Coward and Pitiful

Nianzu came to his chamber and ordered Eunuch Chung not to let anyone enter. Eunuch Chung, for the first time, found Nianzu in such anger. Nianzu poured the water into a glass and gulped it. Putting it on the table, he sat around the floor desk and picked the brush. He spread a white sheet on the desk and dipped the brush into the ink.

He stopped as he gazed into the paper. Then, he applied the first stroke and wrote something on the sheet. He formally wanted to give the resignation from the position of Advisor, so wrote a letter for that. Suddenly, he heard the footsteps of someone and lifted his eyes. To his surprise, his mother had come to his chamber. 

Nianzu put the brush down and stood up from his seat. "Mother, I am not in a mood to converse with anyone," Nianzu stated. "Please leave," he said. Deng Hui saw the sheet and picked it up.