The Feast and the Fright
In ancient China, during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, lived a highly respected governor named Le Guang. He was known for his kindness, his wisdom, and his ability to host a truly memorable banquet. His feasts were famous. Guests always left with full bellies and warm spirits.
One day, Le Guang invited an old friend, Du Xuan, to one such gathering. Du Xuan was a good man, but a nervous one. He worried. He fretted. He saw danger in every shadow, especially after a few cups of wine.
The banquet hall buzzed with cheerful chatter. Le Guang, ever the attentive host, personally poured Du Xuan a cup of wine. The room was well-lit, but a large, ornate bow hung proudly on the wall behind Le Guang. It was a hunting bow, lacquered dark, an heirloom.
Du Xuan took his seat, feeling the warmth of the wine cup in his hand. He raised it to his lips. Then he froze. Inside the clear amber liquid, a dark, coiled shape lay still. It was unmistakable. A small snake. Its tiny head seemed to bob slightly with the movement of the cup.
His heart pounded. Fear gripped him. A snake! In his wine! He stared at it, horrified. He was a guest of honor; he couldn't cause a scene. He couldn't disrespect his kind host. So, with a surge of revulsion and courage, he closed his eyes and gulped down the entire cup.
The imagined serpent slid down his throat. He felt a phantom chill, a burning sensation. He put the cup down, his hand trembling. He tried to act normal, but his mind raced. He had just swallowed a snake. He was doomed.
The Mysterious Illness
Du Xuan didn't last much longer at the banquet. He mumbled an excuse about feeling unwell and hurried home. The moment he was through his own door, the real trouble began. His body started to ache. His stomach knotted.
He developed a fierce fever. His head throbbed. He became nauseous, convinced the snake's venom was coursing through his veins. He refused all food, believing it would only feed the poison within him. He refused water, too, fearing contamination.
His family doctors were baffled. They examined him, checked his pulse, peered at his tongue. They found no obvious illness, no external wounds, no signs of an actual poisoning. Yet, Du Xuan wasted away. He grew weaker by the hour. He was dying, he believed, of snake venom.
Word reached Governor Le Guang. He was deeply concerned. His friend, who had been perfectly healthy at the feast, was now on his deathbed. What could have happened? Le Guang couldn't shake the feeling that something at his banquet was to blame.
He paid Du Xuan a visit. He found his friend gaunt, pale, barely able to speak. Du Xuan, in a raspy voice, recounted his terrifying experience: the snake, coiled in the wine, the forced swallow, the creeping poison. He spoke of his impending death with a solemn certainty.
The Unveiling of the Illusion
Le Guang listened carefully. A snake in the wine? It made no sense. He was meticulous about his household. His servants were trustworthy. There had been no report of snakes anywhere near the kitchen or the banquet hall.
He returned to his home, troubled. He went straight to the banquet hall. He walked to the exact spot where Du Xuan had sat. He sat down. He had a servant pour him a fresh cup of wine.