三国演义英文版-第180章

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　at　the　library　and　were　removed　from　his　mands。　Liu　Bei　explained　to　his　hostess；　and　when　she　understood　this；　she　gave　her　son…in…law　and　his　people　rooms　in　her　own　palace　so　that　he　might　be　quite　safe。
Liu　Bei　was　very　happy；　and　there　were　fine　banquets；　and　the　bride　and　bridegroom　duly　plighted　their　troth。　And　when　it　grew　late　and　the　guests　had　gone；　the　newly　wedded　pair　walked　through　the　two　lines　of　red　torches　to　the　nuptial　apartment。
To　his　extreme　surprise；　Liu　Bei　found　the　chambers　furnished　with　spears　and　swords　and　banners　and　flags；　while　every　waiting…maid　had　girded　on　a　sword。

Walls　hung　with　spears　the　bridegroom　saw；
And　armed　waiting…maids；
His　heart　fell　back　on　all　its　fears
Of　well…laid　ambuscades。

What　happened　will　be　related　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　55　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　55
　Chapter　55
Liu　Bei　Rouses　The　Spirit　Of　Lady　Sun；
Zhuge　Liang　A　Second　Time　Angers　Zhou　Yu。
The　bridegroom　turned　pale。　Bridal　apartments　lined　with　weapons　of　war　and　waiting　maids　armed！
But　the　housekeeper　of　the　lady　said；　〃Do　not　be　frightened；　O　Honorable　One！　My　lady　has　always　had　a　taste　for　warlike　things；　and　her　maids　have　all　been　taught　fencing　as　a　pastime。　That　is　all　it　is。〃
〃Not　the　sort　of　thing　a　wife　should　ever　look　at；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃It　makes　me　feel　cold；　and　you　may　have　them　removed　for　a　time。〃
The　housekeeper　went　to　her　mistress　and　said；　〃The　weapons　in　your　chamber　displease　the　handsome　one。　May　we　remove　them？〃
Lady　Sun　laughed；　saying；　〃Afraid　of　a　few　weapons　after　half　a　life　time　spent　in　slaughter！〃
But　she　ordered　their　removal　and　bade　the　maids　take　off　their　swords　while　they　were　at　work。
That　night　Liu　Bei　and　Lady　Sun　conversed　under　the　moonlight；　and　the　night　passed　happily　enough。
Next　day　Liu　Bei　distributed　gifts　among　the　maids　to　secure　their　good　will。　He　also　sent　Sun　Qian　to　Jingzhou　with　news　of　the　wedding；　while　he　gave　himself　up　to　feasting　and　enjoyment。　The　Dowager　loved　him　more　every　day。
The　results　of　the　plot　to　destroy　Liu　Bei　were　thus　very　different　from　the　originators'　intention。　Sun　Quan　sent　to　his　general：
〃My　mother　had　insisted　upon　marrying　her　daughter　to　Liu　Bei；　and　so　by　juggling　with　the　fictitious；　we　had　made　it　real。　What　is　to　be　done？〃
The　news　troubled　Zhou　Yu　day　and　night；　but　eventually　he　thought　but　another　scheme　which　he　embodied　in　a　letter　sent　to　his　master。　Here　is　the　outline　of　the　missive：
〃Contrary　to　expectation；　the　plot　that　I；　Zhou　Yu；　contrived　has　turned　the　wrong　way。　However；　since　by　juggling　with　deceit；　we　have　ended　in　a　solid　truth。　Our　future　plans　must　start　from　the　actual　present　facts。　To　the　boldness　of　the　adventurer　Liu　Bei　is　added　the　aid　of　such　great　leaders　as　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　and　Zhao　Yun；　not　to　mention　that　he　has　a　strategist　like　Zhuge　Liang。　He　is　not　the　man　to　remain　long　in　a　lowly　position。　Wherefore　I　can　think　of　no　better　plan　than　to　enervate　him　by　surrounding　him　with　softness　and　keeping　him　in　the　South　Land；　a　prisoner　of　luxury。　Therefore　build　for　him　a　fine　palace　to　blunt　the　edge　of　his　determination　and　surround　him　with　sensuous　luxury。　In　this　way　the　affection　of　his　brothers　will　be　alienated；　and　Zhuge　Liang　will　be　driven　away。　When　this　result　has　been　attained；　we　can　smite　him　and　so　end　a　great　matter。　If　we　be　at　all　careless；　I　fear　the　recumbent　dragon　may　fly　to　the　skies；　it　is　no　beast　to　be　kept　in　a　pond。　My　lord；　I　pray　you　consider　this　thoroughly。〃
The　letter　was　shown　to　Zhang　Zhao　who　said；　〃My　idea　is　identical　with　his。　Liu　Bei　began　life　in　a　humble　position　and　for　years　has　been　a　wanderer。　He　has　never　tasted　the　delights　of　wealth。　Give　him　the　means　of　luxury；　a　beautiful　dwelling；　fair　women；　gold　and　silken　attire。　As　he　enjoys　them；　the　thoughts　of　Zhuge　Liang　and　his　brothers　will　fade　away　and　they；　on　their　side；　will　be　filled　with　rancor。　Thus　can　we　lay　our　plans　for　recovering　Jingzhou。　I　remend　action　as　Zhou　Yu　says　and　quickly。〃
Sun　Quan　then　set　about　redecorating　the　Eastern　Palace　and　laying　out　the　grounds。　He　filled　the　rooms　with　beautiful　furniture　for　his　sister　and　her　husband。　He　also　sent　fair　damsels　and　musicians　by　the　score；　and　many　and　beautiful　vessels　in　gold　and　silver；　and　silken　stuffs。　And　his　mother　was　delighted　at　his　kindness　to　her　son…in…law。
Indeed　Liu　Bei　was　soon　so　immersed　in　sensuous　pleasure　that　he　gave　no　thought　to　return。　Zhao　Yun　and　the　pany　under　him　led　an　idle　life　in　the　front　portion　of　the　Eastern　Palace；　save　that　at　times　they　went　outside　the　city　for　archery　and　horse…racing。　And　thus　passed　the　year。
Suddenly　Zhao　Yun　remembered　the　orders　he　had　received　and　the　three　bags　with　the　plans　in　them。　It　was　time　to　open　the　second　one　for　the　end　of　the　year　was　nigh。　His　orders　were　only　to　open　the　third　when　danger　was　very　near　and　there　appeared　no　way　out。
As　already　remarked；　the　year　was　drawing　to　a　close；　and　Zhao　Yun　saw　his　lord　daily　being　more　and　more　the　slave　of　pleasure。　Liu　Bei　never　appeared　among　his　guards　now。　So　the　bag　was　opened　and　in　pursuance　of　the　wonderful　scheme　thereby　discovered；　Zhao　Yun　went　to　the　hall　of　the　palace　and　asked　to　see　his　master。
The　maid　in　attendance　went　within　and　said；　〃Zhao　Yun　has　some　important　matter　on　which　to　see　the　master。〃
Liu　Bei　called　him　in　and　asked　what　the　business　was。
Zhao　Yun　assumed　an　attitude　of　great　concern　and　said；　〃My　lord；　you　are　living　happily　secluded　in　these　beautiful　apartments。　Do　you　never　think　of　Jingzhou？〃
〃But　what　is　the　matter　that　you　seem　so　disturbed？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃Today　early　Zhuge　Liang　sent　a　messenger　to　say　that　Cao　Cao　was　trying　to　avenge　his　last　defeat　and　was　leading　five　hundred　thousand　troops　to　attack　Jingzhou；　which　was　in　great　danger。　And　he　wished　you　to　return。〃
〃I　must　speak　to　my　wife；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃If　you　consult　her；　she　will　be　unwilling　for　you　to　return。　It　would　be　better　to　say　nothing　but　to　start　this　evening。　Delay　may　do　great　damage。〃
〃Retire　for　a　time。　I　must　act　discreetly；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
Zhao　Yun　urged　the　need　to　return　several　times　more；　but　finally　went　away。
Liu　Bei　went　into　his　wife's　rooms　and　began　to　weep　silently。
Seeing　his　tears；　Lady　Sun　said；　〃Why　are　you　so　sad；　my　husband？〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　have　been　driven　hither　and　thither　all　my　life。　I　was　never　able　to　do　my　duty　to　my　parents；　nor　have　I　been　able　to　sacrifice　to　my　ancestors。　I　have　been　very　unfilial。　The　new　year　is　at　hand；　and　its　approach　disquiets　me　greatly。〃
〃Do　not　try　to　deceive　me；〃　said　Lady　Sun。　〃I　heard　and　I　know　all。　Just　now　Zhao　Yun　came　to　tell　you　Jingzhou　was　threatened　and　you　wish　to　return　home。　That　is　why　you　put　forward　this　excuse。〃
Then　Liu　Bei　fell　on　his　knees　and　said；　〃Why　should　I　dissemble；　O　Wife；　since　you　know？　I　do　not　wish　to　go；　but　if　Jingzhou　be　lost；　I　shall　be　an　object　of　ridicule　to　everyone。　I　do　desire　to　go；　but　I　cannot　leave　you。　Now　you　know　why　I　am　grieved。〃
She　replied；　〃I　am　your　handmaid；　and　whithersoever　you　go；　it　is　my　duty　to　follow。〃
〃Yes；　your　heart　is　right；　but　the　difficulty　is　your　mother　and　the　Marquis。　They　will　be　unwilling。　If　you　would　have　pity　on　me　and　let　me　go　for　a　time…〃
And　again　the　tears　gushed　forth。
〃Do　not　be　so　sad；　my　husband；〃　said　Lady　Sun。　〃I　will　implore　my　mother　to　let　us　go；　and　she　will　surely　allow　it。〃
〃Even　supposing　the　Dowager　permits；　I　am　sure　the　Marquis　will　hinder。〃
Lady　Sun　said　nothing　for　a　long　time　while　she　weighed　the　matter　thoroughly。
Presently　she　spoke；　〃On　New　Year's　Day　you　and　I　will　go　to　court　and　present　our　congratulations。　Then　we　will　give　the　excuse　of　a　sacrifice　on　the　river　bank　and　go　away　without　formal　leave。　Will　that　suit　you？〃
Liu　Bei　knelt　at　her　feet　and　expressed　his　gratitude。
〃I　should　be　never　so　grateful；〃　said　he。　〃Dead　or　alive　I　would　remember　your　love。　But　this　must　be　a　perfect　secret。〃
This　having　been　decided　and　the　arrangements　made。
Liu　Bei　gave　Zhao　Yun　secret　orders；　saying；　〃Lead　your　pany　out　of　the　city　and　be　on　the　road　on　New　Year's　morn。　We　are　going　away。〃
Sun　Quan　held　a　gra