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Once upon a time in China , there was a
very ambitious but cruel emperor. He
had
many palaces. The one , where he was
staying , was the most luxurious one.
Everyday he ate sumptuous meals
, dressed
in expensive silk gowns and had beautiful
concubines waiting on him .
In the palace, there was feasting,
dancing
and singing , drinking , poetry recital
and chess playing , almost everyday .
One day , the emperor
was bored. He disguised
himself as a commoner and ventured ouside the
palace .He saw so much unhappiness ; sick and
poor people, lonely and dying man and a
dead infant!
REALISATION DAWNED UPON HIM.
ALL MEN MUST DIE !
As
soon as he reached the palace , he
called his wise men ,
" Search all over the kingdom for
the everlasting-life
herb.
Don't come back without it or you'll be
beheaded. However , the one that finds
it will get a rich reward.
"
Now , the whole country was agog.
People began to travel into the
farthest corner of the kingdom or
climb
the highest mountain in their
search for the everlasting-life herb !
In the end , one poor peasant found the much
looked for herb . He brought it to the
emperor , who gave him a bag full of gold
coins , as a reward .
Now
, there was a beautiful and
kind-hearted concubine called Chang-O .
She did not like the emperor's cruel and
greedy
ways . If the emperor lived forever
the hundred-surnamed people would suffer !
So , one night , Chang O stealthily
crept
into the emperor's chamber and stole the
everlasting-life herb.
" Thief ! thief ! " shouted the guard
,
rushing to her with a sword .
In her fright , Chang- O swallowed
the herb.
A miracle happened !
Her body began
to float ,.. higher , higher
and higher... .into
the sky.... .until she reached the moon..
There
she remained for ever !
News spread very fast . People all knew how
brave Chang-O was .
Chang O , a brave
and beautiful concubine ,
became a legendary name .
Many centuries later , a famous poet wrote,
" Chang-O
regret stealing everlasting-life
herb ;
Nightly ,watching blue sea ,green
sky in loneliness "
By Agatha
Lai
(Adapted from a Chinese legend )
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