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Liu Bei (刘备) was the founder of Shu, a state in Chinese ***Three Kingdoms*** period. One year, his state was hit by a drought. To save grain, he ordered brewing wine to be forbidden throughout his kingdom. (In ancient China, most wine was made from grain instead of fruit.)

A few days later, a man was reported to make wine furtively, and the soldiers found a set of wine-brewing appliance in his cellar. Angry with his disobedience, Liu Bei put him in jail and planed to punish him severely.

Jian Yong (简雍), a faithful minister of Shu, after learning of this, went to see Liu Bei who was visiting a Taoist temple. After common chatting, Jian Yong began to plead with Liu Bei to release the man. He said there was no evidence to prove the man had made wine in private.

This Chinese of The Hummer In Sleeve--Xiu Cang Qin Chui is 袖藏金椎, and Pin Yin xiù cáng jīn chuí. 读“袖藏金椎”的中文故事

Shen Shi Qi was a neighbor of Liu Bang (the first Emperor of Han Dynasty) in his hometown. Before long Liu Bang started to head a revolt, he asked Shen Si Qi to look after his family when he was away. Shen Shi Qi did a "good" job--apart from offering care and protection to the will-be royal family, he had an affair with Liu Bang' wife, the future Empress, Lu Zhi (吕雉). When Liu Bang built his own Dynasty, Shen Shi Qi was granted the title of Marquis. Due to having the Empress as his baking, he became one of the most powerful ministers in the court.

One year, a lady named Zhang was involved in an attempted assassination of Liu Bang for some reason. Zhang was a woman of so miserable a destiny. She used to a concubine of the Prince of Zhao, and was later given to Liu Bang as a gift. But obviously, she did not earn the lasting favor of the Emperor -- after he went back to the capital, she was left in Zhao. When she was arrested, she was pregnant with Liu bang's son. Unfortunately, her pregnancy did not win the mercy of the Emperor who was so furious that he insisted on killing her right after she gave birth to the baby.