser, Li Ru, impressed upon Dong Zhuo constantly to employ people of reputation so that he should gain public esteem. So when they told him Cai Yong was a man of talent, Dong Zhuo summoned him. But Cai Yong would not go. Dong Zhuo sent a message to him that if he did not come, he and his whole clan should be exterminated. Then Cai Yong gave in and appeared. Dong Zhuo was very gracious to him and promoted him thrice in a month. Cai Yong became High Minister. Such was the generosity of the tyrant.

Meanwhile the deposed ruler, his mother, and his consort were immured in the Palace of Forever Calm and found their daily supplies gradually diminishing. The deposed Emperor wept incessantly. One day a pair of wallows gliding to and fro moved him to verse:

Spring and the green of the tender grass,

Flushes with joy as the swallows pass;

The wayfarers pause by the rippling stream,

And their eyes will new born gladness gleam;

With lingering gaze the roofs I see

Of the palace that one time sheltered me.

But those whom I sheltered in all righteousness,

Let's not stay in silence when the days pass useless?

The messenger, sent by Dong Zhuo 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 Dong Zhuo.

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

Presently Li Ru 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 Prime Minister sends a cup of the wine of longevity,” said Li Ru.

“If it be the wine of longevity, you may share it too,” said Empress He.

Then Li Ru became brutally frank.

“You will not drink?” asked he.

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

“The cup, or these?” said he.

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

“And who may you be to die for a prince?” said Li Ru.

Then he presented the cup to the Empress once more and bade her drink.

She railed against her brother, the feckless He Jin, the author of all this trouble. She would not drink.

Next Li Ru approached the Emperor.

“Let me say farewell to my mother,” begged he, and he did so in these lines:

“The heaven and earth are changed; Alas! the sun and the moon leave their courses,

I, once the center of all eyes, am driven to the farthest confines.

Oppressed by an arrogant minister my life nears its end,

Everything fails me and vain are my falling tears.”

Lady Tang sang:

“Heaven is to be rent asunder, Earth to fall away;

I, handmaid of an Emperor, would grieve if I followed him not.

We have come to the parting of ways, the quick and the dead walk not together;

Alas! I am left alone with the grief in my heart.”

When they had sung these lines, they fell weeping into each others' arms.

“The Prime Minister is awaiting my report,” said Li Ru, “and you delay too long. Think you that there is any hope of succor?”