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In the reign of Emperor Min of Jin, the western capital fell, and Emperor Yuan first assumed the title of King of Jin, winning the allegiance of all within the Four Seas. On the twenty-second day of the tenth month that year, Lady Hu, the twenty-five-year-old wife of Ren Qiao, a clerk in Xincai County, gave birth to two girls. They faced one another and were joined at the abdomen and chest, but were separate above the waist and below the navel. This was surely an ominous sign that the realm had yet to be united. At the time, Lü Hui, the commandery administrator, submitted a memorial: “According to the Illustrations of Auspicious Omens, ‘Trees with separate roots but a single trunk are called conjoined trees; grain growing in separate plots but sharing a single ear is called auspicious grain.’ Even such things among plants and trees are regarded as favorable omens. Now two people share one heart: Heaven has sent down a wondrous sign. Thus the Book of Changes says, ‘When two people are of one heart, their strength can cleave metal.’ This glorious portent has appeared in eastern Chen—a sign, surely, that all within the Four Seas are of one heart. I cannot contain my joy. I respectfully submit a drawing of it.” Discerning people of the time scoffed at this. The gentleman says: “How difficult it is to know! Even Zang Wenzhong, for all his ability, offered sacrifices to the yuanju bird. His deed was recorded in the books and has not been forgotten in a thousand years. Thus a scholar cannot afford to neglect learning. The ancients had a saying: ‘A tree without branches is called blighted; a man without learning is called blind.’ Where one’s understanding is obscured, surely one should leave the matter open. How can one fail to apply oneself?”