Li Yuan, on a leisurely tour, saves a red snake.

34

Mr. Li Saves a Snake and Wins Chenxin

The above eight lines, written by Xu the Divine Taoist of the Song dynasty, mean that good deeds will be duly rewarded and evildoing will be punished. The ancients said, “If you amass wealth for your o spring, they might not be able to keep it; if you collect books for your o spring, they might not be able to read them. The best course is to do good deeds to accumulate moral credit in the netherworld, for the benefit of your descendants generation after generation.”

In olden times, there was a man named Sun Shu’ao, who, when leaving home early one morning, saw a two-headed snake blocking his way. He killed it with a brick and buried it in the ground. After returning home, he told his mother, “I am going to die.”

His mother said, “How do you know that?”

“I’ve heard that anyone who sees a two-headed snake is bound to die, and I saw one today.”

“Why didn’t you kill it?”

“I did, and I buried it so that no one else will see it and die. I’d rather die myself than jeopardize more lives.”

“My son, your wish to save lives will earn you moral credit. You are not going to die.”

Later, Shu’ao rose to be prime minister of the state of Chu [in the Spring and Autumn period]. Now we shall tell of a scholar who was rewarded for having saved a snake.

In the Xining reign period [1068–77] under Emperor Shenzong of the Song dynasty, there lived in Bianliang a man named Li Yi, a native of Chenzhou, who was reappointed from his position as magistrate of Qi County to that of assistant prefect of Hangzhou. He had a wife with the surname Han and a son, Li Yuan, courtesy name Boyuan, who was devoted to the study of the Confucian classics. Li Yi went home to pack up his personal belongings and, bringing only two servants, set out on his journey to Hangzhou to assume the new post, leaving his wife and son behind.

One year went quickly by. Suddenly seized by concerns about his son Li Yuan’s progress in his studies at home, he wrote a letter for his servant Wang An to take to Chenzhou. Wang An was then to bring Li Yuan to Hangzhou to be a companion for his father and to buy books along the way. Wang An took leave of his master and, in a few days, arrived in Chenzhou, where he presented himself to Li Yi’s wife and showed her the letter. The son was called forth from his study to read his father’s letter and to pack for the journey. Having failed in the imperial examinations, Li Yuan was in no mood for books or musical practice but had been amusing himself by touring scenic spots. Now that his father was sending for him, he gathered together his zither, sword, and books, took leave of his mother, and set out on the journey with Wang An. Changing boats all along the way, they came to the Yangzi River in a few days. Fascinated by the landscape, Li Yuan composed a poem:

They crossed the river to Runzhou and wended their way to the Wu River via Changzhou and Suzhou.

Toward dusk on the day they arrived, Li Yuan saw from his boat that the scenery along the Wu River was no less beautiful than the landscape paintings of Song Di, an artist of the Song dynasty. Greatly delighted, he told the boatman to moor the boat by Long Bridge. He went ashore and walked up the bridge to the Pavilion of the Hanging Rainbow, where he sat by the balustrade to enjoy the evening scene on Lake Tai. While admiring the view, he saw a house behind a whitewashed wall to the east of the bridge and wondered what it was. As a fisherman happened to draw near with his rolled-up net, Li Yuan asked him with a bow, “Whose house is that—the one behind the whitewashed wall to the east of the bridge?”

The fisherman replied, “That’s the Shrine of the Three Worthy Men.”

“Who are the Three Worthy Men?”

“They are Fan Li, Zhang Han, and Lu Guimeng.”

Overjoyed, Li Yuan pressed ahead and found his way over a bridge to the shrine. He entered by a side door and looked at the stelae. As he went up the hall, he saw three statues in a row, with Fan Li in the middle, flanked by Zhang Han on the left and Lu Guimeng on the right. In the midst of his reflections, an old man with a walking cane approached him. When asked, the old man identified himself as the caretaker of the shrine. Li Yuan asked further, “How long has the shrine been here?”

The old man replied, “For nearly a thousand years.”

Li Yuan said, “As far as I know, Zhang Han was a prominent official in the imperial court [of the Jin dynasty] before he resigned and returned to his native place out of nostalgia for its delicious perch and watercress. He never resumed office again. He was a truly wise man who had the vision to retire at the height of his career. Lu Guimeng [d. 881], a first-rate poet of his time, was also a most wise man, living as a recluse on the Wusong River, enjoying the pleasure of raising ducks. Building a temple in honor of these two men is all too justifiable. Fan Li, a senior minister of the state of Yue [during the Spring and Autumn period], conquered the state of Wu by o ering the beautiful Xishi to King Fuchai of Wu to slacken his vigilance. Later, disgruntled at the perfidy of the king of Yue, he left the king’s service and toured the five lakes on a flat boat, calling himself Leather Bag. Though a worthy man, he was, nevertheless, an enemy of the state of Wu. How can he be honored like this here in the land of Wu?”

The old man said, “The shrine was built long ago. I have no idea as to the reason for that.”

Li Yuan borrowed a brush-pen and an ink slab and wrote a poem on the wall to say that Leather Bag did not deserve a place in the shrine. The poem was as follows:

He then returned the brush-pen and the ink slab to the old man, took leave of him, and continued on his way. There came into his view several children in the midst of tall grass beating a small snake with bamboo sticks. Upon taking a closer look, Li Yuan saw that it was a most unusual snake with golden eyes, a yellow mouth, a foot-long reddish brown body as thin as bamboo but shaped like corals covered with shiny scales, and a tuft of inch-long green hair under the chin. Seeing that it still had breath left in it, Li Yuan hastily stopped the children, saying, “I’ll give you a hundred in cash for this little snake.” As the children gathered around him to get the money, he wrapped up the red snake in his sleeves. Then he took the children to the boat and gave them the money. After they had gone, he had Wang An open the book trunks to get some mugwort leaves to make soup with. Kept warm in a bowl, the soup was then used to wash the bloodstains o the snake. He ordered the boatman to set o . Looking ahead of him, he saw a stretch of land overgrown with dense grass and trees. Believing that no one would be coming to that place any time soon, he set the red snake free then and there.

The snake looked back at Li Yuan several times. Li Yuan said, “I, Li Yuan, am setting you free. Go hide yourself in some deserted place safe from human eyes.”

The red snake dived into the water and swam away. Li Yuan ordered the boat to change its course and head in the direction of Hangzhou.

He arrived three days later. Respectfully he greeted his father, and, in the middle of their conversation about family matters, his father asked him about his studies and was much pleased with his answers. After spending several days in his father’s official residence, he said to his father, “There being no one at home to take care of mother, I would like to go back. Besides, I will need to take the spring examinations.” Accordingly, the father bought some presents with his savings from his salary and had Wang An accompany Li Yuan back home. With the luggage already on the boat, Li Yuan bade his father farewell and left Hangzhou with Wang An via the Guantang thoroughfare near Dongxin Bridge. They passed the Dam of Eternal Peace and the prefecture of Jiaxing. When they came to the Wu River, he was, now as before, so taken with the beauty of the hills and lakes that he could hardly tear himself away from the place.

By the time they reached the Long Bridge, the sun had sunk below the horizon in the west. Li Yuan told the boatman to stop there for the night and resume the journey the following morning. In the meantime, he could enjoy the sights. The boat having moored under the bridge, he went ashore and took a walk by himself. Once on the bridge, he went to the Pavilion of the Hanging Rainbow and, leaning forward against the balustrade, gazed at the sparkling lake and the mist-shrouded hills. The wind having subsided, what rose instead was the singing of fishermen’s songs. Ripples in the water shook the reflections of the wild geese.

While he was thus enjoying the scene, a green-robed boy suddenly came into his view. Taking a few steps forward, the boy bowed and said, with a name card in his hand, “This is the name card of my master, who wishes to see you but dares not do so without your permission.”

“Where is your master?”

“There, standing at the left side of this bridge, awaiting your call.”

Li Yuan took a look at the card, on which was written, “Your student Zhu Wei.”

“Your master must have mistaken me for someone else.”

“He is very eager to see you. There is no mistake.”

“Being from the other side of the Yangzi River, I have no acquaintances here, nor is there a Mr. Zhu among my friends. Maybe he is looking for someone with the same surname as mine?”

“It’s Li Boyuan, son of Controller-General Li, whom he wishes to see. There is no mistake whatsoever.”

“In that case, he must be a scholar of some kind. I will see him.”

The green-robed boy went o and, in a short while, brought back a scholar with refined features and white teeth set o by red lips. There was about him a graceful air that set him above the average worldly man. At the sight of Li Yuan, the scholar made a deep bow, whereupon Li Yuan returned the greeting with haste. Scholar Zhu said, “My father was a good friend of your father’s. Having heard that you are on your way back from Hangzhou, he told me to wait here for you. Would you be so kind as to go to our home and talk with him about the old days?”

“I am too young to know anything about the friendship between my father and your father,” said Li Yuan. “Please forgive me for not having paid my respects earlier to your father.”

Scholar Zhu said, “Our humble residence is close by. Please do not deny us the honor.”

At Scholar Zhu’s insistence, Li Yuan followed him out of the Pavilion of the Hanging Rainbow to one end of Long Bridge, where, in the shadow of willow trees, was moored a painted pleasure-boat on which were several brightly dressed men of imposing stature. When he was invited onto the boat, Li Yuan was amazed to see colorful decorations and luxurious furniture. At the bidding of Scholar Zhu, the oars were set to work and the boat shot away as if flying, sending up white spray that whirled about like snowflakes.

In a trice, the boat reached the shore. Scholar Zhu asked Li Yuan to go ashore. What met Li Yuan’s eyes was a stretch of spreading pine trees and about twenty men in purple robes and silver waistbands standing on the sandy beach, guarding two wisteria sedan-chairs. Li Yuan asked, “What yamen do these constables come from?”

Scholar Zhu replied, “They are my father’s servants. Please get in the sedan-chair. The residence is close by.”

Much puzzled and confused, Li Yuan mounted the sedan-chair and was escorted through the pine trees until, less than a li later, there came into view a palace with wooded hills at the back and green water in front. Across the water was a bridge with granite balustrades. Under the glazed-tile roof of the palace were walls of red clay. Above the three vermilion doors was a placard bearing the gold characters “Jade Flower Palace.” Upon reaching the palace gate, Li Yuan was asked to alight from the sedan-chair. Without daring to move one step, Li Yuan trembled uncontrollably with fear. From inside the palace came two men wearing coronets decorated with sable tails and cicada wings, purple brocade robes, and gold belts around their waists, with patterned tablets in their hands. Stepping forward, they greeted Li Yuan with a bow, saying, “His Majesty wishes to see you, sir.” For a considerable time, Li Yuan was at a loss for words. Scholar Zhu cut in from the side, “My father wishes to see you. Please do not be alarmed.”

“What place is this?”

The scholar answered, “You will know when you go into the hall.”

Reluctantly, Li Yuan followed the two court ministers up the steps of the eastern corridor. Once in the hall, he saw an elderly man being escorted in by dozens of palace guards. Wearing a cicada-wing hat, wide sleeves, vermilion boots, and a long robe and carrying a jade tablet in his hand, he approached Li Yuan to greet him. With great alacrity, Li Yuan dropped to his knees in a gesture of obeisance but was raised to his feet by the valets at the king’s order. The king said, “I thank you for having graced us with your presence even though the invitation was all too abrupt. Please forgive us.” Li Yuan could do no better than manage a few hardly audible syllables by way of reply.

After having been escorted into the hall, the king ascended his throne and invited Li Yuan to sit down on a stool with embroidered upholstery set to the left of the throne. Li Yuan threw himself onto the ground and said after two bows, “I am but a humble student. How dare I sit in the presence of a king?”

“You did my family a great kindness,” said the king. “That is why I had my oldest son invite you here today. There is nothing improper in taking a seat.”

The two ministers proclaimed, “Please do not decline the king’s gesture of good will.”

After repeated attempts at turning down the o er, Li Yuan had no choice but to lower his head and sit down on the stool, leaning forward. The king then summoned his younger son to come forth and pay homage to his savior.

In a short while, several palace maids led a young man into the hall from behind a screen. Wearing a small coronet on his head, a crimson robe, a jade waistband, and embroidered boots, the young man stood by the king’s side, his face as fair as if powdered, his lips as red as if rouged. The king pronounced, “My son was playing by the riverside the other day when he was unfortunately captured by some urchins. He would have perished were it not for you. Our entire clan owes you a debt of gratitude. Now that you are here, please accept a bow from my son.” The young man stepped forward and dropped on his knees. Hurriedly Li Yuan returned the greeting. The king said, “My son owes a great deal to you. Please accept his bows.” So saying, he had the attendants hold Li Yuan upright while the young prince made the bows.

Looking up to the throne, Li Yuan noticed that the king, with whiskers all over his face, had eyes that shone with divine brilliance and that all others present looked as if they were beings out of this world. Realization now came to him that he was looking at the Dragon King in his palace under the river, and that the young man was none other than the small snake that he had rescued the other day behind the Shrine of the Three Worthy Men. With alacrity he fell on his knees at the foot of the steps and touched the ground with his head. The king rose and said, “This is hardly the right place to pay respects to a savior. Please come to the inner quarters of the palace, where we will o er you some wine.”

Li Yuan followed the king past the jade screen. The patterned floor tiles were covered by embroidered rugs. On both sides of the hallway stood embroidered screens. After they left the hall, they turned into a corridor and came upon a side hall brightly lit by dragon lanterns and phoenix candles. A jade stove gave o the aroma of musk. The walls were lined with embroidered curtains with flowing tassels. In the middle were two seats decorated with flood dragons. Li Yuan was too scared to sit down. The king ordered his men to help Li Yuan take the seat of honor.

Heavenly music rose on both sides, and there filed in tens of beautiful maidens with musical instruments in hand. Those leading the processions serving wine and fruit in exquisite cups and plates were women of unparalleled beauty. The ravishing fragrance and the auspicious vapor that permeated the hall so intoxicated Li Yuan that he was at a loss what to do. At the king’s order, the two princes bowed repeatedly and served wine. Looking at the table with a fine spread of treats, Li Yuan saw that all the vessels were made of glass, crystal, amber, and agate of an exquisiteness unseen in the human world. The king rose to toast Li Yuan, who found the taste of the wine most delicious. There was also an abundance of dishes that he could not name. As the king ordered the ministers to take turns raising their cups to toast Li Yuan, the latter soon felt the e ects of the wine. With a bow to the king, he pleaded, “Your subject has indeed already taken too much wine.” So saying, he fell to the ground without being able to rise again. The king had some attendants help him out of the hall to the guesthouse so that he could take a rest there.

When he woke from his inebriated state, the red sun was already shining through the window. With a start, he rose and looked around and found the bed, canopy, and curtains all decorated in patterns of flood dragons. After he had washed himself and rinsed his mouth, Scholar Zhu, whom he had seen the previous evening, came into the room, attended by servants, to issue an invitation. Instead of dressing himself as a scholar in the mortal world, he had on a court official’s cap, a crimson silk robe, a jade waistband, and black boots. His followers were all armed with battle axes.

Li Yuan said apologetically, “It was most rude of me to have gotten drunk last night.”

“Please forgive us,” said Zhu Wei, “for having nothing to o er you. My father is waiting for you for breakfast in the side hall.”

Once led into the king’s presence, Li Yuan was told to relax and stay for a few more days, whereupon Li Yuan bowed twice and declined the o er: “I am grateful for Your Majesty’s kind o er, but my father wants me to return home to take care of my mother as well as to take the spring examinations, and the examination date is drawing near. Moreover, my servant who has been waiting for me all this time must be concerned over my disappearance. If he goes back to Hangzhou and reports to my father, my father will be worried. That is why I dare not stay longer but would like to leave right away.”

The king replied, “If that is your wish, I will not try to detain you any longer. The modest gifts we have for you will not be enough to repay our debt to you, but I shall o er you whatever you may wish for.”

“I entertain no excessive hopes. My only wish for the rest of my life is to be granted gratification [chenxin].” (Slightly similar to the story about Qinghong getting his wish.)¹

The king laughed, “If it is your wish to have my daughter for your wife, I will be happy to comply. But you must return her in three years’ time.” Thereupon, the king ordered that his daughter Chenxin [Gratification] be called forth.

In a trice, maidservants escorted a beautiful girl into the hall. Casting a furtive glance at her, Li Yuan saw that, with cloudlike hair, delicate eyebrows, and sparkling eyes, she was a striking beauty lovely enough to cause the fall of a city or a state and to shame fish and geese into hiding themselves from view. The king said, pointing to the girl, “This is my daughter Chenxin. Since it is your wish to have her, I am happy to o er her to you as your wife.”

Prostrating himself on the ground, Li Yuan said, “What I meant was gratification at passing the imperial examinations at the first attempt. How could I dream of having a heavenly princess as my wife?”

The king said, “Chenxin is my daughter’s pet name. Since I have already promised her to you, I cannot go back on this. If you wish to succeed in the examination, my daughter will also be able to make that happen for you.” At the king’s bidding, Zhu Wei escorted his sister and Li Yuan out. Li Yuan bowed repeatedly in gratitude.

Zhu Wei led Li Yuan out of the palace to the side of the boat. The girl had changed into everyday clothes and was already in the boat. Zhu Wei said, “I cannot accompany you any farther because you are crossing into the mortal world. Please take good care of yourselves.”

“May I ask the name of your worthy father His Majesty?”

“My father is the king of all dragons in the Western Sea. His many merits made the Jade Emperor give him the honor of guarding this region. Luckily, the water is clean and the waves crystal clear, something that brings honor to our o spring. You must never reveal any information about us, lest a calamity should follow. Nor should you get too inquisitive with my sister.”

With hands folded in front of him, Li Yuan heard him out and then took leave of him. When Li Yuan embarked on the boat, Zhu Wei handed over a package of valuables as a present. Amid the sounds of a rainstorm that filled his ears, Li Yuan soon found himself by Long Bridge. The valets escorted the girl and Li Yuan up onto the shore, gave them the package of valuables, and left without a moment’s delay. The oars flew through the air, and in the twinkling of an eye, the boat disappeared from view.

Li Yuan felt as if he had just woken up from a dream. Turning his head, he found, much to his surprise and delight, that the girl was still with him. He said to her, “Your father made you my wife. Are you willing to follow me?”

The girl replied, “By the king’s order, I shall serve you as your wife. But you must not reveal my identity to your family. If anything leaks out, I will not be able to stay long with you.” When Li Yuan led the girl to his boat, Wang An the servant was astounded. He led Li Yuan onto the boat and said, “Master, I looked everywhere for you. Where were you all night?”

“I met a friend who invited me for a cup of wine on the lake and gave me this girl as my wife.”

Wang An refrained from pressing for details, but invited the girl into the boat, hid the valuables in the baggage, and prepared for departure.

Crossing rivers and dams, they arrived in Chenzhou soon enough. Li Yuan greeted his mother in the main hall. After talking about his father, he went down on his knees and said, “On my way home, I got myself a wife, but I dare not present her to you, because father and you did not so instruct.”

His mother said, “Marriage is a ritual that has been in existence since ancient times. You have already taken a wife—why don’t you bring her home?” His mother ordered that Chenxin be led in to be introduced to her. It was a joyous occasion for the entire family.

A few days after his return home, the examination date drew near. Li Yuan noticed that Chenxin was an intelligent girl who knew all there was to know, and said to her, “Your father advised me to consult you if I wish to be successful in the examinations. Since the exam is scheduled for tomorrow, do you have anything to teach me?”

“I’ll get the essay question of the exam for you tonight, so that you can write the essay at home before the exam. Tomorrow, all you have to do is to copy your draft.”

“This does sound like a wonderful idea, but how are you going to get hold of the essay question?”

“I will need to close my eyes while making the e ort. Be sure not to look at me while I’m at it.”

Li Yuan was not convinced. Chenxin returned to her room and closed the door tightly. There arose a gust of wind that blew up the curtains. A couple of hours later, she opened her door and emerged with a sheet of paper that contained an essay question and handed it over to Li Yuan, to his great delight. Freely consulting various books, he finished writing his essay. The following day when he sat for the examination, the essay question turned out to be the very one he had worked on. His essay was thus finished without the least e ort. The same thing happened the day after. The woman stole the essay questions for all three sessions of the examination by flying through the air into the examination grounds. When the results of the examination were announced, it was found that Li Yuan had indeed scored high marks. He was appointed to be a notary of the assistant prefect of Jiangzhou. After receiving congratulations from relatives and friends, he set out on his journey to assume his post. In one year, he was reappointed to the Office of Memorials. Upon expiration of his three-year-term, he was promoted to the position of magistrate of Wujiang County, south of the Yangzi River. Leading his wife and five servants, he took leave of his parents and went to assume his new post.

A few days after he assumed office, Chenxin bade farewell to him, saying, “Three years ago, my parents made me serve you as a wife in repayment of a debt of gratitude to you for having saved my brother’s life. Now that the three years have passed, I should be leaving you. Take good care of yourself.”

Unwilling to see her go, Li Yuan tried to embrace her, but before he could do so, a gust of strong wind had already blown her out the door. A cloud appeared under her feet, and she rose slowly into the sky. To Li Yuan, who was wailing bitterly with his face turned upwards, she said, “Do not waste your youth. Find yourself another wife. When you are promoted to be a minister, you should retire. If I don’t go back now, I will be subject to severe punishment. I’ve written a short poem for you to keep as a souvenir.” From the sky was tossed down a piece of flowered notepaper on which was written a poem:

Li Yuan was plunged into despair. Later, upon expiration of his three-year term of office, he returned to Chenzhou. He was then appointed assistant in the Palace Library, and Prime Minister Wang made him his son-in-law. He rose further up the ladder of officialdom until he became the minister of personnel. To this day, there still stands, outside the west gate by the Wu River, a temple to the Dragon King, built years ago by Li Yuan. There is a poem that bears witness: