express　his　thanks。

The　State　Patriarch　Qiao　saw　the　Dowager；　and　she　was　very　angry　when　she　heard　the　reason　for　Liu　Bei's　desire　to　leave。

〃Who　would　dare　harm　my　son…in…law？〃　cried　she。

But　she　made　Liu　Bei　move　into　the　library　of　the　palace　as　a　precaution；　and　she　chose　a　day　for　the　celebration　of　the　wedding。　But　his　soldiers　could　not　keep　guard　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