第一小说网

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第131部分（第3页）

〃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　wifes　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　Years　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　Years　morn。　We　are　going　away。〃

Sun　Quan　held　a　grand　court　on　the　New　Years　Day　of　the　fifteenth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　210）。

Liu　Bei　and　his　bride　went　into　the　Dowager　Marchioness　presence；　and　Lady　Sun　said；　〃My　husband　has　been　thinking　of　his　ancestors；　who　lie　in　the　county　of　Zhuo；　and　grieves　that　he　cannot　do　his　duty　by　them。　Today　we　wish　to　go　to　the　river　side　and　offer　sacrifice　toward　the　north。　It　is　our　duty　to　inform　you。〃

〃A　very　filial　proceeding；〃　said　the　Dowager。　〃I　should　not　think　of　stopping　you。　Although　you　have　never　known　your　husbands　parents；　yet　you　may　go　with　him　to　sacrifice　as　it　is　proper　for　a　wife　to　do。〃

Both　thanked　the　Dowager　Marchioness　and　went　out；　rejoicing　at　having　so　far　hoodwinked　Sun　Quan。　Lady　Sun　got　into　her　carriage　taking　only　a　little　clothing　with　her；　while　Liu　Bei　followed　with　a　small　escort。　They　went　out　of　the　city　of　Nanxu　and　met　Zhao　Yun　at　the　place　arranged。　Then　with　a　guard　in　front　and　rear；　they　left　the　precincts　of　the　city；　traveling　as　quickly　as　they　could。

That