Chapter 101

During the Kangxi reign of the Qing dynasty, Wang Xiangxu and Huang Zhouxing added this chapter to the ninth chapter. The story tells that the great kingdom of Chang'an in Shaanxi was the capital where generations of emperors had established their rule. Since the Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties, the three prefectures were as splendid as brocade, and the eight rivers flowed around the city—truly a land of famed beauty. At that time, Emperor Taizong of the Great Tang sat on the throne, having changed the reign title to Zhenguan. It was already the thirteenth year of his reign, the year of Jisi, when the realm was at peace, the eight directions brought tribute, and all within the four seas submitted as subjects. Suddenly, one day, when Emperor Taizong held court and had assembled all the civil and military officials, after the courtesies of homage were completed, Prime Minister Wei Zheng stepped forward from the ranks and memorialized: "Now that the realm is at peace and all directions are tranquil, we should, according to ancient laws, establish the selection examinations, recruit worthy scholars, and promote men of talent to aid in governance and transformation." Emperor Taizong said, "Your wise minister's memorial is reasonable." He then issued a proclamation for the recruitment of worthies, promulgated throughout the realm: all prefectures, departments, and counties, regardless of military or civilian status, if there were scholars of the Confucian school who were fluent in literary meaning and proficient in the three examination sessions, they were to proceed to Chang'an to take the examinations. When this proclamation reached the region of Haizhou, there was a man named Chen E, courtesy name Guangrui, who saw the proclamation and immediately returned home to say to his mother, née Zhang: "The court has issued the yellow proclamation, commanding the opening of the southern provincial examinations to select worthy talents. I wish to go and take the examinations. If I can gain even a minor official post, to glorify my parents, make my name known, obtain a title for my wife and benefit my sons, and bring luster to our family gate—that is my aspiration. I have come specially to inform you, Mother, that I am going." The Lady Zhang said: "My son is a scholar. 'Learn in youth, practice in manhood'—this is precisely as it should be. But on your way to the examinations, you must be careful on the road. Once you obtain your office, return home early." Guangrui then ordered his servant to pack the luggage, bid farewell to his mother, and hasten on his journey. When he reached Chang'an, it was exactly when the examination hall was opened. Guangrui entered the hall. After the exams were completed, he was selected. When the three policy essays were presented at the palace examination, Emperor Taizong personally inscribed with his brush that he was to be the Number One Scholar. He was to ride through the streets on horseback for three days. It happened that during this ride he passed by the gate of the chief minister Yin Kaishan's mansion. The chief minister had a daughter named Wenjiao, also called Mantangjiao, who was not yet married. She had just raised a colorful pavilion high up and was throwing an embroidered ball to divine a husband. Just at that moment, Chen Guangrui passed below the pavilion. The young lady saw that Guangrui was exceptional in appearance and knew he was the new Number One Scholar. Deeply pleased, she threw down the embroidered ball, which struck Guangrui's black gauze cap exactly. Suddenly, a burst of flute and string music was heard, and more than ten maids and concubines came down from the pavilion, seized the bridle of Guangrui's horse, and welcomed the Number One Scholar into the chief minister's mansion to be married. The chief minister and his lady immediately came out to the hall, called for a master of ceremonies to conduct the rites, and betrothed the young lady to Guangrui. After worshipping Heaven and Earth and completing the marital bows, they bowed to the father-in-law and mother-in-law. The chief minister ordered a banquet to be prepared, and they feasted joyfully through the night. The two took each other's hands and entered the bridal chamber together. The next day, at the third watch of the fifth watch, Emperor Taizong took his seat in the Golden Luan Hall, and all the civil and military officials hastened to court. Emperor Taizong asked: "What office should be given to the new Number One Scholar, Chen Guangrui?" Prime Minister Wei Zheng memorialized: "I have examined the prefectures under our domain, and there is a vacancy in Jiangzhou. I beg Your Majesty to bestow this post upon him." Emperor Taizong then appointed him magistrate of Jiangzhou and ordered him to prepare to leave immediately, without delay of the deadline. Guangrui thanked the emperor and left the court, returning to the chief minister's mansion. He discussed the matter with his wife, took leave of his father-in-law and mother-in-law, and set out with his wife for his post in Jiangzhou. They departed from Chang'an. It was precisely late spring weather, with gentle breezes making the willows green and fine rain dotting the flowers red. Guangrui took a detour to go home and, together with his wife, paid respects to his mother, the Lady Zhang. The Lady Zhang said: "I congratulate my son, and moreover you have returned with a wife." Guangrui said: "I rely upon your blessings, Mother, and have been undeservedly chosen as Number One Scholar. I was graciously allowed to ride through the streets and passed by the gate of Chief Minister Yin's mansion, where I encountered the throwing of the embroidered ball, and by good fortune it struck me. The chief minister then betrothed his daughter to me as wife. The court has appointed me magistrate of Jiangzhou. I have now come to escort you, Mother, to accompany me to my post." The Lady Zhang was overjoyed and packed their belongings for the journey. After several days on the road, they arrived at the Wanhua Inn, kept by Liu Xiao'er, and put up there. The Lady Zhang suddenly fell ill. She said to Guangrui: "I am not feeling well. Let us rest at this inn for a couple of days before going on." Guangrui obeyed. The next morning, he saw a man at the inn's gate selling a golden-colored carp. Guangrui bought it with one string of cash. He was about to have it cooked for his mother to eat when he saw the carp blinking its eyes. Guangrui was startled and said: "I have heard that when fish or snakes blink, they are certainly no ordinary creatures." He then asked the fisherman: "Where was this fish caught?" The fisherman said: "It was caught in the Hongjiang River, fifteen li from the prefecture." Guangrui then sent the fish back into the Hongjiang River to be released alive. He returned to the inn and told his mother about it. The Lady Zhang said: "Releasing life is a good deed. I am very pleased." Guangrui said: "We have already stayed at this inn for three days. The imperial deadline is urgent. I wish to set out tomorrow, but I do not know if your health, Mother, is better?" The Lady Zhang said: "I am not well. The heat on the road at this time may add to my illness. You may rent a house here for me to stay temporarily, and leave me some traveling expenses. You and your wife go on to your post first. When autumn cools, you can come to fetch me." Guangrui discussed it with his wife, rented a dwelling, gave his mother traveling funds, and, taking his wife, bid her farewell and left. The journey was hard, traveling at dawn and resting at night. Before they knew it, they arrived at the ferry crossing of the Hongjiang River. There they saw two boatmen, Liu Hong and Li Biao, steering their boat to the shore to receive them. It was indeed Guangrui's former fate that he should encounter these enemies at this time. Guangrui ordered his servant to carry the luggage onto the boat, and the husband and wife were just boarding together when Liu Hong, opening his eyes, saw that Lady Yin had a face like the full moon, eyes like autumn ripples, a cherry-like small mouth, and a slender willow waist—truly possessing looks that could sink fish and drop wild geese, outshine the moon and put flowers to shame. He suddenly conceived a wolfish heart. He then plotted with Li Biao, steering the boat to a deserted spot. Waiting until the dead of night, at the third watch, they first killed the servant, then beat Guangrui to death, and pushed both corpses into the water. When the lady saw that they had killed her husband, she was about to throw herself into the water. Liu Hong grabbed her tightly and said: "If you submit to me, all will be well; if not, I will cut you in two with one stroke." The lady, seeing no way out, had to temporarily consent and complied with Liu Hong. The villain ferried the boat to the south bank, handed the boat over to Li Biao to take care of, then donned Guangrui's clothes and cap, took the official credentials, and, together with the lady, went to Jiangzhou to take up the post. Now, the corpse of the servant killed by Liu Hong drifted away with the current. But only Chen Guangrui's corpse sank to the bottom of the water and did not move. The Yecha who patrolled the Hongjiang estuary saw this and flew at star-speed to report it to the Dragon Palace. It happened that the Dragon King was ascending his hall when the Yecha reported: "At the Hongjiang estuary, someone, I know not who, has beaten a scholar to death and cast his corpse at the bottom of the water." The Dragon King ordered the corpse to be brought in, placed it before him, and after looking carefully, said: "This man is exactly my benefactor. How was he murdered? As the saying goes, 'Requite kindness with kindness.' I must now save his life to repay his former kindness to me." He immediately wrote out a document and dispatched the Yecha straight to the City God and Earth God of Hongzhou to obtain the scholar's soul so as to save his life. The City God and Earth God then summoned a little demon to deliver the soul of Chen Guangrui to the Yecha. The Yecha, bringing the soul, arrived at the Crystal Palace and reported to the Dragon King. The Dragon King asked, "You, scholar, what is your surname and given name? From what place are you? For what reason did you come here and get beaten to death?" Guangrui made a bow and said, "This humble student is Chen E, courtesy name Guangrui, a native of Hongnong County in Haizhou. I had the good fortune to be ranked first in the new imperial examinations, and was graciously appointed prefect of Jiangzhou. I was traveling with my wife to take up my post. When we reached the riverbank and boarded the boat, I did not expect that the boatman Liu Hong, coveting my wife, would beat me to death and cast my body into the water. I beg the Great King to save me." When the Dragon King heard this, he said, "So that is how it is. Sir, the golden carp you released earlier was none other than myself. You are my benefactor who saved me. Now that you are in trouble, how could I possibly not save you?" He then placed Guangrui's corpse against one wall, placed a Dingyan Pearl in his mouth to preserve it from decay, so that later he could return to life and take revenge. He also said, "For now, let your true spirit serve as a commander in my water palace." Guangrui kowtowed and gave thanks. The Dragon King hosted a banquet in his honor, but we shall not dwell on that. Now Miss Yin, seething with hatred for the thief Liu, wished she could eat his flesh and sleep on his skin. But because she was with child and did not know whether it would be male or female, she had no choice but to reluctantly submit to him for the time being. In the blink of an eye, they had reached Jiangzhou. The clerks, scribes, and gate guards all came out to welcome them. The subordinate officials hosted a banquet in the public hall. Liu Hong said, "I, this student, have come here and rely entirely on the strong support of you gentlemen." The subordinate officials replied, "Your Excellency, as a top graduate of great talent, will naturally treat the people as your own children, with few lawsuits and clear justice. We all depend on you—why be so modest?" After the public banquet, everyone dispersed. Time passed swiftly. One day, Liu Hong went out on official business. Miss Yin, in the yamen, missed her mother-in-law and husband, and sighed with emotion in the flower pavilion. Suddenly feeling weary, with pain in her belly, she fainted to the ground and unexpectedly gave birth to a son. By her ear someone admonished, "Mantangjiao, hear my charge: I am the South Pole Star Lord, sent by the decree of Guanyin Bodhisattva to deliver this child to you. In days to come, his fame will be great, not to be compared with ordinary folk. If the thief Liu returns, he will surely harm this child; you must protect him with all your heart. Your husband has already been saved by the Dragon King, and the day will come when husband and wife shall meet again, mother and son be reunited, and the injustice avenged. Remember my words well. Wake quickly, wake quickly." Having spoken, he departed. When Miss Yin awoke, she remembered every word. She held the child tightly, but could think of no plan. Suddenly Liu Hong returned, and as soon as he saw the child, he wanted to drown it. Miss Yin said, "The day is already late today; allow me to cast him into the river tomorrow morning." Fortunately, the next morning Liu Hong was suddenly called away on urgent official business. Miss Yin thought to herself, "If I wait for this thief to return, the child's life will be lost. Better to cast him into the river now and let fate decide his life or death. If Heaven takes pity and someone saves and adopts him, we may yet meet again someday." But she feared he might not be recognized later, so she bit her finger, wrote a blood letter, and recorded in full her parents' names, his origins, and the circumstances. She also bit off the little toe of the child's left foot as a mark of identification. She took a close-fitting undershirt, wrapped the child in it, seized a chance moment, and carried him out of the yamen. Fortunately, the official residence was not far from the river. When Miss Yin reached the riverbank, she wept bitterly. Just as she was about to abandon him, she saw a wooden plank floating up by the shore. She bowed to Heaven and prayed, then placed the child on the plank, tied him fast with a sash, fastened the blood letter to his chest, and set him adrift on the river, letting him go wherever the currents might take him. Miss Yin returned to the yamen in tears, but we shall not dwell on that. Now the child drifted downstream on the wooden plank until he came to rest at the foot of Jinshan Temple. The abbot of Jinshan Temple was a monk named Faming, who cultivated truth and realized the Way, having mastered the wondrous secret of non-birth. He was just sitting in Chan meditation when he suddenly heard the sound of an infant crying. His heart stirred, and he hurried to the riverbank to look. There he saw a baby sleeping on a wooden plank by the shore. The abbot quickly rescued him, and upon reading the blood letter in his bosom, he understood the child's origins. He gave him the milk-name Jiangliu and entrusted him to others to raise. He kept the blood letter carefully stored away. Time flew like an arrow, and the sun and moon moved like a shuttle. Before they knew it, Jiangliu had grown to the age of eighteen. The abbot then had him shave his head and cultivate the Way, giving him the dharma name Xuanzang, anointing his crown and conferring the precepts, and setting his mind firmly on the path of cultivation. One day, in late spring, a group gathered together under the shade of pines to expound the sutras and practice Chan, discussing profound mysteries. It happened that a certain monk who ate meat and drank wine was bested by Xuanzang in debate. The monk flew into a rage and cursed him, saying, "You beast, you don't even know your own name, nor do you know your parents—what ghostly nonsense are you prating about here?" When Xuanzang heard these words, he went into the temple, knelt before his master, and with tears streaming down his face said, "A man is born between Heaven and Earth, receiving the yin and yang and the five elements—all are from father and mother. How can one live in this world without parents?" He pleaded repeatedly, begging to know his parents' names. The abbot said, "If you truly wish to find your parents, come with me to the abbot's quarters." Xuanzang followed him to the abbot's quarters. The abbot took down a small casket from a high beam, opened it, and took out a blood letter and an undershirt, which he handed to Xuanzang. Xuanzang opened the blood letter and read it, and only then did he learn in full detail his parents' names and the story of the injustice. After reading it, Xuanzang fell to the ground weeping and said, "If I cannot avenge my parents' wrongs, how can I be considered a man? For eighteen years I did not know my own parents, and only today do I learn I have a mother. If it were not for my master's rescue and raising me, how could I be here today? Permit your disciple to go and find his mother, and then, carrying an incense burner on his head, he will rebuild the temple halls to repay his master's profound kindness." The master said, "If you wish to seek your mother, take this blood letter and undershirt with you. Go in the guise of a mendicant monk straight to the private quarters of the Jiangzhou yamen, and only then will you be able to see your mother." Xuanzang accepted his master's instructions and, posing as a begging monk, went straight to Jiangzhou. It happened that Liu Hong was away on business—it was Heaven's will that mother and son should meet. Xuanzang went directly to the gate of the private quarters to beg alms. Now Miss Yin had dreamed the night before of the moon waxing full again after a waning, and she thought to herself, "I have no news of my mother-in-law; my husband was murdered by that thief; and my son was cast into the river. If someone took him in, he should now be eighteen years old. Perhaps today Heaven may bring us together—who can say?" As she was pondering this, she suddenly heard someone chanting sutras in front of the private quarters, repeatedly calling out "alms." Miss Yin took the opportunity to come out and ask, "From what place do you come?" Xuanzang replied, "This poor monk is a disciple of Elder Faming of Jinshan Temple." Miss Yin said, "If you are a disciple of Elder Faming of Jinshan Temple..." She called him into the quarters and gave him vegetarian food to eat. She observed his bearing and speech carefully—he seemed very much like her husband. The young lady sent her maids away and asked, "Little master, did you become a monk in childhood or in middle age? What is your surname and given name? Do you have parents?" Xuanzang replied, "I neither became a monk in childhood nor in middle age. When I speak of it, my grievance is as vast as heaven, my enmity as deep as the sea: my father was murdered, and my mother was seized by a bandit. My master, the elder Dharma Master Faming, instructed me to seek my mother at the government office in Jiangzhou." The young lady asked, "What is your mother's surname?" Xuanzang said, "My mother's surname is Yin, her given name Wenjiao. My father's surname is Chen, his given name Guangrui. My childhood name is Jiangliu, and my Dharma name is Xuanzang." The young lady said, "Wenjiao is me. But what proof do you have now?" When Xuanzang heard that this was his mother, he knelt on both knees and wept bitterly: "If my mother does not believe me, here are the blood letter and the undershirt as evidence." Wenjiao took them and looked—they were indeed genuine. Mother and son embraced and wept. Then she said, "My son, leave quickly." Xuanzang said, "For eighteen years I did not know my birth parents; only today have I seen my mother. How can your child bear to part?" The young lady said, "My son, flee at once. If that bandit Liu returns, he will surely take your life. Tomorrow I will pretend to be ill and say that in former years I once vowed to donate one hundred pairs of monk's sandals, and that I am coming to your monastery to fulfill that vow. At that time, I will have something to tell you." Xuanzang bowed and took his leave. Now after the young lady had seen her son, her heart was torn between sorrow and joy. One day she pretended to be ill, refusing tea and food, and lay upon her bed. When Liu Hong returned to the office and asked the reason, the young lady said, "In my childhood I once made a vow to donate one hundred pairs of monk's sandals. Five days ago, I dreamed of a monk holding a sharp blade, demanding the sandals, and since then I have felt unwell." Liu Hong said, "Such a trifling matter—why did you not speak of it earlier?" He then ascended the hall and ordered Left Attendant Wang and Right Attendant Li that every household in Jiangzhou city was to provide one pair of monk's sandals, to be delivered within five days. The common people all complied and delivered them as assigned. The young lady said to Liu Hong, "Now that the sandals are made, what monastery is there here suitable for fulfilling the vow?" Liu Hong said, "In this Jiangzhou there is Gold Mountain Monastery and Jiao Mountain Monastery. Go to whichever you prefer." The young lady said, "I have long heard that Gold Mountain Monastery is a fine temple; I shall go there." Liu Hong then summoned Attendants Wang and Li to prepare a boat. The young lady took her trusted attendants and boarded the vessel. The boatman pushed off and headed straight for Gold Mountain Monastery. Now Xuanzang returned to the monastery and told the elder Faming everything that had happened. The elder was greatly pleased. The next day, a maidservant arrived first, saying that the lady had come to the monastery to fulfill her vow. All the monks went out to greet her. The young lady entered the monastery gate directly, paid homage to the Bodhisattva, and made generous offerings of vegetarian food and alms. She called for the maidservant to place the monk's sandals and summer socks on a tray and proceeded to the Dharma Hall. There she lit incense and paid homage again, then instructed Elder Faming to distribute them to the monks. When Xuanzang saw that the monks had dispersed and there was no one left in the Dharma Hall, he drew near and knelt before her. The young lady told him to remove his sandals and socks, and when she looked, the little toe on his left foot was indeed missing. The two embraced and wept once more, and bowed to thank the elder for his kindness in raising him. Faming said, "Now that mother and son have been reunited, I fear the villain may learn of it. You must withdraw quickly, to avoid disaster." The young lady said, "My son, I will give you an incense ring. Go straight to the northwest part of Hongzhou, about fifteen hundred li away. There is a place called Wanhua Inn, where I left your grandmother Zhang—she is your father's birth mother. I will also write a letter for you to take straight to the royal city of Emperor Tang. On the left side of the Golden Hall is the mansion of Prime Minister Yin Kaishan—he is your mother's father. Give my letter to your grandfather and ask him to present it to the Tang Emperor, so he may lead troops to capture and kill this villain and avenge your father. Only then will I be able to free myself. I dare not stay long now, for I fear that villain may wonder at my late return." She then left the monastery and boarded her boat to depart. Xuanzang wept as he returned to the monastery. After informing his master, he took his leave at once and headed straight for Hongzhou. Arriving at Wanhua Inn, he asked the innkeeper Liu Xiao'er, "Some years ago, an official Chen from Jiangzhou had his mother staying at your inn. How is she now?" Liu Xiao'er said, "She did stay at my inn. Later she went blind, and for three or four years she has paid me no rent. Now she lives in a broken tile kiln at the South Gate, begging in the streets each day to get by. That official has been gone a long time, and there has been no news of him. I do not know why." Hearing this, Xuanzang went straight to the broken tile kiln at the South Gate and found his grandmother. The old woman said, "Your voice sounds just like my son Chen Guangrui." Xuanzang said, "I am not Chen Guangrui; I am Chen Guangrui's son. The young lady Wenjiao is my mother." The old woman said, "Why have your father and mother not come?" Xuanzang said, "My father was killed by a bandit, and my mother was taken by the bandit as his wife." The old woman said, "How did you know to come and find me?" Xuanzang said, "My mother sent me to find you. She has a letter here, and also an incense ring." The old woman took the letter and the incense ring, and wept aloud, saying, "I thought my son had gone for fame and fortune and abandoned me, never knowing he had been murdered. But I am glad that Heaven has taken pity and not let my son's line end, so that today I have a grandson to seek me out." Xuanzang asked, "Grandmother, how did your eyes become blind?" The old woman said, "Because I missed your father, watching and waiting day after day without seeing him come—so I wept until both my eyes went dark." Xuanzang knelt and prayed to Heaven, saying, "I, Xuanzang, am now eighteen years old, and I have not yet avenged my parents. Today I have come on my mother's orders to find my grandmother. If Heaven will take pity on this disciple's sincerity, may my grandmother's eyes be restored." After the prayer, he licked his grandmother's eyes with the tip of his tongue. In a moment, her eyes opened and were as clear as before. The old woman looked at the young monk and said, "You are indeed my grandson—you look exactly like my son Guangrui." The old woman was both overjoyed and grieved. Xuanzang then led his grandmother out of the kiln gate and back to Liu Xiao'er's inn. He paid some rent money for a room where his grandmother could stay. He also gave her traveling funds and said, "I will return in little more than a month." Then he took leave of his grandmother and went straight to the capital. He found the mansion of Prime Minister Yin at East Street in the imperial city and said to the gatekeeper, "This humble monk is a relative come to call on the minister." The gatekeeper reported this to the minister, and the minister said, "I have no kin among monks." His wife said, "Last night I dreamed that our daughter Man Tang Jiao had come home. Could it be that our son-in-law has sent a letter?" The minister then ordered the young monk brought into the hall. When the young monk saw the minister and his wife, he knelt weeping on the ground, then took a letter from his bosom and handed it to the minister. The minister opened it, read it through from beginning to end, and wept aloud. His wife asked, "My lord, what has happened?" The minister said, "This monk is our grandson. Our son-in-law Chen Guangrui was murdered by a bandit, and Man Tang Jiao was forcibly taken by that bandit as his wife." When his wife heard this, she too wept without end. The minister said, "Madam, do not distress yourself. Tomorrow I shall inform His Majesty, take personal command of the troops, and surely avenge our son-in-law." The next day, the Prime Minister entered the court and memorialized King Tang, saying: "Now my son-in-law, the Zhuangyuan Chen Guangrui, took his family to Jiangzhou to assume office, but was killed by the boatman Liu Hong, who took his daughter as wife and falsely assumed my son-in-law's office for many years. This matter is an extraordinary perversion. I beg Your Majesty to immediately dispatch troops to eradicate these bandit traitors." King Tang, greatly angered upon hearing this, issued sixty thousand Imperial Forest troops and ordered Prime Minister Yin to command the army to go forth. The Prime Minister received the imperial command, left the court, and proceeded to the drill grounds to muster the troops, then set out directly for Jiangzhou. They traveled by day and rested by night, under falling stars and flying birds, and before they knew it they had arrived at Jiangzhou. Prime Minister Yin's troops and horses all set up camp on the north bank. In the dead of night, he sent a gold token to summon the Jiangzhou Assistant Magistrate and Subprefectural Judge. The Prime Minister informed them of the matter and ordered them to bring troops to assist, and together they crossed the river. Before dawn had broken, they had surrounded Liu Hong's yamen. Liu Hong was still dreaming when he heard the sound of cannons and the clamor of drums and gongs. Soldiers rushed into his private quarters, and Liu Hong, caught unprepared, was soon captured. The Prime Minister issued military orders, binding Liu Hong and his accomplices and escorting them to the execution ground, while the troops were ordered to make camp outside the city. The Prime Minister entered the yamen directly, took his seat in the main hall, and bade the lady come forth to meet him. The lady, wishing to come out but ashamed to see her father, was about to hang herself. Xuanzang, learning of this, hurriedly rescued his mother, knelt on both knees, and said to her: "Your son has come with your father, commanding troops here to avenge our father. Today the bandits have already been captured; why, Mother, would you still seek death? If Mother dies, how could your son continue to live?" The Prime Minister also entered the hall to urge and console her. The lady said: "I have heard that 'a woman follows one man to the end.' I grieve that my husband was murdered by that bandit; how could I have the shameless face to follow him? Only because I carried a child in the womb did I endure shame and cling to life. Now, fortunately, my son has grown up, and I see my aged father leading troops to avenge us. But for a daughter, what face is there to show? Only death can repay my husband." The Prime Minister said: "This is not a matter of my daughter changing her constancy due to fortune's rise and fall; it all arose from necessity. Why should you feel ashamed?" Father and daughter embraced and wept, and Xuanzang also sobbed without end. The Prime Minister wiped away tears and said: "You two, cease your distress for now. I have captured the enemy—let us go and dispose of them." He then rose and went to the execution ground. Just then, the Jiangzhou Assistant Magistrate also sent scouts who had captured the water bandit Li Biao and brought him in. The Prime Minister was greatly pleased and ordered the military guards to bring Liu Hong and Li Biao forward. Each was beaten a hundred heavy strokes, and their confessions were taken, in which they admitted the circumstances of their earlier crime of conspiring to murder Chen Guangrui. First, Li Biao was nailed to a wooden donkey-cart, driven to the market place, sliced with a thousand cuts, and his head was displayed to the public. Then Liu Hong was taken to the ford of the Hongjiang River, to the very place where Chen Guangrui had been killed years before. The Prime Minister, the lady, and Xuanzang personally went to the riverbank, made sacrifices to the heavens, cut out Liu Hong's living heart and liver as offerings to Guangrui, and burned a memorial text. The three wept bitterly over the river, which soon stirred the Water Mansion. A Night-Patrolling Yaksha presented the memorial text to the Dragon King. After reading it, the Dragon King at once dispatched General Turtle to invite Guangrui to come, saying: "Sir, congratulations, congratulations. Your wife, your son, and your father-in-law are all at the riverbank offering sacrifices to you. I now send you back to life. Moreover, I present you with one Wish-Fulfilling Pearl, two Rolling Pearls, ten bolts of Jiaoxiao silk, and a bright-pearl jade belt. Today you may be reunited with your wife, son, and mother." Guangrui bowed repeatedly in thanks. The Dragon King then ordered the Yaksha to deliver Guangrui's corpse out of the river mouth and restore him to life. The Yaksha received the command and departed. Now Lady Yin, having wept and made offerings to her husband, was again about to throw herself into the water to die, so alarming Xuanzang that he clung to her with all his might. In the midst of this panic, suddenly a corpse floated up on the water's surface and drifted near the riverbank. The lady hurried forward to look and recognized it as her husband's body, whereupon she wailed even more bitterly without cease. Everyone gathered to look, and they saw Guangrui unclench his fists and stretch his legs, his body gradually beginning to move, until suddenly he sat up. All were greatly astonished. Guangrui opened his eyes and at once saw Lady Yin, his father-in-law Prime Minister Yin, and the young monk all beside him, weeping. Guangrui said: "Why are you all here?" The lady said: "Because you were killed by that bandit, I later gave birth to this son. Fortunately, the elder abbot of Jinshan Temple raised him to adulthood, and he sought me out and met me. I instructed him to seek out your father. When my father learned of it, he memorialized the court, led troops here, captured the bandits, and just now cut out his living heart and liver and made offerings to you in the heavens. But how, my husband, did you come back to life?" Guangrui said: "All because when we were at the Ten Thousand Flowers Inn in years past, you bought and released that golden carp. Who would have known that carp was the Dragon King of this place? Later, when that traitor pushed me into the water, it was entirely due to him that I was saved. Just now he also restored me to life and gave me treasures, all of which are still on my person. I never expected that you would bear this son, and that my father-in-law would avenge me. Truly, bitterness has ended and sweetness has come—there is no greater joy." The assembled officials, hearing of this, all came to offer congratulations. The Prime Minister then ordered a banquet to thank the subordinate officials. That very day, the army set out on its return. When they arrived at the Ten Thousand Flowers Inn, the Prime Minister ordered the troops to make camp. Guangrui then went with Xuanzang to the Liu family inn to find his grandmother. That night the old woman had dreamed a dream: she dreamed that a withered tree bloomed with flowers, and behind the house magpies chattered incessantly. She thought: "Could it be that my grandson has come?" No sooner had she spoken than she saw Guangrui and his son arrive together outside the inn door. The young monk pointed and said: "Is this not our grandmother?" When Guangrui saw his aged mother, he at once fell to his knees and bowed. Mother and son embraced and wept bitterly for some time, and he told her the whole story from beginning to end. They settled the innkeeper's bill and set out for the capital. Arriving at the Prime Minister's mansion, Guangrui, the lady, the old grandmother, and Xuanzang all came to see the Prime Minister's wife. She was overjoyed and ordered the servants to prepare a great banquet in celebration. The Prime Minister said: "This feast today may be named the Reunion Banquet." Truly the whole family rejoiced together. The next morning at court, King Tang ascended the hall. Prime Minister Yin stepped forward and memorialized the full account of all that had happened, and further recommended that Guangrui's talents merited high appointment. King Tang approved the memorial and issued an order promoting Chen E to the post of Academician, to attend to state affairs at court. Xuanzang, resolved to devote himself to meditation, was sent to Hongfu Temple to cultivate the Way. Later, Lady Yin ultimately took her own life in a composed manner. Xuanzang went to Jinshan Temple to repay the elder Faming. What happened thereafter—you must hear in the next chapter.