第三dì sān第dì三sān回huí入rù龍宮lóng gōng龍lóng宮gōng凡夫fán fū凡fán夫fū行xíng雨yǔ酬chóu茶chá恩ēn義士yì shì義yì士shì封fēng屍shī

Chapter Three: Entering the Dragon Palace, a Mortal Brings Rain to Repay the Kindness of Tea; A Man of Honor Seals a Corpse

卻說què shuō卻què說shuō生於隋文帝之時，京兆鄉中李lǐ靖jìng生於shēng wū生shēng於wū隋suí文帝wén dì文wén帝dì之zhī時shí京jīng兆zhào鄉xiāng中zhōng李家lǐ jiā家jiā村人cūn rén村cūn人rén氏shì字zì青qīng蓮lián

It is said that Li Jing was born during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, a native of Li Village in Jingzhao. His courtesy name was Qinglian.

又yòu名míng藥師yào shī藥yào師shī號三元道dào號hào三元sān yuán三sān元yuán道人dào rén人rén

Also known as Yaoshi, his Taoist name was Sanyuan Daoren.

幼yòu喜xǐ讀書dú shū讀dú書shū父親fù qīn父fù，母親qīn早逝zǎo shì早zǎo逝shì母親mǔ qīn母mǔ劉liú氏shì勤qín於wū紡績fǎng jì紡fǎng績jì

As a child, he loved to read. His father died early, and his mother, Lady Liu, worked diligently at spinning and weaving.

李lǐ靖jìng勤qín於wū採cǎi薪xīn，貧苦pín kǔ貧pín苦kǔ自zì守shǒu分毫fēn háo分fēn毫háo不敢bù gǎn不bù敢gǎn妄為wàng wéi妄wàng為wéi

Li Jing worked hard gathering firewood, maintaining his integrity in poverty, never daring to overstep in the slightest.

一日yí rì一yí日rì奉fèng了liǎo母親mǔ qīn母mǔ之命，往洛陽探親qīn劉liú氏shì之zhī命mìng往wǎng洛陽luò yáng洛luò陽yáng探親tàn qīn探tàn

One day, by order of his mother, Lady Liu, he set out for Luoyang to visit relatives.

時shí洛陽luò yáng洛luò陽yáng大旱dà hàn大dà旱hàn李lǐ靖jìng行xíng得dé又yòu饑jī渴kě及至jí zhì及jí至zhì柳家liǔ jiā柳liǔ家jiā店diàn見jiàn一座yí zuò一yí座zuò茶樓chá lóu來茶chá樓lóu牌pái上shàng書shū修xiū來lái社shè四字sì zì四sì字zì

At that time, a severe drought struck Luoyang. Li Jing walked until he was hungry and thirsty. Upon reaching Liu Family Inn, he saw a teahouse with a plaque inscribed with the four characters: "Xiulai Teahouse."

李lǐ靖jìng入rù座zuò，急jí呼hū拿ná茶chá來lái。

Li Jing sat down and hurriedly called out for tea.

一yī老嫗lǎo yù老lǎo嫗yù不慌不忙bù huāng bù máng不bù慌huāng忙máng捧著pěng zhù捧pěng著zhù一壺yì hú壺hú茶chá一個yí gè個gè杯bēi放在fàng zài放fàng在zài桌上zhuō shàng桌zhuō上shàng說道shuō dào說shuō道dào

An old woman unhurriedly carried over a pot of tea and a cup, placed them on the table, and said:

「客人kè rén客kè人rén用yòng茶chá

"Please have some tea, guest."

李lǐ靖jìng渴得kě dé渴kě得dé口kǒu內nèi生shēng煙yān執著zhí zhù執zhí著zhù就jiù

Li Jing was so thirsty that his throat felt parched; he took the cup and was about to drink,

飲yǐn。

Drink.

卻què嫌xián這zhè茶chá是shì一壺yì hú一yì壺hú滾水gǔn shuǐ滾gǔn水shuǐ如何rú hé如rú何hé吞tūn得dé下去xià qù下xià去qù

but found that the tea was a pot of boiling water; how could he possibly swallow it?

祇qí得dé連lián連細細xì xì細xì而ér飲yǐn

He could only take small, frequent sips.

老嫗lǎo yù老lǎo嫗yù見jiàn了liǎo這樣zhè yàng這zhè樣yàng光景guāng jǐng光guāng景jǐng又yòu添tiān一壺yì hú一yì壺hú不bù熱rè涼liáng的de茶chá來lái

Seeing this, the old woman brought another pot of tea that was lukewarm.

李lǐ靖jìng接著jiē zhù接jiē著zhù囫hú囫圇hú lún圇lún一yī吸xī而ér盡jìn，伏在fú zài伏fú在zài桌上zhuō shàng桌zhuō上shàng呼呼hū hū呼hū睡shuì

Li Jing took it, gulped it down in one breath, then leaned over the table and fell fast asleep.

過了guò le過guò了le一個yí gè一yí個gè時辰shí chén時shí辰chén方纔fāng cái方fāng纔cái醒來xǐng lái醒xǐng來lái

Two hours passed before he finally woke up.

雙手shuāng shǒu雙shuāng手shǒu將jiāng眼yǎn幾揉róu了liǎo幾jī又yòu取qǔ茶chá飲yǐn老嫗lǎo yù老lǎo嫗yù止住zhǐ zhù止zhǐ住zhù道dào

He rubbed his eyes with both hands and reached for more tea, but the old woman stopped him, saying:

「客人kè rén客kè人rén傷shāng了liǎo暑氣shǔ qì暑shǔ氣qì這zhè有yǒu菉lù豆dòu粥zhōu湯tāng用yòng些xiē罷bà

"You have suffered from the heat, sir. Here is some mung bean soup; please have some."

李lǐ靖jìng接著jiē zhù接jiē著zhù又喜yòu xǐ又yòu喜xǐ愛ài連lián喫chī了liǎo四大sì dà四sì大dà碗wǎn方fāng開口kāi kǒu開kāi口kǒu道dào

Li Jing took it, feeling delighted and grateful. After finishing four large bowls, he finally spoke:

「多謝duō xiè媽媽！就請問這到洛陽，還有多duō謝xiè媽媽mā mā媽mā就jiù請問qǐng wèn請qǐng問wèn這zhè到dào洛陽luò yáng洛luò陽yáng還有huán yǒu還huán有yǒu多少duō shǎo少shǎo路lù

"Thank you, mother! May I ask how much further it is to Luoyang?"

老嫗lǎo yù老lǎo嫗yù道dào「還有huán yǒu還huán有yǒu四十sì shí四sì十shí餘yú里lǐ

The old woman said, "There are still over forty li to go."

李lǐ靖jìng道dào： 「茶chá錢qián、飯fàn錢共gòng該gāi多少duō shǎo多duō少shǎo

Li Jing asked, "How much do I owe you in total for the tea and the meal?"

老媽lǎo mā老lǎo媽mā道dào「貧pín婆pó姓xìng龐páng，中zhōng年nián失shī偶ǒu，膝下xī xià膝xī下xià無wú嗣sì在此zài cǐ在zài此cǐ施shī來世。慢說客人祇飲茶chá以yǐ修xiū來世lái shì來lái世shì慢màn說shuō客人kè rén客kè人rén祇qí飲茶yǐn chá飲yǐn一次yí cì一yí次cì就jiù千qiān萬wàn是shì不敢bù gǎn不bù敢gǎn受shòu你nǐ錢qián的de

The old woman said, "This humble woman's surname is Pang. I lost my husband in middle age and have no children, so I offer tea here to cultivate merit for my next life. Never mind that you have only had tea once; even if it were a thousand or ten thousand times, I would not dare accept your money."

李lǐ靖jìng向上xiàng shàng向xiàng上shàng作了zuò le作zuò了le一個yí gè「既然如此，晚生以一yí個gè揖yī道dào既然如此jì rán rú cǐ既jì然rán如rú此cǐ晚生wǎn shēng晚wǎn生shēng以yǐ禮lǐ為wéi謝xiè

Li Jing bowed deeply and said, "Since that is the case, your junior offers this bow in gratitude!"

就jiù辭cí了liǎo龐páng母mǔ，背bèi了包袱bāo fú包bāo袱fú望wàng大道dà dào大dà道dào而ér行xíng

He then took his leave of Mother Pang, shouldered his bundle, and headed down the main road.

行xíng了liǎo二十èr shí二èr十shí餘yú里lǐ見jiàn一座yí zuò一yí座zuò楊yáng林lín乾qián得dé枝zhī枯葉kū yè枯kū葉yè落luò

After traveling more than twenty li, he saw a poplar grove, so parched that the branches were withered and the leaves were falling.

李lǐ靖jìng卻què就jiù陰涼yīn liáng陰yīn處，打坐納涼liáng之處zhī chǔ之zhī處chǔ打坐dǎ zuò打dǎ坐zuò納涼nà liáng納nà

Li Jing found a shady spot to sit and cool off.

坐了zuò le坐zuò了le半個bàn gè半bàn個gè時候shí hòu時shí候hòu拿起ná qǐ拿ná起qǐ行李xíng li行xíng李li又yòu望wàng東dōng而ér

After sitting for half an hour, he picked up his luggage and headed east once more.

行xíng不上bú shàng十里，夕陽在山，人影散亂，不bú上shàng十里shí lǐ十shí里lǐ夕陽xī yáng夕xī陽yáng在zài山shān人影rén yǐng人rén影yǐng散亂sàn luàn散sàn亂luàn不覺bù jué覺jué心慌xīn huāng心xīn慌huāng

Before he had gone ten li, the sun began to set behind the mountains. As shadows lengthened and blurred, he could not help but feel a sense of unease.

又yòu行xíng五里wǔ lǐ五wǔ里lǐ但dàn見jiàn星斗xīng dòu星xīng斗dòu橫héng天tiān不bù辨biàn南北nán běi南nán北běi

After traveling another five li, he saw only the stars scattered across the sky, unable to distinguish north from south.

心中xīn zhōng心xīn中zhōng想xiǎng 「倘有虎狼當道dào倘有tǎng yǒu倘tǎng有yǒu虎狼hǔ láng虎hǔ狼láng當道dāng dào當dāng怎生zěn shēng怎zěn生shēng是shì了liǎo即jí不然bù rán不bù然rán或huò遇著yù zhù遇yù著zhù強qiáng人rén劫jié搶qiāng行李xíng li行xíng李li亦yì祇qí好聽hǎo tīng好hǎo聽tīng其qí自zì取qǔ

He thought to himself: "If tigers or wolves block my path, what will I do? Or if I encounter bandits who rob me of my luggage, I will just have to let them take it."

正在zhèng zài正zhèng思亂想，忽然見一點燈光，似在zài胡思亂想hú sī luàn xiǎng胡hú思sī亂luàn想xiǎng忽然hū rán忽hū然rán遂望見jiàn一點yì diǎn一yì點diǎn燈光dēng guāng燈dēng光guāng似sì半山bàn shān半bàn山shān之際zhī jì之zhī際jì遠遠yuǎn yuǎn遠yuǎn里lǐ譜pǔ遂suì望見wàng jiàn望wàng

While he was lost in these stray thoughts, he suddenly saw a speck of light that seemed to be halfway up the mountain, about a li away, so he headed toward it.

行xíng不上bú shàng一里，果見一座小土山，松柏交蔭，燈光又不bú上shàng一yī里lǐ果guǒ見jiàn一座yí zuò座zuò小xiǎo土山tǔ shān土tǔ山shān松柏sōng bǎi松sōng柏bǎi交jiāo蔭yīn燈光dēng guāng燈dēng光guāng又yòu不見了bú jiàn le了le

Before he had gone even a li, he indeed came upon a small earthen hill covered in the shade of pines and cypresses, but the light had disappeared again.

遂suì摸mō著zhù山shān勢shì，尋xún上山shàng shān上shàng來lái並不bìng bù並bìng不bù見jiàn人家rén jiā人rén家jiā

He followed the contour of the hill and searched his way up, but found no sign of any houses.

此時cǐ shí此cǐ時shí李lǐ靖jìng心xīn下xià又yòu無主wú zhǔ無wú主zhǔ叉手chā shǒu叉chā手shǒu跼jú足zú矉pín目mù側耳cè ěr側cè耳ěr凝神níng shén凝níng神shén視聽shì tīng視shì聽tīng隱隱yǐn yǐn隱yǐn聞wén婦人fù rén婦fù人rén相xiāng語yǔ之聲zhī shēng之zhī聲shēng

At this moment, Li Jing felt helpless once more. With hands clasped and feet treading cautiously, he strained his eyes and ears, listening intently, and faintly heard the sound of women talking.

靖jìng大呼dà hū大dà呼hū道dào「何人hé rén何hé人rén在此zài cǐ在zài此cǐ說話shuō huà說shuō話huà祈qí指zhǐ我wǒ路徑lù jìng路lù徑jìng

Jing shouted loudly, "Who is speaking there? I beg of you to show me the way."

連lián響xiǎng數shù聲shēng，無人wú rén無wú人rén答應dá yīng答dá應yīng

He called out several times, but no one answered.

李lǐ靖jìng無法wú fǎ無wú法fǎ可kě施shī大聲dà shēng大dà聲shēng喝道hè dào喝hè道dào

Having no other recourse, Li Jing shouted at the top of his lungs:

「有yǒu迷路mí lù迷mí路lù人rén在此zài cǐ在zài此cǐ

"There is a lost traveler here!"

祇qí這一zhè yī這zhè一yī聲shēng喝hē去qù山shān

With just this one shout, the mountains

谷gǔ齊鳴qí míng齊qí鳴míng

and valleys echoed in unison.

忽然hū rán忽hū然rán山shān阿ā之下zhī xià之zhī下xià燈光dēng guāng燈dēng光guāng四射sì shè四sì射shè二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ娘niáng問wèn道dào

Suddenly, from beneath the mountain bend, lights shone out, and two young women asked:

「何處hé chǔ何hé處chǔ狂kuáng夫fū夤yín夜yè在此zài cǐ在zài此cǐ大驚小怪dà jīng xiǎo guài大dà驚jīng小xiǎo怪guài

"What manner of madman is this, making such a fuss here in the dead of night?"

聲音shēng yīn滴滴，猶如閣上簫聲shēng音yīn滴滴dī dī滴dī猶如yóu rú猶yóu如rú閣gé上shàng簫xiāo花huā間jiàn燕yàn語yǔ

Their voices were clear and melodious, like the sound of a flute from a pavilion or the twittering of swallows among flowers.

李lǐ靖jìng答dá道dào： 「我是wǒ shì我wǒ是shì遠路yuǎn lù遠yuǎn迷失路lù探親tàn qīn探tàn親qīn迷失mí shī迷mí失shī路徑lù jìng徑jìng不敢bù gǎn不bù敢gǎn投宿tóu sù投tóu宿sù願yuàn求qiú指引zhǐ yǐn指zhǐ引yǐn

Li Jing replied: "I am traveling from afar to visit relatives and have lost my way. I did not dare to seek lodging blindly, but I hope for your guidance."

女nǚ娘niáng道dào： 「此處cǐ chǔ此cǐ處chǔ二十èr shí，前後並無人家。既是遠路客人，待我二èr十shí餘yú里lǐ前後qián hòu前qián後hòu並無bìng wú並bìng無wú人家rén jiā人rén家jiā既是jì shì既jì是shì遠路yuǎn lù遠yuǎn路lù客人kè rén客kè待dài我wǒ二人èr rén稟bǐng過guò主zhǔ母mǔ或者huò zhě或huò者zhě許xū借宿jiè sù借jiè宿sù亦yì未wèi可知kě zhī可kě知zhī

The women said: "There are no houses for twenty miles around. Since you are a traveler from afar, wait while the two of us report to our mistress; perhaps she will allow you to stay the night."

未wèi及jí半bàn刻kè，二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ娘niáng挑燈tiāo dēng挑tiāo燈dēng叫jiào曰yuē

In less than half a moment, the two women returned with lanterns and called out:

「主zhǔ母mǔ有yǒu命mìng，請客qǐng kè請qǐng客kè至zhì草堂cǎo táng草cǎo堂táng上shàng坐zuò

"Our mistress has given her permission. Please come and be seated in the thatched hall."

李lǐ靖jìng約yuē行xíng百步bǎi bù百bǎi步bù見jiàn朱門zhū mén朱zhū門mén雲扉玉宇，光華耀目，隨著女娘依欄杆而行，舉目四下觀看，兩廊開闊，中有水晶牌坊，金書「丹dān戶hù雲yún扉fēi玉yù宇yǔ光華guāng huá光guāng華huá耀目yào mù耀yào目mù隨著suí zhù隨suí著zhù女nǚ娘niáng依yī欄杆lán gān欄lán杆gān而ér舉目jǔ mù舉jǔ四sì下xià觀看guān kàn觀guān看kàn兩liǎng廊láng開闊kāi kuò開kāi闊kuò中有zhōng yǒu中zhōng有yǒu水晶shuǐ jīng水shuǐ晶jīng牌坊pái fāng牌pái坊fāng金jīn書shū霖lín靈líng府fǔ四字sì zì字zì

Li Jing walked about a hundred paces and saw vermilion doors and red portals, cloud-patterned doors and jade palaces, dazzling with brilliant radiance. Following the young lady along the balustrade, he raised his eyes to look around: the side corridors were grand and open, and in the center stood a crystal archway inscribed in gold with the four characters: "Spiritual Abode of Nurturing Rain."

李lǐ靖jìng心xīn下xià想xiǎng道dào： 「原來是yuán lái shì原yuán來lái是shì俗家sú jiā俗sú家jiā借jiè居jū僧寺sēng sì僧sēng寺sì心下xīn xià

Li Jing thought to himself: "So it is a secular household residing in a Buddhist temple."

進jìn了liǎo大廳dà tīng大dà廳tīng又yòu不bù神像，祇見jiàn神像shén xiàng神shén像xiàng祇qí珠zhū燈dēng奪目duó mù奪duó目mù而已ér yǐ而ér已yǐ

Upon entering the main hall, no divine statues were to be seen, only dazzling pearl lamps.

一yī長cháng聯lián云yún： 步bù虛空xū kōng虛xū空kōng雲yún飛fēi萬里wàn lǐ萬wàn里lǐ奮fèn精神jīng shén精jīng神shén浪làng貫guàn百川bǎi chuān百bǎi川chuān

A long couplet read: Stepping through the void, clouds fly ten thousand miles; Rousing the spirit, waves pierce a hundred rivers.

走進zǒu jìn走zǒu進jìn客房kè fáng女娘道： 「客kè房fáng二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ娘niáng道dào客人kè rén人rén請坐qǐng zuò請qǐng坐zuò主zhǔ母mǔ即刻jí kè即jí刻kè出來chū lái出chū來lái相xiāng見jiàn

Walking into the guest room, the two women said: "Please have a seat, guest; our mistress will be out to see you momentarily."

李lǐ靖jìng告gào坐zuò。見jiàn珊瑚shān hú珊shān瑚hú，白玉為wéi几jǐ白玉bái yù白bái玉yù桌zhuō瑪瑙mǎ nǎo瑪mǎ瑙nǎo砌qì階jiē玻璃bō lí玻bō璃lí作zuò窗chuāng上shàng書shū短duǎn聯lián云yún

Li Jing sat down. He saw tables of coral and white jade, steps of agate, and windows of glass, with a short couplet written above:

唾tuò津jīn資zī造化zào huà造zào化huà呼氣hū qì呼hū氣qì塞sāi空虛kōng xū空kōng虛xū

Spittle nourishes the forces of creation; Breath fills the hollow void.

此時cǐ shí此cǐ時shí李lǐ靖jìng疑yí在zài夢中mèng zhōng夢mèng中zhōng

At that moment, Li Jing wondered if he was in a dream.

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ娘niáng向內xiàng nèi向xiàng內nèi呼hū道dào客人kè rén客kè人rén在此zài cǐ在zài此cǐ奉fèng茶chá來lái

The two women called toward the inner rooms: "The guest is here, please serve the tea."

聞wén室shì中zhōng唧唧jī jī唧jī啞啞yǎ yǎ啞yǎ有三yǒu sān有yǒu三sān四人sì rén四sì人rén答應dá yīng答dá應yīng三四sān sì

The sound of chirping and chatter came from within as three or four people replied.

瞬息shùn xī瞬shùn息xī間jiàn錦衣jǐn yī錦jǐn衣yī對而出，一個捧水，一個捧茶，一個捧果，一個捧香，排布桌上，分列兩旁，與二女nǚ僮tóng對對duì duì對duì而出ér chū而ér出chū一個yí gè一yí個gè捧pěng水shuǐ捧茶pěng chá茶chá果guǒ香xiāng排pái布bù桌上zhuō shàng桌zhuō上shàng分列fēn liè分fēn列liè兩旁liǎng páng兩liǎng旁páng與yǔ二女èr nǚ二èr娘niáng俱jù側身cè shēn側cè身shēn而立ér lì立lì向xiàng著zhù李lǐ靖jìng十分shí fēn十shí恭敬gōng jìng恭gōng敬jìng

In an instant, pairs of maidservants in silk garments emerged; one carried water, one tea, one fruit, and another incense. They arranged these items on the table and stood in rows on either side, and together with the two young women, they stood respectfully at an angle facing Li Jing.

李lǐ靖jìng卻què不慌不忙bù huāng bù máng不bù慌huāng忙máng淨jìng手shǒu飲茶yǐn chá飲yǐn茶chá食shí果guǒ

Li Jing, remaining unhurried and composed, washed his hands and partook of the tea and fruit.

二女èr nǚ二èr女nǚ娘niáng謂wèi李lǐ靖jìng曰yuē「主zhǔ母mǔ至zhì矣yǐ。」

The two young women said to Li Jing, "The mistress has arrived."

李lǐ靖jìng即jí抬頭tái tóu抬tái頭tóu看kàn時shí見jiàn一yī老媽lǎo mā老lǎo媽mā鶴髮童顏hè fà tóng yán鶴hè髮fà童tóng顏yán黃衣huáng yī黃huáng衣yī短duǎn襟jīn策杖cè zhàng策cè杖zhàng而來ér lái而ér來lái

Li Jing raised his head and saw an elderly woman with white hair and a youthful complexion, wearing a short yellow tunic and leaning on a staff as she approached.

李lǐ靖jìng連忙lián máng連lián忙máng起身qǐ shēn起qǐ身shēn施禮shī lǐ施shī禮lǐ

Li Jing hurriedly rose to his feet and performed a formal bow.

老媽lǎo mā曰： 「年老lǎo媽mā曰yuē年nián之zhī人rén不能bù néng不bù能néng答禮dá lǐ答dá禮lǐ先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng休怪xiū guài休xiū怪guài

The old woman said, "An old person such as I cannot return your courtesy; please do not take offense, sir!"

李lǐ靖jìng又yòu謙遜qiān xùn謙qiān遜xùn了liǎo一回yì huí一yì回huí方纔fāng cái方fāng纔cái敢坐gǎn zuò敢gǎn坐zuò

Li Jing offered several more humble protestations before finally venturing to sit down.

老媽lǎo mā老lǎo媽mā曰yuē「賤軀jiàn qū賤jiàn軀qū性xìng僻pì喜與俗人居，卻喜與善人清談。故不bù喜xǐ殘朽，與yǔ俗人sú rén俗sú人rén居jū卻què善人shàn rén善shàn清談qīng tán清qīng談tán故gù不惜bù xī惜xī殘cán朽xiǔ先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng少shǎo坐zuò

The old woman said, "I am of a reclusive nature and do not enjoy the company of common folk, yet I delight in refined conversation with the virtuous. Thus, despite my frailty, I have come to sit with you for a moment."

李lǐ靖jìng曰yuē： 「晚生wǎn shēng晚wǎn生shēng性情xìng qíng性xìng情qíng疏shū慢màn不學無術bù xué wú shù不bù學xué無wú術shù恐kǒng見jiàn辱rǔ於wū長者cháng zhě長cháng者zhě

Li Jing replied, "I am but a careless junior of little learning and few skills; I fear I may prove an embarrassment in the presence of an elder."

老媽lǎo mā老lǎo媽mā曰yuē「觀guān君jūn品pǐn節jié詳xiáng明míng，德性dé xìng德dé性xìng堅定jiān dìng堅jiān定dìng莫非mò fēi莫mò非fēi佳jiā士shì乎hū

The old woman said, "Seeing how clearly defined your character is and how firm your virtue, are you not surely a man of distinction?"

少shǎo頃qǐng，女nǚ僮tóng羅列luó liè羅luó列liè酒餚jiǔ yáo酒jiǔ餚yáo果然guǒ rán果guǒ然rán山珍海味shān zhēn hǎi wèi山shān珍zhēn海hǎi味wèi玉液瓊漿yù yè qióng jiāng玉yù液yè瓊qióng漿jiāng

A moment later, the maidservants set out the wine and dishes; there were indeed delicacies from land and sea, and fine nectar.

李lǐ靖jìng喫chī了liǎo幾jī杯bēi，不敢bù gǎn不bù敢gǎn多duō飲yǐn固gù辭cí乃nǎi已yǐ

Li Jing drank a few cups but did not dare to drink too much, and only stopped after firmly declining.

因yīn問wèn曰yuē： 「太夫tài fū人尊姓，太tài夫fū人rén尊zūn姓xìng太公tài gōng有幾位公gōng可在kě zài可kě在zài世shì否fǒu有yǒu幾位jī wèi幾jī位wèi公郎gōng láng郎láng

He then asked, "May I ask your honorable surname, Madam? Is your husband still living, and how many sons do you have?"

姥lǎo曰yuē： 「老婦lǎo fù姓金，夫君中年去世，二子名金鰲、金鯉，皆往北海探親未回。幾個頑僕見主人外出，老lǎo婦fù姓xìng金jīn夫君fū jūn夫fū君jūn中zhōng年nián去世qù shì去qù世shì二子èr zǐ二èr子zǐ名míng鰲áo鯉lǐ皆jiē往wǎng北海běi hǎi北běi海hǎi探親tàn qīn探tàn親qīn未wèi回huí幾個jī gè幾jī個gè頑wán僕pú見jiàn主人zhǔ rén主zhǔ人rén外出wài chū外wài出chū老媽lǎo mā媽mā慈cí懦nuò俱jù醉臥zuì wò醉zuì臥wò不起bù qǐ不bù起qǐ先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng今日jīn rì今jīn日rì受shòu了liǎo辛苦xīn kǔ辛xīn苦kǔ早安zǎo ān早zǎo安ān宿sù罷bà

The old woman said, "My surname is Jin. My husband passed away in his middle years. I have two sons named Jin Ao and Jin Li; both have gone to the North Sea to visit relatives and have not yet returned. Seeing that their masters are away and that I am a kind and weak old woman, several of my stubborn servants have all drunk themselves into a stupor. You have had a tiring day today, sir, so please rest early."

遂suì起身qǐ shēn向丹墀咳了數聲，猶如洪鐘振響，驚起qǐ身shēn向xiàng丹dān墀chí咳hāi了liǎo數shù聲shēng猶如yóu rú猶yóu如rú洪hóng鐘zhōng振zhèn響xiǎng驚jīng十shí個gè獰níng猙zhēng大漢dà hàn大dà漢hàn面貌miàn mào面miàn貌mào有yǒu善shàn惡è皆jiē來lái拱手gǒng shǒu拱gǒng手shǒu聽命tīng mìng聽tīng命mìng

She then stood up and coughed several times toward the vermilion courtyard; it sounded like the tolling of a great bell, startling a dozen or so formidable, sturdy men. Their faces ranged from kind to fierce, but all came forward with folded hands to await her orders.

姥lǎo曰yuē： 「汝等rǔ děng汝rǔ等děng去qù打掃dǎ sǎo打dǎ掃sǎo迎賓館yíng bīn guǎn迎yíng賓bīn館guǎn送sòng客人kè rén客kè人rén安睡ān shuì安ān睡shuì

The old woman said, "Go and clean the guest house and see the guest to his bed."

眾zhòng大漢dà hàn大dà漢hàn喏nuò連聲lián shēng連lián聲shēng

The group of men voiced their assent repeatedly.

李lǐ靖jìng隨著suí zhù隨suí著zhù大漢dà hàn大dà漢hàn走過zǒu guò走zǒu過guò數shù處chǔ曲qǔ欄lán將jiāng行李xíng li行xíng鋪在pū zài鋪pū在zài床上chuáng shàng床chuáng上shàng叫jiào眾人zhòng rén眾zhòng人rén出chū房fáng去了qù le去qù了le自己zì jǐ自zì己jǐ和衣而臥hé yī ér wò和hé衣yī而ér臥wò

Li Jing followed the men past several winding railings, spread his luggage on the bed, dismissed them from the room, and lay down fully clothed.

心中xīn zhōng心xīn中zhōng想xiǎng道dào「這個zhè gè這zhè個gè人家rén jiā人rén家jiā定dìng是在shì zài是shì在zài朝廷cháo tíng朝cháo廷tíng做zuò過大guò dà過guò大dà官guān的de不然bù rán不bù然rán那nà得dé如此rú cǐ如rú此cǐ富貴fù guì富fù貴guì

He thought to himself, "This family must have held high office in the imperial court; otherwise, how could they be so wealthy?"

未wèi及jí二èr更gèng時shí分fēn，忽聞hū wén忽hū門甚急，聞wén扣kòu門mén甚急shèn jí甚shèn急jí室shì中zhōng驚呼jīng hū驚jīng呼hū

Before the second watch had arrived, there was suddenly a frantic knocking at the door, and cries of alarm were heard from within the house:

「天使tiān shǐ天tiān使shǐ至zhì矣yǐ

"The heavenly messenger has arrived!"

李lǐ靖jìng忙máng起qǐ側耳cè ěr側cè耳ěr而ér聽tīng但dàn異香滿室，不聞wén異yì香xiāng滿mǎn室shì不bù一毫yì háo一yì毫háo聲息shēng xī聲shēng息xī

Li Jing hurriedly rose and listened intently, but he only perceived a wondrous fragrance filling the room, without the slightest sound.

將jiāng欲yù就寢jiù qǐn就jiù寢qǐn數shù僕pú曰： 「主母請qǐng曰yuē主zhǔ母mǔ先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng起qǐ

Just as he was about to go to sleep, several servants requested, "The mistress asks that you rise, sir."

李lǐ靖jìng即jí正zhèng衣yī而出ér chū而ér出chū老lǎo姥lǎo迎面yíng miàn迎yíng面miàn謂wèi曰yuē

Li Jing straightened his robes and went out, where the old woman met him and said:

「本běn不宜bù yí使先生知予行蹤，今有事相煩，不bù宜yí不言。余乃本境龍神，上帝怪此地民習奢侈，以旱年告誡，使shǐ先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng知zhī予yǔ行蹤xíng zōng行xíng蹤zōng今jīn有事yǒu shì有yǒu事shì相xiāng煩fán不得不bù dé bù得dé言yán余yú乃nǎi境jìng龍神lóng shén龍lóng神shén上帝shàng dì上shàng帝dì怪guài此地cǐ dì此cǐ地dì民mín習xí奢侈shē chǐ奢shē侈chǐ以yǐ旱hàn年nián告誡gào jiè告gào誡jiè稼穡jià sè稼jià穡sè艱難jiān nán艱jiān難nán洛陽luò yáng洛luò陽yáng令lìng張zhāng公gōng瑾jǐn志zhì誠chéng祈雨qí yǔ祈qí雨yǔ感gǎn格gé方纔fāng cái方fāng纔cái玉yù旨zhǐ下xià

"It was not originally my intention to reveal my identity to you, but now there is a matter I must trouble you with, so I must speak. I am the Dragon Deity of this region. The Supreme Emperor was displeased by the extravagant habits of the local people and used a year of drought as a warning to teach them the hardships of farming. Zhang Gongjin, the Magistrate of Luoyang, prayed for rain with such sincerity that he moved the Supreme Emperor, and a Jade Decree has just been sent

降jiàng，限xiàn子zǐ末mò丑chǒu初chū，大雨dà yǔ大dà行。 恨二子探親未回，余年朽邁難以轉側，欲煩先生代我身行雨yǔ時shí行xíng恨hèn二子èr zǐ二èr探親tàn qīn探tàn親qīn未wèi回huí余yú年nián朽邁xiǔ mài朽xiǔ邁mài難以nán yǐ難nán以yǐ轉zhuǎn側cè欲yù煩fán先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng代dài我wǒ身shēn靖jìng曰yuē

down, ordaining that between the end of the hour of the Rat and the beginning of the hour of the Ox, heavy rain shall fall. I regret that my two sons have not yet returned from visiting relatives, and I am too old and frail to move about easily; I wish to trouble you, sir, to bring the rain on my behalf." Jing said:

「靖jìng乃nǎi一介yí jiè一yí介jiè凡夫fán fū凡fán夫fū如何rú hé如rú何hé能行néng xíng能néng行xíng雨yǔ

"I am but a mere mortal; how could I possibly bring the rain?"

龍lóng母mǔ曰yuē： 「不難bù nán不bù難nán

The Dragon Mother said, "It is not difficult."

命mìng左右zuǒ yòu左zuǒ右yòu將jiāng洪hóng鐘zhōng亂luàn撞zhuàng眾zhòng神shén蜂擁fēng yōng蜂fēng擁yōng而ér至zhì皆jiē向xiàng稽首。龍lóng母mǔ稽首qǐ shǒu稽qǐ首shǒu曰yuē

She ordered her attendants to strike the great bell. A multitude of deities swarmed in and all prostrated themselves before the Dragon Mother. She said:

「玉yù旨zhǐ前來qián lái前qián來lái子zǐ末mò丑chǒu初chū甘霖gān lín甘gān霖lín彌mí野yě汝等rǔ děng汝rǔ等děng作zuò速sù登dēng程chéng毋wú違wéi天意tiān yì天tiān意yì以yǐ副fù眾望zhòng wàng眾zhòng望wàng

"The Jade Decree has arrived: between the end of the hour of the Rat and the beginning of the hour of the Ox, sweet rain shall cover the fields. Depart with all haste and do not defy the will of Heaven, so as to fulfill the expectations of the people."

眾zhòng神shén曰yuē： 「惟命是聽wéi mìng shì tīng惟wéi命mìng是shì聽tīng

The deities said, "Your command is our law."

龍lóng母mǔ又yòu命mìng左右zuǒ yòu左zuǒ右yòu牽qiān龍駒lóng jū駒jū來lái曰yuē：

The Dragon Mother then ordered her attendants to lead the dragon steed forward and said:

「請qǐng先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng乘chéng此cǐ龍駒lóng jū龍lóng駒jū

"Please mount this dragon steed, sir."

手shǒu授shòu寸cùn餘yú一個yí gè一yí個gè淨瓶jìng píng淨jìng瓶píng謂wèi靖jìng曰yuē

Handing him a pure vial just over an inch tall, she said to Jing:

「此cǐ先天xiān tiān先xiān天tiān至寶zhì bǎo至zhì寶bǎo內nèi藏cáng壬rén癸guǐ之zhī精jīng駒jū若ruò嘶鳴sī míng嘶sī鳴míng汝rǔ便biàn傾qīng一點yì diǎn一yì點diǎn水shuǐ在zài鬃zōng上shàng切qiè不可bù kě不bù可kě亂luàn施shī

"This is a primordial treasure containing the essence of water. If the steed neighs, simply pour a single drop of water onto its mane; you must not distribute it recklessly."

靖jìng曰yuē： 「然rán。」

Jing replied, "I understand."

左右zuǒ yòu左zuǒ右yòu將jiāng韁繩jiāng shéng韁jiāng繩shéng一yī撒sā龍駒lóng jū龍lóng駒jū四足sì zú四sì足zú騰空téng kōng騰téng空kōng

The attendants released the reins, and the dragon steed's four hooves soared into the air.

此時cǐ shí此cǐ時shí李lǐ靖jìng頭頂tóu dǐng頭tóu頂dǐng星xīng月yuè足zú履lǚ風雲fēng yún公在左，電母在右，雨師在前，風fēng雲yún雷公léi gōng雷léi公gōng著電光，俯視下界，歷歷在zài左zuǒ電diàn母mǔ右yòu雨師yǔ shī雨yǔ師shī前qián風伯fēng bó伯bó後hòu乘著chéng zhù乘chéng著zhù電光diàn guāng光guāng俯視fǔ shì俯fǔ視shì下界xià jiè下xià界jiè歷歷在目lì lì zài mù歷lì目mù

At that moment, with the stars and moon above him and the wind and clouds beneath his feet, Li Jing had the Duke of Thunder on his left, the Mother of Lightning on his right, the Master of Rain ahead, and the Earl of Wind behind. Riding upon flashes of lightning, he gazed down at the world below, where everything was clearly visible.

卻què依yī龍lóng母mǔ之zhī言yán，不敢bù gǎn不bù敢gǎn妄wàng施shī雨點yǔ diǎn雨yǔ點diǎn

He followed the Dragon Mother's instructions, not daring to scatter any raindrops without cause.

風fēng馳chí雲yún飛fēi，也不yě bù也yě不bù知行zhī xíng知zhī行xíng了liǎo幾多jī duō幾jī多duō路程lù chéng路lù程chéng

The wind raced and the clouds flew, and he knew not how great a distance they had traveled.

忽然hū rán忽hū然rán望見wàng jiàn望wàng見jiàn柳家liǔ jiā柳liǔ家jiā店diàn心中xīn zhōng心xīn中zhōng想xiǎng道dào

Suddenly catching sight of the Liu Family Inn, he thought to himself:

「此處cǐ chǔ此cǐ他處chǔ較jiào他處tā chǔ他tā望wàng雨yǔ更gèng甚shèn

"The longing for rain here is even greater than in other places."

又yòu念niàn龐páng母mǔ施shī茶chá之恩zhī ēn之zhī恩ēn不免bù miǎn不bù免miǎn以yǐ公報gōng bào公gōng報bào私sī竟jìng將jiāng淨瓶jìng píng淨jìng瓶píng一連yì lián一yì連lián滴dī了liǎo八九bā jiǔ八bā九jiǔ點diǎn

Recalling Mother Pang's kindness in serving him tea, he could not help but use his official duty to repay a private favor, and he poured eight or nine drops from the pure vial in quick succession.

那nà駒jū也yě不敢bù gǎn不bù敢gǎn再zài直行過百十里，那駒復鳴míng直行zhí xíng直zhí行xíng過guò百十bǎi shí百bǎi十shí里lǐ復fù李lǐ靖jìng仍然réng rán仍réng然rán發fā雨yǔ

The steed did not dare neigh again and traveled for over a hundred miles; when it neighed once more, Li Jing released the rain as before.

又yòu不知bù zhī不bù知zhī行xíng了liǎo多少duō shǎo多duō少shǎo地方dì fāng地dì方fāng雨師yǔ shī雨yǔ師shī曰yuē

After traveling past an unknown number of places, the Master of Rain said:

「雨足yǔ zú雨yǔ足zú矣yǐ汝等rǔ děng汝rǔ等děng先xiān回huí待dài我wǒ分fēn開kāi陰陽yīn yáng陰yīn陽yáng收了shōu le收shōu了le雲霧yún wù雲yún霧wù即jí來lái繳jiǎo旨zhǐ

"The rain is sufficient! You all return first; after I have balanced the yin and yang and dispersed the clouds and mist, I shall go to report the fulfillment of the decree."

李lǐ靖jìng等děng先xiān回huí。

Li Jing and the others returned first.

龍lóng母mǔ曰yuē： 「有勞yǒu láo有yǒu勞láo先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng了liǎo

The Dragon Mother said, "You have been put to much trouble, sir."

吩咐fēn fù吩fēn咐fù眾zhòng聖shèng各回gè huí各gè回huí本位běn wèi本běn位wèi

She then instructed the various deities to return to their respective posts.

龍lóng母mǔ曰yuē： 「天tiān尚未shàng wèi尚shàng未wèi明míng先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng辛苦xīn kǔ辛xīn苦kǔ一夜yí yè一yí夜yè仍réng回huí客房kè fáng客kè房fáng休息xiū xi休xiū息xi罷bà

The Dragon Mother said, "It is not yet dawn. You have had a long and tiring night, sir; please return to the guest room and rest."

李lǐ靖jìng曰yuē： 「謹jǐn如rú尊命zūn mìng尊zūn命mìng

Li Jing said, "I shall follow your command."

將jiāng欲yù就寢jiù qǐn就jiù寢qǐn又yòu聞wén扣kòu門mén者zhě甚急shèn jí甚shèn急jí

Just as he was about to retire for the night, he heard another frantic knocking at the door.

左右zuǒ yòu左zuǒ右yòu開門kāi mén開kāi門mén見jiàn二位èr wèi二èr位wèi少年shào nián少shào年nián驚慌jīng huāng驚jīng慌huāng而ér至zhì

The attendants opened the door to find two young men who had arrived in a state of panic.

龍lóng母mǔ責zé之zhī曰yuē： 「昨zuó

The Dragon Mother rebuked them, saying, "Last

夜yè若非ruò fēi若ruò非fēi生至此，汝等有滅族之罪矣。 李lǐ先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng至此zhì cǐ至zhì此cǐ汝等rǔ děng汝rǔ等děng有yǒu滅族miè zú滅miè族zú之罪zhī zuì之zhī罪zuì矣yǐ代dài效勞xiào láo效xiào勞láo宜yí速sù拜bài二位èr wèi二èr位wèi龍子lóng zǐ龍lóng子zǐ請qǐng靖jìng出來chū lái出chū來lái向xiàng再拜zài bài再zài子曰zǐ yuē曰yuē

night, had Mr. Li not been here, you would have committed a crime for which our entire clan would have been executed. Mr. Li performed the service in your stead; you should bow to him at once." The two dragon princes invited Li Jing out and bowed to him again. They said:

「愚yú弟兄dì xiong弟dì兄xiong與yǔ北běi海龍王hǎi lóng wáng海hǎi龍lóng王wáng為wéi長夜cháng yè長cháng夜yè之zhī飲yǐn不bù期qī玉yù旨zhǐ下降xià jiàng下xià降jiàng先生xiān shēng先xiān生shēng真是zhēn shì真zhēn是shì我wǒ全家quán jiā全quán家jiā恩人ēn rén恩ēn人rén

"We brothers were drinking through the night with the Dragon King of the North Sea and did not expect the Jade Decree to descend. Sir, you are truly the benefactor of our entire family!"

李lǐ靖jìng未wèi及jí答dá時shí，又yòu扣kòu門mén者zhě甚急shèn jí甚shèn急jí二èr僕pú上前shàng qián上shàng前qián稟bǐng曰yuē

Before Li Jing could respond, there was another urgent knocking at the door. Two servants stepped forward and reported:

「天使tiān shǐ天tiān使shǐ至zhì

"A heavenly messenger has arrived!"

金jīn鰲áo、金鯉lǐ忙máng排pái香案xiāng àn香xiāng案àn跪guì接jiē旨。為首一位金甲尊神，領著數十個虎賁之士，持矛仗劍而立。金甲神開展玉yù旨zhǐ為首wéi shǒu為wéi首shǒu一位yí wèi一yí位wèi甲jiǎ尊zūn神shén領著lǐng zhù領lǐng著zhù數十shù shí數shù十shí個gè虎hǔ賁bì之zhī士shì持矛chí máo持chí矛máo仗zhàng劍jiàn而立ér lì而ér立lì開展kāi zhǎn開kāi展zhǎn讀dú云yún

Jin Ao and Jin Li hurriedly set up an incense altar and knelt to receive the Jade Decree. At their head was a majestic deity in golden armor, leading dozens of elite guards who stood with spears and swords. The Golden-Armored Deity unfurled the Jade Decree and read aloud:

無極wú jí無wú極jí至尊zhì zūn至zhì尊zūn昊hào天tiān上帝shàng dì上shàng帝dì詔zhào曰yuē，不遵御旨，妄施雨數，柳家店一村，男女盡沒，淹死良民五百五十三人。念爾先世有功於社稷，不忍加誅，命值日司刑正神，鞭金jīn鰲áo三百，鞭金鯉lǐ不bù遵zūn御旨yù zhǐ御yù旨zhǐ妄wàng施shī雨yǔ數shù柳家liǔ jiā柳liǔ家jiā店diàn一村yì cūn一yì村cūn男女nán nǚ男nán女nǚ盡jìn沒méi淹死yān sǐ淹yān死sǐ良民liáng mín良liáng民mín五百wǔ bǎi五wǔ百bǎi五十wǔ shí十shí三人sān rén三sān人rén念niàn爾ěr先xiān世shì有功yǒu gōng有yǒu功gōng於wū社稷shè jì社shè稷jì不忍bù rěn忍rěn加jiā誅zhū命mìng值zhí日rì司sī刑xíng正神zhèng shén正zhèng神shén鞭biān三百sān bǎi二百èr bǎi二èr減jiǎn一等yī děng等děng降jiàng受shòu伯爵bó jué伯bó爵jué候hòu五百五十三wǔ bǎi wǔ shí sān