Chapter 37

But to say that San Zang sat in the meditation hall of Baolin Temple under the lamp, recited for a while the "Liang Emperor's Water Repentance," read for a while the "Peacock True Sutra," and did not stop until the third watch, when he then wrapped the sutra books in his bag. Just as he was about to rise and go to sleep, he heard outside the door a loud crackling sound, and a gust of fierce wind howling and whistling. The elder, fearing that the lamp would be blown out, hastily covered it with the sleeve of his clerical robe. He also saw the lamp flickering now bright, now dim, and felt somewhat alarmed and terrified. At this time sleepiness also came over him, and he lay down on the sutra desk to doze. Although his eyes were closed and he was drowsy, he was still clear in his mind. In his ears, faintly, he heard the gloomy wind outside the window, rustling. A fine wind! Truly it was: Soughing and sighing, drifting and swaying. Soughing and sighing sent the fallen leaves flying; Drifting and swaying rolled the floating clouds. All the stars in the sky grew dim and dark; Everywhere on the ground, dust and sand were scattered in confusion. One moment it was violent, another moment gentle. When gentle, the pines and bamboos struck a clear rhythm; When violent, the rivers and lakes became turbid and rough. It blew so that mountain birds could hardly perch, crying in distress; Sea fish could not stay still, leaping and splashing. Doors and windows of the eastern and western pavilions were torn off; In the front and rear corridors, spirits and ghosts frowned. The vases in the Buddha hall were blown down to the ground; The glass lamps shook and the wisdom-lamp grew dim. The incense burner tipped over, its ashes spilling; The candle stand leaned askew, the flame smoking. The banners, canopies, and precious umbrellas all swayed and cracked; The bell and drum towers and terraces were shaken to their foundations. As the elder, in his drowsy dream, heard the wind pass by for a while, he again heard a faint call from outside the meditation hall: "Master!" Suddenly raising his head in his dream to look, he saw outside the door stood a man, his whole body dripping wet, tears streaming from his eyes, and he kept calling "Master" without cease. San Zang straightened up and said, "Could you be some ghoul, goblin, spirit, monster, or demon, coming at this deep night to toy with me? I am not one of those given to greed or anger. I am a monk of light and uprightness, bearing the decree of the Great Tang in the East, going to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures. I have three disciples under me, all heroes who can subdue dragons and tame tigers, stalwarts who sweep away monsters and eliminate demons. If they saw you, they would grind your bones to powder and reduce you to dust. This is my great compassion and expedient intent. You had better hide yourself and flee far away, and do not come near my meditation gate." That man, leaning against the meditation hall, said, "Master, I am not a goblin, demon, or monster, nor am I some ghoul or evil spirit." San Zang said, "If you are not of that kind, then why have you come here in the dead of night?" The man said, "Master, please look at me with your compassionate eyes." The elder indeed looked carefully and fixed his gaze—and lo! He saw: On his head he wore a crown that reached the sky; Around his waist was girded a belt of jasper green; On his body he wore a robe of ochre yellow with flying dragons and dancing phoenixes; On his feet he trod cloud-tipped embroidered shoes of carefree ease; In his hand he held a white jade tablet arrayed with stars and constellations. His face was like the Eternal Life Emperor of the Eastern Peak; His form resembled the Lord of Enlightenment and Civilization. When San Zang saw this, he was greatly shocked and changed color. He hastily bowed and called out in a stern voice, "Which dynasty's sovereign are you? Please be seated." He reached out to help him, but grasped only emptiness. Turning back and sitting down, he looked again—and there was still that person. The elder then asked, "Your Majesty, from which kingdom are you? Which realm's emperor? It must be that your land is not at peace, and slanderous ministers oppress you, so you have fled here at midnight. What have you to say? Tell me." Then this man, with tears dripping from his cheeks, spoke of old affairs, and with worry knit on his brows, recounted the cause. He said, "Master, my home lies due west, only about forty li from here. Over there is a city, which is the place where I established my foundation." San Zang said, "What is the name of that place?" The man said, "To tell you the truth, Master, it is the very kingdom I founded and renamed Wuji Kingdom." San Zang said, "Your Majesty, you are so alarmed—what matter has brought you here?" The man said, "Master, five years ago in this place, there was a great drought; no grass or grain grew, and the people starved to death—most grievous indeed." Hearing this, San Zang nodded and smiled, saying, "Your Majesty, as the ancients say: 'When the state is upright, the heart of Heaven is compliant.' It must be that you did not show pity and care for your myriad subjects. Since you have encountered famine, why did you flee from the city? Rather, you should open the granaries, relieve the common people, repent of past wrongs, revive present good, pardon those unjustly convicted—then naturally Heaven's heart will harmonize, and rain and wind will be timely." The man said, "In my kingdom the granaries are empty, and funds and grain are exhausted. The civil and military officials have stopped their salaries, and even my own meals have no meat. I imitated King Yu in taming the floods, sharing hardships with the people, bathing and fasting, burning incense and praying day and night. For three years this continued, until the rivers ran dry and the wells dried up. Just at the moment of crisis, suddenly a Quanzhen from Zhongnan Mountain arrived, who could summon wind and call rain, and turn stone into gold. He first met my civil and military officials, and later met me. I immediately invited him to ascend the altar to pray, and indeed there was a response: at the clap of his command token, in an instant a torrential downpour fell. I only hoped for three feet of rain to suffice, but he said that after a long drought, that would not moisten the earth enough, and added another two inches. Seeing his righteousness, I made eight bows and became sworn brothers with him, addressing him as brother." San Zang said, "This is Your Majesty's great joy." The man said, "From where does joy come?" San Zang said, "Since that Quanzhen has such powers, when you need rain, have him bring rain; when you need gold, have him turn stone to gold. What more could be lacking, that you left the capital and came here?" The man said, "I shared meals and sleep with him for only two years. Then we encountered spring weather—apricots and peaches blooming, flowers opening and pistils bursting. Every household's ladies and every place's noble youths all went out to enjoy the spring. At that time, the civil and military officials had returned to their offices, and the consorts had retired to their palaces. I was strolling hand in hand with that Quanzhen in the imperial garden, when we suddenly came to the edge of an octagonal琉璃 well. I do not know what object he threw in, but from the well there emanated myriad beams of golden light. He tricked me into going to the well to see the treasure, then suddenly conceived murderous intent—with a splash he pushed me into the well, covered the mouth with a stone slab, piled on earth, and transplanted a banana plant on top. Alas for me! I have been dead for three years now, a wronged ghost who perished in a well." When Tang Seng heard that it was a ghost, he was so terrified that his sinews went weak and his hair stood on end. Having no recourse, he had to ask him again, "Your Majesty, what you say is utterly unreasonable. If you have been dead for three years, how is it that the civil and military officials and the three palaces' empresses, when they appear at court on the three audience days, do not seek you out?" The man said, "Master, speaking of his powers, they are indeed rare in the world. Since he harmed me, he immediately in the garden shook his body and transformed into my exact likeness, with no difference at all. Now he has seized my rivers and mountains and secretly usurped my realm. He has taken my two ranks of civil and military officials, four hundred courtiers, three palaces' empresses, and six courts' concubines—all belong to him now." San Zang said, "Your Majesty, you are too weak." The man said, "What weakness?" San Zang said, "Your Majesty, that monster does have some supernatural powers, transforming into your likeness and usurping your realm. The civil and military cannot recognize it, the empresses and concubines cannot perceive it; only you, who died, know the truth. Why did you not bring a complaint before King Yama in the netherworld and state your grievance?" The man said, "His supernatural powers are vast, and he is well-acquainted with the officials: the City God of the capital often drinks with him, the Dragon Kings of the seas are all his kin, the Eastern Peak and Qitian are his good friends, and the Ten Generations of Yama are his sworn brothers. For this reason, I have no door through which to lodge my complaint." Tang Sanzang said, "Your Majesty, since you had no ability to sue him in the underworld, why have you come to the world of the living?" That person said, "Master, how would this little wronged soul dare to come to your gate? Before the mountain gate there are the Dharma-protecting Devas, the Six Ding and Six Jia, the Five Directional Revealers, the Four Duty Officers, and the Eighteen Guardians of the Faith, all closely following your saddle and horse. It was only just now that the Night Wandering God sent a divine wind and brought me in. He said that my three years of water calamity should be fulfilled, and told me to come and pay respects to you, Master. He said that under your command you have a great disciple, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who is extremely able to behead monsters and subdue demons. Now I have come with sincere heart to beg earnestly: I implore you to come to my kingdom, seize the demon, and distinguish the evil from the right. I will surely repay your kindness, Master, with grass and ring." Tang Sanzang said, "Your Majesty, have you come to ask my disciple to go with you and eliminate that demon?" That person said, "Exactly, exactly." Tang Sanzang said, "My disciple is not good at other tasks, but when it comes to subduing demons and capturing monsters, that suits him perfectly. Your Majesty, although I would have him capture the monster, I fear it may be difficult in principle." That person said, "Why difficult?" Tang Sanzang said, "That monster has vast supernatural powers and has transformed to look exactly like you; all the civil and military officials in the court speak in harmony and are obedient in heart; the three palaces' consorts and concubines are all in accord and affection. Even if my disciple has skill, he would certainly not dare to lightly take up arms. If he were captured by the many officials, they would accuse us of bullying the state and destroying the kingdom, and charge us with the crime of high treason, trapping us in the city—would that not be like painting a tiger and carving a swan, ending up with neither?" That person said, "There are still people in my court." Tang Sanzang said, "That is good, that is good. It must be that an imperial prince or senior attendant has been sent off to guard some place?" That person said, "No. In my own palace there is a crown prince, my own born heir." Tang Sanzang said, "Has that crown prince been demoted by the demon?" That person said, "No. He only stays in the Golden Luan Hall and the Five Phoenix Tower, sometimes studying books with scholars, sometimes ascending the throne with the Quanzhen. For these three years, the crown prince has been forbidden to enter the imperial palace, and he cannot see the empress." Tang Sanzang said, "Why is that?" That person said, "This is a scheme devised by the monster. He fears that if mother and son meet, in their leisure they might discuss matters and reveal secrets, lest the news leak out. Therefore the two do not meet, so that he may remain forever." Tang Sanzang said, "Your misfortune must be Heaven's decree, and it resembles my own. At that time my father was killed by water bandits; my mother was taken by water bandits, and after three months, she gave birth to me. I escaped with my life in the water, and fortunately the kind master of Gold Mountain Monastery saved and raised me to adulthood. I remember that in my childhood I had no parents—and here that crown prince has lost both parents; truly pitiable!" He further asked, "Even if you have a crown prince at court, how am I to meet him?" That person said, "Why can you not meet him?" Tang Sanzang said, "He is constrained by the demon; he cannot even see his own birth mother. How can I, a monk, find a way to see him?" That person said, "He will come out of court tomorrow morning." Tang Sanzang asked, "Why does he leave court?" That person said, "At tomorrow's morning court, he will lead three thousand horsemen, with hawks and hounds, and go out of the city for hunting. Master, you will certainly be able to meet him. If when you meet him you are willing to speak my words to him, he will believe them." Tang Sanzang said, "He is after all of mortal eyes and ordinary flesh, deceived by the demon in the hall—every day he calls him 'Father King' several times. How could he believe my words?" That person said, "Since you fear he may not believe, I will leave a token with you." Tang Sanzang asked, "What object is it?" That person put down the gold-inlaid white jade tablet he held in his hand and said, "This object can serve as a token." Tang Sanzang said, "What about this object?" That person said, "Ever since the Quanzhen changed into my likeness, he only failed to transform this precious object. When he went to the palace, he said that the Quanzhen who had prayed for rain had stolen this tablet away. For these three years, this object has not appeared. If my crown prince sees it, he will think of its owner upon seeing the object, and he will certainly avenge this wrong." Tang Sanzang said, "Very well, I will keep it and have my disciple handle it for you. But where shall I wait for you?" That person said, "I dare not wait. As I go, I will again entreat the Night Wandering God to send another divine wind to carry me into the inner court of the imperial palace, and I will entrust a dream to my principal queen, so that mother and son may be united in purpose, and you master and disciples may be of one mind." Tang Sanzang nodded and agreed, saying, "Go now." That wronged soul kowtowed and took his leave. As he lifted his foot to see him off, somehow he tripped and fell head over heels, startling Tang Sanzang awake—it turned out to be a dream of the Southern Bough. Flustered, facing the dim lamp, he hurriedly called out, "Disciples, disciples." Zhu Bajie woke up and said, "What 'Earth God, Earth God'? In those days I was a bold fellow, I made my living by eating people, enjoying meat and fish—truly happy. But you chose to become a monk and made us protect you on this journey. At first it was said we would only be monks, but now we're treated like servants: during the day we carry bundles and lead the horse, at night we hold the chamber pot and tend your feet! At this late hour, not sleeping, and calling for disciples again—what for?" Tang Sanzang said, "Disciples, just now I was dozing at the desk and had a strange dream." Sun Wukong jumped up and said, "Master, dreams come from thoughts. You haven't even gone up the mountain yet, but you're already afraid of monsters; and you worry that Thunderclap Monastery is far and you may not reach it; and you miss Chang'an, not knowing when you will return—so your mind is full and dreams are many. But as for old Sun, with my single sincere mind set on seeing the Buddha in the West, not a single dream comes to me." Tang Sanzang said, "Disciples, this dream of mine is not a homesick dream. Just as I closed my eyes, I saw a gust of wind pass by, and outside the meditation chamber door there was a reigning emperor, who claimed to be the king of Wuji Kingdom. His whole body was drenched, and tears filled his eyes." And so and so, thus and thus, he recounted all the words of the dream to Wukong. Wukong laughed and said, "Say no more. He came to entrust a dream to you, clearly to give old Sun a piece of business. There must be a demon there usurping the throne and plotting for the kingdom. Let me distinguish the true from the false. I think wherever that demon's staff reaches, success will be established." Tang Sanzang said, "Disciples, he said that monster has vast supernatural powers." Wukong said, "Why fear his vastness? If old Sun had known earlier, I would make him flee without a trace." Tang Sanzang said, "I also remember that he left a precious object as a token." Zhu Bajie replied, "Master, don't make a fuss. It was just a dream—why keep taking it so seriously?" Sha Seng said, "'If you don't trust the straight among the straight, you must beware the unkind among the kind.' Let us light a fire, open the door, and see what it is." Wukong indeed opened the door, and as they all looked, there in the starlight and moonlight, on the edge of the steps, truly lay a gold-inlaid white jade tablet. Zhu Bajie stepped forward and picked it up, saying, "Elder Brother, what is this thing?" Wukong said, "This is the precious object held in the king's hand, called a jade tablet. Master, since this object exists, this matter must be true. Tomorrow, capturing the demon will all be on old Sun. But it will require you to suffer three misfortunes." Zhu Bajie said, "Fine, fine, fine—it was just a dream, and you had to tell him. He's not one to miss a chance to make trouble for people? He's telling you to suffer three misfortunes." Tang Sanzang went back inside and asked, "What are those three?" Wukong said, "Tomorrow you will have to be the scapegoat, endure anger, and catch the plague." Zhu Bajie laughed, "Even one is hard enough—how can three be borne?" Tang Sanzang, being a wise elder, asked, "Disciples, what do these three matters mean?" Wukong said, "No need to explain; let me first give you two items." The splendid Great Sage plucked one of his hairs, blew on it with immortal breath, and called out, "Change!" It turned into a small red-gold lacquered casket; he placed the white jade tablet inside, and said, "Master, hold this object in your hands. When dawn comes, put on your brocade kasaya, go sit in the main hall and recite scriptures. I will go and inspect that city. If it truly is a demon, I will kill him and thereby establish a merit here; if not, let us not stir up trouble." Tripitaka said, "Yes, yes." The Great Sage said, "If the crown prince does not leave the city, well and good; but if he indeed leaves the city as in the dream, I will certainly lead him to see you." Tripitaka said, "When he comes to see me, how shall I receive and answer him?" The Great Sage said, "When he arrives, I will first inform you. Pull open the lid of that casket a little; let me change into a little monk two inches tall and place myself inside the casket, and you hold me in your hands together with it. When the crown prince enters the monastery, he will certainly worship the Buddha. No matter how he prostrates himself, you simply pay him no heed. When he sees that you do not rise, he will surely order you to be seized. Let him seize you—if he beats you, let him beat; if he binds you, let him bind; if he kills you, let him kill." Tripitaka said, "Ah! His military authority is great; if he really kills me, what then?" The Great Sage said, "No matter, I am here. When it comes to the critical moment, I will naturally protect you. If he questions you, say that you are a monk dispatched by imperial order from the East to worship the Buddha and fetch scriptures in the Western Heaven, and also bearing tribute treasures. He will ask, 'What treasures?' Then you will tell him about the brocade kasaya and say, 'This is the third-grade treasure. There are also first-grade and second-grade fine objects.' Whenever he asks, say that inside this casket there is a treasure that knows five hundred years past, five hundred years future, and five hundred years present—altogether knowing all events of one thousand five hundred years past and to come. Then let old Sun out. I will tell that crown prince the words of the dream. If he is willing to believe, he will go and capture that demon, first to avenge his father the king, and second so that we may establish a reputation. If he does not believe, then show him the white jade tablet. I only fear that he is young and may not recognize it." When Tripitaka heard this, he was greatly delighted and said, "Disciple, this plan is superb! But speaking of these treasures, one is called the brocade kasaya and the other the white jade tablet; what name shall be given to the treasure that you will transform into?" The Great Sage said, "Let it be called 'Li Di Huo.'" Tripitaka complied and kept it in mind. That night the master and disciples could not get any sleep; they waited for dawn, wishing they could nod to call out the sun of Fusang and blow with their breath to scatter the stars all over the sky. Before long, the east grew light. The Great Sage again instructed Bajie and Sha Seng, telling the two of them: "Do not disturb the monks or wander about. After I succeed, we shall travel together." Then he took his leave, gave a whistle, turned a somersault, and leaped into the air. Opening his fiery eyes and looking westward, he indeed saw a city. How did he see it? Earlier it was said that the city was only forty li from the monastery, so from a height he could see it. The Great Sage drew near and looked carefully, and also saw monstrous mists and sorrowful clouds spreading thickly, demonic winds and resentful vapors swirling everywhere. The Great Sage, in midair, sighed in praise: "If a true king sat upon the precious throne, There would naturally be auspicious light and five-colored clouds. But because a demon has usurped the dragon's seat, Rolling black vapors lock the golden gates." While the Great Sage was thus sighing, he suddenly heard the booming of cannon, and saw the eastern gate open, from which emerged a troop of horsemen—truly a hunting army, indeed valiant and fierce. One could see: At dawn they left the eastern wall of the forbidden city, And spread their formation amid the shallow grass. Colorful banners unfurled, reflecting the sun; White steeds galloped against the wind. Alligator-skin drums rumbled and rolled; Javelins charged in pairs. Those who carried falcons were fierce and vehement; Those who led hounds were valiant and bold. Cannon fire shook the heavens; Pole-nooses glowed red in the sun. Every man bore a crossbow and arrows; Each carried a carved bow. They spread nets at the foot of the slopes, Laid ropes along the small paths. A startling thunderclap rang out; A thousand horsemen surrounded bears and wild beasts. The cunning hare could not save itself; The clever elk also exhausted its wits. Foxes were fated to die; Deer fell among them. Mountain pheasants could hardly escape; Wild fowl could not avoid disaster. They all chose mountain grounds to capture fierce beasts, And destroyed trees and forests to shoot flying insects. Those men came out of the city and spread out over the eastern countryside. Before long, after about twenty li across the high fields, they saw within the central camp a small general: wearing a helmet, clad in armor, with a patterned belly-wrap and eighteen rows of lacing, holding a blue-edged treasured sword in his hand, riding a yellow piebald horse, and at his waist a fully strung bow. Truly: Dimly he bore the likeness of a sovereign, Loftily he had the bearing of an emperor. His mien was no small matter; His movements revealed the true dragon. The Great Sage secretly rejoiced in the air, saying, "Needless to say, that is the emperor's crown prince. Let me tease him a little." The splendid Great Sage lowered his cloud, plunged into the army, right before the crown prince's horse, and with a shake of his body changed into a white rabbit that ran about in front of the prince's horse. When the crown prince saw it, it pleased him greatly; he took up his arrow, drew his bow to the full, and shot—the arrow struck the rabbit. Now it was the Great Sage who intentionally let him hit it; but he was sharp-eyed and quick-handed, and he caught the arrowhead in one grasp, letting the feather and arrow-tassel fall in front, then he flung away his feet and ran. The crown prince, seeing that his arrow had hit the jade rabbit, wheeled his horse and charged ahead alone in pursuit. But no matter how fast the horse ran, the Great Sage was like the wind; when the horse slowed, the Great Sage slowed his pace—always just ahead of him. So he led the prince, mile by mile, until he had lured him to the very gate of Baolin Monastery. Then the Great Sage revealed his true form. The rabbit was gone; only an arrow was seen stuck in the threshold. He dashed straight in, saw Tang Monk, and said, "Master, he's coming, he's coming." Then he changed again into a little monk two inches tall and crawled into the red casket. Now when the crown prince arrived at the monastery gate, the jade rabbit was gone, and he saw only a carved-feather arrow stuck in the threshold. The prince was greatly startled and changed color, saying, "Strange! Strange! Clearly my arrow hit the jade rabbit—how is it that the rabbit is nowhere to be seen, and only the arrow remains here? It must be that after many years it had become a spirit." He pulled out the arrow and looked up; on the gate were five large characters reading "Imperial Edict Baolin Monastery." The prince said, "I know this place. In past years I recall that my father the king, from the Golden Chariot Hall, sent officials with gold and silks to these monks for repairing the Buddha hall and images. Who would have expected me to come here today? Truly, 'Passing by a Daoist courtyard, I chanced upon a monk's talk; and thus gained another half day of idleness in this fleeting life.' Let me go in for a while." The crown prince dismounted and was about to enter, when the escorting officers and generals with the three thousand troops caught up, and they crowded in through the gate. The monks of the monastery were flustered and all came to kowtow and receive them, ushering them into the main hall where they paid homage to the Buddha images. Just as the prince raised his eyes to look around and was about to tour the corridors and view the sights, he suddenly saw a monk sitting right in the middle. The crown prince flew into a rage, saying, "This monk is disrespectful! Though I have come with the half-court imperial carriage and no decree has been sent to notify you, you should have come out to receive me from afar. Now that the troops are at the gate, you should at least rise—how can you remain sitting motionless?" He ordered, "Seize him!" At the word "seize," the officers on both sides set to work, grabbing Tang Monk and dragging him down; they quickly prepared ropes to bind him. The Great Sage inside the casket silently recited spells, commanding, "Dharma-protecting devas, Six Ding and Six Jia, I am now using a stratagem to subdue the demon; this crown prince does not understand and is about to tie up my master with ropes. You must protect him at once; if he is truly bound, you will all be guilty." The Great Sage gave these secret orders, and who dared not obey? So they secured Tripitaka, and those men could not even touch his bald head; it was as if a wall stood in their way, making it impossible to get near him. The crown prince said, "From what place do you come, that you use such a concealment art to deceive me?" Sanzang stepped forward and made a salutation, saying, "Your poor monk has no concealment art. I am a monk from the Eastern Land of Tang, going to the Thunderclap Monastery to worship Buddha, seek scriptures, and present treasures." The crown prince said, "Though your Eastern Land is the Central Plain, it is utterly poor. What treasures do you have? Tell me so I may hear." Sanzang said, "This cassock I wear on my body is the third kind of treasure. There are still first-rate and second-rate things even better." The crown prince said, "That garment of yours covers half your body and bares half your arm—how much could it be worth, that you dare call it a treasure?" Sanzang said, "Though this cassock is not a full robe, there are a few verses about it. The verses say: The Buddha-robe bares the shoulder—no need to discuss, Within it hides the True Suchness, escaping the world's dust. Ten thousand threads and a thousand needles complete the true fruit, Nine pearls and eight gems unite with the primal spirit. Immortal maidens and holy nuns reverently fashioned it, Bestowed on this meditative monk to purify his defiled body. If when meeting the throne you do not bow, that may still be forgiven, But if your father's wrong goes unavenged, you are no true man." When the crown prince heard these words, he flew into a rage and said, "You vile monk talk nonsense! With that half-piece of clothing, you rely on your glib tongue to boast and brag. How has my father's wrong not been avenged? Tell me so I may hear." Sanzang stepped forward and, putting his palms together, asked, "Your Highness, for a person born between heaven and earth, how many kinds of grace are there?" The crown prince said, "There are four kinds of grace." Sanzang said, "What are the four graces?" The crown prince said, "Gratitude for heaven and earth's covering and supporting, gratitude for the sun and moon's shining, gratitude for the king's land and water, and gratitude for one's parents' nurturing." Sanzang laughed and said, "Your Highness has misspoken. People only have heaven and earth's covering and supporting, the sun and moon's shining, and the king's land and water—how could there be parents' nurturing?" The crown prince angrily said, "Monk, you are one of those idle, vagrant, shaven-headed, ruler-defying fellows! If people are not nurtured by their parents, from where do their bodies come?" Sanzang said, "Your Highness, your poor monk does not know. But only inside this red casket there is a treasure called the Lord of Establishing Emperors. He knows five hundred years of the past, five hundred years of the present, and five hundred years of the future—altogether knowing one thousand five hundred years of events past and to come. He will know whether there is any grace of parental nurturing, and he has had your poor monk waiting here for a long time." When the crown prince heard this, he ordered, "Bring it here for me to see." Sanzang pulled open the lid of the casket, and the Monkey King jumped out, scurrying around on both sides with a zhi-ya zhi-ya sound. The crown prince said, "This tiny little man—what can he know?" When the Monkey King heard this, he took offense at being small, and then he exercised his divine power. He stretched his waist and grew to about three chi four or five cun in height. The assembled soldiers exclaimed in surprise, "If he grows this fast, in a few days he will pierce the sky!" The Monkey King stopped growing once he reached his original size. Only then did the crown prince ask, "Lord of Establishing Emperors, this old monk says you can know future, past, good fortune, and disaster. Do you use turtle shells for divination? Or yarrow stalks for oracle? By what texts and verses do you judge people's fortune and misfortune?" The Monkey King said, "I use not a single thing—I rely wholly on this three-cun tongue, and all things are known to me." The crown prince said, "This fellow talks nonsense again. From ancient times, the Book of Changes has been supremely mysterious and subtle, judging all fortune and misfortune under heaven, teaching people what to pursue and what to avoid. That is why turtles are used for divination and yarrow for oracle. From what principle do your words derive? You recklessly speak of fortune and misfortune, stirring people's minds." The Monkey King said, "Your Highness, do not be impatient. Let me tell you, and you will hear. You are the crown prince of the king of Uk-kyo (Black Rooster) Kingdom. Five years ago in your land, there was a great drought, and the myriad people suffered hardship. Your emperor and his ministers prayed with sincere hearts. Just when there was not a drop of rain, a Daoist from Zhongnan Mountain arrived. He was skilled in summoning wind and rain and turning stone into gold. The king was too fond of small favors and so made him a sworn brother. Does this matter exist?" The crown prince said, "Yes, yes, yes—say more." The Monkey King said, "In the three years that followed, the Complete Truth (Quanzhen) Daoist was not seen. Who then claimed to be the sovereign?" The crown prince said, "Indeed, there was a Complete Truth Daoist, and my father the king made him a sworn brother—they ate together and slept together. Three years ago, while viewing the scenery in the imperial garden, a sudden divine wind snatched the gold-inlaid white jade tablet from my father's hand and carried it back to Zhongnan Mountain. To this day, my father still misses him. Because he has not seen him, he has lost all heart for enjoyment and has kept the garden tightly closed—already three years have passed. As for the one who is emperor, is he not my father the king?" When the Monkey King heard this, he sneered without end. The crown prince asked again but got no reply—only sneering. The crown prince angrily said, "This fellow, when he ought to speak, does not speak—why is he sneering like that?" The Monkey King said again, "There is still much to say, but unfortunately the many attendants on the left and right are not the place for speaking." Seeing that his words had a reason, the crown prince spread his sleeves and ordered the soldiers to withdraw. The officers and generals on the carriage immediately passed the order, and all three thousand cavalry went outside the gate to camp. At this time, there was no one in the hall. The crown prince sat above, the elder stood in front, and the Monkey King stood beside him on the left. All the monks of the monastery had withdrawn. Only then did the Monkey King step forward seriously and say, "Your Highness, the one who turned into wind and disappeared was your natural father; the one now sitting on the throne is that rain-bringing Complete Truth Daoist." The crown prince said, "Nonsense, nonsense. Since my father the Complete Truth Daoist left, the wind and rain have been timely, the country at peace, and the people prosperous. According to what you say, then he is not my father the king. It is only because I am young that I tolerate you; if my father the king heard these rebellious words, he would seize you and have you chopped into ten thousand pieces." He angrily drove the Monkey King down. The Monkey King said to Tang Sanzang, "What did I say? I told you he would not believe it—indeed, indeed. Now let us take that treasure and present it to him, exchange the passport, and head for the Western Land." Sanzang then handed the red casket to the Monkey King. The Monkey King took it and gave his body a shake, and the casket suddenly disappeared. It had originally been transformed from his hairs, and he retracted it into his body. Then he presented the white jade tablet with both hands, offering it to the crown prince. When the crown prince saw it, he said, "Good monk, good monk. Five years ago you were the Complete Truth Daoist, who came and cheated my family out of this treasure, and now you have disguised yourself as a monk to present it." He called out, "Seize him!" With a single command, the elder was so frightened that he hurriedly pointed at the Monkey King and said, "You Bimawen, you are always the one to stir up trouble—you have dragged me into this!" The Monkey King stepped forward and blocked them all, saying, "Don't shout—do not let the wind out! I am not called the Lord of Establishing Emperors; I have a true name." The crown prince angrily said, "Come up here. I will ask for your true name so that I can send you to the judiciary for sentencing!" The Monkey King said, "I am the elder's eldest disciple, named Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. Because I am going with my master to the Western Heaven to fetch scriptures, we arrived here last night seeking lodging. My master was reading scriptures at night, and at the third watch he had a dream. In the dream he saw your father the king, who said that he had been harmed by that Complete Truth Daoist, who pushed him into the octagonal glazed well in the imperial garden, and that the Complete Truth Daoist changed his appearance to look like him. None of the court officials knew. You were young and had no understanding, so they forbade you to enter the palace and closed the garden—largely for fear of leaking the news. Your father the king specially came tonight to ask me to subdue the demon. I was afraid he might not be an evil spirit, so I looked down from the sky and indeed saw that he was an imp. I was about to lay hands on him and seize him, when unexpectedly you came out of the city hunting. The jade rabbit your arrow hit was Old Sun. Old Sun led you to the monastery to see my master and tell you this heartfelt tale—every sentence is true. Since you recognize the white jade tablet, how can you not remember the grace of your rearing and avenge your own father?" When the crown prince heard these words, his heart was full of sorrow, and he secretly grieved, thinking, "If I do not believe these words, yet they seem three parts true; if I do believe them, how can I face the one on the throne who appears to be my father the king?" At this point, it was truly a case of being caught between advance and retreat, with his heart questioning his mouth, and after much thought and patience, his mouth questioned his heart. Seeing him wavering, the Monkey King stepped forward again and said, "Your Highness, there is no need to doubt. Please return to your kingdom and ask your mother the queen consort a single question—see how her conjugal affection with the king compares to that of three years ago. With just that one question, you will know truth from falsehood." The crown prince turned his mind back and said, "Exactly. Wait until I go and ask my mother." He leaped up, tucked the white jade tablet under his arm, and was about to leave. Sun Wukong pulled him back and said, "If all your men and horses return now, will not the news leak out, and how can I succeed in my task? You must enter the city alone, on a single horse, and do not make a show of yourself or boast. Do not enter through the Zhengyang Gate; you must go in through the Houzai Gate. When you reach the palace and see your mother, be sure not to raise your voice—you must speak softly and in whispers. For fear that the monster's divine powers are vast, and should news slip out for even a moment, your mother's and your own lives will be hard to save." The crown prince respectfully obeyed the instruction. He went out of the mountain gate and gave orders to the officers: "Stay steady here and pitch camp; do not move. I have one matter to attend to—once I have gone and returned, we shall enter the city together." Watch him: He gave commands and marshaled the troops, Mounted his horse and flew straight back to the city. This time, we do not know what words he spoke when he saw the empress; we must hear the explanation in the next chapter.