Centuries like water swiftly glide,
Life's endeavors, like fleeting tide.
Yesterday's peach blossoms on the face,
Today, snowflakes in hair's embrace.
White ants' ranks, a fleeting illusion,
Cuckoo's call, a timely conclusion.
Ancient wisdom, longevity it may endow,
Goodness sought not, Heaven's blessings bestow.
Meanwhile, Emperor Taizong found himself in a vast expanse. His spirit emerged in front of the Five Phoenix Pavilion, where the Imperial Guards were preparing for a royal outing and hunting expedition. Joyfully, Taizong joined their company and set off. After a considerable time passed, both people and horses vanished. He was left alone, wandering amidst the wild fields and grasslands in a state of perplexity.
As he struggled to find his way, a loud voice suddenly cried out from a distance, "Emperor of Great Tang, come this way, come this way!"
Taizong lifted his gaze and saw the figure:
Adorned with a dark silk hat on his head, he wore a belt made of rhinoceros horn around his waist. The hat's tassels fluttered gently, and the belt's horn gleamed brightly. Holding a jade tablet of authority, an aura of auspiciousness enveloped him. He wore a silk robe that seemed to shimmer with hidden blessings. His feet were clad in soft-soled boots, stepping on clouds and mist. Clasped in his embrace was a book of life and death, destined to determine fates. His messy hair framed his ears, and his beard danced around his cheeks. Once a prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, he now held the position of a judge of the underworld.
As Taizong walked over, he saw the man kneeling by the roadside. The man bowed down and said, "Your Majesty, forgive me for the mistake of welcoming you from afar."
Taizong inquired, "Who are you? And why have you come here to receive me?"
The man replied, "I am a humble servant who was in the Hall of Reincarnation, half a month ago. I heard from the ghost of the dragon of the Jing River about your promise to save him from unjust punishment. Immediately, King Qin Guang of the First Hall dispatched a ghostly messenger to summon Your Majesty for a trial involving the Three Courts. I learned of this and came here to wait for your arrival. Unexpectedly, I arrived later than anticipated, and I beg your forgiveness."
Taizong asked, "What is your full name and official position?"
The man answered, "In my earthly life, I served in the court of Yangcao, attending to the previous monarch. I held the position of magistrate and later became an assistant minister in the Ministry of Rites. My name is Cui Hao. Now in the underworld, I serve as the judge of Yanluo's Court in Fengdu."
Taizong was overjoyed and stepped forward, extending his hand to assist him in standing up. "Judge, you've come from afar. Fortunately, I have a letter from Wei Zheng intended for you, and now we meet in person."
The judge thanked him and inquired about the whereabouts of the letter. Without delay, Emperor Taizong retrieved it from his pocket and handed it to Cui.
The judge received it with a bow, opened the seal, and began to read. The contents of the letter were as follows:
"Respected Elder Brother, Wei Zheng humbly bows and writes to the esteemed Master Cui Hao below the dais: Recalling our past friendship, your presence is vivid in my mind. In a short span of years, I have not heard your pure teachings. Often, I have arranged offerings according to the seasons, hoping you might partake. But I remain uncertain if you received them. Moreover, I have had a dream visitation, which I believe was your guidance. I have learned that my elder brother has risen to great prominence, though we are separated by the realms of the living and the dead, each residing in a different realm. Unfortunately, we cannot meet in person. Now, with Emperor Taizong's sudden passing, he will likely face judgment before the three courts. I implore you to remember our bond from our days of yore and to use your wisdom to find a way, even a small one, to allow my imperial Majesty to return to the mortal world. This request stems from my deep affection. I await your response and am eternally grateful."
Cui Hao finished reading the letter and felt a surge of joy. "I had already heard of the tale of Wei dreaming of slaying an old dragon," he said, praising it greatly. "Moreover, he has been watching over my descendants day and night. With this letter arriving today, Your Majesty can be at ease. I will personally ensure your safe delivery and that you can once more ascend to the jade palace."
Emperor Taizong expressed his gratitude.
While the two were chatting, they suddenly spotted a pair of young boys in green clothes holding banners and canopies, calling out loudly, "King Yama[1] invites you, invites you."
Emperor Taizong then moved forward along with Judge Cui and the two boys. Suddenly, they saw a city with a massive sign hanging over its gate that read "Gateway to the Underworld - Ghostly Realm." The words glimmered in big gold letters. The boy in green waved the banners, guiding Emperor Taizong directly into the city, strolling through the streets.
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On the sides of the street were figures like the late ruler Li Yuan, the elder brother Jiancheng, and the deceased younger brother Yuangui. They approached, saying, "The honorable monarch has arrived, the honorable monarch has arrived." Jiancheng and Yuangui came forward to grab and detain him. Emperor Taizong couldn't dodge in time and was caught by them[1].
Fortunately, Judge Cui called a fierce-looking, green-faced, fanged ghostly attendant who drove Jiancheng and Yuangui away. Emperor Taizong managed to break free.
After walking a few miles, they came across a splendid azure-tiled pavilion, truly a magnificent sight.
Vivid hues of myriad clouds arise,
like painted strokes across the skies,
Subtle crimson mists in veils unfold,
a mystical tale their presence told.
Guardian beasts upon eaves do glare,
their eyes aflame with fierce, wild air,
Tales of yore, a phoenix's flight,
embroidered wings in golden light.
Gates adorned with fiery nails that gleam,
panels carved from purest dream,
Morning rays through lattice steal,
scarlet flashes on the reel,
Towers rise to touch the heavens high,
halls and chambers side by side,
Scented clouds from cauldron spill,
ethereal lights the rooms do fill.
Crimson drapes, a tapestry of light,
dancing flames on silent night,
Banners fierce on the left command,
mighty visages on the right withstand,
Guiding spirits with golden seals,
beckoning souls with sacred appeals,
Hail to the realm where shadows convene,
where Judge Yama's gaze is keen,
Beneath his gaze, the endless hall,
where souls in transit rise and fall.
Emperor Taizong stood outside and observed as the palace suddenly emitted a jingling of bells and a wondrous scent of celestial fragrance. Two pairs of candle bearers appeared at the entrance, followed by the Ten Kings of the underworld: King Qin Guang, King Chu Jiang, King Song, King Wu Guan, King Yanluo, King Ping Deng, King Tai Shan, King Du Shi, King Bian Cheng, and King Zhuan Lun. When the Ten Kings emerged from the majestic hall, they bowed and welcomed Emperor Taizong.
Humble, Emperor Taizong hesitated to move forward.
The Ten Kings spoke, "Your Majesty is the earthly king, and we are the underworld kings, each with our rightful realm. No need for undue courtesy."
"I have offended under your jurisdiction. How could I intervene in the ways of the living and the spirits?" Emperor Taizong replied, still showing deference.
Moving ahead, Emperor Taizong entered the grand hall of judgment. After exchanging formal greetings with the Ten Kings, they took their respective seats as hosts and guests.
After a while, King Qin Guang stepped forward, clasping his hands, and spoke, "Your Majesty, the ghost of the Dragon of the Jing River claimed you granted salvation, yet you turned to kill it. Why is this?"
Emperor Taizong replied, "I once dreamt of the Old Dragon seeking help, and I indeed agreed to spare him. Little did I know he had committed a crime deserving of death. It fell upon Wei Zheng of my official court to carry out the execution. I had summoned Wei Zheng to play chess in the court, unaware that he would dream of this incident. It was the workings of divine forces in the official court, and the Dragon King committed a crime deserving of death. How can this be blamed on me?"
Upon hearing this, the Ten Kings bowed and said, "Even before the birth of that dragon, it was destined in the Southern Dipper's records of death that he would meet his end by the hands of an official court. We were already aware. But his dispute led us to summon Your Majesty here, to judge the matter in the presence of the Three Courts. We have sent him to the Wheel of Transmigration to be reborn anew. Your Majesty, thank you for descending here, and we apologize for any haste we've caused." Then, they ordered the Judge of the Book of Life and Death to quickly bring the records and see how many years of life and heavenly blessings the emperor was destined to have.
Judge Cui hurried to the administrative office and began examining the records of heavenly blessings for all the kings of the myriad nations. He checked them one by one, and there he found it - "Emperor Taizong of the Great Tang Dynasty, destined for thirteen years of heavenly blessings during the Zhenguan period." Judge Cui was taken aback. He quickly dipped a thick brush into ink and added two bows to the character "one", changing it into a "three". Then, he presented the records.
The Ten Kings examined it from the beginning. They saw that under Emperor Taizong's name, the book recorded that he was destined for thirty-three years.
King Yama asked, "Your Majesty, how many years have you been reigning?"
"I ascended the throne thirteen years ago."
"Your Majesty, don't worry; you still have twenty more years of life ahead. With this case clarified, please return to the mortal realm," King Yanluo reassured him, and Emperor Taizong bowed in gratitude.
The Ten Kings assigned Judge Cui and General Zhu to accompany Emperor Taizong back to life.
As Emperor Taizong left the grand hall, he raised his hand again and asked the Ten Kings, "How are my family members in the palace, both young and old?"
The Ten Kings replied, "They are mostly well, but we fear for the longevity of your younger sister."
Emperor Taizong bowed once more and expressed his thanks, "Upon returning to the mortal realm, there is nothing I can offer in return except for some fruits."
King Yanluo joyfully said, "We have quite a few watermelons and cantaloupes here, but we are short of pumpkins."
Emperor Taizong replied, "I will send them as soon as I return, I promise."
They bid each other farewell with respectful gestures and parted ways.
The General held a spirit-guiding banner in his hand, leading the way ahead. Judge Cui followed, guarding Emperor Taizong, and they made their way out of the gloomy realm.
[1] Li Yuan - 李淵, Jiancheng - 建成 and Yuangui - 元吉 : In historical accounts, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty (Li Shimin) was involved in a significant conflict within his family that resulted in the deaths of his elder brothers, Jiancheng (建成) and Yuanji (元吉). This event is known as the "Xuanwu Gate Incident" or the "Wu Palace Incident."
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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yama_(Buddhism) Mostly translated as King Yanluo