Chapter XI The Capture of Cheung See

WHEN the young lady had taken her de-
parture, the lady Cheung said to her
daughter and to Cloudlet : " The relation
of our two families, Choi and Cheung, has always
been very close and intimate. Hundreds of times and
more they have intermarried, and in these two
families, from my earliest years, I have seen many
persons of great gifts and beauty, but none just like
Yi See. She is indeed your peer. If you two, gifted
as you are, could become sworn sisters it would
indeed be well."

Cheung See mentioned what Cloudlet had said
regarding Chin See, and added : " Cloudlet has her
doubts about the lady Yi, but her opinion differs
from mine. Besides ability and beauty of face, Yi
See has a distinguished manner and a dignity of be-
haviour that diifers entirely from the ordinary young
women of the city. Although Chin See be as gifted as
she is said to be, how could she ever hope to compare
with one so striking ? If I were to speak as I have
heard rumour say, she has a face and a heart that
answers to the Princess Orchid. Her great ability
agrees thereto likewise, and her loving tender spirit.
I have heard it said, too, that Yi See's face is not
unlike that of the Princess Imperial."

To this the lady Cheung made answer : " I have
never seen the Princess and so cannot definitely say ;
but even though she occupies her high place and

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wears her Imperial name, how could she possibly
equal Yi See ? "

The daughter's reply was : " I am in doubt, and
must send Cloudlet to take note of her surroundings
and behaviour,"

On the second day Miss Cheung and Cloudlet
were talking the matter over when Yi See's servant
arrived to say : " Our lady finds a messenger going to
Chol-dong, where her brother is, and intends to
depart to-morrow. She would like to come to-day
and make her farewell salutation to the lady and her
daughter."

On hearing this, Cheung See ordered the hall to be
specially brightened up and waited breathlessly.
Shortly after Yi See arrived, bowed to the lady and
to Cheung See, and sjioke her message of departure.
The sincerity with which the two took their farewell
was specially touching. They were like two dear
sisters separating one from the other, or a lover bid-
ding a long good-bye to his sweetheart.

Yi See said to the lady Cheung : " Your niece's
separation from her mother and brother now measures
a whole year, and I long so much to see them that I
cannot wait. My heart, however, is bound to your
ladyship and to my dearest friend with an unbreak-
able tie. As I attempt to pull myself away I find that
it grows stronger and stronger. I have one word to
say and one wish to express. I fear, nevertheless,
that Cheung See may not grant my wish, so I mention
it to your ladyship." She hesitated, however, so that
the words failed to express themselves.

The lady said : " What is it that you would like
to ask ? "

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The Capture of Cheung See

Yi See made answer : "I have just finished an
embroidered picture of the merciful Buddha that I
have v(?orked in memory of my late father. My
brother is now in the county of Chol-dong ; I am a
woman and cannot ask a favour of the literati, so I
have not found anyone to write an inscription on it
for me. I am most desirous that my sister Cheung See
should write two or three lines of verse. Because the
picture is wide in size and difficult to fold or carry,
and in danger of being damaged by a journey, I would
rather not bring it. The only alternative is that I take
her to my home with me and get her to write or com-
pose something there, so that my poor effort on behalf
of my late father may be made perfect and my soul
find delight. I do not know, however, what Cheung
See may think of it, so I did not dare to ask her
directly ; therefore I make my wishes known first to
your ladyship."

The lady looked at her daughter and said : " You
are not accustomed to go to the homes even of your
near relatives, but you have this invitation now which
we cannot but regard. It comes from Yi See's earnest
heart of devotion to her father. Besides her place of
residence is not far away. I think it would be quite
right and proper for you to go and return quickly."
^Cheung See's face clouded at first with hesitation,
but when she thought of it she quieted her appre-
hensions and said : " Yi See's circumstances are
such that her time is very limited, so it would not do
to send Cloudlet instead. I shall avail myself of the
opportunity to see what her world is like and thus
solve the question that is in my mind." This she
said to herself, but to her mother she replied : " If

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

Yi See's invitation were an ordinary one I could not
accede to it, but her devotion to her father is some-
thing that all must commerid. How can I refuse ? I
shall wait, however, till evening, and when night
falls I shall go."

Yi See was greatly delighted and thanked her over
and over again, saying : " But if it is too dark it will
be very difficult for you to write. If you dislike the
confusion of the way, my chair, though narrow and
uncomfortable, can easily enough accommodate two
persons like us. Come with me, will you not, please,
and when evening falls you can then return home."

Cheung See made answer : " I am unable to resist
your kind words."

With this she bowed to her mother and said her
adieu. She gave to Cloudlet a little press of the hand
by way of special recognition, and then she and Yi
See rode side by side in the same palanquin, with a
number of serving-women from Justice Cheung's
following behind.

They arrived at Yi See's private room, where the
things displayed were not many in number but were
of a very excellent quality. The fare, also, while not
lavish in quantity, was of the daintiest kind.

Cheung See thought : "I am in greater per-
plexity than ever."

The day passed and the evening gradually grew near,
but Yi See said nothing whatever about the writing.

" Where have you placed the picture of the Merci-
ful Buddha ? " inquired Cheung See. " I would like
so much to make my bow before it."

Yi See said: "Assuredly, I must ask you to come
with me to see it."

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The Capture of Cheung See

Before she had finished speaking, a sound of horses
and chariots was heard from before the door and a
long succession of flags suddenly lined the street- way.

The servants from Justice Cheung's came rushing
in in great fear to say that a company of soldiers had
surrounded the house. " Mistress, mistress," said
they, " what shall we do ? "

Cheung See, already guessing the nature of the
commotion, sat still and unmoved.

Yi See said to her by way of assurance : " Please
do not be alarmed in the least. Your little sister is no
other than Princess Nan-yang, So-wha. Nan-yang
my title and So-wha my given name. My bringing
you here was at the command of the Empress
Dowager."

Cheung See instantly arose from her seat and
made reply : " Though wholly unenlightened my-
self and unsophisticated, I knew by your Highness 's
face and form that you were different from the rest
of the world. But your visiting me was so far beyond
the most extravagant dreams of my fancy that I have
been entirely taken off my guard. I have failed in
the proper forms and have in a hundred other un-
comely ways sinned before you. Please have me
punished as I deserve."

The Princess did not have time to reply before a
servant came in and said : " The palace maids, Sol,
Wang and Wha, have been sent to inquire for your
Highness,"

The Princess then said to Cheung See : " Wait
here for a moment, will you please." She went out
to the main hallway where the three women had
entered in order and gave the ceremonial bow before

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her, saying : " It is now several days since your
Highness left the palace. The Empress Dowager
greatly desires to see you. The Emperor, too, and
the Empress have sent maids-in-waiting to make
inquiry. To-day is the appointed time of your re-
turn, so horses, carriages and other necessaries wait
outside the door. His Majesty has ordered the eunuch
Cho to attend you."

The three maids added : " The Empress Dowager
has commanded that Cheung See ride with you in
the royal palanquin and come to the palace."

The Princess told the maids to wait while she went
in once more, and said to Cheung See : "I have
many things to say to you as soon as we find quiet,
but now the Empress Dowager, my mother, wants to
see you and has come out to the Ma Pavilion, where
she^is waiting. Please come with me at once and be
presented to her."

Cheung See, knowing that she must not refuse,
said in reply : " Your humble servant knows already
how tenderly your Highness loves her, but an un-
couth country girl who never in her life before was
presented at court, fears that she may fail to do the
proper thing, and is very much alarmed."

The Princess replied : " The thought that prompts
the Dowager to see you is the same thought that
makes me love you. Please do not be anxious in the
least, but just come."

Cheung See said : " Will your Highness not pro-
ceed to the palace first ? If you do so I shall return
home to tell my mother and then follow."

But the Princess objected. " The Empress has
already given commands," she said, " that I ride

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The Capture of Cheung See

with you in the same palanquin. Her commands are
very pressing. I urge you not to hesitate."

Cheung See then said : *' I am only a humble child
of a subject ; how could I think of riding in the same
chair with your Highness ? "

" Kan Tai-kong," said the Princess Nan-yang,
" was only a fisher by the Wee River, and yet he rode
in the same chariot with King Moon. Hoo-yong was
only a gatekeeper, and yet he held Prince Sillong's
horse. It is our duty to do honour to those who are
great and good. Why do you call attention to rank
and station ? You yourself are of an old family of the
nobility. Why should you hesitate to ride in the same
chair with your little sister ? " So she took her by the
hand and they mounted the palanquin together.

Cheung See sent one servant home to tell her
mother, while another attended her to the palace.

Thus they went together, the Princess and her
charge, entering by the East Gate, They passed the
nine pagoda arches to the private entrance, where
they dismoimted. The Princess said to lady Wang,
who was in waiting : " You remain here for a little
with my lady Cheung."

Lady Wang replied : " I have, in accordance with
the commands of her Majesty the Dowager, prepared
a special place for the lady Cheung to stay."

The Princess, greatly pleased at this, bade them
wait while she went in and presented herself before
the Empress Dowager.

At first the Dowager had had no desire to meet
Cheung See, but since the Princess had lived in dis-
guise near her, and had won her friendship by means
of the pair of pictures, and had discovered that

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

her character and attainments were lovely, her feelings
of interest were kindled likewise. From what had
been reported she had learned to appreciate why Yang
had not wished to give her up ; why her daughter,
the Princess, and Cheung See loved each other ; why
they had made a contract of sisterhood ; and why in
one home they would serve the same husband.

The Empress Dowager had therefore learnt to
understand, and had given consent at last to the
Princess and Cheung See both becoming wives of
General Yang. She now desired- greatly to see her
face, and had devised the plan by which she had been
brought.

r# Cheung See waited for a little in the appointed
place. Presently two maids came out from the inner
palace bearing a box with clothing. They also de-
livered the commands of the Empress Dowager,
which read : " Miss Cheung is a daughter of a
minister and should therefore conform to the required
ceremonies of the nobility. She is now wearing the
dress of an unmarried girl, in which no one can come
into my presence. I am sending herewith a ceremonial
robe of a lady of high rank."

" We maids-in-waiting have taken Her Majesty's
commands," said the attendants. " Please, your
ladyship, dress and enter."

Cheung See bowed, and said : " How can anyone
so unpractised as I dress in a lady's ceremonial robe ?
Though my garb is poor, still it is the dress in which
I appear before my parents. Her Imperial Highness
is the mother of us all, please let me appear in the
dress that I wear before my parents while I go into
audience before her."

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1

The Princess Visits Cheung See : Cheung See's Return Visit

The Capture of Cheung See

The maids so reported, and Her Majesty was
greatly delighted with the answer and called her at
once. She followed step by step, and arrived at the
dais. On each side the ladies-in-waiting vied in their
efforts to see, and said in wondering admiration :
" We had thought that all beauty and loveliness be-
longed exclusively to our Princess. Who would have
believed that this little lady Cheung could be so
startlingly beautiful ? "

She made her deepest obeisance and then was led
by the maids up to the dais. There the Empress
made her sit down and gently said to her : " The
issuing of an Imperial command ordering the return
of your marriage gifts to General Yang was an act
of the Government, and not of myself personally.
My daughter objected to it at that time, and said :
* For any man to break a marriage contract pertains
not to the straight and narrow way on which kings
should walk.' She desired instead, and proposed in
fact, that she should serve General Yang along with
you. I counselled with His Majesty, and we have
decided to follow the unselfish wish of our daughter.
We now await the return of Yang in order to have
him once more send his gifts and make you his first
and chief wife. Such kind favour was not known
before, nor was it ever heard or dreamed of, I am
sure. This is what I specially desired to tell you."

Cheung See arose and made reply : " Your
Majesty's kindness is exceedingly great, and of such
a character as no courtier could ever dream. I, in my
lowly station, can make no return for your illimitable
favour. I, your humble subject, am only the daughter
of a minister and ought never to stand on the same

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

footing as Her Highness the Crown Princess, nor
accept a place equal to her in station. Even though I
might desire to yield obedience to your commands,
it would be impossible for my parents to consent.
They would rather die than allow me to do so pre-
sumptuous a thing." x

The Dowager replied : " Your humility is most
becoming, yet members of your family for genera-
tions have been marquesses and earls. Your father
was a valued minister of my late husband, and
received special honour in the court. Difference in
rank is not a thing to be troubled about."

But Cheung See said : " A courtier's ready obedi-
ence to his king's commands is as natural as the
course of nature in the changing seasons. Though
you elevate me to the rank of nobility, or degrade me
to the place of servant, how dare I offer opposition,
and yet how could Yang So-yoo accept it with com-
placency ? Your humble subject has no brothers or
sisters, and my parents are already old. My one
supreme wish is to serve them with a faithful heart
during the remaining years of their life."

The Dowager went on to say : " Your devotion to
your parents greatly pleases me, but why should you
stay in a place of obscurity where you will never be
able to attain to a single wish of the heart ? You are
born with all possible graces and gifts. How could
Yang So-yoo think of casting you off ? Also my
daughter here has given proof of a destined affinity
with him by a tune played upon the flute. What God
hath joined together let no man put asunder. Yang
So-yoo is a great general of the highest order. He has
such genius as has not been seen since the days of the

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The Capture of Cheung See

ancients. What offence against society would it be
his taking two wives ? I had originally two daughters,
but Nan-yang's sister died at ten years of age, and I
have always much regretted Nan-yang's loneliness.
Now that I see you, with your pure heart and
beauty, not inferior in the least to hers, it seems as
though I had got back my dead child. I shall make
you my adopted daughter, and shall get the Emperor
to assign you title and rank. In the first place you
shall be the sign of my love for my dear departed
child ; in the second place you shall be my gift to
Nan-yang ; and in the third place I shall have you
along with her come under the protection of Yang
So-yoo and so settle all these perplexing questions.
What do you say to this ? "

The young lady bowed low and said : "Since
your Majesty has so decided, this humble girl will, I
fear, die under the weight of too great favour. My one
desire is that your Majesty will withdraw the com-
mand, and let this obscure child fly away in peace."

The Empress said : "I have made known my
wishes to His Majesty the Emperor, and he will
definitely decide it. You must not be headstrong^ in
the matter."

She called the Princess and made her come for-
ward near to Cheung See.

The Princess, in ceremonial robes, shining in
glory, sat by her side.

The Dowager laughed and said : " You have
wished to have Cheung See for your sister, and now
it has come to pass. No one could tell who is the
elder, you or she. Have you no regrets now ? " She
took Cheung See by the hand to make her her

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

adopted daughter. She then stood her close up to
Princess Orchid. The Princess, greatly delighted,
thanked her mother, saying : " Your Highness's
decision is the dearest in the world. You have brought
all my fondest wishes to pass. How can I tell you of
the joy that now fills my soul ? "

The Dowager gave Cheung See a great and mag-
nificent reception, and as they talked of the old poets
she said : " I have heard from the Princess that you
are skilful with the pen and at poetic composition. It
is all quiet here in the palace, and with the delights of
spring about us, will you sing for me once ? Do not
be backward now, but cheer me, my child. Among
the noted ancients there was one famous scholar who
could write a verse before the quick of foot could go
seven courses ; can you do that, my child ? "

Cheung See made reply : " Now that I have
heard your gracious command, I must try with all
the skill I have to please your Majesty."

The Empress picked out from the palace maids
those most nimble, made them stand in a row in
front of the main hall, gave out the subject and
made ready a signal.

But Princess Orchid called to her and said :
" Mother, you must not have Cheung See write all
alone ; 1*11 join her and try also."

The Dowager, pleased with this, gave permission.
She said : " Daughter, your wish is a proper one."
She then thought of a suloject. It was late spring. The
peaches were in bloom outside the pavilion railing,
and the happy jay-birds were calling as they sat upon
the branches. The Dowager pointed to these and
said : "I have decided upon your marriage, and

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The Capture of Cheung See

yonder jay upon the high tree-tops announces his
delight. He is a lucky omen. Let us make this
the subject, The Peach Flower and the Happy Jay-
bird:'

They were to write a verse before the seven
courses could be run, and each verse was to contain
some reference to their happy marriage.

She told the maids-in-waiting to have everything
in order, pen, ink, and so on, for the Princess and
Cheung See. At the given signal the women in front
of the main hall started on their way, but fearing that
the two would not be able to finish while the seven
courses were being run, they looked back at them
and took their steps slowly. The two pens flew like
swift wind or a sudden squall of rain. Off the lines
were dashed, and they were done before the women
had completed five of the courses.

The Dowager read what Cheung See had written,
and it ran thus :

" The swift wind rocks the tipsy peach
Beioxe the Palace Hall,
While from the height, far out of reach.
There sounds the mavis' call.

The dancer's swing and silken fold

Awake the happy day,
While in the group a magpie bold

Has found her wondering way."

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

The Princess's verses ran thus :

" In the court of the Palace a hundred buds blow,
As the jay-bird sweeps in with his spirit aglow.
He bends his strong back o'er the wide Milky Way,
To bear two small dots who are coming to stay."

The Dowager read these and sighed, saying :
" These two are the spirits of Yi Tai-baik and Cho
Cha-gon. If we could mark women as literary gradu-
ates, we should rate them first and second in the
contest of the year." So she exchanged the two com-
positions, giving one to each, and each admired and
praised the other.

The Princess said to Her Majesty : "I have
managed to fill out my couplets, but the sentiment is
one that might be easily expressed by anyone. Cheung
See's, however, are beautifully done. I cannot attain
to such excellence."

" That is so," said the Empress ; " but yours too,
dear,is very well done, and everyone would admire it."

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Two in One Palanquin : The Poetry Contest