燕青天巧星 · 36
Leaf 36 of the marsh · 浪子 The Prodigal
Yan Qing 燕青
In Water Margin 水滸傳 (c. 1400) · rank 36 of the 108 Stars · nicknamed 浪子 “The Prodigal”
The servant who wrestled a champion, charmed an emperor, and left before the poison.
The great deeds 大事記
- ch. 61
Carrying the Exile on His Back
負主逃亡He carries his master's exile on his back and begs his food through half the empire.
- ch. 74
Wrestling the Pillar Down
智撲擎天柱He wrestles the unbeatable Ren Yuan down before a capital crowd that had bet against him.
- ch. 81
Enters by Li Shishi's Door
李師師門He walks into the emperor's presence through a courtesan's door and wins the amnesty with a song.
- ch. 119
Departing with a Cart of Gold
辭主攜金He leaves before the poison, taking a cart of gold and his own name back.
結局 The ending
He left the gold he had been handed, took a bow and one companion, and walked out of the story before the court could thank him. The roster gives him a long life and no grave — the only one of the 108 to get out with nothing owed.
The book itself: how it ends, and who was left — The ending