Chapter XIII The Awakening

THE day following, the Emperor called
General Yang and said to him : " In regard
to the marriage of the Princess, the Empress
Dowager issued a very urgent command that at first
quite distressed me, but learning later that the
daughter of Justice Cheung was dead, and that the
Princess's wedding had waited long for your return,
I feel that, even though your thoughts be vnth
Cheung See, the dead are the dead, and no power on
earth can restore them. You are a young man and
belong to the highest rank and therefore need a wife.
How can you yourself see to such matters as food
and dress ? A minister, too, of your standing while
he holds office ought not to remain unmarried . You are
also Lord and Prince of Wee, and at the ancestral
grave need your wife to pour out the second libation
which ought not to be lacking from the sacrifice. I
have already made the necessary preparations within
the Palace and am now awaiting the decision. Do you
still oppose the request, and refuse to marry the
Princess ? "

Yang bowed low and said : " My sins of rebellion
merit that I fall under the headsman's axe, but your
Majesty has granted me a second opportunity and
has so kindly dealt with me, that I am moved to
accede and act as though I were fearless of all pre-
sumption. My repeated refusals, heretofore, were
because of my regard for the laws of honour, and I

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The Awakening

could not help myself ; but now that Cheung See is
dead, why should I offer any objection, except to say
this, that my social standing is insufficient for it,
my gifts are mediocre, and I am in no way suited
to be the Imperial son-in-law."

His Majesty, highly delighted, at once issued an
order to the Master of Ceremonies to have a lucky day
selected and reported, and later the Chief Geomancer
announced the fifteenth day of the ninth moon as the
day agreed upon.

The Emperor said to General Yang : " The other
day, when we had not fully decided about the wed-
ding, I did not tell you all, but now that this is settled
I want to say that I have two sisters, both refined
and highly gifted, and since we can never possibly find
such another one as thee, I have been commanded
by the Dowager to have my two sisters put under
your care."

Suddenly General Yang remembered the dream
that he had- had in the guest-room of the camp, and
his mind was greatly disturbed when he thought
how unearthly it was. He bowed low and said :
" Since you have chosen me as the Imperial son-in-
law, I have tried to make my escape by all possible
means, but could find no way; I have endeavoured
to nm off but the road has been blocked. I did not
know what to do, and now your proposition that two
Princesses should serve this one man is something
never dreamed of since the world began. How can I
venture to accept any such proposal ? "

The Emperor replied : " Your service for the
State is of the very highest order, and there is no
possible way open to reward you as you deserve.

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

That is why I propose that my two sisters should
serve you together. Also the love of these two for
one another is a born instinct with them. When
they rise each follows the other ; when they are
seated each finds support in the other ; and their
one wish is never, never to part, so that their being
given in marriage to the same man is not only their
own desire, but the wish of her Majesty the Dowager
as well. Please do not refuse it. Also there is the
palace-maid, Chin See, a daughter of a house that has
been for generations high in office. She has beauty,
too, and ability, and is specially gifted with the pen,
while the Princess regards her as her good right
hand, and treats her as her very own. On the day
of the wedding she desires to make her her married
maid-in-waiting, and this too I am to inform you
of."

The General again rose and expressed his thanks.

Cheung See had already been a Princess in the
palace for several days. Her service on the Empress's
behalf had been performed with all her heart. She,
along with Princess Orchid and Chin See, were like
born sisters, and in return the Dowager loved her
dearly.

The time for the marriage being now at hand she
said quietly to the Empress : "At first when you
decided the place of precedence for Orchid and me,
you made me sit in the upper seat, which was a very
presumptuous thing on my part, and yet to refuse it
I feared might wound the love and tenderness of my
dearest Orchid. So I yielded, and did as your Majesty
commanded me ; but this was never my wish or

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The Awakening

desire. Now when we are united to General Yang, it
will never do for Orchid to decline the first place. My
desire is that your Majesty and the Emperor will
kindly think of the proper form and arrange it so that
I shall be happy according to my station, and not be
a cause of confusion in the home."

At this Orchid replied : " Blossom's accom-
plishments and ability make her my superior, my
teacher, and though it be a ' gate of honour ' in
question, I shall, just as the wife of Cho Che-wee
resigned her place, resign mine. Since we have already
become elder and yotinger sisters, how can we again
raise the question of rank ? Though I become the
second wife I shall still not lose the reality that I am
the Emperor's daughter, but if I am pushed up to
the first place, wherein, mother dear, will lie the
purpose of your adopting Blossom ? If my sister
declines in my favour, I shall not wish then to become
a member of General Yang's household."

Then the Empress said to the Emperor : " How
shall we decide the matter ? "

The Emperor's reply was : " Orchid's wish, as
she expresses it, is from the heart ; and yet from
ancient days till the present time, I never heard of
such a thing. Please take note, however, of her hum-
ble and beautiful spirit and yield to her on the matter,"

The Empress replied : " You are right." At once
she issued a command making Princess Blossom
[41] the left hand wife of Prince Wee, while Princess
Orchid was made the right hand wife, and because
Chin See was the daughter of a high official she was
made the highest wife of second grade.

Since ancient times the marriage of a Princess had

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

always been celebrated outside of the palace, but on
this occasion the Dowager decided that it should be
held within the Imperial precincts.

When the happy day came, General Yang, dressed
in Imperial robes and jewelled belt, went through the
ceremony with the two Princesses. The splendour
and magnificence of the scene are impossible to
describe. When all the rites were completed they sat
themselves down on the embroidered cushions, and
Chin See appeared, made her bow and was led before
the Princesses. When they were seated, lo ! they were
like three fairies gathered before him. The colours
that bedecked them reflected the brilliance of the
clouds ; and lights and shades were seen in a thou-
sand shimmering patterns. The General was dazed
by the brilliance of it, and uncertain of his own con-
sciousness. He wondered if he were amid realities or
in a dream.

That night he shared the room of the Princess
Blossom and arose early in the morning and made his
obeisance to the Empress.

She had a great feast spread, at which both the
Emperor and the reigning Empress were present, and
the whole day was spent in rejoicing. The second
night he spent with Princess Orchid, and on the
third he went to Chin See's room.

When Chin See saw him she began to weep.

Yang in wonder asked what she meant : " To-day
we should laugh and be glad, why do you weep ?
What do these tears mean ? "

Chin See made answer : " You do not know me,
and so I know you have forgotten who I am."

Then he suddenly recollected, took her white

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The Wedding: Wildgoose and Moonlight

The Awakening

hand in his, and said : " You are Chin See from
Wha-eum, are you not ? "

Chin See choked up with tears and could make no
reply.

The General said : " I thought that you had left
us, and that you were buried beneath the sod, but
here you are in the Palace. We parted in far off Wha-
eum, and your dear home was broken up so that no
one dared to speak of it. Since my flight from that
inn, not a day has passed that I have not thought of
you. But I thought you were dead and never im-
agined that we should meet again. To-day comes the
fulfilment of our contract, which I never dreamed
could come to pass." Si^

Here he drew from his pocket the verses that Chin
See had written, while Chin See drew from her bosom
what he had sent her, and they were the same as they
had despatched to each other on that day of first ac-
quaintance. Each unwrapped the piece of paper, and
their hearts melted at the sight of it and beat a tattoo
in their bosoms.

Chin See said : " The Willow song seals the con-
tract that we made so long ago. I did not know that a
little silken fan, too, was to be evidence of the union
that is consummated to-day." Then she opened a
lacquer box and took out the fan, showed it to General
Yang, and told him about it, saying : "It is due
entirely to the kindness and favour of her Imperial
Majesty, the Empress Dowager, his Majesty the
Emperor, and Princess Orchid,"

General Yang said : "At that time I made my
escape to the South Mountain and when I came back
I asked of your whereabouts. Some said you were

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

attached to the palace ; some that you had been re-
moved to a distant county as a yamen slave ; others
that you had not escaped from the general destruction.
I did not know the exact truth, but I had. no hope and
so was compelled to seek marriage elsewhere. Always
when I passed Wha-eum or crossed the waters of the
Wee I was like the wild bird that had lost its mate.
Now, however, through the Imperial kindness, we
meet again. My one sorrow of heart is that the con-
tract we made by the way in the inn should have
turned out the contract for a subordinate wife. To
think also that you should have condescended to take
so humble a place fills me with shame."

Chin See said : "I was not unaware of my ill-
starred home and its prospects when I sent the old
nurse to the inn, and it was with the thought that if
you took me it might be even as a subordinate wife.
Now that I have won a place, second only to my
revered Princesses, I am crowned with glory and
blessed with the highest of good fortune. If I should
complain or be ungrateful, God would be displeased
with me."

The joy of meeting Chin See with old faith and
new love was very great.

The day following, the Master and Princess Orchid
met in Blossom's room, and as they sat together the
wine glass was passed. Suddenly Princess Blossom
gently summoned a waiting-maid to call Chin See.
When the Master heard her voice there was awakened
in his heart a sense of loss and sorrow that at once
showed itself in his face. On the occasion when he
visited Justice Cheung's and played the harp before
the maiden he had heard her comments on the tunes,

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The Awakening

and he remembered her face distinctly, and now to-
day the Princess's accents seemed as though they
were a voice that came from Cheung See. He had
heard the voice and now that he glanced up to see
the face, the voice was not only Cheung See's but
the face was Cheung See's as well.

He thought to himself : " In this world it happens
sometimes that those who are not sisters, and in no
way related, look exactly alike. When I made a con-
tract of marriage with Cheung See I decided in my
heart that it was for life and death, and now here am
I enjoying the delights of home felicity while poor
Cheung See's lonely spirit is wandering I know not
where. To avoid making myself conspicuous, I have
not poured out even a single glass as an offering at
her grave ; nor have I once even wept in the little
hut by her tomb. I have indeed treated dear Cheung
See very, very unkindly."

The thoughts in his heart showed themselves in
his face, and the tears were ready to come. Cheung
See, with her clear and quick perception, guessed the
sorrow that possessed him, and so caught her skirts
neatly about her and knelt to ask : "I have heard
that if the king is dishonoured, the courtiers should
die ; and that if the king is anxious it is a discredit
to his ministers. My service to my lord is like that of
a courtier to his king. I notice with anxiety that even
now when the glass is passed a hidden shade of dis-
appointment crosses my master's face. May I ask the
reason ? "

The Master thanked her and said : " There is no
reason why I should conceal from your Highness the
thoughts that trouble my soul. I, So-yoo, once went

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

to Justice Cheung's home and there I saw his beauti-
ful daughter. Her voice was your Highness 's voice,
and her face was your Highness's face, and so my
eyes, spellbound by you, call up these recollections
and fill my soul with sorrow. I regret that I have
given you cause for anxiety. Please do not be troubled
or disappointed with me."

When Blossom heard this her cheeks suddenly
blushed crimson. She arose and hurried into the inner
chamber and did not come out again.

The Master sent a waiting-maid to invite her, but
still she did not come.

Princess Orchid said : " My sister is so greatly
loved of our mother, that her head has been turned
and her heart has grown proud over it. She is not
lowly in her disposition as I am, so that the Master's
comparing Cheung's daughter with her has made her
very indignant."

Yang then asked Chin See to beg forgiveness for
him and say to Princess Blossom that he was intoxi-
cated at the time and so said what he regretted.
" If she will please come out I will do as Prince
Chin Moon did and request that she put me in
prison."

After a long time Chin See returned but had noth-
ing to say.

The Master asked again : " What does her High-
ness say ? "

Chin See replied : " Her Highness is very angry.
What she says is too dreadful to be repeated."

The Master said : " Her Highness's dreadful
words are her own, and no fault of yours ; tell me
exactly what she said."

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The Awakening

Chin See then made reply : " Princess Blossom
says, * Even though I am contemptible and mean, I
am the Dowager's much-loved child. This girl,
Cheung See, even though she be so wonderful, is only
a common village maid. It says in the Book of Cere-
mony that men even bow before the King's horse.
That does not mean that they reverence horses in
general, but that they reverence what his Majesty
rides. If they reverence even the King's horse, should
they not reverence the daughter whom her Majesty
loves ? If the Master truly reverences the King and
reveres the court he can hardly compare me with the
daughter of a plebeian. Moreover this daughter of
Cheung, forgetful of common modesty, and pre-
suming on her knowledge, met the Master face to face
and talked with him, yes and argued with him over
the tunes he played. She can hardly be called superior.
One can read from this the sort of character she
was. She worried herself, too, over the delay in her
wedding till she brought on " impatient " sickness,
and died in her youth. When her fortunes have
turned out so unhappily, why should the Master com-
pare her with me ?

" ' In ancient days in the Kangdom of No, Chin Ho,
by means of gold, tried to tempt an honest woman who
was picking mulberries, and she, rather than jdeld
her honour to him, jumped into the stream and took
her own life. Why should I be obliged to look upon
the Master with a shamed face ? I do not wish to be
the wife of a man who has no respect for me. Besides,
the Master remembers her face after she is dead and
long departed. He thinks he still recognises her voice
in mine. I am outraged by it, and though I have not

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

the courage to follow the woman of antiquity and
jump into the water, I shall indeed from now on
never go outside the middle gateway, but stay here
till I die. As Orchid is so very meek in her disposition
she will suit you. Be pleased to live your life with
Orchid, pray.' "

The Master grew very angry at this, and said :
" In all the world who ever saw a girl pride herself
so on her rank and station and act as Blossom does ?
You may judge of what this son-in-law is destined
to suffer."

He said to Orchid : " My meeting with Cheung's
daughter has caused this misunderstanding, and
Blossom tries to put upon me some wretched wrong
or other. I am not anxious about this myself, but the
disgrace of it affects even the dead with shame."

Orchid said : "I will go in and see my sister and
explain it to her so that she will understand." And
she turned and went in ; but to the close of day she
did not come out again. Already the lights were
trimmed and shining in the rooms.

Orchid sent a waiting-maid to say : " Though I
have explained the mistake in every possible way, my
sister will not change her mind, and I have been com-
pelled to do as she has done, and decide to live and
die with her and share her joy and sorrow. Thus
have we sworn to heaven and earth and all the gods.
If my sister means to shut herself away alone in the
inner palace, I too will do the same and shut hiyself
away. If my sister does not mean to live with the
Master, I too cannot live with him. Please let my
lord go to his dear wife Chin See and be at peace."

At this Yang's anger flamed up, but still he

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The Awakening

controlled himself and did not let it show in his words
or countenance. The empty curtains and coldly
embroidered screens seemed very comfortless to him.
He leaned on his reclining bed and looked at Chin
See. Chin See took a light and led the way for him to
her room, where she cast some dragon incense into
the golden brazier. On the ivory couch she arranged
the embroidered quilts and pillows and then said to
him : " Though I am very dull and stupid still I
have read of the Superior Man, and it says in the
Book of Ceremony : ' The secondary wife may not
appropriate the early hours of the evening.' The
two Princesses have retired to the inner palace, but
even so I cannot think of being the one to wait upon
your Excellency at this time of the night, so shall
now retire. May you sleep in peace." And with this
she quietly withdrew.

The Master, hating all this disagreeable fuss, let
her go for the sake of quiet. The prospect seemed
a hopeless one, so he drew the curtains and lay down
upon his pillow. Uneasy in heart, he said to himself :
" This company forms itself into a league and plays
all manner of tricks to befool its lord and master ;
how can I find any pleasure in praying or supplicating
them ? When I lived in the park pavilion at Justice
Cheung's, Thirteen and I enjoyed ourselves during
the happy hours of the day, and Cloudlet and I sat in
peace before the lights and passed the glass. Every
day was happy, not one failed us ; but now that I
have come to be the son-in-law of the Imperial
Family, three days have scarcely gone by before I am
lorded over and my life made miserable."

He drew aside the curtains, opened the windows,

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

and the Milky Way was seen athwart the sky. The
Ught of the moon flooded the open cx)urt. He took
his shoes and went out, and following the shadow of
the eaves, stepped across the square to where he
saw in the distance Princess Blossom's room with
the lights burning brilliantly behind the illumined
blinds.

The Master whispered to himself : " The night
is already late ; why are they not sleeping I wonder ?
Blossom is angry with me and has sent me off ; I
would like to know if she herself has retired."

Fearing lest his shoes might make a noise he
stepped lightly and carefully, and at last reached the
outside of the window. The two Princesses were
talking and laughing together, and the sound of dice
was heard within. He peeped in through the chink of
the blind, and there was Chin See seated before the
two Princesses with another person in front of the
dice table who was calling out the numbers. When
she turned to trim the candle, behold it was Cloudlet.

Cloudlet, desirous of seeing the Princesses' wed-
ding, had already been several days in the palace, but
she had concealed her whereabouts so as not to let
the Master know.

He gave a sudden start of surprise as he said to
himself : " How in the world has Cloudlet come to
be here ? Evidently the Princesses must have invited
her."

Once again Chin See arranged the dice board and
said : " You have put down no wager, and so evi-
dently you are not interested in the game. I will
make a bet with you, Cloudlet."

Cloudlet said : " Cloudlet is only a poor low-class

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The Awakening

girl ; one dish of sweets would be a fortune for her.
But Chin See has for ages been at the side of the
Princess ; she would look on silks and satins as rough
sackcloth and would regard the daintiest fare as
common seaweed. How can you propose to me to
make a wager ? "

Then Chin See said : " If I do not win I'll give
whatever you select from the gems at my waist-belt,
or from the pins in my hair ; but if you don't win
then you must give me what I ask. Truly it will only
be very little and something that will cost you
nothing."

Cloudlet said in reply : " What will you ask, pray,
and what would you like to have ? "

Chin See said : " I have heard the two Princesses
talking together, and I understand from them that
you, Cloudlet, once became a fairy, and again became
a disembodied spirit, and so befooled the Master. I
have never heard about it definitely, so if you lose
you must tell me the story."

Cloudlet then pushed away the dice board from
her and said to Princess Blossom : " Sister, sister,
sister, you told me the other day that you loved me
dearly. Why have you reported this ridiculous story
to the Princess ? Chin See has also heard about it.
Everybody in the palace who has ears to hear will
know of it. With what face can I meet people ? "

Chin See said : " Cloudlet, in what way is the
Princess your sister ? Blossom is the wife of our lord
and Master, and Princess of Wee, and though she is
still young, her rank is exceedingly high. How can
she possibly be a sister of yours ? "

In reply, Cloudlet said : " The Ups that have been

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

trained for years cannot change their ways in a single
morning. Our happy contests together with flowers
and sprigs of green are as yesterday. I am not afraid
of her Highness the Princess." And they all laughed
together.

Princess Orchid asked of Blossom : " Your sister
never fully heard about Cloudlet either. Did she
really deceive the Master? "

Blossom said : " The Master has been many times
deceived by Cloudlet. How can smoke come from a
chimney where there is no fire ? She only wanted to
see the frightened look in his face, but he was too
dense for that and did not know what fear was. It
reads in the Book of Ceremony, * The man who
greatly loves women is possessed of a spirit that has
died of starvation.' Evidently this is true of the
Master. Why should a spirit that has died thus fear
another spirit ? " And they all burst out laughing.

At last Yang recognised to his amazement that
Princess Blossom was none other than Cheung See.
Like meeting one from the dead, and with his startled
soul in his mouth, he was about to throw open the
window and go violently into the room, when he
thought again and said to himself : " Their desire is
to play all manner of jokes upon me, so I'll befool
them instead." Then he went quietly to Chin See's
room and slept soundly.

Early the next morning Chin See came and asked
of the waiting-women : " Is the Master up yet ? "

They replied : " Not yet."

She waited for a long time outside the window till
daylight filled the court. Breakfast too was ready, but
still the Master slept.

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The Awakening

Chin See then went in and asked : "Is your
Excellency unwell ? "

Suddenly he opened his eyes, stared blankly as
though he did not see anyone, but went on talking to
himself in a wandering way, so that Chin See asked
again : " Master, why do you act so ? "

Yang then seemed to hear but made no reply.
After a little he asked : " Who are you ? "

Chin See answered : " Does the Master not know
his wife ? I am Chin See."

Yang replied : " Chin See ? Who is Chin See ? "

She made no further answer but stroked his brow
and said : " Your head is very hot, and I am sure
you are unwell. What trouble is it that has overtaken
you, I wonder ? "

The Master replied : " All night long I saw
Cheung See in a dream and talked with her. How can
I be well ? "

Chin See asked him to tell her more fully, but he
made no reply and simply turned as if to sleep again.

In a state of great distress, Chin See told a palace-
maid to wait on the Princesses and say that the Master
was ailing and to please come at once.

When the message was given, Blossom remarked :
" One who ate and drank so freely yesterday could
hardly be seriously ill to-day. It is only a trick on his
part to get us to go to see him."

But Chin See came herself in great anxiety : " The
Master is dazed seemingly and unconscious, and does
not know anyone, but talks in a wandering way.
Would it not be well to inform his Majesty and let
the chief physician of the Court be sent for ? "

The Dowager overheard them at this point, called

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

the Princesses, and reprimanded them, saying : " You
have gone too far in your jesting, you naughty girls.
You hear that he is very unwell and yet have not even
gone to see him. What kind of treatment is that ? Go
at once and make inquiry, and if he is very ill, get the
most experienced and skilful Court physician called
and see that he is cared for."

Blossom now finding that there was no help for it,
went with Orchid to the room where the Master
slept and waited for a little at the threshold of the
door. She made Orchid and Chin See go in first.

The Master looked at Orchid, waved his two hands,
and gazed into space as though he did not know her.
Then he whispered : " My life is going and I want
to take a long farewell of Blossom. Where is Blossom
that she does not come ? "

Orchid replied : " Why does the Master say such
things ? "

He answered : " Last night, in a vision, Cheung
See came to me and said, ' Master, why have you
broken your vow ? ' and then in great anger she up-
braided me and gave me a handful of pearls. I took
and swallowed them. Assuredly this was a dreadful
omen, for when I shut my eyes Cheung See seems
to hold my body down, and when I open them she
stands before me. Life is but a moment at best, and
that is my reason for desiring to see Blossom."

Before he had finished speaking an apparent faint-
ness came over him, and he turned his face to the
wall and talked at random.

When Orchid saw this she was alarmed and came
out and said to Blossom : "I am afraid that the
Master's illness is due to worry and anxiety. Without

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The Awakening

you there is no hope of his recovery." And she told
just how he seemed.

Blossom, half inclined to believe, and half inclined
to doubt, hesitated to go in, but Orchid took her by
the hand and they went in together. They found
Yang talking incoherently in a conversation that he
seemed to be having with Cheung See.

Then Orchid in a loud voice said : " Master,
Master, Blossom has come ; please look at her."

He raised his head for an instant, waved his hand
about several times as though he wished to get up,
then Chin See took hold and helped him. He sat on
the side of the couch and speaking to the two Prin-
cesses said : "I, So-yoo, have abused the grace of
God and have been married to you two Princesses. I
have sworn my vow that for all time to come I will
live and grow old with you, but there is one whose
purpose it is to arrest and bear me away, so I cannot
long remain."

Blossom said in reply : " Master, you are a gentle-
man of intelligence and reason. Why do you talk such
nonsense ? Even though Cheung See's frail soul and
dead spirit do exist, this inner palace is so closely
guarded by a hundred angels, who serve as its pro-
tecting force, that she could never enter here."

The Master replied : " Cheung See was just now
at my side; how can you say that she could not
enter ? "

Then Orchid answered : " The ancients saw in
the wine glass the shadow of a bow, and fell ill of fear.
I am sure that the Master's illness is because he has
mistaken the archer's bow for a serpent."

But the Master made no reply, simply waving his

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hands. Blossom, seeing that the matter grew gradu-
ally worse and worse, did not longer dare to keep up
the deception. She went forward, knelt down, and
said : " Master, do you want to see only the dead
Cheung See and not the living ? "

Yang, pretending that he did not understand,
replied : " What do you mean ? Justice Cheung had
one daughter only, and she has been dead for a long
time. Since the dead Cheung See visited me, what
living Cheung See can there be beside her ? If she is
not dead, why she is alive ? If she is not alive,
why she is dead ? Anybody knows that. To say some-
times of anyone, ' Why they are dead ? ' and again
sometimes ' Why they are alive? ' is nonsense. One
must inquire whether the dead person is really
Cheung See, or whether the living person is really
Cheung See. If it is true that she is really alive then
it is false that she is dead ; and if it is true that she is
really dead then it is false to say that she is alive. I
cannot understand what your Highness says."

Orchid then broke in : " Her Majesty the Dowager
adopted Cheung See as her daughter and made her
Princess Blossom, and put her and me together in
the Master's service. Princess Blossom is indeed the
same Cheung See who listened when you played the
harp. If not so, why should she be in every look and
feature the exact image of Cheung See ? "

The Master made no reply but gave a little moan
and then suddenly raised his head and said : " When
I lived at Cheung See's home, Cheung See's maid
Cloudlet waited upon me. I have something that I
want to ask of Cloudlet. Where is she now ? I want
to see her."

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The Awakening

Orchid said : " Cloudlet just now came into the
palace to see Blossom, and learning that the Master
was unwell, she is anxiously waiting outside and
wants to make her salutations."

The door opened and Cloudlet entered. She went
up to the Master and said : " Are you better, my
lord ? I certainly hope so."

Yang replied : " Let Cloudlet stay by me alone,
and let all the others go out." And so the Princesses
and Chin See withdrew and stood at the head of the
open porch.

Then the Master arose, washed, arranged his
dress and told Cloudlet to call the other three.

Then Cloudlet , bottling up her smiles , came out and
said to the two Princesses and to Chin See : " The
Master wants to see you," and so the four went in.

Yang now wore a ceremonial robe and special hat,
and held in his hand a white stone chatelaine. His
face was fresh as the spring breezes, and his mind as
clear as the autumn stream. Not a vestige was there
of anything that would mark him as ill. Blossom sud-
denly realised that she had been fooled, laughed and
bowed low, making no further inquiries as to his
health.

Orchid asked : " How is your lordship feeling
now ? "

The Master, with a serious countenance, said:
" Truly we have fallen on peculiar days when the
women of a household band together to play practical
jokes upon the husband. I am a man of high rank, of
the dignity of a first minister, and I have sought high
and low for some way by which to correct this dis-
order in my family but have not succeeded. In my

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

anxiety I fell ill, but I am quite recovered now, so do
not be anxious, please."

Orchid and Chin See laughed with all their might
but made no reply, and then Cheung See^ said :
" This was not our doing, please. If the Master
would find full recovery from his sickness let him
look up to the Empress Mother and tell her."

Yang could no longer restrain his pent-up feelings,
but broke out laughing and said : " I had expected to
meet you only in the next world and had so planned,
but to-day you were in my dream. Is it not truly a
beautiful dream ? "

Cheung See said : " It is all due to her Gracious
Majesty's kindness to me her child, and to the un-
bounded favour of his Majesty the Emperor, and
the love and tenderness of Princess Orchid. It is
written on my bones and engraved deep in my heart.
Never can my life be able to speak all my remembered
gratitude," Then she told him everjrthing that had
come to pass, and he thanked her, saying: " The
equal of your dear-heartedness has never been re-
corded since time immemorial. I have no way to
make any return for this highest favour. My sincerest
regards and tenderest love shall all be yours while we
live our happy life together."

The Princess then spoke her thanks, saying :
" This is all due to my dearest sister's plans, and it
is her heart of love that has moved heaven to bless us.
It was no work of mine."

At this time the Empress Dowager summoned
some of the palace-maids to inquire concerning the
Master's health, and when she knew the reason for it
she laughed heartily and said : "I was indeed in

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The Awakening

doubt regarding it." So she summoned Yang to her
presence and the two Princesses came as well and sat
together with him.

The Empress said : " I hear that the Master has
united again the happy bonds that bound him to his
dead Cheung See."

Yang bowed and made answer : " Your Majesty's
kindness is great as high heaven ; though I wear
down my body and offer up the vitals of my soul I
can never pay the hundredth part of all the favours
you have shown me."

The Empress said : " That is all a joke ; why do
you talk of such nonsense ? "

On this day the Emperor received audience of the
ministers in the Grand Hall of the palace. Certain of
them said : " We learn that a great star has arisen ;
that sweetened dew has fallen ; that the waters of the
Whang-ho have become clear ; that the crops have
grown to abundance. Three subject kings have
offered their land as tribute ; the fierce Tibetan
rebels have changed in heart, and now bow in grateful
submission. This is due to the virtues of your
Majesty."

The Emperor graciously disclaimed merit and
put it all to the credit of his ministers.

But they made reply, saying : " General Yang
So-yoo remains these days long within the palace and
affairs of State are heaped up and need looking after."

His Majesty laughed and said : " The Empress
Dowager has held him fast these days and so the
General is not free to go. I shall tell him myself,
however, and see that he gets to work."

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

The day following the Master went to the home
of Justice Cheung to look after some business, and
from there he wrote a memorial asking that he be
permitted to bring his mother. His memorial read :

" General the Prince of Wee, son-in-law of her
Majesty, bows^in humble salutation, and presents
to his Majesty this memorial. Of humble origin
from the land of Cho, I had but two or three fields
on which to live. My scholarship embraced only a
single set of the Classics. My old mother still lives,
but I have not cared for her as I should have liked.
I thought of the measures of grain that I would
have given her, and of the delicacies that I would
have prepared. When it came to parting, my
mother said to me, ' Our literatus home has fallen
to decay, and the fortunes of the family run low.
You are responsible for the future, and the lives of
the past are in your keeping. Be diligent and learn ;
win the examination and let your mother share
your renown. This is my hope. But if office or re-
ward come too quickly there is danger in it. Think
well of this.'

" I took my mother's word, wrote it in my heart,
and never have I forgotten it. Great and good for-
tune have fallen on me, for only after a few years at
Court my rank has risen by leaps and bounds. By
Imperial decree I passed others by and made the
knees of the rebel to tremble. I received orders to
go west and to bind the hands of the fierce Tibetan.
To begin with I was but an inexperienced son of
the literatus ; how could I have ever imagined
plans to attain to such as this ? It is all due to the

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The Awakening

prestige of your Majesty. The officers gladly risked
their lives and your Majesty so generously encour-
aged the little efforts that we made, and rewarded
them so liberally, that my heart is rendered uneasy
and ashamed and I would rather not speak of it.
All my mother's wishes on my behalf have come
to pass, and I am chosen as the Imperial son-in-law
with fortune unheard of. The Imperial command
has been so pressing that I could not resist it, and
ashamed as I am that the State should be dis-
honoured by one so mean, I still have had to accede.
My aged mother's hopes did not pass at first the
peck measure, and my own, too, did not go beyond
a humble office of the literati. Behold me now in
the highest seat of the land and first among my
peers. In the rush and business of the day I have
never yet had an opportunity to escort my mother
to the capital. I have lived in my beautiful home
while she has occupied a thatched hut ; I have
eaten of dainty fare while she has eaten only of the
meanest. Thus am I living in luxury and leaving
my mother to, poverty and disgrace, disregardful
of the fundamental laws and failing in the duty of
a son. My mother, too, is old ; she has no other child
but me, and the distance separating us is great,
with messengers few and far between. If I go up to
the hills and call on the clouds to bear my greetings
they heed not, and so my heart is sore. Now that
matters are quiet in the State and affairs are fallen
into repose, I humbly pray that your Majesty will
kindly consider and grant my request, giving me
two or three months so that I may go and replace
the sod on my ancestors' graves, and bring my

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

mother here that we may both together praise
your Majesty's high and exalted virtue. If you
graciously grant me this, I shall in my turn do my
best to repay the Imperial kindness. I humbly bow
and make this petition, and may your High Majesty
please to grant me a favourable answer."

The Emperor read it and sighed, saying : " You
are a filial son, Yang So-yoo."

He gave him rich rewards, gold a thousand pieces,
eight hundred rolls of silk to be presented to his
mother, and the word of command to bring her
quickly.

The Master then entered the inner palace and
bade farewell to the Empress Dowager. She also
gave gold and silk in abundance, twice as much as
the Emperor.

Yang then withdrew and bade farewell to the two
Princesses, to Chin See and to Cloudlet, and set out
on his way. When he reached the Choh-jin Bridge,
the two dancing-girls. Moonlight and Wildgoose,
having been informed by the Governor, awaited
him at the guest-house.

The Master greeted them smilingly and said :
" This journey of mine is a private one and has no
relation to the King's commands ; how did you two
know of my coming ? "

Moonlight and Wildgoose replied : " The Master,
Prince of Wee, son-in-law of the Empress, could
hardly set out on a journey without its being known
to us. From the secluded valleys we hurried forth to
meet you. Even though we were in the deep recesses
of the hills still we had our ears and eyes; how much

240

The Awakening

the more when the Governor regards us as second
only to your Excellency ? Last year when you went
by in your official capacity we won lasting glory, but
now with still higher office, and with honour still
greater, our glory will be a hundred-fold enhanced.
We have heard that you are married to the two Prin-
cesses, and are wondering if they will tolerate us."

The Master replied : " Of the two Princesses, one
is sister of the Emperor and one is a daughter of
Justice Cheung, who, at the request of the younger
Princess, became an adopted daughter of the Empress
Dowager. We have Cheung See and her sister's
kindly and loving dispositions and liberal spirit to
trust ; will they not be glad at your happiness ? "

At this Wildgoose and Moonlight looked at each
other and spoke their thanks and congratulations.

The Master spent the night and then started for
his native place. He had left his mother and begun
life's journey as a boy of eighteen. Now he was return-
ing, riding in the chair of a Minister of State, wearing
the insignia of the Prince of Wee, and having upon
him the honours of the Imperial son-in-law. All this
had taken place in four short years. Was it not a
wonder ?

He appeared before his mother, and in her joy she
took him by the hands and lovingly patting him
said : " Are you truly my boy, So-yoo ? I really
cannot believe it. When you repeated your cycle
years so long ago and began your first lessons in the
character, who would have thought that such glory
awaited you ? "

Her joy passed all limits and her tears flowed.
The Master then told her how he had won his

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

fame, of his marriage, and of the secondary wives
that he had.

She replied : " Your father always said of you that
you were to bring glory to our home. I am so sorry
that he did not live to see it for himself."

Yang visited the ancestral graves on the near hills.
The gold and silk that came from the Palace were
made ready, and then, on a great feast being given in
honour of his mother, he presented these. All the
friends and relatives were called, and the rejoicing
lasted for ten days. On its completion, in company
with his mother, he set out on his return. The
officials along the route, with the governors and
the magistrates, made their salutations and helped
to do honour to his progress. His way glittered with
splendour.

When the Master passed Nak-yang he sent word
to the magistrate to have Wildgoose and Moonlight
called, but the answer came back that they had al-
ready left for the capital. Disappointed to miss them,
he went on his way and at last reached the Imperial
City. Here he led his mother into his home and into
the Palace, where she made her deep obeisance. She
was commanded to audience and they gave her gold,
silver, silks and satins. The ministers and courtiers
were invited and for three days a feast was celebrated
amid joy and rejoicing.

The Master selected a lucky day and led her to her
new home that he had prepared as a gift. It was like
a palace with towers, pavilions and parks. Cheung
See and Orchid performed the ceremony of the bride
before the mother-in-law, and Chin See and Cloudlet
also made ceremonial salutations. By abundance

242

The Awakening

of gifts and in gentleness of deportment they showed
themselves such that the mother's face shone with joy
and her soul was filled with delight

When the Master came to give all the gifts that he
had received for his mother he had three days of feast-
ing again, on which occasion the palace band of music
was sent for and tables of food were brought from the
Imperial halls that the officials shared.

The Master, dressed in coloured robes and with
the two Princesses by his side, raised high his glass,
made way for his mother, and then all joined in the
chorus. Before the feast broke up the gate guard
came in to say that just before the entrance were two
girls who had passed in their names for the ladies
and the Master.

" Doubtless Moonlight and Wildgoose," said he.
He told his mother of them, and she invited them in.
They bowed before the step way, and all the guests
remarked that Wildgoose from Nak-yang and Moon-
light from Ha-book had long been famous, beautiful
women, surpassing others.

If the Master had not been a magician how could
he have brought all this to pass ?

He commanded the two dancing-girls to entertain
the guests with special selections, and at once they
both arose, put on their dancing shoes, waved their
soft silken sleeves and made the bright-coloured folds
fly like fluttering birds as they danced together. Their
songs were like falling flowers, like the passing of
leaves on the spring breezes, like the shadows of
clouds rolling across the eave-tops of the city.

The mother and the two Princesses treated the two
dancing-girls to the most bounteous gifts ; and, as

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

Chin See had been formerly acquainted with Moon-
light, they talked of the past with overflowing joy.

Cheung See took up the glass and specially offered
it to Moonlight to thank her for her recommendation.
But the mother said : " Do you thank Moonlight only
and forget my cousin ? You will overlook the source
of it all if you are not careful."

The Master said : " My joy to-day is due to the
priestess Too-ryon, and now, mother, that you have
come to the capital, even though no special command
is issued, she too must be specially invited to join us.
Messengers have been sent to the office to say : ' It
is three years since the teacher Too-ryon went to the
land of Chok, and the lady Yoo is greatly concerned
about her.' "

244