脚踏一双粉底靴，登云促雾；怀揣一本生死簿，注定存亡。
He wears a pair of boots with whitened soles As he climbs the clouds and grasps the mist, Holding to his chest the Registers of Life and Death, Noting down the quick and the dead.
昔日曾为唐国相，如今掌案侍阎王。
Once he used to be a Tang minister But now he judges cases for the King of Hell.
太宗行到那边，只见他跪拜路旁，口称"陛下，赦臣失误远迎之罪！”
When Taizong went up to him, he fell on his knees beside the path and said, “Your Majesty, please forgive your subject for his crime of failing to come far enough to meet you. ”
太宗问曰：“你是何人？
“Who are you?” asked the Emperor,
那人道："微臣半月前，在森罗殿上，见泾河鬼龙告陛下许救反诛之故，第一殿秦广大王即差鬼使催请陛下，要三曹对案。
“A fortnight ago your humble servant heard the Dragon King of the River Jing bringing a case against Your Majesty in the Senluo Palace because he was executed despite your promise to save him,” replied the other. “The King of Qinguang of the First Palace sent devil messengers with an urgent summons to Your Majesty to be present when the case is heard between the Three Orders: the Human Order, the Underworld Order and the Water Order.
那人道：“微臣存日，在阳曹侍先君驾前，为兹州令，后拜礼部侍郎，姓崔名珪。
“When your humble servant was alive I used to serve His Late Majesty.
I was magistrate of Cizhou, and later made vice-president of the Ministry of Rites.
My name is Cui Jue.
今在阴司，得受酆都掌案判官。”
I have now been given office in the underworld as the judge in charge of cases at Fengdu.”
判官谢恩，问书在何处。
The judge thanked him and asked where the letter was.
其书曰：§ "辱爱弟魏征，顿首书拜大都案契兄崔老先生台下：忆昔交游，音容如在。
that it read as follows: Your Excellency, Metropolitan Judge, and Venerable Elder Brother Cui, Remembering our former friendship; I still see and hear you as if you were alive;
常遇节令，设蔬品奉祭，未卜享否？
On feast days I set out some vegetarian dishes as a sacrifice to you, but I have been unable to divine whether they are enjoyed by you.
又承不弃，梦中临示，始知我兄长大人高迁。
As I have the good fortune not to have been abandoned by you and you have appeared to me in dreams, I now know that my great elder brother has risen high.
奈何阴阳两隔，天各一方，不能面觌。
But, alas, there is a great gap between the worlds of darkness and of light, and we are unable to meet each other as we are each at different ends of the universe.
今因我太宗文皇帝倏然而故，料对案三曹，必与兄长相会。
As the Cultured Emperor Taizong has recently passed away of a sudden illness it seems likely that his case will be discussed by the Three Orders, so that he is bound to meet you, elder brother.
万祈俯念生日交情，方便一二，放我陛下回阳，殊为爱也。
I beseech you to remember the friendship of the days when you were alive and give His Majesty such assistance as will enable him to return to the sunlight.
This would be a great favour,
不尽。
I cannot go into all the details of the case here.
[sic]
Your younger brother kowtows to you.
那判官看了书，满心欢喜道："魏人曹前日梦斩老龙一事，臣已早知，甚是夸奖不尽。
The judge was very pleased when he had read the letter. “I know about how the official Wei of the personnel department beheaded the dragon in a dream the other day,” he said, “and this news filled me with great admiration.
又蒙他早晚看顾臣的子孙，今日既有书来，陛下宽心，微臣管送陛下还阳，重登玉阙。"
He has always looked after my sons and grandsons, and now that I have a letter from him, Your Majesty need have no worries.
Your humble servant can undertake to escort Your Majesty back to the light, where you will once more ascend the throne. ”
二人正说间，只见那边有一对青衣童子，执幢幡宝盖，高叫道："阎王有请，有请。"
As they were talking a pair of servant boys in black appeared, carrying banners and a precious canopy. “An invitation from King Yama,” they shouted.
太宗遂与崔判官并二童子举步前进。
Taizong and Judge Cui went along with them.
忽见一座城，城门上挂着一面大牌，上写着"幽冥地府鬼门关"七个大金字。
A city wall appeared in front of them, and above its gates hung a large tablet on which was written DEVIL GATE OF THE WORLD OF DARKNESS in huge letters of gold.
那青衣将幢幡摇动，引太宗径入城中，顺街而走。
The two lictors waved their banners and led Taizong into the city and along its streets.
只见那街旁边有先主李渊，先兄建成，故弟元吉，上前道：“世民来了！
Beside the road he saw his father and predecessor Li Yuan, as well as his dead brothers Jaincheng and Yuanji, who went up to him and said, “Shimin's here,
那建成、元吉就来揪打索命。
They grabbed and hit him, demanding their lives back;