In the eighth and ninth years of Taihe, Zheng and Li raged like tigers.
They hid deep beneath the earth, then soared to the azure sky.
The realm was clear as a mirror, officials like scattered clouds.
Public and private life were leisurely, companions in daily outings.
Who knew the root of disaster, its branches secretly grew wild.
In summer's fourth month, the ninth year, Heaven's warning like speech.
Fierce winds drove quakes, grim thunder chased torrential rain.
At night on the main hall steps, a thousand-year tree was torn.
Our lord unaware, two villains grew mightier daily.
They held the Dipper's handle, opened Heaven's gate road.
The solemn court scholars shrank like mice along the wall.
A lifetime of noble integrity, suddenly made slaves.
Named as a banned faction, with no one to tell their plight.
Glad not to face Li-Du's fate, yet fearing head-shaving pain.
It was an autumn moonlit night, on a Gengwu day.
Rumors buzzed everywhere: at dawn, names would be enrolled.
I was with Heding then, both officials bearing axes.
Heding turned to me, saying: 'I know where I'll die.'
He tore the edict in court, then stood by the cauldron ready.
At dawn, palace gates opened, red desks bathed in dawn glow.
Officials stood grave and stern, my pent-up anger swelled.
It was meant for the Fu general, yesterday's news was wrong.
Next day the decree came down: exiled to southern wilds.
Night climb on Qingni slope, a fall injured my left thigh.
My sick wife still in bed, my child just weaned from milk.
Orchids yearn for Chu's marsh, resentful waters weep by Xiang isles.
The dazed soul of Qu Yuan, lingering through a thousand years.
That winter, the two villains fell, the net of punishment spread.
The worthy still must perish, slanderers crowd the path.
Four years later, I served as remonstrator to the wise lord.
Often wished to clear hidden wrongs, to mend affairs then.
Submitting memorials wasn't hard, but courage thin, fears many.
How did my fighting spirit end as southern barren dust?
I write this with tear-stained brush, in place of a Xiang River elegy.