"The rascal, it was just what he deserved," Wang cried hotly, and Tuen, her eyes shining like stars, said softly:

"It seems almost too wonderful to be true."

"Stranger things happen than have ever been told," Szu replied. "The affairs of life are past finding out, and who Tên Wang leads must follow, whether he will or not."

"This Woo How was very lucky," Tuen murmured. "She must have been loved by the gods."

"Ah, I have not yet done speaking of her," Szu answered. "Much yet remains."

[Pg 150]

"How can there be anything to tell after she was married?" Tuen inquired incredulously.

"There comes the amazing part," Szu acknowledged. "It happened just as the Emperor had wished, that his bride proved as wise as she was beautiful, and soon she was not only beloved, but feared by every one. In court circles you will find out for yourself that an ounce of fear is worth a pound of love. When the lovely Woo How discovered this truth she became a power in the land—but not until then. As she grew older her beauty decreased, it is true, but her power increased, and on the death of the Emperor it was this same Woo How who set aside his lawful successor and became the Empress and sole ruler of this great country."

"It is but a play you are repeating to me," Tuen cried scornfully. "It was not and could not be."

"Youth does not know all things," the[Pg 151] old story-teller answered in an offended tone. "A few gems of thought, a few pearls of knowledge are reserved for age. That is its compensation. I have repeated to you the true account of Woo How. That she lived and reigned and died Confucius has told, therefore I would believe it though the daughters of a thousand Viceroys should dispute it."

"Then I was mistaken about it being only a tale if you learned it from the Sacred Books, Szu," Tuen answered. "But since I know that, I like it all the better. Now let us hear what else befell this most fortunate one."

"Perhaps it would not interest you," he said somewhat sullenly. "Sufficient be it that being of a strong mind she had long controlled her husband, and even before his death she it was who in truth ruled the land. When she had seated herself upon the throne she was so well versed in the affairs of state that she[Pg 152] governed with much discretion and ability."

Here the garrulity of the old man gained the mastery over his anger, and he went on in his usual rapid, animated way:

"Great was Woo How of the dynasty of Tang. She sent her powerful armies out to battle, and the enemies fled before them like the birds before the storm. The proud Thibetans ran like the deer, leaving behind the unnumbered dead. Thick fell the arrows around them! Loud sounded the gongs of the hosts! Shrill was the battle-cry and loud the shouts of victory!

"And none could stand before the warriors of Woo How. Their journey was marked by the flames of burning towns, captives followed behind the............