《明史·列传·卷一百二十八》
魏忠贤既然已经怀恨叶向高，而当时朝臣跟魏忠贤对抗的都依靠叶向高，魏忠贤于是总是故意拿一些小事，责备叶向高，使他为难。
忠贤既默恨向高，而其时朝士与忠贤抗者率倚向高。忠贤乃时毛举细故，责向高以困之。
Wei Zhongxian already resented Ye Xianggao, and at that time the courtiers who opposed Wei Zhongxian all relied on Ye Xianggao. So Wei Zhongxian always seized on minor issues in order to criticize Ye Xianggao, to put him in a difficult position.