llness　as　an　excuse　not　to　appear？〃

The　wardens　of　the　gate　went　inside　with　what　was　said。

After　keeping　them　waiting　a　long　time；　the　wardens　returned；　saying；　〃The　Prime　Minister　is　rather　better　and　will　be　at　court　in　the　morning。〃

The　two　ministers　sighed　deeply　as　they　wended　their　way　to　the　Emperor's　palace。

Next　morning　a　great　crowd　of　officers　assembled　at　the　gate　of　the　Prime　Minister's　residence　to　wait　for　him　to　appear。　But　he　did　not　e　out。　It　began　to　grow　late；　and　many　of　them　were　tired　of　waiting；　and　the　crowd　dispersed。

Du　Qiong　went　again　to　the　Emperor　and　suggested；　saying；　〃Your　Majesty　should　go　in　person　and　try　to　get　Zhuge　Liang　to　say　what　should　be　done。〃

The　Latter　Ruler　then　returned　to　his　palace　with　the　officials　and　told　the　Empress　Dowager　his　trouble。　She　was　also　alarmed。

〃What　can　he　mean？〃　said　she。　〃This　does　not　look　like　acting　in　the　spirit　of　the　charge　laid　upon　him　by　the　late　Emperor。　Let　me　go　myself。〃

〃Oh　no；〃　said　Dong　Yun。　〃Your　Majesty　must　not　go。　We　think　all　is　well；　and　the　Prime　Minister　certainly　understands　and　will　do　something。　Beside；　you　must　let　His　Majesty　go　first；　and　if　the　Prime　Minister　still　shows　remissness；　then　Your　Majesty　can　summon　him　to　the　Temple　of　the　Dynasty　and　ask　him。〃

So　it　was　left　at　that。　And　the　next　day　the　Emperor　rode　in　his　chariot　to　the　gate　of　his　minister。　When　the　doorkeepers　saw　the　imperial　chariot　appear；　they　fell　upon　their　knees　to　wele　the　Emperor。

〃Where　is　the　Prime　Minister？〃　asked　he。

〃We　do　not　know。　But　we　have　orders　not　to　let　in　the　crowd　of　officers。〃

The　Emperor　then　descended　and　went　on　foot　right　in　to　the　third　gate。　Then　he　saw　Zhuge　Liang　leaning　on　a　staff　b