Following Liu’s instructions, the old servant left to fetch Liniang and the nun. Upon his arrival he informed them of all that had taken place, and that Liu had been named the nation’s top scholar of the year. Liniang was beside herself with happiness as this news followed her reunion with her mothers.
Liniang hurriedly put on her dress and the group soon departed from the house. The city was bustling with activity, so they barely noticed when a stocky soldier approached them. However, he was following the emperor’s orders to find Liniang and bring her to court. The emperor, by now, had heard that Liu was both the top scholar and a grave robber, and the rumor that Liniang had been resurrected, so he decided to see for himself in before a final verdict was made.
Liniang and her mother were happy to hear that Du, now prime minister, was alive, and but it upset them that Du believed Liu, his son-in-law, to be a grave robber, and that he wanted him dead. The soldier escorted the group to the audience hall of the emperor’s palace
Du and Liu had arrived before Liniang and had quickly begun arguing. Du accused Liu of robbing his daughter’s grave, causing Liu to lash out.
“And you are a sinner!” Liu yelled.
“I won the war against the rebels. What made you to call me a sinner?”
“The imperil court didn’t know, did they?” questioned Liu with a smile. “You didn’t win the war, only half of it, at most.”
“What do you mean by ‘half’?”
“You didn’t defeat the enemy troops. You lonely coaxed the general and his wife to retreat. The work is only half-done.”
Du was shaking with rage. He grabbed Liu’s collar and shouted in his face. “If you don’t stop talking nonsense, I will confront you in the audience hall.”
“Who the hell is making so much noise in the imperial court?” demanded Chen, barging into the room. His head turned back and forth between Du and Liu, taking a deep breath he politely asked Du to release his grip on Liu. Angrily, the prime minister pushed Liu away and took a step back.
“What has he done to annoy you so much?” Chen asked Du. “Besides robbing my daughter’s grave?” Du spit out. “He called me a sinner.”
“You think you’re innocent, but I don’t,” laughed Liu loudly. “You are guilty of three sins when it comes to your daughter.”
“Nonsense! What are they, then?”
“First, when she was alive you kept your daughter isolated from the world. Secondly, after she died you didn’t come home but instead had her buried and a private nunnery built. Thirdly, when I told you I was your son-in-law you had me arrested and beaten, because you thought I was poor. Are you not guilty of these things?”
Du was speechless.
“You have a sharp tongue Liu,” Chen cut in, attempting to assist Du. “Now that you are a member in the family, why don’t you two try to make peace with one another? If nothing else, just for my sake.”
“Do I know you?” Liu raised his eyebrows, confused. “You don’t recognize me?”
Liu took a step closer to the old messenger. Finally, it dawned on him that this was the same man who had saved him from the river so many months ago. His hand flew to his head in shock.
“Chen! You rescued me from the river that day, and brought me back to the nunnery. But, why did you tell Mr. Du that it was me who robbed the grave of his daughter? You have heard the truth now. As the emperor’s messenger, will you please help to correct this mess?”
“Don’t worry,” Chen laughed, “I will do everything I can to tell the emperor the truth.”
Before long the three men were summoned to meet with the emperor. They entered the audience hall and Du’s eyes fell on Liniang. But, like her mother, he believed her to be a ghost or some type of evil spirit playing a horrible trick on all of them.
The emperor questioned both Liu and Du about Liniang. Liu approached her happily.
“Your Majesty. This is my wife, Liniang.”
“My daughter had been dead for three years,” said Du coldly to the emperor. “While this…thing here looks like her she can’t be my daughter. I believe her to be some sort of demon or succubus. My advice would be to kill her or she will soon reveal her true self.”
“How can you be so cruel? You are her father!” Liu was disgusted by Du’s words, so he turned to the emperor. “Your Majesty, he is wrong, and I believe he feels guilty over his mistreatment of her when she was alive before. He’s afraid that her resurrection would ruin his good name, but in fact she did resurrect. And we have been married since then. Please perceive and make a wise judgment, Your Majesty.”
The emperor was confused by both their stories, and having never met Liniang before, he had no way of knowing what the truth was.
“Ms. Liniang,” he decided. “Why don’t you share your story with us all?”
