The poem says:
In the misty grass of Xianggao, lush and verdant, tears fall with the east wind, recalling the delicate lady. It is said that Chang'e can enter the moon, yet I wonder if the divine maiden becomes clouds.
Sitting idly under the flower shade with golden shears, in the bamboo grove, spring dances in a cool green skirt. The remnants of the painting and brocade linger, but my heart aches, unable to read the palindrome.
On the twenty-eighth of October, it was the day when Li Ping'er held the seventh day ceremony. Daoist Wu from the Jade Emperor Temple came to perform rites at home, bringing sixteen priests, setting up a ceremonial altar, making it rather grand. Doctor An also sent a greeting card, and Ximen Qing went to entertain the guests. Daoist Wu brought ritual offerings from the temple, along with a piece of cloth for the sacrificial rites. The priests surrounded the coffin chanting scriptures, as Daoist Wu bowed before the altar. Ximen Qing and Jing Ji returned the courtesy, thanking the Daoist for his efforts. The Daoist said his abilities were limited, and this small offering was merely to express his sentiments. Ximen Qing accepted the gifts and dismissed the bearers of offerings. That day, they performed the rites, chanted scriptures, and conducted ceremonies, staying busy all day long, and I won't elaborate on the specific details.
The next day, Aunt Han's family came to offer their condolences. Meng Yulou's brother, Meng Rui, happened to be at home on business, saw that Ximen Qing was holding a funeral, and came along with Aunt Han, bringing a token of mourning and several gifts. Ximen Qing returned the courtesy and visited Meng Yulou's house. Ximen Qing graciously hosted a banquet for them, and the details need not be elaborated.
At noon, the county magistrate Li Gongji, county deputy Qian Sicheng, chief clerk Ren Lianguo, and scribe Xia Gongji, along with the county magistrate of Yanggu, Di Sixiu, a total of five officials, came to offer condolences, dressed in mourning attire, bringing offerings. Ximen Qing arranged a banquet in the tent to entertain them, inviting Uncle Wu and Scholar Wen to accompany, along with three performers to sing and liven the atmosphere.
While they were drinking and enjoying themselves, suddenly someone reported, "Old Man Huang from the brick factory has come to pay respects!" Ximen Qing quickly changed into mourning clothes and waited in front of the coffin. Wen Xiucan had already greeted Old Man Huang outside the gate, brought him to the front hall, and asked him to change his clothes before coming in. The family members brought incense, candles, spirit money, and cloth to the front of the deceased. Old Man Huang lit incense and kowtowed, and Ximen Qing and Jingji bowed in return. Old Man Huang said he was unaware that Li Ping'er had passed away, apologizing for coming late. Ximen Qing mentioned that he didn't usually place much importance on such matters, thanked Old Man Huang for coming to offer condolences, and even accepted the generous gifts. After exchanging pleasantries, Old Man Huang was invited to sit in the canopy, with Ximen Qing and Wen Xiucan accompanying him, serving tea and pouring water. Old Man Huang said Song Songyuan had sent him because the court was building Mount Genyue and had sent Zhu Meng to Jiangnan to procure flowers and stones. There were many troubles on the way, and Song Songyuan was too busy to handle it, so he entrusted Old Man Huang to ask Ximen Qing to help entertain the Imperial Commissioner Liu Huang Taiwei. He also brought gifts from Song Songyuan and money for the banquet from the two ministries and eight mansions. Ximen Qing declined, but Old Man Huang insisted, so Ximen Qing finally accepted. Old Man Huang also said he wanted to visit Shang Liutang, and Ximen Qing mentioned that he knew Shang Liutang and his son Shang Liangquan. Finally, Old Man Huang took his leave.
When the local officials heard that Old Man Huang had brought his superiors, they all hid to drink. Ximen Qing returned to the canopy and told them about the arrival of Liu Huang Taiwei. The officials all said that this matter had brought immense pressure to the state and county, with all costs falling on the state and county, ultimately impacting the common people. They hoped Ximen Qing could help speak a few good words. After their discussion, the officials took their leave.
On Li Ping'er's thirty-seventh birthday, Elder Daojian from Yongfu Temple brought sixteen monks to chant sutras. They were dressed in ornate robes, wearing hats, and playing drums and gongs, in a very grand manner. On the eighth day of the tenth month, which was the forty-seventh day after Li Ping'er's death, Zhao Lama from Baoqing Temple outside the West Gate also brought sixteen monks to chant sutras, perform rituals, sprinkle rice, chant spells, and offer dishes made with milk and cheese. They hung odd and unusual paintings. After lunch, they started the banquet. On that day, Ximen Qing was away from home, as he had gone with Mr. Xu to dig a grave in the cemetery, only returning in the afternoon. In the evening, they finally sent the lamas away.
The next day, they prepared offerings of wine, rice, and dishes, and handed them over to the assistants to arrange. They set up tents in front of the grave and three more tents beside the tomb. They first invited neighbors to eat and drink, and then everyone left with their belongings. The specifics are not elaborated further.
During the day on the eleventh, there were opera singers and drummers who came to pay their respects at the memorial hall, singing various plays such as *Five Ghosts Disturb the Judge*, *Master Zhang Confuses the Ghost*, *Zhong Kui Plays with Little Ghosts*, *Laozi Passes Through Han Guan*, *Six Thieves Disturb Amitabha*, *Plum Blossoms in the Snow*, *Zhuang Zhou Dreams of a Butterfly*, *Heavenly King Descends with Water, Fire, Wind*, *Dong Bin Flies His Sword to Slay the Yellow Dragon*, *Emperor Zhao Sends Jing Niang a Thousand Miles*, and so on. The guests watched from behind the curtains. After the ceremonies, both relatives and friends came to burn paper offerings and mourned.
The next day, the funeral procession began early in the morning, along with flags, banners, pavilions, and paper effigies, with monks, Taoist priests, drummers, musicians, and helpers all in place. Ximen Qing had requested fifty constables from the Marshal's office, armed with bows and arrows. Ten were left at home to guard the house, while the other forty maintained order near the coffin, walking on either side. Twenty soldiers from the yamen cleared the way and were in charge of the funeral items. Twenty gatekeepers were positioned at the grave to gather offerings. Officials, gentry, relatives, and friends who came to pay their respects created a traffic jam with their carriages and horses, clogging the streets. There were over a hundred sedan chairs for Ximen Qing's relatives and friends, along with dozens for the courtesans and their attendants from the three courtyards. Master Xu Yin-yang chose an auspicious time to begin the coffin procession, leaving Sun Xue'e and two nuns at home to watch over the house, while Ping'an and two yamen officers stood guard at the gate. Son-in-law Chen Jingji knelt in front of the coffin and smashed a basin, while sixty-four men carried the coffin and an official stood on a platform, rapping on a wooden board, directing the bearers. Monks from the Baoren Monastery were invited to lift the coffin, after which the procession turned south at the street corner. Onlookers packed the streets. The weather that day was just right, truly a fitting day for a funeral.
With the gentle breeze swaying the beautiful paths, the fine rain refreshes the fragrant earth; the dawn sun rises in the east, while the lingering smoke in the north slowly clears. The funeral drums thrum continuously; ding ding dang dang, the ground gongs resound throughout the night. The banners flutter, prominently displaying nine-foot red silk; flames reach towards the sky, clearing away the yellow mist. Fierce and menacing road demons carry golden axes; suddenly, the treacherous path gods hold silver spears. Carefree and leisurely, the eight immortal beings wander freely; turtles and cranes circle around in harmony. The lively lotus-picking boats are bustling with chatter; tall stilt-walkers, clad in armor and helmets. Sixteen young Taoist boys, all in colorful robes and hair buns, move with the sounds of celestial music; twenty-four plump monks, each in brocade robes, conduct rituals for the five cardinal directions. Twelve grand silk pavilions stand tall, their green and red fabrics fluttering in the breeze; twenty-four smaller silk pavilions are surrounded by pearls and emeralds. To the left, the heavenly warehouse connects with the earthly vault; to the right, the golden mountain and silver mountain form a procession. The kitchen steward displays jars filled with eight delicacies; the incense and candle pavilion offers three ceremonial rites. Six hundred flower pavilions display a thousand brocade patterns; a soul-receiving sedan chair, tied with a hundred yellow silk knots. Here, flowers and snowy willows compete for brilliance; there, treasure canopies and silver banners form a line. Golden and silver banners guard the coffin; white and green silk umbrellas encircle and enhance the structure. The sounds of mourning and filial piety are heard. The procession forms an army, calling and embracing from front to back; welcoming the spirit, performing martial arts while swirling to the left and right. Selling the release is like hawks and falcons; galloping like monkeys. Shoulder stands, somersaults, and passing coins through one's belly, the golden rooster stands proudly, as everyone cheers and boasts. Shoulder to shoulder, pushing and squeezing, in the crowd, they can hardly tell the rich from the poor! Zhang San, the foolish and fat, just exhales in frustration; Li Si, short and squat, frequently trips over his feet. The white-haired old man leans on his cane as he strokes his beard; the green-haired beauty brings her children to the funeral.
Wu Yueniang and the Li family had over ten sedan chairs, following closely behind the coffin. Ximen Qing, in mourning attire, followed closely behind with relatives and friends, while Chen Jingji supported the coffin as they left the east street. Ximen Qing formally invited Daoist Wu from Yuhuang Temple to conduct the funeral rites. Daoist Wu donned a large red crane cloak adorned with colorful patterns, a Nine Yang thunder hat, and red shoes. He held a ceremonial tablet in his hand and sat on a sedan chair carried by four people, leading the funeral procession. He held a portrait of Li Ping'er, with Chen Jingji kneeling in front as the funeral procession came to a stop. Everyone listened as he loudly recited: "Respectfully commemorating the passing of the esteemed Mrs. Li, who passed away at the age of twenty-seven, born in the year of Xinwei, on the fifteenth day of the first month at noon, and departed on the seventeenth day of the ninth month of the seventh year of Zhenghe. The esteemed spirit, a distinguished and charming lady, exuded beauty and grace. She was virtuous and gentle, perfectly complementing her husband. She was talented in music and cultivated fields, having roamed the lands of Chu. She deserved to enjoy a long life, but alas, her spring days were all too brief. Alas! The bright moon wanes, precious things are hard to retain. Good deeds are impermanent, life is finite. Today, the funeral procession proceeds, the red banners flutter, the good husband dances in front of the coffin, and the mourners grieve in the streets. The parting is deep and difficult, memories fade with time. We are unworthy of the divine arts of Guanyin, and we humbly adhere to the teachings of our forebears. We are like reflections in a mirror, unable to return like a butterfly in Zhuang Zhou's dream. We sip sweet dew and savor celestial nectar, transcending knowledge to reach the Purple Palace; we wear treasures and face the Seven Immortals, guiding the pure soul out of the underworld. With a clear mind, the four elements are empty. Suffering, suffering, suffering! The spirit transforms into pure wind and returns to the earth, the true nature departs and will not return, changing faces endlessly. Finally, everyone listened to the last sentence: "Ah! The spirit's purity, where does it go? The true essence remains for future generations to behold."
After Wu Daoguan finished reading, he sat in the sedan chair, which was then taken back. At that moment, the sound of drums was deafening, and the wails were heart-wrenching as the funeral procession slowly made its way out of the south gate. Relatives and friends accompanied Ximen Qing to the city gate, where they mounted their horses. Chen Jingji helped carry the coffin as they reached Wuliyuan on the mountain.
Zhang Tuanlian, accompanied by two hundred soldiers and the ministers Liu and Xue, had already set up a tent on a rise overlooking the tomb. They blew horns, beat gongs and drums, welcomed the funeral procession, and observed the burning of paper offerings as fireworks shot into the sky. Once the coffin reached the foot of the mountain, it was lifted up. Mr. Xu, with the coroners, offered prayers to Hou Tu at the Snake Hour, and then buried the coffin and filled in the earth. Ximen Qing changed his clothes, prepared a pair of ceremonial gifts, and invited Zhou Shoubei from the General's Mansion to officiate the funeral. Guard officials, along with relatives and friends, came to toast Ximen Qing, with music and drums, and fireworks lighting up the sky, creating a lively atmosphere. The finer details are left unmentioned.
After dinner, in the afternoon, they returned to the spirit ceremony, with Wu Yueniang lifting the spirit sedan chair, cradling the deity tablet and the soul banner, while Chen Jingji helped carry the spirit bed. Sixteen drummers and a musical ensemble followed, with young acolytes on both sides playing their instruments. Wu Dajiu, Qiao Dahud, Wu Erjiao, Hua Dajiu, Shen Yifu, Meng Erjiao, Ying Boke, Xie Xida, Wen Xiucai, and many other attendants accompanied Ximen Qing into town. The sedan chair was carried at the back, and they burned incense at the entrance before stepping inside. Li Ping'er’s room was already prepared with the spirit tablet, and Mr. Xu was in the front hall conducting rituals for the deities and tidying up. All the doors were adorned with yellow talismans to ward off evil spirits. They offered Mr. Xu a piece of cloth and five taels of silver as a parting gift. They then took out twenty coins, giving five to the constable, five to the officials at the yamen, and ten to the soldiers in the barracks. They also sent someone to deliver messages to Zhou Shoubei, Zhang Tuanlian, and Xia Tixing; they were all absent, but it was no issue. Ximen Qing wanted to invite Qiao Dahud and Wu Dajiu to join him for dinner, but everyone politely declined and took their leave. Lai Bao came in and said, "The workers are waiting outside to dismantle the tent; they'll come tomorrow." Ximen Qing replied, "Don’t take down the tent just yet; let’s wait until after Old Man Song's banquet." Then he waved the tent builders off. Later, Madame Hua, Madame Qiao, and other guests gathered to properly arrange the spirit tablet, wept for a bit before saying their goodbyes, and then left.
Ximen Qing was reluctant to leave and returned to Li Ping'er's room at night, wanting to accompany the coffin overnight. Seeing the spirit bed positioned in the center, with a large portrait hanging beside it, inside the spirit bed lay a half-body statue of Li Ping'er, adorned with exquisite brocade bedding. There were also a bedside table, clothes, a dressing table, and more. At the foot of the bed were a pair of her tiny golden lotus shoes, and on the table sat incense, flowers, candles, gold plates, wine cups, and various offerings. Ximen Qing wept uncontrollably. He instructed Yingchun to sleep on the opposite kang. In the middle of the night, gazing at the solitary lamp, peering through the half-open window at the crescent moon, he tossed and turned, sighing and lamenting, longing for his beloved. There is a poem as proof:
Sighs and laments echo behind the locked window,
The dance of the phoenix casts a lonely shadow that pierces the heart.
The orchids wither, the Chu fields are soaked in autumn rain,
The maple leaves fall, and the Wu River is covered in frost overnight.
In a past life, our bond was already severed,
In this life, it’s nearly impossible to find the scent of the soul's return.
Surely, there are spirits in the underworld,
Tugging at the hearts of those above and below.
During the day, Ximen Qing personally supervised the maids as they prepared the tea and meals, then sat opposite Li Ping'er to eat together. He raised his chopsticks and said, "Please enjoy your meal," just as he used to do when she was alive. The maids and wet nurses were unable to hold back their tears. Nurse Ruyi always served tea and water, helped out, and chatted whenever she had the chance. This went on for several days. One day, Ximen Qing invited many officials and guests to the house for a memorial gathering, and everyone got drunk. Upon his return, Yingchun urged him to rest. At night, when he wanted tea and called Yingchun with no response, Ruyi appeared with tea. Ximen Qing pulled Ruyi down from the bed, took the tea cup, held the blanket with his hand, and suddenly hugged her neck and kissed her, even sticking his tongue into her mouth. Ruyi didn't say a word. Ximen Qing asked her to take off her clothes and get on the bed. They embraced under the covers, filled with joy, and shared a passionate night. Ruyi said, "Since you’ve taken a liking to me and my mother is gone, I am willing to stay by your side and obey your orders." Ximen Qing said, "Good child, as long as you serve me wholeheartedly, I promise to take care of you!" After hearing this, Ruyi showered him with compliments in bed, and the two of them had a great time, making Ximen Qing very happy.
The next morning, after Ruyi got up, she brought Ximen Qing his shoes, folded the quilt, and was more attentive than Yingchun. Ximen Qing opened the door and discovered four of Li Ping'er’s hairpins to give to her as a reward, and Ruyi expressed her gratitude by kowtowing. Yingchun knew that Ximen Qing had taken Ruyi in, and the two of them were now allies. With the favor she received, Ruyi's position became secure, and she was no longer as cautious as before, dressing beautifully and laughing and chatting with the other maids. Pan Jinlian observed all of this.
This morning, Ximen Qing was sitting with Count Ying when someone suddenly reported that Song Yushi had sent someone to deliver a congratulatory gift from General Huang: two gold urns, two sets of gold cups, ten sets of small silver bells, two sets of silver bowls, four sets of silver reward bells; two large red ceremonial sashes, two pieces of golden satin, ten jars of wine, and two sheep. The messenger also said, "The General's boat has already arrived at Dongchang, please prepare the banquet early and set it for the 18th." Ximen Qing accepted the gifts, gave the messenger two silver coins, and dismissed him. He then quickly exchanged the silver coins, instructed Ben Si and Lai Xing'er to prepare the banquet and purchase items, without going into detail. He said to Ying Bojue, "Since she (Li Ping'er) fell ill, I haven't had a moment's peace. I just wrapped up the funeral, and now this matter has made me busy and flustered." Bojue said, "Brother, don't complain. You didn't actively seek this; he came to trouble you on his own. Although you spend some money to host the banquet for him, think about it, tomorrow, not to mention an imperial envoy and Grand General coming to our house, officials from all over Shandong, governors, and officials of all levels will come to our house, making our home look better." Ximen Qing said, "That's not what I meant. I thought he would come at least by the 20th, but unexpectedly he wants to be welcomed on the 18th, too rushed. It's also her seven-day memorial; I've already given money to Daoist Wu to perform rituals, now it needs to be changed. Otherwise, how am I supposed to juggle both events?" Ying Bojue said, "It's okay, I've calculated it. Sister-in-law passed away on September 17th; the 21st is her seven-day memorial. You can host the banquet on the 18th and have the chanting on the 20th, that's still fine." Ximen Qing said, "You're right, I'll have the servant inform Daoist Wu to change the date." Bojue said, "Brother, there's one more thing: Huang Zhenren from the capital, the court sent him to Tai'an Prefecture to offer golden bells, hang imperial incense, and hold a seven-day and seven-night Luo Tian ceremony; he's currently staying in the temple. Before he leaves, it's best to have Daoist Wu invite him to perform the rituals; it will be more prestigious." Ximen Qing said, "It's said that this Huang Zhenren is formidable; it's best to invite him. But Daoist Wu has already received his offerings for the fasting day, and he also performed rituals for the funeral, with Daoist disciples accompanying the funeral. He has already been paid; I feel a bit awkward asking him to chant again. Now inviting Huang Zhenren to preside, won't that be too much for him?" Bojue said, "He received the offerings for the fasting day; as long as you invite Huang Zhenren to perform high-level rituals, spend a little extra; it's for your sister-in-law, not for anyone else." Ximen Qing asked Chen Jingji to write a letter, gave him another five taels of silver, and told him to hurry and invite Huang Zhenren, change the chanting date to the 20th, and have twenty-four Taoist priests perform water and fire refining for a day and night. Then he let Dai'an ride a horse and quickly set off.
Ximen Qing sent the earl away and entered the house by himself. Wu Yueniang said, "Mrs. Ben's daughter is getting married and has come to bow to you." Ximen Qing asked, "Which family is she marrying?" Mrs. Ben brought her daughter in. The girl was dressed in a red jacket, a yellow silk skirt, and a lovely headdress, and she bowed four times to Ximen Qing. Yueniang said on the side, "We're not too sure, but it seems she caught the eye of Xia Daren, and they just settled it yesterday. They will be getting married on the 25th, and they only gave thirty taels of silver. This child has grown up well. She doesn’t look like she’s fifteen; she looks more like sixteen or seventeen. It's been a while; she's grown so fast!" Ximen Qing said, "She mentioned at the banquet a few days ago that she wanted her two children to learn to sing; I didn't expect it to be your child." Then he had Yueniang bring Mrs. Ben into the house, served tea, and had them take a seat. Later, Lijiao, Meng Yulou, Pan Jinlian, Sun Xue'e, and the eldest sister came to greet them and sit with them. Before leaving, Yueniang gave Mrs. Ben a nice set of silk clothes and one tael of silver, while Lijiao and the others each gave her some jewelry, handkerchiefs, and cosmetics. In the evening, Dai'an reported, "Wu the Daoist has taken the money and knows about this matter. Huang the Master is still at the temple and will only return to the capital after the 20th. He will prepare the altar on the morning of the 19th."
The next day, the cook in Ximen Qing's household was busy preparing the banquet, ensuring it was beautifully arranged. At the main entrance, seven layers of colorful decorations were erected, with five more layers in front of the hall. On the 17th, Inspector Song dispatched two county officials to oversee the banquet: in the main hall, the screen featured a painting of a peacock, the floor was covered with thick carpets, and brocade tables and chairs adorned with decorations were everywhere. Huang Taiwei occupied the best seat, with the finest dishes and delicacies laid out before him; small tables flanked him on both sides for the governor and the inspector; tables for the three departments were also set up on either side. The other officials from the eight provinces were seated in tents outside the hall, dining on simple fare. Following the inspection, Ximen Qing invited them for tea before seeing them off.
The next day, the provincial governor arrived early with a large group of officials by boat. The boat had a banner reading "Imperial Envoy," and someone was carrying the imperial decree. The local officials, military commanders, garrison officers, and other military personnel were all wearing armor and carrying weapons, forming a spectacular and boisterous parade that stretched for miles. General Huang was dressed in a bright red embroidered dragon robe and was holding a tea-brown umbrella. Countless servants and horsemen followed behind, creating a magnificent and noisy procession. As the procession passed through Dongping Prefecture and arrived at Qinghe County, the county officials knelt by the roadside to greet them, while bystanders shouted for them to rise. The news of the procession spread all the way to the entrance of Ximen Qing's residence. The sounds of the court musicians filled the air, with servants clad in blue standing in formation on either side. Ximen Qing, wearing his official blue robes, came out to greet them from afar. After quite some time, the general finally emerged from the sedan chair and entered the house, followed by a large group of officials who streamed into the courtyard. In the main hall, there were performances of zheng, pipa, sheng, flute, and xiao, with a harmonious blend of instruments playing together. First, the governor of Shandong, Hou Meng, and the censor Song Qiaonian bowed to the general, who graciously returned the gesture. Then, officials from the two departments, such as Gong Gong, He Qigao, Chen Sizhen, Ji Kanting, Feng Tinghu, Wang Boyan, Zhao Ne, Chao Xian Wenguang, Chen Zhenghui, and Lei Qiyuan, bowed to the general, who graciously returned the gesture. Officials from eight prefectures also came to pay their respects, while the general merely nodded in acknowledgment. As for the military officials, the general remained seated, allowing them to wait at the side. Ximen Qing and Xia Tiexing approached to pay their respects, offering tea. Governor Hou and Inspector Song came forward to toast, while the ensemble struck up a tune, and the general received a golden floral ornament and a jade cup, and everyone drank together. After three rounds of drinks, the general took the seat of honor, with the governor sitting beside him, and the other officials and Ximen Qing sitting in order of their official ranks. The court musicians began to perform, singing and dancing, filling the room with energy. The banquet included a performance of the play "The Return of Duke Pei Jin," followed by roasted venison, suckling pig, and an array of delectable dishes. Four musicians performed on the zither, qin, pipa, and konghou, serenading the guests with several songs.
After finishing the songs, the dishes had not yet been finished, and the band played a few more tunes. Inspector Song sent two provincial officials to host a banquet in Ximen Qing's tent for his entourage. Ximen Qing arranged for officials like the Guard Commander and the Chief Supervisor to sit in the front seats. Grand Minister Huang generously presented ten taels of silver to each servant and then stood up to prepare to leave. The officials urged him to stay several times before finally seeing him out the main gate. The streets were alive with the sound of drums and music, bustling with excitement, accompanied by a grand procession. Many officials wanted to ride horses to see him off, but the Grand Minister politely declined. Inspector Song and Governor Hou instructed the officers below the Chief Supervisor to escort the Grand Minister to the boat and ensured all the arrangements were in place. The utensils and the wine and meat for the banquet were sent to the boat by Hu Shiwen, the governor of Dongping Prefecture, and Guard Zhou Xiu. Once back in the hall, Inspector Song expressed his gratitude to Ximen Qing, saying, "I sincerely apologize for disturbing you today! The funds may not be enough; I will make up for it later." Ximen Qing quickly bowed and said, "I am truly honored by your attention. I was truly surprised to receive your generous gifts a few days ago. My humble abode is quite simple, and I apologize for not being able to entertain you properly; please forgive me!" After expressing his gratitude, Inspector Song departed in a sedan chair, and Governor Hou followed suit, with officials from the two departments and eight prefectures bidding farewell and leaving. All the servants dispersed. Ximen Qing returned to the hall and generously rewarded the musicians with food and drink, sending them away while leaving only four young musicians to serve. The tables for the officials inside and outside the hall were cleared by their own attendants. Ximen Qing had everything ready for the banquet early that morning and invited Wu Dajiu, Ying Bojue, Xie Xida, Wen Xiucai, Fu Zixin, Gan Chushen, Han Daoguo, Ben Si, Cui Ben, and his son-in-law Chen Jingji to enjoy some drinks. Everyone got up early at dawn to get busy, and now they could finally sit down and have a few drinks to celebrate. Before long, the guests began to arrive, and the banquet was officially underway.
The earl asked Ximen Qing, "Brother, are you happy that General Huang is attending the banquet today?" Han Daoguo said, "Today, General Huang saw that our banquet was so well-prepared; he must be happy. The Governor and the Censor both expressed their gratitude repeatedly!" The earl said again, "If another family were to host such a large banquet, it would be impossible. They don't have our space or manpower. There are at least a thousand people here today; all need to be properly organized. Brother, you only spent a small amount of money, and our reputation will spread throughout Shandong Province!" Wen Xiuc interjected, "Mr. Chen, our official from the Imperial Academy is also attending the banquet." Ximen Qing asked him what his name was, and Wen Xiuc said, "His name is Chen Zhenghui, the son of the remonstrance official Chen Liaoweng, from Juancheng County, Henan. He became a Jinshi at the age of eighteen, and now he is the vice envoy of our Imperial Academy, very knowledgeable." Ximen Qing exclaimed, "He’s only twenty-four?" Just as he was speaking, the food was served.
After everyone had finished eating, Ximen Qing called four young performers and asked them their names. The four young performers replied, "I'm Zhou Cai, Liang Duo, Ma Zhen, and Han Bi." The earl recognized Han Bi, "Aren't you from the Han family of Jin Chuan?" Han Bi knelt down and said, "Jinchuan and Yuchuan are my sisters." Ximen Qing thought of Li Ping'er with a sigh and said, "Why didn't she come to the banquet today?" Then he ordered the young performers, "Bring your instruments and sing 'Luoyang Flower, Liangyuan Moon' for me." Han Bi and Zhou Cai began to play the zither and ruan, singing:
【Putian Music】Luoyang flowers, Liangyuan moon. Good flowers must be bought, bright moon must be borrowed for a while. Flowers lean on the railing to watch the bloom; the moon once asked about the reunion night over a drink. The moon waxes and wanes, the flowers bloom and wither. Reflecting on how the most painful thing in life is separation. When the flowers wither, spring is near; when the moon wanes, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrives; when people leave, when will they return?
After singing, when the Count saw that Ximen Qing's eyes were red, he said, "Brother Ying, did you choose this song because it reminds you of your deceased sister-in-law?" Ximen Qing pointed to the fruit platter on the table and said, "Brother Ying, don't blame me. When she was around, she took care of everything at home. Ever since she left, it's all been managed by the maids—just look at the state of things! There isn't even a decent dish!" Wen Xiucai said, "This banquet is so lavish; back when the old man was alive, we always had plenty of help around." The Count advised, "I get that you're feeling down, but don't forget about the other sisters-in-law."
As everyone chatted at the banquet, Pan Jinlian was listening behind the screen. When she heard Ximen Qing say this, she hurriedly ran to tell Yue Niang. Yue Niang said, "Let him talk; it doesn't matter. How have you been recently? When he was still around, he promised to let Li Jiao'er attend to the embroidery, and in front of me, he even said, 'Once she's gone, scatter the maids from his house!' Then he ignored me. These past few days, he's been getting bolder with that wife and those two maids! Whenever I say anything, he acts like we're ganging up on him." Jin Lian said, "That woman has been acting strange lately; maybe she's gotten involved with some man. She stays holed up in that room all day and doesn't even come to bother me. I heard he gave her two pairs of hairpins a few days ago, and she’s been flaunting them everywhere." Yue Niang scoffed, "Bean sprouts—what can she possibly do!" Everyone privately disliked her. It is just like:
The past lingers in the present; buy more rouge to dress up the peony.
