Chapter X

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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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