The chancellor was greatly pleased. He gave orders to choose several dozen beauties and have them compete with the beauties of the Prince of Yue’s palace. Jinghong rose and said, “Though this humble concubine is not skilled with bow or blade, I should like to be tested today.”
The chancellor was delighted, and at once unfastened the bow he wore and gave it to her. Jinghong took the bow, stood, and warned the assembled beauties,
“Even if I fail to hit the mark, I pray that you ladies will not laugh.”
As soon as she had finished speaking, Jinghong seized a fine steed and sprang onto it as though flying, then galloped before the pavilion. Just then, a pheasant rose from the grass. Jinghong bent back slightly at the waist, drew the bowstring, and loosed; the pheasant, its five-colored feathers spread wide, fell before the horse. The chancellor and the Prince of Yue clapped their hands together in delight. Jinghong turned her body outside the pavilion and dismounted, then walked slowly back to the pavilion. All the beauties congratulated her one by one, saying, “Our ten years of training have all been in vain.”
At this, Chanyue thought,
“Though the two of us have not yielded first place to the courtesans of the Prince of Yue’s palace, they are four, while we are but a pair, and so we are terribly outnumbered. How regrettable that we could not bring Chunlang with us. Song and dance may not be Chunyun’s specialty, but how could her lovely face and graceful speech fail to surpass Du Yunxian?”
She sighed in vexation. Then, all at once, she looked into the distance and saw two beauties coming from beyond the fields.
Shen Yaoyan and Bai Lingbo
At that moment, the two beauties drove a youbi carriage—a carriage with decorated walls, a kind of flower carriage—and before long arrived outside the pavilion. The gatekeeper asked, “Have you come from the Moon Palace?”
The coachman replied,
“The two ladies riding in this carriage are concubines of Chancellor Yang. They had business to attend to and could not come together with him at first.”
The soldier guarding the gate went in and reported this. The chancellor said, “It must be Chunyun, wishing to watch the spectacle. How very rash of her.”
He immediately sent someone to summon them in. The two ladies alighted from the carriage; in front was Shen Yaoyan, and behind her was Bai Lingbo, the Dragon Maiden of Dongting whom he had met in a dream within the camp.
The two came before the chancellor’s seat, bowed, and paid their respects. The chancellor pointed to the Prince of Yue and said,
“This is His Highness the Prince of Yue. You should pay your respects to him according to propriety.”
Thereupon the two beauties paid their formal respects. The chancellor gave them seats, having Jinghong and Chanyue sit with them, and said to the Prince of Yue,
“I obtained these two women when I was campaigning against Tubo. Lately I have been occupied with many affairs and had not yet had them brought here. They followed of their own accord, and must have heard that Shaoyou was amusing himself with Your Highness, so they came here wishing to watch.”
The Prince of Yue looked again at the two beauties. Their features seemed like sisters to those of Jinghong and Chanyue, yet their bearing was even more outstanding. He marveled inwardly, while the beauties of the Prince of Yue’s palace were so ashamed that their faces turned ashen. The prince asked again,
“What are your names, ladies, and where did you live?”
First, Lady Shen replied,
“This humble concubine is called Shen Yaoyan, and I am a native of Xiliang.”
Then Lady Bai answered,
“This humble concubine is called Bai Lingbo. I once dwelt between the Xiao and Xiang Rivers, but unfortunately met with calamity and had no choice but to take refuge in the west. Now I have followed Lord Yang here.”
“You two ladies seem wondrous, as though you are not people of the human realm. Are you able to appreciate the arts?”
Shen Yaoyan replied,
“This humble concubine is a person of the borderlands. I have never before heard refined music and poetry, so what talent could I possibly have to delight Your Royal Highness? Only, since childhood, I have learned the sword dance; yet this is but a pastime of the military camp, and I fear it is not something fit for noble eyes.”
The Prince of Yue was greatly pleased and said to the chancellor,
“The sword dance of Gongsun Daniang in Emperor Xuanzong’s reign was renowned throughout the world, but after her time the art was not passed down. I have always regretted never seeing it even once. Now that this lady says she knows the sword dance, I am most delighted.”
The Prince of Yue and the chancellor each unfastened the swords at their waists and gave them to her. Yaoyan rolled up her sleeves, loosened her sash, and flew into the dance. She flashed above and below, leapt left and right, until her bright adornments and the white sword blades became a single gleam, like snowflakes flying in the third month and scattering over clusters of peach blossoms.
Before long, the sound of her dance grew more urgent, and the blades moved faster still. An air of flying snow and frost suddenly filled the pavilion, so that Shen Yaoyan’s body could no longer be seen at all. Then, all at once, a streak of rainbow shot into the sky, and a wind swept between the cups and platters, making everyone present feel their bones go numb and their hair stand on end.
Yaoyan wished to display all the arts she had learned, but feared that the Prince of Yue would be too frightened. Thereupon she ended the dance, cast down the swords, bowed twice, and withdrew. Only after a long while did the prince finally compose himself. Looking at Yaoyan, he said,
“How could the sword dance of a human being ever reach such a wondrous state? I have heard that among immortals there are many skilled in sword arts. Lady, are you not one of them?”
Yaoyan replied,
“In the customs of the west, people enjoy playing with weapons, and so I learned this in childhood. How could it compare with the marvelous arts of immortals?”
The Prince of Yue instructed her,
“When I return to my palace, I shall select among my concubines those who dance well and send them to you. I hope, lady, that you will not spare yourself the trouble of teaching them.”
Yaoyan bowed and received his command. The prince then questioned Bai Lingbo, and Lingbo replied,
“This humble concubine’s home lies upon the Xiao and Xiang Rivers, the very place where Ehuang and Nüying of the Huangling Shrine used to roam. When the night is still, the wind clear, and the moon bright, the sound of the pipa still flows among the clouds. Since childhood, this humble concubine imitated those beautiful tones, playing the pipa herself for her own pleasure. I fear, however, that it may offend noble ears.”
The Prince of Yue answered,
“Though I know from the writings of the ancients that Ehuang and Nüying created the pipa, I have never heard that their melodies were transmitted to the world. If it is true that you know those melodies, lady, how could they be compared with the music of the vulgar age?”
Bai Lingbo drew out a pipa from her sleeve and played one melody. Its sound was pure and distinct, seeming now resentful, now yearning, like water falling into a mountain valley, or geese crying at the edge of the cold sky. Everyone, before they knew it, felt sorrow enter their hearts and shed tears. Before long, the grasses and trees began to move of themselves; for a moment there arose the sound of autumn, and dry leaves fell in flurries.
The Prince of Yue marveled and asked,
“I never believed it when people said that human music could command the workings of heaven and earth. How is it that you, lady, can make spring turn to autumn, and make leaves fall of themselves? Could an ordinary person learn that melody?”
Bai Lingbo replied,
“This humble concubine merely transmits the remnants of an ancient melody. What miraculous art could there be in it that would prevent others from learning?”
At this time, Man Yuyan said to the Prince of Yue,
“Though this humble concubine has no talent, I would like to try performing the White Lotus Melody with the music I have practiced in ordinary days.”
With that, she held a pipa of Qin and came before the seats. After tuning the strings, she was able to produce twenty-five different tones, and the movement of her hands was also elegant and lofty, making it well worth hearing. Chancellor Yang, Chanyue, and Jinghong praised her highly, and the Prince of Yue was also greatly pleased.
The Prince of Yue and Chancellor Yang found the banquet at Leyou Plain delightful, and their pleasure had not yet waned, but as the day was about to grow dark, they ended the feast. They each bestowed rewards of gold, silver, and colored silks, and then the prince and the chancellor returned beneath the moonlight and entered the city gate, where the sound of bells could be heard. As the musicians of the two houses vied to go first along the road, the jingling of ornaments was clamorous and fragrance filled the streets. Fallen hairpins and scattered beads were all trampled beneath horses’ hooves, making a sound like a sudden shower that could be heard beyond the dust.
The people of Chang’an gathered around to watch. Old men of a hundred years instead shed tears, saying,
“When we were young, we saw Emperor Xuanzong proceed to Huaqing Palace, and the majesty of that procession was just like this. Who would have thought we would live so long and once again see the signs of an age of peace and prosperity?”
So they said.
At this time, the two princesses, together with the two ladies of the Qin and Jia families, were attending the grand lady and waiting for the chancellor’s return. The chancellor brought Shen Yaoyan and Bai Lingbo to pay their respects to the grand lady and the two princesses. When the two women came beneath the steps to greet them, Princess Yingyang said, “The chancellor has often told us that, by relying on the strength of you two ladies, he accomplished the feat of recovering several thousand li of territory. I, too, have often regretted not being able to meet you. Why have you two ladies come so late?”
Yaoyan and Lingbo replied together,
“We concubines are lowly bodies from distant villages. Though we received the chancellor’s single glance of favor, we feared only that the two madams might not leave a place for us, and so we could not hasten to your gate. But we heard people say, ‘The virtues of Guanju and Jiumu possessed by the two princesses reach even to the concubines, extending evenly above and below.’ Thus we had been thinking presumptuously of coming to pay our respects. Just then, we happened to encounter the occasion of the chancellor hunting at Leyou Plain and attended that splendid outing; then he brought us here again, allowing us to receive the ladies’ instruction. We concubines declare ourselves ten thousand times fortunate.”
The princess smiled and said to the chancellor,
“Today the palace is filled with the color of flowers. The chancellor will certainly boast of today’s elegance, but all of this is the merit established by us sisters. Does my lord understand that?”
The chancellor laughed heartily.
“Those two have only just entered this palace and, fearing Your Highness’s authority, spoke flattering words. Would Your Highness claim that as your own merit?”
At these words, everyone could not help laughing.
The two women of the Qin and Jia families asked Chanyue, “How did victory and defeat turn out at today’s outing?”
Jinghong answered in her place,
“Lady Gui laughed at this humble concubine for speaking grandly, but with a single word I made those on the side of the Prince of Yue’s palace fall over in astonishment. It was like Zhuge Kongming entering Jiangdong in one small boat and, with his three-inch tongue, setting forth matters of profit and harm, so that Zhou Gongjin, Lu Zijing, and the rest merely gaped, their spirits overawed, not daring to utter a word. And when Lord Pingyuan entered Chu to negotiate the alliance, the nineteen men who accompanied him were all insignificant; the one who was able to make Zhao as secure as Mount Tai and a rock was Mao Sui alone. Because this concubine’s heart is great, her words are also great, and within such great words there must surely be substance. If you ask Lady Gui, you will readily know that what I say is not empty.”
Chanyue then vouched for her, saying,
"Lady Jeok’s skill at archery and riding may indeed be called wondrous. If displayed in a pleasure ground, it might perhaps win praise, but if set loose upon a battlefield where arrows and stones fall like rain, how could she possibly gallop even one step or shoot even one shaft? That the Prince of Yue lost heart in the bow contest was because he marveled at the fairy-like beauty and heavenly skill of the two newly arrived ladies; how can that be counted as Lady Jeok’s merit?... A certain saying occurs to this humble concubine, and I ought to reveal it to Lady Jeok. In the Spring and Autumn period, Jia Daifu’s appearance was exceedingly shabby, and though three years had passed since he married, his wife had never once smiled. But when he went out into the fields with her and happened to shoot down a pheasant, his wife smiled for the first time. Lady Jeok’s winning a pheasant in today’s sport is just the same."
At this, Gyeonghong answered,
"Jia Daifu, though shabby in appearance, brought forth his wife’s smile through his skill with bow and horse. Had his looks been handsome as well, and had he been able to shoot a pheasant with his bow, would he not have made people love and respect him all the more?"
Seomwol laughed scornfully and said,
"Lady Jeok’s boasting grows greater by the moment. This must be because His Excellency the Chancellor dotes on her too much, making her heart arrogant!"
The Chancellor laughed and said,
"I knew well that Lady Gye had many talents, but I had no idea she was versed in the classics. Hearing you now, I can tell that you have a habit of delighting in tales from the Spring and Autumn Annals."
Seomwol replied to the Chancellor,
"In idle moments I glance through the classics and histories, but how could I dare say I am versed in them?"
The next day, Chancellor Yang entered the palace and attended court before His Majesty. The Empress Dowager said to the Prince of Yue, "Yesterday you and the Chancellor competed over the splendors of spring. Who won, and who lost?"
The Prince of Yue answered,
"Chancellor Yang’s perfect fortune is something no man can contest. Yet I wonder whether that fortune is also fortune for a woman, so I beg Your Majesty the Empress Dowager to ask the Chancellor himself."
The Chancellor replied,
"To say that the Prince of Yue cannot surpass me is like saying that Li Taibai, on seeing Cui Hao’s poem, was astonished and lost his spirit. As for whether it is fortune for the princess or not, I am not the princess, so how could I answer? Please ask the princess directly."
The Empress Dowager laughed and looked back at the two princesses. Princess Nanyang answered, "It is said that husband and wife are one body, so how could honor and disgrace, joy and sorrow be different between them?
If the husband has no fortune, then the woman too has none. What the Chancellor delights in, this girl merely delights in together with him."
The Prince of Yue again spoke to the Empress Dowager,
"The princess my sister does not speak the truth! Since ancient times, among those who became imperial sons-in-law, none has been as dissolute as the Chancellor. This is because the discipline of the state has not been properly upheld. I beg Your Majesty to deliver Soyu to the judicial office and punish his crimes of looking down upon the court and despising the laws of the realm."
At these words, the Empress Dowager laughed heartily and said,
"Imperial Son-in-law Yang is indeed guilty! Yet if I were to punish him by law, it would bring grief to this old body and to my daughters, so I have no choice but to bend the law of the state and follow private affection."
The Prince of Yue again said,
"Though the circumstances may be so, the Chancellor’s crimes cannot be lightly forgiven. I beg that he be interrogated before the throne and that judgment be given according to his confession."
The Empress Dowager only laughed loudly. The Prince of Yue, acting in the Empress Dowager’s stead, submitted to His Majesty a written indictment setting forth each charge one by one. It read:
Since ancient times, those who became imperial sons-in-law have not dared keep singing girls and concubines—not because they did not understand refined pleasures, nor because they lacked food enough to support them, but because all honored the sovereign and exalted the state.
How much more so when the two princesses, Yingyang and Nanyang, are by rank the Emperor’s daughters, and by conduct possess the virtues of Tairen and Taisi. Yet Yang Soyu does not revere them, but acts dissolutely, gathering beauties more greedily than a thirsty man seeks water. To his eyes, even the beauties of Yan and Zhao are insufficient; to his ears, only the songs of Zheng and Wei are heard. They chatter like ants upon the palace steps and swarm like bees in the chamber. Though the princesses, with the virtue of the creeping fig tree, do not give rise to jealousy, how could Soyu’s way of reverence and caution dare be like this? His crimes of arrogance and negligence must be punished. Let him report the truth plainly, concealing nothing, and thereby await judgment.
The Chancellor descended from the palace hall, prostrated himself on the ground, removed his cap, and awaited punishment. After hearing the Prince of Yue step outside the railing and loudly conduct the interrogation, the Chancellor stated in his confession:
This lowly subject, Yang Soyu, has presumptuously received the sacred favor of the two palaces and has undeservedly occupied the high office of Chancellor, so my glory is already complete. Moreover, the princess has bestowed thoughtful and sincere virtue upon me, and the joy of our wedded harmony is endless, so my wishes are already fulfilled. Yet a foolish heart still remained in me, and my extravagant airs did not diminish, so I gathered many women who sing and dance. This is the crime of this lowly subject, who was somewhat overwhelmed by riches and honor and overflowed with His Sacred Majesty’s grace, and thus failed to perceive the need to restrain himself. However, when I examine the laws of the realm, even if one who has become an imperial son-in-law should have female attendants and concubines, those acquired before marriage are treated with distinction. Though this lowly subject has concubines, in the case of Lady Jin, she served me when I once stayed in the garden annex of Minister Jeong Sado’s house. As for this humble concubine Lady Gye, Lady Jeok, Lady Baek, and the others, they followed me at various times: when I was a scholar, when I traveled to foreign lands and mountains, or when I went out to war. All these, likewise, were matters before the wedding rites. That they dwell together in my residence is in obedience to the princess’s command; this lowly subject did not dare act on his own. Thus, what injury is there to the dignity of the state, and what crime is there against the duty of a subject?
Nevertheless, Your command has been issued with such severity that I can only be fearful and ashamed.
When the Empress Dowager had finished reading the Chancellor’s confession, she laughed heartily and said, "Keeping many singing girls and concubines does no harm to the bearing of a true man, so that may be forgiven. But drinking too much wine is, after all, a matter of concern, so hereafter you would do well to be cautious!"
The Prince of Yue again addressed the Empress Dowager,
"Soyu shifts the blame for keeping singing girls and concubines in the imperial son-in-law’s residence onto the princess, but there is much that is highly improper in his handling of the matter. I believe it is right to interrogate and punish him once more."
At these words, Chancellor Yang, frightened and alarmed, knocked his head against the ground and begged forgiveness. The Empress Dowager laughed again and said,
"Lord Yang is truly a weighty minister who safeguards the state. How could I treat him merely as a son-in-law?"
Then she issued the command,
"Set your cap in order and come up into the hall."
But once again the Prince of Yue said,
"Because Soyu has great merit, it is difficult to punish him. Yet the law of the state is also strict, and he cannot simply be released. He should therefore be punished with wine."
The Empress Dowager laughed and granted permission. When a palace maid brought out a white jade cup, the Prince of Yue said, "The Chancellor’s capacity for wine is like that of a whale, and the charge against him is also grave, so how can a small cup be used?"
So the Prince of Yue personally filled a golden banquet goblet that held a mal with strong wine and gave it to him. Though the Chancellor’s capacity was rather great, after drinking several mal in succession, how could he not become drunk?
At this, the Chancellor knocked his head against the ground and said,
"They say that the Cowherd loved the Weaver Girl too greatly and was scolded by his father-in-law. Now Soyu, for keeping singing girls and concubines at home, has received penalty wine from his mother-in-law. To be the sovereign’s son-in-law is truly a difficult thing. This subject is now greatly drunk, and I request permission to withdraw."
Then, as he tried to rise, he toppled over. The Empress Dowager laughed loudly and ordered palace maids to lead him outside the palace gate, then said to the princesses,
"The Chancellor is deeply drunk, and his spirits and body must be unwell. You should follow him at once."
The two princesses received her command and immediately followed the Chancellor out.
Drinking Penalty Wine
Meanwhile, Lady Yu had lit the candles and was waiting for the Chancellor to return. Seeing that he was greatly drunk, she asked,
"On former days, even when wine was bestowed upon you, you never became drunk. Why have you overdrunk yourself so badly today?"
The Chancellor answered,
"It is your son’s fault."
Then, his drunken eyes showing anger, he looked for a while at the princesses before turning to his mother and saying,
"The princess’s elder brother, the Prince of Yue, slandered me before the Empress Dowager and forced crimes upon Soyu. Though Soyu escaped punishment by speaking well, the Prince of Yue was determined to make me guilty and spoke baseless words to the Empress Dowager, causing me to be punished with strong wine. Had my capacity for wine been small, I would nearly have died. This must be because the Prince of Yue resented losing at yesterday’s outing at Leyou Garden and wished to take revenge. But Princess Nanyang was jealous that your son has too many singing girls and concubines, and so she plotted with her elder brother to torment me. Her usual benevolent words cannot be trusted after all. I humbly beg Mother to bestow a cup of penalty wine upon Princess Nanyang and relieve your son’s indignation."
Lady Yu admonished him,
"The princess’s charge is not clear, and moreover she cannot drink even one cup of wine. Since you wish to make me punish her, it would be proper to substitute tea for wine."
The Chancellor again said,
"Your son is determined to punish her with wine."
Lady Yu laughed and, with no help for it, said,
"If the princess does not drink wine, the heart of this drunken man will not be appeased."
She then called a maid and sent penalty wine to Princess Nanyang.
Just as the princess received it and was about to drink, the Chancellor suddenly grew suspicious and tried to snatch the cup and taste it. Nanyang hurriedly threw the empty cup onto the mat. The Chancellor tasted what remained at the bottom of the cup with his finger, and found that it was honeyed water. The Chancellor said, "If the Empress Dowager had punished Soyu with honeyed water, then it would also be fitting for Mother to punish her with honeyed water. But what your son drank was wine, so how can Nanyang alone drink honeyed water?"
He then called the maid again and made her bring a wine cup, and personally filled a cup brimming with wine for her. Princess Nanyang had no choice but to drink it all. The Chancellor again said to Lady Yu,
"The one who urged the Empress Dowager to punish me was indeed Princess Nanyang, but Princess Yingyang—that is, Jeong Gyeongpae—also took part in the scheme. For while seated before the Empress Dowager, she watched your son suffer and exchanged glances with Nanyang, smiling together. Your son cannot fathom her inner thoughts at all. Therefore I again beg Mother to punish Lady Jeong as well."
At these words Lady Yu laughed aloud and sent the cup, and Lady Jeong moved from her seat and drank it all. The lady said,
"Her Highness the Empress Dowager's punishment of Xiaoyou is, in truth, a punishment of these courtesans; now that the two princesses have both drunk the penalty wine, how can the courtesans remain at ease?"
The Chancellor added,
"The entertainment at the King of Yue's Leyou Garden was, in its essence, a contest of beauty. Jinghong, Xianyue, Yaoyan, and Lingbo, though mere courtesans, took up the challenge and won the first round. Unable to overcome his resentment, the King of Yue had me punished. These four ought to be punished as well."
The Lady asked,
"To punish the victors of a contest all the same—the words of a drunken guest are truly absurd."
She then immediately summoned the four courtesans and handed down to each a cup of wine as punishment.
When the four finished drinking, Jinghong and Xianyue knelt and said to the Lady,
"The Empress Dowager punished the Chancellor because she rebuked him for keeping too many courtesans; it was absolutely not because he won at Leyou Garden. Yet Shen Yaoyan and Bai Lingbo have not yet received His Excellency's golden hairpin—is it not unjust that they drink penalty wine the same as us concubines? Moreover, speaking of Jia Youren, she has served His Excellency for so long and received such one-sided favor from him, yet because she did not attend the Leyou Garden gathering, she escapes this punishment. We find it difficult to contain our indignation."
The Lady replied,
"Your words are most correct!"
In the end, she punished Chunyun with a large cup. Chunyun drank with a smile. Thus, since everyone had drunk the penalty wine, the gathering grew boisterous and chaotic. Princess Nanyang was intoxicated and could not endure her distress, but Lady Jin sat quietly in one corner, neither speaking nor laughing, whereupon the Chancellor inquired,
"Lady Jin alone is not drunk, laughing at the mad behavior of the drunken guests. She cannot be spared another punishment!"
Saying so, he filled a cup to the brim and presented it. Lady Jin merely smiled and drank it. Madam Yu asked the Princess,
"How do you feel now that you have drunk wine you could not normally drink?"
The Princess replied,
"It is very painful."
Thereupon, Madam Yu ordered Lady Jin to support the Princess and return her to the bedchamber. Then she had Chunyun fetch wine. Holding her cup, she said, "We two daughters-in-law are sages among women. I have always feared that I might harm our fortune. Now, you are so excessive in drink that you caused the Princess to become intoxicated. If Her Highness the Empress Dowager hears of this, she will be deeply worried. Since I failed to teach my son properly and caused such an absurdity, I too cannot claim to be without fault. I raise this cup to punish myself."
She emptied the cup. The Chancellor, deeply ashamed, knelt and said, "Mother punishes yourself because of your son's misdeeds; how can your son's fault be merely the size of a calf's shin?"
He then ordered Jinghong to fill a large cup, knelt again, and said, "Your son failed to follow Mother's teachings and instead only caused Mother worry and grief. Having no way to apologize, I humbly accept this punishment."
He drank it all. The Chancellor was thoroughly drunk and could hardly move, pointing toward Ningxiang Pavilion with his hand. Madam Yu ordered Chunyun to support him and take him there, but Chunyun said, "This humble concubine dares not escort him. It seems Guiniang is jealous that the Chancellor favors this humble concubine."
Thereupon Madam Yu instructed Xianyue as well, ordering the two ladies to support him. Xianyue complained, "Chunyun did not pick at my words, so this humble concubine feels all the more awkward."
Thereupon Jinghong laughed, rose, and supported the Chancellor. As they went toward Ningxiang Pavilion, everyone dispersed.
Chancellor Yang already knew that Shen Yaoyan and Bai Lingbo loved landscapes. In the rear garden of the residence was a pond as clear as a lake, and in the middle of the pond stood a pavilion called Yingya Tower. He had Lingbo reside there. Moreover, to the south of the pond was a rockery—a small mountain made by piling up exquisite stones. Its sharp peaks seemed carved from jade; its layered stone walls seemed carved from iron. Old pines cast deep shade; sparse bamboo drew shadows. Within it was a pavilion called Bingxue Studio. He had Yaoyan reside there. Thus, whenever the ladies and various young women strolled in the garden, Yaoyan and two others became the lords of the mountain.
Everyone quietly asked Lingbo,
"Might we be able to see the lady's divine transformation once?"
Lingbo replied,
"That was a matter from this humble concubine's previous life. Now, having ridden the energies of Heaven and Earth and borrowed the power of creation to shed my entire body and transform into human form, my cast-off shells and scales pile up like a mountain. If a sparrow changed into a clam, how could it still have two wings to fly about?"