When Ximen Qing returned home, it was already past midnight. The servant opened the door for him, and he dismounted, stepped on the snow on the ground, and walked to the pink wall of the ceremonial gate. The gate was half-open, the courtyard was quiet, and there was no one around. Ximen Qing felt something was wrong, so he hid behind the pink wall of the ceremonial gate to eavesdrop.
He saw Xiaoyu come out and arrange the incense table in the corridor. It turned out that since her falling out with Ximen Qing, Wu Yueniang had been observing three days of fasting each month and praying to the deities every seventh day, hoping for Ximen Qing to change his mind soon. Ximen Qing was unaware of this. After Xiaoyu arranged the incense table, Yueniang came out dressed neatly, lit the incense burner in the courtyard, and bowed deeply to the heavens. She prayed, "I, Wu Yueniang, am the wife of the Ximen family, but my husband is lost in the world of pleasure and beauty, yet we have no children in our middle age. None of the six of us wives have given birth, and in the future, there will be no one to perform sacrifices. I worry day and night, unsure of what to do. Therefore, I vow to pray under the stars and moon every night, hoping for my husband to change his mind soon, to abandon the extravagance and focus on managing the household. If just one of us six women can have a child soon, I will be content."
The poem goes:
Leaving the house at night, the night air is clear,
In the courtyard, incense smoke and snow faintly bright.
Bowing to the heavens, expressing all my heartfelt troubles,
Endless wandering alone.
Ximen Qing originally didn't want to listen, but after hearing Yueniang's words, he felt guilty and thought, "I misunderstood her in the past; she said everything for my own good, she is truly a good wife." Unable to resist, he walked out from behind the wall and embraced Yueniang. Yueniang was startled to see him on such a snowy day, tried to push him away and return to the house, but Ximen Qing held her tightly. "My sister! I, Ximen Qing, am truly foolish! You have always had good intentions for me; I misunderstood you before, made you feel neglected, and now it's too late to regret." Yueniang said, "On a day like this, did you come to the wrong door? I'm not a good woman; what does it matter to you? Why are you coming to reason with me again? Let's not see each other in the future!" Ximen Qing gently but firmly pulled Yueniang into the house.
Under the light, Yue Niang was wearing casual clothes: a bright red button-up jacket and a soft yellow skirt; on her head, she wore a mink hat, and the golden hairpin shone, making her look even more like a face carved from jade and adorned with powder, with a cicada-like hairdo and black hair that flows like clouds over the Chuxiu mountains. How could Ximen Qing not love her? He quickly bowed deeply to Yue Niang: "I, Ximen Qing, was confused for a moment and did not heed your advice, taking your kindness for granted. I truly failed to recognize your worth and mistook it for something worthless. Now I understand, please forgive me." Yue Niang said: "I'm not the one in your heart, what's the point of advising you? I'm just living my life here, you need not concern yourself with me. There's no space for you here, so just go; I don’t want the maid to chase you away." Ximen Qing said: "I'm feeling suffocated today, coming back in this heavy snow, just wanted to tell you." Yue Niang replied: "Whether you feel stifled or not, don't tell me. I’m not your problem; go talk to the people who deal with you."
Ximen Qing saw that Yueliang was paying him no mind, so he knelt on the ground and kept calling her "sister." Yueliang became impatient and said, "You really have no shame! I’ll have the maid come in." She then called Xiaoyu. Ximen Qing saw Xiaoyu coming in, quickly stood up, and tried to find an excuse to send her away, saying, "It's snowing outside, and the incense table hasn't been brought in yet?" Xiaoyu replied, "The incense table has been brought in long ago." Yueliang couldn't help but laugh, "You shameless guy, lying to the maid." Xiaoyu left, and Ximen Qing knelt down again, pleading for her forgiveness. Yueliang said, "If you don’t care about anyone’s feelings, it would be better for me to ignore you for a hundred years!" After saying that, she sat with him, letting Xiaoyu pour tea for him. Ximen Qing told Yueliang about the incident at the tea party today, causing trouble at the Li family with the Earl, "I swear, I will never go to those places again in the future." Yueliang said, "Whether you go or not, it's none of my business. Even if you tie her up with gold and silver, when you're not around, she will still find someone else? When it comes to taking care of a man, you can control her body, but not her heart. What good will locking her up do?" Ximen Qing said, "You're right." So he sent the maid out, took off his clothes, got into bed, wanting to get close to Yueliang. Yueliang said, "As soon as you get in bed, that's all you think about. Today, I only allow you to sleep on my bed; don’t think about anything else." Ximen Qing deliberately said, "It's all because you made him angry; he had a stroke and couldn't speak." Yueliang asked, "How could he have a stroke?" Ximen Qing replied, "Since he had a stroke and couldn't speak, why is he still opening his eyes?" Yueliang scolded, "You shameless fellow, how could I even look at you at all!" Ximen Qing ignored her and hoisted Yueliang’s legs over his shoulders...
Poem:
The oriole weaves urgently on the crabapple branch, the swallows chatter in the jade-beamed room.
Ximen Qing couldn't help his feelings, whispering to Yueliang to call him "dada"; Yueliang also responded in a low voice, with a charming posture, constantly calling out "dear." That night, the two entwined in passion, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Poem:
Disheveled hair, passion overflowing, weary of the night.
In the evening, standing alone at the dressing table, the spring mountains need no embellishment. Let's not discuss what happened last night. The next morning, Meng Yulou walked to the door of Pan Jinlian's room and shouted before entering: "Liu Yatou, are you awake?" Chunmei replied, "My mother just got up to brush her hair, Third Sister, please come in and sit." Yulou went in and saw Jinlian dressing up in front of the dressing table. Yulou said, "I have something to tell you. Do you know about it?" Jinlian said, "I'm busy, how would I know?" Yulou asked, "What is it?" Yulou said, "Your father came home in the middle of the night yesterday, went to the main room, and had an affair with the woman from the Wu family, sleeping in her room all night." Jinlian said, "No matter how we advise him, he won't listen. He talks about a happy marriage for a hundred years; how can he throw it away for nothing? He is willing! No one can advise him!" Yulou said, "I just found out this morning. Our eldest maid, Lanxiang, heard from the kitchen servants that your father and Ying Er were drinking at Li Guier's house yesterday, discovered the woman's flaws, and smashed her windows and doors. On a heavy snow day, he came home in a rage, saw the main room lit with incense as soon as he walked in, probably heard something, and the two of them got involved. It's really maddening! There's really nothing to say about a person like him. If it were someone else, I don't know how to say it!" Jinlian continued, "Having been someone else's main wife for so long, she still doesn't know how to adapt! Light a night incense, and she should silently pray. Who would go around spreading it and letting men know? No one can advise; secretly having an affair with a man. Just bear with it and pretend you don't know!"
Yulou said, "It's not that he pretends not to know; he wants to reconcile but just finds it hard to say. He said that the main wife can't swallow this grievance and asked us to help persuade her, fearing that we would gossip in the future about their bad relationship, and that it would be to our disadvantage if we didn't help out. You and I can't let him take advantage of this. Hurry up and get ready, and go talk to Li Ping'er. Let's each contribute five coins, and have Li Ping'er put in another couple of taels, since this matter was originally caused by her. Today, with such heavy snow, let's have a feast—first to apologize, and second to enjoy the snow and have some fun. What's the harm in that?" Jinlian said, "That's right. I wonder if your father has anything to do today?" Yulou replied, "On a snowy day, what could there be? When I came, those two hadn't made a sound yet; the upper room door had just opened, and Xiaoyu had just gone in to deliver water." Jinlian hurriedly tidied herself up and went with Yulou to Li Ping'er's room. Li Ping'er was still sleeping in bed; Yingchun said, "Third Mistress, Fifth Mistress have arrived." Yulou and Jinlian entered and said, "Sister Li, you sleep like a log! Looks like this lazy one just got up." Jinlian reached into the quilt and touched the fragrant silver ball, saying, "Sister Li, you really are living in luxury!" She lifted the quilt and saw her fair, delicate skin. Li Ping'er scrambled to get dressed, clearly flustered. Yulou said, "Fifth Sister, don't tease her anymore. Sister Li, get up quickly; we have something to tell you. Your father and the eldest sister got together yesterday. We're each contributing five coins, and you should contribute a bit more since this matter was initially caused by you. With such heavy snow today, let's treat it as a snow appreciation, and set up a table of wine to invite your father and the eldest sister to sit with us, okay?" Li Ping'er said, "I’ll contribute whatever you sisters need." Jinlian said, "Just put in one tael. You can weigh it out, and I’ll go ask Li Jiao'er and Sun Xue'e for some." While Li Ping'er was putting on her clothes and shoes, she asked Yingchun to open the box and take out the silver. She weighed a piece, and Jinlian weighed it with a fine scale, and it weighed exactly one tael, two coins, and five cents. Yulou asked Jinlian to help Li Ping'er get ready: "I will go ask Li Jiao'er and Sun Xue'e for the silver."
Not provided.
Jin Lian watched Li Ping'er combing her hair and washing her face. About an hour later, Yu Lou came over from behind and said, "I knew this wouldn't be easy. Everyone's affairs are like asking for a handout. That little brat said, 'I have bad luck; if no man comes to my room, where am I supposed to get money?' After begging her for ages, she only produced a silver hairpin. Why don't you weigh it and see how much it weighs?" Jin Lian took the scale to weigh it, and it weighed only three taels and seven fen. She then asked, "What did Li Jiao'er have to say?" Yu Lou replied, "At first, Li Jiao'er said she had none, 'Even though money passes through my hands every day, it's all accounted for. I pay as much as I use; how could there be any leftover?' I said, 'If the head of the household says there’s no money, where would we get any? Haven't you walked past our door in June? Don't you contribute to everyone's affairs?' I got so mad I just walked out, and she panicked, sending a maid to call me back, and only then did she give me this silver. It really made me furious!" Jin Lian took Li Jiao'er's silver and weighed it; it was only four taels and eight fen. She then cursed, "What a sly little brat! No matter what you ask, she drags her feet, unwilling to give the full amount, always short by a few." Yu Lou said, "Her family is the only one that uses a scale that cheats people. When others ask her for money, it's like scraping flesh from bones; who knows how many people have cursed her out!" Yu Lou and Jin Lian together gathered three taels and one fen; then they had Xiu Chun call Dai An over. Jin Lian first asked him, "Why did you come back angrily after going to the Li family with your father yesterday?" Dai An detailed that after drinking tea at the Chang family, he invited Ying Er and the Xie family master to the Li family, but the brothel keeper said she wasn't home and had gone to Aunt Wu's birthday party. "Unexpectedly, while my father was washing his hands, he saw the courtesan and a barbarian drinking together. My father got angry. Without saying a word, he ordered us to smash that woman's doors and windows, wanting to lock the barbarian and the courtesan inside. Luckily, Ying Er and the others stopped him. My father angrily rode home and was still cursing on the way, saying he would deal with that woman tomorrow." Jin Lian said, "That wretch! I thought she was as solid as a rock; I didn't expect she would get beaten today too?" She then asked Dai An, "Did your father really say that?" Dai An replied, "How could I dare to lie to you, ma'am!" Jin Lian said, "You little thief, if he doesn't deal with her, she's still your father's mistress; how dare you curse her? Thinking about how we usually use you, you say, 'My father sent me to Aunt Gui's to deliver silver!' How happy Aunt Gui must be! Now that she's in trouble, your master is angry, and even you are cursing her! Let's see if I tell your father tomorrow." Dai An said, "Oh! Fifth Mistress, you really are helping her this time! If my father hadn't been cursing her on the road, how would I dare curse her?" Jin Lian said, "Your father can curse her; can you?" Dai An said, "If I had known Fifth Mistress would give me a hard time, I wouldn't have said anything to you." Yu Lou said, "Kid, stop making excuses. This three taels and one fen, hurry up and go buy things with Lai Xing. Today we are treating your father and the madam to enjoy the snow. You can take a little less; I promise your Fifth Mistress won't spill the beans to your dad." Dai An said, "If my mother tells me to go, how could I dare take less money?" So he took the silver and went to buy things with Lai Xing.
Ximen Qing got up and was just about to wash up. At that moment, it was snowing heavily, and Xing'er brought in the chicken, goose, and dishes he had bought into the kitchen. Dai'an then brought over a jar of Jinhua wine and asked Yuxiao, "Where did these things come from?" Yuxiao said, "Today the sisters are hosting a banquet to treat our parents to enjoy the snowfall." Ximen Qing asked, "Where did the Jinhua wine come from?" Dai'an replied, "It was bought with the money from San Niang." Ximen Qing said, "Oh! We still have wine at home, and you went and bought more!" He told Dai'an, "Take the key; there are two jars of jasmine wine with double flavor in the front room. Bring them over to mix with this wine." So, in the back hall, they set up a brocade curtain, a screen, and hung plum blossom curtains, lit the charcoal, and arranged the banquet. Before long, everything was ready. Li Jiao'er, Meng Yulou, Pan Jinlian, and Li Ping'er arrived, inviting Ximen Qing and Yue Niang to join them. Li Jiao'er poured the wine, Meng Yulou held the pot, Pan Jinlian served the dishes, and Li Ping'er knelt beside them, first offering a toast to Ximen Qing. Ximen Qing took the wine and smiled, saying, "Children, you are really filial; take good care of this old man!" Pan Jinlian, sharp-tongued, interjected, "What a silly thing to say! Who's going to bow to you? If we bow to you, you just stand there. Like a scallion propped against the south wall—getting sharper by the day! If it weren't for the eldest sister leading you, we wouldn't bow to you today!" Saying this, she poured another cup of wine and invited Yue Niang. Yue Niang said, "You didn't even mention it; I had no idea you went to all this trouble." Yulou laughed and said, "It's nothing; we just casually prepared some wine. With such heavy snow, we are here to entertain you two as a couple. Sister, please sit down; let us toast you with a cup." Yue Niang refused and returned a courtesy. Yulou said, "If you won't sit, we won't budge." After pushing and refusing for a long time, Yue Niang finally accepted half a courtesy. Jinlian teased, "I told sister that today, for our sake, she would spare him. If he is rude again next time and offends sister, we won't take responsibility." She said to Ximen Qing, "You pretend to be foolish, still sitting in the main seat, hurry down and toast sister with a cup of wine as an apology!" Ximen Qing smiled and agreed. After a while, after the toasts were done, Yue Niang came down, letting Yuxiao pour the wine and return the toast to the sisters. Only Sun Xue'e knelt to receive the wine, while the others mingled as equals.
Ximen Qing and Lady Yuexiang sat in the honored seats, while Li Jiaor, Meng Yulou, Pan Jinlian, Li Ping'er, Sun Xue'e, and Ximen's eldest sister were seated on either side. Jinlian said, "Sister Li, you should take the initiative to raise a toast to the eldest sister. You were wronged because of your matter back then. Why are you still so restrained?" Li Ping'er really wanted to get up to toast, but was stopped by Ximen Qing, who said, "Don't listen to this little demon's nonsense. You've already made a toast, why do it again?" Li Ping'er then didn't move. At this time, Chunmei, Yingchun, Yuxiao, and Lanxiang, the four musicians, played the pipa, zither, strings, and moon lute in unison, singing a piece titled "Nan Shiliu Hua - Jiaqi Chonghui." Ximen Qing asked, "Who asked her to sing this song?" Yuxiao said, "It was ordered by Fifth Sister." Ximen Qing glanced at Pan Jinlian and remarked, "You little troublemaker, always up to mischief!" Jinlian said, "Who asked her to sing? It's not like she's deliberately bothering me." Lady Yuexiang suggested, "Why not invite Brother Chen to join us?" and sent a servant to invite him. In a short while, Chen Jingji arrived, bowed to everyone, and sat next to the eldest sister. Lady Yuexiang asked Xiaoyu to set up the tea set, and everyone drank together. Ximen Qing gazed at the heavy snow outside the window, swirling like cotton, absolutely beautiful. The poem says:
At first like willow catkins, gradually like goose feathers. Swishing like several crabs walking on the sand, fluttering like scattered jade piles. Just a slight movement, clothes touched by snow on all sides, in an instant covering the temples like bees. Against the jade platform, like a jade dragon turning its scales dancing in the air; floating on the powdered forehead, like white crane feathers falling to the ground. It is indeed: Frozen together, the cold rising millet in the jade building; light flickering, the silver sea candle blossoming.
Lady Yuexiang noticed the thick layer of snow on the Taihu stone against the pink wall, so she got up, let Xiaoyu take the teapot, personally cleared the snow, and brewed Jiangnan's Fengtuan Que tea for everyone to drink. The poem says:
In the white jade pot, blue waves swirl; in the purple gold cup, a clear fragrance wafts.
While drinking tea, Dai An entered and said, "Li Ming is here, waiting outside the door." Ximen Qing said, "Let him in." After a while, Li Ming came in and kowtowed to everyone, standing to the side. Ximen Qing asked, "Where have you been? You arrived just in time." Li Ming said, "I didn't go anywhere; I went to Liu Gong's house at the North Vinegar Gate, taught a few children and took a look around. I missed my parents and sisters, and there are a few lyrics that need to be refined, so I came to serve." Ximen Qing handed him the magnolia tea and said, "Drink it before you go; sing a piece titled 'Winter Scenery: Spring in Jiangdu' for me first." Li Ming said, "I know." He drank the tea, tuned his zither, and sang. After singing, Ximen Qing rewarded him with wine and had Xiaoyu refill his cup, pouring it into the silver enamel peach blossom cup. Li Ming knelt down and drank three cups. Ximen Qing then brought out four plates of dishes and served them to him. After Li Ming finished eating, he wiped his mouth with a silk napkin, walked to the upper area, and stood straight against the railing. Ximen Qing told him about what happened at Guijie's house yesterday. Li Ming said, "I didn't know; I don't usually go there. I believe this has nothing to do with Guijie; it was all San Niang's doing. Dad, don't be angry; I'll talk to her when I see San Niang." They drank late into the night, and everyone was in high spirits. Chen Jingji and Eldest Sister left first. After the banquet concluded, Ximen Qing treated Li Ming to more wine, sent him out, and instructed, "When you go over there, don’t mention anything about today at my place." Li Ming said, "Dad, I understand." Ximen Qing had a servant see him out, and then the wives dispersed. Ximen Qing rested in Yuexi's room. The poem goes:
Don't doubt the red string of fate; husband and wife share this bond. Meeting like fish and water from now on, may both hearts wish for harmony for a hundred years.
The next day the snow stopped. Lord Ying and Xie Xi enjoyed a lavish feast of roast goose and wine sent by the Li family. Fearing that Ximen Qing might cause trouble for the Li family, they personally came to invite Ximen Qing to go over and apologize. After Yue Niang finished getting ready, she was having breakfast with Ximen Qing at home when Dai An came in to report: "Lord Ying and Lord Xie have arrived." Ximen Qing set down his breakfast and was about to head out. Yue Niang said, "I wonder what they're up to this time? You should finish your breakfast first and let them wait outside. Why the rush? It's snowing heavily; who knows what mischief they’re planning!" Ximen Qing replied, "Have the servant bring the breakfast out front, and I’ll eat with them." Saying this, he got up to go outside. Yue Niang warned him, "You eat breakfast with them and come back; don’t let them drag you off somewhere again. Today is Sister Meng San's birthday!" Ximen Qing said, "I know."
Then Ximen Qing, Ying, and Xie greeted each other and said, "Brothers, we feel that what happened yesterday at Li's house was really unacceptable. We spent so much money there before. Even if we hadn't been there for a while, they shouldn't have turned against us. Are the women in Li's family secretly fooling around with other men? Seeing your rival face to face, can you not be angry? Don't just say you're angry; we feel pretty upset too! We gave them a good telling-off, and they felt pretty sorry about it. Early this morning, they invited us to their house. The women in their family were crying and begging on their knees, afraid that you would be angry. They laid out a spread of drinks just to make amends with you." Ximen Qing said, "I'm not going! I’m done with that place!" Bao said, "Bro, you’ve got every right to be mad. But speaking of this, it's not Guijie's fault. Ding Erguan was originally a distant relative of his sister Guiqing. He didn't even mention inviting Guijie. It was just that his father's cargo ship was carried on Chen Jiansheng's ship, and it hadn't been long since they arrived. This Chen Jiansheng is the son of Chen Shengzheng, the salt transport officer of Lianghuai. Ding Erguan took ten taels of silver and invited Chen Jiansheng at his house. Just after handing over the silver, you two came, they panicked, didn't have time to hide, and hid the wild man behind, which you saw. It really has nothing to do with Guijie. Today, the women in their family are swearing and begging us to bring you over, explain the whole story to you, and calm your anger." Ximen Qing said, "I swear on everything that I’m never going back. Why be angry? Go tell them, don't worry. There's something going on at my house today; I really can't leave." Ying and Xie immediately knelt down and said, "Brother, please don't say that! If you don’t go, it’ll look like we can’t get you to budge, and that’ll be embarrassing for us! Just go over and come back, okay?" The two of them begged hard, and Ximen Qing finally caved in.
Before long, the feast was laid out, and two of them were left to have breakfast together. After eating, Ximen Qing asked Dai An to fetch some clothes. Yueniang was sitting with Meng Yulou and asked Dai An, "Where is your father going?" Dai An said, "I don't know; father only asked me to bring clothes." Yueniang yelled, "You little rascal, you’re keeping secrets from me! Today is your third mother's birthday; if your father shows up late, I’ll take it out on you!" Dai An said, "What's that got to do with me?" Yueniang said, "I just don’t get it; every time I hear that your father is going out, it's like the end of the world. When it’s time to eat, he just drops his bowl and bolts; I have no idea who he’s off to meet!" The banquet was set up at home, but that’s a story for another time.
Ximen Qing was invited to the Li household by two individuals, where a banquet was already laid out in the hall, and two courtesans were singing and playing music. Li Gui Jie and Gui Qing, dressed beautifully, came out to welcome him. The old woman knelt down to apologize, and the sisters raised their glasses in a toast. Count Ying and Xie Xi Da joked from the sidelines, saying to Gui Jie, “I wore my mouth out trying to get you this guy. You didn’t even pour me a drink, only caring about pouring for your man! Just now, if he hadn’t come, not only would you have cried your eyes out and sung a dirge, but tomorrow everyone would ignore you, and only I would be the nice one to help you out.” Gui Jie scolded, “You annoying Ying Huazi! I can’t help but swear! When do I have the time to sing a mourning song?” Count Ying said, “Look at you, little minx! You’re in a panic because he didn’t come, and now you’re all bold. Come here, let me give you a kiss.” Saying this, before Gui Jie could respond, he wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her. Gui Jie laughed, “You rascal, watch out you don’t spill wine on yourself!” The Count replied, “Little minx, you’re getting all flirty now, knowing how to pamper a man. ‘Be careful not to spill wine on me!’ How sweet it sounds when you say that! Am I raised by a wicked stepmother? Why don’t you call me ‘dad’?” Gui Jie said, “I’ll call you ‘kid’.” The Count said, “Come here, let me tell you a joke: a crab and a frog became sworn brothers and agreed that whoever jumped over the ditch first would be the older brother. The frog jumped over in a few hops. Just as the crab was getting ready to jump, it encountered two women coming to fetch water, who tied it up with some grass rope and took it home. They forgot to untie it before they left. The frog came over when it saw the crab hadn’t arrived and asked, ‘Why haven’t you come over yet?’ The crab said, ‘I could have made it over, but those two little minxes tied me up!’” Gui Jie and Gui Qing listened and chased after him to hit him, making Ximen Qing laugh out loud.
Wu Yueniang was hosting a banquet at home to celebrate her mother's birthday, and Aunt Wu, Young Lady Yang, and two aunts were all sitting in the main room. As it was getting dark and Ximen Qing still hadn't returned, Yueniang was getting increasingly anxious. Pan Jinlian pulled Li Ping'er and jokingly said to Yueniang, "Elder sister, why hasn't he come back yet? Shall we go to the door to see him?" Yueniang replied, "What are we waiting for?" Jinlian then pulled Yulou and said, "Let's go take a look together." Yulou said, "I’m just listening to the master tell jokes; let me finish this joke first." Only then did Jinlian stop and gathered around to listen to the jokes from the two aunts, urging, "Master, please tell us quickly." Aunt Wang, who was sitting on the kang, told a joke. Jinlian said, "That one wasn't funny; tell us another." Aunt Wang told another:
"Three daughters-in-law were toasting their father-in-law on his birthday. The eldest daughter-in-law raised her glass and toasted, 'Father-in-law, you are like a high official.' The father-in-law asked, 'What official do I resemble?' The daughter-in-law replied, 'You sit at the head of the table, and everyone in the house is afraid of you; isn’t that just like an official?' When it was the second daughter-in-law's turn to toast, she said, 'Father-in-law, you are like a formidable constable.' The father-in-law asked, 'What constable do I resemble?' The daughter-in-law said, 'When you shout, everyone jumps in fright; doesn’t that make you like a constable?' The father-in-law said, 'You are right!' When it was the third daughter-in-law's turn to toast, she said, 'Father-in-law, you’re like a foreigner!' The father-in-law asked, 'What foreigner do I resemble?' The daughter-in-law replied, 'If you weren't like a foreigner, how could you have been through all six rooms?'"
Everyone started to laugh. Jin Lian said, "What a bald-headed donkey! He dragged us all into this. Which official would dare to be so bold!" After saying this, Jin Lian, Yu Lou, and Li Ping'er ran outside the main gate to wait for that scoundrel Ximen Qing. Yu Lou asked, "Where did he go on such a snowy day?" Jin Lian said, "I guess he must have gone to that fox Li Gui'er again." Yu Lou said, "Last time they had a fight, he swore he wouldn't go again. How could he go back? What did we bet on at that time? He must not be at her place." Jin Lian said, "Sister Li can testify. Do you dare to bet with me? I say he definitely went today! He beat that fox the day before yesterday, and yesterday that scoundrel Li Ming went to scout. Today, Ying Er and someone with the surname Xie lured him over early in the morning. I guess that old hag and the fox have plotted something, and I don't know how they coaxed him to go, to apologize and rekindle old feelings; who knows how long they'll be caught up in this. Whether it works or not, just wait, big sister!" Yu Lou said, "Even if he doesn't come back, the servant should at least come back with some news." Just as they were talking, a seed seller arrived, and while they were buying seeds, Ximen Qing came from the east, making the three of them jump back in fright.
Ximen Qing was riding a horse and asked Dai An to go ahead and take a look: "See who is outside the main gate?" Dai An approached and said, "It's Third Sister, Fifth Sister, and Sixth Sister buying melon seeds." Ximen Qing dismounted and entered the main gate. Yu Lou and Li Ping'er went to the main room to inform Yue Niang. Only Jin Lian was hiding behind the pink wall. When Ximen Qing ran into her, he was startled and said, "You little妖精, scared me to death! What are you doing at the door?" Jin Lian replied, "Aren't you ashamed to ask! Where have you been? You just got back and made us wait for you at the door!" Ximen Qing entered the house, and Yue Niang set the wine and dishes, letting Yu Xiao pour the wine while the eldest sister raised a toast. First, they toasted Ximen Qing, and then the sisters all toasted as well, and everyone sat down. Chun Mei and Ying Chun performed songs for everyone; after eating for a while, they withdrew. Then they arranged the wine and dishes for Yu Lou's birthday banquet, with over forty exquisite small dishes. With fine wine and delicious dishes, everyone raised their glasses and drank heartily. They let Aunt Wu sit in the main seat. By the time it was late at night, Aunt Wu hadn't drunk much and went home. Only Wu Yue Niang and the others stayed to play dice and give orders with Ximen Qing. When it was Yue Niang's turn, she said, "Since you want me to give an order, let’s drink according to the game rules: one card name, two domino names, combined with a line from 'The West Chamber'." Yue Niang first said, "Sixth Sister drunk Yang Guifei, dropped the eight pearl ring, and the floating silk caught the wisteria frame." That wasn’t a match. When it was Ximen Qing’s turn to roll, he said, "Yu Mei Ren, seeing the Chu and Han rivalry, hurt the Zheng Ma army, only hearing the drums and gongs shaking the sky." Exactly matched the Zheng Ma army, so he drank a cup. When it was Li Jiao Er's turn, she said, "Shui Xian Zi, because the two gentlemen entered the Peach Blossom Spring, startled the blooming flowers and butterflies on the branches, leaving only fallen petals and cold rouge on the ground." That wasn’t a match. When it was Jin Lian's turn to roll, she said, "Old Bao, in old age entering the flower grove, ruining the three cardinal guides and five constants, ask him if he’s a thief or not." Exactly matched the three cardinal guides and five constants, so she drank a cup. When it was Li Ping'er’s turn, she said, "Just right, using a ladder to gaze at the moon, waiting for the vernal equinox when day and night stop, at that time, the wall becomes the dangerous Wangfu Mountain." That wasn’t a match. When it was Sun Xue E's turn, she said, "Ma Lang, seeing the crows attacking the phoenix, tripping the limping wild goose, making it difficult for me to navigate life." That wasn’t a match. Finally, it was Yu Lou's turn to give an order, and she said, "Nian Nu Jiao, drunk supporting the four red沉, dragging the brocade skirt, how much spring breeze and night moon can be spent in the luxurious tent." Exactly rolled out four red沉. After Yue Niang finished giving her order, she called out to Xiao Yu: "Pour wine for Third Sister." She said, "You drink three cups! Tonight you should accompany the groom to sleep." Then she said to Li Ping'er, Jin Lian, and the others, "The wine is finished, let’s send them back to their rooms." Jin Lian said, "Sister ordered, how could we possibly refuse!" Yu Lou felt so embarrassed she could hardly bear it.
After a while, the banquet came to an end, and Yue Niang and the others sent Xi Men Qing back to his room in Yu Lou before returning. Yu Lou asked everyone to sit down, but nobody sat down. Jin Lian smiled and said to Yu Lou, "My child, sleep well. Your mother will visit you tomorrow, so behave yourself!" Then she said to Yue Niang, "In-laws, the child is still young, so please be a little more patient for my sake." Yu Lou replied, "Sixth girl, are you jealous? Don't be like this. I'll have a word with you tomorrow." Jin Lian said, "As a matchmaker heading upstairs, I can’t be scared." After saying that, she left with Li Ping Er and Xi Men Da Jie. Just as they reached the entrance of the courtyard, suddenly, Li Ping Er slipped and fell. Jin Lian shouted, "This Sister Li, walking like she can't see, takes two steps and falls. I even tried to help you, and now my foot is in the snow, getting my shoes dirty!" Yue Niang heard this and said, "It's that pile of snow at the entrance. I've told the servant twice already, but those lazy fellows refuse to clean it up, just waiting for someone to slip." Then she called out to Xiao Yu, "You take the lantern and see off Wu Niang and Liu Niang." Xi Men Qing, inside the room, said to Yu Lou, "Look at this little harlot! She fell herself and still blames others for dirtying her shoes, absolutely clueless. Such a little harlot! Yesterday, she had the maids sing 'A Joyful Reunion,' and I guessed it was her doing." Yu Lou asked, "'A Joyful Reunion'—what does that mean?" Xi Men Qing replied, "She said that the Wu family’s meeting isn't a proper date, but a private one. It's like burning incense at night, deliberately waiting for me." Yu Lou said, "We don't get those twists and turns from Sixth Sister." Xi Men Qing said, "You don't know, this little harlot loves to gossip."
Let's not discuss Ximen Qing spending the night in the Yulou room for now. Let's focus on Pan Jinlian and Li Ping'er as they walked and talked. When they reached the Yimen, the older sister went back to the front room. Xiaoyu, carrying a lantern, led the two to the garden. Jinlian was already tipsy and pulled Li Ping'er, saying, "Second mother, I drank today; please accompany me back to my room." Li Ping'er replied, "Sister, you're still fine; you're not drunk." After a while, they arrived at Jinlian's room. She sent Xiaoyu back to the backyard, leaving Li Ping'er to drink tea. Jinlian continued, "Why have you taken so long to come? Who is to blame? Who knew that today we sisters would walk together? I took on so much gossip for you, just so people wouldn’t talk behind my back! I have good intentions; heaven knows." Li Ping'er said, "I know you care, sister. I remember your kindness and won’t forget it." Jinlian replied, "It's good that you know." After a while, Chunmei brought tea, and Li Ping'er took her leave to return to her room. Jinlian rested alone, and that’s all we’ll say for now.
It is just:
In the empty courtyard, the tall building and the moon, no longer a perfect circle.
Why does it need to shine on the bed? In the end, it's a solitary sleep.
