冥報記 3.4

3.4

When Emperor Yuan of the Liang was six years old, he saw a large pearl in his mother's cosmetic box, took one pearl, held it in his mouth, and then accidentally swallowed it. Suspecting that attendants had stolen the pearl, they interrogated them, but none confessed; thereupon they cremated a live fish to take an oath and curse [the thief]. The next day, the emperor had a bowel movement, and the pearl emerged with the feces. One of the emperor's eyes consequently went blind (see the *Brief Account of the Liang*).