法苑珠林 75.45

75.45

During the Jin dynasty, there was Lu Chong of Fanyang. Thirty *li* to the west of his home was the tomb of Cui, the Major of the Palace. When Chong was twenty, on the day before the winter solstice, he went out west of his residence on a hunting outing. Seeing a roebuck, he shot it; after being struck, the roebuck fell, then got up again and ran. Chong pursued it step by step, unaware of how far he had gone. Suddenly, about a *li* north of the road, he saw tile-roofed buildings on all four sides, resembling an official mansion; the roebuck was no longer visible. When he reached the gate, an usher called out for the guest to step forward. There was another person holding a bundle of new clothes who said: 'The Lord of the Manor invites the young gentleman with these clothes.' Chong took and put them on, and went in to see the Major of the Palace. The Major said to Chong: 'Your noble father did not consider my family humble and lowly; recently I received a letter from him asking for my younger daughter's hand in marriage on your behalf, which is why I have welcomed you here.' He then showed the letter to Chong. When Chong's father died, Chong was still young, but he recognized his father's handwriting; he then wept and made no excuses. Cui ordered the inner quarters: 'Young Master Lu has arrived; have the young lady adorn herself and proceed to the eastern gallery.' At dusk, the inner quarters reported: 'The young lady's adornment is complete.' Cui said to Chong: 'Sir, you may proceed to the eastern gallery.' Having arrived, the bride had already descended from the carriage and stood at the head of the mat. They immediately bowed together. For three days, they were provided with food and drink. When the three days were over, Cui said to Chong: 'Sir, you may return home. If my daughter happens to bear a boy, she will give him to you; if she bears a girl, she will keep and raise her herself.' He ordered several carriages outside to escort the guest. Chong then took his leave and departed. Cui escorted him to the middle gate, held his hands, and wept. Stepping outside the gate, he saw a single carriage harnessed to a blue-gray ox, and also saw the clothes and bow and arrows he had originally worn, still outside the gate. Soon an attendant was sent with a person holding a bundle of clothes to deliver a message to Chong: 'Our marital alliance has just begun, and parting brings great sorrow. I now present a set of clothes, complete with quilt and mattress.' Chong boarded the carriage and left, speeding like lightning. In an instant he reached home. His mother asked what had happened, and Chong reported the details fully. Four years after the parting, on the third day of the third month, Chong was by the water's edge enjoying the festival when he suddenly saw a single carriage beside the water, sinking and floating by turns. Soon it came ashore, seen by everyone seated around. Chong went and opened the carriage's rear door, and saw Lady Cui sitting with a four-year-old boy. She handed the boy back to Chong, gave him a golden bowl as a parting gift, and also presented a poem that read: