"The Viceroy has sent for you," was the message that caused Tuen to leap
to her feet with a cry of joy.
"He has returned from the temple and is in the audience hall, where he
has been receiving calls from all the high authorities of the city. Now
he is alone, and wishes to speak with you," the servant further
volunteered. Tuen did not wait to hear more, but hastened to obey the
summons, though she paused outside of the Viceroy's door for a few
minutes in order to calm herself, for she was quite breathless. Then she
slipped in, and saw him sitting before a table, wearing the superb tunic
she had made, and clad in robes of more gorgeous splendor than she had
ever seen him wear. "_Kungli! Kungli!_ Oh, great and glorious one!" she
murmured low, saluting him, and then with a proud flush upon her face
she listened to his words of praise.
Now it so happened that on this auspicious occasion the Viceroy was in a
most gracious mood. He had received many magnificent offerings from his
people, a bevy of his friends had called to wish him happiness, and said
many flattering things. On the table before him was a great heap of
large red cards containing good wishes for his continued prosperity, and
the Viceroy felt that he had just cause to feel satisfied, for surely he
was favored by the gods. When he had complimented Tuen upon the beauty
of her needle-work, not forgetting to praise her faithfulness and her
industry, he added kindly:
"What would you like me to give you, as a reward for your work, Tuen?"
She made no answer, for although she had expected this question, and
had long ago decided upon the very words she would say in reply, now
that the time had come her lips were dumb.
"Speak! What is it?" he insisted, but still she hesitated.
He looked at her half-impatiently, and then he saw her round, rosy face,
her lustrous, pleading eyes, and her trembling little mouth, and, his
humor changing, he smiled encouragingly.
Tuen, seeing this, threw herself at his feet and cried out impetuously:
"O wisest and best among men, I would like to learn to read."
[Illustration: "I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN TO READ." Page 78.]
"What?" he ejaculated so sharply that her new-found courage instantly
deserted her, and she hid her face, and wondered at her own audacity.
In truth the Viceroy was not so much displeased as he was astonished,
for he had never dreamed of such a strange request, and could hardly
believe his ears.
"You, a girl, learn to read!" he finally exclaimed contemptuously. "What
nonsense! You couldn't learn if you tried. You haven't sense enough."
"Indeed, I think I have," she said in a tearful voice, "and I do so want
to know about things."
"There is no one to teach you," he answered shortly. "Go back to your
sewing, your gossip among the women, and know that it was for that you
were made, else had you been born a man."
"I can't help what I was born," she sobbed. "The gods made me a woman,
and I just have to make the best of it."
"Umph!" the magistrate grunted, watching her keenly from beneath his
drooping lids, and something told Tuen that her reply had pleased him,
so now she arose to her feet, and entreated softly:
"Be not angry with Tuen. Remember you told her to make her wish known
to you, and this was the one, the only desire of her heart. Everything
else that she could want you have given her."
"Your request has been most strange," he replied, somewhat mollified;
and noticing this difference in his tone she persisted.
"If the master is great the servant should also aspire, that he may be
worthy to serve such a master. (For this was a speech she had heard her
father make, and had remembered.) Is not that true, O Wise ruler of the
province of Kiangsi?"
"Truly for a woman she has some wit," he told himself; and after
considering a moment he said to her:
"Answer me three questions, and if your words are wise your request
shall be granted."
"I will try," she replied quietly, but she grew very pale.
"Well, first, why do you wish to learn to read?" he inquired, assuming
a judicial air, and Tuen felt that he was laughing at her, but that
knowledge only made her the more determined to gain her point.
"That I may be wise, and therefore good, and being both of these the
better able to serve the Viceroy," she answered with a low bow.
He nodded his head approvingly.
"I would let all of my servants learn if they would make that use of
it," he said. "For one that knows nothing your answer is not altogether
foolish. Now tell me what gods are the most to be feared?"
"It would seem to me--perhaps because I am a woman--that it is the
household gods who are the most to be dreaded," she said hesitatingly.
"Why?" he questioned.
"Because both man and woman must needs live in the house, and if peace
and prosperity reign there they will have happiness. If not, all is
confusion and terror."
But as she spoke she watched him fearfully, as if half afraid he would
be offended.
But he answered: "Your reason is good, for peace in the house is indeed
the greatest blessing. Now one more question and I am done. Of all
living creatures which would you like to be?"
"A man, Oh, learned sir," she said promptly, "since he alone of all
creatures has been given wisdom. And if further choice were given me I
would like to be the Viceroy of Kiangsi, since he is the wisest and best
of men."
"Well said, well said," he exclaimed; for, like some other great ones of
whom we have heard, he was not averse to flattery. And thus on him did
Tuen use some of that diplomacy for which she one day would be
celebrated.
"You have spoken wisely," he continued, "and if there can be found in
Lu Chang one who will teach you, by the gods you shall learn to read. I,
the Viceroy, have said it."
Uttering many profuse thanks Tuen prostrated herself before him, for in
this land where females were ofttimes drowned like kittens at their
birth, or if allowed to live, despised and beaten, sold as mere
chattels, or even killed if disobedient to the husband's parents, the
patience of the Viceroy was indeed marvellous, and the permission she
had wrested from him was much to be wondered at.
As soon as she had left his presence she ran to find Wang, and throwing
herself in the arms of this faithful friend she sobbed:
"Oh, Wang, Wang, I am to be taught to read. The Viceroy has said it."
"Taught to read?" Wang repeated blankly.
"Yes, to read," Tuen cried. "I begged it of him, and at first he would
not, and then he finally consented, and oh, Wang, I feel as if I should
die for joy."
"I am sure I don't know what you want to read for," said the puzzled
Wang, "but I do know that there is not another master in all China who
would have granted such a favor to a slave. You are a lucky girl to have
been bought by him, for he is the kindest man in the land. Any one else
would have beaten you for asking such a thing. You had better pray to
the gods every day that you shall always belong to him."