Chapter XII

Chapter XII Yang's Supreme Regret

AT this time the Emperor came in to make

his salutations before the Empress Dowager,

and the Empress bade the Princess and

Cheung See make their escape into a neighbouring

room. She spoke to the Emperor, saying : " In refer-

ence to the Princess's marriage, you know I made

the Cheung family return the gifts that had been

sent, and this has caused damage to the Imperial

prestige. To make Cheung's daughter a wife along

with the Princess would be refused by the Cheungs

themselves ; to make her a mistress would seem cruel

and hard. To-day I have called her, and she is indeed

lovely and gifted with great ability, a fitting sister for

the Princess. Because of this I have adopted her and

have decided to wed them both to Yang So-yoo.

What do you think of it ? "

The Emperor was greatly pleased and congratu-

lated her, saying : " This is a right and noble

decision, and wide as the sky in its justice. In such

generous treatment and bountiful favour as this no

one has ever equalled my mother."

Then the Empress called Cheung See so that she

might meet the Emperor, as she was now his sister.

He made her come up and sit upon the dais, while he

said to the Dowager : " Since Cheung See has now

become a sister of the Emperor, why should she still

wear the dress of the common people ? "

The Empress replied : '•' As there is no command

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

of the Emperor to that effect she dedined to put on

ceremonial robes."

Then the Emperor said to the chief of the palace

ladies-in-waiting : " Bring a roll of figured silken

paper." This Chin See, the phoenix, brought. The

Emperor raised the pen and made as if to write.

Then he said to the Empress Dowager : " Since you

have already made Cheung See a princess, you must,

of course, give her the family name of our house."

The Dowager replied : "I thought at first to do

so, but learning that Justice Cheung and his wife are

old people, and that they have no other children, I

felt desirous on their behalf that she should carry on

their family name, and so I decided to leave her sur-

name as it is."

Then the Emperor wrote the following in large

characters with his own hand. " I approve of the

divine wish of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager,

and record Cheung See to be her adopted daughter.

Her name is Princess Yong-yang, or Blossom."

When he had written this he stamped it with a pair

of palace seals and gave it to Cheung See, and he

ordered the palace maids to dress her in royal robes.

Cheung See descended from the dais and ex-

pressed her thanks.

The Emperor then decided the order of prece-

dence between Princess Orchid and Princess Blossom.

Blossom was a year the senior of Nan-yang, but she

would not have thought of taking precedence of her.

The Empress said : " Princess Blossom is now my

daughter, and for the elder to be first and the younger

second is the proper order. There is no readjusting

of the place between brothers and sisters."

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Yang's Supreme Regret

Blossom bowed low, and touching her brow to the

ground, said : " The order appointed pertains only

to the future, why should we not ignore it to-day ? "

The Dowager said : "In the time of the Spring

and Autumn Classic, the wife of Cho-chij although

the daughter of Prince Chin-moon, gave up her

place to the first wife who was chosen. Much more

should my daughter, as you are her elder sister, give

up without a question."

Still Blossom persisted long in declining the place.

Then the Dowager settled it : " We have decided,

and it is settled according to seniority." And from

that time forth all in the palace called her Princess

Blossom. The Empress showed the verses that the

two had written to the Emperor, and he praised them,

saying : " They are both very pretty, but Blossom's

verse has followed the order of the Book of Poetry

and places all the credit with Orchid. She has

observed the highest refinements of good form."

" True," replied the Dowager.

The Emperor again said : " Since you love Blos-

som so greatly, for truly nothing was ever before

seen equal to it, I too have a favour to ask of you."

He then told of the palace-maid Phoenix, and of what

had taken place in regard to her affair. Said he : " Her

case is indeed a very pitiful one. Though her father

died from his own fault, her forefathers were all

faithful ministers of state. If we take all the circum-

stances into account and make her a secondary wife

to Yang, would it not be a kindness on your part ? I

pray you so to do."

The Dowager then looked toward the two prin-

cesses, and Orchid said : " The palace-maid Phoenix

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

told me her stgry some time ago. She and 1 are now

fast frieiids and never wish to part. Even though

you should not consent to order it, my wish would

already be recorded thus."

Then the Empress Dowager called Phoenix and

said to her ; " The Princess desires that you should

keep each other company through life and unto

death. I therefore appoint you *a secondary wife to

General Yang, so that your wishes may come to pass.

In future let all your heart go into repaying the

Princess for her kindness to you."

Chin See, overcome with gratitude, shed tears

and spoke her thanks.

The Empress went on : " The marriage of the two

Princesses is now happily decided upon, and a jay bird

of good omen comes to confirm it. I have already had

the Princesses write for me, and now that you, too,

have found a place of refuge and have the same happy

prospect in view, you must write for me as well."

At once Chin See wrote and handed her verse to

the Empress. It read :

" The happy jay that shouts his mirth

Athwart the Palace halls.

Has seen the spring on gilded wing.

Step forth within his walls.

So, too, the humble phoenix bird

Will long no more to roam.

But with the four, she'll meet once more,

And join the happy home."

The Empress along with the Emperor read the

verses and in delight said : " Even Sa Do-on who

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Yang's Supreme Regret

wrote concerning the willow catkins could not sur-

pass this. The verse also follows the Book of Poetry

and draws a clear distinction between the first and

second wife, most sweet and becoming."

Princess Orchid said : " The subject and material

from which this verse is drawn are limited, and we

two sisters had already written all that was to be said

about it. Poor Chin See had nothing left on which to

place her hand, and yet how pretty it is."

The Dowager replied : " Since ancient times the

most noted writers among women were Pan Heui,

Chai Nyo, Princess Tak-moon and Sa Do -on, these

four only. Now three girls of unsurpassed ability

meet in one and the same dwelling-place. It is surely

a marvellous sign."

Orchid replied : " Princess Blossom's waiting-

maid, Cloudlet, is also greatly gifted with the pen."

At this point the day began to draw late and the

Emperor withdrew to the outer palace. The two

Princesses retired and slept in their rooms, and when

at the earliest dawn the cocks crew. Blossom went in

and made her salutation to the mother, and asked

permission to withdraw, saying : " When your

child came into the Palace, my parents must certainly

have been anxious and full of wonder. May I please

withdraw for a little, see them, and make my boast

to all my kin of the grace of your High Majesty and

the lovingkindness and beauty of my sister Orchid ?

Kindly grant me this favour."

The Empress said : " My child, how can you think

of leaving me so easily ? I have something to consult

about with your mother, and so shall make request

that she come here in audience instead."

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

The Cheungs, when they heard what the servant

had come to tell, were somewhat relieved from their

fears, and a feeling of thankfulness took possession

of them. Suddenly the command came for the lady

Cheung to report in the palace.

The Empress met her, took her by the hand, and

said : " My taking possession of your daughter is not

only because I love her beautyj but for the sake of

Princess Orchid's marriage. Once having seen her

lovely face I can never let her go again, so I have

made her my adopted daughter and the elder sister

of Orchid. My thought is that in a former existence

she may have been my daughter, and that she has

now come to be yours. Since Blossom is a Princess,

one ought really to give her the name of the Imperial

household, but I have thought of your having no

son, and so have not changed her name. You will

know by this how deeply I love you."

The lady Cheung could not express the thanks that

filled her soul. She bowed low and said : " I, your

humble subject, had a daughter born to me late in

life whom I loved as one loves only gems and pearls.

Her marriage proposals failed of fulfilment and we

sent back the bridegroom's presents. My soul lost

all its sense of life, and my bones seemed broken

within me. My one wish was to die quickly and no

longer see her sad and desolate plight. Unexpectedly

the dear Princess came to our home and bent her

lovely form to our low conditions, making friends

with my humble daughter. Then she took her with

her to the Palace and made her the recipient of un-

dreamed of honours. This is indeed making green

leaves to sprout forth on the dry tree, and waters to

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Yang's Supreme Regret

flow afresh along the parched bed of the stream. All

my heart and soul and strength would go forth to

requite, if possible, one of the thousand favours and

kindnesses of your Majesty, but my husband is an

old man and has many ailments of body. While his

heart would desire it, still he is too old to enter upon

the duties of office, and so make some small return.

I, too, am feeble and am already a neighbour of the

spirit world, so that I could not serve as palace-

woman even to do menial labour. What can we

possibly do to show our gratitude for the kindness

heaped upon us by your Imperial Majesty ? The

only way I know is to let the grateful tears fall as

rain." She arose and bowed again, and then pros-

trated herself and wept till her sleeves were soiled

with tear-drops.

The Empress, moved with pity, sighed and said :

" Since Blossom is now my daughter your ladyship

must never take her away."

The lady Cheung replied : " How could I think of

taking her away from you ? But the fact that we

cannot meet together and speak the praises of all your

Majesty's worth is my only disappointment."

Here the Dowager laughed and said : " Before

the marriage ceremony she may not go out, but after

that, of course, she may go. Do not be anxious

about that. After the wedding Princess Orchid shall

be put into your care, too, and you must look upon

her just as I do upon Blossom." She called Orchid

that she and lady Cheung should meet again. The

lady Cheung several times spoke of her regrets at the

way in which she had received the Princess when

she came to call at her home.

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

The Empress said : " I have heard that you have

among your waiting-maids a little one called Cloudlet ;

I should like very much to see her,"

The lady then summoned Cloudlet, who came in

and made her bow before her Majesty.

The Empress said to herself : " Beautiful she is ! "

She made her come up close beside her, and then

said to her : " I have heard Orchid say that you are

very skilful with the pen. Will you not write some-

thing for me ? "

Cloudlet said : " How could so ignorant a person

as I dare to write before your High Majesty ? But I

shall try to do my best as you command me."

The Empress opened up the four verses that had

already been written and said : " Can you equal

these ? "

Cloudlet then brought her ink and pens and with

one swift dash wrote her verse and handed it to the

Empress Dowager. It read :

" This magpie heart of mine

Awakes to joys untold,

Shall join the circle superfine.

And both its wings unfold.

Ye pretty flowers of Chin,

Behold the wondrous sight,

A group of fairies gathering in

From all their scattered flight."

The Empress read it, showed it to the two Princesses,

and said : "I heard before that the lady Ka had

great skill, but who would have dreamed of this ? "

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Yang's Supreme Regret

Princess Orchid remarked : "In this verse she

likens herself to the magpie and us to the * circle

superfine.' She has caught the spirit of the old

masters and reminds one of the songs of the Book of

Poetry. Her thought is pretty but she has stolen it

from the ancients. They say ' The birds of heaven

find rest with man, and man is naturally sorry for the

birds,' and this suggests Cloudlet."

The Princess again said : " The chief of the wait-

ing-maids is Chin See from Wha-eum, the one who

decided to live and die with Cloudlet."

Cloudlet replied : "Is this not Chin See who

wrote the willow-song ? "

Chin See gave a start and asked : " From whom

did you ever hear of my willow-song ? "

Cloudlet made answer : " General Yang has ever

had you in his thoughts, and once when he repeated

this verse I overheard him."

Chin See, with a sorrowful countenance, said :

" And so General Yang has not forgotten me ? "

Cloudlet replied : " How can you suggest such a

thing ? The General carried hidden away with him

these verses of yours, and when he read them the

tears used to flow. When he sang them he sighed.

How is it that you alone fail to know his loving

heart ? "

Chin See said : " If the General has the same love

that he used to have, then this humble person, though

she never see him again, can die happy." Then she

told of his verse that had been written on her silken

fan, and Cloudlet said : " The hairpins and rings

that I wear were won for me on that day."

Then the maids -in- waiting gathered and reported,

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

saying : " The lady Cheung is about to take her

departure."

The two Princesses went in and waited upon her,

while the Empress Dowager said to the lady Cheung :

" In a little time Yang the Wanderer will make his

return and the former marriage gifts will naturally

be sent once again ; but to receive the gifts again

that were once sent back would seem poor and mean.

On the other hand, Princess Blossom having become

my daughter, I want to have the two of them send

theirs at one and the same time. Will your ladyship

give consent ? "

Then the lady Cheung bowed low to the earth

and said : " How can your humble subject dare to

do otherwise ? Let it be as your Imperial Majesty

suggests."

The Dowager laughed : " General Yang has for

the sake of Blossom more than three times refused to

do my bidding, and now I want to play a practical

joke on him. They say in common speech : ' The

unpropitious word turns out to be propitious.' You

shall wait till he returns and then say that Cheung

See has suddenly fallen ill and died. I saw in the

General's letter that he had met her in a dream. On

the first day of the ceremony I shall be amused to

see if he will know her or not."

The lady Cheung received the command, took her

departure, and returned. The daughter saw her be-

yond the first palace entrance, and then bowed and

spoke her farewell. She called Cloudlet and told her

secretly of the plan to deceive the General. Cloudlet

replied : " I have been a fairy and I have been an

evil spirit to deceive him, and that is surely enough.

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Yang's Supreme Regret

Would it not be mean of me to attempt anything

more ? "

Cheung See replied : " This is not our plan, or

our affair, but the Empress Dowager's."

Cloudlet smothered her laughter and went away

smiling.

At this time General Yang had made his soldiers

drink the waters of the White Dragon Lake till their

health returned and they longed for battle. The

General then summoned his aides, gave them their

orders and made them march forth at the sound of

the drum. Just at this moment Chan-bo received the

gem sent by the dancer Swallow, and knowing that

General Yang's troops had passed Pan-sa valley, he

approached the General's headquarters in a state of

great fear and talked of surrender. The various

leaders of the Tibetan forces took Chan-bo, bound

him, entered General Yang's camp and there sur-

rendered.

Once again Yang drew his troops up in order and

marched into the capital, stopped the plundermg of

the city, and quieted the people. He then went up

into the Kolyoon Mountains and put up a memorial

tablet with a record of the power and goodness of the

kingdom of the Tangs. Then he faced about with

his army, sang his songs of victory, and returned

home. When he reached Chin-joo it was already

autumn ; the mountains were bare and the earth

dry and sear. All the flowers had been baptised in

death and sorrow. The wild geese piped out their

sad notes, reminding him that he was far away from

home.

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

The General spent the night in a guest house. His

mind seemed unrested and the hours long. Sleep

failed him. He thought in his heart : " It is already

three years since I left home and my mother's health

cannot be as it has always been. To whom can she

turn for protection and care in sickness ? To what

time shall I put off my morning and evening salu-

tations to her ? To-day the land is quiet, war has

ceased, but my desire to wait on and serve my mother

is not yet satisfied. I have failed in the serious part of

life's duty and man's first requirement. For several

years I have been busy with State affairs, have not

married, and have found it difficult to hold my en-

gagement with Cheung See. The various matters in

which I have been disappointed proved the truth of

the old saying : ' Eight or nine times out of ten

comes disappointment.' Now I have quieted five

thousand li of territory, and have received the sur-

render of a million rebels, so that my name will be

heralded abroad as great. His Majesty will doubtless

appoint me to some high office as a reward for my

many labours. If I decline office and ask instead that

my request to marry Cheung See be granted, I won-

der if consent will be forthcoming ? "

Sad were his thoughts, and thus did his mind seek

relief, so he laid his head upon his pillow and fell

asleep. In a dream his body took wing and flew up to

heaven. From the Palace of the Seven Precious

Things, [40] that shone with glittering splendour and

was encircled with clouds of glory, two waiting-

maids came out to meet him and said : " Cheung See

is calling for your Excellency."

So the General followed them and entered. In the

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Yang's Supreme Regret

wide court the flowers were in bloom. Three fairies

were seen seated in an upper pavilion of white

marble. Their dresses were like those of the waiting-

maids of the palace and their eyebrows lined off

with soft touches of the fairy's wand. Their eyes

were luminous and a halo of light encircled their

forms. They leaned upon the railing and dallied

playfully with each other, having in their hands buds

of fragrant flowers. When the General entered they

rose from their seats, made way for him, and when

he was seated the leading fairy asked :

" Since your Excellency said good-bye have you

been well all the time ? "

The General rubbed his eyes and looked peeringly,

and lo ! it was the lady who had talked to him about

the tunes on the harp, Cheung See. In fear and glad-

ness he tried to speak, but the words refused to come.

The fairy then said : " Since I have departed from

the world of men and have come to dwell in heaven

with its delights, I find that all that has happened

belongs to my former existence. Though your Excel-

lency meet and see my parents you will find no news

from me awaiting you." And she pointed to the two

fairies at her side, saying : " This is the Weaving

Damsel and the other is the Incense Angel. They are

united to you by the affinity of the world life.

Please do not think of me any more but think only of

them. If you are joined first to them by the happy

contract, I, too, will find a place of consolation."

The General looked at the two fairies, and the one

who sat on the lower seat was known to him, but

he could not recall her name. Suddenly the drum

sounded and he awoke, and it was only a dream.

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

He thought over what he had seen, and he realised

that it was not a happy omen, so he sighed and said :

" Cheung See is surely dead ; if not why should I

have' had so unpropitious a dream ? " Again he

thought : " On the other hand, if we think specially

of a thing we dream of it ; perhaps, because of my

thinking so much of her, I have so dreamed. Moon-

light's recommendation, and the priestess Too-ryon's

serving as go-between, were, I am sure, according to

the leading of the Mother of the Moon. If our pre-

destined affinity be not attained to, and if the living

and the dead are thus to contradict each other, then

surely God must be uncertain and ignorant of the

laws that rule. It is said that the unlucky omen be-

comes the lucky. I wonder if that will find fulfilment

in this dream of mine ? "

After a prolonged march the leading forces reached

the capital and the Emperor came out as far as the

River Wee to meet and welcome him. The General,

wearing a green helmet with phoenix plume orna-

ments, and gilded armour, rode a Persian war-horse,

and there were banners and battle-axes in front,

behind, and extending out on each side of him. King

Chan-bo was drawn along in a cage in advance of him,

while thirty-six princes of Tibet, each bearing his

tribute, followed in the rear. The majesty of the sight

was something never before seen. Onlookers lined

each side of the road for a hundred /«, and within the

walls of the capital there was a deserted city.

The General dismounted from his horse and

bowed low, while the Emperor took him by the hand,

raised him up, and spoke kindly to him concerning

all his hard labours ; praised him for his great

2IO

Yang's Supreme Regret

success, and for the merit he had won. He then had an

order issued similar to that which related to Kwak

Poon-yang, of ancient times, appointing to him a

certain district of territory and making him a king

with great and rich rewards.

These the General emphatically and sincerely de-

clined. Finally the Emperor yielded and issued a

special order making Yang the Wanderer General-

issimo , and creating him Prince of Wee . The remaining

gifts and presents were so many that it is impossible

to record them.

General Yang then followed the Imperial car,

entered the palace and gave thanks for all the favours

and rewards showered upon him.

The Emperor, in response, gave command that a

great feast celebrating peace should be prepared, and

that the gifts and prizes should be displayed before

those assembled. He ordered, also, that Yang's por-

trait should be given a place in the Temple of Famous

Men.

The General then withdrew from the palace and

betook himself to the home of Justice Cheung. There

he found all the family and relatives gathered in the

outer rooms. They met him, bowed before him, and

offered him their congratulations. When he had in-

quired for the Justice and her ladyship. Thirteen

made reply : " Uncle and aunt were holding out

well until after my cousin's death. They were so

heart-broken and distressed over that that they have

fallen ill, and their strength is not what it used to be.

That is the reason they do not come out to the outer

court to greet you. My wish is that you let me go in

with you to the inner quarters."

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

The General, when he heard this, behaved as if he

were mad or drunk and could make no intelligent

inquiry. After the lapse of some time he returned

to consciousness and inquired : " Who is dead ? "

Thirteen made answer : " My uncle never had a

son ; he had one daughter only, and God's way with

him has been very hard indeed. Thus has he arrived

at this condition. Is it not pitiftil ? When you go in

please do not say anything about it."

Then Yang gave a great shudder, and overcome by

untold distress could scarcely get his breath or utter

a syllable. Tears streamed from his eyes.

Thirteen comforted him, saying : " Even though

your marriage contract was made firm as rocks and

tempered steel, still the luck of this house is so un-

propitious and bad that it has turned out otherwise.

I hope that you will do the right thing and exercise

yourself to comfort the old people."

Yang wiped away his tears, thanked him, and

they went in together to the Justice and the lady

Cheung. They were seemingly happy over the con-

gratulations poured out upon Yang, and made no

reference to the fact that their daughter was dead.

Yang said to them : " Your humble son-in-law,

by good fortune and with the prestige of the State

behind him, has fallen heir to great gifts from his

Imperial Majesty. I had just declined these with the

one earnest request that his Majesty should change

his mind and let me fulfil the marriage contract that

I had entered upon, but already the dew of the morn-

ing has dried up and the colours of the springtime

have faded. How can life and death overtake one thus

without breaking the heart ? "

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Yang's Supreme Regret

The Justice said in reply : " Life and death are

wrapped in destiny ; gladness and sorrow, too, aid

destiny and are the appointments of God. What is

the use of talking about or discussing them ? To-day

the whole household has met for a great celebration ;

let us not talk of an3rthing that grieves or is sad."

Thirteen frequently made signs and winks in the

direction of Yang so that he ceased to say anjrthing

more about the matter, but went out into the park.

Cloudlet came down the steps to meet him, and

when he saw her it was like seeing the daughter.

Grief overcame him once more and his tears began

to fall.

Cloudlet knelt down and comforted him, saying :

" Why should your Highness be sad to-day ? I

humbly beg of you to set your mind free, dry your

tears and hear what I have to say. Our maiden was

originally a fairy from heaven, who was sent to earth

for a little period of exile, and the day she returned

home to heaven she said to your humble servant :

' You, too, must cut yourself off from General Yang

and follow me. Since I have already departed from

the world of men, if you were to go back to General

Yang it would mean leaving me. One of these days

he will return home, and should he think lovingly of

me or sorrow at my loss you must give him this

message : " The sending back of the wedding gifts

indicated my departure. How much more the re-

sentment that I felt over the hearing of the harp. Do

not be too sad or anxious. If you sorrow overmuch

for me it will mean opposition on your part to the

Emperor's command, and a desire to do your own

will. It will mean damage to the one who is dead.

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

Besides, if you should pour out a libation at my grave

or go there to wail it would proclaim me as a girl

whose life had not been correct and would distress

my soul in hades. This too I will add : his Majesty

will await your return and will again make proposals

of your marriage with the Princess. I have heard it

said that Kwan-jo's dignity and virtue were a fitting

mate for the superior man. My hope is that you will

willingly accede to the command of the Emperor,

and not fall into rebellion." Tell him this, will you,'

This is what she said," added Cloudlet.

The General on hearing it was greatly overcome

and said : " Even though the dear girl's wishes were

such, how can I be without sorrow ? To know that

she thought thus of me at the last moment makes me

feel that though I die ten times I can never repay so

great a devotion as hers."

Then he told the dream he had had in the camp

and Cloudlet wept and said : " Doubtless she dwells

with God before the altar of Incense, and, when your

Excellency has lived out your years on earth, you will

meet again and fulfil your happy contract. Do not

sorrow, please, or injure your health."

Yang asked : " Did she say anything beyond this ?"

Cloudlet made answer : " She did say something

to herself, but I dare not repeat it with my lips."

" What you heard," said the General, " you

must tell me now and make no concealment."

Then Cloudlet said : " The young lady said

finally to me, * You, Cloudlet, and I, are one and

the same person. If his Excellency does not forget

me and desires you as he desires me, and does not

throw you away even though I descend into the

214

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The Cloudy Dream Land : Cloudlet's Sorrow

Yang's Supreme Regret

earth, it will be as though I were blessed and loved

of him.' "

Yang was greatly moved by this, and said : " How

could I ever think of putting you away, my Cloudlet ?

How much the more now with the dear one's wishes

so expressed. Though I should marry with the Weav-

ing Damsel or be wedded to the Water Fairy, I would

never, never put you away."

215