Tenth month, the second year of Tianhan.
Upon my return, I was granted an audience with His Majesty. He asked, "Did you obtain it?"
I prostrated myself and said, "I reached Mount Kunlun and paid my respects to the Queen Mother of the West, pleading for the elixir of immortality. Hearing Your Majesty's name, the Mother hosted a banquet for me. During the feast, she brought forth a peach and said to me, 'This peach bears fruit once every three thousand years. Eating it extends one's life by a century.' I was about to conceal it to present to Your Majesty, but then I thought a century was not enough, so I stole three more peaches. I was caught by the Giant Spirit. The Mother was furious and banished me back."
His Majesty said, "You returned empty-handed, yet dare to deceive me?"
I replied, "There are still peach pits in my sleeve. They may be planted in the Imperial Garden. In three thousand years they will bear fruit, though whether Your Majesty's teeth will still be strong enough by then, I cannot say." I then took out three pits and offered them.
His Majesty burst into laughter and pardoned me.
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