Hu Buwei sighed again. "Very well. Eunuch Quan, sorry for the trouble, but please convey one thing to His Majesty: I, Hu Buwei, have been unswervingly loyal to Great Kang and have never intended to rebel. I knew nothing of Li Tianheng using his troops to establish his own rule."
Quan Dean said, "Isn't it already too late to say that?"
Hu Buwei said, "Could you persuade His Majesty to spare my family, young and old? Let me, Hu Buwei, bear all the blame alone."
Quan Dean said, "Drink this cup first."
Utterly despairing, Hu Buwei tipped back his head and drained the cup. Quan Dean took the empty cup and poured him another, saying quietly, "You held the position of Great Kang's Minister of Revenue for many years, and you did render service to the nation. Without your meticulous management, Great Kang's finances could hardly have maintained steady growth all these years."
Hu Buwei drank that cup as well.
Quan Dean said, "Your mistake was impeaching the Crown Prince and joining others in slandering the Chancellor. You should have known that, since ancient times, the eldest son has inherited the throne. For your own selfish interests, you people encouraged the Third Prince, misled His Majesty, and competed for credit and favor. You caused His Majesty to depose the Crown Prince, and our magnificent realm nearly fell into the hands of villains. Had His Majesty not enjoyed blessings as vast as the heavens, he would almost have died at the hands of you treacherous lot."
Hu Buwei said calmly, "Whether the First Prince or the Third Prince ascends the throne, this realm still belongs to the Long Family, and Great Kang remains the Great Kang it always was. Isn't it rather far-fetched to brand me a rebel over this matter