🧚 Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 9

“How old is he?”1

“We are almost the same age--both of us.2 But why do you ask these questions?”3

Yeng-Si did not reply, at once.4 Her eyes filled with tears, and suddenly she broke out, sobbing:5

“My son!6 My poor son!7 Where are you?”8

These words made a vivid impression on Yeng-So-Yei.9 “Can it be that this poor woman is my husband’s mother?” she thought to herself.10

She tenderly took her tearful companion in her arms and asked gently,11

“Was your son called San-Syeng?”12

At the sound of this name, Yeng-Si, more agitated than before, cried:13

“Yes, that was the name I gave him and I personally inscribed the name of San-Syeng on my baby’s arm in characters that could not be removed.14 This ring, which I hold in my hand, I placed in his clothes when I was obliged to abandon him.”15

“Mother, my dear mother,” cried Yeng-So-Yei, throwing herself in Yeng-Si’s arms.16 “Your son is my husband and I am on my way to find him.”17

“Do my ears hear aright?” cried Yeng-Si.18 “But, what in the world does this costume mean?”19

“I put it on so as to be able to travel with more security.”20

The two women embraced each other tenderly, mingling their warm tears.21 Ou-Pung, the sister, who was passing outside, hearing the sound of sobs, entered the room.22

“What are you crying about?” she asked.23

“Good friend, we have been showing hospitality not to a young man, but to the wife of my own lost son,” replied Yeng-Si.24

“How happy I am for your sakes!”25

Yeng-So-Yei then explained to the nun why she had assumed the garb of a man.26

“You were right,” rejoined the sister, “but what motive impelled you to leave the town where you were living?”27

The young wife briefly told the story of her misfortune.28 She was now more anxious than ever to find her husband and she wasted few words in her recital.29

“I shall find him easily,” she added, “no matter how changed he may be.30 He has probably kept the horse which I gave him when he left me and if I cannot recognize the husband, I will know my father’s horse.”31

“Well,” said the nun to Yeng-Si, “the end of all your sorrows is at hand.32 Follow your daughter and together you will find San-Syeng.”33

“Yes, it will not be our fault if we do not find him.”34

Accustomed to having lived together for so long, Yeng-Si and the sister experienced keen regret at parting from each other.35 But Ou-Pung was the first to suggest that Yeng-Si leave with her daughter-in-law for she was happy at the good fortune which had come to her deserving companion.36

So it came to pass that Yeng-Si and Yeng-So-Yei set out together for the Capital.37 When they came close to the grove of bamboo, San-Syeng’s mother could not suppress her tears.38

“Why are you crying so, mother?”39

“It was here, my child, that seventeen years ago I gave birth to him who is now your husband.40 A short distance from here I abandoned him to go with Ou-Pung, the nun.41 These recollections pain me greatly.”42

The two women continued on their way.43 After several hours’ walking, they came to the shores of a wide lake.44 Yeng-Si paused by the water’s edge, and raising her eyes to Heaven, cried in a weak and trembling voice:45

“Dear and unfortunate friend, what has become of you?”46

She told Yeng-So-Yei of the sublime devotion of the woman, who had enabled her to escape from the hands of Su-Rung.47

During the few following days their trip was without incident until they came to the town of San-Jon.48 Here they resolved to remain for a day as they were fatigued by their journey and they entered the first inn which they stumbled upon.49

The inn-keeper’s son was at once smitten by Yeng-So-Yei who was, as we know, a marvel of grace and beauty.50 Finding his attentions repulsed, he resolved to obtain revenge--the mark of a small mind.51 One of the maid-servants was ordered to place in the young wife’s apartment some jewels which belonged to the young man.52 The thing was done without difficulty--and the servant swore under threats of punishment that she would tell the plot to no one.53

Next morning the rejected suitor entered Yeng-So-Yei’s room, saying:54

“Madame, you will pardon me?55 Some one has stolen my jewels.56 I have searched in all the other rooms of the house and I ask your permission to do the same in yours.”57

“Willingly, sir.”58

It can be readily imagined that the two women were greatly astonished to see the young man discover in their rooms, as if by magic, the jewels which he claimed had been stolen from him.59 They asserted that they were innocent, but it was useless.60 They were arrested in the name of the Mandarin and were taken before him for a preliminary examination.61

They renewed vigorously their denials, the Mandarin meanwhile listening attentively.62 He had been impressed by the singular beauty of Yeng-So-Yei, but gave no visible evidence of it, and committed the two women to prison.63 A few moments after, he had word brought to them that if Yeng-So-Yei would consent to marry him, no mention would ever be made of the theft.64 In case of refusal--it was to be--death.65

The young wife spurned the Mandarin’s messenger with great indignation.66

“Tell your master that he is a villain.67 I am married and I will never be unfaithful to my husband, not even to escape torture and death.”68

The Mandarin, very much irritated, gave orders that the execution of the prisoners should take place in three days.69 The keeper of the prison, who was also the executioner, went about his sinister preparations.70 Keenly touched by the plight of the two women, he visited them and said:71

“I shall be very glad to render you any service that you ask.72 I am obliged to obey the commands of the Mandarin, but I do not hesitate to say that he is one of the vilest of men.”73

The jailer’s voice trembled as he spoke.74 Yeng-Si and her daughter-in-law, torn with anguish, were wailing and sobbing.75 Was it thus that they were to leave the world--one without having seen her son--the other without embracing her husband?76

“Oh, my San-Syeng!77 Oh, my San-Syeng!” they cried.78 Their grief was so poignant that it overmastered their strength and they lost consciousness.79

_Here the eighth stage of our legend cometh to a close.80

IX81

IX82

On leaving the Capital, San-Syeng had a three-fold mission in view: to make certain of the faithful execution of the King’s commands, to find his parents, and to rejoin his wife.83 The young man did not make light of the difficulties that lay before him, but he resolved to bend all his efforts toward accomplishing his heart’s desires.84 He was optimistic and cherished the brightest hopes of having his wishes crowned with success.85

His adorable Yeng-So-Yei obviously had the first claim to his attention, and he set out with haste to see her.86 When but a short distance from the town of Yen-Yu where his wife dwelt, the new General learned that the place had been given over to revolt and pillage.87 San-Syeng immediately mobilized the royal troops from the neighboring towns and order was restored in a few days.88 The Mandarin, whose exactions had been the primary cause of the revolt, was arrested and sent to the Capital together with the ring-leaders in the disturbance.89

This task accomplished, San-Syeng made pleasant preparations to surprise Yeng-So-Yei by his home-coming.90 Alas the house where he expected to find his beautiful little wife had been burned to the ground, as if blasted by a dragon’s fiery breath.91 He could not master his sorrow and burst into sobs.92 His orderly, who accompanied him, endeavored to console him, but in vain, and was at last obliged to lead his master away from the heap of charred embers and ashes.93 He learned that Yeng-So-Yei’s mother was dead and that the orphan, when the fire broke out, had fled and no one could tell whither she had gone.94