Pao Sze, although she had succeeded in attaining the position of Queen, had never been seen to laugh., King Vu greatly desired to see his consort smile, and for this purpose he tried to excite glidness in her mind. On one occasion he summoned a company of actors, musicians, and singers to appear before the Queen. ' There were beaters of drums, ringers of bells, besides players upon flutes and stringed inst ments, Pa Il_betrayed_not the east sign of pleasure. The King was greatly disappointed and said: Seeing my love dislikes music what is there she would like?" Pao Sze replied: "Nothing. Still you remember when I tore thet sible to Shreds, that sound wes pleasant to hear." Vu asked saying: If the sound of silk being torn will give you pleasure why did you not tell me this before?" Whereupon he commanded the treasurer to bring daily 100 lengths of silk and to search out a female attendant of sufficient vigour to tear them in shreds in the presence of the Queen. Strange to say, hovever, although Pao Sze was pleased with the sound, yet even the tearing of silk failed to bring forth a smile.
King Vu said: ' Love, whatis the cause of your not smiling?" Pao Sze replied "T never have laughed." The King went on to say: We certainly desire our wife to smile, if only once," and then proceeded to offer a reward of 1,000 pisces of vold to any person whether belonging to the Court or not who should succeed in making the Queen laugh.
Dake Kua submitted the following plan to the King, he said: 'A former Ring, because of the power of the Tartars and fearing that they might suddenly encroach upon the royal domain, had erected on Li Hill (Lintunghsien) upwards of twenty beacon-mounds and placed there many Iarye drams so that in the event of an inrush of the Tatars beacon-fires might be lighted and the drums beaten, when, the nearest feudal Barons would send troops fur the King's rescue. Now for several years the country has enjoyed peace, consequently the bexoon-fires have not been lighted. If the King desire the Queen to laugh, he should accompany the Queen to Li Hill and when night comes on light the beacon-fires. The Barons will certainly lead their armies thither. But when they arrive there will not be any Tartars. This will doubtless make the Queen Iangh." King Vu considered this plan a good one and consented to its being tried. Therefore, in company with Queen Pao, he went to Li Hill under the pretence of seeking recreation. At night a banquet was prepared in Li Palace and orders were given for the lighting of the beacon-fires. Cheng Po-yn, the King's instructor and forerunner, hap: pened to be in the palace and upon being informed of the orders that bad been issued became greatly troubled in consequence. Without delay Cheng Po-yn rushed into the royal apartments and thus addressed the King::"'The former King erected the beacon-mounds forthe purpose of giving information to his Barons and so securing their help in time of need. But this is not atime of need and the fires are about to be lit solely to hoax the Barons. When there is actual danger, though the fires be lit, the Barons will ignore them, how then' will you obtain troops to meet the emergency King Vu waxed angry and said: "At present there is peace, and no need for our army. We and our Queen have come to Li Hill for pleasure. Duke Kua is simply playing a trick upon the Barons. Future troubles are no concern of yours." Earl Chéng's remonstrance failing in its object the beacon-fires were lit and the drums beaten. The drums rolled like thunder. The fires lighted the heavens. Where upon the Barons within the royal domain, thinking the capital was in revolt, im: mediately set out with their troops and pressed on in the darkness until they reached Li Hill, Upon their arrival instend of tumult the Barons heard sounds of music, for just at this instant the royal pair were making merry over their wine. The arrival of the Barons was announced to King Vu when he dispatched a messenger conveying the royal thanks to them for coming and intimation; that_as no invasion of robbers had ocourred the Barons need not trouble themselves to cross streams and deserts. This announcement dumbfounded the Barons. They looked aghast at each other, rolled up their banners and departed. Pho Sze watched the Barons from the window of an upper room. When she beheld their hurried departure and recollected that there was no need for them to have come, she spontane ously clapped her hands and laughed aloud. Upon hearing which King Vu remarked: *'Thé ingenuity of Duke Kua has made my love to hugh and thus display all her beauties." Whereupon he rewarded the Duke with 1,000 pieces of gold.
This incident originated the proverb that '1,000 pieces of gold will purchase a smile,"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.