son　of　Sun　Gong　and　a　great　grandson　of　Sun　Jing；　brother　of　Sun　Jian。　Sun　Quan　loved　him　and　had　put　him　in　mand　of　the　guards。　Sun　Jun　was　enraged　at　being　superseded　by　Zhang　Yue　and　Zhu　En；　the　two　creatures　of　Zhuge　Ke。

Minister　Teng　Yin；　who　had　an　old　quarrel　with　Zhuge　Ke；　said　to　Sun　Jun；　〃This　Zhuge　Ke　is　as　cruel　as　he　is　powerful。　He　abuses　his　authority；　and　no　one　is　safe　against　him。　I　also　think　he　is　aiming　at　something　yet　higher　and　you；　Sir；　as　one　of　the　ruling　family　ought　to　put　a　stop　to　it。〃

〃I　agree　with　you；　and　I　want　to　get　rid　of　him；〃　replied　Sun　Jun。　〃Now　I　will　obtain　an　edict　condemning　him　to　death。〃

Both　went　in　to　see　the　Ruler　of　Wu；　Sun　Liang；　and　they　laid　the　matter　before　him。

〃I　am　afraid　of　him；　too；〃　replied　Sun　Liang。　〃I　have　wanted　to　remove　him　for　some　time；　but　have　found　no　opportunity。　If　you　would　prove　your　loyalty；　you　would　do　it　for　me。〃

Then　said　Teng　Yin；　〃Your　Majesty　can　give　a　banquet　and　invite　him；　and　let　a　few　braves　be　ready　hidden　behind　the　curtains。　At　a　signal；　as　the　dropping　of　a　wine　cup；　they　might　jump　out　and　slay　him；　and　all　further　trouble　would　be　avoided。〃

Sun　Liang　agreed。

Zhuge　Ke　had　never　been　to　court　since　his　return　from　the　unfortunate　expedition。　Under　a　plea　of　indisposition　he　had　remained　moping　at　home。　One　day　he　was　going　out　of　his　reception　room　when　he　suddenly　saw　ing　in　a　person　dressed　in　the　mourning　white。

〃Who　are　you？〃　said　he；　rather　roughly。

The　person　seemed　too　terror…stricken　to　reply　or　resist　when　he　was　seized。

They　questioned　him；　and　he　said；　〃I　was　in　mourning　for　my　father　newly　dead；　and　had　e　into　the　city　to　seek　a　priest　to　read　the　liturgy。　I　had　entered　by　mistake；　thinking　it