Emperor and the Empress were seated。 The Empress rose in a fright； and the Emperor gazed at his minister in terror。
〃Sun Quan and Liu Bei have each seized a portion of the empire and no longer respect the court。 What is to be done？〃
To this abrupt speech the Emperor replied； 〃The matter lies within your province。〃
Cao Cao answered； angrily； 〃If such a remark be known outside； they will say I treat my prince without respect！〃
〃If you will help me； I shall be most happy；〃 said His Majesty。 〃If not； then I trust to your kindness to let me alone。〃
At this Cao Cao glared at the Emperor and went out full of resentment。
The courtiers said； 〃It is said that the Duke of Wei desires to bee Prince of Wei； and soon he will aspire to the throne。〃
Both the Emperor and his consort wept。
Presently Her Majesty said； 〃My father； Fu Wan； has long nourished a desire to slay this man。 Now I will indite a secret letter to my father to acplish his end。〃
〃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 letter in reply asking for a secret edict； so that we may send to the south and the west to join in the attack。〃
So Fu Wan posed a reply； which he gave to Mu Shun to take into the Palace。 This time also the letter was concealed in his hair。
But there was a traitor； and Cao Cao heard of the letters。 So he waited at a Palace gate for Mu Shun to e out。
〃Where are you going？〃 asked Cao Cao； when Mu Shun appeared。
〃The Empress is indisposed and has bidden me call a physician。〃
〃Where is the summon for the physician？〃
〃There is no summon。〃
Cao Cao bade his guards search Mu Shun； but they did not find the letter。
So he was allowed to go。 But just then a gust of wind blew off his hat； and it struck Cao Cao that that had not been examined。 So Mu Shun was called back。 Nothing was found in the hat； but when it was given back Mu Shun put it on with both hands。 There was something suspicious about the movement； and Cao Cao bade the searchers examine his hair。
Therein the letter of Fu Wan was found。 Cao Cao read it； which said that Sun Quan and Liu Bei were to be induced to help。 The unhappy Mu Shun was taken away into a secret place and interrogated； but he would confess nothing。
That night three thousand soldiers surrounded the dwelling of Fu Wan； who was arrested with all his family。 Searching the house； they found the first letter in the handwriting of the Empress。 Fu Wan and his family were then consigned to a gaol。
At dawn； a party of Imperial Guards； under Chi Lu； bearing ensigns of authority； entered the Forbidden City with orders to take away the seal of the Empress。 On the way they met the Emperor； who asked the reason for a pany of armed guards being in the Palace。
〃I have orders from the Duke of Wei to get the Empress's seal；〃 said Chi Lu。
The Emperor grew alarmed。 When Chi Lu reached the apartments of the Empress； she had just risen。 Chi Lu ordered to take the seal of the Empress and went away。
As soon as the Empress knew of this； she recognized her danger and hid herself in the hollow walls of her private apartments behind one of the ceremonial halls。 She had not been long in hiding when Hua Xin with a pany of five hundred armed soldiers appeared and asked where she was。 The Palace people said they did not know。 The red doors of the hall were burst open； and Hua Xin looked in； but he saw no lady there。 It occurred to him where she might be hidden； and he ordered his men to break open the wall。 With his own hands； he laid hold of the lady's hair and dragged her forth。
〃Spare my life！〃 pleaded she。
〃You may say what you have to say to the Duke！〃 cried he。
She pulled down her hair and kicked off her shoes； but a couple of soldiers pushed her along in front of them outside。
It may be said here that this Hua Xin had a reputation for learning。 He and two others； Bing Yuan and Guan Ning； all good friends； made a little coterie which was known as 〃The Dragon〃。 Hua Xin was the 〃head〃； Bing Yuan； the 〃belly〃； and Guan Ning； the 〃tail〃。 One day Guan Ning and Hua Xin were hoeing in their garden to grow some vegetables； when they turned up an ingot of gold。 Guan Ning went on with his labors without giving a second glance at the find； but Hua Xin picked it up。 After regarding it a moment； he threw it away again。
Another day Guan Ning and Hua Xin were reading together when there arose a great shouting outside the window of the study。 A minister from the Palace was passing。 Guan Ning took no notice； but kept his eyes on his book； Hua Xin rose and went to the window。 For this； Guan Ning despised his panion and the two parted for good。
Sometime after； in the disturbance of the empire； Guan Ning fled into Liaodong； where he led the life of hermit。 He wore a white cap and lived in the upper part of a house； never touching the ground with his feet。 He would have nothing to do with Cao Cao and would not enter his service。
But Hua Xin led a totally different life。 For a time he was with Sun Quan； then he went over to Cao Cao and served him。 And here he is found actually laying hands upon the Empress。
His conduct in this particular is the subject of a poem：
That was a dastardly thing that Hua Xin did；
When he broke don the wall where the Empress hid
And dragged her forth by the hair。
He lent his aid to a foul； foul crime
And execrations throughout all time；
Have been； and shall be； his share。
A poet also wrote concerning Guan Ning：
East of Liaodong； so stories tell
Is Guan Ning's tower； where long he dwelt。
Ignoble wealth was Hua Xin's quest；
The hermit's simple life was best。
As Hua Xin hurried the unhappy woman out of the hall； the Emperor saw her。 He went over and clasped her to his bosom； weeping。
Hua Xin tried to force her onward； saying； 〃The Duke of Wei ordered no delay！〃
〃My doom is sealed；〃 wept the Empress。
〃And I know not when my turn will e；〃 sighed the Emperor。
The soldiers hustled the Empress onward； leaving His Majesty beating his breast in despair。
〃Can it be that such things happen in the world？〃 cried the Emperor to Chi Lu； who stood by。
And the Emperor swooned。 Chi Lu made the courtiers pick him up； and they bore him into the Palace。
Meanwhile； the unhappy Empress had been taken before Cao Cao。
〃I have dealt well with you；〃 said he angrily； 〃and you requited me by plotting my murder。 It is the death of one of us； I see。〃
He ordered the executioners to beat her till she died。 After this； he went into the Palace； seized her two sons and had them poisoned。 In the evening of the same day the whole households of Mu Shun and Fu Wan were put to death publicly。 Such terrible deeds spread terror everywhere。 They happened in the eleventh month of the nineteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 214）。
As Cao Cao stands first in cruelty；
So stands Fu Wan in loyalty。
A married pair of low estate；
Had not been torn apart by fate。
The Emperor grieved bitterly over the loss of his consort； and in his despair refused all food。 Cao Cao did not wish him to die of starvation and loneliness； so he proposed his own daughter as consort。
〃Be not sad；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃Thy servant is no rebel。 My daughter is already in your palace as a secondary lady。 She is wise and dutiful； fit to be your consort and occupy the first rank。〃
Emperor Xian dared not refuse； and therefore at the new year （AD 215）； in the time of the festivities； Lady Cao's name was inscribed on the dynastic rolls as Empress。 And no one of the courtiers dared protest。
Wherefore Cao Cao became even more powerful。 But it pleased him not to have rivals in the land； so he again thought of subduing Liu Bei and Sun Quan。
Jia Xu proposed； saying； 〃Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren； who are serving on the frontiers； should be called to give their advice。〃
They were sent for； and Cao Ren was the first to arrive。 As a relative； he felt he had the right to see the great minister without delay and went directly to the palace。
But it happened that Cao Cao had been drinking heavily； and his faithful henchman； Xu Chu； would not admit the new arrival。
〃I am of the family；〃 said Cao Ren； angry at the hindrance。 〃Dare you stop me？〃
〃General； you may be a relative； but here you are but an officer from the frontier。 I am of little account； but a duty lies on me here in the palace。 Our lord is overe with wine and asleep； and I dare not allow you to enter。〃
The refusal came to Cao Cao's knowledge； and he mended the loyalty of Xu Chu。
Soon after； Xiahou Dun came and was called to the council。
Xiahou Dun gave his opinion； saying； 〃The two rivals should be left until Zhang Lu of Hanzhong has been subdued。 The great army tha