The poem says:
Two jade hairpins are fated to meet, with fish swimming in the deep pool and cranes soaring in the sky. The purple phoenix has ceased its joyful dance; it is said that the blue bird has stopped delivering messages. The golden basin has been upturned, and the water cannot be gathered; the jade hairpin is lost, and the string cannot be re-strung. If you happen to pass by Míwú Mountain, you will shed red tears by the distant spring.
Ximen Qing discovered that the medicine was ineffective for Li Ping'er, so he sought divine guidance and divination, but all the signs were ominous, leaving him feeling anxious and restless, with no good news at all. At first, Li Ping'er could still manage to groom herself and get out of bed, but later she could hardly eat anything at all, and she became emaciated. The beautiful woman, once like a blooming flower, now resembled a withered yellow leaf, devoid of any vitality, lying in bed all day long, unable to get out of bed at all. To keep others from thinking the room was dirty, she had the maid keep incense burning in the room. Ximen Qing looked at her arms, which were as thin as silver bars, and felt overwhelmed with grief, crying in the room and only going to the yamen every few days. Li Ping'er advised him, saying, "Brother, you still go to the yamen, don't delay important matters. I'm okay, just feeling uncomfortable down there; if it can stop, I can eat a bit more. You're a man, why are you always in my room?" Ximen Qing cried and said, "Sister, seeing you like this, my heart aches for you!" Li Ping'er replied, "Fool, as long as I’m not dead, what can you do about it if I die!" She continued, "I have something to tell you: I don't know what's wrong, but whenever there's no one in the room, I feel scared, as if someone is vaguely in front of me. At night, I dream of him, fighting with me with a knife and a stick, with the child in his arms. When I try to snatch it away, he pushes me back, saying he has bought a house and has come to bother me several times, insisting that I go with him. It's difficult to share this with you." Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing said, "When someone dies, it's like a light going out; I have no idea where he’s been all these years! It's just that you've been sick for too long, and your body is weak; there are no demons or monsters! I’m going to head over to Wu Dao Guan temple now, get a few talismans to bring back, stick them on the door, and see if there are any evil spirits."
After speaking, he asked Dai An to go to the Jade Emperor Temple to get a talisman. Dai An went out and met Ying Bojue and Xie Xida, who quickly bowed to him. Bojue asked where he was going and if his father was at home. Dai An said his father was at home and he was going to the Jade Emperor Temple to get a talisman. Bojue and Xie Xida then went to Ximen Qing's house together, saying that Xie Xida heard that Li Ping'er was ill and was very worried, so he came to visit specially. Ximen Qing said, "She’s been looking so frail these past few days, I really don’t know how to handle this." Bojue asked, "Brother, why did you send Dai An to the temple?" Ximen Qing then explained the scary things that have happened to Li Ping'er: "I'm afraid there is some evil spirit, so I sent him to get some talismans to ward off the evil." Xie Xida said, "Brother, this is just because my sister-in-law is weak, there is no evil spirit!" Bojue said, "Brother, it's not difficult to expel evil spirits. There is a Daoist priest named Pan outside the Wuyue Temple who is skilled in the Five Thunder Method and is very good at exorcism. He’s called Pan the Ghost Catcher and often saves people using talismans. Brother, send someone to invite him over, let him check if there are any evil spirits in my sister-in-law's room, he will know at a glance. Let him treat her, he will do a good job." Ximen Qing said, "Let's first see if the talismans from the Wudao Temple work; if not, then I’ll ask you to bring a servant with you to invite him." Bojue said, "No problem, I will go. As long as my sister-in-law gets better, I’ll do whatever it takes." After the conversation, Bojue and Xie Xida left.
Dai An asked for a talisman and brought it back, sticking it up in the room. That night, Li Ping'er was still scared and said to Ximen Qing, "The one who died just now came with two people to catch me. When they saw you come in, they hid." Ximen Qing said, "Don't believe in superstitions; it's nothing. Yesterday, Ying Er said it's because your body is too weak. He said there’s a Daoist named Pan at Wuyue Temple outside who is very effective in treating illnesses with spiritual water and is also skilled in exorcising evil spirits. I'll have Ying Bojue invite him to take a look at you tomorrow morning and drive away any evil." Li Ping'er said, "Brother, hurry and invite him! The one just left angrily; he will come back to catch me tomorrow! Please send someone to invite him!" Ximen Qing said, "If you're scared, I'll have someone carry a sedan chair to bring Wu Yiner here to keep you company for a few days." Li Ping'er shook her head and said, "Don't call her; I’m afraid it might delay her family matters." Ximen Qing said, "How about calling Old Feng to take care of you for a couple of days?" Li Ping'er nodded. Ximen Qing sent someone to call for Old Feng, but she wasn't there; the door was locked and she had gone out. He then said to Pan Jinlian, "When she gets back, tell her to hurry; Liu Niang is waiting for her." Ximen Qing also sent Dai An: "Tomorrow morning, you and Ying Er should go to Wuyue Temple to invite Daoist Pan."
The next day, Sister Wang brought a box of short-grain rice, twenty large milk buns, and a small box of ten fragrant melons to see Li Bing. When Li Bing saw her coming, she hurriedly had Yingchun help her sit down. After Sister Wang greeted her, Li Bing asked her to sit down and said, "Master Wang, since you went to print scriptures, I haven't seen you. I've been sick like this, why didn't you come to see me?" Sister Wang said, "Madam, I really didn't know you were sick. Yesterday, the old lady sent someone to the nunnery to tell me, that's when I found out. She said you didn't know about the printing of scriptures; I partnered with that old hypocrite, Aunt Xue, to make a deal. Helping you print scriptures, helping her with the nets. We settled five taels of silver with the printer; I didn't take a penny. You, with your accumulated virtue and good deeds, that old hypocrite is bound for hell tomorrow! She made me so angry; she even messed up Madam's birthday and didn't even come." Li Bing said, "She brought this upon herself; let her be, don't bother with her." Sister Wang said, "I won't bother with her." Li Bing said, "Madam is very angry, saying you delayed her scriptures." Sister Wang said, "May the Bodhisattva bless, even though I'm not good, how could I dare to delay her scriptures? I've been chanting at home for a month, only finished yesterday, only came today. I'll go see her in the back first and tell her about my grievances. I said I didn't know Sister Liu was sick; it's no big deal, this box of short-grain rice, some fragrant melons, and a few milk buns, for you to make porridge to eat. The old lady only let Xiaoyu lead me to see you." Xiaoyu opened the box, and Li Bing said, "Thank you for your trouble." Sister Wang said, "Yingchun, steam two pieces of milk buns; I'll watch your mother eat some porridge." Yingchun went to get them. Li Bing instructed Yingchun, "Pour some tea for Sister Wang." Sister Wang said, "I just had tea in the old lady's room; make some porridge, and I'll keep an eye on you while you eat."
In a little while, Yingchun set the table with four types of snacks and allowed Wang Guzi to eat first. Then came the porridge for Li Ping'er, as well as a plate of sweet pickled cucumbers and eggplants, a plate of steamed yellow milk cakes, two bowls of congee, and a pair of small chopsticks. Yingchun held the bowl while Nanny Ruyi held a teacup beside her, feeding her for quite a while. Li Ping'er only took a few sips of porridge, ate a few pieces of milk cake, then shook her head and didn't want to eat anymore, saying, "Take it away." Wang Guzi said, "People live on food and water. Can't you eat a little more of this good porridge?" Li Ping'er said, "I need to be able to eat it." Yingchun then moved the tea table aside. Wang Guzi lifted the covers and looked at Li Ping'er, who was so thin it shocked her, saying, "My goodness, you were better when I came last time. Why aren't you feeling better again? You've become so thin!" Ruyi said, "She's improved a little! Mother fell ill from anger, and Father invited a doctor who prescribed medicine daily, and she's already about seventy to eighty percent better. But in August, our son got scared and fell ill, and Mother worried day and night, exhausted, unable to sleep, hoping he would get better, but he didn't. Mother cried all day, held in her anger, feeling uncomfortable. Even someone with a heart of stone couldn't bear it, so her illness flared up again! If she could talk to someone about her feelings, it would be better, but she doesn't say anything, not even to you." Wang Guzi said, "Who is she angry with? Your Father dotes on her, your Stepmother respects her, with five or six aunts in the house, who could have offended her?" Ruyi said, "Sir, you don't know... It's all because of the incident with Fifth Sister. The cat in Fifth Sister's house scratched our son's hand, scaring him. Father asked, but Mother didn't say a word. Later, Stepmother spoke up, and the cat was killed. Fifth Sister didn't admit it, still venting her anger on us. In August, our son died, and she would curse people every day, reveling in it. Mother heard it all clearly from this room. How could she not feel angry? She was wronged, only silently shedding tears. Holding in her anger all this time is why she's become ill. Heaven knows! Mother is good-hearted, but even the best have their breaking points. Among sisters, they've never had a falling out. If she has nice clothes, she won't wear them until everyone else has theirs. In this big family, who doesn't cater to her? But even those who cater to her say bad things about her behind her back." Wang Guzi said, "How could they say bad things about her behind her back?" Ruyi said, "For example, Pan Laolao from Fifth Sister's side. Whenever she comes by and finds Father resting in her room, she comes over to chat with Mother. When she leaves, Mother gives her shoes, clothes, and money, but Fifth Sister still has something negative to say about her." Li Ping'er heard this and scolded Ruyi, "Why do you keep talking about her? I'm already dead inside, just let her be. Heaven knows, and the earth is indifferent." Wang Guzi said, "My Buddha, who is as kind-hearted as you! You still have better days to come." Li Ping'er said, "Master Wang, what good days? I couldn't even keep a child. Now my life is short, and I've contracted this illness. Even if I become a ghost, I won't find peace. I want to give you some silver, hoping that when I pass away, you can help me find a few priests to chant the Blood Bowl Sutra and relieve me of my sins." Wang Guzi said, "My Bodhisattva, you're thinking too much. You're a good person, and the heavens will surely bless you." Just then, Qin Tong walked in and said to Yingchun, "Father ordered the room to be cleaned up. Uncle Hua is here to visit Mother, and he's sitting in the front hall." Wang Guzi got up and said, "I'll head to the backyard first." Li Ping'er said, "Master Wang, don't go. Stay with me for a couple of days. I still want to talk to you." Wang Guzi said, "My goodness, I can't stay."
Looks like I didn't receive any Simplified Chinese text to translate. I’d love to help once you send it my way!
A while later, Ximen Qing accompanied Huada Jiu to pay a visit. Seeing Li Ping'er lying silently on the bed, Huaziyou said, "I didn't know until I heard the magistrate say it yesterday. Your sister-in-law will come to see you tomorrow." Li Ping'er only said, "Thank you for your concern," and turned away. Huaziyou sat for a while, got up, and went to the front hall, saying to Ximen Qing, "My deceased father-in-law was stationed in Guangnan Town and brought a medicine called Sanqi. Have you taken it? Regardless of the type of women's health issue, mix five parts of the powdered medicine with wine and drink it to stop the bleeding. Your sister has this medicine; why hasn't she taken it?" Ximen Qing said, "She has taken this medicine. Yesterday, the county magistrate Hu Dayin came to visit, and I told him about this. He also mentioned a remedy: charred palm fiber and white cockscomb flower boiled in wine. It worked for a day, but the next day, the bleeding was even worse." Huaziyou said, "This is a tough situation. Brother-in-law, quickly find her a good doctor and get ready for her. Let her sister-in-law come to see her tomorrow." After speaking, he got up and left.
The wet nurse and Yingchun were spreading straw paper for Li Ping'er. They saw Mrs. Feng coming in, and they greeted her warmly. Ruyi said, "Mrs. Feng, why didn't you come to see the mistress? Yesterday, the master sent An'er to call you, saying that you were locking the door. Where did you go?" Mrs. Feng said, "I have so many hardships to share, I hardly know where to start. I go to the temple all day to do rituals. I either come back late at night or in the middle of the night after leaving in the morning, and I always run into those monks Zhang, Li, and Wang." Ruyi said, "Why do you keep running into those monks? When Master Wang was here before, this didn't happen, right?" Li Ping'er smiled slightly and said, "This old lady always goes on about things that don't matter." Ruyi said, "Mrs. Feng, you were called but you didn't come! The mistress hasn't eaten any porridge for a few days and is feeling quite restless. As soon as you arrived, she started smiling. If you take care of the mistress for two days, her illness will definitely improve." Mrs. Feng said, "I'm like a bad omen for your mistress!" and laughed again. She reached out and touched Li Ping'er's quilt, saying, "My mistress, you will be fine soon!" Then she asked, "Can you get out of bed?" Yingchun said, "It's good if she can get out of bed! The last two times, the mistress fainted, and a few of us helped her get out of bed. She has been lying in bed with straw paper for the past two days, getting up two or three times a day."
Ximen Qing came in, saw Mrs. Feng, and said, "Oh dear, how could I not be here? I've been pickling vegetables these days to make some money. I've been pickling some vegetables to keep at home, in case someone comes to help, I can offer them some to eat. Otherwise, I wouldn't have money to buy food to treat them." Ximen Qing said, "Why didn't you tell me? I harvested vegetables on my farm; I can share a few plots with you that should be enough to keep you fed." Mrs. Feng said, "I wouldn't want to bother you, sir!" After speaking, she went into the inner room.
Ximen Qing sat on the edge of the kang, while Yingchun was beside him, burning incense. Ximen Qing inquired of Li Ping'er, "How are you feeling today?" He then asked Yingchun, "Did your mother have congee this morning?" Yingchun replied, "Yes, Master Wang brought some milk curds and steamed them, but my mother only had a few bites and two sips of the congee broth before she stopped eating." Ximen Qing said, "Brother Ying just invited Daoist Pan, and now he's gone again. I'll have Laibao invite him again tomorrow." Li Ping'er said, "You should hurry and send someone to invite him. That guy, as soon as he closes his eyes, won't leave me alone." Ximen Qing said, "That's because your body is weak. You just need to clear your mind and stop thinking too much. Invite him to help drive away the evil spirits and take some medicine; I guarantee you'll get better." Li Ping'er said, "Brother, I'm already this sick; there's no hope for me! I hoped to spend a few good years with you as a couple, but who knew I would... at twenty-seven, I've had bad luck, and I have to leave you. Unless it's in the afterlife, I won't see you again." As she spoke, she grabbed Ximen Qing's hand, crying so hard she couldn't speak. Ximen Qing was also very sad, crying as he said, "Sister, if you have anything to say, just say it." The two were crying in the room when Qintong came in and said, "Sir, tomorrow is the fifteenth; there will be a worship ceremony at the yamen, a large-scale sacrificial event. Are you going, sir? The headman has already made all the arrangements." Ximen Qing said, "I can't go tomorrow; please tell Old Man Xia for me that I'll take care of my own worship." Qintong agreed and left. Li Ping'er said, "Brother, you should still go to the yamen; don't delay your official duties. I don't know when I'll die; there's still time!" Ximen Qing said, "I'll stay home with you for two days; don't worry! Just relax and stop overthinking. Uncle Hua just told me to prepare a coffin for you early to ward off bad luck, and you'll get better." Li Ping'er nodded and said, "That's fine, but don't spend too much money. Just get some wood that costs around ten taels of silver and bury me beside your aunt's grave; don't cremate me, at least we shared a life together. Sooner or later, I'll be able to go over there; it will be more convenient."
"With so many people in your family, how will you manage to get by in the future?!" Ximen Qing was heartbroken after hearing this. He cried, "Sister, why would you say such things! Even if I were to die poor, I will never let you down!"
Just as she was speaking, Yue Niang came in with a box of fresh apples and said, "Aunt Li, your great-aunt sent these apples for you." Then she said to Ying Chun, "Wash them thoroughly and cut them into pieces for her." Li Ping'er said, "Thank you for thinking of me, Aunt." After a while, Ying Chun peeled and sliced the apples, placed them in a small bowl, and took a piece to Li Ping'er, but Li Ping'er barely chewed it before spitting it out. Yue Niang worried that she might tire herself out, so she helped her lie on her side to rest.
Ximen Qing and Yueniang went out to discuss. Yueniang said, "I don't think Li Dajie is doing well. You need to prepare a coffin for her as soon as possible; don't wait until the last minute and end up with an unsuitable one." Ximen Qing said, "Hua Dage also said the same today. I just mentioned it to her briefly, and she said, 'Don't spend too much money, just get a random coffin made of old wood. You have so many people in your family; you still have to live in the future.' This really upset me. I said let's wait for Master Pan to come and see before deciding." Yueniang said, "You don't understand; she can't even drink water anymore. How can we expect her to get better? We should prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. If she recovers, even if we end up giving the coffin to someone else, it won't cost us much." Ximen Qing said, "Since that's the case..." and went out to call Ben Si, asking, "Which family has some good boards for coffins? You and your brother-in-law should go buy a set." Ben Si said, "Chen Qianhu's family just received some good boards." Ximen Qing said, "Since there are good boards..." he asked Chen Jingji, "Go ask your mother for five taels of silver, and the two of you go take a look." Chen Jingji quickly went in and took out five ingots of silver, and left with Ben Si. They only returned in the afternoon to report, "We went to Chen Qianhu's house to see a few coffin boards; they were all mediocre, and the prices weren't reasonable. On the way, we met Qiao Qinjia, who said that Shang Juren's family has a good board—originally brought by Shang Juren's father when he was a judge in Chengdu, Sichuan. His father's old lady used it, and this pair is left—the boards, base, and lid are all included, totaling five pieces, for three hundred and seventy taels of silver. Qiao Qinjia and we went to see it together; the boards are very good. Qiao Qinjia talked to Shang Juren for a long time before he agreed to reduce the price by fifty taels. If it wasn't for him needing the money next year to go to the capital for the exam, he wouldn't want to sell it." Ximen Qing said, "Since it was recommended by Qiao Qinjia, then buy it for three hundred and twenty taels; don't delay." Chen Jingji said, "They will take two hundred and fifty taels; just give them seventy taels to cover the difference." They then asked Yueniang for seventy taels of silver before leaving.
In the evening, a few burly men carried in a coffin wrapped in red cloth and placed it in the courtyard of the front hall. Upon opening it, Ximen Qing found that it was indeed made of good wood. He immediately called the carpenter to cut it open, and a fragrant scent wafted out. Each piece was five inches thick, two and a half feet wide, and seven and a half feet long. Ximen Qing was very pleased when he saw it. He then called the count to take a look and said, "What do you think of these coffin boards?" The count praised it repeatedly, saying, "Indeed, this is a marriage coffin; every item must have its owner. Since your sister-in-law is marrying into your family, this set of coffin boards is also sufficient." He then instructed the carpenter, "Make sure you do a good job; I will reward you with five taels of silver." The carpenter replied, "Understood." So everyone worked together through the night. The count instructed the guard, "Tomorrow around 3 AM, go invite Daoist Pan. As soon as he arrives, bring him over immediately; don’t dawdle." After saying that, he stayed with Ximen Qing to oversee the coffin-making and only returned home late at night. Ximen Qing said, "Come early tomorrow; I’m afraid Daoist Pan will arrive very early." The count replied, "I understand," and took his leave.
Old Feng and Mama Wang both stayed in Li Ping'er’s room with her that night. When Ximen Qing returned from his walk, he wanted to sleep in Li Ping'er’s room. Li Ping'er was unwilling and said, "It’s too chaotic with so many people in this room; it’s not convenient for them to be here all the time. You should sleep somewhere else." Noticing Mama Wang was there too, Ximen Qing headed to Pan Jinlian's room.
Li Ping'er asked Yingchun to close the side door, fasten the bolt, and told Yingchun to light the lantern, open the box, and take out a few pieces of clothing and silver jewelry to set beside her. She first called over Wang Mama, gave her five taels of silver and a bolt of silk, saying, "After I die, please help me invite a few monks to recite the 'Blood Basin Sutra'." Wang Mama replied, "Madam, you’re overthinking this. With Heaven’s blessing, you will surely get better." Li Ping'er said, "Just take it, and don’t mention to Auntie that I gave you money; just say I gave you a piece of silk for expenses." Wang Mama said, "I understand." So she accepted the silver and silk. Li Ping'er then called over Feng Mama, took out four taels of silver, a white silk jacket, a yellow silk skirt, and a silver hairpin from beside her pillow, and said, "Old Feng, you have been with me since I was young. After I die, there’s nothing valuable left; this set of clothes and jewelry is a keepsake for you. Save this silver for your coffin tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to your father about the house over there, and you can continue living there, just think of it as watching over the house for him; he won’t be able to kick you out!" Feng Mama took the silver and clothes, knelt down and bowed her head, crying, "I’ve had such bad luck. As long as you’re around, I have someone to lean on. What will I do if something happens to you?"
Li Ping'er called the wet nurse Ruyi again, gave her a purple silk jacket, a blue silk skirt, an old silk cloak, two gold hairpins, and a silver crown, saying, "You have nursed my child, and now that the boy is dead, I originally thought you would no longer need to be a wet nurse. I thought that as long as I was alive, you would be dependent on me, but I didn't expect that I would die. I even mentioned your parents; after I die, if your aunt has a child, you can continue to be a wet nurse. These clothes are for you to keep as a keepsake, so don't blame me." The wet nurse knelt on the ground, bowed her head, and cried, "I truly wish I could serve you until old age; you have never scolded me loudly. It’s my bad luck that the child died, and now you are so ill. You tell your aunt that my husband is gone, and I can only rely on my parents; who can I turn to?" After speaking, she took the clothes and jewelry, bowed her head, and stood aside to wipe her tears. Li Ping'er then called for Yingchun and Xiuchun to kneel down, instructing, "You two have grown up by my side since childhood; I won't be able to take care of you after I die. You both have clothes, so there’s no need to give you more. I will give each of you a pair of gold hairpins as a keepsake. Yingchun, your father has already taken advantage of you, and you can’t go out; I will have you serve your aunt. Xiuchun, I will have your aunt find you a good family to marry into; don’t remain here to be treated as a servant without a master. Once I am gone, everything will be clear. When you serve others, you can’t act spoiled like you did in front of me; regardless of whether you can or not, who will pamper you?" Xiuchun knelt on the ground and cried, "Mother, I would rather die than go out." Li Ping'er said, "You silly girl, after I die, who will you serve in this house?" Xiuchun replied, "I will watch over your spirit tablet." Li Ping'er said, "Even if it’s my spirit tablet, it won’t be honored for long; eventually, it will be burned, and you will have to go out." Xiuchun said, "Both I and Yingchun will listen to our aunt." Li Ping'er said, "That’s acceptable." Xiuchun was still confused about what was happening, while Yingchun, hearing Li Ping'er’s instructions, took the jewelry and cried so much she couldn’t speak.
It is precisely:
With tearful eyes, two souls gaze at each other, heartbroken, as they say goodbye.
That evening, Li Bing'er instructed everyone. The next morning, Ximen Qing entered the room. Li Bing'er asked, "Has my coffin been bought?" Ximen Qing said, "The wooden boards were brought in yesterday, and they're being worked on now. Don't worry, if you get better, you can give it to anyone you like." Li Bing'er asked again, "How much did it cost? Don't spend money recklessly." Ximen Qing said, "Not much, just a little over a hundred taels." Li Bing'er said, "That's still too much; just keep it for me." After Ximen Qing finished speaking, he went out to check on the making of the coffin. Wu Yueniang and Li Jiao'er entered the room and saw that her face was not good, so they asked, "Sister Li, what are you thinking?" Li Bing'er held Yueniang's hand and cried, "Big Sister, I can't go on." Yueniang also cried, "Sister Li, if you have anything to say, Second Sister is also here; tell us." Li Bing'er said, "What can I say... We've been sisters for so many years, and you've always treated me well. I always hoped we could grow old together, but unfortunately, I lost my husband first, and now I am sick and dying. After I die, there will be no one to take care of the two maid servants in the house. The older maid has already been taken by her father; let her go to Big Sister's room to serve you. The younger maid, if you want to keep her, then keep her; otherwise, find an honest person for her to marry, don't let her end up being called a maid without a master. She has served me well; once I die, I can close my eyes. Nanny Ruyi repeatedly refused to leave; Big Sister also sees it. She has also taken care of my child, so tomorrow when you give birth, let her keep being the nanny." Yueniang said, "Sister Li, rest assured, everything is on us. Even if it's a bit tough, let Yingchun serve me and let Xiu Chun serve Second Sister. The maid Ruyi, since you said she has nowhere to go, can't we take her in? Whether I have children or not, tomorrow I will find her a young servant to marry, let her be part of the family." Li Jiao'er chimed in, "Sister Li, don't worry, everything is on us. After Xiu Chun finishes your affairs, I will take her to my room to serve me, and I will promote her in the future." Li Bing'er called the nanny and the two maids over to kowtow to Yueniang and Li Jiao'er. Yueniang couldn't hold back her tears.
After a while, Yu Loulou, Pan Jinlian, and Sun Xue'e all came to see Ximen Qing, and Li Ping'er exchanged a few heartfelt sisterly words. Later, Li Jiao'er, Yulou, and Jinlian all went out, leaving only Yue Niang in the room to take care of him. Li Ping'er quietly cried to Yue Niang, saying, "Sister, you must take good care of him tomorrow so that he can live well, and don't be as careless as I was, or you might get plotted against." Yue Niang replied, "Sister, I understand." Just think, dear readers, it was this one sentence that touched Yue Niang's heart. Later, when Ximen Qing died, Jinlian couldn't stay at home because she couldn't stop thinking about what Li Ping'er had said right before she died. The poem goes:
Only gratitude and accumulated hatred, for a thousand years and ten thousand generations, never to gather dust.
Just as they were talking, the qin boy announced that Judge Pan had arrived to burn incense in the room. Yue Niang watched as she instructed the maid to clean the room, prepare tea, and light the lily incense. Yue Niang and the other women hid in the nearby bedroom listening. Before long, Ximen Qing led Daoist Pan in. What did Daoist Pan look like? Here’s how:
He wore a crown of clouds and mist inspired by the Five Mountains on his head, a short brown robe of black cloth, a multicolored silk belt around his waist, and a horizontally striped ancient bronze sword on his back. He wore double-eared hemp shoes on his feet and held a five-bright ghost-repelling fan in his hand. He had arched eyebrows and two apricot-shaped eyes; a square mouth and a line of sideburns. He had an imposing demeanor and a dignified appearance. If he wasn't a traveler from the clouds, he must be from the Jade Palace of Penglai.
Daoist Pan entered the courtyard just as he turned around the wall and walked to the steps of Li Ping'er’s room. He took two steps back as if to scold something, said a few words, and then lifted the curtain to enter the room, walking to the bedside. He carefully observed Li Ping'er, counted on his fingers while chanting spells, with an air of experience. Then he walked out of the inner room and set up an incense altar outside. Ximen Qing offered incense, Daoist Pan burned talismans, and shouted, “Guardian deity of the day, why aren’t you here yet!” He sprayed a mouthful of ritual water, and suddenly a gust of wind rose, as if a divine general were truly appearing. Daoist Pan said, “In the Ximen family, the spirit of the Li family is restless and has come to me with a complaint. I need to consult the land god and the household god to see if there are any evil spirits and quickly capture them!” After a while, Daoist Pan closed his eyes, sat there, and tapped the talisman, as if inquiring about something, and only stopped after a while. When he came out, Ximen Qing invited him to the front pavilion and asked what was going on. Daoist Pan said, “This lady is haunted by past grievances; it is not an evil spirit and cannot be exorcised.” Ximen Qing asked, “Can Daoist resolve it?” Daoist Pan said, “The one burdened by grievances must resolve them themselves; even the underworld officials cannot intervene.” Seeing that Ximen Qing was very respectful, he asked, “How old is the lady?” Ximen Qing said, “She’s a Sheep, twenty-seven years old.” Daoist Pan said, “Alright, I will perform a ritual for her life star to see how her fate is.” Ximen Qing asked, “When will the sacrifice be? What kind of incense paper and offerings should I use?” Daoist Pan said, “Tonight at the third watch, create an altar using white ash, surround it with yellow cloth, place her birth chart on it, and offer five grains and date soup, no wine or meat, just twenty-seven life lamps topped with a canopy; nothing else is needed. You must fast, bathe, wear blue clothing, and kneel before the altar. I will offer the sacrifice for her, and no chickens or dogs can enter or disturb.” Ximen Qing quickly instructed people to prepare. He didn’t dare enter the room, so he bathed and changed in the study. Count Ying also stayed behind, sharing a vegetarian meal with Daoist Pan.
At three in the morning, the altar was ready, and Taoist Pan sat on top of it. Below was the altar of lamps, arranged according to the positions of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Warrior, with three canopies above; surrounded by the Twelve Palaces, and at the bottom were twenty-seven lamps representing the birth signs. The sacrificial text was recited first. Ximen Qing knelt on the ground in a green robe, with those on either side stepping back. All the lights were lit. Taoist Pan sat on the dais with his hair flowing loose, holding a sword and chanting. He looked up at the sky, drawing in the vital energy, treading the steps, and stood on the altar. The poem states: Three incense burners, three realms unite, with one command comes a thunderous sound. The sky was clear and the moon was bright; suddenly the sky darkened and the wind blew strangely. The poem states: Is it not the roar of a tiger, nor the cry of a dragon? It seemed as if entering a house through a curtain; surely it heralded the falling of flowers and withering of leaves. Pushing clouds from the mountains, sending rain back to the rivers. Geese, separated from their companions, cried in sorrow, while gulls and herons searched for treetops. The Moon Goddess hastily closed the Moon Palace, and Laozi called for help from the heavens.
The wind howled three times, and suddenly a chill swept through, snuffing out all twenty-seven of Li Ping'er’s life lamps. Daoist Pan clearly saw a person in white leading two people in green enter, holding a document which they presented at the altar. Daoist Pan recognized it at once as an underworld edict, stamped with three seals, and he was so alarmed that he quickly descended from his seat and woke up Ximen Qing, saying, “Sir, please get up! The lady has already broken the heavenly laws; there’s no way to save her! It’s just a matter of time!” Ximen Qing, upon hearing this, lowered his head and said nothing, with tears in his eyes, he pleaded, “Please, Master, save her!” Daoist Pan replied, “It’s the will of heaven; she cannot be saved.” He was about to take his leave. Ximen Qing insisted repeatedly, “Please wait until dawn to leave!” Daoist Pan said, “As a monk, I wander wherever I please; I can find shelter anywhere.” Ximen Qing did not insist further. He had someone bring out a piece of cloth and three taels of silver as thanks. Daoist Pan said, “I follow the way of heaven and do not dare to be greedy for wealth.” After declining several times, he allowed the young boy to take the cloth, saying it would be made into a Daoist robe, then took his leave. He warned Ximen Qing, “Tonight, don’t go to the sick person’s room; be careful not to bring misfortune upon yourself. Be careful! Be careful!” After saying this, he left.
Ximen Qing returned to the shaded pavilion and looked at the altar. Seeing that there was no way to save her, he felt very sad and looked at Count Ying, unable to hold back his sobs. The Count said, “This is each person’s fate; at this point, it can’t be changed. Brother, do not be too heartbroken.” As it reached the fourth watch of the night, the Count said, “Brother, you are tired too; rest a while. I will go home first and come back tomorrow.” Ximen Qing said, “Have the servant take the lantern to see you off.” He had someone take a lantern to escort the Count out, then closed the door and came back inside.
Ximen Qing sat alone in the study, with a candle lit. He felt extremely uneasy and sighed heavily, thinking to himself, "The judge won't let me go to her room, how can I stand this! If I have to die, then so be it! I must see her and say a few words." So, he entered Li Ping'er's room. Seeing Li Ping'er sleeping on her side, she turned over and said, "My brother, why did you just come in?" Then she asked, "What did the Taoist priest say about the lamp?" Ximen Qing said, "Don't worry, the lamp is fine." Li Ping'er said, "Brother, you're lying to me! Just now, that Taoist priest brought two people and made a scene in front of me, saying, 'You called the monk to drive me away, but I have already reported to the underworld and will not let you off!' After speaking, he left angrily, saying he will come back tomorrow to take me away."
Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing burst into tears and cried out, "My sister, don't worry, don't pay attention to him. I was hoping to spend more time with you, but I didn't expect you to leave me again. I, Ximen Qing, would rather die than have my heart breaking like this!" Li Ping'er hugged Ximen Qing's neck, crying so hard she couldn't speak for a long time. Finally, she said, "My brother, I was hoping to grow old with you, but I didn't expect to die today. While I still have my eyes open, let me say a few words to you: you have a lot of family matters to deal with, you are alone and have no help, so you must carefully consider everything and not act impulsively. And don't mistreat the madam and the others. The madam isn't in good health, and she will give birth to a child for you sooner or later, so your family can carry on. As an official, you ought to drink less from now on, come home early, and focus on family matters. When I was alive, I could still advise you, but now that I'm dead, who will be there to give you good advice?"
Ximen Qing listened and felt as if his heart were being cut with a knife, crying, "My sister, I understand what you mean. Don't worry about me. My life has been unfortunate. We cannot be husband and wife in this lifetime. It hurts me so much! God is trying to take me!" Li Ping'er then instructed Yingchun and Xiuchun, "I have already talked to their mother; after I die, Yingchun will serve her. As for the little girl, her mother has already agreed to this arrangement. If there is no one in her room, let her serve her mother." Ximen Qing said, "My sister, rest assured, when you die, no one dares to separate your maids! There's no need to send the wet nurse away; she can stay to watch over your spirit." Li Ping'er said, "What spirit! Just prepare a spirit tablet and burn it after the fifth and seventh days." Ximen Qing said, "My sister, don't worry about these things; as long as I'm alive, I'll honor you every day." As they were talking, Li Ping'er urged, "Go to sleep, it's too late." Ximen Qing said, "I won't sleep; I'll stay in this room watching over you." Li Ping'er said, "I'm not going to die yet. This room is dirty and smelly; it will be uncomfortable for you, and it’s not convenient for them to take care of me here."
Ximen Qing had no choice but to tell the maid, "Watch your mother carefully." Then he went to the back room and told Yueniang about the shortage of lamps, "I just went to her room; she was still able to speak clearly. God bless, maybe she can still make it through." Yueniang said, "Her eye sockets are sunken, her lips are dry, her ears are scorched; what hope is there in this! It's likely just a matter of time now. Her illness is so severe that she can still talk before she dies." Ximen Qing said, "She has been living in our house for so many years, has never caused trouble to anyone, has a good personality, and doesn't like to talk. How can I bear to lose her!" As he spoke, tears flowed down his face again.
Not to mention the conversation between Ximen Qing and Lady Yu, let's focus on when Li Bing'er called for Yingchun and the wet nurse: "Help me lie down on my side." Then she asked, "What time is it now?" The wet nurse replied, "The rooster hasn't crowed yet; it’s probably around four in the morning." She instructed Yingchun to place some straw paper underneath her, lie on her side, cover her with a blanket, and then she fell asleep. Everyone had been awake all night, and Lao Feng and Wang Guzi had already fallen asleep. Yingchun and Xiuchun were sleeping on the ground, having barely slept for half an hour, when they began to feel drowsy, dreaming that Li Bing'er got out of bed, nudged Yingchun, and said, "Take care of the house; I'm leaving." She suddenly woke up and noticed that the lamp on the table was still lit. She hurried to check on Li Bing'er in bed; she was still lying on her side. She touched her and realized she had passed away. It was unclear when she had died; it was a tragic fate for a beautiful woman, reduced to nothing more than a fleeting dream. As the saying goes: "The King of Hell teaches you to die at three in the morning; how dare you linger until five!"
Yingchun hurriedly woke everyone up, lit a lamp, and indeed found her lifeless, and saw a pool of blood beneath her, which frightened everyone. She quickly ran to the back and told Ximen Qing. Ximen Qing heard that Li Ping'er had died and rushed with Wu Yuemnong to the front, lifted the quilt to take a look. Li Ping'er looked peaceful, her body still warm; she had quietly passed away, wearing only a red silk camisole. Ximen Qing was oblivious to the blood beneath him, held Li Ping'er's fragrant cheek in his hands, kissing it repeatedly, crying out, "My dear sister, my dear sister! How could you leave me behind? I'd rather die! I can't go on living much longer—what's the point of living in this world?" He was jumping around the room, wailing loudly. Wu Yuemnong also cried non-stop. Later, Li Jiaor, Meng Yulou, Pan Jinlian, Sun Xue'e, and all the maids and nurses in the house cried, their cries echoing throughout the room. Yuemnong said to everyone, "I don't know when she died; she wasn't even wearing any clothes." Yulou said, "I touched her and she was still warm; she shouldn't have been dead for long. Let's dress her quickly while she's still warm—what are we waiting for?" Yuemnong saw Ximen Qing lying on her, crying and beating his chest in despair, saying, "It feels like the heavens are out to get me! Sister, you've been in my house for three years, not a single good day; it's all because of me!" Yuemnong became a little impatient, saying, "Look at how you're crying! A few tears are enough; stop crying now. Even on a dead person, we have to be mindful of taboos. If you cry face to face, what if her spirit comes back to haunt you? She didn't have a good day; who has had a good day? Everyone's lifespan is predetermined; no one can hold it back! Who doesn't leave this way?" She then instructed Li Jiaor and Yulou, "You two, take the keys and go to the other room to find some of her clothes to dress her in." She also said, "Liujie, let's help her get ready." Ximen Qing said to Yuemnong again, "Find more of her favorite outfits to dress her in." Yuemnong instructed Li Jiaor and Yulou, "Go get her newly made red brocade jacket, yellow brocade skirt, the lilac cloud silk shirt and blue wide skirt she wore to the Qiao family this year, as well as the new white jacket and yellow skirt."
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Yingchun held the lantern, Meng Yulou held the key, and together they went to the next room. They opened the box and searched for quite a while before finding three sets of clothes, a purple jacket, a white silk skirt, a stunning crimson vest, along with white silk stockings and embroidered knee pads. Li Jia'er carried these clothes to this room to show to Yue Niang. Yue Niang was styling Li Ping'er’s hair under the lamp with Jin Lian, using four golden hairpins to secure a large deep blue handkerchief on her head. Li Jia'er asked, "What color shoes should we get her?" Pan Jinlian said, "Sister, she loves to wear those stunning red high-heeled shoes with gold designs; she has only worn them a few times, let’s find them for her." Wu Yue Niang said, "No, we can't let her wear them to the underworld; she would suffer in the underworld. You should put on the pair of purple high-heeled shoes with gold patterns that she wore when she went to her sister-in-law's house a few days ago." Upon hearing this, Li Jia'er quickly called Yingchun to find them. Everyone was busy, and soon they had everything ready.
Ximen Qing, accompanied by several servants, carefully stored away the calligraphy and paintings in the hall, hung up the curtains, and used a bier to carry Li Ping'er's body out, placing it in the main room. They spread a brocade mat and covered it with a paper quilt, set up an altar with incense, and lit a lamp. They also asked Dai An to invite Mr. Xu, the Taoist priest, to write a eulogy. Madam Yue delivered the prepared clothes, then locked the door of Li Ping'er's bedroom, leaving the kang room in the care of the maids and wet nurses. Feng Mama, seeing her mistress gone, wept inconsolably, while Wang Guzi recited prayers nearby, chanting the Heart Sutra, Medicine Buddha Sutra, Resolving Unjust Sutra, Shurangama Sutra, and Great Compassion Mantra for Li Ping'er, praying for the Bodhisattva to lead her to the afterlife. Ximen Qing, in the front hall, beat his chest and wept uncontrollably, his voice hoarse, repeatedly crying out, "My dear sister!"
When everyone finished their flurry of activity, the rooster crowed at dawn. Dai An invited Mr. Xu, who then bowed to Ximen Qing and asked, "Sir, when did the lady pass away?" Ximen Qing replied, "The exact time is unclear; she went to bed around the fourth watch of the night, and everyone in the house was asleep, so we don't know when she passed." Mr. Xu said, "It's alright." He then instructed someone to light a lamp, lifted the paper quilt to check, calculated with his fingers, and said, "It was at two o'clock of the fifth watch, at which time she took her last breath." Ximen Qing quickly called for ink, brush, paper, and an inkstone, and asked Mr. Xu to write a memorial. Under the lamp, Mr. Xu asked for Li Ping'er’s name and birth details, and wrote: "The passing of the late Mrs. Ximen, Li. Born on the fifteenth day of the first month in the Yuanyou year, at noon, passed away on the sixteenth day of the ninth month in the Zhenghe year, during the Ox hour. Today is a Bingzi day, with the month in Wuxu, a time when the heavens and earth are at odds, with a calamity height of one zhang high, and the family should refrain from crying; they can do so after donning mourning garments. At the time of burial, avoid the four living beings: dragon, tiger, rooster, and snake; relatives should not be excluded from this." Wu Yueniang asked Dai An to inquire of Mr. Xu: "Can you check that book of Yin and Yang to see where she has gone?" Mr. Xu opened the book to check and said, "Today is a Bingzi day, during the Ox hour; the deceased corresponds to the Treasure Vessel Palace above and descends to the Qi land below. In her previous life, she was a man in the Wang family of Binzhou, who killed a pregnant ewe. In this life, she is a woman, associated with the sheep. Although she didn't marry into a wealthy family until she was twenty, there was a significant age difference; however, she lived a comfortable life, living to forty-two years old, passing away peacefully in her sleep." After reading the book of Yin and Yang, all the women sighed deeply. Ximen Qing then asked Mr. Xu to check when they could break ground for the burial. Mr. Xu asked, "Sir, how long do you wish to wait?" Ximen Qing, crying, said, "She left so suddenly; we should wait until after the fifth and seventh days before proceeding." Mr. Xu replied, "There are no suitable burial days within the fifth and seventh days, but the fourth and seventh days are suitable. It is advisable to choose the eighth day of the tenth month at noon for breaking ground, and the twelfth day at the Goat hour for burial, which does not conflict with the six family members' birth signs." Ximen Qing replied, "Alright, we’ll hold the funeral on October twelfth; no changes." Mr. Xu finished writing the memorial tablet, placed it on the deceased, and told Ximen Qing, "The main burial will take place on the nineteenth at the Dragon hour; prepare everything on your side."
It looks like the Simplified Chinese text you meant to provide is missing. Could you please share it with me? I'd love to help you with that!
As soon as Mr. Xu was sent off, the sky brightened. Ximen Qing asked Qintong to ride out and invite Uncle Hua, and then sent out notifications to relatives about the funeral. He also requested leave from the magistrate's office and sent Dai'an to Lion Street to pick up twenty barrels of bleached gauze and thirty barrels of unprocessed silk. He instructed Zhao the tailor to hire several tailors to make curtains, canopies, tablecloths, shrouds, burial cloths, and women's garments in each room of the west wing. The servants outside all donned white headscarves and straight white robes. He also withdrew one hundred taels of silver and asked Ben Si to buy thirty barrels of coarse linen and two hundred pieces of yellow silk mourning cloth from a shop nearby. Meanwhile, he ordered the setup of a colorful canopy and had five large tents erected in the courtyard. Ximen Qing recalled Li Ping'er's beauty and suddenly realized he had forgotten to have her portrait painted, and asked Bao, "Where can I find a good painter? Get someone to paint her portrait. I can't believe I let this slip my mind." Bao replied, "Han Xian'er, who previously painted screens for us, used to be a painter at the Xuanhe Palace. He retired and went home; his paintings are particularly lifelike." Ximen Qing said, "Where does he live? Hurry and bring him here."
Ximen Qing didn't sleep all night, tossing and turning all night, feeling very distressed and completely muddled, in a bad mood, scolding the maid one moment and kicking the servant the next moment, unable to hold back his tears as he kept vigil by Li Ping'er’s corpse. Dai An, beside him, was also crying to the point of being speechless. Wu Yueniang, along with Li Jiaojiao, Meng Yulou, and Pan Jinlian, was busy distributing mourning clothes to the maids and family members behind the curtain when they saw Ximen Qing crying so hoarsely he couldn't even drink tea and asked him what was wrong. Yueniang said, “Look at yourself! The person is already dead; crying won’t bring her back! Crying endlessly about it. You haven’t slept for two or three nights straight, haven’t combed your hair, haven’t washed your face, looking all disheveled, and haven’t eaten anything; even a tough guy couldn’t handle it! First, comb your hair, come out and eat something, get some energy before talking. With such a small body, what if you end up collapsing from exhaustion?” Yulou said, “Looks like he hasn’t even combed his hair or washed his face!” Yueniang said, “It’d be good if he could wash his face! I asked a servant to invite him to wash his face earlier, but he kicked him out instead; who would dare to persuade him again?” Jinlian said, “You haven’t seen him yet; I tried to advise him earlier, telling him that since the person is already dead, he shouldn't tire himself out like this. Eat something in the room first, and it wouldn’t be too late to go out and cry after you recover. In response, his eyes turned red, and he scolded me: ‘You filthy whore, what’s it to you!’ I’m not fooling around with anyone; who else would I even mess with! — Really an unreasonable guy, just saying things that really get under people's skin.” Yueniang said, “It’s hard not to be distressed when someone dies so suddenly. Even if it’s distressing, it should be kept in the heart; why act like this? The person is already dead, regardless of any resentment, crying and shouting endlessly; it’s hard to know what to make of it. Has he had a single good day in the last three years? Every day he’s made to do this and that!” Meng Yulou said, “Sister Li has her troubles, but being bullied by her father on top of that is just too much.”
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Just as they were talking, Chen Jingji came in with nine pieces of water-repellent silk and said, "Father asked my mother and a few others in the family to cut some handkerchiefs, and the rest to make skirts." Yue Niang took the silk and said, "Brother-in-law, why don't you go invite your father to come in and have something to eat? It's been several hours already, and he hasn't had a sip of tea." Jingji said, "I dare not invite him. Previously, when a servant invited him to eat, he nearly got kicked out. How could I possibly provoke him again?" Yue Niang said, "If you won't invite him, then I'll send someone to do it." After a while, Yue Niang called for Dai An and said, "Your father hasn't eaten yet, and he's been crying all day. Take some food to him. Mr. Wen is here too; let him keep your father company while he eats." Dai An said, "I've already invited Uncle Ying Er and Uncle Xie. Once they arrive, Mother can send food up, and I guarantee that after a few words, Dad will eat." Wu Yue Niang said, "You little rascal, are you in your father's head? We wives can't compare to you. How do you know that only when those two come will your father eat?" Dai An said, "Mother, you don't know. Father's good friends never miss a banquet, big or small. If Father drinks three cups, they drink three cups; if Father drinks two cups, they drink two cups. As soon as Father is feeling down, when those two come and say a few words, Father immediately brightens up."
After chatting for a while, Qitong summoned Count Ying and Xie Xida. After they entered, they knelt in front of Ling with a thud, crying for a long time, repeatedly shouting "my righteous sister-in-law." They were chastised by Jinlian and Yulou: "You slick-tongued guy, are we not righteous?" After they finished crying and got back up, Ximen Qing returned the gesture with a nod, and the two started crying again, saying, "Brother, don't be too sad, too sad." Then they were invited to the side room and sat down with Wenxiucai. The count asked first, "When did sister-in-law die?" Ximen Qing said, "She died at the ugly hour." The count said, "When I got home, it was already four in the morning. The family asked me, and I told them I was watching over Yin Zhi; sister-in-law was already very seriously ill. Unexpectedly, I just fell asleep and dreamed that my brother had sent a high official to summon me, saying that the family was holding a celebration banquet and asked me to come quickly. I dreamed that my brother was wearing a red robe and took out two jade hairpins from his sleeve to show me, saying one was broken. I examined it closely for a while and said to my brother, 'It's a pity, the broken one is real jade, the intact one is made of glass.' My brother said both were jade. When I woke up, I realized this dream was ominous. When my family saw me smacking my lips, they asked me, 'Who are you talking to?' I said, 'Don't ask, I'll tell you when it's light.' When it was light, a high official in white clothes came and asked me to come quickly. Sure enough, my brother's family is going to hold a funeral." Ximen Qing said, "I also had a dream like yours last night. I dreamed that the Zhai family in Tokyo sent six hairpins, one of which was broken. I said, 'What a pity.' As soon as I woke up and told my family, she passed away. This is really an unlucky day; it has caused me great pain! I would be better off dead than dealing with this pain. But thinking of her, I feel uncomfortable! I haven't owed anyone anything; why does heaven have to take away the person I love the most! - First a child was lost, now she's gone. What's the point of my existence? Even if I have a lot of money, what's the use?" The count said, "Brother, what you said is not right. You had such a good relationship with sister-in-law, and she suddenly died; of course, you would feel sad. But you have so much family business and such an important future; your whole family relies on you. If you collapse, what will become of everyone! These sisters-in-law are none of them dependable. As the saying goes, when one person is enlightened, even the chickens and dogs ascend to heaven; when one person dies, the whole family suffers. Brother, you are so smart; do you really need us to tell you this? Even if sister-in-law is young and beautiful, no matter how much you love her, it's not as good as her feelings. After the funeral, please have the monks chant some scriptures, give her a proper send-off, fulfill your responsibilities, and bring closure for your sister-in-law; what else do you need? Brother, relax a little." The count's words made Ximen Qing suddenly clear, and he stopped crying. After a while, he drank some tea and called for Da'an: "Go and see if the food is ready in the back; I will eat with Second Ying, Master Wen, and Xie." The count said, "Brother, you haven't eaten yet?" Ximen Qing said, "Since you left, I had a chaotic night, and now who still cares about eating?" The count said, "Brother, not eating is not an option. As the saying goes, 'It's better to lose money than to ruin your health.' As the Book of Filial Piety teaches, 'Educate the people, do not let them harm their lives because of death, do not destroy human nature.' The dead have already died; the living must continue to live. Brother, you have to pull yourself together."
It looks like the text you meant to send isn't here; could you please share the Simplified Chinese text you'd like translated into English?
A few words can illuminate the path for a noble person; just a single word can awaken someone from their dreams.
