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nterest which every lady property takes in the other can unravel this mystery； for my liver is tormented with anxiety beyond measure。〃
As soon as the Pearl Empress had spoken she realized that she had committed a great indiscretion。 A babel of voices； of cries； questions and contradictions instantly arose。 Decorum was abandoned。 The Lady of Chen swooned； nor could she be revived for an hour； and the Princess of Feminine Propriety and the White Jade Concubine could be dragged apart only by the united efforts of six of the Palace matrons； so great was their fury the one with the other； each accusing each of encouragement to the Lady A…Kuei's pretensions。 So also with the remaining ladies。 Shrieks resounded through the Hall of Virtuous Tranquillity； and when the Pearl Empress attempted to pour oil on the troubled waters by speaking soothing and comfortable words； the august Voice was entirely inaudible in the tumult。
All sought at length in united indignation for the Lady A…Kuei； but she had modestly withdrawn to the Pearl Pavilion in the Imperial Garden and； foreseeing anxieties； had there secured herself on hearing the opening of the Royal Speech。
Finally the ladies were led away by their attendants； weeping； lamenting； raging； according to their several dispositions； and the Pearl Empress； left with her own maidens； beheld the floor strewn with jade pins； kingfisher and coral jewels； and even with fragments of silk and gauze。 Nor was she any nearer the solution of the desired secret。
That night she tossed upon a bed sleepless though heaped with down； and her mind raged like a fire up and down all possible answers to the riddle； but none would serve。 Then； at the dawn； raising herself on one august elbow she called to her venerable nurse and foster mother； the Lady Ma； wise and resourceful in the affairs and difficulties of women； and； repeating the circumstances； demanded her counsel。
The Lady Ma considering the matter long and deeply； slowly replied：
〃This is a great riddle and dangerous； for to intermeddle with the divine secrets is the high road to the Yellow Springs （death）。 But the child of my breasts and my exalted Mistress shall never ask in vain； for a thwarted curiosity is dangerous as a suppressed fever。 I will conceal myself nightly in the Dragon Bedchamber and this will certainly unveil the truth。 And if I perish I perish。〃
It is impossible to describe how the Empress heaped Lady Ma with costly jewels and silken brocades and taels of silver beyond measuring … how she placed on her breast the amulet of jade that had guarded herself from all evil influences； how she called the ancestral spirits to witness that she would provide for the Lady Ma's remotest descendants if she lost her life in this sublime devotion to duty。
That night Lady Ma concealed herself behind the Imperial couch in the Dragon Chamber； to await the coming of the Son of Heaven。 Slowly dripped the water…clock as the minutes fled away； sorely ached the venerable limbs of the Lady Ma as she crouched in the shadows and saw the rising moon scattering silver through the elegant traceries of carved ebony and ivory； wildly beat her heart as delicately tripping footsteps approached the Dragon Chamber； and the Princess of Feminine Propriety； attended by her maidens； ascended the Imperial Couch and hastily dismissed them。 Yet no sweet repose awaited this favored lady。 The Lady Ma could hear her smothered sobs； her muttered exclamations … nay could even feel the couch itself tremble as the Princess uttered the hated name of the Lady A…Kuei； the poison of jealousy running in every vein。 It was impossible for Lady Ma to decide which was the most virulent； this； or the poison of curiosity in the heart of the Pearl Empress。 Though she loved not the Princess she was compelled to pity such suffering。 But all thought was banished by the approach of the Yellow Emperor； prepared for repose and unattended； in simple but divine grandeur。
It cannot indeed be supposed that a Celestial Emperor is human； yet there was mortality in the start which his Augustness gave when the Princess of Feminine Propriety flinging herself from the Dragon couch； threw herself at his feet and with tears that flowed like that river known as 〃The Sorrow of China；〃 demanded to know what she had done that another should be preferred before her； reciting in frantic haste such imperfections of the Lady A…Kuei's appearance as she could recall （or invent） in the haste of that agitating moment。
〃That one of her eyes is larger than the other … no human being can doubt〃 sobbed the lady …〃 and surely your Divine Majesty cannot be aware that her hair reaches but to her waist； and that there is a brown mole on the nape of her neck？ When she sings it resembles the croak of the crow。 It is true that most of the Palace ladies are chosen for anything but beauty； yet she is the most ill…favored。 And is it this … this bat…faced lady who is preferred to me！ Would I had never been born： Yet even your Majesty's own lips have told me I am fair！〃
The Yellow Emperor supported the form of the Princess in his arms。 There are moments when even a Son of Heaven is but human。 〃Fair as the rainbow；〃 he murmured； and the Princess faintly smiled； then gathering the resolution of the Philosopher he added manfully … 〃But the Lady A…Kuei is incomparable。 And the reason is …〃
The Lady Ma eagerly stretched her head forward with a hand to either ear。 But the Princess of Feminine Propriety with one shriek had swooned and in the hurry of summoning attendants and causing her to be conveyed to her own apartments that precious sentence was never completed。
Still the Lady Ma groveled behind the Dragon Couch as the Son of Heaven； left alone； approached the veranda and apostrophizing the moon； murmured …
〃0 loveliest pale watcher of the destinies of men； illuminate the beauty of the Lady A…Kuei； and grant that I who have never seen that beauty may never see it； but remain its constant admirer！〃 So saying； he sought his solitary couch and slept； while the Lady Ma； in a torment of bewilderment； glided from the room。
The matter remained in suspense for several days。 The White Jade Concubine was the next lady commanded to the Dragon Chamber； and again the Lady Ma was in her post of observation。 Much she heard； much she saw that was not to the point； but the scene ended as before by the dismissal of the lady in tears； and the departure of the Lady Ma in ignorance of the secret。
The Emperor's peace was ended。
The singular circumstance was that the Lady A…Kuei was never summoned by the Yellow Emperor。 Eagerly as the Empress watched； no token of affection for her was ever visible。 Nothing could be detected。 It was inexplicable。 Finally； devoured by curiosity that gave her no respite； she resolved on a stratagem that should dispel the mystery； though it carried with it a risk on which she trembled to reflect。 It was the afternoon of a languid summer day； and the Yellow Emperor； almost unattended； had come to pay a visit of filial respect to the Pearl Empress。 She received him with the ceremony due to her sovereign in the porcelain pavilion of the Eastern Gardens； with the lotos fish ponds before them； and a faint breeze occasionally tinkling the crystal wind…bells that decorated the shrubs on the cloud and dragon…wrought slopes of the marble approach。 A bird of brilliant plumage uttered a cry of reverence from its gold cage as the Son of Heaven entered。 As was his occasional custom； and after suitable inquiries as to his parent's health； the attendants were all dismissed out of earshot and the Emperor leaned on his cushions and gazed reflectively into the sunshine outside。 So had the Court Artist represented him as 〃The Incarnation of Philosophic Calm。〃
〃These gardens are fair；〃 said the Empress after a respectful silence； moving her fan illustrated with the emblem of Immortality … the Ho Bird。
〃Fair indeed；〃 returned the Emperor。 … 〃It might be supposed that all sorrow and disturbance would be shut without the Forbidden Precincts。 Yet it is not so。 And though the figures of my ladies moving among the flowers 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 ne