Chapter X Humble Submission

THE General then mounted the dragon-car
with the Dragon King's daughter beside
him ; a wonderful wind blew the wheels
and they whirled away up into mid air beyond the
clouds. He did not know how close lay the outskirts
of heaven, or how many miles from earth they were.
A veil of mist like a white umbrella covered all the
sphere. Little by little they descended till they came
to Tong-jong. The King had come out a long distance
to meet his guest with every possible form of cere-
mony and every evidence of love for him as a son-in-
law. He bowed, and after having made Yang mount
the highest seat of honour, prepared for him a great
feast. The King himself raised his glass and con-
gratulated Yang, saying : " I am a man of few and
feeble gifts, with but little means at my disposal, not
able even to make my own daughter prosperous and
happy. By means of your Excellency's surpassing skill
we have taken prisoner this proud upstart, and have
saved my daughter's honour. I greatly desire to repay
this kindness high as heaven and deep as the nether
sea."

The General said : "It was all due to the incom-
parable strength and prowess of His linperial
Majesty. What cause have you to thank me ? "

They drank till their hearts were merry and then
the King called for music ; and splendid music it was,
arranged ill mystic harmony, unlike the music of the

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

earth. A thousand giants, each bearing sword and
spear, beat monster drums. Six rows of dancing-girls
dressed in phoenix garb and wearing bright moon
ornaments, gracefully shook their long flowing sleeves
and danced in pairs, a thrilling and entrancing sight.

The General asked : " What tune is this to which
they dance ? "

The Dragon King said : "In ancient days this
tune did not exist in the Water Palace. My eldest
daughter, as you know, was married to tiie Prince
Imperial of Kyong-ha, and according to the writings
of Dr. Yoo in * The Shepherd and the Sheep,' was
found destined to hardship. She fell a victim to
oppression and ill-treatment, and my younger brother
fought and defeated the King of Kyong-ha and saved
her. The musicians of the palace invented this tune,
calling it ' The Defeat of the Enemy.' Now, however,
that your Excellency has overcome the Prince of
Nam-hai and have caused the father to meet his
daughter once more, the name of the tune has been
changed to ' The Song of the General's Victory.' "

Yang asked again : " Where is Dr. Yoo now, and
may I not see him ? "

" Dr. Yoo," said the Dragon King, " is an official
among the genii and so is at his post and cannot come."

After the various glasses, nine in all, had been
passed, the General said good-bye. " I have many
things to see to in the camp," he said, " and cannot
stay longer, for which I am very sorry. My one desire
is that the lady may not forget her marriage vows."

The Dragon King said that he would see that they
were kept. He came outside the palace to see the
General off.

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Humble Submission

On looking up Yang saw before him a great and
high mountain, with five peaks that reached up to the
clouds. At once a desire took possession of him to go
and see them, so he asked of the Dragon King :
" What mountain is this ? I, So-yoo, have seen many
famous mountains of the world, but never this one
before."

The Dragon King inquired : " Do you not know
the name of this mountain ? It is Nam-ak, full of
spiritual lights, strange and mysterious."

" Where are the approaches ? " asked the General.

The Dragon King replied : " The day is not yet
late, let us take a hasty look at it before we go."

The General then mounted the chariot and was
soon at the base. He took his bamboo staff and en-
tered on the stony way, crossed a hill, passed over a
yawning chasm, where the surroundings seemed
more and more wonderful, with a thousand views
opening out before his vision, impossible to take in
at a single glance. The old saying of "A thousand
peaks vied with each other and a thousand streams
rushed by " was true of this fairy region.

The General rested on his staff and surveyed the
wide landscape with an increasing sense of surprise
and questioning. He then sighed and said : " I have
long been a follower of the camp and engrossed in
the fortunes of war, so am tired of the dust of
earth. How can the earth-to-earth particles of this
body be so important ? How can one win lasting
merit, and after death attain to eternal life ? "

As he said this to himself he heard the sound of
bells from among the trees. He pushed forward.
" Evidently," said he, " there is a temple of the

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

Buddha somewhere near." He crossed a dangerous
pass and ascended a lofty peak, and there stood a
temple with the main hall hidden away in a shady
recess. Many priests were gathered about. The chief
priest sat on an elevated dais, and at the time of
Yang's approach was reading the sacred books and
discoursing on the same. His eyebrows were long
and white and his features thin and transparent. His
age must have been very great indeed.

Seeing the General approach, he called all the
priests together to meet him. " We dwellers in the
hills," said he, " are dull of hearing and so did not
know beforehand of the coming of your Excellency,
nor have we gone out to meet you beyond the gates
as we should have done. Please forgive us. The day
of your final coming has not yet arrived. Will you not
enter the hall, worship and return ? "

The General entered before the Buddha, burnt
incense and made his obeisance. Then he returned,
and as he stepped down his foot slipped and he awoke
with a start, and behold he was leaning on his writing-
table in the midst of the camp.

The east began to lighten. In wonder he asked his
aides : " Did you gentlemen sleep and dream too ? "
They made as one reply : " We accompanied your
Excellency and fought an awesone spirit army, de-
feated it, took captive their commander, and re-
turned. This is assuredly a proof of certain victory."
The General told all that he had seen in his dream,
and afterwards they went together to inspect the
White Dragon Lake. The ground was covered with
scattered scales of fish and blood that flowed like
running water. First of all the General raised his cup

i68

Humble Submission

and took a drink of the fateful potion and then re-
freshed the sick soldiers. They recovered, and the
army came in companies with their horses to the
shore and drank freely. Their glad shoutings shook
the earth ; the rebels heard it and trembled, desiring
forthwith to make terms.

Yang then wrote a communication announcing
victory. The Emperor was greatly delighted, and in
his memorial to the Empress Dowager he praised
Yang So-yoo, saying : " So-yoo is indeed the greatest
general since the days of Kwak Pom-yang ; let us
wait for his return to make him First Minister of State
and so reward him for his unparalleled success. If he
has fully decided as to the marriage proposal with
the Crown Princess and can conform to our com-
mands, all is well, but if he still persists in having his
own way, we cannot punish one so meritorious as he
nor compel him by force. It is a question difficult to
solve and one full of deep perplexity."

The Empress Dowager said in reply : " The
daughter of Justice Cheung is truly a very beautiful
girl. He and she have met and seen each other. How
can he readily cast her aside ? My idea is to take
advantage of So-yoo 's absence, issue an order com-
manding Justice Cheung to marry off his daughter
elsewhere, and so do away for ever with this desire
of So-yoo. How can they fail to do as we command ? "

His Majesty did not reply, but waited for a moment.
He then got up quietly and went out. At this the
Crown Princess, who was seated by the side of her
mother, said : " Mother, your honourable decision
is indeed quite wrong. The question of Cheung See's
marriage belongs not to us but to her family. How can

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

the Government undertake to direct a matter of this
kind ? "

The Empress replied : " This is a matter of ex-
ceeding great importance to yourself as well as to the
State. I must talk with you about it. General Yang
So-yoo is not only superior to others in looks and
learning, but already by the tune he played on the
jade flute he has proven himself your chosen affinity.
You cannot possibly turn him away and choose
another. So-yoo has already established a special
attachment with the house of Justice Cheung, and
cannot cast that off either. This is a most perplexing
matter. I think that after So-yoo 's return, if he is
married to you, he will not object to take Cheung's
daughter as a secondary wife. I wanted first to inquire
what you thought of this."

The Princess said : "I am not a person given to
jealousy. Why should I dislike Cheung See ? But the
fact that Yang had already sent her his wedding
presents forbids his making her his secondary wife.
An act like this would be contrary to all good form.
Justice Cheung's is one of the oldest ministerial
families, distinguished from time immemorial for
ability and learning. Would it not be high-handed
oppression to force her into the place of secondary
wife ? It would never never do."

The Empress said : " Then what do you propose
that we should do ? "

The Princess replied : " Ministers of State may
have three wives of the first order. When General Yang
returns with his high honours, if he attain to the
highest he will be made a subject king, if to the lowest
he will still be a duke, and it will be no presumption

170

Humble Submission

on his part to take two wives. How would it do to have
him take Justice Cheung's daughter as his real wife
as well as myself ? "

" It would never do," said the Empress. " When
two women are of the same rank and station there
need indeed be no harm or wrong done, but you are
the beloved daughter of his late Majesty and the
sister of the present monarch. You are therefore
of specially high rank and removed from all others.
How could you possibly be the wife of the same man
with a common woman of the city ? "

The Princess said : " I am truly high in rank and
station ; this I know, but the enlightened kings of the
past and those who were sages honoured good men
and great scholars regardless of their social position.
They loved their virtue, so that even the emperor of
a thousand chariots made friends and intimates of
such and took them in marriage ; why should we
talk of high rank or station ? I have heard that
Cheung's daughter, in beauty and attainments, is
not behind any of the famous women of the past. If
this be true I should find it no disgrace at all but an
honour to make an equal of her. Still, what I have
heard of her may not be true, and by rumour alone
one cannot be sure of the real or the imaginary. I
should like to see her for myself, and if her beauty and
talents are superior to mine I shall condescend to
serve her, but if they are not as we hear them re-
ported, then we might make her a secondary wife, or
even a serving-maid, just as your Majesty may think
best."

The Empress sighed, and said : " To be jealous of
another's beauty Js^a natural feeling with women, but

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

this daughter of mine loves the superiority of another
as much as if it were her own, and reverences another's
virtue as a thirsty soul seeks water ; how can the
mother of such a one as she fail to be happy ? I, too,
would like to see Cheung's daughter. I shall send a
dispatch to that effect to-morrow."

The Princess replied : " Even though your
Majesty should send such a command I am sure
Cheung's daughter would feign sickness and not
come. If she should decline there would be no way
of summoning her by force as she belongs to a min-
ister's household. Let us do it by means of the Taoist
priestess and the Buddhist nun. If we knew of Justice
Cheung's day of sacrifice in advance, I imagine we
should have no difficulty in meeting her,"

The Dowager thought well of this and sent a
special servant to make inquiry of the various Taoist
priestesses who lived in the neighbourhood. The old
woman superior of the Chong-se Temple said :
" Usually Justice Cheung's family do their sacri-
ficing to the Buddha at our temple, but the daughter
does not come herself ; she sends her servant.
General Yang's secondary wife, Ka Choon-oon. She
comes with orders for her mistress and with prayers
written out that are placed before the Buddha. You
may take this written prayer of hers if you care to
show it to Her Majesty the Dowager."

The eunuch accepted it, returned, and told what he
had heard and showed Cheung See's written prayer.

The Dowager said : " I am afraid in these circum-
stances that it will be difficult to see her." With that
the Crown Princess and she unfolded the written
prayer and they read it together :

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Humble Submission

" Thy disciple, Cheung Kyong-pai, by means of
her servant Cloudlet, who has bathed and made the
required offerings, bows low, worships and makes
her petition. I, thy disciple, Kyong-pai, have many
sins to answer for, sins of a former existence as yet
unexpiated. These account for my birth into this
life as a desolate girl who never knew the joy of
sisterhood. Already had I become the recipient of
marriage gifts from General Yang and had ex-
pected to live my life in his home, but the choice
of Yang as son-in-law to her Majesty the Empress
Dowager has reduced all my poor hopes to nothing-
ness. I am cut off from him, and can only regret
that the ways of the gods and the ways of men do
not harmonise. Such an unlucky person as I have
therefore no place of expectation. Though I had
not yet given my body, my mind and soul were
already given, and for me to change and put my
affections elsewhere would not be according to the
law of righteousness. I will stay then with my
parents during their remaining years. In this
moment of sadness and disappointed experience I
come to offer niy soul to the Buddha, and to speak
my heart's desire. Please condescend, ye Holy
Ones, to accept this prayer of mine, extend to me
pity, and let my parents live long like the endless
measure of the sky. Grant that I be free from sick-
ness and trouble so that I may be able to dress
neatly, and to please them, and thus play out my
little part in life on their behalf. When their ap-
pointed span is over I will break with all the bonds
of earth, submit my actions to the requirements of
the law and give my heart to the reading of the

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

sacred sutras, keep myself pure, worship the Holy
One, and make payment for all the unmerited
blessings that have come to me. My servant, Ka
- Choon-oon, who is my chosen companion, brings
this to thee. Though in name we are maid and
mistress, we are in reality friend and friend. She,
in obedience to my orders, became the secondary
wife of General Yang, but now that matters have
fallen otherwise, and there is no longer hope for
the happy affinity that was mine, she too has bade
a long farewell to him and come back to me so
that we may be one in sorrow as well as in blessing,
in death as well as in life. I earnestly pray that the
divine Buddha will condescend to read our two
hearts, and grant that for all generations and
transmigrations to come, we may escape the lot of
being born women [36] ; that thou wilt put away
all our sins of a former existence, give blessing
for the future, so that we may transmigrate to
some happy place to share endless bliss for ever.
Amen."

When the Princess had read this she knit her brows,
and said : "By one person's marriage decision two
happy people's hopes are broken. I fear that a great
wrong may be done to worth and virtue unknown
to us."

The Dowager heard this and sat silent.

At this time Cheung's daughter waited upon her
parents with placid countenance and resigned ex-
pression. Not a trace was there of dejection or sorrow.
When her mother saw her she felt overcome with a
sense of pity and dismay. Cloudlet attended lovingly

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Humble Submission

and compelled Cheung See to engage in writing
or games so as to pass the time, her own mind like-
wise being most desolate and her heart broken. little
by little she became thin and frail, as one overcome
by an incurable sickness. Cheung See served her
parents on the one hand, and on the other engaged
herself on behalf of poor Cloudlet. Thus was her
heart hopelessly confused, finding no place of peace,
though others would not have guessed it. The
daughter, wishing to comfort her mother by means
of the servants, sought every variety of music or in-
teresting recreation, and so moment by moment
tried to gladden her ears and eyes.

On a certain day a woman came bringing two
embroidered pictures to Cheung's house desiring
to sell them. When Cloudlet had unrolled and
looked at them, one was a picture of a peacock
among the flowers, and the other of a partridge
in the forest. All the embroidery work was
exquisitely done. Greatly admiring them. Cloudlet
made the maid wait till she had shown them to the
mother and daughter. She said : " My mistress is
always praising my embroidery, but look at these
pictures, please. What do you think of them for
skill ? "

The young lady opened them out before her mother,
gave a great exclamation of surprise, and said : " No
present day embroidery can possibly equal these,
and yet the colour and decorations mark them as
new and not old. They are wonderful. Who can
possess skill such as this ? " She bade Cloudlet ask
the maid whence they came, and the maid replied :
" This embroidery is done by the hand of the young

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

mistress of our home. Just now she is Uving alone,
and finding special need of money wants to sell them
regardless of price."

Cloudlet asked : " To what family does your
mistress belong, pray, and for what reason is she
staying alone ? "

The maid replied : " Our mistress is the sister of
Yi Tong-pan, who, with his mother, has gone to
Chol-dong where he holds office. Because she was
unwell and unable to follow, the young lady re-
mained at the home of her maternal uncle, Chang
the Charioteer. Her quarters are occupied by Madam
Sa, just over the way, where she is awaiting the return
from Chol-dong."

Cloudlet, on hearing this, went in and told it to
her mistress; The young lady gave a liberal price
in hairpins and other ornaments for the pictures,
and had them hung up in the main hall where she
sat all day in admiration of them, praising their ex-
cellence and expressing her delight. After this the
maid who sold the pictures came frequently to
Justice Cheung's home and became very friendly
with Cheung's servants.

The young lady said to Cloudlet : " The fact that
Yi See has such wonderful skill of hand is proof that
she is no common citizen. I shall make one of the
servants follow her maid and find out what kind of
personage she is." She chose a bright waiting- woman
and sent her. The servant followed and found the
lady's residence to be one of the town houses, very
small and very neat, with no outside quarters for men.

When Yi See knew that she was a servant from
Justice Cheung's, she treated her to the best of fare

176

Visit to the Monastery : Pictures to Sell

Humble Submission

and sent her on her way rejoicing. The servant re-
turned and reported, saying : " For beauty and
loveliness of face and form, she is a second copy of
our own dear lady. They are just alike."

Cloudlet did not believe this, " Her embroidery,"
said she, " is indeed wonderful, but as for her
beauty, why do you tell me such stories ? I am sure
there is no one in the world so pretty as our own
lovely mistress."

The servant replied : " If Madam Ka doubts my
word, let her send someone else to see and then she
will know the truth of what I say."

Cloudlet then sent another person privately, who
also came back saying : " Beautiful, beautiful, the
lady is a fairy angel from heaven. What we heard
yesterday is true. If my lady Ka still doubts, how
would it be if she should go and see for herself ? "

" All this talk," said Cloudlet, " is nonsense.
How is it that you have no eyes ? " And so they
laughed together and then separated.

A few days later Madam Sa called at Justice
Cheung's to say : " The daughter of Yi Tong-pan
has come to live in my house for a little , and her beauty
and wonderful ability excel anything I have ever
seen. She has heard of your daughter and greatly
admires what she hears of her beautiful spirit and
behaviour. She would like to meet her once and hear
her sweet accents, but they are not acquainted and
so she could not readily herself make request.
Knowing that I was a friend of yours, she has begged
me to come instead and make it for her."

At once Madam Cheung called her daughter and
told her what had been said. The daughter replied :

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

" I diflFer from other people in my freedom and I
really do not wish to see anyone, but, learning that
the young lady's attainments and beauty are on a par
with this wonderful embroidery work, I should like
to meet her once to brighten my darkened outlook."

Madam Sa was greatly pleased at this and re-
turned home.

On the day following, the young lady sent her
servant in advance to say that she was coming, and a
little later she came in a neat curtained chair with two
or three attendants who accompanied her to Cheung's
mansion. Cheung See met her in her bedroom, and
there they sat, hostess and guest, to east and west,
just as when the Weaving Damsel [37] was welcomed
to the Palace of the Moon, or to the feast of gems in
the Paradise of Kwon-loon. The halo of light that
attended them illuminated the room, so that they
startled each other.

Cheung See said : " From messengers that have
come and gone, I learned that you were living in the
neighbourhood, but one so unlucky and so unfor-
tunate as I had broken off intercourse with friends
and had given up paying visits till now your ladyship
has condescended to call on me. Thank you so much.
I am unable to express my delight and appreciation."

The visitor replied : " This little sister of yours is
a very stupid girl. Early in life I lost my father, and
my mother spoiled me so that I really did not learn
anjrthing arid have nothing to show for the years that
have gone by. This I regret as I say to myself : ' A
boy is free to go to all points of land and sea, can pick
and choose good friends, can learn from another and
can correct his faults, while a girl meets no one but

178

Humble Submission

the servants of her own household. How can she
expect to grow in goodness or to find in any such
place answers to the questions of the soul ? ' I was
mourning over the fact that I was a girl shut up in
prison, when happily I heard that your knowledge
was equal to that of Pan-so 's [38], and your virtue
and loveliness on a par with the ancients. Though
you do not pass outside your own gateway, yet your
name is known abroad even to the Imperial Palace.
Because of this, and forgetting my own mean quali-
fications, I wished to see your excellent face. You
have not refused me admittance, and now I have
attained my heart's dearest desire."

Cheung See made answer : " Your kind words
will ever live in my humble heart. Locked up as I
am in these inner quarters, my footsteps are hindered
from freedom and my sight and hearing are limited
to this small enclosure. I have never seen the waters
of the wide sea nor the long stretch of the hills. So
limited in experience and knowledge am I that your
praise of me is too great altogether." She brought
out refreshments and they talked as those long ac-
quainted.

Yi See said smilingly : "It has reached my ears
that there is a little Madam Ka in your home. If
that be so I should like very much to meet her."

Cheung See replied : *' I, too, had just that wish
in mind," so she called Cloudlet to come.

When Cloudlet came Yi See arose to greet her.
With that Cloudlet gave a sudden start of surprise,
and then with a sigh said to herself : " What we were
told is true. Divine heaven hath surely created my
own dear lady and also this most charming Yi See.

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

Beyond one's expectation I find that Pi-yon [39]
and Ok-han are alive at one and the same time upon
earth."

The young lady said to herself : "I have often
heard of Madam Ka, but she is really prettier than I
ever dreamed. How could General Yang fail to love
her ? Why, also, when mistress and maid are th\:is
gifted and graced, should he give them up willingly?"
So interested was she in Cloudlet that she spoke to
her frankly and familiarly as with the dearest friend.
Then she said farewell, and added : " The day is
drawing late and I must not stay longer, but I am
sorry to go. Your little sister's home is just over the
way; when you have a moment of leisure, come, I
pray you, and let me hear your dear voice again."

Cheung See said : " All unexpectedly you have
come into my life and I have heard your sweet words.
In return I should like so much to call on your dis-
tinguished home and present my felicitations, but
my circumstances are different from those of others,
and I dare not set foot out of the main gateway.
Please forgive this defect of mine and accept my
love."

The two bade each other good-bye with the keen-
est regret. Not only so, but Cheung See said to
Cloudlet : " Although the sword is within the sheath,
the glittering light from its blade shoots up to the
seven stars of the Dipper ; and though the ancient
crayfish lies hidden in the depths of the sea, the
sphere of it ascends to the pavilion heights. That we
have lived in this same city all our Uves, she and I,
and yet that I have never heard of her before puzzles
all my powers of comprehension."

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Humble Submission

Cloudlet replied : " Your humble servant has one
doubt in mind regarding this matter. General Yang
has frequently said that he met the daughter of Com-
missioner Chin first of all by seeing her in the upper
storey of her pavilion, and again he received her
writing in the city guest-house and made a contract
of marriage with her, but Commissioner Chin died a
violent death and lost everything. He praised her
matchless beauty and sighed over her. I, too, have
seen the love-song that she wrote and assuredly she
is a gifted girl. It may be that she has changed her
name, and by making friends with your ladyship
hopes to unite the broken threads of her affinity."

Cheung See replied: "I, too, have heard else-
where of Chin See's beauty and I think she must be
very much like this lady, but after the disaster that
overtook her I understood that she became a palace
maid-in-waiting. In such circumstances how could
she ever come here ? " Then she went in to see her
mother, and ceased not in her praise of the mysterious
visitor.

The lady replied : " I, too, must invite her once
and see her." A few days later she sent a servant ask-
ing that Yi See would condescend to come. To this
she gladly assented.

The lady Cheung went out before the main hall to
welcome her. Like a near relative, Yi See made a deep
obeisance before her. The lady Cheung was highly
delighted, and loved her dearly and treated her with
the greatest respect. " My young ladyship came the
other day so graciously to see my daughter and was
so loving and dear to her. Old woman as I am, I
thank you most heartily. That day I was unwell and

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

did not see you, a matter of the deepest regret to me

now."

Yi See bowed before her and said : " Your humble
niece had long desired to see the fairy dweller of your
household, but had feared that she might miss her.
Meeting her thus and being treated by her as a dear
sister, and your ladyship's receiving me as though I
were a member of your family^ embarrass me so
that I do not know how to express my thanks. I
desire, as long as I live, to go in and out of your home
and serve your ladyship as though you were my
mother."

The lady two or three times declared that she could
never let that be so.

Cheung See in company with Yi See waited on
her mother for the day and then she invited her into
her own room, where they sat like the three feet of
the incense burner, she, and Yi See, and Cloudlet.

They laughed sweetly and talked in soft and tender
accents. Perfect agreement possessed them in thought,
and mind, and soul, and they loved each other with
infinite delight, talking of all the great masters of the
past and of the renowned ladies of ages gone by till
the shadows of the night began to cast their lines
athwart the silken window.

182