“Wukong,” replied Sanzang, “that is a very fine argument. But I'm afraid that when the queen takes me into her palace she will want me to perform my conjugal duties. I could not possibly lose my primal masculinity and ruin my conduct as a Buddhist monk, or let my true seed escape and destroy my status in the faith.”
“As you have agreed to the marriage she is bound to treat you as king and come out in her carriage to fetch you,” Monkey replied. “You must on no account refuse. Take your seat in the phoenix and dragon carriage, enter the throne hall, and sit on the throne facing South as monarch. Tell the queen to fetch her royal seals and write an invitation summoning us to court. Stamp our travel permit with the official seal and ask her to sign it herself and return it to us. Have a banquet laid on as a celebration for yourself and the queen and to say farewell to us too. When the banquet is over have the carriage got ready and tell her that when you have seen us three out of the city you will be coming back to sleep with her. This will put the queen and her subjects into such a good mood that they won't try to keep us any more, let alone have any evil intentions towards us. When you have escorted us out of the city, get out of the carriage. Tell Friar Sand to stay with you and help you mount the white horse while I use some immobilizing magic to stop the queen and her subjects from moving. Then we can carry on West along the main road, and when we've been travelling for a day and a night I'll say a spell to undo the magic and revive them so that they can go back into the city. This way none of them will be killed and you won't have to harm your essential spirit. This is what they call a plan to 'slip through the net with a false marriage.' It works both ways, doesn't it?”
These words sobered Sanzang up and woke him from his dream. He forgot his worries and thanked Monkey profusely: “I am profoundly grateful to you, good disciple, for your brilliant suggestion.” Now that the four of them had agreed on a plan we shall leave them discussing it.
The queen's tutor and the post station superintendent went straight through the gates of the palace to the steps of the throne without waiting to be summoned. “Your Majesty's auspicious dream was completely justified,” they announced. “You two will be as happy together as fish and water.”
When the queen heard their report she lifted the pearl curtain, came down from her dragon throne, and gave a smile that opened her cherry lips and showed her silvery teeth as she asked in her charming voice, “What did the emperor's brother say when you spoke to him?”
“When we reached the post station and had bowed to the emperor's brother,” the queen's tutor replied, “we told him of the proposal of marriage. He tried to decline it, but fortunately his senior disciple agreed on his behalf. He would like his master to marry Your Majesty and sit on the throne as king. He asked that you should first return their passport and send the three disciples on their way West. When they come back with the scriptures they will pay their respects to their master and Your Majesty and ask for some money for their journey back to Great Tang.”
“What did the emperor's brother say to that?” the queen asked with a smile.
“He did not speak,” the tutor replied, “but he is willing to marry Your Majesty. The only thing is that his second disciple wants a betrothal feast first.”
When the queen heard this she ordered the office that dealt with foreign relations to lay on a banquet. She also had the state carriage prepared to take her out of the city to welcome her lord and husband. The female officials obediently swept the palace clean and laid on a banquet in the hall. Those who were setting out the banquet moved as fast as fire, and those who were preparing the chariot did so with the speed of shooting stars. Western Liang was a country of women, but its state carriage was no less splendid than a Chinese one:
Six dragons snorting out coloured clouds,
A pair of phoenixes full of good omen.
The six dragons supported the carriage as it came out,
The pair of phoenixes were riding upon it.
Fragrant were the perfumes,
Dense the clouds of auspicious vapor.
Officials with goldfish-shaped pendants of jade now crowded around;
The women were all drawn up with their hair full of ornaments.
Mandarin-duck fans gave shade to the carriage,
While curtains of jade and pearl did shelter the queen.
Beautifully sounded the songs to the panpipes
While strings and woodwinds all played in harmony.
A surge of joy soared up to the heavens;
Boundless bliss poured out from the heart.
The triple silken canopy shook the sky;
Brilliant banners cast their light on the throne steps.
Never before had the marriage cup here been drunk;
Today the queen would be taking a husband.
The carriage soon left the city and reached the Male-welcoming Post Station. At once the queen's arrival was announced to Sanzang and his disciples, who straightened up their clothes and came out to meet the queen's carriage. The queen raised the curtain and came out. “Which of these gentlemen is the Tang emperor's brother?” she asked.
“The gentleman in front of the post station who is wearing a long gown,” the tutor replied. The queen took a very careful look at him with her phoenix eyes, her moth-eyebrows raised. He was indeed an exceptional sight. Look at him:
A noble manner,
Distinguished features.
White teeth as if made of silver,
A square-cut mouth with lips of red.
The top of the head flat, the forehead broad and ample;
Fine eyes, a clear brow, and a long jaw.
His ears had the round lobes of a great man;
His body was that of one with no ordinary talent.
A handsome, intelligent and gallant gentleman;
The ideal consort for the graceful queen.
As the queen was gazing at him with delight and admiration she felt a great surge of desire and passion. Opening her cherry lips she said, “Younger brother of the Great Tang emperor, won't you ride in my royal carriage?” This made Sanzang blush from ear to ear. He was too embarrassed to look up at her.
Pig, who was standing beside him, put his hands to his snout and devoured the queen with his eyes. She was a slim beauty:
Brows like green willow,
Flesh like mutton fat,
Cheeks set off with plum blossom,
Hair like the plumage of a golden phoenix.
The autumn waves of her eyes were full of charm;
Like bamboo shoot in spring was her graceful posture.
Red tassels floated with elegance over her temples,
Pearls and kingfisher feathers adorned her high-piled hair.
Why talk now of the Princess Zhaojun's beauty?
This queen is lovelier than the legendary Xi Shi.
As her willow waist gently bends gold pendants tinkle;
Her lotus feet move lightly with her limbs of jade.
The Lady of the Moon could not compare with her;
No heavenly fairy could be her match.
Her exquisite palace clothes were not those of a mere mortal;
She was the Queen Mother of the West come to the Jade Pool.
Seeing how beautiful she was the idiot could not help drooling. His heart pounded and his limbs went weak; he melted like a snow lion next to a bonfire.
When the queen came closer to Sanzang she took hold of him and said in a most beguiling voice, “Dear emperor's brother, won't you come into my dragon coach, ride back with me to the throne hall and marry me?” The venerable elder trembled, feeling unsteady on his feet. It was as if he were drunk or stupefied.