The Story of Tum Teav
King desires for another wife
After some time, the King became bored and wanted another wife. He sent out his servants to all around the areas of Longvek and Rolea Pha Ear, as well as to other of Cambodia’s provinces to search for a beauty queen. The King told them that it did not matter whether the girl is Khmer, Chinese, or Vietnamese, nor did it matter whether the girl is the daughter of a high ranking official or that of a pauper. The Royal servants set out a journey to all corners of Cambodia. They could not find any girl that they liked. One day, they got to Tbaung Khmum and settled around the well of Po Cheung Khal village. On that evening, Teav and Noh were strolling around the well for leisure. The servants saw Teav and discussed among themselves that they have found a true beauty. They went to ask the villagers nearby about Teav. The villagers told them that Teav lived nearby and that her mother already gave her to Meun Ngourn, the son of Lord Oar Choun. The servants asked whether the marriage had already taken place. The villagers said Meun Ngourn was just her fiancé. The servants went to Lord Oar Choun’ s house and told him that they were going to take Teav to the King. They then went to Teav’s house. Yeay Phann was thrilled. She told Teav to prepare for a trip to meet the King. The next morning, they all left Tbaung Khmum, sailed a boat along the Tonlé Sap river passing by Phnom Penh, then a commercial city. On the boat, Teav was saddened by her predicament. The only man in her mind was Tum. She quietly hid her distress at the thought that she would become the King’s lover. This was against her will but she was helpless. No one knew that Teav was sad. Her mother thought that Teav was happy to become the King’s wife.
King admires Teav’s beauty
At the Royal Palace, the servants brought Teav to attend to the King. The King admired Teav’s beauty. He turned around and asked His other wives if they thought Teav was beautiful and deserved to be yet another wife for Him. They all affirmed. The King asked Tum and Pich to perform for him. Tum recognized Teav and was very nervous and upset. Instead of singing on a normal note like he used to, he sang a story about him and Teav who had been
in love with each other. At first, the King was angry at Tum. But then he thought to himself that if the story was true like Tum claimed, it was against the virtue of Dharma to separate them. So he turned to Teav and asked her whether it was true that she and Tum were in love. She replied that it was true. Then the King ordered all officials and servants to prepare a wedding ceremony for Tum and Teav the next day. Tum and Teav were happy again.