Han Daoguo went home and slept until midnight. His wife, Wang Liuer, discussed with him, "Thanks to Ximen Qing, we've made a fortune. We should host a banquet to invite him for a meal, make him happy, and comfort him since he lost his child. Even if it's just to show others that we have a good relationship with the wealthy, setting us apart from others." Han Daoguo said, "I think so too. But the fifth day of the month is unlucky, so let's do it on the sixth day. We'll host a banquet, invite two opera singers, write an invitation, and I'll personally invite Ximen Qing." Wang Liuer said, "Why invite opera singers? What if he drinks too much and shows up at our house? That wouldn’t be convenient. Next door, Le San's wife has a daughter named Shen Erjie, who is young, can sing, and is also blind. Let's invite her to sing; it will be easy to send her home." Han Daoguo said, "Alright."
The next day, Han Daoguo went to the shop, asked Wen Xiucai to write an invitation, and personally delivered it to Ximen Qing, saying, "Tomorrow, my family will host a small banquet, please honor us with your presence." Ximen Qing said, "No need to be so polite, I have nothing to do tomorrow; I'll come by as soon as I'm done at the yamen." Han Daoguo thanked him and left. The next morning, Han Daoguo spent money to have the young apprentice Hu Xiu buy ingredients, instructed the cook to prepare, and sent someone to pick up Shen Erjie. Wang Liuer and the maidservants waited, anticipating Ximen Qing's arrival.
In the afternoon, Ximen Qing's Qin Tong first sent a barrel of grape wine, then Ximen Qing arrived in a cool sedan chair, followed by Dai An and Wang Jing. After getting off the sedan chair, Ximen Qing, wearing a hat, a blue outfit, and black boots, looked lively. Han Daoguo welcomed him inside, exchanged pleasantries, and said, "Thanks for bringing the wine." Ximen Qing sat in the host's chair.
After a while, Wang Liu'er finished dressing up and bowed to Ximen Qing before going back. Wang Jing brought tea, and Han Daoguo first offered a cup to Ximen Qing, then drank himself. After finishing the tea, Han Daoguo said, "Thanks to your great kindness, while I am working outside, my wife has always been in your care, and Wang Jing has also benefited from your support. I can't thank you enough. I heard about your child's passing a few days ago, and we had some matters to attend to, so I hope you won't hold it against us. I came to celebrate with you and to apologize." Ximen Qing replied, "No need to be so polite." At that moment, Wang Liu'er sat down as well. Ximen Qing asked Han Daoguo, "Have you talked to your dad?" Han Daoguo replied, "Not yet." Ximen Qing asked, "About what?" Wang Liu'er said, "He wants to invite two girls to serve you, but I thought it would be inconvenient, so I didn’t invite them. The neighbor, the Le family, has a daughter, Sister Shen Er, who can sing all sorts of songs. I heard her singing at home a few days ago, and she sings way better than Sister Yu. I would like to invite her to sing for you; what do you think? If that’s okay, I’ll ask her to come over tomorrow to sing for your wife and the others too." Ximen Qing said, "Having her here would be even better; bring her out so I can see her."
Han Daoguo asked Dai An to assist Ximen Qing in taking off his clothes, prepare the banquet, and Hu Xiu served the dishes. Wang Liu'er opened the wine and warmed it, pouring it into cups nearby. Han Daoguo poured wine for Ximen Qing and then called for Shen Erjie to come out. When Ximen Qing saw her, Shen Erjie was beautifully dressed and bowed to him. Ximen Qing asked her age and how many songs she could sing. Shen Erjie said she was twenty-one and could sing over a hundred songs. Ximen Qing asked Han Daoguo to arrange a seat for her. After Shen Erjie greeted him, she took her seat, first playing the zither and performing a piece titled "Autumn Fragrance Pavilion," then had her meal and sang another piece titled "Half Ten Thousand Thieves." After three rounds of drinks, Ximen Qing said, "Take away the zither and bring her a pipa, let her sing some lighter songs." Shen Erjie played and sang a song titled "Four Not Responding • Mountain Slope Sheep." Han Daoguo asked Wang Liu'er to fill Ximen Qing's cup. Wang Liu'er asked, "Shen Erjie, can you sing 'Locking the Southern Branch' for the old man?" Shen Erjie then sang "Locking the Southern Branch":
When we first met, it was such a delight, youthful and vibrant, still in my youth. Two dark locks like clouds, a hint of red on my lips, my face rivals that of peach blossoms and tender bamboo shoots. If born in a painted pavilion, I would indeed be a lady of distinction. Unfortunately, in Zhangtai, I've become of a lower status. But being able to remarry and live respectably is better than discarding the old for the new.
When we first met, how charming it was, with a moon-like face and flower-like beauty, the least among the dust and wind. A slim waist, just enough to sketch, a clever heart that is hard to learn; I only regret not meeting him earlier. Often I complain at the banquet, lightly sipping and singing while cuddling. A single glance reveals the truth, a look brings satisfaction. Though it's just a fleeting joy, I'll use it to ease my worries and sorrows.
Ximen Qing listened to "Locking the South Branch" and thought about how he had just married Zheng Yue'er, feeling very pleased. Wang Liu'er filled his cup again and said, "Father, take your time drinking. Sister Shen can sing many more tunes. If you're free tomorrow, let’s invite her to sing for your wife and the others; she’ll surely sing better than Sister Yu." Ximen Qing asked, "Sister Shen, I'll send someone to pick you up on the Double Ninth Festival, will you come?" Sister Shen replied, "Of course, I wouldn’t dare not to come!" Seeing her cleverness, Ximen Qing was very happy.
After a while, everyone was toasting each other, and Wang Liu'er found it awkward to speak just then, so she let Ximen Qing sing a few verses. Then, Wang Liu'er quietly said to Han Daoguo, "Let the servant Zhao Di take Sister Le San home to rest." Just before they left, Ximen Qing took out a packet of three taels of silver coins from his sleeve and gave it to Zhao Di to buy strings for her zither. Sister Shen quickly bowed to thank him. Ximen Qing added, "On the eighth day, I’ll have someone come to invite you." Wang Liu'er said, "The master only asked me to let Wang Jing know, and at that time I'll have the servant go invite him." After that, Sister Shen went next door. Han Daoguo told his wife about this and then went back to the shop to sleep, leaving only his wife at the table to drink and play dice with Ximen Qing. After a while, both of them started to feel a little romantic. Ximen Qing got up to change into something more comfortable and then entered Han's wife's room, where they could be alone together. Wang Jing then brought out the lamps and candles to drink with Dai An and Qin Tong in the front room.
That young man Hu Xiu sneaked a few bowls of wine in the kitchen, sent the cook away, and ran next door to Wang Luer's room to sleep on a mat on the floor. After sleeping for a while, he suddenly heard voices coming from the woman's chamber and saw light coming through the cracks in the wall. He thought it must be Ximen Qing, while Han Daoguo was likely asleep in the other room. He secretly used the hairpin on his head to poke a hole in the paper on the wall and peeked through. He saw the room lit up; Ximen Qing and Han's wife were in there... Han's wife's various flirtatious tones could be heard. After a while, Han's wife said, "My dear! If you want to burn that hussy to death, go ahead and burn whichever part you want; she won't stop you. Anyway, her body belongs to you, what is there to fear?" Ximen Qing said, "I'm worried your family will get mad." Han's wife said, "That coward doesn't have the guts! What does he even live on?" Ximen Qing said, "Since you are wholeheartedly with me, after we send him and Lai Bao away this time, we’ll let him stay down south for a while to do some buying." Han's wife said, "Let him leave after some time. Don’t let him sit around at home! He's used to being outside and wants to stay there. If you look after him, that’d be perfect! When he comes back, I’ll find someone else for him; I don’t want him around anymore, I'll be devoted to you, wherever you want me to be. If I ever lie, let me rot!" Ximen Qing said, "My child, stop making vows!" Hu Xiu heard every move and word from the two of them clearly.
Han Daoguo returned home and did not see Hu Xiu. He thought he must have gone to sleep in the shop. He went to the satin shop and asked Wang Xian and Rong Hai, both said Hu Xiu hadn't shown up. Han Daoguo went back home, opened the door, and looked everywhere for Hu Xiu but couldn't find him. He only saw Wang Jing drinking with Dai An and Qin Tong in the front room. When Hu Xiu heard Han Daoguo's voice return, he quickly feigned sleep. After a short while, Han Daoguo lit a lamp and discovered the Buddha hall. He saw Hu Xiu sleeping soundly, so he gave him a kick to wake him up and scolded him, "You lazy bum, get up! I thought you were sleeping in the shop, but here you are, sleeping like a log! Get up and come with me!" Hu Xiu rubbed his eyes and groggily followed Han Daoguo to the shop.
Ximen Qing and Mrs. Han took an hour to finish. Then they burned incense at three spots: Wang Liuer's heart, navel, and coccyx. Mrs. Han put on her clothes, had the maid bring water for her to wash her hands, warmed up the wine, and served some delicious dishes, while the two continued to exchange sweet nothings. After eating for a while, they got up and rode home on horseback, with Dai An, Wang Jing, and Qin Tong following. When they got home, it was already past midnight. Ximen Qing went to Li Ping-er's room. Li Ping-er was lying in bed, and seeing him stumble in drunk, she asked, "Where did you drink today?" Ximen Qing said, "Han Daoguo invited me for a drink. He noticed I was troubled about the child, so he helped me relax. He also invited a young lady, Shen Erjie, who sang really well! Tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival; I'll have the servants carry a sedan chair to bring her home, let her sing for two days to lift your spirits. Don't keep thinking about those unhappy things." He then wanted to call Yingchun to help him get undressed so he could sleep with Li Ping-er. Li Ping-er said, "Don't talk! I'm not feeling well lately; the maid is brewing medicine for me. Go sleep in another room. You see me looking fine all day, yet I'm actually very upset inside, and you still come to pester me." Ximen Qing said, "My darling! I can't bear to be away from you. I just want to sleep with you, what should I do?" Li Ping-er glanced at him, smiled, and said, "Who believes your flowery words? You won't truly miss me until I'm gone!" She added, "Wait until I'm feeling better, then you can come in and sleep with me." Ximen Qing sat for a while and said, "Alright, alright. If you don't want me, I'll go sleep at Pan Liu'er's place." Li Ping-er said, "Go ahead, so you won't feel wronged. She's waiting for you; if you don't go, you'll come bother me." Ximen Qing said, "If that's what you say, then I won't be going." Li Ping-er smiled and said, "Just kidding, go on." So Ximen Qing left. Li Ping-er got up, sat on the bed, and Yingchun served her the medicine. She picked up the medicine, couldn't hold back her tears, let out a deep sigh, and then drank the medicine.
That's right:
I have countless sorrows in my heart; I express them to the oriole's song.
As soon as Ximen Qing entered, he said, "Wife, are you going to bed so early?" Jinlian replied, "Oh, what brings you here?" Then she asked him, "Which friend’s house did you drink at today?" Ximen Qing said, "Han Lao Di came from the south, saw that I had no children, so he invited me to have a drink and unwind, and also had him go out for a trip." Jinlian said, "He's outside, and you're taking care of his wife?" Ximen Qing replied, "That doesn’t make sense; he’s just a friend!" Jinlian said, "What’s wrong with being friends? I’m worried you might be crossing a line! You’re still trying to lie to me, aren’t you? I know everything! On your birthday, that vixen Li Ping'er wasn't there? You secretly gave Li Ping'er a birthday hairpin to wear, Big Madam, Meng San'er, who didn't see it? Ask them, their faces turned red, didn’t they tell you? Where have you been messing around today? You shameless jerk! That pretty, flowery getup! What a good wife, huh? Just a little tramp! I don't care what you like about her! Even your spineless brother-in-law is in on this, always letting him pass messages to you!" Ximen Qing refused to admit it, smiling and saying, "Nonsense, that's impossible! Today he accompanied me for a drink and didn't go out." Jinlian said, "Are you still lying to me? Who doesn't know his husband is a useless man, herding sheep and gambling, leaving his wife to you, hoping you'll make money! You fool, always listening to gossip!" Ximen Qing stripped off his clothes and sat on the edge of the bed. Jinlian touched his private part, saying, "Here we go again! You're like a boiled duck, still in denial! Mixing with that vixen until so late before coming back, still in denial! You swear it, and I’ll have Chunmei get you a glass of cold water; you drink it, then I’ll believe you. Let me tell you, that’s just pointless! If you really are like this, you could have seduced every wife in the world! Shameless thing! A pervert! If you were a man, if you were a woman, you could have seduced the whole street!" Ximen Qing just grinned sheepishly.
Once in bed, Jin Lian asked Chun Mei to bring hot wine, took a medicinal pill, lay down, and said to Jin Lian, "Wife, go down and serve me for a bit; it’s up to your skills." Jin Lian feigned anger and replied, "You’re out there with that vixen and expect me to serve you? It makes me sick!" Ximen Qing retorted, "Nonsense, that’s ridiculous!" Jin Lian replied, "Not true? Swear it!" After some passionate moments, Ximen Qing wanted to wash his hands, but he hesitated... The two of them tossed and turned for most of the night before finally falling asleep.
Before we knew it, it was the Double Ninth Festival. Ximen Qing said to Wu Yue Niang, "Brother Han treated me to drinks a couple of days ago and introduced me to a gorgeous and talented singer named Shen Er Jie. I had someone bring her over to sing for a couple of days for you all to enjoy." He also instructed the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous feast and set up a banquet in the garden for the whole family to celebrate the Double Ninth Festival.
Soon after, Wang Jing brought Shen Erjie over. Shen Erjie greeted Lady Yu and the others. Lady Yu noticed she was young and beautiful and asked her what songs she knew. She didn't know many songs, but she did know several little tunes. They first served her some tea snacks, and she sang a couple of songs in the backyard before going to the garden to set up a banquet. That day, Ximen Qing stayed home instead of going to the yamen, admiring the chrysanthemums. He invited Lady Yu, Li Jiaor, Meng Yulou, Pan Jinlian, Li Ping'er, Sun Xue'e, and the eldest sister for a meal, while Chunmei, Yuxiao, Yingchun, and Lanxiang poured wine on the side. Shen Erjie first played the pipa and sang a tune. Li Ping'er arrived a little later, feeling unwell. She forced herself to stay with Ximen Qing, barely touching her drink. Ximen Qing and Lady Yu saw her looking worried and said, "Sister Li, just relax and enjoy Shen Erjie’s singing." Yulou chimed in, "Just tell her what you want to hear." Li Ping'er stayed quiet. Just then, while they were drinking, Wang Jing came and said, "Ying La'er and Chang La'er have arrived." Ximen Qing said, "Ask them to sit in the small pavilion; I'll be there soon." Wang Jing said, "Chang La'er brought two boxes." Ximen Qing said to Lady Yu, "They’re here to thank me for helping them with their houses." Lady Yu said, "Make sure to treat them well, and don’t let them leave empty-handed! You go entertain them; I'll instruct the preparation of dishes." Before he left, Ximen Qing said to Shen Erjie, "Sing something nice for Liu Niang to enjoy." After he left, Jinlian urged, "Sister Li, just say what you want to hear! Let Shen Erjie sing; don’t waste her kindness! You invited her, but you're not saying anything." Li Ping'er was pressured and finally said after a while, "Sing 'Purple Street, Red Dust'." Shen Erjie said, "No problem, I know it." She picked up the zither and sang a song. After singing, Lady Yu said, "Sister Li, good wine, have a drink." Li Ping'er didn’t dare to refuse, took a sip, and put it down again. She didn’t stay long before she felt worse and headed back to her room.
Ximen Qing came to the small pavilion, Feixuexuan, and saw Ying Bojue and Chang Zhijie enjoying chrysanthemums. There were twenty pots of seven-foot-tall chrysanthemums on both sides of the pine wall, featuring a variety of species, including Dahongpao, Zhuangyuanhong, Zipaojindai, Baifenxi, Huangfenxi, Mantianxing, Zuiyangfei, Yumudan, Emaochu, Yuanyanghua, and more. When Ximen Qing arrived, the two quickly stood up to greet him. Chang Zhijie had someone bring in a large box. Ximen Qing asked, "What’s this delicious treat?" Bojue said, "Brother Chang is grateful for your care; he just bought a house, and there's not much I can do to repay you, so his wife made some crabs and roast duck, inviting you and me to have a meal." Ximen Qing said, "Brother Chang, why bother? Your wife just recovered from illness, and you’re making her worry again!" Bojue replied, "I advised him the same, but he said you might not like anything else." Ximen Qing had the box opened to reveal forty large crabs, all cleaned and stuffed with meat, coated in spices, ginger, garlic, and flour, fried, and then seasoned with soy sauce and vinegar, which looked incredibly appetizing. There were also two large and fat roast ducks. Ximen Qing was delighted and had Chunhong and Wang Jing take the food inside, gave the box carriers fifty wen as a reward, and then thanked Chang Zhijie.
Qin Tong pulled back the curtain and invited them into the Feicui Pavilion. The Earl kept praising the stunning chrysanthemums and asked Ximen Qing, "Where did you get these flowers?" Ximen Qing said, "They were sent by the eunuch Liu from the brick factory. These twenty pots were sent all at once." The Earl said, "The flowers don't matter, but this pot is an official kiln double-hoop Dengjiang pot, polished with silk, made by stepping on mud and firing, using the same technique as that for Suzhou's Dengjiang bricks. It's hard to find now!" After the praise, Ximen Qing had tea served. He then asked Chang Zhijie, "When are you moving in?" The Earl said, "I will move in three days after paying. I chose an auspicious day, bought some odds and ends, and the shop is now open. Chang Er's brother-in-law is helping him watch the shop." Ximen Qing said, "I will buy some gifts another day, not too many guests, just invite Xie Zichun and a few others. I will have the food sent over; don't trouble Chang Er again. Call a few more prostitutes; we'll help liven up the place and have a good time." Chang Zhijie said, "I want to invite you too, but I haven't had the courage; the place is too small, afraid of neglecting you." Ximen Qing said, "No need to be polite, you don't have to worry about it. Let's call Xie Zichun now and discuss together." He then instructed Qin Tong, "Go invite Xie Dad!" The Earl asked, "Brother, who do you plan to invite that day?" Ximen Qing smiled and said, "Let's invite Zheng Yuer and Hong Sier." The Earl said, "Brother, you didn't even tell me when you invited them; how was I supposed to know? How do they compare to Li Gua'er in terms of skills?" Ximen Qing said, "They are absolute stunners; there's no comparison!" The Earl said, "Why were they so cold and reluctant on your birthday, also a debauched lot?" Ximen Qing said, "I will go again another day and bring you along. You and Sister Yue played well in Double Six; you can play together." The Earl said, "I’ll go meet that little minx when the time comes; don't let her run away!" Ximen Qing said, "You old dog, don't always think about those things." Just then, Xie Xida arrived, exchanged pleasantries before sitting down. Ximen Qing said, "Chang Er has moved to a new house, keeping it a secret from us; he has already moved. Let's each contribute some money; don't bother him anymore. I've got everything set here; I will have things carried to his house and invite a few more prostitutes. What do you say to making it a fun day?" Xie Xida said, "Brother, you tell us how much each person should contribute; we will all send it to you. And who else is coming?" Ximen Qing said, "Just these three or four; two taels of silver each should do." The Earl said, "Ten people would be too much; his place is pretty small."
Sorry, but it seems the text for translation is missing. Could you send me the Simplified Chinese text? I’ll be happy to translate it for you. Looking forward to your text!
Just as they were talking, the young musician came in and said, "Uncle Wu has arrived." Ximen Qing said, "Please have Uncle Wu come in." A moment later, Uncle Wu entered, greeted everyone, and exchanged pleasantries with Ximen Qing. Tea was served, and after finishing the tea, Uncle Wu stood up and said, "Please come with me for a few words." Ximen Qing quickly led Uncle Wu to the back room. Madam Ximen was still in the pavilion drinking and watching the show with her sisters. Upon hearing that Uncle Wu had arrived and Ximen Qing was talking to him in the back, she went to the upper room, greeted Uncle Wu, and asked Xiaoyu to serve tea. Uncle Wu took out ten taels of silver from his sleeve and handed it to Madam Ximen, saying, "I just received thirty taels from the household yesterday. Brother-in-law, please take these ten taels for now, and I will send the rest next time." Ximen Qing said, "Uncle Wu, why are you so polite? Please use it first, no rush!" Uncle Wu said, "I’m worried about holding up your business, brother-in-law." Ximen Qing asked, "How is the warehouse construction going?" Uncle Wu said, "It will take another month to complete." Ximen Qing said, "When it's finished, there will surely be some rewards." Uncle Wu said, "The military and civil service exams are coming up this year. I hope brother-in-law can help me and speak for me." Ximen Qing said, "Uncle Wu, you can count on me."
After finishing speaking, Yue Niang said, "Please ask Uncle to come sit up front with us." Uncle said, "I think I'll head out; I don't want to interrupt your conversation." Ximen Qing said, "No worries. Brother Chang borrowed some money from me recently to buy a house and has already moved in. He came today to thank me and to get everyone together. Uncle's presence is just right." So he invited Uncle to sit up front. Yue Niang quickly called the kitchen to get the dishes ready. Qintong and Wang Jing set the table, and Ximen Qing asked someone to open the storeroom and take out a jar of chrysanthemum wine sent by Judge Xia. When the jar was opened, a delightful fragrance filled the air; it wasn't filtered, so they first added a bottle of cold water to remove the spiciness, then filtered it with a cloth bag, resulting in a rich, flavorful wine that was even better than grape wine. He asked Wang Jing to pour a cup with a small golden cup, first for Uncle Wu to taste, then the Earl and the others also tried it, all praising it endlessly. After a bit, the dishes were served, and everyone dug in. Then they brought out crabs and roast duck, and the Earl insisted Uncle eat first. Even Xie Xi remarked he had never had anything so delicious and crispy. Ximen Qing said, "This is from Brother Chang." Uncle said, "I've lived fifty-two years and never knew crabs could be made like this; it's absolutely delicious!" The Earl then asked, "Have the ladies in the back tried it?" Ximen Qing said, "They've all tried it." The Earl said, "Sister Chang really knows her stuff!" Chang Zhi Jie smiled and said, "If it’s not up to par, I hope you all can forgive me."
After eating the crab, someone next to him came over to pour wine. Ximen Qing asked Chunhong and Shutong to take turns singing Nanqu to liven things up. Ying Bojue suddenly heard the sound of the zither and singing from the inner room, so he asked Ximen Qing, "Brother, is Li Guijie here today? Otherwise, how could there be such good music?" Ximen Qing said, "Listen closely and see if you can tell who it is." Bojue said, "It's not Li Guijie, it's Wu Yiner." Ximen Qing said, "You're just guessing! It's a young lady." Bojue said, "Is it Yu Dajie?" Ximen Qing said, "It's not her either—this is Shen Erjie. She's young, beautiful, and can sing." Bojue said, "Is she really that good? Brother, why don’t you let her come out so we can see her? Let her sing a few songs for us to enjoy." Ximen Qing said, "Today you ladies are celebrating; I specially invited her to play, with your keen nose, always so sharp!" Bojue said, "I've got eyes like a hawk and ears like a fox; even if there are bees buzzing forty miles away, I can hear it!" Xie Xida said, "You, your ears are like bamboo sticks, afraid of not hearing!" The two of them joked for a while, and Bojue said, "Brother, just let her come out for us to see; we won't embarrass her, just let her sing a few songs for the old uncle to listen to, don't be too strict." Ximen Qing couldn't say no to him, so he let Wang Jing lead Shen Erjie out to sing for Bojue. After a while, Shen Erjie arrived, bowed, and took a seat in the chair beside her. Bojue asked Shen Erjie, "How old are you?" Shen Erjie answered, "I'm a cow in the zodiac, twenty-one years old." He asked again, "How many songs can you sing?" Shen Erjie said, "I can play various tunes on the pipa and zither, about a hundred or so." Bojue said, "That's plenty for you to know." Ximen Qing said, "Shen Erjie, play the pipa and sing a little something, but don't overdo it. I heard you can sing 'Four Dreams Eight Emptiness'; sing a section for the uncle." Then he told Wang Jing and Shutong to pour some wine. Shen Erjie, wearing beautiful clothes, gently opened her mouth and began to sing softly, while everyone drank and listened.
Li Ping'er returned to the room, just sat on the toilet, and it felt like she was continuously urinating. Suddenly, she felt lightheaded and her vision went black. She stood up to dress, but suddenly felt dizzy and fell to the ground. Fortunately, Yingchun was there to support her, so she didn't fall more seriously, only grazing her forehead. Yingchun and the nurse helped her onto the bed, and she fainted for a while. Yingchun was frightened and hurriedly told Xiuchun, "Quick, go tell the madam!" Xiuchun ran to the banquet hall and explained the situation to Lady Yuelao and the others. Lady Yuelao set down her wine glass and hurried over to see Li Ping'er with her sisters. They saw Yingchun and the nurse supporting an unconscious Li Ping'er as she sat on the bed. Lady Yuelao asked, "She was fine when she entered the room, how did she suddenly become like this?" Yingchun lifted the toilet lid to show Lady Yuelao, which startled her. Lady Yuelao said, "She probably drank too much, causing her blood pressure to spike, which resulted in so much bleeding." Yulou and Jinlian both said, "When did she drink so much?" as they prepared some ginger soup to help her. After a while, Li Ping'er finally woke up and could speak. Lady Yuelao asked, "Sister Li, what's wrong with you?" Li Ping'er said, "I don't know what's going on. I just got up from the toilet and dressed, and I felt a blackness in front of my eyes, then dizziness and fainting." Lady Yuelao instructed An'er to "fetch your father and have him call a doctor for you." Li Ping'er chided, "Don't make a fuss; let him enjoy his drink." Lady Yuelao told Yingchun, "Make up the bed for her to rest." Since Lady Yuelao couldn't drink anymore, she instructed everyone to pack up and head back.
In the evening, Ximen Qing had dinner with Wu Dajiu and the others, then returned to Yu Niang's room. Yu Niang told Ximen Qing what had happened to Li Ping'er. Ximen Qing quickly went to check on Li Ping'er. Seeing her lying on the bed, with a pale face, she clutched Ximen Qing's sleeve and cried. Ximen Qing asked her what happened, and Li Ping'er said, "I was sitting on the toilet in the room, and I don't know what happened; I kept feeling a flow like I was urinating, then everything went black in front of me. When I stood up to get dressed, I felt dizzy and then fell down." Ximen Qing noticed a cut on her forehead and said, "The maids were right there, why didn’t they help you and stop you from falling?" Li Ping'er replied, "Fortunately, the older maids were all there with the wet nurse helping me; otherwise, I don't know how badly I would have been hurt." Ximen Qing said, "I'll have Dr. Ren come to check on you tomorrow morning." That night, Ximen Qing slept in the bed across from Li Ping'er.
The next morning, Ximen Qing went to the government office and casually instructed the qintong to invite Doctor Ren. He only arrived at noon. Ximen Qing first hosted him for tea in the hall, then had a servant take him inside. Li Ping'er’s room was tidied up and filled with the fragrance of incense before inviting Doctor Ren in. After examining the pulse, Doctor Ren walked to the hall and said to Ximen Qing, "The old lady's pulse is significantly heavier than before. The seven emotions have affected the liver, and excessive heat in the lungs has caused the liver to become overactive, resulting in a weak spleen and a chaotic heat in the blood, akin to an uncontrollable landslide. If the blood that flows out is purple, it can still be adjusted; if it is bright red, then it is fresh blood. I will prescribe some medicine, and if it can stop the bleeding even slightly, there is still hope; otherwise, the prognosis is uncertain." Ximen Qing replied, "Please, esteemed doctor, take great care in your treatment, and I will be sure to reward you handsomely!" Doctor Ren said, "Not at all! We have a good relationship and established ties; I will certainly do my utmost." After sending off Doctor Ren, Ximen Qing gave him a piece of Hangzhou silk and two taels of silver, then asked the qintong to bring the medicine known as "Gui Pi Decoction." Li Ping'er took it, but the bleeding still would not stop. Ximen Qing grew increasingly anxious and called for Doctor Hu to examine her. Doctor Hu explained that it was due to qi clashing with the blood vessels and heat entering the blood system, and he also prescribed medicine. However, after taking the medicine, it was as if a stone had sunk into the sea, having no effect whatsoever.
Madame Yue saw the chaos caused by calling for a doctor, so she allowed Shen Erjie to stay for just one night. She gave her five silver coins, a luxurious brocade jacket, and some jewelry, all packed in a box, and sent her back in a sedan chair. Since that day when Hua Zi drank alcohol, he heard that Li Ping'er was sick, so he had Hua Dashi buy two boxes of gifts to visit her. Seeing Li Ping'er looking thin and pale, not as lively as before, they both ended up crying together in the room. Madame Yue poured tea for Hua Zi from behind. Han Daoguo said, "There's a skilled gynecologist named Zhao outside Dongmen, who is highly skilled in treating gynecological diseases. Two years ago, when my wife had irregular menstruation, he cured her. Sir, please invite him to see Li Ping'er; I guarantee she will get better." Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing sent Qin Tong and Wang Jing to invite Zhao the physician from outside the gate. Ximen Qing discussed with Ying Bojue, saying, "Li Ping'er’s illness is getting worse; what are we going to do?" Bojue was shocked and said, "I heard that Li Ping'er’s illness was getting better; how did it become worse again?" Ximen Qing said, "Since the child was lost, she has been very sad, and her illness has come back. On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, I took Shen Erjie to accompany her to cheer her up, but she didn’t really drink much. As a result, she fainted when she returned to the room and even injured her face. I had Doctor Ren come in, who said her pulse was weaker than before. After taking the medicine, the bleeding increased even more." Bojue asked, "Did you invite Doctor Hu to see her? What did he say?" Ximen Qing said, "Doctor Hu said it was a collision of qi and blood, but his medicine didn't work either. Today, Han Huoji said there's a physician named Zhao Longgang outside the gate who specializes in gynecological diseases, so I sent someone to invite him. I'm so anxious I'm at my wit's end because of this child. Women, they're so stubborn; I can't persuade her, there's just no way to change her mind."
As they were speaking, Ping'an came to report: "Mr. Qiao has arrived." Ximen Qing hastily ushered him into the main hall, along with the Count, where they greeted him and took their seats. Mr. Qiao said, "I heard that Madam Liu has not been feeling well, so I came to visit." Ximen Qing replied, "Yes, ever since she lost the child, she has been very sorrowful. Her health was already not great, and now it has actually worsened. I really appreciate your concern." Mr. Qiao asked, "Have you had a doctor check on her?" Ximen Qing said, "She has been taking medicine from Doctor Ren all along. Yesterday, we also consulted Mr. Hu, but her condition actually got worse after taking the medicine. Today, we have invited Zhao Longgang, a specialist in gynecology." Mr. Qiao suggested, "There's an old doctor named Mr. He who lives near the county gate, and he is very skilled in medicine. His son, He Qixuan, is also an official physician. Why not invite him to take a look?" Ximen Qing agreed, "Alright, we will wait for Zhao Longgang to arrive, then we will invite him." Mr. Qiao continued, "I think it’d be better to have Mr. He come first, and then wait for Zhao Longgang. Let them both diagnose together, identify the root cause of the illness, and prescribe the appropriate treatment. It will definitely be effective." Ximen Qing said, "You are right." He immediately sent Dai'an with a note to ask Mr. Qiao to help invite Mr. He.
Not long after, Mr. He arrived. He greeted Ximen Qing and Mr. Qiao, and took a seat of honor. Ximen Qing stood up and said, "I haven't seen you in many years; you look even more lively now." Mr. Qiao asked, "How is your son doing?" Mr. He replied, "He is very busy in the county every day, no free time. But I'm still out here seeing patients." The Count remarked, "At your age, you’re still so healthy." Mr. He said, "I am eighty-one years old this year." After some pleasantries and tea, a servant led Mr. He to the inner room. Soon, Mr. He came out from the inner room, and Mrs. Li was so thin she was almost unrecognizable, her face as pale as parchment, her body as frail as a silver thread. Her once plump figure had withered away, losing its former luster. Distantly, she heard the sound of something falling, and she dimly saw fireflies flickering. Her pulse was weak and faint, her spirit elusive. The grim reapers were already at her door, and even the best doctors were struggling to help her.
After Mr. He finished examining her pulse, he came out and told Ximen Qing and Qiao Yuanwai, "This lady's condition was caused by a conflict of qi and blood, followed by anger. This conflict caused her to bleed continuously. I wonder if this was the original cause of her illness?" Ximen Qing asked, "So, what should we do to treat it?"
As they were speaking, someone announced: "Qintong and Wang Jing have invited Mr. Zhao." Mr. He asked, "Who is he?" Ximen Qing said, "He is also a doctor recommended by our colleague; you can act as if you don't know him. After he checks your pulse, you can discuss it with him to find the right treatment." After a while, Doctor Zhao arrived. After Ximen Qing greeted him, everyone introduced themselves. Mr. He and Exalted Qiao sat in the middle, Doctor Zhao sat on the left, the Earl on the right, and Ximen Qing sat in the main seat with them. After having tea, Doctor Zhao asked, "What are your honorable surnames?" Exalted Qiao said, "One of us is surnamed He, and the other is surnamed Qiao." The Earl said, "My surname is Ying. I believe this must be Mr. Zhao Longgang." Doctor Zhao replied, "Longgang is my courtesy name. I earn my living as a physician. My ancestors were officials in the Imperial Medical Bureau, and my father was a royal physician in Ruzhou. Our family has been in the medical profession for three generations. I read every book without exception every day, including the 'Wang Shuhe Pulse Classic,' 'Dongyuan's Herbal Remedies for Famine,' 'Huangdi's Inner Canon,' 'Nanjing,' 'The Book of Living,' 'Danxi's Heart Method,' 'Danxi's Hand Mirror,' 'Jie Gu Old Man's Pulse Formula,' 'Treatise on Febrile Diseases,' 'Essentials of Golden Coffer,' 'Thousand Gold Prescriptions,' 'Divine Prescriptions for Longevity,' and 'Sea Treasure Classic.' I use practical methods and medicines, and the pulse feels like divine calculation in my hands. The six energies and four seasons distinguish the patterns of yin and yang; the seven surfaces and eight distances determine the fluctuations of the pulse. The symptoms of wind, deficiency, cold, and heat are all apparent; the pulse theories of string, flooding, and leather are fully understood. I struggle with words and find it hard to explain clearly." Mr. He asked, "What do you look at first when diagnosing?" Doctor Zhao said, "The ancients taught 'observe, listen, inquire, and palpate.' I first ask about the illness, then check the pulse, and also observe the complexion. It's like a fortune teller interpreting the eight characters; only then can an accurate diagnosis be made." Mr. He said, "That's perfect; please go inside and have a look." Ximen Qing told Qintong, "Stop chattering, Mr. Zhao is here."
After a while, Ximen Qing accompanied Doctor Zhao into Li Ping'er's room. Li Ping'er had just fallen asleep, so they gently helped her sit up against the pillow. Doctor Zhao first examined her left hand, then her right hand, and then said, "Madam, please lift your head so I can see your complexion." Li Ping'er lifted her head. Doctor Zhao said to Ximen Qing, "Sir, why don't you ask her who I am?" Ximen Qing asked Li Ping'er, "Can you tell me who this is?" Li Ping'er looked up and whispered, "He's the doctor, right?" Doctor Zhao reassured, "It's alright, she can still recognize people." Ximen Qing said, "Doctor Zhao, please take a careful look, I sincerely thank you." After observing for a while, Doctor Zhao said, "Madam's illness, forgive me for being blunt, judging from her complexion and pulse, it's not typhoid fever; it's a complex condition, not postpartum, definitely a pre-pregnancy disease." Ximen Qing said, "It's not that illness. Doctor, please take another look." Doctor Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "With this yellow complexion, it might be spleen deficiency with diarrhea, or irregular menstruation." Ximen Qing said, "To tell you the truth, Liu Niangzi has prolonged menstrual bleeding, that's why her body is so weak. Do you have any urgent remedies? I would be very grateful." Doctor Zhao said, "Indeed it's irregular menstruation, nothing serious, I have medicine."
Ximen Qing brought Doctor Zhao to the front hall, where Qiao Dahuzi and Master He asked what illness he had. Doctor Zhao said, "I believe it's gonorrhea." Master He asked, "What medicine should be used to treat it?" Doctor Zhao said, "I have an effective prescription, which includes several herbs; once taken, it will surely work. Listen carefully: licorice, mirabilite, gongshi, rhubarb, croton, and chrysanthemum, mixed with ginger juice and half-dried pinellia, then add aconite, almond, and gastrodia. Mix these herbs together, make them into pills with onion and honey, and take them with warm liquor first thing in the morning."
Mr. He listened and said, "I'm afraid it might be too strong to take?" Mr. Zhao replied, "Since ancient times, good medicine may taste bitter, but it's good for the illness; how can you not take it?" Seeing that he's just talking nonsense, and also because this was recommended by Manager Han, Mr. Ximen didn’t want to just kick him out, so he gave him two silver coins and sent him away. Then he said to Mr. Qiao, "This guy doesn't know anything about medicine." Mr. He said, "I hesitated to say earlier, this person is Zhao Daogui, a well-known quack outside Dongmen, who makes a living conning people on the street. He doesn’t know the first thing about pulse diagnosis or pathology!" He then said, "I will go home and get two sets of medicine for Madam. If the dripping symptoms ease up after taking the medicine and the chest feels more comfortable, then you can continue with the medication. Just be careful if the symptoms don’t go away; that could be a problem." After saying that, he got up to leave.
Ximen Qing gave him a tael of silver and asked Daian to take the box to get the medicine. In the evening, Li Pinger took the medicine, but there was no reaction at all. Wu Yueniang said, "Don't give her random medicine anymore. She has digestive issues, and she doesn't know what's in her stomach. You're just making her suffer with medicine. Wu Shenxian said before that she would have a life-threatening event at the age of thirty-nine, but she's only twenty-seven this year! You should find Wu Shenxian again and have him assess her fortune for this year. Maybe she has offended some stars and needs to ward off disasters and pray for blessings." Ximen Qing immediately sent someone to Zhou Shoubei's mansion to inquire. The messenger reported back, "Wu Shenxian travels around the world, and his whereabouts are uncertain. If he is in the local area, he is usually near the city's south land temple. After April this year, he went to Wudang Mountain. If you want a fortune-telling, there's a Mr. Huang outside the Zhenwu Temple who is accurate; he charges three taels of silver per reading and doesn't do door-to-door calculations." Ximen Qing immediately sent Chen Jingji to Mr. Huang's house north of the Zhenwu Temple with three taels of silver. There was a sign on Mr. Huang's door: "Calculating innate numerology, three taels of gold per fate hexagram." Chen Jingji went forward, handed over the gold, and said, "I would like to ask Mr. Huang to calculate a hexagram." Then he wrote down Li Pinger's birth date and time for him: female, twenty-seven years old, January 15th, noon. Mr. Huang calculated for a while and said, "This fate, Xinyin year, Gengyin month, Xinmao day, Jawu hour, should adopt the seal and tranquilize the pattern, borrowing four years to run. At ages 4, 14, 24, and 34, significant events occur. This year, the current year is Dingyou, with the assistance of the shoulder, the year's injury to the day stem, the calculation of the star shining on the fate, and also offending the funeral door and the five ghosts, disasters and killings. The star of the calculation is the dark star. Its image is like chaotic silk without a head, constantly changing. When encountering it in the great fortune, it mostly indicates ambiguous matters, can lead to illness, and during January, February, March, July, and September, she may face health issues and misfortune. There will be misfortune in small matters, and disputes with others, leading to loss of wealth. This is particularly unfavorable for women." Chen Jingji copied down the hexagram and returned. Ximen Qing was sitting with Ying Bojue and Wen Xiucai when he saw Chen Jingji return with the hexagram, and he asked him to go to the backyard and explain the results of the hexagram to Yueniang.
Seeing Li Ping'er was fated for misfortune, Ximen Qing felt...
Adorned with three yellow braids on the brow; within the heart lies a heavy burden.
