Lóu Xuán appellation Chéngxiān was a Pèi prefecture Qí man. In Sūn Xiū’s time he became Supervising Agriculture Censor. Sūn Hào succeeded the throne, he with Wáng Fán, Guō Chuò, Wàn Yù together became Cavalier Regular Attendants, sent out as Kuàijī Administrator, entered as Minister of Agriculture. The old Restricted Central managers employed close intimates to serve as them, [Wàn] Yù explained that [positions of] close confidentiality and intimate knowledge should employ good men, [Sūn] Hào therefore ordered managers to seek loyal and pure servicemen, to answer these selections, and therefore employed Xuán as Palace Descending Defense Restricted Center Captain, managing the place’s internal affairs. Xuán followed the Nine Ministers grasping saber as attendant guard, upright body leading the masses, followed the law and then acted, in answers was cutting and direct, repeatedly opposing [Sūn] Hào’s intentions, and gradually met with reproach and anger. Later someone falsely reported Xuán with Hé Shào had crossed paths, stopped and together whispered in ears and greatly laughed, slandering and mocking government affairs, therefore he was by Imperial Order investigated and reproached, sent to Guǎng province.

樓玄字承先，沛郡蘄人也。孫休時為監農御史。孫皓即位，與王蕃、郭逴、萬彧俱為散騎中常侍，出為會稽太守，入為大司農。舊禁中主者自用親近人作之，彧陳親密近識，宜用好人，皓因敕有司，求忠清之士，以應其選，遂用玄為宮下鎮禁中候，主殿中事。玄從九卿持刀侍衛，正身率眾，奉法而行，應對切直，數迕皓意，漸見責怒。後人誣白玄與賀邵相逢，駐共耳語大笑，謗訕政事，遂被詔詰責，送付廣州。

East Tower Director Huà Hé sent up memorial stating: “I your servant humbly believe the form of governing state, is yet like governing family. Those managing fields all should be good and honest. Also it is appropriate to obtain one man to manage their agendas, to compose the network [of laws], and the multitude of affairs are then managed. The Lúnyǔ states: ‘One without action and governing is like Shùn! Respectful self directly south facing and nothing more.’ It says for the appointment one must obtain the man, for one to travel and be at ease. Now Within the Seas is not yet settled, Heaven’s Under has many affairs, matters whether large or small, all should be considered and heard, moving and passing the government seat, laboring and straining your Sagely consideration. Your Majesty sends down thought and observes the ancients, gathering the utmost of skill and culture, applies diligent heart to good principle, in following integrity and conveying aura, it is appropriate to obtain tranquility to expand spirit of thought, breath purely, with Heaven sharing extremity. I your servant morning to night think and ponder, of among the various officials, appointed to manage affairs, sufficient to entrust with weapon, none surpass Lóu Xuán. Xuán is pure and loyal in serving the public, crowning the present age, the masses acknowledge his conduct, none competing with him. Purity then is heart at peace and thoughts direct, loyalty is pondering the correct path and walking it, as with Xuán’s nature, end from beginning it can be ensured, one begs Your Majesty to pardon Xuán’s former transgression, to allow him to reform himself, promote to managing positions, reproach his later actions, to have those selected for office, by talent receive appointment, then Shùn’s respectful self, nearly also can be obtained.”

[Sūn] Hào hated Xuán’s reputation, again exiled Xuán and his son Jù, sending them to Jiāozhǐ officer Zhāng Yì, to have them on the battlefield prove themselves, secretly separately ordering [Zhāng] Yì to kill them. Jù arrived at Jiāozhǐ, of illness died. Xuán with whole body followed [Zhāng] Yì in suppressing bandits, wielding saber on foot wading, on seeing [Zhāng] Yì at once bowed, [Zhāng] Yì could not bear to kill him. It happened [Zhāng] Yì suddenly died, Xuán encoffined [Zhāng] Yì, in the vessel saw the order letters, returned and then killed himself. (1)

東觀令華覈上疏曰：「臣竊以治國之體，其猶治家。主田野者，皆宜良信。又宜得一人總其條目，為作維綱，眾事乃理。論語曰：『無為而治者其舜也與！恭己正南面而已。』言所任得其人，故優游而自逸也。今海內未定，天下多事，事無大小，皆當關聞，動經御坐，勞損聖慮。陛下既垂意博古，綜極藝文，加勤心好道，隨節致氣，宜得閒靜以展神思，呼翕清淳，與天同極。臣夙夜思惟，諸吏之中，任幹之事，足委仗者，無勝於樓玄。玄清忠奉公，冠冕當世，眾服其操，無與爭先。夫清者則心平而意直，忠者惟正道而履之，如玄之性，終始可保，乞陛下赦玄前愆，使得自新，擢之宰司，責其後效，使為官擇人，隨才授任，則舜之恭己，近亦可得。」皓疾玄名聲，復徙玄及子據，付交阯將張奕，使以戰自效，陰別敕奕令殺之。據到交趾，病死。玄一身隨奕討賊，持刀步涉，見奕輒拜，奕未忍殺。會奕暴卒，玄殯斂奕，於器中見敕書，還便自殺。〔一〕

• (1) Jiāngbiǎozhuàn states: [Sūn] Hào sent officer Zhāng Yì pursue and bestow on Xuán poison, [Zhāng] Yì because Xuán was worthy, could not bear at once announce Imperial Order and deliver the drugs, Xuán secretly knew this, and said to [Zhāng] Yì: “You should have early told me, what have I to begrudge?” At once he took the drugs and died.
• Your Servant Sōngzhī believes that with Xuán’s pure nobility, he certainly would not because of safety or danger change conduct, with no chance of suddenly bowing to Zhāng Yì, to degrade his integrity. Moreover the turn of disaster had already occurred, how would a hundred bows be escape? What Jiāngbiǎozhuàn says is superior in logic.

〔一〕　江表傳曰：皓遣將張奕追賜玄鴆，奕以玄賢者，不忍即宣詔致藥，玄陰知之，謂奕曰：「當早告玄，玄何惜邪？」即服藥死。臣松之以玄之清高，必不以安危易操，無緣驟拜張奕，以虧其節。且禍機既發，豈百拜所免？江表傳所言，於理為長。