THE day following, the Emperor called General Yang and said to him: “In regard to the marriage of the Princess, the Empress Dowager issued a very urgent command that at first quite distressed me, but learning later that the daughter of Justice Cheung was dead, and that the Princess’s wedding had waited long for your return, I feel that, even though your thoughts be with Cheung See, the dead are the dead, and no power on earth can restore them. You are a young man and belong to the highest rank and therefore need a wife. How can you yourself see to such matters as food and dress? A minister, too, of your standing while he holds office ought not to remain unmarried. You are also Lord and Prince of Wee, and at the ancestral grave need your wife to pour out the second libation which ought not to be lacking from the sacrifice. I have already made the necessary preparations within the Palace and am now awaiting the decision. Do you still oppose the request, and refuse to marry the Princess?”
Yang bowed low and said: “My sins of rebellion merit that I fall under the headsman’s axe, but your Majesty has granted me a second opportunity and has so kindly dealt with me, that I am moved to accede and act as though I were fearless of all presumption. My repeated refusals, heretofore, were because of my regard for the laws of honour, and I could not help myself; but now that Cheung See is dead, why should I offer any objection, except to say this, that my social standing is insufficient for it, my gifts are mediocre, and I am in no way suited to be the Imperial son-in-law.”
His Majesty, highly delighted, at once issued an order to the Master of Ceremonies to have a lucky day selected and reported, and later the Chief Geomancer announced the fifteenth day of the ninth moon as the day agreed upon.
The Emperor said to General Yang: “The other day, when we had not fully decided about the wedding, I did not tell you all, but now that this is settled I want to say that I have two sisters, both refined and highly gifted, and since we can never possibly find such another one as thee, I have been commanded by the Dowager to have my two sisters put under your care.”
Suddenly General Yang remembered the dream that he had had in the guest-room of the camp, and his mind was greatly disturbed when he thought how unearthly it was. He bowed low and said: “Since you have chosen me as the Imperial son-in-law, I have tried to make my escape by all possible means, but could find no way; I have endeavoured to run off but the road has been blocked. I did not know what to do, and now your proposition that two Princesses should serve this one man is something never dreamed of since the world began. How can I venture to accept any such proposal?”
The Emperor replied: “Your service for the State is of the very highest order, and there is no possible way open to reward you as you deserve. That is why I propose that my two sisters should serve you together. Also the love of these two for one another is a born instinct with them. When they rise each follows the other; when they are seated each finds support in the other; and their one wish is never, never to part, so that their being given in marriage to the same man is not only their own desire, but the wish of her Majesty the Dowager as well. Please do not refuse it. Also there is the palace-maid, Chin See, a daughter of a house that has been for generations high in office. She has beauty, too, and ability, and is specially gifted with the pen, while the Princess regards her as her good right hand, and treats her as her very own. On the day of the wedding she desires to make her her married maid-in-waiting, and this too I am to inform you of.”
The General again rose and expressed his thanks.
Cheung See had already been a Princess in the palace for several days. Her service on the Empress’s behalf had been performed with all her heart. She, along with Princess Orchid and Chin See, were like born sisters, and in return the Dowager loved her dearly.
The time for the marriage being now at hand she said quietly to the Empress: “At first when you decided the place of precedence for Orchid and me, you made me sit in the upper seat, which was a very presumptuous thing on my part, and yet to refuse it I feared might wound the love and tenderness of my dearest Orchid. So I yielded, and did as your Majesty commanded me; but this was never my wish or desire. Now when we are united to General Yang, it will never do for Orchid to decline the first place. My desire is that your Majesty and the Emperor will kindly think of the proper form and arrange it so that I shall be happy according to my station, and not be a cause of confusion in the home.”
At this Orchid replied: “Blossom’s accomplishments and ability make her my superior, my teacher, and though it be a ‘gate of honour’ in question, I shall, just as the wife of Cho Che-wee resigned her place, resign mine. Since we have already become elder and younger sisters, how can we again raise the question of rank? Though I become the second wife I shall still not lose the reality that I am the Emperor’s daughter, but if I am pushed up to the first place, wherein, mother dear, will lie the purpose of your adopting Blossom? If my sister declines in my favour, I shall not wish then to become a member of General Yang’s household.”
Then the Empress said to the Emperor: “How shall we decide the matter?”
The Emperor’s reply was: “Orchid’s wish, as she expresses it, is from the heart; and yet from ancient days till the present time, I never heard of such a thing. Please take note, however, of her humble and beautiful spirit and yield to her on the matter.”
The Empress replied: “You are right.” At once she issued a command making Princess Blossom the left hand[42] wife of Prince Wee, while Princess Orchid was made the right hand wife, and because Chin See was the daughter of a high official she was made the highest wife of second grade.
Since ancient times the marriage of a Princess had always been celebrated outside of the palace, but on this occasion the Dowager decided that it should be held within the Imperial precincts.
When the happy day came, General Yang, dressed in Imperial robes and jewelled belt, went through the ceremony with the two Princesses. The splendour and magnificence of the scene are impossible to describe. When all the rites were completed they sat themselves down on the embroidered cushions, and Chin See appeared, made her bow and was led before the Princesses. When they were seated, lo! they were like three fairies gathered before him. The colours that bedecked them reflected the brilliance of the clouds; and lights and shades were seen in a thousand shimmering patterns. The General was dazed by the brilliance of it, and uncertain of his own con-sciousness. He wondered if he were amid realities or in a dream.
That night he shared the room of the Princess Blossom and arose early in the morning and made his obeisance to the Empress.
She had a great feast spread, at which both the Emperor and the reigning Empress were present, and the whole day was spent in rejoicing. The second night he spent with Princess Orchid, and on the third he went to Chin See’s room.
When Chin See saw him she began to weep.
Yang in wonder asked what she meant: “To-day we should laugh and be glad, why do you weep? What do these tears mean?”
Chin See made answer: “You do not know me, and so I know you have forgotten who I am.”
Then he suddenly recollected, took her white hand in his, and said: “You are Chin See from Wha-eum, are you not?”
Chin See choked up with tears and could make no reply.
The General said: “I thought that you had left us, and that you were buried beneath the sod, but here you are in the Palace. We parted in far off Wha-eum, and your dear home was broken up so that no one dared to speak of it. Since my flight from that inn, not a day has passed that I have not thought of you. But I thought you were dead and never imagined that we should meet again. To-day comes the fulfilment of our contract, which I never dreamed could come to pass.”
Here he drew from his pocket the verses that Chin See had written, while Chin See drew from her bosom what he had sent her, and they were the same as they had despatched to each other on that day of first acquaintance. Each unwrapped the piece of paper, and their hearts melted at the sight of it and beat a tattoo in their bosoms.
Chin See said: “The Willow song seals the contract that we made so long ago. I did not know that a little silken fan, too, was to be evidence of the union that is consummated to-day.” Then she opened a lacquer box and took out the fan, showed it to General Yang, and told him about it, saying: “It is due entirely to the kindness and favour of her Imperial Majesty, the Empress Dowager, his Majesty the Emperor, and Princess Orchid.”
General Yang said: “At that time I made my escape to the South Mountain and when I came back I asked of your whereabouts. Some said you were attached to the palace; some that you had been removed to a distant county as a yamen slave; others that you had not escaped from the general destruction. I did not know the exact truth, but I had no hope and so was compelled to seek marriage elsewhere. Always when I passed Wha-eum or crossed the waters of the Wee I was like the wild bird that had lost its mate. Now, however, through the Imperial kindness, we meet again. My one sorrow of heart is that the contract we made by the way in the inn should have turned out the contract for a subordinate wife. To think also that you should have condescended to take so humble a place fills me with shame.”
Chin See said: “I was not unaware of my ill-starred home and its prospects when I sent the old nurse to the inn, and it was with the thought that if you took me it might be even as a subordinate wife. Now that I have won a place, second only to my revered Princesses, I am crowned with glory and blessed with the highest of good fortune. If I should complain or be ungrateful, God would be displeased with me.”
The joy of meeting Chin See with old faith and new love was very great.
The day following, the Master and Princess Orchid met in Blossom’s room, and as they sat together the wine glass was passed. Suddenly Princess Blossom gently summoned a waiting-maid to call Chin See. When the Master heard her voice there was awakened in his heart a sense of loss and sorrow that at once showed itself in his face. On the occasion when he visited Justice Cheung’s and played the harp before the maiden he had heard her comments on the tunes, and he remembered her face distinctly, and now to-day the Princess’s accents seemed as though they were a voice that came from Cheung See. He had heard the voice and now that he glanced up to see the face, the voice was not only Cheung See’s but the face was Cheung See’s as well.
He thought to himself: “In this world it happens sometimes that those who are not sisters, and in no way related, look exactly alike. When I made a contract of marriage with Cheung See I decided in my heart that it was for life and death, and now here am I enjoying the delights of home felicity while poor Cheung See’s lonely spirit is wandering I know not where. To avoid making myself conspicuous, I have not poured out even a single glass as an offering at her grave; nor have I once even wept in the little hut by her tomb. I have indeed treated dear Cheung See very, very unkindly.”
The thoughts in his heart showed themselves in his face, and the tears were ready to come. Cheung See, with her clear and quick perception, guessed the sorrow that possessed him, and so caught her skirts neatly about her and knelt to ask: “I have heard that if the king is dishonoured, the courtiers should die; and that if the king is anxious it is a discredit to his ministers. My service to my lord is like that of a courtier to his king. I notice with anxiety that even now when the glass is passed a hidden shade of disappointment crosses my master’s face. May I ask the reason?”
The Master thanked her and said: “There is no reason why I should conceal from your Highness the thoughts that trouble my soul. I, So-yoo, once went to Justice Cheung’s home and there I saw his beautiful daughter. Her voice was your Highness’s voice, and her face was your Highness’s face, and so my eyes, spellbound by you, call up these recollections and fill my soul with sorrow. I regret that I have given you cause for anxiety. Please do not be troubled or disappointed with me.”
When Blossom heard this her cheeks suddenly blushed crimson. She arose and hurried into the inner chamber and did not come out again.
The Master sent a waiting-maid to invite her, but still she did not come.
Princess Orchid said: “My sister is so greatly loved of our mother, that her head has been turned and her heart has grown proud over it. She is not lowly in her disposition as I am, so that the Master’s comparing Cheung’s daughter with her has made her very indignant.”
Yang then asked Chin See to beg forgiveness for him and say to Princess Blossom that he was intoxicated at the time and so said what he regretted. “If she will please come out I will do as Prince Chin Moon did and request that she put me in prison.”
After a long time Chin See returned but had nothing to say.
The Master asked again: “What does her Highness say?”
Chin See replied: “Her Highness is very angry. What she says is too dreadful to be repeated.”
The Master said: “Her Highness’s dreadful words are her own, and no fault of yours; tell me exactly what she said.”
Chin See then made reply: “Princess Blossom says, ‘Even though I am contemptible and mean, I am the Dowager’s much-loved child. This girl, Cheung See, even though she be so wonderful, is only a common village maid. It says in the Book of Ceremony that men even bow before the King’s horse. That does not mean that they reverence horses in general, but that they reverence what his Majesty rides. If they reverence even the King’s horse, should they not reverence the daughter whom her Majesty loves? If the Master truly reverences the King and reveres the court he can hardly compare me with the daughter of a plebeian. Moreover this daughter of Cheung, forgetful of common modesty, and presuming on her knowledge, met the Master face to face and talked with him, yes and argued with him over the tunes he played. She can hardly be called superior. One can read from this the sort of character she was. She worried herself, too, over the delay in her wedding till she brought on “impatient” sickness, and died in her youth. When her fortunes have turned out so unhappily, why should the Master compare her with me?
“‘In ancient days in the Kingdom of No, Chin Ho, by means of gold, tried to tempt an honest woman who was picking mulberries, and she, rather than yield her honour to him, jumped into the stream and took her own life. Why should I be obliged to look upon the Master with a shamed face? I do not wish to be the wife of a man who has no respect for me. Besides, the Master remembers her face after she is dead and long departed. He thinks he still recognises her voice in mine. I am outraged by it, and though I have not the courage to follow the woman of antiquity and jump into the water, I shall indeed from now on never go outside the middle gateway, but stay here till I die. As Orchid is so very meek in her disposition she will suit you. Be pleased to live your life with Orchid, pray.’”
The Master grew very angry at this, and said: “In all the world who ever saw a girl pride herself so on her rank and station and act as Blossom does? You may judge of what this son-in-law is destined to suffer.”
He said to Orchid: “My meeting with Cheung’s daughter has caused this misunderstanding, and Blossom tries to put upon me some wretched wrong or other. I am not anxious about this myself, but the disgrace of it affects even the dead with shame.”
Orchid said: “I will go in and see my sister and explain it to her so that she will understand.” And she turned and went in; but to the close of day she did not come out again. Already the lights were trimmed and shining in the rooms.
Orchid sent a waiting-maid to say: “Though I have explained the mistake in every possible way, my sister will not change her mind, and I have been compelled to do as she has done, and decide to live and die with her and share her joy and sorrow. Thus have we sworn to heaven and earth and all the gods. If my sister means to shut herself away alone in the inner palace, I too will do the same and shut myself away. If my sister does not mean to live with the Master, I too cannot live with him. Please let my lord go to his dear wife Chin See and be at peace.”
At this Yang’s anger flamed up, but still he controlled himself and did not let it show in his words or countenance. The empty curtains and coldly embroidered screens seemed very comfortless to him. He leaned on his reclining bed and looked at Chin See. Chin See took a light and led the way for him to her room, where she cast some dragon incense into the golden brazier. On the ivory couch she arranged the embroidered quilts and pillows and then said to him: “Though I am very dull and stupid still I have read of the Superior Man, and it says in the Book of Ceremony: ‘The secondary wife may not appropriate the early hours of the evening.’ The two Princesses have retired to the inner palace, but even so I cannot think of being the one to wait upon your Excellency at this time of the night, so shall now retire. May you sleep in peace.” And with this she quietly withdrew.
The Master, hating all this disagreeable fuss, let her go for the sake of quiet. The prospect seemed a hopeless one, so he drew the curtains and lay down upon his pillow. Uneasy in heart, he said to himself: “This company forms itself into a league and plays all manner of tricks to befool its lord and master; how can I find any pleasure in praying or supplicating them? When I lived in the park pavilion at Justice Cheung’s, Thirteen and I enjoyed ourselves during the happy hours of the day, and Cloudlet and I sat in peace before the lights and passed the glass. Every day was happy, not one failed us; but now that I have come to be the son-in-law of the Imperial Family, three days have scarcely gone by before I am lorded over and my life made miserable.”
He drew aside the curtains, opened the windows, and the Milky Way was seen athwart the sky. The light of the moon flooded the open court. He took his shoes and went out, and following the shadow of the eaves, stepped across the square to where he saw in the distance Princess Blossom’s room with the lights burning brilliantly behind the illumined blinds.
The Master whispered to himself: “The night is already late; why are they not sleeping I wonder? Blossom is angry with me and has sent me off; I would like to know if she herself has retired.”
Fearing lest his shoes might make a noise he stepped lightly and carefully, and at last reached the outside of the window. The two Princesses were talking and laughing together, and the sound of dice was heard within. He peeped in through the chink of the blind, and there was Chin See seated before the two Princesses with another person in front of the dice table who was calling out the numbers. When she turned to trim the candle, behold it was Cloudlet.
Cloudlet, desirous of seeing the Princesses’ wedding, had already been several days in the palace, but she had concealed her whereabouts so as not to let the Master know.
He gave a sudden start of surprise as he said to himself: “How in the world has Cloudlet come to be here? Evidently the Princesses must have invited her.”
Once again Chin See arranged the dice board and said: “You have put down no wager, and so evidently you are not interested in the game. I will make a bet with you, Cloudlet.”
Cloudlet said: “Cloudlet is only a poor low-class girl; one dish of sweets would be a fortune for her. But Chin See has for ages been at the side of the princess; she would look on silks and satins as rough sackcloth and would regard the daintiest fare as common seaweed. How can you propose to me to make a wager?”
Then Chin See said: “If I do not win I’ll give whatever you select from the gems at my waist-belt, or from the pins in my hair; but if you don’t win then you must give me what I ask. Truly it will only be very little and something that will cost you nothing.”
Cloudlet said in reply: “What will you ask, pray, and what would you like to have?”
Chin See said: “I have heard the two Princesses talking together, and I understand from them that you, Cloudlet, once became a fairy, and again became a disembodied spirit, and so befooled the Master. I have never heard about it definitely, so if you lose you must tell me the story.”
Cloudlet then pushed away the dice board from her and said to Princess Blossom: “Sister, sister, sister, you told me the other day that you loved me dearly. Why have you reported this ridiculous story to the Princess? Chin See has also heard about it. Everybody in the palace who has ears to hear will know of it. With what face can I meet people?”
Chin See said: “Cloudlet, in what way is the Princess your sister? Blossom is the wife of our lord and Master, and Princess of Wee, and though she is still young, her rank is exceedingly high. How can she possibly be a sister of yours?”
In reply, Cloudlet said: “The lips that have been trained for years cannot change their ways in a single morning. Our happy contests together with flowers and sprigs of green are as yesterday. I am not afraid of her Highness the Princess.” And they all laughed together.
Princess Orchid asked of Blossom: “Your sister never fully heard about Cloudlet either. Did she really deceive the Master?”
Blossom said: “The Master has been many times deceived by Cloudlet. How can smoke come from a chimney where there is no fire? She only wanted to see the frightened look in his face, but he was too dense for that and did not know what fear was. It reads in the Book of Ceremony, ‘The man who greatly loves women is possessed of a spirit that has died of starvation.’ Evidently this is true of the Master. Why should a spirit that has died thus fear another spirit?” And they all burst out laughing.
At last Yang recognised to his amazement that Princess Blossom was none other than Cheung See. Like meeting one from the dead, and with his startled soul in his mouth, he was about to throw open the window and go violently into the room, when he thought again and said to himself: “Their desire is to play all manner of jokes upon me, so I’ll befool them instead.” Then he went quietly to Chin See’s room and slept soundly.
Early the next morning Chin See came and asked of the waiting-women: “Is the Master up yet?”
They replied: “Not yet.”
She waited for a long time outside the window till daylight filled the court. Breakfast too was ready, but still the Master slept.
Chin See then went in and asked: “Is your Excellency unwell?”
Suddenly he opened his eyes, stared blankly as though he did not see anyone, but went on talking to himself in a wandering way, so that Chin See asked again: “Master, why do you act so?”
Yang then seemed to hear but made no reply. After a little he asked: “Who are you?”
Chin See answered: “Does the Master not know his wife? I am Chin See.”
Yang replied: “Chin See? Who is Chin See?”
She made no further answer but stroked his brow and said: “Your head is very hot, and I am sure you are unwell. What trouble is it that has overtaken you, I wonder?”
The Master replied: “All night long I saw Cheung See in a dream and talked with her. How can I be well?”
Chin See asked him to tell her more fully, but he made no reply and simply turned as if to sleep again.
In a state of great distress, Chin See told a palace-maid to wait on the Princesses and say that the Master was ailing and to please come at once.
When the message was given, Blossom remarked: One who ate and drank so freely yesterday could hardly be seriously ill to-day. It is only a trick on his part to get us to go to see him.”
But Chin See came herself in great anxiety: “The Master is dazed seemingly and unconscious, and does not know anyone, but talks in a wandering way. Would it not be well to inform his Majesty and let the chief physician of the Court be sent for?”
The Dowager overheard them at this point, called the Princesses, and reprimanded them, saying: “You have gone too far in your jesting, you naughty girls. You hear that he is very unwell and yet have not even gone to see him. What kind of treatment is that? Go at once and make inquiry, and if he is very ill, get the most experienced and skilful Court physician called and see that he is cared for.”
Blossom now finding that there was no help for it, went with Orchid to the room where the Master slept and waited for a little at the threshold of the door. She made Orchid and Chin See go in first.
The Master looked at Orchid, waved his two hands, and gazed into space as though he did not know her. Then he whispered: “My life is going and I want to take a long farewell of Blossom. Where is Blossom that she does not come?”
Orchid replied: “Why does the Master say such things?”
He answered: “Last night, in a vision, Cheung See came to me and said, ‘Master, why have you broken your vow?’ and then in great anger she upbraided me and gave me a handful of pearls. I took and swallowed them. Assuredly this was a dreadful omen, for when I shut my eyes Cheung See seems to hold my body down, and when I open them she stands before me. Life is but a moment at best, and that is my reason for desiring to see Blossom.”
Before he had finished speaking an apparent faintness came over him, and he turned his face to the wall and talked at random.
When Orchid saw this she was alarmed and came out and said to Blossom: “I am afraid that the Master’s illness is due to worry and anxiety. Without you there is no hope of his recovery.” And she told just how he seemed.
Blossom, half inclined to believe, and half inclined to doubt, hesitated to go in, but Orchid took her by the hand and they went in together. They found Yang talking incoherently in a conversation that he seemed to be having with Cheung See.
Then Orchid in a loud voice said: “Master, Master, Blossom has come; please look at her.”
He raised his head for an instant, waved his hand about several times as though he wished to get up, then Chin See took hold and helped him. He sat on the side of the couch and speaking to the two Princesses said: “I, So-yoo, have abused the grace of God and have been married to you two Princesses. I have sworn my vow that for all time to come I will live and grow old with you, but there is one whose purpose it is to arrest and bear me away, so I cannot long remain.”
Blossom said in reply: “Master, you are a gentleman of intelligence and reason. Why do you talk such nonsense? Even though Cheung See’s frail soul and dead spirit do exist, this inner palace is so closely guarded by a hundred angels, who serve as its protecting force, that she could never enter here.”
The Master replied: “Cheung See was just now at my side; how can you say that she could not enter?”
Then Orchid answered: “The ancients saw in the wine glass the shadow of a bow, and fell ill of fear. I am sure that the Master’s illness is because he has mistaken the archer’s bow for a serpent.”
But the Master made no reply, simply waving his hands. Blossom, seeing that the matter grew gradually worse and worse, did not longer dare to keep up the deception. She went forward, knelt down, and said: “Master, do you want to see only the dead Cheung See and not the living?”
Yang, pretending that he did not understand, replied: “What do you mean? Justice Cheung had one daughter only, and she has been dead for a long time. Since the dead Cheung See visited me, what living Cheung See can there be beside her? If she is not dead, why she is alive? If she is not alive, why she is dead? Anybody knows that. To say sometimes of anyone, ‘Why they are dead?’ and again sometimes ‘Why they are alive?’ is nonsense. One must inquire whether the dead person is really Cheung See, or whether the living person is really Cheung See. If it is true that she is really alive then it is false that she is dead; and if it is true that she is really dead then it is false to say that she is alive. I cannot understand what your Highness says.”
Orchid then broke in: “Her Majesty the Dowager adopted Cheung See as her daughter and made her Princess Blossom, and put her and me together in the Master’s service. Princess Blossom is indeed the same Cheung See who listened when you played the harp. If not so, why should she be in every look and feature the exact image of Cheung See?”
The Master made no reply but gave a little moan and then suddenly raised his head and said: “When I lived at Cheung See’s home, Cheung See’s maid Cloudlet waited upon me. I have something that I want to ask of Cloudlet. Where is she now? I want to see her.”
Orchid said: “Cloudlet just now came into the palace to see Blossom, and learning that the Master was unwell, she is anxiously waiting outside and wants to make her salutations.”
The door opened and Cloudlet entered. She went up to the Master and said: “Are you better, my lord? I certainly hope so.”
Yang replied: “Let Cloudlet stay by me alone, and let all the others go out.” And so the Princesses and Chin See withdrew and stood at the head of the open porch.
Then the Master arose, washed, arranged his dress and told Cloudlet to call the other three.
Then Cloudlet, bottling up her smiles, came out and said to the two Princesses and to Chin See: “The Master wants to see you,” and so the four went in.
Yang now wore a ceremonial robe and special hat, and held in his hand a white stone chatelaine. His face was fresh as the spring breezes, and his mind as clear as the autumn stream. Not a vestige was there of anything that would mark him as ill. Blossom suddenly realised that she had been fooled, laughed and bowed low, making no further inquiries as to his health.
Orchid asked: “How is your lordship feeling now?”
The Master, with a serious countenance, said: “Truly we