The Romantic History of Emperor Yang of Sui [16-17]

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter Sixteen: Li Beihai Shoots Fish at Mingxia Temple
The poem reads:
Do not grieve, for the rise and fall of a nation are all foreshadowed. Not only do the celestial signs hang low, but even a blade of grass and a tree can foretell the future. Do not doubt, for the success or failure of a nation has its own time. There is no need for divination by yarrow stalks or tortoise shells; even a bird or a fish knows in advance. I urge you to observe carefully and discern, and not to feign cunning before Heaven. To not listen to advice is to be deaf; to not see opportunity is to be blind. The land may be reduced to ashes, but by cultivating virtue, Heaven's will can still be restored. How laughable is the foolish who will never understand, indulging in lust and desire only to bring ruin upon themselves.
It is said that Emperor Yang, Empress Xiao, and the other ladies interviewed palace maids, selecting the most beautiful to enter the Western Garden. After the selection, only one beautiful woman remained, neither singing nor dancing. Emperor Yang, noticing her unusual behavior, summoned her and questioned her closely. The beauty calmly replied, "My surname is Yuan, and my given name is Ziyan. I entered the palace at a young age and have never seen Your Majesty's face. Now, having received Your Majesty's grace in selecting me, I dare to risk my life to petition." Emperor Yang said, "Since you have come to see me, you must possess a special skill. Why not present it here for me and the Empress to appreciate?" Yuan Ziyan replied, "Though I have a small skill, it is not a seductive dance or song to entertain the senses." Emperor Yang said, "If it is not dance or song, then what is your skill? Please tell me in detail." Yuan Ziyan said, "Since childhood, I have been fond of observing celestial phenomena, so I abandoned all needlework. Therefore, I have no other skills but to observe the stars and the qi, understand the movement of the five elements, and discern the fate of the nation." Emperor Yang was greatly surprised and said, "This is the learning of sages! How could a young woman like you, with rosy cheeks and green hair, comprehend it!" Yuan Ziyan said, "When I was a child, I met an old nun who said that I..." He was born with bright, intelligent eyes, capable of observing the heavens. He then taught his concubine the principles of celestial spheres and the five planets and seven celestial bodies. He further instructed her, "Master these, and one day you will become a teacher to a king." Because she gazed at the heavens day and night, she gained some understanding. Emperor Yang laughed loudly, "Since childhood, I have read countless books, but I regret that I have never thoroughly studied astronomy. I once summoned officials from the astronomical observatory to ask them questions, but they only gave vague and ambiguous answers, refusing to speak clearly. Therefore, their reports of calamities and blessings were often ignored by me. Now that you can understand them, I will build a high platform in the palace and appoint you as a Noble Lady, in charge of the Inner Court's astronomical observatory. I will then be able to observe the celestial phenomena frequently—how delightful!" Yuan Ziyan hurriedly thanked him. Emperor Yang then granted her a seat below the other ladies. Empress Xiao congratulated, "Today's selection has not only yielded many beauties, but also the assistance of Consort Yuan; all this is due to Your Majesty's great fortune." Emperor Yang was overjoyed and drank with everyone until late at night.
The next day, Emperor Yang immediately issued an edict ordering the officials to build a high platform southeast of Xianren Palace, its width and height modeled after the platforms built by the outer court. The officials received the edict. Truly, the court had the power to move mountains; within ten days, the platform was completed. Emperor Yang was delighted upon seeing it and immediately ordered wine to be prepared on the platform. That very night, he summoned Yuan Ziyan to ascend the high platform together to observe the celestial phenomena. Yuan Ziyan received the edict and sat beside Emperor Yang. She first indicated the Three Enclosures, and then divided the twenty-eight constellations. Emperor Yang asked, "What are the Three Enclosures?" Yuan Ziyan replied, "The Three Enclosures are the Purple Palace, the Supreme Palace, and the Heavenly Market. The Purple Palace is the palace where the emperor resides; the Supreme Palace is where the emperor issues decrees and receives audiences from the feudal lords; and the Heavenly Market is the city where the emperor gathers his power and influence. When the stars are bright and the sky is clear, the nation enjoys the blessing of peace; when comets and goblins disturb the peace, the state is in danger of upheaval." Emperor Yang then asked, "What are the Twenty-Eight Mansions?" Yuan Ziyan replied, "The seven mansions of Horn, Neck, Root, Room, Heart, Tail, and Winnowing Basket correspond to the image of the Azure Dragon of the East; the other seven are Dipper, Ox, Woman, Emptiness, Danger, Enclosure, and Wall." The seven constellations correspond to the image of the Black Tortoise in the North; the seven constellations of Kui, Lou, Wei, Mao, Bi, Zi, and Shen correspond to the image of the White Tiger in the West; the seven constellations of Jing, Gui, Liu, Xing, Zhang, Yi, and Zhen correspond to the image of the Vermilion Bird in the South. These twenty-eight constellations encircle the center of the sky and govern the various regions of the world. If the five planets invade a particular constellation, it indicates a disaster in that region, whether it be a military coup or a drowning. All are identified by the five colors: blue, yellow, red, white, and black.” Emperor Yang then asked, “Where is the Emperor Star?” Yuan Ziyan pointed north and said, “There are five stars in the Purple Palace Enclosure. The first star governs the moon and represents the Crown Prince; the second…” "The star that governs the day, the one that stands out as large and red, is the Emperor Star." Emperor Yang looked at it and said, "Why is the Emperor Star shaking like this?" Yuan Ziyan said, "The Emperor Star shakes unpredictably, indicating that the Son of Heaven enjoys travel." Emperor Yang laughed and said, "I enjoy travel and pleasure, but it is a very small matter. How can the celestial signs indicate this?" Yuan Ziyan said, "The Son of Heaven is the ruler of the world. Every action he takes corresponds to the celestial signs. Therefore, the ancient sage emperors and wise kings were always awe-inspiring and dared not act recklessly, for they feared the mandate of Heaven." Emperor Yang looked at it carefully for a long time and asked, "Why is the Purple Palace Enclosure so obscure?" Yuan Ziyan said, "I do not..." "Speak freely," Emperor Yang said. "Since Heaven has already given its signs, it would be deceiving me if you, my concubine, did not speak. Moreover, the rise and fall of dynasties are predetermined, so you might as well speak frankly to me." Yuan Ziyan said, "The Purple Star is obscured, and I fear the dynasty's reign will not last long." Emperor Yang pondered for a long time and said, "Is this matter still salvageable?" Yuan Ziyan said, "If Your Majesty cultivates virtue and prays for its restoration, why worry about Heaven's will not change?" Emperor Yang said, "If it can be salvaged, then there is no need to worry too much. Your concubine's words about Heaven are very auspicious, and your reasoning is very sound; you are truly a woman of great courage. With her as my inner help, I will be constantly vigilant, so why should I worry about the dynasty's fate?" He then ordered his attendants to offer wine. The two laughed and drank happily under the starlight. As night fell, a bright moon suddenly rose over the eastern mountain, illuminating the serene night scene. Emperor Yang was delighted and took up his brush to recite a poem in the ancient style: "The bright moon shines brightly, the evening scene is clear. The valley spring startles the dark rocks, the wind rustles the pines in the night." He donned his robes and stepped out of the thatched cottage, his slippers trailing behind the mountain pavilion. He was delighted to see the bright hall illuminated, and pleased to see the Tai steps level. The constellations of the stars were still recognizable, and the Cowherd and Weaver Girl were clearly distinguishable. The Big Dipper shifted, and the Milky Way stretched across the night. He lingered, unable to sleep, his heart filled with conflicting emotions.
Emperor Yang finished reciting, and Yuan Ziyan then began to read aloud. Suddenly, a streak of red light shot up from the northwest, like a dragon's pattern. Yuan Ziyan, startled, exclaimed, "This is the aura of an emperor! How could this be?" Emperor Yang turned to look and indeed saw streaks of red light, coalescing into five colors, illuminating half the sky—a truly strange sight. Truly, it is said: "A pearl hidden in jade shines brightly, and the wind, tiger, cloud, and dragon are naturally in harmony. It is said that true men are difficult to find; the crimson light has already soared to the heavens." Emperor Yang, upon seeing this, was astonished and asked, "How do you know it is the aura of an emperor?" Yuan Ziyan replied, "Five colors form patterns, resembling dragons and phoenixes—how could it not be! Where this aura arises, there must be an extraordinary person beneath it." Emperor Yang asked, "Where should this aura be located?" Yuan Ziyan pointed and said, "This is the division of the constellations Shen and Jing, probably only in the Taiyuan area." Emperor Yang said, "Taiyuan is not far from the Western Capital; I will send men tomorrow to search carefully. If there is an extraordinary person, capture and kill him, and this scourge will be eradicated." Yuan Ziyan said, "This..." "It is Heaven's will, and I fear it cannot be averted by human effort; I only wish Your Majesty would carefully cultivate virtue, and perhaps the calamity will dissipate on its own." Emperor Yang said, "Although it is Heaven's will, it is also up to human effort. If we could know its surname, eliminating it would not be difficult." Yuan Ziyan said, "An old nun once gave me a three-line verse, which said: 'Tiger head, ox tail, war and chaos arise, who will be the son of the king?' If we examine the characters 'wood' and 'son' closely, 'wood' above 'son' forms the character 'Li' (李). However, Heaven's will is subtle and difficult to fathom with personal desires." Emperor Yang said, "Since Heaven's will is set, worrying is useless. On such a fine night, let us enjoy ourselves with our concubines, what is wrong with that!" He then rose and descended the platform, and went to Yuan Ziyan's palace to spend the night.
Indeed:
Debauchery is hard to change, and the delirious cannot be awakened.
Seeing Heaven's will change, he remained drunk and graceful.
The next day, Emperor Yang had just gotten up and washed when he suddenly saw a eunuch sent by Lady Yang of Mingxia Courtyard to report: "The plum trees that were once tributes from Suanzao County rarely blossomed, but last night, suddenly their leaves and branches flourished, and countless flowers bloomed, casting clear shadows over several acres. A gust of wind brought fragrance throughout the courtyard, a truly auspicious sign. We humbly request Your Majesty to come and enjoy them." Because Yuan Ziyan had said the previous night that "wood" and "child" were the characters for "plum," and now seeing the report of the plum trees flourishing, Emperor Yang was already somewhat displeased. After pondering for a while, he asked, "This jade plum tree has not blossomed for a long time, yet it has suddenly become so lush; there must be something strange about it." The eunuch replied, "Indeed, there is something strange. Last night, everyone in the courtyard heard several divine beings under the tree say, 'The tree will flourish, and we should all help it.' We servants did not believe it, but when we looked this morning, it was indeed in full bloom, with flowers and leaves intertwined, and it was very abundant. This is all due to His Majesty's boundless blessings, hence this auspicious sign." Upon hearing this, Emperor Yang became even more displeased. Just as he was hesitating, a eunuch suddenly appeared and reported, "This servant is sent by Lady Zhou of Chenguang Courtyard. The bayberry tree in the courtyard, which was moved from Xijing in the past, suddenly blossomed all over last night, and is very lush. I would like to invite Your Majesty to come and enjoy it." When Emperor Yang heard that the bayberry tree was in full bloom, which was related to his own surname, he turned his face and said happily, "The bayberry tree is indeed in full bloom, wonderful, wonderful!" He then asked, "Why did it bloom so lushly overnight?" The officials replied, "Last night, we suddenly heard many divine beings under the flowers saying, 'This flower has extremely strong fortune, and it is possible to...'" "The blossoms are in full bloom. So when I looked this morning, the trees and the ground were covered in blossoms, everywhere in a riot of color." Emperor Yang said, "The bayberries are so abundant, how do they compare to the jade plums of Mingxia Courtyard?" The eunuch replied, "This servant has not seen any jade plums." Emperor Yang then asked the eunuch of Mingxia Courtyard, "Have you seen the bayberries?" The eunuch replied, "This servant has not seen any bayberries either." Emperor Yang suddenly noticed Wang Yi standing nearby and called to him, "Go to both courtyards and see which tree is better, the bayberries or the jade plums." Wang Yi obeyed the order and hurriedly went to both courtyards. He returned shortly afterward. Emperor Yang secretly hoped that Wang Yi would say the bayberries were more abundant than the jade plums. Wang Yi said, “Both trees are in full bloom. However, the jade plum is bright and beautiful, full of spirit; the bayberry is merely dense with stamens, its beauty seems to be unrestrained. In my opinion, although the bayberry is lush, it is not as magnificent as the jade plum.” Emperor Yang said unhappily, “How can you tell the difference with your naked eyes? Let me see for myself.” He then boarded his golden carriage and went to the West Garden. Lady Yang and Lady Zhou quickly responded, saying, "It's quite extraordinary that both courtyards are blooming at the same time." Emperor Yang asked, "The bayberry trees were transplanted from the Western Capital; they are native plants and should naturally be very lush. This jade plum tree was presented from another region; it's just a vine-like plant. How come it's also suddenly so lush?" The two ladies replied, "That's exactly how strange it is. The jade plum tree is blooming just like the bayberry tree. Although the bayberry tree's lushness is quite different from previous years, it's still something that exists in the human world. The jade plum tree, however, has no branches or leaves; it's piled up layer upon layer, as if guided by a god." Emperor Yang said, "How could you say that!" The two ladies said, "Your Majesty will see for yourself." Soon, the emperor arrived at Mingxia Courtyard, and Lady Yang wanted to invite him to see the jade plum tree. Emperor Yang refused to dismount, saying, "I'll see the bayberry tree first, then I'll see the jade plum tree." Lady Yang didn't dare to insist and had to let the carriage go ahead, while she followed him to Chenguang Courtyard. Emperor Yang entered the courtyard and went to look at the bayberry tree. Just look at the clusters of blossoms; they are indeed in full bloom. How can we tell? A poem, "Plum Blossom Melody," testifies: "Red clusters, green clusters, high and low, clustered like a brocade plate. Flowers in clusters, leaves in clusters, radiant and vibrant, like brocade itself. Thousands of flowers and buds bloom everywhere, leaving no trace to conceal spring's splendor. Do not look carelessly, do not look carelessly, lest the blossoms wither and the flourishing glory be difficult to continue.
" Emperor Yang, seeing this, was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Indeed, they bloom so profusely! Indeed, they bloom so profusely! This is an auspicious omen for the nation, easily foreseen." Soon after, the ladies of the various courtyards, hearing of the blossoms in the two courtyards, also came to see. Seeing the abundant blossoms of the bayberries, they all praised them highly. Emperor Yang was delighted and ordered a banquet to be held to admire the flowers. Unaware of Emperor Yang's distress, the ladies all said, "We've heard the Jade Plum blossoms are even more abundant; why doesn't Your Majesty go and see them?" Emperor Yang laughed, "No need to go; I doubt they're as flourishing as the Yangmei." The ladies said, "Whether they're in full bloom or not, what harm is there in going to see them?" Emperor Yang, unable to resist their urging, had no choice but to go to Mingxia Courtyard. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they were greeted by a rich, exotic fragrance. Reaching the back courtyard, they opened the window and saw trees laden with wondrous flowers, their branches overflowing with exotic blossoms, as if crafted from jade and adorned with pearls. The clear shadows and pure light illuminated the entire courtyard, creating a myriad of auspicious rays. Layers of auspicious mist, truly a work of divine intervention, quite unlike the Yangmei trees. How so? A poem, "Ta Sha Xing," testifies: "White snow spreads horizontally, green clouds fall in disarray, bright pearls and fairy dew float on the calyxes. It's as if it were all created overnight, truly untouched by spring's artistry." Cultivated by Heaven and Earth, entrusted by spirits and deities, how dare the Eastern Emperor bind it? Its fragrance, carried by the wind, seems to transform into a dragon; what ordinary flower dares to contend with its strength!
Emperor Yang saw the Jade Plum, its golden light dazzling, unlike a mere tree, but rather like some precious treasure radiating light. He was so terrified that he stared in disbelief, speechless for a long time. His consorts, unaware of the true nature of the blossoms, continued to praise and exclaim. The palace attendants, equally oblivious, exclaimed, "How wondrous! How wondrous!" and "How luxuriant!" Their praises were incessant. Emperor Yang, furious for a long time, suddenly shouted, "Such a small tree, suddenly blooming like this, must be a flower demon! Keeping it will surely bring disaster!" He immediately ordered his men to quickly cut it down by the roots with knives and axes. Upon hearing this, the ladies were all greatly alarmed and said, "A profusion of blossoms is an auspicious sign for the nation. Why then do you call it a demon and want to cut it down? We beg Your Majesty to reconsider." Emperor Yang said, "How could the concubines know? It would be best to cut it down quickly." The ladies pleaded repeatedly, but Emperor Yang would not listen. The many eunuchs all cherished the flower and hesitated, reluctant to lay a hand on it. Just as they were about to cut it down, a message came that the Empress had arrived
. It turned out that Empress Xiao had heard that the flowers in the two courtyards were blooming profusely and had come to admire them. When she arrived in the courtyard and saw Emperor Yang, the ladies greeted her and said, "Such beautiful flowers, yet Your Majesty calls them demons and wants to cut them down. We beg Your Majesty to persuade them to stop." Empress Xiao carefully examined the Jade Plum and indeed, it was indeed as lush as snow piled up and jade carved. After pondering for a while, Empress Xiao asked Emperor Yang, "Why does Your Majesty want to cut down this tree?" Emperor Yang replied, "My wife is a wise woman; why ask such questions?" Empress Xiao said, "This is the will of Heaven, not an omen. What good will it do to cut it down? If Your Majesty's power and influence remain undiminished, then this is all an indication of the virtue of wood assisting you." Emperor Yang said, "My wife's insight is absolutely correct." Only then did he stop the tree from being cut down. Seeing that the tree was not being cut down, Lady Yang wanted to prepare a banquet to enjoy it. Emperor Yang then got up and said, "Let's go see the bayberries with my wife." Everyone went to Chenguang Courtyard together as usual. Empress Xiao saw that although the bayberries were lush, how could they compare to the jade plums! However, Empress Xiao was ultimately a clever woman and understood Emperor Yang's meaning, so she could only reluctantly say, "The bayberries are fragrant and beautiful, possessing the pure energy of heaven and earth, while the jade plums are merely pretty. In my opinion, the bayberries are the superior flower." Emperor Yang then smiled and said, "My wife has a good eye after all." He then ordered wine to be brought for the banquet. Soon the wine arrived, and everyone sat down to drink under the flowers. After drinking for a while, it was truly a case of "one who has seen the ocean finds it hard to be impressed by other waters," and "having seen the abundant plum blossoms, even the bayberries seem ordinary." Although everyone praised the wine, they all felt a little dissatisfied, so the drinking wasn't particularly enjoyable. Even Emperor Yang himself, after observing for a while, found it uninteresting. He angrily stood up and said, "At this time of year, with spring in full bloom and the earth itself a tapestry of beauty, why not explore the many scenic spots of the Five Lakes instead of just drinking wine under a single flowering tree?" Empress Xiao said, "Your Majesty's opinion is reasonable. Why not move the banquet to the Five Lakes?" Emperor Yang said, "If we're going to go, let's go to the North Sea and broaden our horizons." The ladies, upon hearing this, quickly ordered their attendants to move the banquet to the dragon boat, and it was quickly arranged. Emperor Yang, Empress Xiao, and everyone else boarded the dragon boat together and headed towards the North Sea. They found the wind gentle and the sun warm; the spring scenery seemed even more different than in any other season.
Poems attest to this:
The imperial garden is beautiful in the east wind, blowing spring across the green streams.
Red flowers shift and cover the banks, green willows press down on the boats. Tree
shadows lean against the mountain palace, orioles sing over the water pavilion.
The weather is fine today, perfect for a trip to the Five Lakes.
Another poem says:
Where the emperor enjoys himself, there is a unique fragrance.
Forbidden birds sing as if laughing, palace flowers fall as if about to fly.
In the cold, new wine is brewed; in the warmth, thin silk robes are tried on.
An imperial edict instructs singing and dancing, to keep spring from leaving. Yet another poem
says:
In the palace in the second or third month, the scenery is all new.
Delicate birds sing naturally, beautiful women enjoy spring freely.
The water ripples blue, the mountains are purple and rugged.
I hear they have crossed the lake, dragon boats and flutes and drums are arrayed.
Emperor Yang, Empress Xiao, and their consorts, with the curtains drawn back in the dragon boat, admired the beauty of the surrounding landscape. They also summoned newly chosen beauties to sing and dance, creating a joyful atmosphere. Before long, they had crossed the North Sea and arrived at the foot of the Three Divine Mountains, where they all disembarked. Just as they were about to ascend the mountain, they suddenly heard a loud splashing sound in the water. Turning around, they saw a large fish playing and frolicking in the waves. At first, it hovered in the middle, its mane billowing, but gradually approached the shore. Emperor Yang, finding the fish somewhat strange, did not ascend the mountain but instead returned to the shore with Empress Xiao. The fish, upon seeing Emperor Yang, seemed to recognize him, neither avoiding him nor diving in, but simply swimming back and forth on the surface near the shore. Emperor Yang looked closely and saw that it was a large carp, fourteen or fifteen feet long, its body covered in shimmering scales and golden armor, which, under the sunlight, resembled millions of golden stars.
It was truly:
neither appearing nor disappearing, leaping in the abyss, half-waved, half-rippled, playing in the long river.
Clearly, it already possessed dragon scales and armor, awaiting only wind and thunder to ascend to heaven.
Emperor Yang, seeing the fish's peculiar appearance—long and large—was somewhat surprised. Seeing it swim back and forth, refusing to sink into the water; and being a carp, its name sounding and meaning the same as "Li," he felt truly displeased. After observing for a while, Lady Di suddenly pointed and said, "Your Majesty, look, there seems to be a faint red character on the fish's forehead." Upon closer inspection, Emperor Yang saw that on the fish's forehead was a vermilion "角" (jiao, meaning horn), written on one side. Emperor Yang looked at it again and again, and suddenly remembered, saying, "So this is the fish." Empress Xiao hurriedly asked, "What kind of fish is this?" Emperor Yang said, "My lady, don't you remember? I once fished with Yang Su at Taiye Pond, and a fisherman from the Luo River brought a golden carp as a gift. I saw that it had some unusual features, so I put it in the pond. Later, Yu Shiji dug the sea and wanted to introduce fresh water, so it was connected to the pond. I don't know when it went to the sea and grew to this size!" Empress Xiao said, "How does Your Majesty recognize it?" Emperor Yang said, "When I put it in the pond, because it had no name, I wrote the two characters 'Jiesheng' on its forehead with a red brush. Today, the character 'Sheng' has all faded, and only half of the character 'Jie' with a 'horn' on top remains. Isn't that it?" Empress Xiao said, "A carp with horns is no ordinary creature! Your Majesty must know this." Emperor Yang laughed and said, "As the Son of Heaven, how could I not know this? Let me use my dragon-slaying skills to remove this thorn in my side and show it to my lady." He then ordered his attendants to bring a bow and arrows. The attendants rushed to the Canxia Palace on Mount Penglai, retrieved a carved bow and several red-tipped arrows, and presented them to Emperor Yang. Emperor Yang took the bow, drew the arrow, rolled up his sleeves, aimed at the fish's belly, and released the arrow with a "whoosh." In the blink of an eye, a gust of wind arose on the water, whipping up towering waves that looked as if millions of fish and dragons were leaping in the water. The spray from the waves sprayed directly onto the shore, soaking Emperor Yang, Empress Xiao, and the other ladies' clothes. Terrified, they all stumbled backward.
Indeed:
A divine object of extraordinary nature, how could an arrow wound such a creature?
How laughable that the emperor, without thinking, allowed the waves to splash his clothes.
Emperor Yang, startled by the onslaught of the wind and waves, lost his footing and hastily retreated into the palace with Empress Xiao and the other ladies. Emperor Yang said, "Although this fish is large, it is still just a carp, not yet a dragon. How can it cause such a great storm?" Empress Xiao said, "Although this fish has not yet become a dragon, it is certainly a dragon's offspring, definitely not something that can be confined to a pond." Emperor Yang said, "I just fired the arrow, and the storm arose. I don't know if I hit it." Empress Xiao said, "If I had hit it, it would not have caused such a storm." Emperor Yang said, "Yang Su once advised me to kill it to avoid future storms, but I did not listen. Who knew that his words would come true today?" The ladies said, "Even if it becomes a dragon, it is not a big deal. Why worry about it!" "After much discussion, the waves finally calmed. Emperor Yang, startled, lost all interest in sightseeing and instead boarded the dragon boat with Empress Xiao and the other ladies, rowing back to the North Sea. As soon as they reached the south shore, they saw the Imperial Envoy Duan Da prostrate on the ground, reporting that he had an urgent memorial to present. This memorial would, ironically, lead to: all military power in the realm falling into the hands of the true ruler; and the palace's songs and dances bewitching and corrupting the foolish emperor.
Truly:
once Heaven's will has a favor, human affairs will diverge.
Even if the emperor is jealous, his name will be forever tarnished.
Duan Da did not know what memorial he had to present; let us find out in the next chapter.
Chapter Seventeen: Yuan Bao'er Bets on Songs to Gain New Favor; Emperor Yang of Sui Views Paintings" A poem reminiscing about past travels reads: Though the ruler's virtue may be questionable, Heaven is indeed cruel!
Music and song deafen the ears, brocade and silk entice the heart to stagnate.
Let his licentious nature
run rampant, indulging in extravagant talents. The empire is nearing its end, yet beauties are still sent forth.
Another poem reads:
The state is already in turmoil, the ruler can only travel.
Having just heard the song of the new willows, I immediately think of ancient Yangzhou.
When will the affairs of the world end? Human emotions refuse to cease.
How much sorrow for rise and fall, the bright moon shines on the Han Canal.
It is said that Emperor Yang and Empress Xiao returned from their travels to the North Sea. Just as they reached the shore, the gatekeeper Duan Da prostrated himself on the ground, holding several memorials, saying: "There is an urgent memorial from the border. I dare not delay, and respectfully present it to Your Majesty for review and decision." Emperor Yang laughed: "In this world of peace and prosperity, with all nations paying tribute, what urgent matter could cause such a fuss!" "Then he ordered it to be brought up for inspection. His attendants hurriedly presented the first memorial. When Emperor Yang opened it, it read: 'Report on a border matter: The area from Honghua Commandery to Guanzhong has suffered from consecutive years of drought, and bandits have risen up in droves, which the commanderies and counties are unable to control. We humbly request that a capable general be dispatched as soon as possible to suppress and pacify the region, so as to prevent such rampant activity.' Emperor Yang said: 'The world is so peaceful, how can there still be bandits! This is all fabricated by the commandery and county officials, so that they can claim credit and rewards later.' Empress Xiao said: 'Such matters, while not entirely believable, should not be completely disregarded either. Your Majesty only needs to send a capable general to suppress them.' Emperor Yang then took the second memorial, which was from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, 'Regarding the recommendation of a replacement: Bandits have arisen in the thirteen commanderies of Guanzhong, and the commanderies and counties are requesting a capable general.'" Your humble servants recommend Li Yuan, the Junior Minister of the Imperial Guard, for his talent and strategy, and his ability to govern with a lenient and moderate approach. He is suitable to serve as the garrison commander of Honghua Commandery, leading troops to suppress bandits. We humbly request Your Majesty to make the final decision.” Emperor Yang read the decree and issued the following edict: “Since Li Yuan is talented and strategic, he shall be appointed as the garrison commander of Honghua Commandery, overseeing the troops of the thirteen commanderies in Guanzhong, suppressing bandits, and pacifying the people. He shall be promoted and rewarded according to his merits. The relevant department shall be informed.” "After Emperor Yang finished his decree, he immediately sent it to Duan Da. Duan Da, seeing it was an urgent matter concerning border defense, dared not delay and immediately ordered it to be relayed to the Ministries of Personnel and War.
Emperor Yang had just finished decreeing when he suddenly remembered that Li Yuan was from Longxi and also surnamed Li. He feared that this might fulfill the astronomical and prophetic prophecy, and wondered how he could allow him to be given military power. He pondered deeply, wanting to reverse his decision, but the memorial had already been sent; he wanted to appoint someone else, but there was no suitable general at the moment. It seemed that Heaven had ordained it. Just as Emperor Yang was hesitating, Duan Da suddenly presented another memorial. Emperor Yang slowly unfolded it and read it. It was a memorial from the magistrate of Chang'an to present a beautiful woman. Upon seeing it, Emperor Yang was overjoyed and even forgot about Li Yuan. He then asked Duan Da, 'Since a beautiful woman has been presented, where is she?' Duan Da replied, 'The beautiful woman is currently outside the garden. Without Your Majesty's decree, she dares not enter without permission.'" Emperor Yang immediately issued an edict summoning her. Soon after, the beauty was brought into the courtyard. Upon seeing Emperor Yang and Empress Xiao, the beauty hurriedly bent her slender waist, lowered her pale face, and prostrated herself on the ground. Emperor Yang looked at her closely and found her truly delicate and charming, soft and alluring, far surpassing those with rouge and powder.
A poem testifies to this:
"Her bones, like snow and rosy clouds, seem almost ethereal, especially at fifteen, in the prime of her youth.
Her painted eyebrows gleam proudly under the new moon by the window, her hair brushed against the evening mist in the wind.
Peach blossoms cannot rival her smile, pear blossoms dare not weigh down her shoulders.
And with that endearing, innocent charm, she is truly pitiful, capable of captivating the soul."
Emperor Yang, seeing the woman's charming appearance, was delighted. He personally helped her up and asked, "How old are you? What's your name?" The beauty replied, "My surname is Yuan, and my given name is Bao'er. I am only fifteen years old. My parents, hearing that Your Majesty is selecting concubines for your carriage, have offered me here, hoping for Your Majesty's favor." Emperor Yang laughed, "Don't worry, don't worry! I will not send her away." He then took Bao'er with Empress Xiao and went to the Sixteenth Palace. The ladies, seeing that Emperor Yang had just taken Bao'er, hurriedly prepared wine to congratulate him. They ate until midnight, then only Empress Xiao was escorted back to the palace. Emperor Yang stayed in the palace and spent the night with Bao'er. Because Bao'er was young and inexperienced, she was unable to handle the advances of Emperor Yang and acted coy and timid. Emperor Yang was delighted and felt even more affection for her. The next day, he bestowed upon her the title of Beauty. From then on, he took her by his side to serve him in all his actions, whether walking, sitting, or lying down, showing him great favor. However, Bao'er showed no sign of taking advantage of his favor, spending her days simply laughing and joking, neither arrogant nor pretentious, which made Emperor Yang love her even more. Even the sixteen concubines liked her gentle nature. Emperor Yang also ordered musicians to teach her singing, dancing, and playing instruments, and she, with a natural talent, learned quickly and mastered them. Before long, her singing and dancing possessed a grace and beauty that surpassed that of the other beauties.
One day, Emperor Yang was taking a nap in the courtyard and hadn't yet woken up when Yuan Bao'er secretly left the courtyard to play with the other beauties, including Zhu Gui'er, Han Jun'e, Yao Niang, and Tuo Niang. Yao Niang said, "In this spring, with all the flowers in bloom, how about we go play a game of grass fighting?" Tuo Niang said, "The flowers for grass fighting are all the same, everyone has them, it's not fun. We'd rather go swing, at least there will be some laughter." Han Jun'e said, "No, no, swings are scary for children, I won't go." Zhu Gui'er said, "Since swinging is no good, why don't we all go fishing at the Red Railing Bridge?" Yuan Bao'er said, "We can't go, what if His Majesty wakes up and looks for us? We'd better go to the back of the courtyard to perform songs and dances, that way we won't miss our important business." Everyone said, "That's right." So they all went into the courtyard and sat down in the west pavilion. They took turns singing and performing the newly learned songs and lyrics for a while. Zhu Guier suddenly said, "These tunes are just for show, they're not very interesting. Now that spring is so beautiful, look at the green willows outside the window, how lovely they are! Why don't we each come up with our own ideas, and sing a little song about willows, capturing the scene and our feelings?" Yao Niang said, "If that's the case, then don't just sing for nothing. If she sings well, give her a pearl; if she doesn't, punish her by making her treat everyone to a meal, how about that?" The beauties all said, "Okay, okay." Tuo Niang said, "Who should sing first?" Zhu Guier said, "That doesn't matter, just sing whoever can first." Before she finished speaking, Han Jun'e lightly tapped the sandalwood clappers, her voice soft and melodious, and sang: "The green willows are so lovely, trailing wisps of cold mist.
Why need peaches and plums to depict spring's beauty, for it all comes from the east wind of February."
After Han Jun'e finished singing, everyone praised her, saying, "Sister Han's singing is so exquisite, truly refined and elegant! How can we possibly sing in response!" Han Jun'e replied, "Sisters, please don't laugh at me. I'll have to treat you to a meal as punishment." Before she finished speaking, Tuo Niang also opened her lips, revealing her pearly teeth, and sang sweetly: "The willows are green, so green they seem
to beckon, some branches long, some low. I wonder how much spring they weave, causing the palace orioles to sing incessantly."
After Tuo Niang finished singing, everyone praised her for a while. Then Zhu Gui'er slowly and deliberately began to sing: "The willows are green, tens of thousands of branches, each branch conveying longing.
But where in the palace can one send longing? The idle osmanthus in the spring breeze secretly frowns."
After Gui'er finished singing, everyone said, "Sister Gui'er's singing was more charming." Gui'er laughed and said, "It's barely passable, where's the charm?" Then she pointed to Yao Niang and Bao'er and said, "You two should listen to these two young ladies sing, then you'll see the real enjoyment." Yao Niang smiled slightly, gently adjusted her fragrant voice, and sang like a flute: "The willows are green, yet spring cannot hold them back; spring's gentleness is like a slender waist.
It's said there's no sorrow in the palace, but the thought of the autumn wind is enough to kill with grief."
After Yao Niang finished singing, everyone congratulated her, saying, "So elegant and poignant, this song truly deserves praise." Yao Niang replied, "Don't be shy, listen to Sister Yuan's beautiful voice." Bao'er said, "I've only just learned it, how can I sing it?" Everyone said, "Everyone else is singing haphazardly, but you, who sings so well, should be humble." Bao'er, truly a skilled singer, calmly composed herself, holding her red ivory pen, before unleashing a melodious tune that resonated through the air, her voice lingering in the air as she softly and sweetly sang: "The green willows press against the forbidden gate, the wind stirs the moon, its beauty almost intoxicating.
Do not boast of your own springtime charm, for half of it is the grace of the imperial family. " After
Bao'er finished singing, everyone praised her. Zhu Guier said, "If we're talking about melodious singing, good rhythm, and proper diction, we're all about the same. But if we're talking about the beauty of the lyrics, Sister Yuan's remembrance of the Emperor's kindness is truly profound. We're all inferior! We should all present her with pearls." Bao'er laughed, "Sister Zhu, please stop teasing us. We're already grateful to be spared punishment. How dare we ask for pearls? So shameful!" Yao Niang said, "Indeed, Sister Yuan's singing is both beautiful in lyrics and emotion. We should all be punished." As the beauties were arguing, Emperor Yang emerged from behind the screen, laughing, "How dare you!" "How dare we hide this from Your Majesty while we were gambling on songs?" The beauties, seeing Emperor Yang approach, laughed and said, "We were gambling on some made-up songs when Your Majesty overheard us." Emperor Yang replied, "I've been hearing it for quite some time." It turned out that Emperor Yang had woken up and couldn't find Bao'er. He hurriedly asked his attendants, who replied, "She's in the pavilion behind the courtyard, singing with the beauties." Emperor Yang then quietly approached the pavilion. Reaching the pavilion, he heard the beauties talking and laughing. Fearing to interrupt their fun, he didn't enter the pavilion but instead went behind it, hiding behind a screen, letting them play. Therefore, he heard every single song clearly. Emperor Yang then said, "Stop arguing, come quickly and let me judge." All the beauties came forward. Looking at Zhu Guier, Han Jun'e, Tuo Niang, and Yao Niang, he said, "The four of you have elegant and refined lyrics, and clear and melodious voices; you are all rare talents." He then pointed to Yuan Bao'er and said, "You little rascal, you've learned to sing so well and already know how to choose words and express ideas. You also remember the imperial favor; you are truly clever, quick-witted, and adorable!" Bao'er didn't respond, only giggling innocently. Emperor Yang continued, "You all have a good time; you all deserve a generous reward." He then ordered his attendants to bring Wu silk and Shu brocade, giving each of them two ends. Bao'er was also rewarded with two pearls. He said, "Since you remember the imperial favor, I, the imperial favor, must favor you." Bao'er and the other beauties all thanked him, saying, "Your Majesty's judgment is extremely fair." Emperor Yang was overjoyed. Just as he was about to order a banquet, Wang Yi came and reported, "Empress Xiao saw that the flowers in the Magnolia Courtyard were in full bloom and sent me to invite Your Majesty to come and enjoy them." Emperor Yang said to the beauties, "The Magnolia Courtyard is indeed quite beautiful. I used to play there every day. Since the Western Garden was built, I haven't been there for a long time. Now that the flowers are in bloom and Empress Xiao has come to invite me, I invite you all to come and enjoy them. It will be a short time of pleasure." The beauties said, "We are honored!" Emperor Yang was overjoyed and got up, taking Bao'er and five others with him, and rode in the jade carriage back to the palace. Empress Xiao greeted him and said, "I happened to see that the flowers in the Magnolia Courtyard were in full bloom, so I sent Wang Yi to invite Your Majesty to come and enjoy them." Emperor Yang said, "I haven't been here for a long time and was just about to visit. I didn't expect my wife to be of the same mind." The two talked as they walked, and in a short while, they arrived at the Magnolia Courtyard. Emperor Yang looked around and saw thousands of flowers blooming in clusters. It was truly a magnificent royal spring scene, incredibly opulent. How so?
He saw:
spacious palaces and elegant windows. Pairs of swallows flitted behind beaded curtains; clusters of peach blossoms partially veiled embroidered screens. Brocade screens displayed the famous flowers of the Jade Garden, and jade steps piled with exotic herbs from the Jade Pool. The east wind adorned the willows, and the late-blooming sun awakened the crabapple blossoms. In the depths of spring in the Phoenix Pavilion, a flock of delicate birds sang among the flowers from within a thousand gates; in the warmth of the sun on the Dragon Tower, hundred-foot-long gossamer threads swirled around the trees in mid-air. The butterflies, fragrant and unable to fly, and the warbling orioles, their calls soft and low. Truly, the royal wealth was as vast as heaven and earth, and the imperial gardens surpassed all others in splendor.
Emperor Yang and Empress Xiao, leading their beauties, strolled around for a while before finally arriving in the courtyard to drink wine. After drinking several cups, Empress Xiao asked, "What did Your Majesty enjoy in the garden? Why did I invite you here?" Emperor Yang replied, "Nothing much. I happened to wake up and saw the five of them hiding in the back pavilion, gambling and singing. I eavesdropped for half a day, and their singing was quite interesting." Empress Xiao asked, "How interesting?" Emperor Yang then told Empress Xiao everything about how the beauties sang, how they gambled, and his own evaluation. Empress Xiao looked at the beauties and said, "Since you have such good songs, why don't you sing them again? Let me hear your evaluation and see if His Majesty's judgment is fair." Emperor Yang said, "That makes sense! I won't let you sing for nothing. Sing one, and I'll drink a cup with you." The beauties dared not refuse and sang the "Willow Song" again, one song per woman. Empress Xiao praised them all highly. When it was Yuan Bao'er's turn to sing last, Emperor Yang was about to show off her line about "royal favor" and listened attentively. Unexpectedly, she cleverly deviated from the original lyrics and sang: "Willows green and delicate as flowers, painted eyebrows still those of a little palace maid.
Above the nine heavens, spring is like a sea, daring to boast of the heavens' rain and dew."
Emperor Yang, upon hearing this, was both surprised and delighted, saying, "Look at this little girl, she's always up to something! Because the imperial concubines are here, she sang: 'Spring is like the sea above the nine heavens, daring to boast of the heavenly rain and dew.' This is clearly a humble way of saying she's a palace maid, showing that she doesn't dare to monopolize the emperor's favor." Empress Xiao was overjoyed, saying, "Although she's young, she has quite a bit of talent and substance." She called her over, personally handed her a cup of wine, and said, "At such a young age, you know right from wrong and understand matters. You are mindful of the emperor's favor, yet dare not exaggerate; you are truly a virtuous lady." She then took off a pair of gold bracelets she had brought with her and rewarded her. Bao'er thanked the emperor and accepted them without saying a word, only giggling innocently. Emperor Yang was delighted and drank several cups in succession, becoming slightly tipsy. He then got up and went to wander around, occasionally walking up to the palace, where he saw a large painting hanging in the center. The painting was done with fine gold ink, depicting landscapes, figures, pavilions, temples, and villages. Emperor Yang stopped and stared intently at it for a long time. Empress Xiao, seeing that Emperor Yang was absorbed in the painting, worried that he might be tiring himself out, so she sent Gui'er to invite him for wine. Gui'er went to invite him, but Emperor Yang refused, continuing to gaze at the painting. Seeing that she couldn't persuade him to come, Empress Xiao then sent Bao'er to bring him a newly brewed, finely brewed tea with a dragon motif. Emperor Yang, still engrossed in the painting, did not accept the tea.
Empress Xiao, seeing Emperor Yang looking at the painting with a strange expression, quickly stood up, slowly walked to him, and asked gently, "Whose masterpiece is this?" Emperor Yang replied, "What famous person? What masterpiece?" Empress Xiao said, "If it's not a masterpiece by a famous person, why does Your Majesty love it so much and seem so reluctant to part with it?" Emperor Yang said, "It's not that I love this painting; it's just that I'm thinking of places I've visited before, and the more I look at it, the more melancholy I feel." Empress Xiao said, "Where is this painting depicted? Please tell me, Your Majesty." Emperor Yang said, "This painting is a picture of Guangling. Seeing this picture suddenly reminded me of the scenery of Guangling, hence my reluctance to leave." Empress Xiao said, "Does this picture bear any resemblance to Guangling?" Emperor Yang said, "If we're talking about the beautiful mountains and rivers, the charming willows and flowers of Guangling, which part..." "How can this painting possibly capture the beauty of this landscape? Even just looking at the palaces, temples, and strategic locations, they are all vividly depicted before my eyes." Empress Xiao pointed and asked, "What river is this? Are there these boats and ships in it?" Seeing Empress Xiao's detailed question, Emperor Yang took a step closer, placed his left hand on her shoulder, and pointed to the painting with his right hand, explaining carefully, "This is not a river, but the Yangtze River. This water flows from the Three Gorges of Western Shu, rushing for over ten thousand li until it reaches the sea, thus dividing into north and south. All the natural barriers of antiquity are named after this river." Empress Xiao asked, "Is this area along the river all mountains?" Emperor Yang replied, "This area in front is Ganquan Mountain; this one to the left is Fushan Mountain. The Great Yu the Great once tamed the floods here, and there is still a temple dedicated to Yu the Great on the mountain." The mountain on the left is called Datongshan (Great Copper Mountain), named after King Wu of Wu, Bi, who minted coins there during the Han Dynasty. Behind it lies a cluster of small mountains called Hengshan (Horizontal Mountain), where Prince Zhaoming once studied. Spreading out from these are Guabushan (Guabu Mountain), Luofushan (Luofu Mountain), Moheshan (Mohe Mountain), Langshan (Wolf Mountain), and Gushan (Solitary Mountain), all gateways to Guangling. In the painting, only traces of these mountains are visible. But in Guangling itself, they are truly lush and verdant, the most beautiful place under heaven.” Empress Xiao then asked, “What is this city in the middle?” Emperor Yang replied, “This is called Wudi, also known as Gubanggou City, the former capital of King Wu, Fuchai, during the Warring States period. The waters surrounding this city were also dug by King Wu to protect it. This city, situated in the heart of Guangling, is greatly protected by these mountains and rivers. I intend to build another capital here to absorb the beauty of Jiangdu.” Empress Xiao said, “How can such a small city accommodate an emperor as his capital?” Emperor Yang laughed, "My wife thinks it looks too small in the painting. If we go there, it will be spacious and large enough for us to enjoy as we please." He then pointed to a place in the northwest and said, "This place alone is over two hundred li long, almost the same size as the Western Garden. If I were to establish my capital in Guangling, I would build sixteen palaces here, just like the Western Garden." He then pointed around randomly, saying, "Here we can build platforms, here we can erect towers, here we can build bridges, here we can dig ponds." Emperor Yang, in his exuberance, became so excited that he danced with joy.
A later poet wrote a poem about him: "
The Sui emperor loved romance, abandoning his empire for a life of wandering.
When emotions stirred, he could not control himself; when his heart was set free, how could he restrain it? Like
drifting catkins, aimless and uncertain, like wild horses and dust, the chaos never ceased.
Realizing that prosperity was but a dream, the setting sun and withered grass already held sorrow.
" Empress Xiao, seeing this, laughed and said, "Your Majesty is already delighted just by talking; if Your Majesty were to truly establish your capital here, I wonder how happy you would be!" Emperor Yang suddenly sighed and said, "When I visited Jiangdu the other day, I intended to establish the capital there. However, upon returning to the capital, I was burdened by countless affairs of state, which has kept me tied down, and I have wasted so many years, unable to fulfill my wishes." He then appeared melancholy. Empress Xiao said, "Your Majesty is the ruler of the land; a trip would be easy. Why be so distressed?" Emperor Yang replied, "As the Son of Heaven, how could I not know that a trip is easy? But I am troubled by the long and winding roads, a journey of a thousand miles. Once there, I cannot enjoy the scenery for long before I miss my wives and long to return. A thousand miles to go, a thousand miles back—it's all just traveling, extremely inconvenient. Moreover, traveling alone would be lonely and uninteresting." Empress Xiao said, "In that case, why doesn't Your Majesty take me, along with the sixteen ladies of the palace and all the beauties, on this trip? Wouldn't that be wonderful!" Emperor Yang said, “I truly wish to, but this is a land route, with sand and dust everywhere, and the journey is arduous. How can my wives endure such hardship!” Empress Xiao replied, “I have heard there are forty-nine detached palaces and villas, where we can stay along the way. How can it be considered arduous?” Emperor Yang said, “Although there are detached palaces and villas, we only stay overnight. During the day, we must proceed step by step, enduring the dust and hustle and bustle of the journey. It is quite tedious. Furthermore, leading so many concubines, with constant comings and goings, how can we possibly have any enjoyment!” Empress Xiao said, “Your Majesty’s concerns are very valid. Why not find a waterway and build more dragon boats? Then we can all travel safely.” Emperor Yang laughed, “If there were a waterway, we wouldn’t have waited until today. Why would I need to make such calculations?” Empress Xiao said, “Isn’t there a river? Perhaps the Yangtze River we just crossed has a passage?” Emperor Yang laughed, "Too far, too far, impassable, impassable!" Empress Xiao said, "Your Majesty, do not be so stubborn. Tomorrow, the ministers should discuss it. Perhaps there is another waterway. Let us go and drink today, and not worry so much about the future, lest we ruin our present enjoyment." Emperor Yang laughed, "My wife's words are wise." So they took each other's hands and went to the courtyard to drink.
It was truly a case of:
Desiring to ascend, yet seeking more; seeking more desolation within desolation.
The empire is as solid as a rock, yet it too must perish here.
I wonder what waterway the ministers will find after discussion? Let us find out in the next chapter.

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