便是臣也曾着了道
“The same poison that even ensnared this minister.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
什么毒
“What poison?”
便是 臣 也曾着了道
“The same poison that even ensnared this minister.”
“It produces red blotches resembling syphilis sores.”
“Do not underestimate this poison; it is so cunning that even I was duped by it.”
By admitting personal fallibility ('even I was fooled'), an official simultaneously humbles himself before the ruler and validates the victim's plight without seeming incompetent.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
even / precisely
Used for emphatic inclusion, equivalent to modern '即使是' or '就算是'.
I / your servant (court official humble self-reference)
A classic humble pronoun used exclusively by officials when addressing the sovereign or high royalty.
fell into a trap / was tricked
A vivid idiomatic expression meaning to fall for someone's scheme or deception.
