the ninth vibration-第29章
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wers appear at this distance instinct with joy； yet …〃
He was silent。
〃They know not；〃 said the Empress with solemnity 〃that death entered the Forbidden Precincts but last night。 A disembodied spirit has returned to its place and doubtless exists in bliss。〃 〃Indeed？〃 returned the Yellow Emperor with indifference … 〃yet if the spirit is absorbed into the Source whence it came； and the bones have crumbled into nothingness； where does the Ego exist？ The dead are venerable； but no longer of interest。〃
〃Not even when they were loved in life？〃 said the Empress； caressing the bird in the cage with one jewelled finger； but attentively observing her son from the corner of her august eye。 〃They were； they are not；〃 he remarked sententiously and stifling a yawn； it was a drowsy afternoon。 〃But who is it that has abandoned us？ Surely not the Lady Ma … your Majesty's faithful foster…mother？〃
〃A younger； a lovelier spirit has sought the Yellow Springs〃 replied the trembling Empress。 〃I regret to inform your Majesty that a sudden convulsion last night deprived the Lady A…Kuei of life。 I would not permit the news to reach you lest it should break your august night's rest。〃
There was a silence； then the Emperor turned his eyes serenely upon his Imperial Mother。 〃That the statement of my august Parent is merely … let us say … allegoric … does not detract from its interest。 But had the Lady A…Kuei in truth departed to the Yellow Springs I should none the less have received the news without uneasiness。 What though the sun set … is not the memory of his light all surpassing？〃
No longer could the Pearl Empress endure the excess of her curiosity。 Deeply kowtowing； imploring pardon； with raised hands and tears which no son dare neglect； she besought the Emperor to enlighten her as to this mystery； recounting his praises of the lady and his admission that he had never beheld her； and all the circumstances connected with this remark… able episode。 She omitted only； （from considerations of delicacy and others；） the vigils of the Lady Ma in the Dragon Chamber。 The Emperor； sighing； looked upon the ground； and for a time was silent。 Then he replied as follows：
〃Willingly would I have kept silence； but what child dare withstand the plea of a parent？ Is it necessary to inform the Heavenly Empress that beauty seen is beauty made familiar and that familiarity is the foe of admiration？ How is it possible that I should see the Princess of Feminine Propriety； for instance； by night and day without becoming aware of her imperfections as well as her graces？ How awake in the night without hearing the snoring of the White Jade Concubine and considering the mouth from which it issues as the less lovely。 How partake of the society of any woman without finding her chattering as the crane； avid of admiration； jealous； destructive of philosophy； fatal to composure； fevered with curiosity； a creature； in short； a little above the gibbon； but infinitely below the notice of the sage； save as a temporary measure of amusement in itself unworthy the philosopher。 The faces of all my ladies are known to me。 All are fair and all alike。 But one night； as I lay in the Dragon Couch； lost in speculation； absorbed in contemplation of the Yin and the Yang； the night passed for the solitary dreamer as a dream。 In the darkness of the dawn I rose still dreaming； and departed to the Pearl Pavilion in the garden； and there remained an hour viewing the sunrise and experiencing ineffable opinions on the destiny of man。 Returning then to a couch which I believed to have been that of the solitary philosopher I observed a depression where another form had lain； and in it a jade hairpin such as is worn by my junior beauties。 Petrified with amazement at the display of such reserve； such continence； such august self…restraint； I perceived that； lost in my thoughts； I had had an unimagined companion and that this gentle reminder was from her gentle hand。 But whom？ I knew not。 I then observed Lo Cheng the Court Artist in attendance and immediately despatched him to make secret enquiry and ascertain the name and circumstances of that beauty who； unknown； had shared my vigil。 I learnt on his return that it was the Lady A…Kuei。 I had entered the Dragon Chamber in a low moonlight； and guessed not her presence。 She spoke no word。 Finding her Imperial Master thus absorbed； she invited no attention； nor in any way obtruded her beauties upon my notice。 Scarcely did she draw breath。 Yet reflect upon what she might have done！ The night passed and I remained entirely unconscious of her presence； and out of respect she would not sleep but remained reverently and modestly awake； assisting； if it may so be expressed； at a humble distance； in the speculations which held me prisoner。 What a pearl was here！ On learning these details by Lo Cheng from her own roseate lips； and remembering the unexampled temptation she had resisted （for well she knew that had she touched the Emperor the Philosopher had vanished） I despatched an august rescript to this favored Lady； conferring on her the degree of Incomparable Beauty of the First Rank。 On condition of secrecy。〃
The Pearl Empress； still in deepest bewilderment； besought his majesty to proceed。 He did so； with his usual dignity。
〃Though my mind could not wholly restrain its admiration； yet secrecy was necessary； for had the facts been known； every lady； from the Princess of Feminine Propriety to the Junior Beauty of the Bed Chamber would henceforward have observed only silence and a frigid decorum in the Dragon Bed Chamber。 And though the Emperor be a philosopher； yet a philosopher is still a man； and there are moments when decorum …〃
The Emperor paused discreetly； then resumed。
〃The world should not be composed entirely of A…Kueis； yet in my mind I behold the Incomparable Lady fair beyond expression。 Like the moon she sails glorious in the heavens to be adored only in vision as the one woman who could respect the absorption of the Emperor； and of whose beauty as she lay beside him the philosopher could remain unconscious and therefore untroubled in body。 To see her； to find her earthly； would be an experience for which the Emperor might have courage； but the philosopher never。 And attached to all this is a moral：〃
The Pearl Empress urgently inquired its nature。
〃Let the wisdom of my august parent discern it；〃 said the Emperor sententiously。
〃And the future？〃 she inquired。
〃The … let us call it parable …〃 said the Emperor politely …〃with which your Majesty was good enough to entertain me； has suggested a precaution to my mind。 I see now a lovely form moving among the flowers。 It is possible that it may be the Incomparable Lady； or that at any moment I may come upon her and my ideal be shattered。 This must be safeguarded。 I might command her retirement to her native province； but who shall insure me against the weakness of my own heart demanding her return？ No。 Let Your Majesty's words spoken … well … in parable； be fulfilled in truth。 I shall give orders to the Chief Eunuch that the Incomparable Lady tonight shall drink the Draught of Crushed Pearls； and be thus restored to the sphere that alone is worthy of her。 Thus are all anxieties soothed； and the honours offered to her virtuous spirit shall be a glorious repayment of the ideal that will ever illuminate my soul。〃
The Empress was speechless。 She had borne the Emperor in her womb； but the philosopher outsoared her comprehension。 She retired； leaving his Majesty in a reverie； endeavoring herself to grasp the moral of which he had spoken； for the guidance of herself and the ladies concerned。 But whether it inculcated reserve or the reverse in the Dragon Chamber； and what the Imperial ladies should follow as an example she was； to the end of her life； totally unable to say。 Philosophy indeed walks on the heights。 We cannot all expect to follow it。
That night the Incomparable Lady drank the Draught of Crushed Pearls。
The Princess of Feminine Propriety and the White Jade Concubine； learning these circumstances； redoubled their charms； their coquetries and their efforts to occupy what may be described as the inner sanctuary of the Emperor's esteem。 Both lived to a green old age； w
