A bird of brilliant plumage uttered a cry
of reverence from its gold cage as the Son of Heaven entered. As
was his occasional custom, and after suitable inquiries as to his
parent's health, the attendants were all dismissed out of earshot
and the Emperor leaned on his cushions and gazed reflectively
into the sunshine outside. So had the Court Artist represented
him as "The Incarnation of Philosophic Calm."
"These gardens are fair," said the Empress after a respectful
silence, moving her fan illustrated with the emblem of
Immortality - the Ho Bird.
"Fair indeed," returned the Emperor. - "It might be supposed that
all sorrow and disturbance would be shut without the Forbidden
Precincts. Yet it is not so. And though the figures of my ladies
moving among the flowers appear at this distance instinct with
joy, yet -"
He was silent.
"They know not," said the Empress with solemnity "that death
entered the Forbidden Precincts but last night. A disembodied
spirit has returned to its place and doubtless exists in bliss."
"Indeed?" returned the Yellow Emperor with indifference - "yet if
the spirit is absorbed into the Source whence it came, and the
bones have crumbled into nothingness, where does the Ego exist?
The dead are venerable, but no longer of interest.
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