TALES OF THE MARVELOUS

PART 1: THE KUNLUN SLAVE

BY: PEI XING (
Translated by Liu Jue () and Tyler Roney
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PEI XING () was known as a pioneer of short fiction in the Tang
Dynasty (618-907), largely because of his work Tales of the Marvelous (
), a three-volume collection of short stores. Each tale focuses on an
individual, often involving immortals, fairies, magical beasts, and dazzling
heroes. Little is known of the authors life, except that he was appointed the
deputy governor of Chengdu in 878. Chuanqi became a literary genre unto
itself, and eventually served as the inspiration for operas, folklore and later
literature. Only 31 stories remain, the rest lost to history; here are three
such tales.
The Kunlun Slave
During the Dali Period (766-779) under the reign of Emperor Daizong of
the Tang Dynasty, there was a young nobleman named Cui. His father was a
prominent official who befriended a first-class minister. Cui himself only
held the honorary title of royal court guard.
When the minister was ill, Cui was sent by his farther to sit at his
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bedside. Young and handsome, Cui was a righteous person with a serene
bearing and a refreshing matter of speech. The minister asked his concubine
to roll up the blinds and invite Cui into the inner court. Cui delivered his
fathers regards.
The minister appreciated Cuis manners, asking him to sit and have a
chat. All three concubines-in-waiting were exceedingly beautiful. All holding
golden containers featuring cherries soaked in syrup. The minister asked the
concubine dressed in red silk to serve Cui. Shy in front of women, Cui
refused the offer, but then the minister insisted that the concubine feed Cui
cherries with a spoon. Cui relented, opened his mouth, and noticed a smile
on the concubines face.
Cui bade farewell to his host, and the minister said: You must visit me
in your spare time; dont forget this old man. The concubine in red silk saw
him off. Outside, Cui turned to see the concubine extend three fingers and
then flip her hand three times. She pointed to the small mirror on her chest
and said: Remember!
Cui reported back to his father and returned to school, but he was
lovesick for his lady in red, rarely speaking or eating. Depressed and deeply
lost in thought, he recalled a poem: By chance, I visited the top of
Pengshan, where I was met by a pair of bright eyes; the moon was hidden in
a palace behind a half closed red door, where it shines on qiongzhi (a jade-
colored mushroom) with beauty and sorrow. But no one understood Cuis
troubles.
A Kunlun (an ancient name for indigenous people in South East Asia who
were often hired or bought as servants in the Tang Dyansty) slave named
Mole asked Cui: Whats troubling you? Why dont you tell your servant?
Cui answered: People like you will never understand. How dare you
even ask!
But Mole insisted: Just tell me. Im confident I can make your every
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wish come true. Surprised by his words, Cui told him his tale of woe and
love.
Thats no problem. Why did you torture yourself and not let me know
sooner? Mole asked. Cui then questioned him regarding her gestures. Mole
said, How was that difficult to understand? It meant that there are 10
courtyards in the house and that she lives in the third one. Flipping a palm
three times is 15 fingers in total, meaning 15 days. The mirror means the full
moon. She asked you to visit her in 15 days under the full moon.
Cui was overjoyed, Can you help me make my dream come true?
Mole laughed and said: Tomorrow night is the 15th night. Dress in
fitting clothes of black silk and come with me. The minister uses dogs to
guard his concubines in the courtyard. Raised by Menghai, the rebellious
hero in Caozhou, these dogs are alert and ferocious. No one except me can
deal with them, and I will kill them for you. With gratitude, Cui treated
Mole to wine and meat.
Around midnight, Mole set out with a hammer on a chain. He returned
and informed Cui: The dogs are dead; the obstacle is clear. Cui, dressed in
black was carried on Moles back. In this manner, they traveled over more
than 10 walls before reaching the concubines courtyards, stopping at the
third door, which was as expected unlocked. Light shone through the
window. They heard a deep sigh and found the lady in red sitting on her bed,
as if she was waiting for someone. She looked lovely, even without any
makeup or jewelry, but she seemed sad and anxious.
She lamented: I hear a nightingale sighing in this deep cave and cant
help feeling bitter toward the man who has left. In secret, I have him my
earrings as a token of love, but he sends no message, leaving me waiting.
The guards were sound asleep, and silence fell. Cui lifted the doors
curtain and entered the room. it took a while for the lady to come to her
senses at such a surprise. She jumped off her bed, grabbed Cuis hands and
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said happily: I knew you were smart enough to understand my gestures,
but what magic did you use to get in here? So, Cui told her abut Mole, his
salve.
She asked Cui, Where is he right now?
He is outside, Cui said. She then invited Mole into the roomand
treated him to wine in a golden cup.
The lady told Cui: I was born to a rich family in the north, but the
minister forced me to be his concubine. It is to my great shame that I have
not ended my life. Though I wear beautiful makeup, my heart is in pain.
Despite the luxury, I feel like a prisoner. Since your servant is so talented, is
there anyway he can get me out of here? I am willing to die or become your
maid if my wish is granted. What do you say?
Cui did not answer, but Mole said: If my lady insists, to me it is a small
matter. The lady was pleased beyond measure.
For the first three runs, Mole carried the ladys belongings. When that
was done, he told them: Im afraid that dawn is almost upon us. Then, he
put the couple on his back and went over the walls, all without alarming any
of the guards. After reaching the outside, they hid in Cuis school.
At dawn, the ministers household noticed the dead dogs and the
missing concubine. The minister was appalled, and said, With such a well-
guarded house, it would have taken a powerful warrior to leave without a
trace. Stay silent about the incident to avoid further trouble.
Cui kept he former concubine for two years, until they took a tour of
Qujiang. She was recognized by one of the ministers staff, and Cui was
therefore summoned by the minister. Cui, frightened for his life, told the
minister everything, blaming it all on Mole.
Its the fault of that concubine! the minister shouted. But since she
has served you all these years, I will spare her. However, the servant must
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be punished for the benefit of the public.
He ordered 50 armed soldiers to surround Cuis house to capture Mole.
Dagger in hand, Mole leapt over the high walls of the estate, light as a
feather and swift as an eagle. As arrows rained down on him, he remained
unharmed, disappearing into the distance. Cuis entire household was struck
with panic and the minister was embarrassed and afraid. Every night for a
year, the minister ordered a heavily armored patrol to guard his house,
fearing reprisals.
Over a decade later, someone from Cuis family reported seeing Mole in
the city of Luoyang, selling medicine. They claimed that he looked exactly
the same as he had 10 years earlier.
*****
This short story was digitized by Andrew "The Dark Knight" Eckhart
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