Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/291

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The Scarlet Hill

soon returned to favor. Though Ming Huang had slipped from the position of virtuous ruler into the depths of debauchery, he had not relinquished all semblance of justice and common-sense. In due course, Kui-ling returned to the Palace, nor was his position in any way besmirched.

By way of greeting, he said to Li Lin-fu, "Though a snake get into a bamboo tube it is hard to change its wriggling disposition."

That evening, even tea had a bitter taste to the Premier. He tried to reflect calmly, but reflection had an ugly face. If Kui-ling had succeeded in diverting the forces of Ming Huang once more toward good government, his position as Prime Minister would have been but nominal. Only a weak Emperor needs a strong prime minister. For Li Lin-fu, power was a drug. It revitalized him into astounding energy. Nevertheless, Kui-ling remained, a thorn in his side that he could not get rid of. And because Kui-ling was so steadfast, honors were heaped upon him. It was a stimulating novelty to discover such a man among Court officials. There had been a noteworthy occasion when Kui-ling had warned the Emperor of the perfidious conduct of An Lu-shan. The incident had caused so little impression on the mind of Ming Huang that before the day's end no trace of it remained. Not even when months later Kuo-chung made similar charges did he recall the warning of Kui-ling. He had so absolute a faith in An Lu-shan, no onslaught of words could shake it.

But Li Lin-fu remembered and resented the inter-

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