Romance of the Former Han Dynasty (3)

[CHUNG Yoon-Ngan <chungyn@mozart.collective.com.au>]

Romance of the Former Han Dynasty (3)

With two of his house servants Lu3 Bu4 Wei2 left Han Dan, the Zhao4 
capital, and was on his way to Xian2 Yang2, the capital of the State of 
Qin2. After a long journey, master and servants arrived in the Qin2 
capital. Having settled themselves in a hotel, the following day Lu3 
went to enquire about the address of Madam Hua2 Yang2. People said that 
Madam Hua2 Yang2 had no relatives but a younger sister who was known in 
the city as Huang2 Yi2. The husband of Huang2 Yi2 was a hotel owner who 
was known as Huang2 Yi2 Zhang4. Lu3 went to see Huang2 Yi2 Zhang4 and 
introduced himself as the friend and messenger of Yi4 Ren2, who was 
presently being held as a hostage in Zhao4, the grandson of the Qin2 
ruler. He told Huang2 Yi2 Zhang4 that he had fifty pieces of gold for 
Huang2 Yi2. Huang2 Yi2 Zhang4 was amazed and quickly sent a servant to 
call Huang2 Yi2 out to meet Lu3.  

After introducing himself Lu3 gave Huang2 Yi2 the fifty pieces of gold and 
told her that he wanted to see Madam Hua2 Yang2. Lu3 told Huang2 Yi2 that 
Yi4 Ren2 was a very wise, sincere, honest and learned man who had a 
birthday present for Madam Hua2 Yang2. He also told her that since Madam 
Hua2 Yang2 had no son and Yi4 Ren2 had no mother it was a good thing for 
Madam Hua2 Yang2 to adopt Yi4 Ren2 as her son. After An Guo2 Jun had   
become the ruler of Qin2 and after Madam Hua2 Yang2 had grown old and lost 
her beauty, then Madam Hua2 Yang2 might not be his favourite wife. If 
Madam Hua2 Yang2 adopted Yi4 Ren2 as her son and asked An Guo2 Jun to 
make Yi4 Ren2 heir apparent of the crown prince her position in the palace 
would be saved as she was the mother of a crown prince, the future King 
of Qin2. Huang2 Yi2 told Lu3 to stay in her hotel and would take him to 
see her sister the next day.

The next day morning Huang2 Yi2 took Lu3 to see Madam Hua2 Yang2. Huang2 
Yi2 told Lu3 to wait in the waiting room and she went in to see her sister.
Huang2 Yi2 told her sister that although Yi4 Ren2 was a hostage in Zhao4 
yet he was always thinking of her and his father. She also told her sister 
that Yi4 Ren2 had a present for her birthday. Madam Hua2 Yang2 summoned 
Lu3 to go in to see her. With due respect Lu3 presented Madam Hua2 Yang2 
the present and a letter from Yi4 Ren2. The presents were four fine 
pearls and a pair of jade earings. Madam Hua2 Yang2 was overwhelmed by 
the presents. Lu3 told her the plight of Yi4 Ren2 and wanted her to help 
Yi4 Ren2 to return home. Madam Hua2 Yang2 did not open Yi4 Ren2 letter 
because it was addressed to his father and she told Lu3 to go back to the 
hotel.

When they were alone Huang2 Yi2 told her sister what Lu3 had told her. 
Madam Hua2 Yang2 was in tears when she heard about her being without a 
son. So she decided to adopt Yi4 Ren2 as her son and she would ask her 
husband to make Yi4 Ren2 the heir apparent of him. 

While the two sisters were chatting a maid announced that the crown 
prince, An Guo2 Jun, had returned. Madam Hua2 Yang2 told him about the 
plight of his son, Yi4 Ren2 in Zhao4. She gave her husband the letter 
from Yi4 Ren2. It was a letter from a filial piety son wishing the 
parents of good health. In the letter Yi4 Ren2 asked his parents to help 
him to return home. An Guo2 Jun was in tears after reading the letter. 
Knowing how he felt for his son, immediately, Madam Hua2 Yang2 knelt 
down in front of her husband and asked for his permission to adopt Yi4 
Ren2 as her son. She also begged him to make Yi4 Ren2 his heir apparent. 
Seeing his beautiful wife kneeing there he felt a bit soft and allowed 
her to adopt Yi4 Ren2 and agreed to make him his heir apprarent even 
though he had more than twenty sons.

However, An Guo2 Jun said it would be very hard to appoint Yi4 Ren2 to 
be his successor as he was being held as a hostage in Zhao4 and who 
could get him back to Qin2. Madam Hua2 Yang2 told him that there was a 
businessman named Lu3 Bu4 Wei2 who could help Yi4 Ren2 to return home.
On hearing this he summoned a servant to fetch Lu3. The crown prince 
asked Lu3 how he could help Yi4 Ren2 to return to Qin2. Lu3 told him that 
he had a plan, but on condition that Yi4 Ren2 would become his successor.
The crown prince agreed. Lu3 asked the agreement to be curved in a pair 
of jade. Lu3 also requested the crown prince to send a large force to 
receive them in the border between Qin2 and Zhao4 when the time had 
arrived for them to escape from Zhao4. The troops could be used to 
protect them when they crossed the border. The crown agreed with all the 
suggestions by Lu3 as long as Lu3 could get his son back to Qin2.

The next day Lu3 Bu4 Wei2 said goodbye to the crown prince, his wife and 
his brother and sister-in-laws. Lu3 with his house servants began his 
journey back to Zhao4......

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan.