Chapter VII

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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The Imperial Son-in-Law

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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The Imperial Son-in-Law

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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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

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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The Imperial Son-in-Law

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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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

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 Cloud Dream of the Nine

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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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

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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The Imperial Son-in-Law

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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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

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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