But the slaughter of the conspirators and their whole households did not appease the wrath of the cruel Minister. The Emperor’s Kuei-fei was a sister of Tung Chʻêng and, sword in hand, Tsʻao Tsʻao went into the palace determined to slay her also. The Emperor cherished her tenderly, the more so as she was then in the fifth month of pregnancy. That day, as they often did, the Emperor, his Consort and the Kuei-fei were sitting in their private apartments secretly talking of the decree entrusted to Tung Chʻêng and asking each other why nothing seemed to have been done. The sudden appearance of the angry Minister, armed as he was, frightened them greatly. “Does Your Majesty know that Tung Chʻêng conspired against me?” said he. “Tung Cho died long ago,” replied the Emperor. “Not Tung Cho; Tung Chʻêng,” roared Tsʻao. The Emperor’s heart trembled but he gasped out, “Really I did not know.” “So the cut finger and the blood written decree are all forgotten, eh?” The Emperor was silent. Tsʻao bade his lictors seize the Kuei-fei. The Emperor interposed asking pity for her condition. “If Heaven had not interposed and defeated the plot I should be a dead man. How could I leave this woman to work evil to me by and by?” Said the Emperor, “Immure her in one of the palaces till her confinement. Do not harm her now.” “Do you wish me to spare her offspring to avenge the mother?” said Tsʻao. “I pray that my body may be spared mutilation and not put to shame,” said Tung Kuei-fei. Tsʻao bade his men show her the white silk cord. The Emperor wept bitterly. “Do not hate me in the realms below the Nine Springs,” said the Emperor to her. His tears fell like rain. The Empress Fu also joined in the lament, but Tsʻao said, “You are behaving like a lot of children,” and told the lictors to take her away and strangle her in the courtyard. In vain had the fair girl found favour in the sight of her lord, She died, and the fruit of her womb perished. Stern and calm her lord sat, powerless to save, Hiding his face while tears gushed forth. When leaving the palace Tsʻao gave strict orders to the keepers saying “Any one of the Imperial relatives by marriage who enter the Palace will be put to death, and the guards will share the same punishment for lack of zeal.” To make more sure he appointed three companies of Imperial Guards from his own men and appointed Tsʻao Hung to the command. Then said Tsʻao to his counsellor, Chʻêng Yü, “The conspirators in the capital have been removed, it is true, but there are yet two others, Ma Tʻêng and Liu Pei. These must not be left.”