第31部分(第1/7 頁)

leaders。　It　would　be　well　for　the　empire　if　he　would　lend　his　support　to　the　imperial　family　and　help　to　rid　the　government　of　this　evil　party。〃

His　Majesty　wept；　〃I　am　weary　of　the　insults　and　contempt　of　these　wretches　and　should　be　very　glad　to　have　them　removed。〃

〃I　have　thought　of　a　plan　to　estrange　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　and　so　make　them　destroy　each　other。　Then　Cao　Cao　could　e　and　cleanse　the　court；〃　said　Yang　Biao。

〃How　will　you　manage　it？〃　asked　the　Emperor。

〃Guo　Si's　wife；　Lady　Qiong；　is　very　jealous；　and　we　can　take　advantage　of　her　weakness　to　bring　about　a　quarrel。〃

So　Yang　Biao　received　instruction　to　act；　with　a　secret　edict　to　support　him。　Yang　Biao's　wife；　Lady　Kai；　made　an　excuse　to　visit　Lady　Qiong　at　her　palace　and；　in　the　course　of　conversation；　said　〃There　is　talk　of　secret　liaison　between　the　General；　your　husband；　and　the　wife　of　Minister　Li　Jue。　It　is　a　great　secret；　but　if　Minister　Li　Jue　knew　it；　he　might　try　to　harm　your　husband。　I　think　you　ought　to　have　very　little　to　do　with　that　family。〃

Lady　Qiong　was　surprised　but　said；　〃I　have　wondered　why　he　has　been　sleeping　away　from　home　lately；　but　I　did　not　think　there　was　anything　shameful　connected　with　it。　I　should　never　have　known　if　you　had　not　spoken。　I　must　put　a　stop　to　it。〃

By　and　by；　when　Lady　Kai　took　her　leave；　Lady　Qiong　thanked　her　warmly　for　the　information　she　had　given。

Some　days　passed；　and　Guo　Si　was　going　over　to　the　dwelling　of　Li　Jue　to　a　dinner。

Lady　Qiong　did　not　wish　him　to　go　and　she　said；　〃This　Li　Jue　is　very　deep；　and　one　cannot　fathom　his　designs。　You　two　are　not　of　equal　rank；　and　if　he　made　away　with　you；　what　would　bee　of　your　poor　handmaid？〃

Guo　Si　paid　no　attention；　and　his　wife　could　not　prevai