Chapter Seven: The Celestial Granddaughter Pines for Her Beloved in the Palace — The Holy Mother of Jade Clarity Petitions the Emperor

Now, after the division of the family estate, Jin Lang returned each evening from tending the ox to take his meals at his elder brother's house. Mrs. Ma, having gained sole possession of all the family property, was thoroughly pleased with herself, and the three daily meals she set out were passable enough; Jin Lang's suffering was somewhat lessened. Moreover, as the years passed and the boy grew older, he understood the difference between good and ill treatment, and Mrs. Ma, for her part, feared that if she pressed him too harshly he might go to his brother with complaints. The household servants, too, quietly encouraged and comforted him. And so, in a muddled fashion, another year or two slipped by, and Jin Lang was now twelve years of age. He spent his days in the company of the ox — now grazing the animal, now reading a book. Jin Lang was faring tolerably well; let us leave him there for the moment.

We turn now to the Celestial Granddaughter, the Weaving Maid. Ever since the year she was set to keep watch alongside the heavenly maidens and sent to weave within the Cloud-Brocade Palace on the eastern bank of the Milky Way, she had labored without cease, day and night. The loneliness and anguish of her days were beyond all telling, and she knew not when her term of suffering might be fulfilled. One evening, when the day's work was done and she rested, a great snowfall came drifting down from the sky. Dragons lay hidden, and magpies crouched silent in their nests. The desolate scene beyond the window stirred the grief already dwelling in her heart, and she sighed:

Though I toil here in the Heavenly Palace, my hardship is great —

How much more bitter must his suffering be, cast down to the world of dust.

Having given voice to her sorrow, the Weaving Maid turned to the heavenly maidens keeping watch over the palace and said: "I have been here for many years now, enduring this torment day after day and year after year. I know not when the hour of fulfillment shall come, nor when I may escape this pit of suffering. There is also the matter of the Twelfth Golden Youth, who was cast down to the mortal world — I know not where he went, nor what hardships he has endured, nor whether we shall ever meet again." The attending celestial maiden replied: "Celestial Granddaughter, do not grieve overmuch. The Jade Emperor surely knows all. How can it be that suffering shall have no end? As for the Twelfth Golden Youth's tribulations in the mortal world — that too is the decree of Heaven. There is no need to worry yourself so." The Weaving Maid said: "What you say is true enough, and yet — were it not for my sake, the Golden Youth would never have been banished to the mortal world. We have now been separated for twelve years, and not once have we been granted a single meeting. Tomorrow I must go to the Holy Mother of Cloud-Brocade and beg her to petition the Jade Emperor: when will our fulfillment come?" The attending celestial maiden said: "I counsel you, Celestial Granddaughter, to be patient and await the Imperial Decree." The two heavenly maidens talked back and forth until, without realizing it, they drifted off to sleep. When morning came, the Weaving Maid steeled herself and went before the Holy Mother's hall, where she knelt and spoke: "Through the great mercy of the Holy Mother I have been received here these twelve years. I have labored diligently at my weaving, though the hardship is more than I can bear. Yet I know not when fulfillment shall come, nor whether I shall ever again meet the Golden Youth. I beg the Holy Mother to grant me permission to petition the Jade Emperor." The Holy Mother of Cloud-Brocade replied: "There is no need to ask me such things. The twelve years are already at their end; there remains but one year more. On this very day, at this very hour, one year from now — then, and only then, shall your fulfillment arrive. To grow anxious and distracted now would be to no purpose. I ask you, Celestial Granddaughter, to be patient and endure." The Weaving Maid wept: "Holy Mother, your words are well taken, and I shall heed them with care. When the time draws near, I pray you will inform me, so that we may fulfill our heart's desire and bring this karmic bond to its appointed end — and then I shall bow in deepest gratitude to repay your boundless grace." The Holy Mother of Cloud-Brocade said: "There is no need for such repeated importuning. Even were your heart to break with impatience, you cannot act against the will of Heaven. Go back to the workroom." The Weaving Maid received her command and returned to her loom.

The Holy Mother, left alone in the hall, fell to thinking: "The Weaving Maid still cherishes tender feelings for the Golden Youth — this is plain evidence that the bond of husband and wife has truly moved within her. As I recall, the Holy Mother of the Jasper Pool once said that the Jade Emperor had already consented to their fulfillment and approved their union. Perhaps I ought to pay a visit to the Holy Mother of the Jasper Pool tomorrow, to discuss what remedies might be arranged." But even as this thought formed, she reconsidered: "The will of Heaven is already fixed. To go and inquire now would be futile." And so she did not go.

Time flows easily away; the sun and moon race like a shuttle on the loom. In the blink of an eye, another year had passed. The early days of the seventh month were drawing near — the very time appointed for the Twelfth Golden Youth's ascension.

The Weaving Maid had endured yet another year, doing nothing but repeatedly imploring the Holy Mother of Cloud-Brocade to act on her behalf. The Holy Mother had agreed to intercede, and so, when the time at last arrived, she could not but go and make the inquiry herself. She summoned the celestial maidens to prepare the cloud-chariot, and set out for the Jasper Pool Palace of the Holy Mother of the Dipper and Ox constellation. The maidens received their command and departed the Cloud-Brocade Palace, following the course of the Milky Way straight toward the west, along the Dustless Great Road. In an instant they had descended from the cloud-chariot. As they approached the palace gate, the celestial maidens on guard there saw the Holy Mother of Cloud-Brocade arrive and hastened within to announce her to the Holy Mother of the Jasper Pool. Upon hearing the announcement, the Holy Mother came to the great hall with her attendants. The Holy Mother of Cloud-Brocade, together with her celestial maidens, had already reached the foot of the steps. They greeted one another warmly and sat down together. Celestial maidens brought up fairy tea of sweet dew; when they had drunk, the Holy Mother of Cloud-Brocade said: "I have come especially to consult you. In that year, the Celestial Granddaughter Weaving Maid was sent to the Cloud-Brocade Palace to weave for many years. Now the time of her fulfillment has arrived, and I come to discuss what should be done." The Holy Mother of the Jasper Pool replied: "Holy Mother, I knew even before you came that this was the very matter you wished to raise. Since both of them have endured their suffering, the Jade Emperor too has felt compassion. For now, I ask the Holy Mother to return to the palace; tomorrow I shall proceed to Jade Clarity Palace in the Hall of Brilliant Illumination to have audience with the Jade Emperor and seek his decree. Afterward I shall dispatch the Golden Star of the West to descend to the mortal world and escort the Golden Youth and the Golden Ox Star up to the Heavenly Court, so that all the necessary formalities may be completed." The Holy Mother smiled: "From utmost sorrow springs joy; from utmost joy springs sorrow — this is the eternal nature of things. It is for us to bring them together, and in so doing fulfill an act of compassion." The Holy Mother of the Jasper Pool nodded in agreement, smiling without words. The Holy Mother of Cloud-Brocade then took her leave and departed.

Before long, the Holy Mother of the Celestial Consort also arrived, stepping into the hall. The Holy Mother of the Jasper Pool received her as well. They conversed at length, and the Holy Mother of the Jasper Pool told her that the Holy Mother of Cloud-Brocade had already called, and that the Holy Mother of the Celestial Consort's visit now was likewise moved by the same compassionate heart. The two Holy Mothers exchanged a few more words, then took their leave and departed the palace. The Holy Mother of the Jasper Pool sat in thought: "The time has come; I must without fail present this memorial to the Jade Emperor." She called a celestial maiden to bring the four treasures of the study, spread out the memorial paper, and with her own brush composed a formal petition. Early the next morning, accompanied by two palace attendants, she departed the Palace of the Dipper and Ox, mounted her six-cloud chariot, and in no time arrived at the ceremonial gate of Jade Clarity Palace. She stepped inside. Standing before the Jade Emperor, she prostrated herself and cried out, "Ten thousand years!" The Jade Emperor said: "You have brought a petition — present it, and I shall read it." Upon the memorial was written:

Your subject, the Scattered Immortal of the Jasper Pool, humbly presents this memorial before the throne of the Jade Emperor, concerning the ascension of the Golden Youth and the reunion of the Celestial Granddaughter. The Golden Youth, in that year banished to the mortal world to endure suffering, and the Weaving Maid, Celestial Granddaughter, sent to the Cloud-Brocade Palace to weave — thirteen years have now passed, and the term of fulfillment is complete. The Golden Ox Star also descended to the mortal world to serve as protector. Your subject earnestly begs Your Majesty's gracious approval to dispatch the Golden Star of the West to descend to the mortal realm and escort the Golden Youth and the Golden Ox Star up together to the Heavenly Court, there to be reunited with the Celestial Granddaughter Weaving Maid, that their predestined bond may be fulfilled. This memorial is offered with all respect, in hopes of Your Majesty's discerning consideration.

Your subject, the Scattered Immortal of the Jasper Pool, presented with reverence.

The memorial having been presented before the Jade Emperor — will he grant his gracious approval? Let us await the next chapter to find out.