ely, recalling the
perfect features of the White Jade Concubine, the ambrosial smile of the
Princess of Feminine Propriety, and the willow-leaf eyebrows of the Lady
of Chen, and her astonishment was excessive, because the Lady A-Kuei
could not in beauty approach any one of these ladies. Reflecting further
she then placed her behind the screen, and summoned the court artist, Lo
Cheng, who had been formerly commissioned to paint the heavenly
features of the Emperor's Ladies, mirrored in still water, though he had
naturally not been permitted to view the beauties themselves. Of him the
Empress demanded:

"Who is the most beautiful--which the most priceless jewel of the
dwellers in the Dragon Palace?"

And, with humility, Lo Cheng replied:

"What mortal man shall decide between the white Crane and the Swan,
or between the paeony flower and the lotus?" And having thus said he
remained silent, and in him was no help. Finally and after exhortation
the Pearl Empress condescended to threaten him with the loss of a head
so useless to himself and to her majesty. Then, in great fear and haste
he replied:

"Of all the flowers that adorn the garden of the Sun of Heaven, the Lady
A-Kuei is the fittest to be gathered by the Imperial Hand, and this is
my deliberate opinion."

Now, hearing this statement, the Pearl Empress was submerged in
bewilderment, knowing that the Lady A-Kuei had modestly retired when the
artist had depicted the reflection of the assembled loveliness of the
Inner Chambers, as not counting herself worthy of portraiture, and her
features were therefore unknown to him. Nor could the Empress further
question the artist, for when she had done so, he replied only:

"This is the secret of the Son of Heaven," and, having gained
permission, he swiftly departed.

Nor could the Lady A-Kuei herself aid her Imperial Majesty, for on being
questioned she was overwhelmed with modesty and confusion, and with
stammering lips could only repeat:

"This is the secret of his Divine Majesty," imploring with the utmost
humility, forgiveness from the Imperial Mother.

The Pearl Empress was unable to eat her supper. In vain were spread
before her the delicacies of the Empire. She could but trifle with a
shark's fin and a "Silver Ear" fungus and a dish of slugs entrapped upon
roses, with the dew-like pearls upon them. Her burning curiosity had
wholly deprived her of appetite, nor could the amusing exertions of
the Palace mimes, o