He pointed out that the death sentence on a prince of the direct line for a comparatively minor offence would not only be looked on by the whole country as a sign that even in circles closest to the Throne ihere had been a movement against herself, but might also lead to serious unrest among the whole Imperial clan.
On these considerations the Empress-Dowager reluctantly agreed to waive the death penalty, but i sisted on the issue of an edict reprimanding Tsai Chu for unfilial conduct and condemning him to the severest punishments. He was to be deprived of his titles and his property, to be given 100 strokes with the bamboo, and to be confined in the prison of the Imperidl Clan Court for the rest of his natural existence. Pale with rage at this ult to his family, Prince Kung withdrew from the Presence, returned to the Grand Council where he reported what had taken place, and with trembling fingers drafted the edict, In the early days of the dynasty the corporal punishment administered in the Clan Court was a mere gesture: the executioner went through the motion of applying the bamboo rod to the back of his victim without touching him, calling out "One," "Two," "Three" and so on, as he did so. Unfortunately for Tsai Chu, his mother-in-law happened to be aware of this custom and had specially deputed a, confidential sen ut of hers to watch proceedings.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.