🧚 Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 9 · page 2

San-Syeng naturally determined to travel in search of his wife, but his body was tired and weary and he resolved to indulge in the luxury of a short nap before leaving the town.95 During his slumbers, San-Houni appeared before him for the third time, saying:96

“My poor child!97 You are looking for your parents and you are unable to find them.98 It is now time to tell you that I am your father.99 In the olden days I enjoyed a great deal of influence at the Court, but my enemy, Ja-Jo-Mi, had me sent into exile, with my best friend, Sun-Yen.100 I was murdered by Su-Rung whom I hired to take me to Ko-Kum-To.101 As for your mother and your wife, you will find them at San-Jon.102 A cruel Mandarin has condemned them to death.103 Hurry to their rescue; the slightest delay may be fatal.”104

San-Syeng awoke with a start, shook himself and started on his journey.105 Presently he reached the town referred to in his dream.106 He was not long in learning that his mother and his wife, unjustly accused of theft, were in a prison cell and were to be put to death the very next morning.107

The young man ran to the prison where, of course, he found it impossible to enter, so he had recourse to a wise little trick.108 He entered a merchant’s shop near by, threw his robe over a random object and dashed out of the doorway.109 He was soon caught, arrested, and thrown into prison.110

Before employing this ruse, San-Syeng had ordered his servant to come early the next day with his master’s horse and take his place before the prison gates.111

The room into which the young man was thrust after his arrest was very dark and small.112 Several persons were already occupying it but it was too dark to distinguish any of them clearly.113 He joined one of the inmates in a loud protest for some light--the inevitable result of which would be to bring the jailer, who indeed did come running to see what their outcries portended.114 He stepped between the two men to quiet them.115

“I shall report you to the Mandarin,” he declared, turning to San-Houni’s son.116 “What’s your name, anyway?”117

“San-Syeng.”118

Yeng-So-Yei and Yeng-Si were naturally very much surprised at hearing this name.119 They whispered to each other:120

“That’s my son’s name, sure enough,” said Yeng-Si, “but it cannot possibly be he for he is no thief.”121

The night passed without San-Syeng being recognized by the two women.122 At daybreak, they were startled by the loud neighing of a horse and Yeng-So-Yei, who had gone to the narrow opening which served as a window to their cell, cried:123

“Mother, come here.124 That horse which has been neighing is the very one which I gave my husband, or at least it resembles it very much.”125

Yeng-Si, by way of reply, moaned:126

“Oh, where can my poor son be?”127

Thereupon, San-Syeng approached his mother and inquired the cause of her grief.128 Yeng-Si told him of the many sad experiences she had undergone since her departure into exile with San-Houni up to her arrest and condemnation to death by the Mandarin of San-Jon.129

When she had finished, the young man in turn told his story.130 His concluding words were--“I have on my arm the name of San-Syeng, but I do not know how it is that I bear these characters which I have tried in vain to remove.”131

Yeng-So-Yei who had been listening to the conversation could restrain herself no longer and cried:132

“Tell me, what was your wife’s name and where did she live?”133

“Yeng-So-Yei was my wife’s name; she lived in the village of Yen-Yu, but I found her home burned to the ground.”134

“Oh, my dear San-Syeng,” cried the young woman.135 “Have I found you at last,” and turning to Yeng-Si, “Mother mine, here is your son!”136

Their greetings naturally consumed some time--their hearts were glad and they were not ashamed to display their emotion.137 And yet the two women felt bitter and sad to think that soon they were about to die after having touched the threshold of that happiness which their reunion promised.138 San-Syeng ultimately succeeded in calming them.139 He enjoyed, he said, certain extraordinary powers of which he intended to make instant use.140

Presently the young General’s orderly visited his master’s prison where he received orders to announce to the village the arrival of San-Syeng, a special envoy of the King, and to arrest the Mandarin at once.141

’Twas but a brief while and the orderly came to report to his master that his commands had been carried out.142 Meantime, the town officials had rushed to the prison where they surrounded San-Syeng and paid him their homage.143 At their urging, San-Houni’s son left the prison and betook himself to the town-hall.144

Yeng-So-Yei, catching sight of the horse she had given her husband, ran to the stately looking steed and imprinted a kiss on the end of its nose.145 The animal seemed to understand her message, for its eyes as they turned toward the young wife, seemed moist with tears.146

“No tears now, my good fellow,” laughed Yeng-So-Yei.147 “You are happier than I for you can continually accompany him whom I love, while I am to be separated from him.”148

San-Syeng, a witness of his wife’s gentle act, tenderly drew her to his heart, and kissing her hair said:149

“Henceforth we shall never part from each other.”150

San-Syeng, his cup overflowing with happiness at having found his mother and his wife at one and the same time, desired to be told about his father, and, at his urgent request, Yeng-Si, with tears in her eyes and a faltering voice, related to him the misfortunes of San-Houni.151

“Don’t worry, mother dear,” pleaded San-Syeng.152 “After so much suffering, you are going to have happiness in abundance.153 I shall do everything I can to make life pleasant for you.154 Suppose that first we go visit Ou-Pung, the sister, who was so kind to you.”155

This suggestion was very pleasing to Yeng-Si and they started on their journey to the temple of Ro-Ja.156 When they were passing by the lake which recalled so many bitter memories, Yeng-Si bade her son to pause.157 The little party halted while she told the melancholy tale of the devotion of the old lady who had sacrificed herself without hope of recompense or reward.158

“Mother,” declared San-Syeng, “I am going to place a memorial in this spot to perpetuate the sublime sacrifice of your poor companion.”159 The General’s orderly was at once commissioned to employ workmen who were to begin immediately to erect a suitable tribute to the old lady’s memory.160

Before reaching the shrine of Ro-Ja, Yeng-Si related to her son, while they were passing by the grove of bamboo, which figures so conspicuously in our story, under what pitiful circumstances he had been born.161