用英语讲好中国故事:流言蜚语 Unfounded rumors and malicious gossip

Time:August 12, 2024

In 154 BC during the Han Dynasty, Dou Ying, the nephew of Empress Dowager Dou, was granted the title of Marquis of Weiqi for his meritorious deeds.

公元前 154 年,在汉朝,窦太后的侄子窦婴因为立下功劳,被封为了魏其侯。

At that time, Tian Fen, the maternal brother of Empress Wang, held only the position of a Lang official. Later, because Empress Wang frequently spoke well of him in front of the emperor, Tian Fen was granted the title of Marquis of Wu'an.

那时候,皇后王氏的同母兄弟田蚡只是担任郎官这一职位。后来,由于王皇后常常在皇帝面前替他说好话,田蚡才被封为了武安侯。

A few years later, Empress Dowager Dou passed away, and Dou Ying lost his influence. However, Tian Fen became the prime minister. The powerful and influential figures in the court all turned to flatter Tian Fen, but only General Guan Fu still maintained a close association with Dou Ying.

过了几年,窦太后去世了,窦婴失去了权势。可田蚡却当上了宰相。朝中的那些有权有势的人,都纷纷去巴结田蚡,只有将军灌夫依旧和窦婴来往得很密切。

In 131 BC, Tian Fen held a wedding ceremony with the daughter of the King of Yan, and the imperial family members and ministers all went to offer their congratulations. During the banquet, when Tian Fen proposed a toast, the guests all rose from their seats and prostrated themselves on the ground to show respect. But when Dou Ying stood up to propose a toast, only a few old acquaintances rose from their seats, while the others remained indifferent.

公元前 131 年,田蚡和燕王的女儿举办婚典,宗室大臣们都前去祝贺。在酒席间,田蚡向大家敬酒的时候,客人们纷纷离开座位,伏在地上表示恭敬。而当窦婴站起来敬酒时,只有少数以前的好友离开座位,其他的人都没有什么反应。

Guan Fu, upon seeing this, was extremely angry and scolded those ministers for their snobbish behavior. Tian Fen, enraged upon seeing Guan Fu scolding his guests, detained Guan Fu and arrested all his family members.

灌夫看到这种情况,特别生气,大声斥责那些大臣们太势利。田蚡见灌夫辱骂自己的客人,十分恼怒,就把灌夫扣押了起来,还把他的族人都抓了起来。

Dou Ying pleaded to Emperor Wu of Han for Guan Fu. When Empress Dowager Wang learned of this, she forced Emperor Wu of Han to support Tian Fen. Emperor Wu of Han had no choice but to imprison Dou Ying. At the same time, Guan Fu was sentenced to the crime of exterminating his entire family and was beheaded along with all his family members.

窦婴为了灌夫,向汉武帝求情。王太后知道这件事后,逼迫汉武帝支持田蚡,汉武帝没办法,只好把窦婴关进了监狱。同时,灌夫被判了灭族的大罪,全家都被斩首。

Upon hearing this, Dou Ying wanted to commit suicide by starving himself. Soon, someone spread the news that Emperor Wu of Han did not actually want to kill him, so he resumed eating. However, at this time, many groundless slanders against Dou Ying were spread to the palace, and Emperor Wu of Han believed these rumors. In the end, Dou Ying was also beheaded.

窦婴听说了这件事,想要绝食自杀。没过多久,有人传来消息说,汉武帝其实并不想杀他,于是他又开始吃东西了。但是这时候,有很多没有根据的诬陷窦婴的话传到了宫中,汉武帝听信了这些谣言,最后,把窦婴也斩首了。

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