She could but
trifle with a shark's fin and a "Silver Ear" fungus and a dish of
slugs entrapped upon roses, with the dew-like pearls upon them.
Her burning curiosity had wholly deprived her of appetite, nor
could the amusing exertions of the Palace mimes, or a lantern
fete upon the lake restore her to any composure. "This
circumstance will cause my flight on the Dragon (death)," she
said to herself, "unless I succeed in unveiling the mystery. What
therefore should be my next proceeding?"
And so, deeply reflecting, she caused the Chief of the Eunuchs to
summon the Princess of Feminine Propriety, the White Jade
Concubine and all the other exalted beauties of the Heavenly
Palace.
In due course of time these ladies arrived, paying suitable
respect and obeisance to the Mother of his Divine Majesty. They
were resplendent in king-fisher ornaments, in jewels of jade,
crystal and coral, in robes of silk and gauze, and still more
resplendent in charms that not the Celestial Empire itself could
equal, setting aside entirely all countries of the foreign
barbarians.
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