Laibao returned from Tokyo and reported to Ximen Qing that he first visited the steward of the Grand Preceptor's residence and, after delivering the letter, was able to meet the Grand Preceptor. The Grand Preceptor accepted the gifts and expressed his understanding. He instructed that in a few days, he would send a letter to the Shandong Circuit Inspector to release twelve imprisoned salt merchants, including Wang Jiyun. He also asked Laibao to relay a message to Ximen Qing: the Grand Preceptor's birthday would be on the 15th of June, and he hoped Ximen Qing could come to the capital as he had some matters to discuss with him face-to-face. Ximen Qing was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately sent Laibao to inform Merchant Qiao. At this moment, Ben Si and Lai Xing arrived and happened to see Ximen Qing talking with Laibao, so they stood aside. Laibao then left for Merchant Qiao's house.
Ximen Qing asked Ben Si, "How is the matter of burning paper money coming along on your side?" Ben Si did not dare to speak. Lai Xing leaned in close to Ximen Qing's ear and whispered, "Song Ren is blocking the corpse at the cremation site and refusing to let it be cremated. He’s being extremely arrogant, and we didn’t dare to say anything." Ximen Qing immediately flew into a rage and cursed, "That scoundrel is truly detestable!" He then ordered a servant, "Go invite your brother-in-law to write a letter." He sent Lai An to deliver the letter to Magistrate Li. Ximen Qing also dispatched two yamen officers to tie up Song Ren and bring him to the county office. There, Song Ren was interrogated on charges of extortion and using the corpse to blackmail. He was given twenty strokes of the cane on the spot, leaving him bleeding profusely. Finally, a confession was written, forbidding him from harassing Ximen Qing’s family again. Local officials and soldiers were also ordered to supervise the cremation of the corpse by Ximen Qing's family without delay. Song Ren, having been beaten until his legs were festering, fell gravely ill after returning home. He contracted a plague and died within a few days.
After resolving the matter with Song Huilian, Ximen Qing prepared 300 taels of silver and instructed Gu Yin to bring a number of silversmiths to craft four large silver figurines, each over a foot tall, as a birthday gift for Grand Preceptor Cai. These figurines depicted the "Four Yangs Supporting Longevity." He also had two golden longevity teapots made and procured two sets of jade peach cups, as well as two sets of bright red multicolored silk brocade robes woven in Hangzhou. However, he was still missing two bolts of black coarse cloth and red silk brocade, which he couldn’t find anywhere. Li Ping’er said, "I still have a few unused brocade robes upstairs. Let me take a look." Ximen Qing went upstairs with her to check and selected four robes: two made of bright red silk and two of black coarse cloth, all woven with five-colored gold lotus patterns. They were far superior to newly woven ones, and Ximen Qing was overjoyed. He packed everything up and instructed Laibao and Manager Wu to depart from Qinghe County for Tokyo on the 28th of May.
Two days later, on the 1st of June, the weather was extremely hot. By noon, the sun was blazing in the sky without a single cloud, and it was so hot that even the stones seemed ready to melt.
Due to the recent hot weather, Ximen Qing had not been going out much. Instead, he stayed at home with his hair down to keep cool. He was in the garden's Emerald Pavilion under the veranda, watching the servants water the flowers. In front of the pavilion, there was a pot of Daphne odora in full bloom. Ximen Qing asked Lai'an to water it with a small spray bottle. At that moment, Pan Jinlian and Li Ping’er came over, dressed in their everyday white gauze shirts, covered with skirts of fine gauze embroidered with gold threads. Li Ping’er wore a bright red coarse cloth vest, while Jinlian's was silver-red. Jinlian had no hat on, her hair adorned with a Hangzhou-style green silk hairnet, exposing her temples. On her forehead, she had three green floral ornaments, making her fair face shine even more radiantly, with her red lips and white teeth. The two walked over arm in arm, laughing. Seeing Ximen Qing watering the flowers, they said, "So you're here watering flowers! Why haven’t you washed up yet?" Ximen Qing replied, "Go call the maid to fetch some water. I'll wash my hair." Jinlian called out to Lai'an, "Put down the spray bottle and go tell the maid to bring water and a comb quickly." Lai'an agreed and left.
Jinlian noticed the Daphne flowers and wanted to pick one to wear. Ximen Qing stopped her, saying, "You greedy little thing, don’t touch it. I’ll pick one for you." It turned out Ximen Qing had already picked several and placed them in a green porcelain vase. Jinlian laughed and said, "So you secretly picked so many and didn’t even give me one to wear." She then snatched one and put it in her hair. Ximen Qing also gave one to Li Ping’er. At this time, Chunmei brought over a mirror and comb, while Qiuju brought water for washing. Ximen Qing picked three more flowers and instructed that they be sent to Madam Yue, Li Jiao’er, and Meng Yulou: "Invite the three ladies to come and play the yueqin for me." Jinlian said, "I’ll give Meng San Niang's flower to her, and let Chunmei deliver the flowers to the eldest lady and Li Jiao’er. When you come back, give me another one—I’ll help you call Meng San Niang over, and you should give me one too." Ximen Qing said, "Alright, go ahead, and I’ll give you one when you return." Jinlian replied, "Oh, my dear, who raised you to be so clever? You’re tricking me into calling Meng San Niang for you but won’t give me a flower. I’m not going unless you give it to me now!" Ximen Qing laughed, "You little devil, fine, I’ll give you one first." He handed her another flower, which she pinned into her hair before turning to leave.
Ximen Qing, meanwhile, turned his attention to Li Ping’er. He noticed that under her gauze skirt, she was wearing bright red gauze pants, and with the sunlight shining through, her fair and beautiful skin was faintly visible. This sight immediately aroused his desires. Seeing that no one was around and without even washing his hair, he pressed Li Ping’er down onto a cool chair, lifted her skirt, pulled down her pants, and began to get intimate with her. They were at it for a long time but hadn’t finished yet. After their passionate encounter, Pan Jinlian didn’t call Yulou as instructed. Instead, she walked to the corner gate of the garden, thought for a moment, handed the flower to Chunmei to deliver, and then quietly tiptoed back to the window of the Emerald Pavilion to eavesdrop. She listened for a while and overheard Ximen Qing and Li Ping’er being intimate. Ximen Qing said to her, "My darling, my precious, my favorite thing is your fair bottom. Today, I’ll make sure you enjoy yourself." After a while, she heard Li Ping’er softly say, "Dear, be gentler. I’m not feeling well. Last time you were too rough, and my stomach hurt for days. I just started feeling better recently." Ximen Qing asked, "What’s wrong with you?" Li Ping’er replied, "To tell you the truth, I’m pregnant and about to give birth soon. Be more careful." Hearing this, Ximen Qing was overjoyed and said, "My darling, why didn’t you tell me earlier? If that’s the case, we’ll take it slow." The two then continued their lovemaking until Ximen Qing climaxed. Pan Jinlian, listening outside, heard everything.
As she was eavesdropping, Meng Yulou suddenly appeared behind her and asked, "Fifth Sister, what are you doing here?" Jinlian quickly gestured for her to be quiet. The two walked back into the house together, catching Ximen Qing off guard. Yulou asked him, "What have you been up to while I was out? You haven’t even combed your hair or washed your face!" Ximen Qing replied, "I was waiting for the maid to bring jasmine soap to wash my face." Jinlian teased, "Stop making excuses. No wonder your face is whiter than someone’s bottom!" Ximen Qing didn’t mind the remark. After washing up, he sat down with Yulou and asked, "What were you doing in the backyard? Did you bring the yueqin?" Yulou replied, "I was in the backyard stringing bead flowers for Big Sister. They’re for Wu Shunchen’s wife, Sister Zheng, to wear tomorrow. Chunmei has already brought the yueqin." After a while, Chunmei returned and said, "The flowers have been delivered to the eldest lady and the second lady." Ximen Qing instructed her to prepare some wine. Soon, chilled fruit was brought out in an ice basin, and the pavilion was filled with cheerful chatter. Yulou asked, "Should Chunmei call Big Sister over?" Ximen Qing replied, "She doesn’t drink, so there’s no need." Ximen Qing sat down, with the three women seated on either side of him.
*"How many cups of fine wine are poured, and how many delicacies are displayed?"*
Pan Jinlian didn’t sit on a chair but chose a green porcelain stool instead. Yulou said, "Fifth Sister, sit on a chair. The stool is cold." Jinlian replied, "It’s fine. I’m not afraid of catching a chill, so why worry?"
After three rounds of drinks, Ximen Qing asked Chunmei to bring the yueqin for Yulou and a pipa for Jinlian, saying, "You two play and sing 'The Red Emperor Reigns Supreme in the Heavens' for me." Jinlian refused, saying, "Brother, who spoiled you to be so naughty! We sing, and you two just sit back and enjoy? No way! Let Sister Li take an instrument too." Ximen Qing said, "She doesn’t know how to play." Jinlian replied, "If she can’t play, let her beat the rhythm." Ximen Qing laughed, "You little devil, always causing trouble." He then asked Chunmei to bring a pair of red ivory rhythm sticks for Li Ping’er. The two began to play and sing the tune *"Wild Geese Passing Over the Sand."* Meanwhile, the maid Xiuchun fanned them from the side. After the performance, Ximen Qing poured everyone a cup of wine. Pan Jinlian didn’t drink wine but only had iced water and fruit. Yulou asked, "Fifth Sister, why are you only eating cold things today?" Jinlian laughed and said, "I’m fine. Why worry about cold things?" Li Ping’er blushed. Ximen Qing glanced at her and said, "You little devil, always talking nonsense." Jinlian replied, "Brother, you talk too much. Like an old woman eating cured meat—stringing it out bit by bit. Why do you care?"
As they were drinking, dark clouds suddenly gathered in the southeast, while a mist rose in the northwest. Thunder rumbled faintly in the distance, and a sudden downpour drenched the flowers and plants in front of the pavilion.
After a while, the rain stopped, and a rainbow appeared in the sky. The sun broke through the clouds in the west. It was truly a scene of: *"The light rain moistens the green rocks, and the evening breeze brings a refreshing coolness to the courtyard."* Just then, Xiaoyu came to invite Yulou. Yulou said, "Big Sister is calling me. There are still a few bead flowers that haven’t been finished. I’ll go now; don’t let her wait too long." Li Ping’er said, "Let’s go together. I’d like to see how Big Sister strings the bead flowers." Ximen Qing said, "I’ll walk you there." He then handed the yueqin to Yulou to play, while he kept the rhythm. Together, they sang *"Liangzhou Prelude":*
*"As evening falls, rain passes through the southern pavilion,
The pond’s surface is scattered with fallen blossoms.
Faint thunder murmurs, the rain clears, and the clouds disperse.
The scent of lotus drifts for ten miles, a crescent moon hangs in the sky,
What an endless scene of beauty.
After a fragrant bath, the evening makeup is undone,
In the deep courtyard at dusk, too lazy to sleep."*
*(Chorus)*
*"Golden threads sing, jade cups urge,
A fine banquet is arranged by the icy mountain and snowy railings.
In this pure world, how many can behold it?"*
And then:
*"In the shade of the willows, the new cicadas suddenly chirp,
Fireflies flit through the courtyard.
Where does the water caltrop song come from?
A painted boat returns late.
The Jade Belt constellation dips low,
The vermillion doors are silent,
This scene is still worth envying.
Rising, I take her soft hand, arranging her cloud-like hair,
The moonlight shines on the gauze bed; no one sleeps."*
*(Chorus as before)*
*[Jiejiegao]*
*"Ripples play with colorful mandarin ducks, green lotus leaves turn.
Fragrant dew spills, scattering jade-like droplets.
A breeze carries the scent, by the fragrant grass,
At the idle pavilion, sitting without realizing how refreshed one feels.
What need to envy the fairyland of Penglai and Langyuan?"*
*(Chorus)*
*"Only fearing the west wind will stir the autumn,
Unknowingly, the fleeting years pass in the dark."*
As they sang, they gradually walked to the corner gate. Yulou handed the yueqin to Chunmei and left with Li Ping’er.
Pan Jinlian called out, "Meng San’er, wait for me! I’m coming too!" Just as she was about to shake off Ximen Qing, he grabbed her tightly and said, "You little devil, trying to sneak away? No way!" He held her so firmly that Pan Jinlian almost fell over. Pan Jinlian said, "You rascal, everyone else has left. Why are you keeping me here?" Ximen Qing replied, "Let’s stay here under the Taihu rock, have some wine, and play a round of *touhu* (pitch-pot)." Pan Jinlian said, "You scoundrel, wouldn’t it be more fun up in the pavilion? Why insist on staying here? Fine, send Chunmei to fetch some wine, and we’ll see." Ximen Qing then called Chunmei over. Chunmei handed the yueqin to Pan Jinlian and left.
Pan Jinlian took the yueqin, played a tune, and said, "I learned this from Meng San’er. I’ve picked up a few lines." While playing, she noticed a pomegranate flower by the Taihu rock, its blossoms flourishing after the rain. She plucked a branch, tucked it into her hair, and said, "I’m like my old mother—three days without food, but I must have flowers in sight." Hearing this, Ximen Qing walked over, lifted her up, and laughed, "If I didn’t care about appearances, I’d smother this little devil to death right here." Pan Jinlian said, "You rascal, stop messing around. Let me put the yueqin down first." She placed the yueqin on a flower stand and said, "Oh, you rascal, were you just fooling around with Li Ping’er? Now that you have no one to pester, you come to bother me?" Ximen Qing replied, "You little troublemaker, what nonsense are you spouting? What could I possibly have going on with anyone?" Pan Jinlian said, "Oh, my dear, do you think you can hide anything from me? Who am I? You think you can fool me? When I went to the backyard to deliver flowers, you two carried on with your ‘good deeds,’ didn’t you?" Ximen Qing said, "You little devil, stop talking nonsense!" As he spoke, he leaned in to kiss her. Pan Jinlian quickly stuck her tongue into his mouth. Ximen Qing said, "Call me ‘dear daddy,’ and I’ll let you go." Pan Jinlian had no choice and said, "Dear daddy! I’m not even the one you like most, so why are you pestering me?"
The two were having a playful moment:
*"The warbler’s song is skillful in the clear skies,
The flowers are even more radiant after the rain."*
After playing for a while, Pan Jinlian said, "Let’s go to the grape arbor and play *touhu* there." She tucked the yueqin under her arm and began playing the second half of *Liangzhou Prelude*:
*[Jiejiegao]*
*"In the cool night, thoughts are refreshed, what a pleasant evening.
Under the moonlight of the Jade Terrace, in the serene palace,
Immortals gather and open their banquet of treasures.
Rejoicing together, ignoring the jade water clock urging on the silver arrows,
Songs and music fill the Crystal Palace."*
*(Chorus as before)*
*[Ending]*
*"Time flies like lightning,
What a fine night,
It’s a pity it will soon fade away.
Let’s seize the moment and revel in joyous songs and laughter."*
The two walked side by side, soon circling around the jade-green pond, passing by the Magnolia Pavilion, and crossing in front of the Emerald Pavilion. They arrived under the grape arbor. What a beautiful sight the grape arbor was!
*"Surrounded by carved railings and stone-paved paths,
Thick green leaves formed a dense canopy all around.
The frosty hues greeted the eyes, like thousands of clusters of purple tassels cascading down;
The autumn fragrance filled the air, like countless trellises of green clouds draped with embroidered ribbons.
Clusters of horse milk grapes hung like crystal beads infused with sweet nectar;
The rolling green pearls seemed like golden specks nestled in verdant vines.
This was a rare variety transplanted from the Western Regions,
A treasure cherished for its fragrance and sweetness.
Indeed, the flowers and plants of all seasons adorned this secluded spot,
A scene of moonlight and cool breezes that money could never buy."*
Under the grape arbor, there were four cool stools and a pot nearby. Pan Jinlian leaned the yueqin against the side and started playing *touhu* (pitch-pot) with Ximen Qing. Chunmei came over with wine, while Qiujü carried a fruit platter. The platter contained a bowl of chilled fruits. Pan Jinlian said, "You little rascal, you were throwing a tantrum earlier, and now you’re bringing things over?" Chunmei replied, "Where was I supposed to find you two? I didn’t expect you’d be here." After putting down the items, Qiujü left.
Ximen Qing opened the fruit platter, which was filled with delicately arranged fruits and snacks, along with a small bottle of grape wine, two petite golden lotus-shaped cups, and two pairs of toothpicks, all placed neatly on a small cool stool. Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian sat across from each other, playing *touhu*. After a short while, Ximen Qing scored several hits, causing Pan Jinlian to drink so much that she became tipsy. Her face turned red, and her eyes grew hazy. Ximen Qing, wanting to drink some medicinal wine, asked Chunmei to fetch it. Pan Jinlian said, "Little devil, I beg you, go inside and bring out a cool mat and pillow. I’m so sleepy, I want to lie down here for a bit." Chunmei pretended to pout and said, "Ugh, always ordering me around. Who’s going to help you fetch it?" Ximen Qing said, "If you won’t do it, I’ll have Qiujü carry it over. You just go get the wine." Chunmei shook her head and walked off.
After a while, Qiujü returned with the cool mat and pillow. Pan Jinlian instructed, "Lay it out, close the garden door, and go back to the house to keep watch. I’ll call you if I need you." Qiujü agreed, set everything down, and left. Ximen Qing got up, took off his silk outer robe, draped it over the railing, and went to wash his hands. When he returned, he saw that Pan Jinlian had already laid out the mat and pillow. She was lying on it completely naked, wearing only bright red shoes on her feet, fanning herself with a white gauze fan. Seeing this, Ximen Qing couldn’t help but feel aroused. He also took off his clothes, sat on one of the cool stools, and began teasing Pan Jinlian with his toes, causing her to become visibly aroused. He then removed her embroidered red shoes, untied the straps on her feet, and bound her legs to the grape arbor, leaving her private parts fully exposed like a golden dragon extending its claws. Ximen Qing leaned over her, pressing his *zhubing* (a euphemism for male organ) against her, supporting himself with one hand on the pillow, and began thrusting vigorously. Pan Jinlian moaned loudly beneath him.
As they were in the middle of their passionate act, Chunmei arrived with the wine. She saw the scene, set the wine pot down, and walked off to the Woyun Pavilion atop the artificial hill, where she began playing with some game pieces. Ximen Qing noticed her and beckoned her over, but she refused to come down. Ximen Qing said, "You little devil, if I can’t catch you, so be it!" He then left Pan Jinlian behind and strode up to the pavilion. Chunmei ran off down a small path, trying to hide, but Ximen Qing caught her, carried her back to the grape arbor, and with a laugh said, "Let’s have a drink first." He held her on his lap, and the two took turns drinking. Chunmei glanced at Pan Jinlian, whose legs were still tied to the arbor, and said, "What are you two doing? It’s broad daylight! If someone sees this, how embarrassing would it be?" Ximen Qing asked, "Is the side gate closed?" Chunmei replied, "It was closed when I came in."
As the sky darkened, Ximen Qing quickly helped Pan Jinlian get dressed and called Chunmei and Qiujü to clean up. Together, they assisted Pan Jinlian back to her room.
When Chunmei returned to the house, she saw Qiujü had already tidied up the items used for drinking and was about to open the garden door. At that moment, Lai Zhao’s son, Little Iron Rod, crawled out from under the grape arbor and began chasing Chunmei, pestering her for fruits. Chunmei said, "You little rascal, where did you come from?" She gave him a few peaches and plums and said, "Your dad’s drunk. Hurry back to him, or he’ll spank you if he sees you." The child grabbed the fruits and ran off. Chunmei opened the garden door, went back inside, and let Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian go to bed.
