Taking his leave, Black Tiger said to Su Hu, “We've settled everything now, Brother. Make haste to escort your daughter to the capital. Any delay might mean a possible change for the worse. As soon as I return, I'll set your son free. Both my brother and I will return with our armies. We'll present our reports to the king to smooth the path for you. If you attempt to do things in any other way, disaster may befall you once again.

  “In gratitude for you’re a flection and the kindness of the West Grand Duke, I won't sacrifice my life on account of my adoration for my daughter. Please set your heart at rest. 1’1certainly set off as soon as possible," Su Hu reassured him “But my only son's in your camp. Would you set him free lest my old wife worry herself to death. Once again I greatly appreciate your kindness.”“You need't worry, Brother. He'll leave as soon as l reach the camp, "Black Tiger said earnestly. They then thanked each other once again and parted reluctantly.

  Black Tiger returned to the camp and sat down in his brother's tent. “What a vile wretch the West Grand Duke is. He keeps his army idle, awaiting the outcome of the battle without lifting a finger. He sent San Yi sheng to see me yesterday with a letter to Su Hu, trying to persuade him to send his daughter to the palace. I let San Yisheng see Su Hu yesterday but he still hasn't come back," Chong Houhu complained“Ever since you were taken captive, I've been worried and constantly sent my men to make inquiries. You must know how pleased I am that you're free now. i don't know whether Su Hu will admit his faults or not, but you must know all aboutit since you've iust come from Jizhou. Please tell me the detais, Brother.

  “Though we share the same ancestors and father, yet asan old proverb says,'one tree may bear both sweet and sou! fruit, and sons born of the same mother may be either bad and foolish or good and wise. Listen, Brother!" Black Tiger snapped.“When Su Hu rose up against King Zhou, you recklessly attacked him, sulering heavy losses. You're also a grand duke of the Shang Dynasty, but you've never performed any good deeds for the government. You've egged on the king to accept the minions and caused hatred the country over. That's why your 50,000 men have less power than a letter from the West Grand Duke. Su Hu's already promised to send his daughter to the king, and to beg His Majesty's pardon at the same time. Doesn't this make you feel embarrassed? You're a disgrace to the family. I'm going to leave you now, and l never want to see you again," Black Tiger swore, and then ordered that Su Quanzhong be set free. When the boy appeared in his tent and expressed his gratitude, Black Tige! warned again.“My dear nephew! You must tell your father tobegin his journey immediately. I'll send a petition to the king and report what your father intends to do,so as to make it easier for him.’

  Su Quangzhong then bade him farewell and left the camp for Jizhou. Burning with fury, Black Tiger also mounted his monster and led his 3,000 men back to Caozhou. Chong Houhu, embarrassed and ashamed ,fled a report to the king and withdrew to his own dukedom. Meanwhile father and son met again in Jizhou.

  “We cannot forget the virtue and grace of Ji Chang. It is he that has saved us from destruction. As l cannot let the family perish on account of Daji, I've got no choice but to send her to the palace and apologize to His Majesty. While I 'm away,you must look after Jizhou and take care not to disturb the people. I'll return as soon as possible,, Su Hu told his son.

  He then entered the inner palace to see his wife Madame

  Yang and tell her of Ji Chang's advisory letter. Knowing that her husband was going to take her daughter away, she burst into tears. When Su Hu tried to comfort her, she said,“She's so delicate that I'm afraid she'll be unable to serve the king properly. My worst fear is that she may bring annoyance to His Majesty."

  “Unfortunately, there's very little we can do about that now," Su Hu said. The old couple spent the whole night in despair and sorrow. The next morning, Su Hu mobilized 3,000 soldiers and 500 officers, made ready his carriages, and told Daji to prepare for the long journey. When she heard this, Daji broke down in a flood of tears and bade a sorrowful fare-

  well to her mother and brother. She was beautiful, radiating as much sweetness and charm as peony blossoms dripping with dew. Though unwilling to be separated from each other, they were compelled to say their goodbyes at last. Madame Yang returned weeping to her bed chamber，while Daji stepped into her carriage in tears. Su Quanzhong escorted his father and sister for five miles before he returned home.

  Flags and pennants led the long train, and Su Hu rode behind his daughter's carriage in order to offer her protection in case of emergency. Many days passed as they traveled over rivers and mountains until they came to Enzhou. Arriving at the courier station, Su Hu met the station officer. He asked the officer to prepare a room for his daughter.

  "I should tell you the truth, sir!”the officer replied.

  “About three years ago, an evil sprite appeared here, and ever since then, not a single honorable guest passing through this area has taken up residence here. For the sake of security, you're advised to reside at the hostel in the military camp.'

  “Do you really think that a royal relative could be terrified by a mere sprite?”Su Hu demanded. “We're not going anywhere else. Clean up the place at once.”

  Once the bedrooms were cleaned up, Su Hu placed Daji in a room in the rear hall in the company of fifty maidservants. The station was in addition surrounded by the 3,000 soldiers

  and the gates were tightly guarded by the 500 officers. Sitting in the candle-lit hall, Su Hu was in deep thought.

  “Though the station officer warned me about an evil sprite, I don't believe it, situated as it is in the middle of a busy market, with people coming and going," he said to himself. “Nevertheless, I must heighten my vigilance, lest something unexpected should take place.”

  So thinking, he first placed a leopard-tail staff beside his desk before picking up a book about war strategy. As the first watch struck in the city, Su Hu still could not set his heart at

  rest. With the iron staff in hand, he walked silently towards the rear hall where his daughter was staying. When he discovered that Daji and her maidservants were all sleeping soundly,

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  he returned to the front hall and started reading his book on war strategy again. Soon the second watch was sounded and then the third. Suddenly, there was a great whirlwind, an

  unusual coldness bit into his flesh and bones, and the candles flickered off and on again. It seemed as if a wild beast had bounced into the room and was about to snatch someone away.

  This wild wind gave Su Hu goose-bumps all over his body. As he puzzled over it, he suddenly heard voices from the rear hall, “A ghost! It's a ghost!”He picked up the iron staff and a lamp and rushed into the rear hall. The lamp, however, was blown out before he arrived. As he could do nothing in the darkness, he rapidly returned to his own room and urgently ordered for another lamp.

  When he rushed to the rear hall a second time, he saw the maidservants running about in a panic. Entering Daji's room, he pulled open the bed curtains. “How are you, my child? Did

  you see the ghost come in?”he asked.

  “I was dreaming when I heard the cries, but when I looked up and round, I saw only you coming in with the lamp in hand. I haven'tseen any ghost."

  “Thank heaven and earth that you were not terrified. Rest easy, my child.”

  Saying goodnight, Su Hu returned to his own room and re-

  mained on watch through the rest of the night, not daring to sleep for even an instant.

  What Su Hu did not know was that the woman whom he talked to was none other than the thousand-year-old female fox sprite. During the few minutes it took him to return to his room for a second lamp, the fox sprite had sucked out Daji's soul and then occupied her body. Her purpose was to seduce

  King Zhou and overthrowthe Shang Dynasty, as Goddess Nu Wa had ordered.

  Su Hu could not sleep that night, yet he was satisfied. "It's lucky that the future concubine of the king wasn't alarmed at all,” he thought to himself. “This must be a blessing from Heaven, earth and my ancestors. Otherwise, I would be accused again of offending the king and would never be able to explain myself. "

  At dawn they set out from Enzhou, traveling by the day and resting by night. Several days later, they forded the Yellow River and arrived at the capital, camping outside the city. Su Hu sent a messenger to the royal court to announce his arrival. Hearing the report, Prince Huang Feihu realized that Su Hu had changed his mind about his daughter. He sent a messenger of his own to tell Su Hu to station his troops outside the city but bring Daji in and put her up at the Golden Reception House.

  But Fei Zhongand You Hun were displeased, as Su Hu had brought them no gifts. “That treacherous thief Su Hu!”they commented. “He hopes to atone for his crimes, but the royal wrath or joy are subject to our influence, and it is we that decide whether he should live or die, be rich or poor. Yet he seems to have no regard for us at all!"

  In the Dragon Virtue Court the next day,Fei Zhong stepped forward and knelt beforeKing Zhou,“Su Hu's here to offer his daughter. He's awaiting your orders outside the pal-

  ace."

  At this the king exploded in a great rage.“That common oaf! When he offended me that day, I decided to put him to death at once, but then I took your advice and sent him back to his territory," he cried out. “However, he showed no appreciation for my generosity, and wrote that poem! He insulted me so shamelessly that I must put him to death tomorrow.

  Such is the law of this land."

  “The laws pronounced by Your Majesty are applicable to every soul in the country. It would be anarchy if rebellious and treacherous acts were not dealt with seriously. A nation without law will be forsaken and soon fall into ruin,”Fei Zhong at once took the cue.

  “ You're right, Fei Zhong. See what I do tomorrow,” King Zhou said.

  As drums were beaten and bells struck, King Zhou made his solemn appearance at the morning court session. All his civil and military ministers were lined up in order beside him.

  After greetings and cheers, the gate officer rushed up and reported to the king,“Su Hu of Jizhou’s waiting outside the palace to offer you his daughter and redeem his faults.”

  "Let him in."

  Su Hu, not daring to wear the coronet and red robes of his rank, was dressed in the garb of a convict. He knelt down and kowtowed. “This criminal Su Hu has committed a capital

  crime in opposing you. I deserve to die!"he said.

  “Su Hu of Jizhou! You wrote that poem stating that you would never again offer allegiance to this dynasty. You dared to resist the royal army and slaughtered my generals and soldiers. How can you justify yourself coming to my court again today? For these crimes you must die at once!”King Zhou ordered his guards to take Su Hu away and decapitate him outside the palace gate.

  But at this moment, Prime Minister ShangRong left the ranks and fell on his knees before the king.“Su Hu should have his head cut off for rebelling against the Shang Dynasty. However, Ji Chang has sent a petition here and reports that Su Hu is willing to offer you his daughter and atone for his crimes. For this, Su Hu may be pardoned. He committed a crime, but how can you treat him so severely after he has changed his mind. I beg you to have mercy on him."

  King Zhou was still thinking this over when Fei Zhong stepped out. “I suggest that Your Majesty accept the Prime Minister's proposal and bring Daji in right now. If she's indeed beautiful,virtuous，familiar with the rites,eloquent in speech and ready to serve you, you may take her and forgive Su Hu at once. If, on the contrary, she's not and doesn't appeal to you at all, Your Majesty may cut off both their heads in the market and show the people that you deal with important matters in a solemn and strict fashion.”

  “You're right, Fei Zhong. Bring Daji here to see me at once," the king ordered.

  Daji moved gracefully towards the palace gate, crossed over the Nine Dragon Bridge,and when she reached the entrance to the court, raised the ivory tablet in her hands, knelt down and saluted the king, “Long live the King! Long live the King!”

  King Zhou fixed his eyes on her, She had soft black hair,cheeks as pretty as peach blossoms, a body slender as a tender willow branch, and was dressed as elegantly as floating clouds. She gave one the impression of a begonia drunk with sunshine, or a pear blossom drenched in rain. She was as ethereal as a fairy from either the Ninth Heaven, or the moon palace.

  When she parted her cherry lips, she gave off a breath of perfumed fragrance. Her eyes were like autumn ripples, radiating coquettish charm. When she said in her sweet voice “The daughter of your criminal servant prays that Your Majesty be blessed with 10,000 years,”King Zhou was entirely bewitched and seemed to be flying towards the sky. His body went limp, his ears grew hot and his vision blurred. He could hardly control himself. He stood up and ordered,“Rise, my beauty! You may stand." Turning towards his palace maidservants he said, “Lead Lady Su to the Fairy Longevity Palace and await my arrival, ”and then pronounced,“Su Hu's whole family is now pardoned. Su Hu is restored to his original rank, and as a royal relative he's granted an extra monthly allowance of 2,000

  piculs of rice. He’s to be entertained for three days at the Celebration Court, and escorted back to Jizhou by two civil and three military ministers.”

  Su Hu knelt down and thankedKing Zhou, but the ministers, seeing the king's blind passion for women, were extremely displeased. The king rose and returned to his palace, leaving no chance for them to give advice. They had no choice but to go to the Celebration Court and entertain Su Hu.

  King Zhou returned to the Fairy Longevity Palace, where he banqueted with Daji and then spent a passionate, blissful night in her company. Their love developed swiftly and King Zhou began to spend all of his energy and time taking pleasure in her. He lost his patience for state affairs and his civil and military officials, and mountains of reports, petitions and other

  documents piled up awaiting his decision. None of the 800 marquises had a chance to discuss urgent matters with him, and orders ceased to be issued from the palace. The kingdom rapidly sank into chaos.

  If you wish to know what happened after that, please read the next chapter.