Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/110

RV 105 (THE PEAR GARDEN) distill desire within him, and stimulate his energy. Earth holds no more potent tonic than the soft, fragrant body of a slender maiden. What a pity it was that among all the three thousand women in the Palace grounds, there was not one capable of making him forget the beloved Mei-fei.

The Court functionaries implored Kao Li-shih to search the Empire for a daughter of the people worthy of the highest honor. Kao, impersonally, was a rare judge of the beauty of women. Due to his condition, they did not hide in modesty when he was near. Kao, however, demurred. To all pleadings he replied he was unworthy of the high honor they were endeavoring to force upon him. He sincerely doubted his ability to choose. Like all great men, he walked humbly.

However, he suggested that they consult Lan Jen, the old gardener. "A man who knows flowers," he said, "knows women."

Li Lin-fu, President of the Board of Rites, had undertaken the task of negotiation, with the aid of Ts'ui Lin, a Minister of State. So exhaustive was his knowledge of affairs, that it gave rise to the saying: "About ancient times, ask Kao Chung-shu (a colleague); about the present day, inquire of Ts'ui Lin." But Ts'ui could not think of any girl with sufficient enticement to arouse Ming Huang. Li Lin-fu was annoyed that Ts'ui did not remember the six daughters that blessed the House of Li. Only one of them was married. Her husband's name was Chêng P'ing. His hair had turned white while he was young. Li gave him a potion of some broth which RV 105 (105)