"I did not know," said the Emperor. "I thought all in Changan were captivated by Li Po."
"That is because of all people, I alone am ridiculed. If you wish confirmation ask Kao."
When Li Po heard that his appointment had been turned down, he begged leave to withdraw from the Court. He had beheld enough of festering elegance; the petty intrigues nauseated him. He belonged to the mountains, the streams and the woodland far from the haunts of officials. He did not belong in the Imperial Court.
Ming Huang was anguished at his departure. It was saddening to be deprived of so gallant a maker of songs. But Yang Kuei-fei was unhappy. There were tears trembling on the edge of her eyelids. Above all else, happiness must return to this loveliest of women. As a parting gift, he gave Li Po a large sum of money.
Although Li Po accepted the gift, his gratitude was seasoned with bitterness. When he had angered the Grand Eunuch, he had offended an army of eunuchs. Eunuchs never forgot a slight. And now that Kao Li-shih had been made a Generalissimo, there was an outside chance that all the soldiers of China were also his enemies. There was no denying the high regard in which Kao was held by all the officials. Li Po was nonplussed. All Changan was topsy-turvy, for usually it was he who received homage universally. His regard for Ming Huang was deep and sincere, yet he was not
so blinded by grandeur that he could not see the Court
