“What does this mean?” and turning to the officials he had created he said, “You stand there and see me reviled; you make no motion to help me; life and death are in my hands and you will suffer.” With that he attempted to get into his chair, when Ting Lang and all his student friends set upon him. They tore off his audience cap, his royal robes, beat him, reviled him, and were in the midst of a free fight with him and his chair-bearers, when Hai Jui came from the audience hall. In a few words quiet was restored, and the great Yen Sung, torn and tattered, beaten, and raging like a lion, rushed into the audience hall and, bending before the Emperor, cried out for revenge. The [[162]]Emperor had heard the commotion outside and had asked who and what it was. They had told him that the three hundred and sixty literary men who had been at the feast had set upon and were beating Yen Kë Lao. When the Emperor heard this he said:
“For literary men, men of high degree, to do such a thing means, can but mean, that they have a good clear reason, otherwise they would not act like beasts,” so he waited, and was waiting when Yen Sung rushed in.
“Great Emperor,” said he, “I have been beaten by the students, and without cause. There is going to be a rebellion, have a care, your Majesty.” When he was through the Emperor said:
“How could so many people attack one man unless there was a good reason? We will examine into this thing. Call the new ‘Chuang Yuan,’ I will ask him.” Ting Lang came and knocked his head and said:
“My lord, live ten thousand years; I have sinned, I have beaten a ‘Kë Lao.’ I ought to die.” The Emperor said:
“You are a new and very young Chuang Yuan. How can you have a death sin?” Then, turning to another official he said, “Call Hai Jui, I will have his witness.” Hai Jui knelt and said: [[163]]
“I dare not look on thy face, great Lord; for a Chuang Yuan to beat a Kë Lao, there must always be a reason.” The Emperor replied:
“That is right and fair; to attack just outside of my door, there must be a clear reason and a great one,” then he turned and commanded Ting Lang to tell at once. Ting Lang said:
“Most mighty one, one word would not explain; I have it all in a document which I have here and would beg your Majesty to read. It will explain all.” He held out his document and, at a bow from the Emperor, a eunuch came forward, took it, and placed it on the table by the Emperor’s side. The latter took it up and read it: the sad story of the three generations. He read as in a dream the entire paper; he saw, as one thing after another came before his mind, how for years he had been a tool of his minister, Yen Sung. Saw how he had kept back and brought to death many a good, worthy official. At last, lifting his head, he looked at the trembling Yen Sung and said:
“Ai, ya! This is true, all of it. I know it; you are the greatest traitor under the heavens. I give to Hai Jui power to strip you of all rank, and hand you over to the Board of Punishments. You shall be tried and punished for [[164]]your evil deeds.” Then, turning to Hai Jui, he commanded him to call soldiers, to then and there take him to prison; to see that a day was appointed for trial. Then he commanded that a palace be found and put in order for the new Chuang Yuan and his brother; that in the third day all officials were to call on him and make his acquaintance.