This is a fresh, complete English translation of Wu Cheng’en’s public-domain one-hundred-chapter novel, produced with GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark assistance. It is an AI-assisted first edition, not a reproduction of an existing translation.

This tells of Chang’an in Shaanxi, the great capital where emperors of successive dynasties once ruled. Since the Zhou, Qin, and Han, blossoms had spread there like brocade across three districts, and eight waters flowed around the city walls; it was truly a famed land of beauty. At that time Emperor Taizong of the Great Tang had ascended the throne and taken the era name Zhenguan, and had ruled for thirteen years. The year was jisi; the realm was at peace, tribute came from all four quarters, and all beneath the four seas acknowledged him as ruler.

One day, once Emperor Taizong had taken the throne, he gathered all his civil and military ministers, and after the morning court rites were complete, Chancellor Wei Zheng came forward and presented this memorial: “Now that the empire is peaceful and the realm tranquil, according to ancient custom we should establish examination halls, recruit worthy men, and promote worthy talent to help govern the state.” The Emperor replied, “What my worthy minister has proposed is sound.” He then issued a proclamation announcing a recruitment of the worthy and posted it across the empire: every prefecture and county, whether military or civilian, was to send forth all men who could read and write in the Confucian way, whose literary expression was clear and who were proficient in the three rounds of exams. They were to come to Chang’an and present themselves for testing.

When this bulletin reached the Haizhou region, there was one man named Chen E, courtesy name Guangrui. On seeing the decree, he immediately returned home and told his mother, Lady Zhang: “The court has posted the golden edict announcing the opening of the southern examination circuit for selecting worthy talent. I intend to go and take the test. If I secure even a half office, I can raise our family name, provide for wife and children, and bring honor to our hall. I therefore come to report to Mother and ask leave to go.” Lady Zhang said, “My son is a man of letters—‘learn in youth, act in manhood’—you should do exactly this. But when you go to sit for the exam, be careful on the road. If you gain an office, return to us as soon as you can.”

Guangrui then ordered the household attendants to pack his baggage, bowed farewell to his mother, and set off quickly. He arrived in Chang’an just as the grand examinations were being held and immediately entered the hall. He passed, and was selected. After the palace examination, when three papers were set, Emperor Taizong himself, with the royal brush, granted him the title Zhuangyuan, and he rode through the streets for three days.

As he rode through, he happened to come beneath Chancellor Yin Kaishan’s gate. In the chancellor’s household was his daughter, named Wenjiao, also called Mantangjiao. She had not yet been married and was standing in the red pavilion, tossing and catching an embroidered ball to choose a husband. At that moment, Chen Guangrui passed below. On seeing him, she recognized at once his outstanding talent and was deeply pleased, knowing he was the new Zhuangyuan. She cast the embroidered ball and it struck his black gauze cap exactly. Suddenly there arose delicate music of flutes and oboes. A dozen or so maids descended the stairs, took hold of Guangrui’s horse, and escorted him into the chancellor’s residence as a bridegroom. Chancellor Yin and his wife immediately came out to greet him, directed the guest attendants to receive him, and arranged for the daughter to be paired with him. After the couple bowed to Heaven and Earth, then to each other, and then to his father-in-law and mother-in-law, the chancellor ordered a banquet. The revels lasted through the night. The two took each other’s pure hands and entered the orchid chamber together.

The next day before dawn, at the third watch, Emperor Taizong sat in the Golden Luan Hall while civil and military ministers rushed in for court. He asked, “To which office should the new Zhuangyuan Chen Guangrui be appointed?” Wei Zheng the Chancellor reported, “Your Majesty, I have checked the provinces under your command and found a vacancy in Jiangzhou. I beg that Your Majesty grant him that post.” The Emperor ordered him made Prefect of Jiangzhou and told him to prepare to depart without missing the deadline. Guangrui offered thanks and left court, returned to the chancellor’s house, discussed the matter with his wife, and then took leave of his father-in-law and mother-in-law. He departed with his wife to take up his post in Jiangzhou.

It was late spring, with wind and willow-greens and fine rain dotting red blossoms. Guangrui now said they should go home and go first to bid farewell to mother. Lady Zhang met them and said, “My son, my congratulations—you have also returned with a wife.” Guangrui said, “By your blessing and protection I obtained the top scholarship, Your Majesty granted me a triumphal city procession, and while passing in front of Chancellor Yin’s house I chanced to be struck by the embroidered-ball test and was accepted as son-in-law. The court appointed me Prefect of Jiangzhou, and now I have come to escort Mother so we may all go to the posting together.” Lady Zhang rejoiced and made ready their preparations.

After several days on the road, they came at last to Liu Xiaer’s shop at Wanhua to stay the night. Lady Zhang suddenly fell ill, and said to Guangrui, “I am not well; I must remain here to recover for two days before traveling on.” Guangrui obeyed. The next morning, he saw a man at the shop door carrying a golden carp for sale. Guangrui bought it with one string of cash and meant to have it cooked for his mother. But he saw the carp’s eyes flash with a serpent’s glint. He said in astonishment, “A fish with snake-like eyes cannot be an ordinary fish.” He asked the fisher, “Where did you catch this fish?” The fisherman replied, “It was netted in Hongjiang, fifteen li from the prefectural office.” Guangrui then returned the fish to Hongjiang and let it go alive. He told his mother what had happened. She said, “Releasing it is a good merit; I am truly pleased.” Guangrui said, “We have already stayed three days. The deadline is tight. I intend to depart at first light tomorrow, but how is Mother’s health?” Lady Zhang replied, “My body is not sound; the heat on the road now may worsen my illness. You should rent a house here and stay with me for a while, and leave me some money. You and your wife should go to your post first, and come back for me when the weather cools in autumn.” Guangrui discussed this with his wife, and they rented a house and gave money to Lady Zhang, then with the wife took leave and departed.

The road was hard and they traveled by day and lay by night, and before they knew it reached the Hongjiang ferry. There stood boatmen Liu Hong and Li Biao, who rowed in and hailed them ashore. It was the destiny of Guangrui in a former life to suffer this disaster and meet these brigands. Guangrui had the household attendants carry the luggage onto the boat, and the couple stepped up together. Liu Hong saw Mantangjiao’s face like a full moon, eyes like autumn ripples, lips like cherry buds, and a willow-sweet waist—beauty enough to cause fish to sink, swans to fall, the moon to hide, and flowers to blush—and at once lust rose in him. He and Li Biao planned to row the boat off to a place with no people. At the silent third watch, Liu Hong first killed the servant and then killed Guangrui, and cast both corpses into the water. When the lady saw he had slain her husband, she cast herself into the river as well. Liu Hong seized her at once and said, “If you come with me, all will be well. If not, I will cut you in two.” She had no course left, so she yielded for the moment and submitted to him. The thieves ferried to the south bank, gave the boat back to Li Biao to manage, and then she, dressed in Guangrui’s robes and carrying official credentials, left with Liu Hong for Jiangzhou to take up his office.

The corpse of the boatman’s servant that Liu Hong had slain was carried downstream by the current. But Chen Guangrui’s body sank and did not move in the water. A night yaksha patrolling Hongjiang mouth saw it and raced to report to the Dragon Palace. It happened that the Dragon King was ascending the hall, and the yaksha announced: “At Hongjiang mouth, someone unknown has beaten a bookish scholar to death and thrown his body into the river bottom.” The Dragon King had the body brought before him and upon seeing it said, “This man is the very one who once saved me. How could he have been killed by treachery? There is a saying: ‘kindness must be returned with kindness.’ Today I must save his life to repay the favor.” He wrote a formal order and sent it by yaksha directly to the City God and Earth God of Hongzhou, commanding them to seize and deliver Chen Guangrui’s soul and restore his life. The City and Earth gods called their minor ghosts and handed over the scholar’s soul to the yaksha, who carried it to the Crystal Palace and reported to the Dragon King.

The Dragon King asked, “What is this scholar’s surname and name, and from where does he come? How did he come to be beaten to death here?” Bowing, Guangrui said, “I am Chen E, courtesy name Guangrui, from Hongnong County of Haizhou. By my small merit I was a newly admitted Zhuangyuan, and was just granted the post of Prefect of Jiangzhou, traveling with my wife to take up duty. When we came to the river and boarded a boat, the boatman Liu Hong, in lust for my wife, beat me to death and cast my body away. I beg Your Majesty to help me.” The Dragon King replied, “So that is it. Your Excellency, the golden carp you released before was none other than me. You are my benefactor, and now that you are in danger I surely ought not to fail to save you.” He ordered the scholar’s corpse to be laid against a wall and to guard the fixed-cinnabar pearl in his mouth so it was not damaged, for one day he might return to life and avenge himself. He added, “Now your true soul shall serve for the time being in my Water Court as a chief commandant.” Guangrui knelt and thanked him; the Dragon King then gave him a feast, which need not be set forth here.

Yet Lady Mantangjiao, who hated the brigand Liu, burned for him with hatred and wished to tear flesh and lie on skin. But she was with child and did not yet know whether it was boy or girl, so for the time being she followed him with great reluctance. Before long, she found herself already in Jiangzhou. The yamen clerks and gate guards came out to welcome them. The local officials held a banquet in the hall to exchange greetings. Liu Hong said, “Your Excellencies, my student’s arrival owes everything to your great support.” The local officers answered, “The Prefect is a great talent, naturally treating the people as his children, setting justice plainly and lightening punishments with clarity. We are all in your debt; why speak so modestly?” The public banquet ended, and the gathering dispersed.

Time passed swiftly. One day, when Liu Hong had gone far on official business, Mantangjiao, in the yamen pavilion, missed her mother-in-law and husband and sighed. Suddenly she grew faint, felt pain in her belly, and swooned to the ground, giving birth without sensing it. At her ear a voice instructed: “Mantangjiao, listen to my words. I am the Lord of the Southern Pole Star, acting on Guanyin’s mandate. I have been sent this child to you. In future your child’s fame will spread far; he will not be ordinary. If Liu the brigand returns, he will surely harm this child, so guard him carefully. Your husband has already been rescued by the Dragon King. A day will come when husband and wife meet again, mother and child are reunited, and grievances are repaid. Remember my warning well. Wake up—wake up.” The voice then disappeared.

When the young lady came to, every scene was clear in her mind. She held the child close in her arms, with no way to act. Suddenly Liu Hong returned, and on seeing the boy he moved to drown him at once. The young lady said, "It is already late in the day; let us wait and cast him into the river tomorrow." By good fortune, early the next day Liu Hong unexpectedly had urgent official business and left on distant business. The young lady thought to herself, "If this child remains until that bandit comes back, his life is gone. Better to abandon him in the river early and leave him to life or death. If Heaven shows mercy, someone may rescue him, raise him, and one day we shall meet again." Fearing that recognition might fail, she bit her finger and wrote a letter in her blood, carefully setting down the names of his parents and the reason for the missing toe. She also bit off one of the child’s left toes with her mouth as a proof of recognition. She took a close-fitting undershirt, wrapped the child in it, and in haste carried him out of the yamen. Fortunately the yamen was not far from the river. At the bank she wept for a while. As she was about to cast him off, she suddenly saw a board drifting along the riverbank. She immediately knelt and prayed to Heaven, laid the child upon the board, tied him fast with a belt, bound the blood-letter to his chest, and pushed him into the water to follow his fate. The young lady returned to the yamen in tears, and nothing further is said.

That child drifted with the board on the water, and was carried until it came to rest beneath the foot of Jingshan Temple. The abbot there was called Master Faming. He cultivated truth and awakening and had already obtained the wondrous Way of No-birth. While he was seated in meditation and Chan contemplation, he suddenly heard the cry of an infant. For a moment his heart was moved, and he hurried to the riverbank. There, on the edge of the bank, on a drifting board, he saw a sleeping baby. The abbot quickly rescued the child and, seeing the blood-letter in the baby’s clothing, learned its origin. He gave him a milk-name, calling him Jiangliu, and entrusted him to be raised. He kept the blood-letter in safekeeping.

Time passed as an arrow, days and months like a shuttle. Unnoticed, Jiangliu grew to the age of eighteen. The abbot ordered him to shave his head and enter the Way, gave him the Dharma name Xuan Zang, bestowed the precepts on his crown, and set him firmly upon the path of cultivation.

One day in late spring, everyone gathered beneath the pines, expounding the sutras and Chan teachings, discussing subtle mysteries. The monk fond of wine and meat was then challenged by Xuan Zang and brought to confusion. The monk grew furious and shouted, "You karmic brute—you do not even know your name, you do not know your parents—what kind of demonish disturbance are you stirring up here?" Stung by such words, Xuan Zang went before the abbot and knelt, tears streaming from both eyes: "Between Heaven and Earth, human life receives yin and yang and is formed from the five elements. All life is nourished by father and mother. Is there a man in this world who can truly have no father and no mother?" He petitioned again and again, begging to ask their names. The abbot said, "If you truly wish to seek your parents, come with me to the abbot’s hall." Xuan Zang followed. Up in the upper chamber, Master Faming took down a small box, opened it, and brought out a blood-letter and an undershirt, which he handed to Xuan Zang. Xuan Zang opened the blood-letter and read it, and then he came to know in full detail the names of his parents and the cause of his wrongs.

When Xuan Zang had finished reading, he could not help but fall to the ground in tears: "My parents’ grievance remains unavenged; how can I call myself a man? For eighteen years I did not know my father who gave me life; only today I have come to know I have a mother. Had not Master pulled me out and raised me, would I have lived to this day? Permit your disciple to go and seek my mother, and then, with an incense basin borne upon my head, I will rebuild the hall in gratitude for Master’s deep mercy." The master said, "If you are to seek your mother, bring this blood-letter and undershirt. Make merit through alms-hunting. Go directly to the private yamen at Jiangzhou—that is where you can meet your mother."

Xuan Zang took the master’s words to heart and, as a monk seeking merit, went straight to Jiangzhou. It so happened that Liu Hong had business away from home, and Heaven itself seemed to have arranged for this mother and son to meet. Xuan Zang came directly to the yamen gate to beg alms. Miss Yin, it turned out, had had a dream in the night: she saw the moon wane to nothing and become full again. She thought, "I have no word from my mother-in-law. My husband was murdered by that bandit; my son was cast into the river. If he was taken in by someone, he must now be eighteen years old. It is possible, by Heaven’s decree, that we meet today." As she was still musing, she suddenly heard someone at the yamen gate chanting and calling for alms. The young lady came out at once and asked, "Where are you from?" Xuan Zang answered, "I am a poor monk, a disciple of Master Faming of Jingshan Temple." She said, "If you are indeed a disciple of the abbot of Jingshan Temple ..." and called him inside the yamen, giving him alms food to eat. When she looked closely at his bearing and speech, he seemed in many ways like her husband.

Miss Yin sent the maid away and asked, "You little monk, were you ordained as a child, or did you take robes in middle age? What is your surname and name? Do you have living parents?" Xuan Zang answered, "I was not ordained in childhood, nor in middle age. What I must tell you is a great grievance from Heaven and an ocean-deep hatred: my father was murdered by murderers, and my mother was seized by bandits. My master, Master Faming, instructed me to find my mother in the Jiangzhou yamen." She asked, "What is your mother’s surname?" Xuan Zang said, "My mother’s surname is Yin; her name is Wenjiao. My father’s surname is Chen; his name is Guangrui. My milk-name was Jiangliu, and my Dharma name is Xuan Zang." Miss Yin said, "Wenjiao—that is me. But what evidence do you have now?" Hearing that this was his mother, Xuan Zang knelt on both knees and wept bitterly: "If Mother does not believe, let the blood-letter and the undershirt be the proof." Wenjiao took them and saw, and they were truly genuine. Mother and son embraced and wept together. Then she said, "Go quickly, my son. If Liu the bandit returns, he will certainly take your life. Tomorrow I will feign illness and say that I had, long ago, promised to offer one hundred monk sandals in return. At that time I have words to tell you." Xuan Zang bowed and took leave as instructed.

Yet after seeing her son, Miss Yin felt both grief and joy in her heart. One day she acted the part of illness, ate no tea or food, and lay in bed. When Liu Hong returned to the yamen and asked the reason, she said, "When I was young I once made a vow to offer one hundred pairs of monk sandals. Five days ago I dreamed of a monk with a blade in hand asking to claim those sandals, and since then my body has felt unwell." Liu Hong replied, "These are such small matters—why did you not tell me sooner?" He went up to the hall and ordered Wangsuo and Liyou: in all the households of Jiangzhou City, every family must provide a pair of monk sandals, all to be delivered within five days. The common people all completed and presented them in accordance with the order. Miss Yin said to Liu Hong, "Once the sandals are made, where is there a temple here to go and repay my vow in?" Liu Hong said, "In Jiangzhou there is Jingshan Temple and Jiaoshan Temple. Choose one of them to make your offering." She said, "I have long heard that Jingshan Temple is a fine monastery; I will go to Jingshan Temple." Liu Hong at once ordered Wang and Li to arrange a boat. Miss Yin took her trusted attendant and boarded. The boatman pulled out to open waters, and they went toward Jingshan Temple.

When Xuan Zang returned to the monastery, he told Master Faming all that had happened. The abbot rejoiced greatly. The next day a maid came first and said the madam had come to make an offering-redeeming vow. All the monks came out to welcome her. Miss Yin entered the temple gate, paid homage to the bodhisattvas, and made full arrangements for a vegetarian feast. She told her maid to place the monk sandals and woollen socks on a tray, then came into the Dharma hall. Bowing with incense in hand, she asked Master Faming to distribute gifts to all the monks and dismissed them. After the assembly had dispersed and no one remained in the hall, Xuan Zang came forward and knelt. Miss Yin told him to remove his sandals and socks. On the left foot there was indeed the missing little toe. Then the two embraced and wept together, thanking Master for the mercy of raising him. Master Faming said, "Now that you have met, your mother and son may be discovered by the villainous bandit; leave at once and go back, lest you both fall into danger." She said, "My son, I give you a single incense ring. Go straight northwest from Hongzhou, about one thousand five hundred li. There is a shop called Wanhua there, and your grandmother, Madam Zhang, was left there—she is the one who gave birth to your father. I will write you another letter. Go straight to the inner Tang capital, to the left of the Golden Hall, to the house of Chancellor Yin Kaishan; there are your natural parents. Hand my letter to your grand-sire and tell him to submit it to the Tang king so he will command troops, capture and kill this bandit, and avenge your father. Only then will this old mother’s body be rescued. I dare not stay long; I truly fear the bandit will suspect my delay." Saying this, she took to the temple steps, boarded a boat, and departed.

Tripitaka wept in the temple, informed his master, immediately took leave, and headed straight for Hongzhou. He came to Wanhua Shop and asked the shopkeeper Liu Xia’er, 'Years ago there was a guest-official named Chen in Jiangzhou whose mother stayed in your shop. How is she now?' Liu Xia’er said, 'She was staying in my shop. Later she grew blind, and for three or four years she did not pay rent. These days she is in a broken tile-kiln hut by the South Gate, passing each day by begging in the streets. That guest-official left long ago; from then till now there has been no news of him, and I do not know why.' After hearing this, Tripitaka immediately asked for the broken kiln by the South Gate and found the old woman. She said, 'Your voice is like my son, Chen Guangrui.' Tripitaka replied, 'I am not Chen Guangrui, I am Chen Guangrui's son. Miss Wenjiao is my mother.' The old woman asked, 'Where are your father and mother?' Tripitaka said, 'My father was beaten to death by bandits, and my mother was seized and taken as a wife by bandits.' She asked, 'How did you know to come searching for me?' Tripitaka said, 'My mother sent me to find my grandmother. My mother left a book here and also one finger ring.' The old woman took the book and the ring and wailed, 'My son came here for fame and success; I only thought he had forgotten righteousness and benevolence, but I did not know he had been killed by plotting villains. Yet Heaven was merciful not to cut off my son's descendants. Even today, my grandson has come to seek me.' Tripitaka asked, 'Grandmother, how did your eyes become so dim?' She said, 'I think of your father day and night and hang my hopes on him. When he does not return, I have cried so much that both my eyes have gone blind.'

Tripitaka knelt down and prayed to Heaven: 'Now Tripitaka is eighteen years old. My parents' hatred and grievance have not been avenged. Today I have come by Mother's command to seek my grandmother. If Heaven sees the sincerity of this disciple and takes pity, restore my grandmother's sight.' After offering the prayer, he licked the grandmother's eyes with the tip of his tongue. In an instant her eyes opened, and her sight returned as it had been. The grandmother looked at the young monk and said, 'You are truly my grandson; you are in every way like my son Guangrui.' She was glad and grieving at once. Tripitaka led the grandmother out of the kiln gate and returned to Liu Xia’er’s shop. He paid room rent for a room so she could stay there. He also gave her travel money, saying, 'I will return only after about a month.'

Then Tripitaka took his leave of his grandmother and went straight to the capital. He found Chancellor Yin’s mansion on East Street inside the Imperial City and told the gatekeeper, 'I am a relative, come to inquire after the Chancellor.' The gatekeeper reported him. The Chancellor said, 'I have no blood relation with this monk.' The lady said, 'Last night I dreamed that my daughter Mantangjiao returned home. Could it be that the son-in-law has sent a letter?' The Chancellor ordered the young monk to be brought into the hall. When Tripitaka saw the Chancellor and the lady, he wept and knelt to the ground, then took a letter from his robe and handed it to the Chancellor. The Chancellor opened and read it through from beginning to end, then cried out. The lady asked, 'My lord, what is the matter?' The Chancellor said, 'This monk is our son-in-law's distant grandson. Chen Guangrui, your son-in-law, was murdered by bandits, and Mantangjiao was taken by force and made a wife to one of them.' Hearing this, the lady also wept without cease. The Chancellor said, 'Lady, do not be distressed. I will report to the Son of Heaven tomorrow and personally command troops to avenge my son-in-law.'

The next day the Chancellor entered court and presented a memorial to the Tang king: 'There is your servant's son-in-law, the top scholar Chen Guangrui, who took his household to Jiangzhou on assignment. Bandit Liu Hong has slain him and taken his wife as his own. He has long assumed my position under false pretense. This is an extraordinary matter. I beg the Throne to dispatch troops and annihilate the bandit band.' The Tang king, seeing the report, was furious and sent sixty thousand Imperial Guard soldiers, ordering Chancellor Yin to lead the troops. The Chancellor obeyed the order, left court, assembled the force at the drill ground, and marched directly for Jiangzhou. They traveled by dawn and slept by night; while stars fell and birds flew, they did not realize they had already arrived. The army camped on the northern bank. Before dawn he sent out officials with golden tablets to summon the Jiangzhou chief assistant and prefect; the Chancellor explained the matter and ordered them to bring their troops and cross the river together. Before daylight he surrounded Liu Hong’s yamen. Liu Hong was in the midst of sleep when cannon roared and drums thundered together; the soldiers burst into his private office and entered in force. Liu Hong, unprepared, was captured at once. The Chancellor gave orders: bind Liu Hong and his men and bring them to the execution ground; all the army was then to set up camp outside the city.

The Chancellor entered the hall directly, sat in the main office, and had the young lady brought to meet him. The lady moved to come out, but from shyness before her father she sought to hang herself. Tripitaka heard and hastened to rescue her, kneeling on both knees, saying to her, 'Son and I came with Grandfather and brought troops here to avenge your husband. The bandit is already taken; why would Mother now seek death? If you die, how can your child remain?' The Chancellor also entered the office and tried to persuade her. She said, 'I have heard that a woman should be faithful to one husband till death. My husband has already been killed by bandits, and I cannot bear to show my face attached to a brigand. Only because I carry our unborn child did I endure the humiliation and survive. Now that my son has grown and my old father has brought troops for vengeance, how can I, as his daughter, stand before him? I have only one path: to die and repay my husband.' The Chancellor said, 'This is no matter of changing conduct by rise or fall; it is all because he was driven by necessity. How can this be shame?' The two clung to each other and wept. Tripitaka also wept in grief without stopping. The Chancellor wiped his tears and said, 'Both of you need not grieve. I have already captured the vengeful bandits; wait here while I issue orders.' He then rose and went to the execution ground. At that moment, the Jiangzhou prefect had also sent a sentry who had captured the water-bandit Li Biao. The Chancellor rejoiced and ordered the prison guards to bring forth Liu Hong and Li Biao. Each was beaten with one hundred heavy clubs, confessions were taken, and they exposed the earlier conspiracy that had killed Chen Guangrui. First Li Biao was nailed to a wooden mule and hauled to the city office, where he was cut in a thousand places and decapitated before the crowd. Then Liu Hong was taken to Hongjiang Ferry, the very place where he had killed Chen Guangrui years before. The Chancellor, the lady, and Tripitaka personally went to the riverbank, offered him to the sky in mourning, opened Liu Hong alive to take out his heart and liver, sacrificed them to Guangrui, and burned a written offering.

The three who faced the river wept bitterly and stirred the Water Court. A patrol sea-ogre presented the offering text to the Dragon King. After reading it, the Dragon King dispatched Bieyuan Marshal to summon Guangrui and said, 'Master, congratulations, congratulations. Today your wife, your young master, and your father-in-law are all at the riverbank making offerings to you. I will now send your soul back to life. As for gifts, receive one wish-fulfilling pearl, two zhoupan beads, ten strands of twisted gauze cord, and one bright-pearl jade sash. You may meet your wife and child and your mother-in-law today.' Guangrui bowed and thanked him repeatedly. The Dragon King then ordered a sea-ogre to send Guangrui's body out through the river mouth for restoration of life. The sea-ogre obeyed and departed.

But Lady Yin, after one final wailing for her husband, again tried to throw herself into the water. In alarm Tripitaka pulled at her with all his strength. At that moment, as all were in panic, a corpse floated in on the water and came near the riverbank. The lady hurried forward to recognize it and saw it was her husband’s body. In one cry she broke into inconsolable weeping. All gathered to watch. Guangrui extended his arm and stretched his leg; his body slowly began to move, and then suddenly he rose and sat up. All were shocked beyond measure. Guangrui opened his eyes and saw at once Lady Yin and Yin Chancellor, with Tripitaka the young monk, all crying beside him. He said, 'Why are you all here?' She answered, 'Because you were murdered by bandits, and later I bore this son. It was fortunate that the abbot of Gold Mountain Temple raised him and brought him up; I sent him to seek my father-in-law. Father-in-law learned of this and reported to court, then led troops here and captured the bandits. They just now gouged out the bandit’s heart and liver and offered them in the river rites for my husband. I do not know how you have regained life again.' Guangrui replied, 'All this is because when we were once at Wanhua Shop, you and I bought and released a golden carp. I did not know that carp was the Dragon King of this place. Later the treacherous men pushed me into the water, and he in grace alone saved me. And just now he has once more granted me restoration and sent me treasures that are all with me. How unexpected that you bore this son and that my father-in-law avenged me; truly this is great joy after all this bitterness.'

All officers who heard came to offer congratulations. The Chancellor ordered a banquet to be arranged in thanks to the attending officials. The troops turned back that very day. Upon arriving at Wanhua Shop, the Chancellor ordered a camp to be set up. Guangrui then went with Tripitaka to Liu Xia’er’s shop to seek his grandmother. That night the old woman had a dream: she saw dead wood bloom with flowers, and joyful magpies chattered repeatedly behind the house; she thought, 'Could this be my grandson arriving?' Before she finished thinking it, just as the shop door opened, Guangrui and his son arrived together. Tripitaka pointed and said, 'Is this not our grandmother?' Guangrui saw his mother and immediately fell to his knees in prostration. Mother and son held each other’s heads and wept bitterly, then explained all matters. They settled the shop rent and set out for the capital. At the Chancellor’s mansion, Guangrui, Lady Yin, the grandmother, and Tripitaka all appeared before the Chancellor’s lady. She was beyond words in joy and ordered the household servants to arrange a great banquet of celebration. The Chancellor said, 'This banquet today may be named the Reunion Banquet.' Truly the whole family was joyous.

On the next morning's early court, the Tang king ascended the hall. After leaving the court, Chancellor Yin fully reported the preceding events in detail and recommended that Guangrui be given a post of major trust. The Tang king approved and commanded that Chen E be raised to the rank of Scholar and be assigned to help govern court affairs. Tripitaka, determined to settle into meditation, returned to Hongfu Temple to cultivate. In time, Lady Yin at last calmly ended her life. Tripitaka then went to Gold Mountain Temple to repay his gratitude to Master Faming.

What happened thereafter is not yet known here. Let us listen to the next chapter for resolution.