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

208

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