Chapter VII The Imperial Son-in-Law

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HEN Yang had looked again carefully
and had made sure that it really was not
Moonlight, he asked : " Maiden, who are
you ? "

She replied : " Your servant was originally from
Pa-ju. My surname is Chok and my given name is
Kyong-hong, or Wildgoose. When I was young,
Moonlight and I became covenanted sisters, and
because of this close bond of union, she said to me
last night : " I am feeling unwell and cannot wait on
the Master, Take my place, please, and save me from
a reprimand. Thus at the request of Moonlight I
came boldly into your lordship's room."

Before she had done speaking. Moonlight herself
opened the sliding door and came softly in. She said :
** Your lordship has won a new and wonderful person
to yourself, and I congratulate you. You will remem-
ber that I recommended Chok Kyong-hong when we
were in the North River District. Is she not equal to
my recommendation ? "

" She is sweet in face and reputation," replied he.
He looked at her again and behold she was like the
young scholar Chok in every feature. By way of in-
quiry the Master remarked : " The young literatus
Chok must be some relative of yours ; have you a
brother ? I regret to say that I saw Chok yesterday
acting in a way very improper. Where is he now do
you suppose ? "

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Wildgoose said in reply : " I have no brothers or
sisters."

Then the Master looked at her for a moment and
suddenly guessed the whole game that had been
played upon him. He laughed and said : " The one
who followed me from the side of the way near
Hantan was the maiden Chok ; and the one who
talked across the wall with Moonlight was Chok See
also. I wonder how you dared to deceive me in such a
disguise."

Then Wildgoose answered : " How could I ever
have ventured to do such a thing were it not that I
have had bom in me one great and indomitable long-
ing that has possessed me all my life — ^to attach my-
self to some renowned hero or superior lord. When
the King of Yon learned my name and bought me for
a heaped -up bag of jewels, he fed me on the daintiest
fare and dressed me in the rarest silk. And yet I had
no delight in it but was in distress, like a parrot bird
behind cage bars, grieving out its days and longing to
shake its wings and fly away. The other day when the
King of Yon invited you to his feast, I spied on you
through the screen chinks, and you were the man that
my heart bounded forth to follow. But the palace has
nine gateways of approach, how could I safely pass
these ? The journey on which you had entered was
a thousand miles long, how could I escape and follow
for so great a distance ? I thought over a hundred
ways and means, and then hit on a plan, but I dared
not put it into execution at the time of your departure.
Had I done so the King of Yon would have sent his
runners out to arrest me. When you had been gone
ten days or more, I secretly took one of the King's fast

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

horses and sped forth on my way, overtaking you at
Han-tan and making myself known to your lordship.
I should have told you at once who I was, but there
are so many eavesdroppers about, that I did not dare
to speak ; so I made myself a deceiver and am guilty
of great sin. I wore a man's dress in order to escape
those who might attempt to arrest me. What I did last
night was done at the earnest request of Moonlight.
Even if you graciously overlook these many faults of
mine, the longer I live the more I shall look with
amazement on my having been so bold. If your
lordship will kindly forgive and forget my wrong-
doing and overlook my poor and humble birth ; if
you will permit me to find shelter under your wide-
spreading tree where I may build my little nest,
Moonlight and I will live together, and after the
Master is married to some noble lady, she and I will
come to your home and speak our good wishes and
congratulations . ' '

General Yang said in reply : " My fairest maid,
not even Chi-pool the famous dancer was your
equal. Not only have you highly esteemed the
attainments of this poor prince of Wee, but you
desire to follow him for good. How can he remem-
ber any fault of yours ? "

Then Wildgoose thanked him, and Moonlight
said : " Now that Chok See has waited on my lord
as well as I, I thank thee on her behalf." And thus
they bowed repeatedly.

Next morning by break of day the General was
ready to depart, and said to the two : " There are
many who spy and eavesdrop on a long journey,
so we may not go together, but as soon as I have

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completed the marriage awaiting me, you must both
come." Thus he resumed his way.

Once more he reached the capital and reported at
the Palace. At this time, too, a letter of submission
arrived from the King of Yon, with quantities of
tribute, gold, silver, silks, etc. The Emperor, greatly
delighted at his success, comforted Yang after the long
hardships of the way ; congratulated him, and proposed
to make him a tributary prince as reward ; but Yang,
alarmed at this too high favour, bowed low before the
throne, asking earnestly to be permitted to decline.

The Emperor, charmed with his modesty, yielded
to his wishes and made him only a chief minister as
well as Director of the Hallim (College of Literature),
besides giving him great rewards. He caused him to
be most lavishly honoured by the State, so that history
scarcely presents a case of one so markedly distin-
guished.

After his return, Yang went to pay his respects to
the home of Justice Cheung. He and the lady Cheung
greeted him with special joy, congratulated him on
his high attainments and honour, and were delighted
at his being made a minister, so that the whole house
was filled with rejoicing.

Yang then went to his quarters in the park pavilion,
once more met Cloudlet and renewed the happy re-
lationship with her that had been broken off by his
departure. f ^

The Emperor was greatly delighted with the rising
fame of Yang So-yoo. He frequently summoned him
to the inner palace to talk about history and the
Classics, as well as other subjects, so that the days
went by imperceptibly.

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One evening Yang was detained till late in the
presence of the Emperor. On his return to his official
quarters, the moon shone softly and his feelings of
happiness were so great that sleep refused to come.
He went alone up into the upper pavilion, and there
leaned on the balustrade and looked out upon the
scene so softly gilded by the shining moon. Suddenly
he heard on the gently passing breeze the notes of a
flute, far off, as though from among the clouds,
coming nearer and nearer. He could not distinguish
the^une, but the sweetness was such as is not heard
among mortals.

Minister Yang then called one of the secretaries of
the Hallim and asked him, saying : " Does this music
come from outside the palace, or is there someone
within the enclosure who is playing ? "

The secretary said he did not know. The minister
then ordered wine to be brought, and when he had
taken a glass or two he called for his flute on which
he began to play. The sound of it went up to heaven,
and soft tinted clouds came out to listen ; the phoenix
birds called to each other, and two blue storks came
flying from the palace and danced to the music ;
while all the secretaries looked on in wonder, saying :
" Wang Ja-jin [26] has come down to earth to share
our joys and sorrows."

The Empress Dowager had two sons and one
daughter ; the Emperor, Prince Wol, and Princess
Nan-yang or Orchid. When Orchid was bom, a fairy
had come down from heaven to the Empress in a
dream, and had placed a jewel in her bosom. Such
was the princess. When she was grown up she was
graceful in form as a flower and all her ways were

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according to the highest measure of the genii. No
marks of earth were there upon her. Marvellously
skilled was she, too, in the character, in needlework
and embroidery. The Empress loved her better than
all others.

Among the tribute paid at this time there was a
white stone flute from the western empire of Rome.
The form of it was very beautiful, and the Empress
ordered the court musicians to try it, but they failed
and no sound was forthcoming. In a dream one night
the princess met a fairy and learned from her how
to play it. After waking she tried this flute of the far
west and the tones were exceeding sweet, agreeing
in harmony with the laws of the eum-rul (Chinese
music).

The Empress Dowager and the Emperor were
greatly astonished at this, but no outsiders knew any-
thing of it. At one time when she played the storks
gathered in front of the audience hall and danced
to the music.

The Empress said to the Emperor : "In ancient
days Prince Chin-mok's daughter, Nong-ok [27],
played beautifully on the crystal flute, and now
Orchid plays no less marvellously. Nong-ok found
her destined husband by this matchless music of hers.
May it be so with Orchid, and may we thus happily
settle the question of her marriage." Though Nan-
yang was grown up she had not yet been betrothed.

On this night, Orchid, inspired by the soft light
of the moonbeams, played till the storks danced be-
fore her, and when she had finished they flew away
to the office of the Hallim and danced there Ukewise ;
so it became reported throughout the palace that the

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storks had danced to the music of General Yang.
The Emperor heard it, and marvelled as he thought
to himself : " The Princess's destiny evidently rests
with this man."

He then reported to the Empress Dowager, say-
ing : " General Yang's age is about the same as that
of Princess Orchid, and there is no one in the Court
his equal in handsome bearing or ability. Never
again can we expect to find his like if we search the
whole wide realm."

The Empress laughed, and said : " Orchid's
marriage has not yet been decided upon, and I have
been somewhat anxious about it. Now that I hear
this, I am sure that Yang So-yoo is God's appointed
mate for her ; still, I must have a look at him before
I decide finally."

" That will be very easy," said the Emperor in
reply. " I shall summon Yang one of these days to
one of my private audiences, have a talk with him on
some literary subject, and then you can peep through
the screen and see what kind of man he is."

The Empress was greatly delighted and so the
matter rested.

Princess Orchid's special name was So-wha, so
called because these two characters were found en-
graved upon the flute. They meant " flute harmony."

On a certain day the Emperor took his seat in the
Hall of the Fairies, one of the palaces of the Imperial
Court, and commanded a eunuch to summon Yang
So-yoo. The eunuch went first to the office of the
Hallim, but learned there that Yang was out. Then
he went post-haste to the home of Justice Cheving
and made inquiry, but was told that Yang had not

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The Stork Dance : The Palace Maids in Waiting

The Imperial Son-in-Law

yet returned. So he rushed about here and there but
could get no trace of him.

At this time Yang, accompanied by Thirteen, had
gone to one of the places of amusement, where he
had imbibed so freely that he was very much intoxi-
cated. He was happy and having a hilarious time.
The eunuch hurriedly rushed in and ordered him to
report at once to the palace. Thirteen, alarmed by
this call, jumped up and went out. But Yang's eyes
were heavy with drink and his hair was in disorder.
The eunuch addressed him so that he got up and
changed his dress and then followed into the inner
palace, where he appeared before the Emperor, who
commanded him to sit down.

There they discussed the history of the past line
of kings, their successes and their failures, and Yang,
quickas he was asked, gave answer, his words flowing
like running water.

The Emperor, greatly delighted, said : " I should
like to ask whom you regard as greatest among the
kings of the past, and whom among the ministers.
The Hallim replied : " Among the kings we rank Yo
and Soon [28] first, but we need not specially dwell
on them. Han Ko-jo wrote an essay called, * The
Great Wind,' while Wee Ta-jo wrote one called,
* The Bright Wind and Shining Stars.' These come
first among the kings. Among ministers are Yi Yung
of Sa-kyong, Cho Ja of Up-to, To Yon-myong of
Nam-cho, and Sa Yom-eum. These are regarded as
the first literary masters. Among the kingdoms Tang
is first, and among the Tang kings, Hyon-jong.
Among ministers is Yi Tai-baik, who is without a
peer in all the world."

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The Emperor said : " Your opinion is assuredly
just what mine is. When I read Yi Tai-baik's ' Chong
Pyong-sa ' and ' Haing Nak-sa,' I was always very
sorry that I did not live at the same time as he
did, but now that I have won your lordship to my
side, why should I even envy Yi Tai-baik ? "

" I have," said his Majesty,^ " in accordance
with ancient law, selected ten or more palace women
who are specially gifted with the pen and beautiful
to see, and put them under a secretary. Now I should
like your lordship, following the example of Yi
Tai-baik, to write for these women something that
they would specially enjoy " ; and so he ordered the
ink-stone, jade table, and pens to be brought, and
placed before the master. The women, delighted that
they were to have a sample of his renowned penman-
ship, brought special paper, silken pocket hand-
kerchiefs, embroidered fans and so forth, on which
he was to write.

The Hallim, delighted to show them this attention,
wrote with great readiness and rapidity, dashing off
his strokes like the wind and clouds or the dazzling
lightning. Before the shadows of the evening had
begun to fall he had finished the pile of invitations
that lay before him. The palace ladies knelt in order,
passing writings to His Majesty, who examined
them all interestedly. Some were in couplets, some
in fours, some again in doubles ; all were gems
of their kind. There was no limit to the praise the
King bestowed upon them. Then he said to the
palace maids-in-waiting : " Now that the Hallim
has worked so hard and written for you, you must
bring him the best wine there is."

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The Imperial Son-in-Law

Then the ladies brought choice wine in golden
platters, in crystal goblets, and in parrot cups, on
green stone tables, and arranged various dainties to
accompany the wine. Sometimes kneeling, sometimes
standing, they vied with each other to serve him.

The Hallim received each with his left hand and
raised it to his lips with the right, and when he had
had ten glasses or so his face grew rosy like the spring-
time, while mists beclouded his vision. Then His
Majesty ordered the wine to be removed and said to
the women : '* The Hallim 's verses are each worth
their weight in gold. What will you give him now in
return ? "

Some of the women drew forth the golden hair-
pins that were shot through their hair, some unclasped
their jade belt ornaments, some took rings from their
fingers. Each tried to outdo the other till their gifts
were piled up before him. Then His Majesty said to
one of the eunuchs : " Take the ink-stone used by
the Master, the pens, and the gifts of the palace-
maids, wrap them up, and when he goes take them
to his house."

The Hallim thanked His Majesty for his kindness,
got up to go but fell over. The Emperor then ordered
a eunuch to help him along under the arms as far as
the South Gate, where they mounted him on his
horse. At last he reached his quarters in the park
pavilion. Cloudlet received him, helped him to
change his ceremonial dress, and asked in amaze-
ment : " Wherever has your lordship been that you
have drunk so much ? "

Yang, who was very drunk indeed, could only nod
his head. Then in a little time there came a servant

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

bearing a great load of gifts from the Emperor —
pens, ink-stone, fans, etc., which were piled up at the
hall entrance.

Yang laughed and said : " These are all presents
that His Majesty has sent to you, Cloudlet. How do
my winnings compare with those of Tong Pang-
sak ? "

The next day the Hallim arose late, and after he
had made his toilet the gate-keeper came suddenly
to say that Prince Wol had come to call upon him.

Yang gave a start and said : " Prince Wol has come ?
Something surely must be the matter."

He went hastily out to meet him, showed him in,
and asked him to be seated. His age would be about
twenty. Very handsome he was, with no traces of
the common world on his features.

Yang, humbly kneeling, said to him : " Your
Highness has condescended to visit my humble
dwelling ; what orders have you for me, please ? "

The Prince answered : "I am an admirer of
specially gifted men, even though I have had no
opportunity to get acquainted with your Excellency.
Now, however, I come with commands from His
Majesty, and to convey his message. The Princess
Nan-yang has now reached a marriageable age and
we have to choose a husband for her. The Emperor,
seeing your superiority, and greatly admiring your
gifts, has made you his choice, and has sent me to
let you know. In a little the Imperial orders will be
issued."

Yang, greatly alarmed, said : " The grace of
heaven coming down to so low and humble a subject
means * blessing exceeding bounds,' and where

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blessing exceeds bounds it becomes disaster. There
is no question about it. Your servant is engaged to the
daughter of Justice Cheung, and almost a year has
gone by since the gifts were exchanged. I beg and
beseech your Highness to make this known to His
Majesty.

The Prince replied : "I shall certainly report as
you say, but I regret it very much, for the Emperor's
love of the highly gifted will turn out a disappoint-

ment."

The Hallim answered : " This matter is of great
concern in my world of affairs, and one I dare not
deal lightly with. I shall bow before His Majesty
and ask for punishment."

The Prince then bade farewell and returned to the
palace.

Yang then went to the apartments occupied by
Justice Cheung, and reported to him what the Prince
had said. Already Cloudlet had told the lady of the
house, so that the whole house was upset and in a
state of consternation, no one knowing what to do.
Clouds of anxiety gathered on the old Justice's face
and over his eyebrows, and he had no words to say.

" Do not be anxious," said the Hallim. " The
Emperor is good and enlightened and most careful
to do exactly what is according to ceremony and
good form. He would never set any of the affairs of
his minister at naught, and though I am unworthy I
would die rather than do the wrong that Song Hong
did."

The Empress Dowager had the previous day
come into the Hall of the Fairies and had peeped in
on Yang So-yoo. She had been greatly taken with

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him, saying to the Emperor : " He is indeed a fitting
mate for Nan-yang (Orchid). I have seen him, and
there is no longer any need for consultation." Thus
she commanded Prince Wol to report to Yang.

The Emperor himself now desired to make the
same proposition. He was seated alone in the Special
Hall. He was thinking over the wonderful skill that
Yang had displayed in the writing of the character,
and desiring once more to see what he had written,
ordered one of the eunuchs to have the women bring
him their compositions. They had each put the
writing very carefully away, but one palace maiden
took the fan on which Yang had written, went alone
to her room, placed it in her bosom and cried all
night over it, refusing to eat. This maiden's family
name was Chin, and her given name was Cha-bong.
She was a daughter of Commissioner Chin of Wha-
joo. The Commissioner had died a violent death, and
Cha-bong had been arrested and made a palace maid-
in-waiting. All the women loved and praised Chin
See. The Emperor himself summoned her to his
presence and desired to make her one of the Imperial
wives, but the Empress, fearing Chin See's surpassing
beauty, did not consent. " Chin See is indeed very
lovable," said she, " but Your Majesty has had to
order her father's execution. To have close relations
with his daughter would break the saying of the
ancients, which runs : ' Enlightened kings of the
past put far away women who were related to the
households of the punished.' "

The Emperor, recognising that this was true,
consented. He had asked Cha-bong if she could
read the character, and finding that she could, had

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appointed her to be one of his Uterary secretaries
and put her in charge of palace documents. Also,
the Empress Dowager had made her the literary-
companion of Princess Orchid, to read to her, and to
drill her in the practice of composition. The Princess
greatly loved Chin See for her beauty of character
and the wonderful knowledge she possessed. She
treated her like a near relative and would not let
her out of her sight.

On that day she was waiting on the Empress
Dowager in the Hall of the Fairies, ready to attend
the commands of the Emperor. She was one of the
women who received the verses composed by Yang.
Yang's face and form were already deeply imprinted
upon her heart. How could she mistake him ?
Waking or sleeping, she had never dropped him
from her memory. She knew him at once, but Yang,
having no knowledge that she was alive, and being in
the presence of the Emperor, did not dare to lift up
his eyes. He simply wrote and passed on what he had
written.

Now that Cha-bong had seen him, her heart was
all afire, but she stifled her feelings and emotions,
and her desire to be known, fearing that she might
arouse suspicion. After her return to her room, in
distress over the hopelessness of trying to piece
together the broken threads of her destiny, she had
unfolded the fan and read over what he had written.
She opened it again and again, not once putting it
down. The writing read :

" This silken fan is round as the moon.

As fair and soft as the hand that holds it,

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Over the harp strings its zephyrs play

Till it find its way to the Master's keeping.

As round it is as the shining moon,

May the soft fair hand ne'er lay it down,

Nor its silken smile e'en once be hidden,
In all the days of the happy spring."

When Chin See had read the first lines she sighed,
saying : " Master Yang does not know my heart.
Even though I am in the palace, why should I ever
be thought of as the wife of the Emperor ? "

She read further and sighed again and said :
" Although others have not seen my face, assuredly
Master Yang will never forget me in his heart. His
verses prove, however, that a foot away may mean a
thousand miles. When I think of the willow song
that I received when I was in my home I cannot
stifle my sorrow."

The tears dropped upon her dress. She now wrote
a verse and added it to his upon the border of the
fan, read it over, and sighed again. Suddenly she
learned that a command had gone forth from the
Emperor to collect all the fans and other things upon
which Yang had written. Chin See in great alarm,
and with terror entering into her very bones, said :
" I am doomed to die, doomed to die."

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