第42部分(第1/7 頁)

one　of　the　courts。　They　told　me　she　was　the　wife　of　Zhang　Ji；　Zhang　Xiu's　uncle。　She　is　very　lovely。〃

Cao　Cao；　inflamed　by　the　description　given　him　of　the　beauty；　told　his　nephew　to　go　and　bring　her　to　visit　him。　Cao　Amin　did　so；　supported　by　an　armed　escort；　and　very　soon　the　woman　stood　before　Cao　Cao。

She　was　a　beauty　indeed；　and　Cao　Cao　asked　her　name。

She　replied；　〃Thy　handmaid　was　wife　to　Zhang　Ji；　I　was　born　of　the　Zhou　family。〃

〃Do　you　know　who　I　am？〃

〃I　have　known　the　Prime　Minister　by　reputation　a　long　time。　I　am　happy　to　see　him　and　be　permitted　to　bow　before　him；〃　said　she。

〃It　was　for　your　sake　that　I　allowed　Zhang　Xiu　to　submit；　otherwise　I　would　have　slain　him　and　cut　him　off　root　and　branch；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃Indeed；　then；　I　owe　my　very　life　to　you；　I　am　very　grateful；〃　said　she。

〃To　see　you　is　a　glimpse　of　paradise；　but　there　is　one　thing　I　should　like　better。　Stay　here　and　go　with　me　to　the　capital　where　I　will　see　that　you　are　properly　cared　for。　What　do　you　say　to　that；　my　lady？〃

She　could　but　thank　him。

〃But　Zhang　Xiu　will　greatly　wonder　at　my　prolonged　absence；　and　gossips　will　begin　to　talk；〃　said　she。

〃If　you　like；　you　can　leave　the　city　tomorrow。〃

She　did　so；　but　instead　of　going　at　once　to　the　capital；　she　stayed　with　him　among　the　tents；　where　Dian　Wei　was　appointed　as　a　special　guard　over　her　apartments。　Cao　Cao　was　the　only　person　whom　she　saw；　and　he　passed　the　days　in　idle　dalliance　with　the　lady；　quite　content　to　let　time　flow　by。

But　people　told　Zhang　Xiu　what　had　gone　amiss；　and　he　was　angry　at　the　shame　brought　upon　the　family。

He　confided　his　trouble　to　Jia　Xu　who　said；　〃Keep　this　secret；　wait　till　he　appears　again　to　carry　on　business