Prevod

During the Han dynasty, there was a man named Tan Sheng who, at forty, had no wife. He often read the Book of Songs with deep emotion. One night at midnight, a girl of fifteen or sixteen came to him. Her beauty and attire were without equal in the world. She proposed that they become husband and wife, saying, “I am not like other people. You must not shine a light on me. Only after three years may you do so.” They became husband and wife, and she bore him a son. When the child was two years old, Tan Sheng could restrain himself no longer. One night, after waiting for her to fall asleep, he secretly brought a light to look at her. Above the waist, she had living flesh like any human being; below it, there were only dry bones. His wife awoke and said, “You have betrayed me. I was on the verge of coming to life. Why could you not wait one more year, instead of shining a light on me?” Tan Sheng wept and begged her forgiveness, but there was no undoing what he had done. She said, “Though our bond as husband and wife is now severed forever, I am still concerned for our child. If you are too poor to keep yourself and him alive, come with me a little way, and I will give you something.” Tan Sheng followed her into a splendid hall, where the rooms and furnishings were extraordinary. She gave him a pearl-studded robe and said, “This will provide for your needs.” Then she tore a piece from the hem of his garment, kept it, and departed. Later, Tan Sheng took the robe to market, where the household of the Prince of Suiyang bought it for ten million coins. The prince recognized it and said, “This is my daughter’s robe. How did it come to be in the market? Someone must have robbed her tomb.” He had Tan Sheng seized and tortured for an answer. Tan Sheng told him the whole truth, but the prince still did not believe him. He went to inspect his daughter’s tomb and found it undisturbed. When he opened it, however, he found the piece of Tan Sheng’s garment beneath the coffin lid. He then had the child brought before him and saw that he looked just like his daughter. Only then did the prince believe the story. He summoned Tan Sheng, bestowed further gifts upon him, and acknowledged him as his son-in-law. He also recommended the boy for appointment as a Gentleman of the Palace.