Crimson Fairy Book

Chapter 2 Lucky Xin Yun

Once upon a time there was a king who had only one son. When the young man grew up, the king himself led an army to conquer neighboring countries.He ordered his son to act in his place during his absence, but the son had to wait for his return before he could marry.

Time passed, the prince ruled the country, and he never even thought about getting married.

On his 25th birthday, he began to think how wonderful it would be to have a wife.The more he thought about it, the more urgent it became.However, he still remembered his father's words and waited for a long time.It was not until the tenth year after the king joined the war that the prince couldn't hold back any longer and called his courtiers to find a bride with a large group of entourages.Not knowing which way to go, he wandered for 20 days.Suddenly, he found himself walking into his father's barracks.

The king was very happy to see his son, asked him many questions, and answered many of his questions.

When he heard that the prince did not wait quietly for him to come home, but went out to look for a bride, he was very angry, and said:
"Wherever you go, I won't let anyone follow you anymore."

Only one loyal servant remained with the prince, unwilling to leave him.They traveled all the way through the mountains and came to a place called Jinzi Town.The king of Jinzi Town had a lovely daughter. The prince soon heard that she was very beautiful, so he went to see her non-stop.

As the prince was exceptionally handsome and personable, he received a very friendly reception.The prince immediately proposed to the girl, and her parents were overjoyed to hand over their daughter to him, and the wedding was immediately performed.The wedding feasts and celebrations lasted a full month.At the end of the month, they set off for home.But because of the long journey, they spent the first night in a hotel.All the people in the house were asleep, only the faithful servant was watching.Near midnight, he heard three crows flying up to the roof and talking.

"It's a beautiful couple here tonight. It's a pity they're going to die soon."

"Yes," said the second crow, "tomorrow at noon when we cross the Golden Creek Bridge, the bridge will fall. Listen! Whoever eavesdrops or speaks my words will be turned to stone from feet to knees." .”

The crow stopped talking and flew away.Then came three more pigeons.

"Even if the prince and princess cross the bridge unharmed, they will be threatened with death," said the pigeons. There was a gust of wind, and the wagons were swept up into the clouds, and fell swiftly to the ground, killing them all. Whoever hears our talk and spreads it, will be turned to stone from the waist down."

The doves flew away, and three eagles came and landed in their place, and this was their talk:

"If the young couple manage to escape the dangers of crossing the bridge and riding in a carriage, the king will give each of them a rich robe embroidered with gold, and they will be burned as soon as they put on it. Whoever listens If he hears these words and spreads them, he will be turned to stone from head to toe."

The next morning, a group of people got up early and had breakfast. They all told each other about the dream they had last night.At last the servant said: "My kind prince, I dreamed that if His Royal Highness agrees to all my requests, we will return home safe and sound; if you do not agree, we will definitely die. My dreams never deceive me, so I beg you to follow my advice for future trips."

"Don't make a fuss about dreams," said the Prince. "Dreams are nothing more than passing clouds. Of course, so as not to worry you, I promise to do as you say."

And just like that, they were on their way again.

At noon, they arrived at Jinxi River.When we got to the bridge, the servant said: "Prince, let's leave the carriage here and walk a little longer. The town is not far from here, and we can easily find another carriage in the town. The wheels of this carriage It's bad and won't last long."

The prince looked at the carriage carefully, and did not feel that it was as unsafe as the servant said.But since he promised the servant to listen to his arrangement, he complied.

They alighted, put their luggage on horseback, and the prince and bride walked across the bridge.But the servant said he would ride across the stream, so that the horses could drink and bathe them.

They reached the opposite bank safe and sound, bought a new carriage in a town not far away, and began the trek again.They had not gone far when they met a messenger sent by the King, who said to the Prince, "Your Majesty is sending this beautiful carriage to Your Highness, so that you may return to your country with dignity and enjoy the joy of your people."

The prince was too happy to speak.But the servant said: "Your Highness, let me check the carriage first. If I think everything is normal, you can sit in, otherwise we'd better stay in our own carriage."

The prince didn't object. After looking at the carriage carefully, the servant said: "This carriage looks beautiful, but it is actually terrible." As he spoke, he smashed the carriage to pieces, and they continued on their way in the carriage they bought.

At last they came to the border, where another messenger was waiting for them.The messenger said that the king had sent two magnificent robes to the prince and his bride, begging them to wear them before entering their kingdom.The servant begged the prince not to wear the robe, and persuaded him to destroy it and continue on his way.

The old king was furious when he found that his trick had failed: his son was still alive and married, and by the laws of his country he was bound to give up the throne to him now.He was eager to know how the prince escaped from death: "Dear son, I am indeed very happy to see you come back safely, but I don't understand why you don't like the beautiful carriage and gorgeous robes I sent you. over them."

"Your Majesty," said the Prince, "I was rather annoyed myself that these things were destroyed, but my servant asked him to arrange everything during the trip, and I agreed. He said that unless I did as he said, we would not Impossible to get home safely."

The old king was furious. He held a government council and sentenced the servant to death.

The gallows was placed on the square in front of the palace.The servant was led to the place of execution, the order for the execution was read, and the noose was placed around his neck.At this point he asked permission to say a few last words. "On the way home," he said, "we spent the first night in a small hotel, and I didn't sleep, and kept watch all night." Turned to stone.The prince told him to say no more, for he had proved his innocence.But the servant did not heed the advice, and by the end of the story he was turned to stone from head to toe.

oh!How sad the prince was at the loss of his loyal servant!What hurt him the most was that the servant died because he was loyal to him, so he decided to travel around the world to find a way to resurrect the servant.

There was an old woman in the court, who was the prince's nurse, and the prince told her all his plans, and left his wife, the princess, in the care of the old man. "Son, you've got a long way ahead of you,"

The old nanny said, "You can't come back until you meet the lucky Xin Yun. If he can't help you, no one in the world can help you."

So the prince set out to find the lucky Xinyun.He walked and walked, walked out of his own country, and walked for three days in a deserted forest.On the evening of the third day, he came to a river, and there was a big mill near the river.

He spent the night there.As he was leaving the next morning, the Miller asked him, "My merciful lord, where are you going all alone?"

The prince told him everything.

"Then, I ask Your Highness to ask the lucky Xin Yun a question: Although I have a big mill, the machinery and equipment are in good condition, and there are so many grains to grind, I am still so poor. I don't know how to finish today , how should I live tomorrow, and why?"

The prince agreed to his request and continued on his way.He walked for three more days, and on the evening of the third day saw a small town.It was very late when he entered the town, but he found that there was no light anywhere, and there was no house to rest in, so he walked almost directly through the town.When he was about to leave the town, he saw a light in a window, so he walked directly to it.There were three girls playing in the house, and the Prince asked to stay overnight.They took him in, gave him supper, and prepared a room for him, in which he slept.

When he was leaving the next morning, they asked him where he was going, and he told them his story. "Your Majesty," said the girls, "we're all in our 30s, and although we're kind, pretty, and hardworking, no one has proposed to us. Be sure to ask lucky Xin Yun what's going on ?”

The prince agreed to their request and continued on his way.

Then he walked into a dense forest. From morning to night, and from night to morning, he walked for a day and a night before he approached the end of the forest.He found a beautiful brook, which is different from other streams: the water in the brook is not flowing, but still, and the brook said: "His Royal Highness, tell me what makes you go." Into this desolate place? I have probably been here for more than 100 years, and no one has passed by here yet."

"If you will part the water, let me go," replied the Prince, "and I will tell you."

Immediately the stream parted the water, and the Prince walked across it without getting his feet wet.On the other side, the prince fulfilled his promise and told his story.

"Oh, you must ask lucky Xinyun," cried the brook, "though I am a clear and transparent stream, there is never any fish or other living things in my water. What is the matter?"

The prince agreed to the stream and continued on the road.

Leaving the open forest, and passing through a pretty valley, he came to a little house of rushes.He was so tired that he went straight into the house to rest.

Everything in the house was neatly arranged, and a kindly old woman was sitting by the fire.

"Good morning, old mother," said the Prince.

"Good luck, boy. What brought you here?"

"I'm looking for lucky Xin Yun." The prince replied.

"Son, you've come to the right place. I'm his mother. He's away now, digging in the vineyard. You must go too. Here are two shovels. When you find him, you can Start digging, but don't talk to him. It's eleven o'clock and you sit next to him and eat with him when he sits down for lunch.

After eating, he will ask you, and then you will tell him all your troubles.Whatever you ask, he will answer. "

Saying this, she showed the prince the way, and the prince did as she commanded.After lunch they lay down to rest.

The lucky Xin Yun spoke suddenly: "Since you came here, you haven't said a word. Tell me, what kind of person are you?"

"I am not dumb," answered the young man, "I am an unhappy prince, and my faithful servant has been turned to stone, and I want to know how to save him."

"You have done right, and it is worth all the effort for him. Go back, and when you get home your wife will give birth to a little boy. Squeeze three drops of blood from the baby's little finger, and put the blood on a leaf of clover tablet, apply it to your servant's wrist, and he will be restored to life."

"I have something else to ask," said the prince, after thanking him. "There is a clear stream in a forest not far from here, but there are neither fish nor other living things in it. Why?"

"Because no one has ever been drowned in the creek. When crossing the river, you have to go back to the other side as carefully as possible, and then you answer its questions, or you will be the first to be drowned."

"Answer me another question before I go. I lodged one night in the rooms of three girls on my way here. They were all polite, very hardworking, and pretty, but they hadn't met A suitor. What's the reason?"

"Because they always throw garbage in the sun."

"And the miller, who has a great mill, with the best machinery, and a lot of corn to grind, but is still poor, and every day is miserable. Why is that?"

"Because the miller kept everything for himself and did not give alms to those who needed food."

The prince took note of these words, bid farewell to lucky Xin Yun in a friendly way, and set out for home.

He went to the brook, and the brook asked him if he had brought good news. "I'll let you know when I get across the river," he said.Then the brook parted, and he crossed it, and stopped when he came to the highest point of the bank, and cried aloud:
"Listen, brook! Lucky Xin Yun said that only when someone drowns in your water, will there be life in your water." As soon as he finished speaking, the brook surged up, submerging the place he climbed up to. A rock, the stream sprayed far and high, and the waves splashed on him.But he clung to the rock tightly, and after three ups and downs, the creek returned to its former calm.The prince climbed down from the rock, dried his clothes in the sun, and set off home.

He spent another night at the mill, answered the miller's questions, and then told the three sisters not to throw rubbish in the sun.

As soon as the Prince got home, some thieves were wading across the brook on foot, leading a fine horse they had stolen.They had just reached the middle of the water when the creek suddenly rose and swept them all away.Since then, that stream has become the stream with the most fish in the village.

The Miller also began to be charitable, and he became a very kind man, and soon he became very rich, and hardly knew how much money he had.

As for the three sisters, as they no longer offended the sun, within a week each had a suitor.

When the prince came home, he found that his wife had just given birth to a beautiful little boy. He immediately pricked the baby's finger, dripped the blood on the blades of grass, and smeared the wrist of the stone statue with it. With a sound, the stone statue split into seven pieces, and the loyal servant was resurrected in good health.

When the old king heard of this, he jumped into a rage, stared furiously, and then fell down dead.

The servant remained with the prince, and he served him faithfully for the rest of his life.

(End of this chapter)