A Vietnamese legend - I wanna introduce it to you guys!!!

This is a Vietnamese legend that an author translated and printed in a newspaper. Although this one is not very popular in my country, but I still wanna post on the forum. I hope you all will like it!!!

THE FAIRY BRIDE

Long ago, in the village of Bich Cau, there lived a young scholar named Ti Uyen. The son of a distinguished family, he was a devoted and successful student. Many young women dreamed of marrying Tu Uyen but he preferred romantic poetry to real romance.

One fine spring day the young man left his studies to go for a walk. The spring light gilded the rice fields and fruit trees with gold. Wild flowers peeped from lush meadows and birds flitted, singing, through the hedges. At last, when the sun had sunk below the trees, Tu Uyen turned for home. As he passed Tien Tich pagoda, he saw a young woman standing beside a peach tree. Her face, framed by peach blossoms, shone like a pearl in the moonlight. Mesmerized by this vision, Tu Uyen drew near.

"Most honoured lady" he said, "As it is getting late, may I be bold as to walk you home?"

Since the young woman agreed, Tu Uyen walked by her side. The pair fell to chatting, and then took turns reciting poems and composing love songs. But when they reached Quang Minh Temple, Tu Uyen's lovely companion suddenly vanished. After searching for her in vain, the young scholar sat down to think. To disappear into thin air, he decided, she must be a fairy.

Although Tu Uyen told to one of his strange encounter, the fairy filled his thoughts by day and his dreams by night. Convinced that they were destined to be together, he prayed that he might die, so as to be reunited with her. He grew thin and pale and lost interest in his poetry.

One night, an old man appeared to Tu Uyen in a dream and told him to go to the Eastern Bridge on the To Lich River. When dawn broke, Tu Uyen rushed to the Eastern Bridge. He waited all day but nobody appeared. He was sadly preparing to leave when he met an old man selling paintings. Among the paintings for sale was a portrait of a beautiful woman, who looked exactly like Tu Uyen's fairy.

Tu Uyen hung the portrait in his study, then spent hours gazing at it, even offering it food at every meal. One day, when he was staring at the portrait, the woman opened her eyes and smiled. Tu Uyen blinked in wonder. He feared that he had gone crazy when the woman stepped from the portrait to stand before him.

Here I am, my lord, she said, her eyes downcast. You have waited long enough.

''Who are you, most honoured lady?'' stammered Tu Uyen.

My name is Giang Kieu, she said. '' You remember our first meeting during the spring festival, your love and faith in me have moved the Fairy Queen to send me here to be your wife''.

The young scholar was ecstatic. Giang Kieu's presence so enthralled him that he forgot his studies. He spent every second at his wife's side, until she reproached him for neglecting his duties. Following Giang Kieu's reproach, Tu Uyen took to drinking. His drinking grew worse and worse until one day, the unhappy fairy fled back into the painting.

Tu Uyen felt terrible. He sat in front of his wife's portrait and begged her to return, promised to change his ways and to never touch another drink. Month after month he sat weeping before her portrait, praying for her forgiveness.

One day, Giang Kieu stepped out of the picture. '' My lord'', she said, '' if you don't listen to me this time, I will have to leave you forever''.

Tu Uyen vowed to do better. He resumed his studies and soon passed the exams to earn the title of mandarin. Not long after, a son was born to Tu Uyen and Giang Kieu.

When the child was just over a year old, Giang Kieu took her husband's arm. '' My lord'', she said, '' I have lived here for over two years. My time is up and I must return to the Purple Hills. But don't be sad, your name is also on the list of Immortals; let us journey to Heaven together''.

Their son, said Giang Kieu burned incense and said a prayer, at which two magic swans appeared to carry the couple to Heaven. Sweet music filled the air as Giang Kieu and Tu Uyen rose into the warm, blue sky. Seeing the couple's magic departure, the villagers built a temple near Tu Uyen's house, in which to worship the Immortals.