Chapter Nine: The Wickedness of Mrs. Ma Meets Its Reckoning — Meeting the Weaving Maid at the Milky Way Bath

When Jin Cheng received the farewell letter from the old servant, he walked into the inner hall, drew up a chair, and sat by the window. He opened the letter and read:

To my elder brother Jin Cheng, with respectful greetings: The bond between brothers is a kindness like rebirth itself. I have long suffered the cruelties of my wicked sister-in-law, and were it not for my elder brother's protection and care, my young years would have been surrendered to that termagant long ago. Your younger brother is by nature a celestial youth descended to the mortal world, and now that the term of his suffering is complete, the Golden Star of the West from the upper realm has come to escort me in ascending to the Heavenly Court. The ox who served as my companion was also a divine spirit descended from Heaven. From this day forward, your younger brother and the plowing ox bid eternal farewell to you, elder brother; we shall meet no more, and I leave only this letter to express my gratitude and respects. The incense offerings at our parents' shrine depend entirely on elder brother's continued devotion; as for the family estate, its rise or fall is now your own affair to decide. I wish you good health.

Your younger brother Jin Lang, in farewell.

Jin Cheng read it through. He sat by the window in long silence, until a pang of sorrow overtook him, and two tears of brotherly grief rolled down his face. Just as he sat weeping, Mrs. Ma came in and saw him. She hurried forward and asked: "Husband, why do you sit alone weeping? If there is some trouble, you need not hide it from me — let us talk it over together and ease your mind." Jin Cheng heard her prattle on in that insufferable way, and rage surged up in him until it nearly split his skull. He snatched up the letter and flung it at Mrs. Ma's face. It struck her in the head with a shattering crack; she fell to the ground, dead.

Those reading this will no doubt wonder how that could be. The truth is this: the letter paper had been conjured from stone by a breath of immortal air — a feat of celestial craft. And because Mrs. Ma's wickedness had run its full course, when Jin Cheng hurled the letter in his fury, it transformed back into a stone. A stone flung against a skull — how could she not be killed? Mrs. Ma perished by violent means — the recompense for her abuse of Jin Lang. I counsel all people in the world: treat others with loyalty and generosity, and Heaven will surely look after those of good character. On no account follow the example of Mrs. Ma.

When Jin Cheng threw the letter and saw Mrs. Ma's brains spill out as she died, he was greatly astonished. He also saw the paper transform back into a slab of stone, and he knew then that Mrs. Ma had died by the judgment of fate itself. He arranged for a coffin and burial, and when all was settled and done, he took a second wife — a woman of genuine virtue and goodness. Husband and wife lived in accord; they raised sons and daughters, and the family fortunes rose again. This was the fruit of Jin Cheng's own loyal and generous nature throughout his life. But let us set this aside.

Now we return to Jin Lang. After delivering the farewell letter, he went back up the mountain. The ox had already transformed itself — it now stood in the form of a divine general, robed in green, with a long red beard, a golden war-helmet on its head, and a fly-whisk in its hand, standing beneath a great tree. From a pine branch hung a piece of ox-hide, with markings in color just like those of the ox Jin Lang had known. Jin Lang understood at once that this was a transformation of form. As he approached the pine tree, the Golden Star of the West smiled: "You went to deliver the letter; do you know what unexpected event has taken place at the household?" Jin Lang said: "My elder brother was out when I arrived; I left the letter with the servant to pass along. What unexpected event could have occurred?" The Golden Star replied: "Your letter paper was made from a stone conjured by your own breath. By the time you left, your brother had already returned home, and was reading the letter when Mrs. Ma came to ask about it. Your brother, in his anger, flung the letter at her; the paper returned to stone, and Mrs. Ma's head was split open — she died. This is her reckoning for the cruelty she showed you. Now, enough of these matters. That ox-hide hanging on the pine branch — take it and wrap it around yourself. Only then will you be able to soar up through the clouds and ascend with us to the Jade Terrace." Jin Lang said: "Immortal Elder commands me to wrap the ox-hide around myself, so that I may ascend through the clouds — but surely the Immortal Elder and the Ox Star Official also need such a hide to ascend?" The Golden Star replied: "Golden Youth, you do not understand. You were born into a mortal body of flesh and bone — how could you have the power to soar through the heavens? That is why the Golden Ox Star was made to transform himself and shed his skin, so that you might borrow the skin to ascend. The evening sun is already slanting to the west — we must not delay any further." With that, he stepped to the pine tree, took down the ox-hide, recited several lines of a sacred incantation, drew two heavenly talismans in the air with his finger, swept the hide with his fly-whisk, and draped it over Jin Lang's shoulders. In an instant, all three star-officials mounted a bright auspicious cloud and soared directly toward the Southern Heavenly Gate.

Passing through the Southern Heavenly Gate, they followed the Dustless Great Road to the western bank of the Milky Way, where they reined in their cloud. The Golden Star of the West said: "The hour is already late today; we can present ourselves at morning court tomorrow and stand in audience before the Holy Emperor. Tonight we shall rest one night in the Divine General's Travel Palace on the western bank of the Milky Way." The Golden Ox Star said: "Very well." The three immortals descended from the cloud. They stood outside the palace and gazed about in all directions: the Milky Way stretched boundless, its great waters filling the sky. Along the riverbank stood a Bathing-Robe Celestial Terrace; there were dragon lairs and magpie nests; beside the Dustless Great Road grew immortal cassia trees of the moon, and all around the celestial officials' palaces, pavilions, and towers rose in rows. Not a single grain of dust anywhere. Truly this was the realm of carefree celestial bliss.

They entered the Travel Palace of the Divine General together. No generals were to be seen within — only two or three star-officials who came to receive the three arrivals. Together they proceeded to the main hall, where a lofty chamber lay before them, adorned with zithers and chess sets, paintings and calligraphy, swords and spears, halberds and axes, bows and arrows, war-helmets and armor, golden maces and moon-bladed battle-axes, and more besides. When they had looked around, they followed the Golden Star of the West to the rear hall, which was a perfectly quiet and secluded place, enclosed on four sides like walls of copper and iron. On either side were side-chambers, within which stood beds with bed-curtains and quilts, tea tables, chairs, and all manner of necessaries. The three star-officials stepped into the inner chamber and sat down. A celestial youth brought up tea. The Golden Youth raised his cup and drank. One sip, and he tasted a rare and wondrous flavor, fragrant and quenching beyond description — but in an instant his stomach began to rumble and churn, as though he was in distress. This was because any immortal ascending from the mortal world must first cleanse the five viscera of all earthly food while resting in the Divine General's Travel Palace, and then wash the skin clean in the Milky Way, before the immortal body can be fully reconstituted and the newly made immortal may appear before the Jade Emperor. So it was that after the celestial tea was drunk, the Golden Star of the West, knowing that the Golden Youth's bowels were being purged, said: "Go to the Pit of Purification at the back and attend to your needs." The Golden Youth's stomach pains were now unbearable; he dashed to a small empty outbuilding at the rear, where there was a purification pool much like the bathing pools of the mortal world. The Golden Youth crouched at the edge of the pool and purged himself completely of all mortal food. When it was done, his spirit was clear and fresh, and he walked with the lightness of flight.

He returned to the side-chamber at the front. By now the moonlight shone brilliantly; it was the early days of the seventh month, and the nights were still warm. The Golden Star of the West, seeing the Golden Youth return from the purging, said again: "Now that you have expelled your impurities, your body has become a proper immortal form. You must still go and wash yourself in the Milky Way, and only then may you appear before the Jade Emperor — otherwise you would pollute the imperial presence and cause an incident." Having said this, the Golden Star of the West seated himself in meditation upon a rush mat, circulated his vital breath to refine his form, and closed his eyes in quiet contemplation. As for the Golden Ox Star — during the time the Golden Youth was delivering the letter, the Golden Star of the West had already purged and purified the Ox Star's belly with celestial elixir; his flesh and bones had long since been transformed, and besides, when he descended to the mortal world he had brought with him heavenly texts and sacred objects, so there was no need for him to expel impurities or bathe. The Golden Ox Star lay down on the couch to sleep.

As for the Golden Youth — suddenly a memory stirred within him. In the old days at the Jasper Pool in the Jade Emperor's palace, he had teased the Celestial Granddaughter Weaving Maid; now thirteen years had passed since their separation, and he did not know where the Weaving Maid might be. His heart was ill at ease. Taking advantage of the bright moonlight, he quietly slipped out of the Travel Palace on his own. He saw not a single immortal or celestial spirit; there were only dwellings and halls scattered far and wide to every horizon. He walked on with no particular direction in mind, and before long found himself at the bank of the Milky Way. In the distance he saw several celestial maidens bathing in the river. Among them was one who looked remarkably like the Celestial Granddaughter Weaving Maid. He looked intently — yes, it was indeed her, without a doubt. But then he paused: men and women are separate, and he must not draw near. He thought one thing, then another, walking all the while. In a little while he arrived at the Bathing-Robe Terrace. On an impulse he reached down and quietly took away a set of the celestial maidens' garments and set them aside. Strange to say, these turned out to be exactly the garments of the Celestial Granddaughter Weaving Maid. The Golden Youth hid the garments and concealed himself beside the Dustless Road, waiting for the celestial maiden to come looking for her clothes.

When the Celestial Granddaughter Weaving Maid had finished bathing in the Milky Way and stepped onto the Bathing-Robe Terrace, she found her garments gone. Her heart gave a great start, and she could not think what to make of it. She searched all around, but then saw that the other celestial maidens had all finished bathing, dressed themselves, and gone their way. The Weaving Maid was left alone. As she was still searching, she caught sight of a celestial official standing beside the Dustless Road in the distance. She wanted to go and ask him, but when she looked down at her own bare form, how could she show herself to another? She thought and thought; she was caught between advancing and retreating, with no way out. The Golden Youth, watching from afar and seeing the Celestial Granddaughter standing alone by the riverbank, guessed she must have searched for her garments in vain. He tucked the garments under his arm and walked toward her. The Celestial Granddaughter, seeing a man approaching while she stood there unclad, was overcome with shame — she wanted to flee but there was no time. In her agitation she let out a cry. The Golden Youth, seeing her distress, quickly composed himself and said in a solemn voice: "Celestial Granddaughter, do not be alarmed! I am no stranger. I am none other than the Twelfth Golden Youth who teased you that year at the Jasper Pool Palace of the Dipper and Ox. I plucked a plum blossom, violated the Imperial Decree, provoked the Jade Emperor's wrath, and was banished to the mortal world. Now that my term of fulfillment has come, I have returned to the Jade Terrace — and by a happy chance I meet you here. Surely we share a predestined bond! Your garments are with me — come quickly and put them on." When the Celestial Granddaughter Weaving Maid heard that this was the Golden Youth of years past, her heart eased somewhat. She steeled herself, stepped forward, took her garments, and dressed. Then the two exchanged greetings. The Weaving Maid took the Golden Youth by the hand and said: "I asked myself who it could be — and it turns out to be none other than the Twelfth Golden Youth of long ago! In that year, you were banished on my account, and ever since I have been filled with remorse and guilt. I owe you an apology — let me offer it now." So saying, she made to bow low before him. The Golden Youth quickly caught her and said: "Celestial Granddaughter, there is no need for this — I have never held any resentment toward you." The Weaving Maid said further: "From the day you were banished to the mortal world, there has not been a single moment when you were not in my thoughts. Later I too was sent to the Cloud-Brocade Palace east of the Milky Way, where I wove for thirteen years, and still I have not been brought up to Heaven. The three lives' fortune that we share has brought us together here today, in this unexpected meeting — it is more than I dared hope for in all my years of longing." As she spoke, two celestial tears rolled down her face.

What happens next — let us wait for the following chapter to tell.