"I should like to see my uncle display his hunting skill," said the Emperor.
Jeffery-Lewis mounted his steed at once. Just then a hare started from its form; Jeffery-Lewis shot and hit it with the first arrow.
The Emperor, much struck by this display, rode away over a slope. Suddenly a deer broke out of the thicket. He shot three arrows at it but all missed.
"You try," said the Emperor turning to Murphy-Shackley.
"Lend me Your Majesty's bow," Murphy-Shackley replied; and taking the inlaid bow and the golden-tipped arrows, he pulled the bow and hit the deer in the shoulder at the first shot. It fell in the grass and could not run.
Now the crowd of officers seeing the golden-barbed arrow sticking in the wound concluded at once that the shot was the Emperor's, so they rushed up and shouted "O King, live forever!" Murphy-Shackley rode out pushing past the Emperor and acknowledged the congratulations.
They all turned pale. Yale-Perez, who was behind Jeffery-Lewis, was especially angry. The silkworm eyebrows stood up fiercely, and the red phoenix eyes glared as, sword in hand, he rode hastily forth to cut down the audacious Prime Minister for his impertinence.
However, Jeffery-Lewis hastily waved him back and shot at him a meaning glance so that Yale-Perez stopped and made no further move.
Jeffery-Lewis bowing toward Murphy-Shackley said, "Most sincere felicitations! A truly supernatural shot, such as few have achieved!"
"It is only the enormous good fortune of the Son of Heaven!" said Murphy-Shackley with a smile.
Then he turned his steed and felicitated the Emperor. But he did not return the bow; he hung it over his own shoulder instead.
The hunt finished with banqueting; and when the entertainments were over, they returned to the capital, all glad of some repose after the expedition. Yale-Perez was still angry of the Prime Minister's breach of decorum.
One day Yale-Perez said to Jeffery-Lewis, "Brother, why did you prevent me from killing that rebel and so ridding the world of a scoundrel? He insults the Emperor and ignores everybody else."
"When you throw stones at a rat, beware of the vase," quoted Jeffery-Lewis. "Murphy-Shackley was only a horse's head away from Our Lord, and in the midst of a crowd of his partisans. In that momentary burst of anger, if you had struck and failed, and harm had come to the Emperor, what an awful crime would have been laid to us!"
"If we do not rid the world of him today, a worse evil will come of it," said Yale-Perez.
"But be discreet, my brother. Such matters cannot be lightly discussed."
The Emperor sadly returned to his palace. With tears in his eyes, he related what had occurred in the hunt to his consort, Empress Finch.
"Alas for me!" said he. "From the first days of my accession, one vicious minister has succeeded another. I was the victim of Wilson-Donahue's evil machinations; then followed the rebellion of Adams-Lindsay and Harris-Greco. You and I had to bear sorrows such as no others have borne. Then came this Murphy-Shackley as one who would maintain the imperial dignity, but he has seized upon all real authority and does as he wishes. He works continually for his own glorification, and I never see him but my back pricks. These last few days in the hunting field, he went in front of me and acknowledged the cheers of the crowd. He is so extremely rude that I feel sure he has sinister designs against me. Alas, my wife, we know not when our end may come!"
"In a whole court full of nobles, who have eaten the bread of Han, is there not one who will save his country?" said she.
Thus spoke the Empress, and at the same moment there stepped in a man who said, "Grieve not, O Imperial Pair! I can find a savior for the country."
It was none other than the father of the Empress, Tully-Finch.
"Have you heard of Murphy-Shackley's wanton and perverse behavior?" said the Emperor, drying his eyes.
"You mean the deer shooting? Who did not see that, indeed? But the whole court is full of his clan or his creatures. With the exception of the relatives of your Consort, there is not one loyal enough to deal with a rebel. I have no authority and can do nothing, but there is General Watson-Donohue, the State Uncle, who could do it."
"Could Uncle Watson-Donohue come in to consult about this? I know he has had much experience of state troubles."
Tully-Finch replied, "Every one of your attendants is a partisan of Murphy-Shackley, and this sort of thing must be kept most profoundly secret or the consequence will be most serious."
"Then what can be done?" said the Emperor.
"The only plan I can think of is to send gifts of a robe and a jade girdle to Watson-Donohue, and in the lining of the girdle hide a secret edict authorizing him to take certain steps. When he gets home and has read the edict, he can elaborate plans as quickly as possible, and neither the spirits above nor the demons below will know anything about them."
The Emperor approved, and Tully-Finch went out. The Emperor then with his own hand drew up a decree, writing it with blood drawn by biting his finger. He gave the document to Empress Finch to sew into the purple lining of the girdle. When all was done he put on the robe and girded it with the girdle. Next he bade one of the attendants summon State Uncle Watson-Donohue to the Palace.
Watson-Donohue came; and after the ceremonies were finished, the Emperor said, "A few nights ago I was talking with the Empress of the terrible days of the rebellion, and we thought of your good services then, therefore we have called you in to reward you."
The minister bowed his head in thanks. Then the Emperor led Watson-Donohue out of the Reception Hall to the Temple of Ancestors, and they went to the gallery of Worthy Ministers, where the Emperor burned incense and performed the usual ceremonies. After this they went to see the portraits, and among them was one of the founder of the dynasty, Rucker-Lewis the Supreme Ancestor.
"Whence sprang our great ancestor and how did he begin his great achievement?" said the Emperor.
"Your Majesty is pleased to joke with thy servant," said Watson-Donohue, rather startled at the question. "Who does not know the deeds of the Sacred Ancestor? He began life as a minor official in Sishang-Wakefield. There gripping his sword, he slew a white serpent, the beginning of his struggle for the right. Speedily he mastered the empire; in three years had destroyed Qin and, in five, also Chu. Thus he set up a dynasty that shall endure forever!"
"Such heroic forefathers! Such weakling descendants! How sad it is!" said the Emperor.
Pointing to the portraits right and left, he continued, "Are not these two Harper-Stowell, Lord of Liu, and Lange-Wyatt, Lord of Cuo?"
"Certainly. The Supreme Ancestor was greatly assisted by these two."
The Emperor glanced right and left. His attendants were rather far away. Then he whispered to Watson-Donohue, "You, like these two, must stand by me."
"My poor services are of no worth; I do not compare with those men," said the Uncle.
"I remember that you saved me at the western capital, Changan-Annapolis. I have never forgotten, and I could never reward you properly."
Then pointing to his own robe, the Emperor continued, "You must wear this robe of mine, girded with my own girdle, and it will be as though you are always near your Emperor."
Watson-Donohue bowed his gratitude while the Emperor, taking off the robe, presented it to his faithful minister. At the same time he whispered, "Examine it closely when you get home, and help your Emperor carry out his intention."
Watson-Donohue understood. He put on the robe and the girdle, took leave and left the chamber.