法苑珠林 70.78

70.78

In the Han dynasty, Dou Ying, whose courtesy name was Wangsun, was the son of the paternal cousin of Empress Dou of Emperor Xiaowen. He was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Weiqi and served as Chancellor; later he was dismissed from the chancellorship. When Empress Dou passed away, Dou Ying became increasingly estranged and powerless. Deposed and frustrated in his ambitions, he and Guan Fu, the Chamberlain for the Palace Equerry, recommended and associated with each other, sighing and lamenting that they had met so late in life. Tian Fen, the half-brother of Empress Wang of Emperor Xiaojing by the same mother, became Chancellor. Favored and powerful, Tian Fen sent someone to Dou Ying to request several qing of land south of the city. Ying refused, saying: 'Though I, an old servant, have been cast aside, and though the Chancellor is noble, how can one use power to seize [land]?' Guan Fu also joined in anger, and Tian Fen bore a grudge against both. When Tian Fen married, Empress Dowager Wang decreed that all ranked marises and imperial clan members should go to congratulate Fen. Guan Fu, being wild and fond of wine, drank first and, being drunk, offended Tian Fen and refused to offer congratulations. Dou Ying forced Guan Fu to accompany him. Deep in drinking, Guan Fu poured wine and reached Tian Fen. Fen said: 'I cannot finish the goblet.' Fu then spoke insolently. Fen was enraged and said: 'It is my fault for being too indulgent with Guan Fu!' He had Guan Fu bound and said to his Chief Clerk: 'There was an edict summoning the imperial clan, yet Guan Fu insulted the assembly with irreverence.' He also memorialized Guan Fu's tyrannical conduct in his home district, sentencing Fu to public execution. Dou Ying returned and said to his wife: 'I will never let Guan Fu die alone while Ying alone lives!' He then submitted a memorial detailing the matter, stating that Guan Fu's drunken conduct did not warrant execution. The emperor summoned them. Dou Ying and Tian Fen accused each other of faults. The emperor asked the court officials who was right; most ministers said Dou Ying was right. When Empress Dowager Wang heard this, she was enraged and refused to eat, saying: 'While I am alive, they all trample upon my brother; after my hundred years, they will surely make meat of him!' Upon leaving, Tian Fen fabricated more slanderous words against Dou Ying and submitted them to the emperor. The Son of Heaven also considered Tian Fen to be in the wrong, but solely for the sake of the Empress Dowager, he condemned Ying to public execution. As Dou Ying faced death, he cursed: 'If death brings no consciousness, so be it; if there is consciousness, I shall never let you die alone!' More than a month later, Tian Fen fell ill, his entire body in excruciating pain as though being beaten. He could only wail, kowtow, and beg for forgiveness. The Son of Heaven sent a ghost-seer to observe him, who saw Dou Ying and Guan Fu together holding and flogging Tian Fen. Tian Fen then died. The Son of Heaven also saw Ying in a dream and apologized to him.