“Yellow Sky”: Crisis for the Han Dynasty sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne

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As the investigation started to reach the stage where the written testimonies were to be examined, it became clear that the eunuchs’ young student relatives - who were, due to an elevated financial status, able to attend the same prestigious university institutions as the students arrested as ‘partisans’ - were being mentioned as sharing similar ‘factionist’ views, even if they did not sign the petition against the arrest of Li Ying, and questions were now being asked as to why those students were not also under arrest. The eunuchs realised that there was a very strong chance that their schemes would seriously backfire, and they began to coerce Emperor Huan into ending the investigations. Emperor Huan agreed, and the ‘partisans’ were freed from captivity - but they paid a heavy price nonetheless.
     According to the will of the eunuchs but proclaimed as the will of the emperor, every ‘partisan’ was exiled to their hometown, forbidden from taking any form of office or continuing with any studies, and deprived of their rights as citizens for life, making them virtual prisoners and actual outcasts. The supporters of the ‘partisans’ considered this to be a small victory, since the accused were alive, and could therefore, one day, be cleared - but worse was yet to come.

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5

A year after the semi-amnesty for the ‘partisans’ was issued, Emperor Huan died.

“Mister Chen Fan… welcome back.”
The former Commander-in-Chief, Chen Fan, smiled as his successor Dou Wu bowed slightly and welcomed him through the gates of the imperial capital. The two went to the palatial home of Dou Wu, who was now the father of the most powerful figure in China - the interim regent and Empress Dowager, and former Empress to Emperor Huan, Lady Dou.
“…It is good to be back in the capital,” Chen Fan said as he enjoyed tea with his old acquaintance. “I wonder, though, what the future holds.”
“We are the instruments of change now,” Dou Wu replied. “My daughter the Dowager will listen to us, and not the eunuchs. So now, we can change things for the better.”
Chen Fan hummed thoughtfully.
“Do not fear the eunuchs!” Dou Wu chuckled. “It’s over for them.”
“I am not convinced of that,” Chen Fan replied. “Remember that a year before the ‘Partisan Disaster’, the late majesty had removed all of the corrupt eunuchs from his court, demoted them, forced them to return monies… we all thought that it was an end, but within months, they were back, and look what they were able to do!”
“This time, it will be different,” Dou Wu promised. “My daughter was not a favourite: she was made Empress not for looks but family reputation. She will-”

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