Liniang stepped forward. She told the emperor everything: the dream, her illness, and her death; and then about meeting Liu as a ghost and finally of her resurrection. Liu moved up next to her and gave his side of the story. By the time they had finished the emperor had been convinced that Liniang had in fact been resurrected and was not a demon or a threat.
Du, too, felt as if they must be telling the truth, but then quickly became upset that she would choose to shame her family by deciding on her own marriage without consulting with him, her mother, or a matchmaker. He informed the emperor that he was unwilling to accept his daughter’s marriage and would not accept her back into his family.
“Liu accepted me as a ghost! I have been dead for three years and now—by some miracle—I stand here before my own father and you refuse to recognize me as your child? Fine,” she shook her head in a mixture of sadness and disgust. “I have found my mother and she has already claimed me as her daughter.”
Mrs. Du and then nun were quickly brought into the audience hall, which sent a great shock through Du who was still under the assumption that the rebels had beheaded her.
“They both must be two evil spirits!” Du told the emperor. “My wife was slain by the rebels in Yangzhou. They must be evil spirits disguised as my wife and daughter to cheat people.”
Mrs. Du spoke up quickly with her and Chunxiang’s story of how they ran from the city and purely by coincidence and luck arrived at her daughter’s doorstep. Chen also decided to step in at this moment and admitted that he hadn’t actually checked to see if the heads were indeed those of Mrs. Du and Chunxiang.
“I was too scared and might not think right. At the time I believed the opposing general. But now I realize my mistake. I’m very sorry for the confusion, but this is definitely Mrs. Du.”
The emperor, overwhelmed with the story unfolding before him, gave his acceptance of Liniang’s resurrection, and ordered Du to accept his daughter and reunite with his wife. He then gave his permission for Liniang and Liu to marry.
It took a while for everything to settle and sink in. Everyone thanked the emperor for his kindness and help, and then left the audience hall in a large group.
“Congratulations on your promotion,” Mrs. Du said to her husband taking his hand in her own.
“I thought you were dead,” he stopped walking and looked at her. “I didn’t think I would see you again.” He hugged her.
“Dad,” Liniang walked over to her parents, tears in her eyes.
“Stay away from me!” Du demanded, letting go of his wife and reaching his hand towards Chen. “I have heard so many ghost stories these days and I have become suspicious of Liu. Are you sure he is not a ghost?”
“My Lord, you worry too much,” Mrs. Du spoke calmly. “It may sound shocking but Liniang is alive. We have her back and our son-in-law has been blessed with a great honor. This is good news, so why are you still suspicious? Liniang is back—I will keep her beside me, even if she is a ghost.”
But Du continued to refuse. Liu, who stood by watching all of this, grew angry with his heartless father-in-law. Once again the two men began fighting with one another.
“Du,” Chen stepped in. “His Majesty has ordered that you recognize your daughter. If you continue on like this, how do you expect me to report to him?”
“Fine, if my daughter is real I can recognize her, but I will never accept this self-claimed son-in-law. She must severe ties with him.”
“I owe this man my life. He has my loyalty. Even if I die again I will not betray him. I spent three years wandering through nothing, now I am alive and happy and you want to force me to die all over again?”
Liniang worked herself into such a state that she passed out on the floor. Her mother dropped down next to her and cried. Liu grabbed Du and began yelling again.
“Stop this! Du, this is only your fault,” said Chen. “The emperor gave his order, everyone except you is happy with it. Are you willing to take responsibility for your daughter if something unfortunate happens to her?” Liniang stirred on the ground but did not get up. Liu took a deep breath and decided to try a new approach with Du.
“Please, Mr. Du, Liniang and I love each other. I have treated her only with respect and she has done the same to me. She loves you, too. Please do this for her sake.”
“All right,” Du consented realizing he had little choice in the matter anyway. “I recognize my daughter.” Liniang smiled from the ground.
“What about Liu?” she asked.
“If you are my daughter and the two of you are married he has become my son-in-law,” Du finally consented, reluctantly.
And with that life continued. Du remained the prime minister, and Liu grew in a higher rank. Liniang and her husband lived happily ever after. They often traveled back to the Peony Pavilion by the rockery in the garden where they first met.
