"The rascal, it was just what he deserved," Wang cried hotly, and Tuen,
her eyes shining like stars, said softly:
"It seems almost too wonderful to be true."
"Stranger things happen than have ever been told," Szu replied. "The
affairs of life are past finding out, and who Tên Wang leads must
follow, whether he will or not."
"This Woo How was very lucky," Tuen murmured. "She must have been loved
by the gods."
"Ah, I have not yet done speaking of her," Szu answered. "Much yet
remains."
"How can there be anything to tell after she was married?" Tuen
inquired incredulously.
"There comes the amazing part," Szu acknowledged. "It happened just as
the Emperor had wished, that his bride proved as wise as she was
beautiful, and soon she was not only beloved, but feared by every one.
In court circles you will find out for yourself that an ounce of fear is
worth a pound of love. When the lovely Woo How discovered this truth she
became a power in the land--but not until then. As she grew older her
beauty decreased, it is true, but her power increased, and on the death
of the Emperor it was this same Woo How who set aside his lawful
successor and became the Empress and sole ruler of this great country."
"It is but a play you are repeating to me," Tuen cried scornfully. "It
was not and could not be."
"Youth does not know all things," the old story-teller answered in an
offended tone. "A few gems of thought, a few pearls of knowledge are
reserved for age. That is its compensation. I have repeated to you the
true account of Woo How. That she lived and reigned and died Confucius
has told, therefore I would believe it though the daughters of a
thousand Viceroys should dispute it."
"Then I was mistaken about it being only a tale if you learned it from
the Sacred Books, Szu," Tuen answered. "But since I know that, I like it
all the better. Now let us hear what else befell this most fortunate
one."
"Perhaps it would not interest you," he said somewhat sullenly.
"Sufficient be it that being of a strong mind she had long controlled
her husband, and even before his death she it was who in truth ruled the
land. When she had seated herself upon the throne she was so well versed
in the affairs of state that she governed with much discretion and
ability."
Here the garrulity of the old man gained the mastery over his anger, and
he went on in his usual rapid, animated way:
"Great was Woo How of the dynasty of Tang. She sent her powerful armies
out to battle, and the enemies fled before them like the birds before
the storm. The proud Thibetans ran like the deer, leaving behind the
unnumbered dead. Thick fell the arrows around them! Loud sounded the
gongs of the hosts! Shrill was the battle-cry and loud the shouts of
victory!
"And none could stand before the warriors of Woo How. Their journey was
marked by the flames of burning towns, captives followed behind them,
their groanings shaking the earth, when back to the court came the army
of Woo How. Then she marshalled them again, and sent them forth against
the rebellious Khitans, and again did they return with conquering
footsteps, bringing vast treasures and slaves, that reached on, on, like
the waves of the ocean. Peace reigned after this, and prosperity walked
abroad, and after twenty-two glorious years Woo How drove the fairy
chariot and went the long journey."
When he finished speaking, Wang was loud in her praises of the pleasing
narrative, but Tuen locked her hands around her knees and sat silent,
looking out over the throng of boats around her. Szu waited expectantly
for some remarks and some questions from her, but when she did not
speak, he lit his pipe and smoked away vigorously.
The afternoon was now drawing to a close. A blue haze crept over the
distant landscape and smoothed out all ugliness, and made the scene soft
and pleasing, and even the incessant cries of the boatmen sounded less
shrill. Tuen got up and walked about on the cramped deck, for she was
weary with long sitting, but she was blind and deaf to all that went on.
Wang was trying to engage Szu in conversation, but he only pulled his
bamboo cap farther over his staring eyes, and did not answer, and
finally, she gave up in despair and went within. After a while, Tuen
came back and, squatting down on a silken cushion beside Szu, said:
"Could a woman have done what that Woo How did?"
He removed the pipe from his mouth, and turned his face toward her.
"The sages have told you so," he replied, shortly.
"I know that," she said, impatiently, "but what I mean is, could it ever
happen again?"
He screwed up his mouth, and repressed a smile.
"As long as women are born it could happen, I suppose, and there is as
yet no dearth of females."
"You are laughing at me!" she cried, flushing angrily. "I asked you a
civil question. Why should you make sport of me?"
Now he smiled, openly, at her evident vexation, but he said, gravely:
"If you are born great, you will be great, no matter if you be man or
woman, no matter when you live or where, but the great ones of earth are
few and far between. Some who were not born great, have, by hard work
and much patience, attained to it. But a woman is usually a stupid
thing, and her head is much too light for climbing."
"If she were very wise, could she have power, even in the Forbidden
City?" Tuen persisted.
He nodded.
"If she were very wise, she would have power, it makes no difference
where she lived. Even on a desert island she would have power over the
wild beasts, for knowledge is power the world over. It is because
females do not possess it that they are weak and of little repute. When
they become wise they will rule the earth, for a man is but clay in the
hands of a skilful woman. She pats him into whatever shape she wants
him."
"I would like to be wise and great," Tuen said, with a sigh.