he　is　a　superior　man　as　far　as　externals　go；　but　a　mean　man　by　nature。〃

Lady　Xun　answered　in　a　hard　voice；　〃Why　do　you　malign　him　so　bitterly？　Everyone　knows　he　is　a　descendant　of　one　of　the　Han　princes　and　so　related　to　the　House。　He　has　condescended　to　take　a　lowly　office　and　is　respectful　to　all　people。　He　has　a　reputation　for　benevolence。　Everyone；　young　and　old；　cowherds　and　firewood　cutters；　all　know　him　by　name　and　know　that　he　is　the　finest　and　noblest　man　in　the　world。　If　my　son　is　in　his　service；　then　has　he　found　a　fitting　master。　You；　under　the　name　of　a　Han　minister；　are　really　nothing　but　a　Han　rebel。　Contrary　to　all　truths；　you　tell　me　Liu　Bei　is　a　rebel；　whereby　you　try　to　induce　me　to　make　my　son　leave　the　light　for　darkness。　Are　you　devoid　of　all　sense　of　shame？〃

As　Lady　Xun　finished　speaking；　she　picked　up　the　inkstone　to　strike　Cao　Cao。　This　so　enraged　him　that　he　forgot　himself　and　the　need　for　caution　and　bade　the　executioners　lead　off　the　old　woman　and　put　her　to　death。

Adviser　Cheng　Yu；　however；　stopped　this　act；　saying；　〃This　old　lady　wished　to　die。　But　if　you　kill　her；　your　reputation　will　be　damaged　and　hers　enhanced。　Beside　that　will　add　a　keen　desire　for　revenge　to　the　motives　which　led　Xu　Shu　to　labor　in　the　interest　of　Liu　Bei。　You　had　better　keep　her　here　so　that　Xu　Shu's　body　and　his　thoughts　may　be　in　different　places。　He　can　not　devote　all　his　energies　to　helping　our　enemy　while　his　mother　is　here。　If　you　keep　her；　I　think　I　can　persuade　the　son　to　e　and　help　you。〃

So　the　outspoken　old　lady　was　saved。　She　was　given　quarters　and　cared　for。　Daily　Cheng　Yu　went　to　ask　after　her　health；　falsely　claiming　to　being　a　sworn　brother　of　her　son's；　and　so　entitled　to　serve　her　and　treat　her　as　a　filial　son　would　have