One day Hsi-men Pao, Magistrate of Yeh Hsien, said to his attendants:  “When the marriage of the River-god takes place I wish to say farewell to the chosen girl.”

Accordingly Hsi-men Pao was present to witness the ceremony.  About three thousand people had come together.  Standing beside the old witch were ten of her female disciples, “Call the girl out,” said Hsi-men Pao.  After seeing her, Hsi-men Pao said to the witch:  “She is not fair.  Go you to the River-god and tell him that we will find a fairer maid and present her to him later on.”  His attendants then seized the witch and threw her into the river.

After a little while Hsi-men Pao said:  “Why does she stay so long?  Send a disciple to call her back.”  One of the disciples was thrown into the river.  Another and yet another followed.  The magistrate then said:”  The witches are females and therefore cannot bring me a reply.”  So one of the official attendants of the witch was thrown into the river.

Hsi-men Pao stood on the bank for a long time, apparently awaiting a reply.  The spectators were alarmed.  Hsi-men Pao then bade his attendants send the remaining disciples of the witch and the other official attendants to recall their mistress.  The wretches threw themselves on their knees and knocked their heads on the ground, which was stained with the blood from their foreheads, and with tears confessed their sin.

“The River-god detains his guest too long,” said Hsi-men Pao at length.  “Let us adjourn.”

Thereafter none dared to celebrate the marriage of the River-god.

Legend of the Building of Peking

When the Mongol Yuean dynasty had been destroyed, and the Emperor Hung Wu had succeeded in firmly establishing that of the Great Ming, Ta Ming, he made Chin-ling, the present Nanking, his capital, and held his Court there with great splendour, envoys from every province within the ‘Four Seas’ (the Chinese Empire) assembling there to witness his greatness and to prostrate themselves before the Dragon Throne.

The Emperor had many sons and daughters by his different consorts and concubines, each mother, in her inmost heart, fondly hoping that her own son would be selected by his father to succeed him.

Although the Empress had a son, who was the heir-apparent, yet she felt envious of those ladies who had likewise been blessed with children, for fear one of the princes should supplant her son in the affection of the Emperor and in the succession.  This envy displayed itself on every occasion; she was greatly beloved by the Emperor, and exerted all her influence with him, as the other young princes grew up, to get them removed from Court.  Through her means most of them were sent to the different provinces as governors; those provinces under their government being so many principalities or kingdoms.

Chu-ti