第一小说网

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第260部分（第3页）

Huan　Fan　and　those　with　him　were　thrown　into　prison。

Presently　Cao　Shuang　and　his　brothers；　all　persons　connected　with　them；　and　their　clans　were　put　to　death　in　the　market　place。　All　the　treasures　of　their　houses　was　sent　to　the　public　treasury。

Now　there　was　a　certain　woman　of　the　Xiahou　family　who　had　been　wife　to　Wen　Shu；　a　second　cousin　of　Cao　Shuang。　Early　left　a　childless　widow；　her　father　wished　her　to　marry　again。　Lady　Xiahou　refused　and　cut　off　her　ears　as　a　pledge　of　constancy。　However；　when　the　Caos　were　all　put　to　death；　her　father　arranged　another　marriage　for　her；　whereupon　she　cut　off　her　nose。　Her　own　people　were　chagrined　at　her　obstinate　determination。

〃For　whom　are　you　keeping　your　vow？〃　said　they。　〃Man　is　but　as　the　light　dust　upon　the　tender　grass；　and　what　is　the　good　of　mutilating　your　body？〃

The　woman　replied；　weeping；　〃I　have　heard　that　honorable　persons　do　not　break　a　vow　of　chastity　for　the　sake　of　wealth；　and　the　hearts　of　righteous　persons　are　constant　unto　death　regardless　of　all　losses。　While　the　house　of　Cao　enjoyed　prosperity；　I　remained　faithful；　how　much　more　should　I　be　true　now　that　it　has　fallen　upon　evil　days？　Can　I　act　like　a　mere　beast　of　the　field？〃

The　story　of　her　devotion　came　to　the　ears　of　Sima　Yi；　who　praised　her　conduct　and　allowed　her　to　adopt　a　son　to　rear　as　her　own　and　so　continue　the　family。

A　poem　says：

What　is　a　man　to　be　mindful　of？

A　grain　of　dust　on　a　blade　of　grass；

Such　virtue　as　Lady　Xiahou　had

Stands　out　sublime　as　the　ages　pass。

This　fair　young　wife　of　gentle　mien

Dared　all　to　maintain　her　purpose　high。

What　people　though　strong　in　the　flush　of　life

Have　equaled　her　in　constancy？

After　Cao　Shuang　had　suffered　death；　Jiang　Ji　said　to　Sima　Yi；　〃Xin　Chang　and　Lu　Zhu　and　others　who　had　been　of　his　party　had　forced　the　gate　and　joined　the　rebels。　Yang　Zong　had　opposed　the　surrender　of　the　seal　of　the　late　minister。　They　deserve　punishment。〃

However；　no　action　was　taken　against　them。

〃They　are　righteous　people　who　serves　their　master　faithfully；〃　said　Sima　Yi；　and　he　even　confirmed　these　men　in　their　offices。

Xin　Chang　sighed；　〃Had　I　not　listened　to　the　advice　of　my　sister；　I　would　have　walked　in　the　way　of　unrighteousness。〃

A　poet　has　praised　his　sister；　Xin　Xianying。

〃You　call　him　lord　and　take　his　pay；

Then　stand　by　him　when　danger　nears。〃

Thus　to　her　brother　spoke　Xin　Xianying；

And　won　fair　fame　though　endless　years。

A　general　amnesty　was　extended　to　all　Cao　Shuangs　partisans；　and　no　officer　was　removed　or　dismissed　for　having　supported　the　late　order　of　things。　All　were　left　in　possession　of　their　property；　and　soon　all　was　tranquillity。

However；　it　is　to　be　noted　that　He　Yan　and　Deng