The story goes that in the court of the Shizu Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, there was an exceptional young man called Huangfu Jing, styled Tingshan.[1] His wife Lady Yin was kind and faithful. He married at the age of fifteen and took the imperial examination at sixteen. After earning the title of Martial Champion, he was appointed as the Grand General to champion a bloody campaign for three years. After peace was achieved, the Son of Heaven further bestowed upon him the title of Commissioner-in-chief, giving him the right to command the army of the entire country. At that time, he brought his wife to Beijing to live together with him.
The majestic young man was clothed in battle robes
Throughout three years of bloodshed, he attained great achievements
He lived together with his wife Lady Yin in an official residence
Their life of wealth and nobility passed without difficulties
After twenty-one years, they still did not bear a son
Thinking about their descendants, they became anxious
The Commissioner-in-chief was the only son in his family
His family depended on him having a son to continue the bloodline
If they didn’t have any descendants or sons
The burning incense and candles offered to the ancestors each year would dwindle away
Every time his wife tried to persuade him to take concubines
He would say he was not in the mood to marry another woman
The last time, he said—“If it is your fate to have one, you will have one
If there is no son in your destiny, whatever you do will be in vain
There needs not any concubines in this household
I, Huangfu Jing—only pray to Heaven to grant me a son”
His wife then vowed to abstain from meat for three years
She did not dread the tedious chores of cleaning rooms and burning incense
She only wished for the heavens to pity her
And let her bear a son to carry on the family lineage
As expected, the Buddhist deities were merciful
His wife soon became pregnant, and her belly grew
But her rosy cheeks turned paler and paler
The food on her plate was eventually reduced to morsels
Her round figure was unlike normal
Her huge belly and waist made it difficult to stand steadily
The Commissioner-in-chief Tingshan was full of joy
It was exactly this he had been waiting for—Heaven was unwilling to cut off his bloodline as a hero
He commissioned doctors to take care of his wife’s body
And eagerly inquired about her condition every morning and night
Time passed by without notice
Soon—it was mid-autumn, and the grass withered
Lady Yin finally became pregnant. But the couple had one more thing to worry about: It had been twelve months already, but she still had not given birth. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar, it was almost dusk, and the Commissioner-in-chief set up a casual dinner in the main hall to drink with his wife and admire the moon. They saw:
The gentle breeze filled the yard with clouds of dewy vapors
Osmanthus flowers sent their sweet scents to the bamboo shades
The elegant moon shone against the western wall
The vast blue sky was clear without a single cloud
Lady Yin drank some wine
Suddenly, she felt uncomfortable, and her rosy face turned pale
She set down the golden cup from her hand
And stepped out, saying she wanted to rest
Upon hearing her words, the Commissioner-in-chief anxiously inquired her condition
Only then did he find out that her jade body was feeling unwell
He sent her to her boudoir[2] by himself
And called for a maid to accompany her by the bed
Then, he returned to the hall to drink alone
Rolling up the shades to enjoy the wine to the moon
Raising his cup, he sighed and frowned, thinking:
“What matter is it, that it is so difficult for my principal wife to bear a son?
She hasn’t given birth even after twelve months
This makes me, a hero—unable to stop crying”
Let’s turn away from the sorrowful Commissioner-in-chief for now
And instead check on his wife her room
As soon as she felt drowsy and closed her eyes
She had an ethereal dream: She walked out of the room
Then stood in the yard and looked up
Seeing an auspicious cloud descending from the blue sky
Faint celestial notes became wonderful melodies
Swaying elegantly, a palanquin was moving through the light mist
An imperial lady arrived in front of Lady Yin
Within the colorful clouds, she wore a golden phoenix crown
She stood there with her face full of joy
Then, looking down towards her, she pointed at Lady Yin and opened her mouth to speak
[1] Tingshan 亭山, literally means "erect mountain," which may be understood as an expectation for his moral character that he can be upright as an "erect mountain." [2] The original text is xiangfang 香房 [fragrant room], which refers to a woman’s private room and is highly feminine in the Chinese context. We will translate it as “boudoir” in this text.
