Chapter 16: The Truth Revealed
Capítulo 16: A Verdade Revelada
The time for the imperial examinations arrived, and Mengjiao traveled to the capital to compete against the best scholars in the empire. His performance was legendary. He answered every question with such wisdom and clarity that the Emperor himself was impressed. Mengjiao was awarded the title of 'Zhuangyuan', the top scholar of the land.
Após o exame, Xu Mengjiao voltou para casa e encontrou Xiaoqing, que havia retornado de seu treinamento. Xiaoqing viu que o sobrinho havia crescido, então decidiu contar toda a verdade para ele.
He returned to Hangzhou in a grand procession, celebrated by the entire city. But before he went to the celebrations, he visited his aunt. "I have achieved what I set out to do," he said. "Now, please, tell me the truth. I know there is more to my family's story than you have told me."
"Mengjiao, sua mãe não foi praticar budismo em lugar nenhum. Ela está presa sob o Pagode Leifeng porque foi prejudicada por uma pessoa má", contou Xiaoqing com ressentimento.
His aunt looked at the young man, now dressed in the magnificent robes of a top scholar, and realized she could no longer keep the secret. She took him to the shores of the West Lake and pointed to the Leifeng Pagoda.
Xu Mengjiao ficou chocado e furioso ao saber a verdade. "Tia, eu vou salvar minha mãe! Eu vou destruir aquele pagode!"
"Your mother is not dead, Mengjiao," she said, her voice trembling. "She is trapped beneath that tower. She was a white snake spirit who loved your father. She was imprisoned by the monk Fahai because of her magic and the sins she committed out of love."
"Acalme-se, querido sobrinho. Agora você deve se concentrar em passar no exame imperial. Quando você tiver poder e influência, encontraremos uma maneira de salvar sua mãe mais facilmente", aconselhou Xiaoqing.
Mengjiao stood in silence, his mind racing. Everything finally made sense—the dreams, the feeling of being watched, the connection to the pagoda. He felt a surge of anger toward Fahai, but also a deep, overwhelming love for his mother.
Xu Mengjiao entendeu e decidiu firmemente ficar em primeiro lugar no exame para trazer honra à família e encontrar uma maneira de salvar sua mãe. Ele foi orar em frente ao Pagode Leifeng e prometeu à mãe: "Mãe, espere por mim. Vou trazer nossa família de volta à glória e vou salvá-la."
"She sacrificed everything for us," he whispered. "And she has been suffering in darkness for twenty years. I will not let her stay there a moment longer. I will use my new status and my voice to demand her freedom. No stone can keep a mother from her son."
Seus soluços ecoaram até os ouvidos de Bai Suzhen sob o pagode. Ela se sentiu reconfortada por seu filho ter crescido e se tornado uma pessoa tão boa e devota.
He knelt before the pagoda, his top scholar's robes dusting the ground. "Mother! It is I, Mengjiao! I know the truth now! I am here to bring you home!" Inside the pagoda, Bai Suzhen heard his voice and wept with joy. The final battle for her freedom was about to begin.