法苑珠林 32.89

32.89

Zhuge Fu of Langye in the Song dynasty was appointed Grand Protector of Jiuzhen during the Yongjia era of the Song. His family and dependents were all in Yangdu; he took only his eldest son, Yuanchong, to his post. Fu fell ill and died in the commandery. Yuanchong was only nineteen years old; escorting the funeral, he intended to return. Fu's retainer, He Faseng, coveting his goods and wealth, together with an accomplice pushed Yuanchong into the water, drowning him, and thereupon divided his property. That night, Yuanchong's mother, Lady Chen, dreamed that Yuanchong returned and recounted in full detail the events concerning his deceased father and the particulars of his own murder: how his corpse floated along in the water and how the cruel grievance was without match. "Having been separated from attending upon you for successive years, in a single morning I have taken my final leave; harboring grief and swallowing resentment, how can it be spoken of?" He sobbed, unable to contain himself. He further said: "Having traveled swiftly, I was utterly exhausted, so I lay down under the window; on the bed, I rested my head against the window. When Mother looks at where your son lay, you will surely know it is not false." Lady Chen, grieving and startled awake, held a torch to illuminate the place where her son had slept; it was soaked with moisture resembling the shape of a human form. Thereupon the whole family wailed and wept, and only then began to make inquiries. At that time, Xu Senzhi had just been appointed Governor of Jiaozhou, and Xu Daoli served as his Chief of Staff (Zhangshi); Daoli was the son of Lady Chen's paternal aunt. She detailed in writing what had been dreamed and entrusted the two Xus to investigate it. On the road, the two Xus encountered the Zhuge funeral boat; they verified that the dates of death of the father and son matched the ghost's words. They then arrested the two perpetrators, who both confessed and were executed according to the law. They further dispatched men to escort the funeral procession to the capital. (This single verification is from the Yuanhun zhi.)