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Written by: Realhistories

Category: The Golden Lotus（金瓶梅）

Published: 30 December 2024

Created: 30 December 2024

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The poem says:

Everyone has a beginning; I hope you can see it through to the end.

Years have passed since we parted; how can we expect old kindness?

To start anew and forget the old is something a gentleman would still criticize.

Though my body is far away, how could I forget you, even for a moment?

Having received so much, I won’t take it lightly; I often think of you.

Ximen Qing has transformed the garden, busy with it for the past six months; the renovations and painting are complete, and it looks brand new. In the past few days, Qing has just been drinking and hasn’t done anything else of importance.

In early August, Xia Tixing celebrated his birthday, and Ximen Qing hosted a banquet at his newly purchased estate, inviting four opera singers, a band, and acrobats. Around the hour of Si (around 10 AM), Ximen Qing rode over. Wu Yueniang stayed at home, preparing food and snacks, and took Li Jiaor, Meng Yulou, Sun Xue'e, her older sister, and Pan Jinlian to take a stroll in the new garden. This garden, with flowers, trees, and pavilions that seemed endless, was truly a wonderful place! In front was a five-zhang-high wall, surrounded by more than twenty wall panels. In the center was an archway, with several pavilions and towers nearby. There were rockeries, flowing water, bamboo, and pine trees, everything one could wish for. The tall structures were referred to as "Tai," while those that were tall but not steep were called "Xie." Each season offered different scenery: in spring, visitors could admire the peach and plum blossoms at Yan You Tang; in summer, the lotus flowers at Lin Xi Guan; in autumn, the yellow chrysanthemums at Die Cui Lou; and in winter, the white plum blossoms in Cang Chun Ge. Delicate flowers surrounded the paths, fragrant trees concealed the carved railings, and the willows swayed in the wind like a woman's arched eyebrows, while the begonia flowers in the rain resembled a young girl's tender face. The lights in front of Yan You Tang illuminated the flowers, making them seem to bloom and not bloom; the white apricot flowers behind Cang Chun Ge were half open and half closed. By the lake, golden flowers had just begun to bloom, and the precious railings had just sprouted stone spikes. Purple swallows flitted between the curtains; yellow orioles sang sweetly, flying over the lush green shade. There were moon windows, snow caves, water pavilions, wind pavilions, wood-scented arbors intertwined with thorny vines, with thousand-leaf peach blossoms and early spring willows growing in harmony. Pine tree walls, bamboo paths, winding streams, square ponds, banana plants and palms by the steps, and pomegranate trees facing the sun. Fish swam through the waterweeds, while butterflies danced among the flowers.

It’s truly remarkable how it resembles "beautiful peonies unfolding like a Bodhisattva's face and juicy lychees lifting the head of a spirit king"!

Wu Yue-niang brought several women with her; some were strolling along the flower path, while others were playing a grass-picking game on the lawn. Some leaned against the railing to enjoy the scenery, tossing red beans into the goldfish pond; others rested on the railing to look at the flowers, laughing and startling the butterflies. Yue-niang walked up to the highest pavilion, called Wo Yun Pavilion, and resumed her chess game with Meng Yu-lou and Li Jiao-er. Pan Jin-lian, Ximen Da-jie, and Sun Xue-e watched from below the flower tower. In front of the tower were peonies, paeonies, crabapples, roses, fragrant wood, as well as hardy bamboo and snow-resistant pines. Flowers bloomed year-round, offering beautiful scenery that was endless to admire. After a while, food and drinks were served, with Wu Yue-niang at the head of the table and Li Jiao-er sitting opposite her, while Meng Yu-lou, Sun Xue-e, Pan Jin-lian, and Ximen Da-jie took their seats on either side in order. Yue-niang said, "I forgot to invite my brother-in-law to join us." She then asked Xiao Yu to invite Jing Ji. Shortly after, Jing Ji arrived, dressed in a sky-blue hat, a purple silk robe, and pink shoes. He came forward to greet everyone and sat next to Da-jie. Everyone drank and chatted, while Wu Yue-niang resumed her chess game with Li Jiao-er and Ximen Da-jie. Sun Xue-e and Meng Yu-lou went upstairs to enjoy the view. Only Jin-lian remained by the flower pond in front of the rocks, using a round fan to flutter after the butterflies. Jing Ji quietly approached her from behind and said, "Wu-niang, you can't catch butterflies; let me help you. This butterfly is fluttering up and down, restless, like a rolling drum." Jin-lian turned her head and glared at him, scolding, "You reckless scoundrel, are you trying to get yourself killed? I know you don't care about your life anymore!" Jing Ji laughed and moved closer to her, leaning in to kiss her. Jin-lian pushed him away. Yu-lou saw this from the flower tower and called out, "Fifth sister, come here; I have something to say to you." Jin-lian abandoned Jing Ji and went upstairs. Though she didn’t catch the butterflies, she had set up a secret meeting.

Wild bees and roaming butterflies are sometimes seen, flying into the pear blossoms, lost to sight.

Jing Ji watched Jinlian leave, feeling downcast as he returned to his room. He wrote a poem called "The Song of the Laurel" to lift his spirits:

I saw her with a flower branch tilted, with no makeup on her ruby lips, yet they seemed painted. When we met the other day, it seemed like there was a secret affair, but I didn’t perceive any such thing. Wanting to see her, have I truly seen her? It seems she’s turning me down, but she’s not really turning me down. When will we meet again? If we don’t meet, I’ll still think of her; if we do meet, I’ll still think of her.

Moreover, Wu Yueniang and the others are drinking in the garden. After finishing drinking at Xia Tixing's estate, Ximen Qing was on his way home and passed by Nanwazi Alley. He recognized the rascals there, who were called "daozis" in the Song Dynasty, now known as "guanggun" (bachelors). Among them were two, one named Lu Hua and the other Zhang Sheng, who often received support from Ximen Qing and were involved in petty thefts. When Ximen Qing saw them gambling, he reined in his horse and approached them. The two quickly knelt down and said, "My lord, where have you come from?" Ximen Qing replied, "Today is Xia Tixing's birthday, and he is holding a banquet at his estate. I have a small favor to ask." The two responded, "Whatever you say, my lord, we've benefited so much from you. We would go to great lengths for you, even if it meant dying a thousand deaths!" Ximen Qing said, "In that case, come to my house tomorrow. I need to talk to you about something." The two said, "No need to wait until tomorrow; you can tell us now!" Ximen Qing leaned in and whispered about Jiang Zhushan wanting to take over Li Ping'er: "As long as you help me with this, it will be fine!" He took out four or five taels of silver and handed it to them: "Take this to drink. As long as you handle this matter well, there will be a reward." Lu Hua refused to take it: "Have I not received enough grace from you? If you ask us to go to the East Sea to pluck dragon horns or to the West Mountain to fetch tiger teeth, we would go; this is just a small task! I cannot accept this silver." Ximen Qing said, "If you won't take it, then I won't bother you." Dai An took the silver, and Ximen Qing rode away. Zhang Sheng stopped Lu Hua: "Lu Hua, don't you understand his temperament? If you don't take it, it seems like we are refusing." He took the silver and bowed, saying, "Just wait at home; I promise you'll have something to smile about in a couple of days." Zhang Sheng said, "I just hope my lord can take me to Xia Tixing tomorrow; that would satisfy me." Ximen Qing said, "That’s no problem." Later, Ximen Qing indeed sent Zhang Sheng to the garrison to become a personal attendant, but that is another story, which I will not mention for now. The two rascals pocketed the silver and went right back to gambling.

Ximen Qing rode his horse home, the sky was almost dark. When Pan Jinlian and the others heard him coming back, they all hid behind the house, with only Jinlian organizing some things in the yard. Ximen Qing did not go to the backyard but went straight to the garden. He saw Jinlian tidying up in the pavilion and asked, "What have you been up to while I was out?" Jinlian smiled and said, "Today, we opened the door with the eldest sister and took a look. I didn't think you'd be back so soon." Ximen Qing said, "Today, Lord Xia went all out and invited four opera troupes to the estate, but only five guests were invited in total. I was worried the journey would take a while, so I came back a bit earlier." Jinlian helped him out of his clothes and said, "You haven't had any wine, have you? Call the maid to bring some wine." Ximen Qing instructed Chunmei, "Clear the other dishes and just leave a few plates of fruit, and then bring over a pot of grape wine." He sat in a chair and saw Jinlian wearing a sandalwood-colored silk blouse with a five-colored gauze collar. She was wearing a white silk pleated skirt with a red satin border at the hem and white silk high-heeled shoes, a silver wire hair bun on her head, and a gold-inlaid emerald plum hairpin. She looked even more tempting with her rosy lips and fair skin. Ximen Qing was instantly smitten; he held Jinlian's hand, embraced her, and kissed her. After a bit, Chunmei brought over the wine, and they took turns sipping and feeding each other. Jinlian lifted her skirt and plopped down on his lap, feeding him wine and then giving him a fresh lotus seedpod to eat. Ximen Qing said, "This lotus seedpod is super bitter, why would you eat it?" Jinlian said, "You're so lucky, you never eat what I give you!" She then fed him a fresh walnut and finally called it quits. Ximen Qing wanted to have some fun with Jinlian's chest. Jinlian took off the gold jewelry on her collar, bit it with her mouth, untied her blouse, showing off her fair and full chest. Ximen Qing touched and licked it for a long time; they flirted and played around, enjoying a passionate moment together.

After Ximen Qing felt pleased, he said to Jinlian, "Let me tell you something, I promise to make you laugh tomorrow. Guess what, Jiang Taiyi opened a medicine shop. Tomorrow, I promise to make him look like a fool!" Jinlian asked what happened. Ximen Qing detailed the encounter with Lu Zhishen and Zhang Wenyan outside the door today. Jinlian laughed and said, "You’re really going to get into trouble tomorrow, aren’t you?" She then asked, "Isn't Jiang Taiyi the one who often comes to our house to treat illnesses? I find him quite humble; he always bows his head when he sees people, looking so pitiful. How can you treat him like this?" Ximen Qing said, "You can’t see his true nature. You say he bows his head, but he's actually peeking at your feet!" Jinlian said, "You silver-tongued devil! Would he really peek at someone's wife's feet? I don't believe it; he's a scholar, would he do such a thing?" Ximen Qing said, "You've been deceived by his appearance. He is the kind of person who looks mature on the outside but is cunning on the inside." The two laughed and talked for a while, then stopped drinking, packed up, and went back to their rooms to sleep.

It is said that Li Ping'er married Jiang Zhushan about two months ago. At first, Jiang Zhushan tried to please Li Ping'er by buying some aphrodisiacs and other items, wanting to win her over. However, Li Ping'er had experienced a lot with Ximen Qing, and these things meant nothing to her. She gradually grew tired of Jiang Zhushan and smashed and threw away those items. She said, "You useless thing, you're weak, yet you buy these things to play with me! I thought you were worth something, but you’re just a worthless waste!" She often booted Jiang Zhushan out to sleep in the shop at night. Li Ping'er was always preoccupied with Ximen Qing, refusing to let Jiang Zhushan into her room. She constantly nagged about settling accounts and going over the books every day.

Zhushan was seething with anger, sitting behind the small counter in the shop when he suddenly saw two people stumbling as they walked in, their eyes as wide as saucers, and they dropped heavily onto the stools. One of them spoke first and asked, "Do you have dog treasure in your shop?" Zhushan chuckled and replied, "Stop joking! I only have cow gallstones; why would I have dog treasure?" The person asked again, "If there's no dog treasure, ice flakes will do; take some out for me to see, I want to buy a few taels." Zhushan said, "The medicine shop only has ice flakes, which are genuine imports from Persia; where would I get ice flakes?" The other person said, "Ignore him; his shop has only been open for a few days, how could he possibly have those two kinds of medicine? Let's cut to the chase. Brother Jiang, stop playing dumb! Three years ago, your wife passed away, and you borrowed thirty taels of silver from this Brother Lu, with interest that’s surely piled up by now, so it's time to settle up. We came in here looking for it right away; you just married a new wife and opened this shop, so we were afraid you might not have the money to repay, which would make us look bad, so we started with some polite conversation. If you don’t play your cards right, you’ll have to repay that money!"

When Zhushan heard this, his eyes widened in shock as he said, "I never borrowed any money from him!" The man replied, "You didn’t borrow money, yet you're here asking for money? As the old saying goes, a fly doesn't land on a clean egg, so stop arguing!" Zhushan said, "I don’t even know you. On what basis are you asking for my money?" The man said, "Brother Jiang, you really are confused! As the old saying goes, officials are not poor, and debtors are not rich. Remember when you were broke and selling ointments everywhere? Wasn’t it thanks to Brother Lu that you got help? Now that you’ve become successful, you can’t forget your benefactor!" The man continued, "My surname is Lu, and my name is Lu Hua. You borrowed thirty taels of silver from me for your wife’s funeral, and with interest, it totals forty-eight taels. You can't get away without paying me back!" Zhushan hurriedly said, "I never borrowed money from you! Even if I did, there should be a promissory note and witnesses!" Zhang Sheng said, "I'm the witness!" Saying this, he pulled out a promissory note from his sleeve and showed it to Zhushan. Zhushan was so furious that his face went pale and he shouted, "You two bastards! Who do you think you are to come and extort me?" Upon hearing this, Lu Hua was furious and threw a punch over the counter, hitting Zhushan squarely in the face, breaking his nose and scattering the herbs on the counter everywhere. Zhushan yelled, "You thieves! How dare you take my stuff!" He called out for Tianfu to help him, but Lu Hua kicked him away. Zhang Sheng pulled Zhushan out from behind the counter, blocking Lu Hua and advised, "Brother Lu, you’ve waited so long; give him a few more days to gather the money to pay you back. Brother Jiang, what do you plan to do?" Zhushan said, "When did I ever borrow money from him? Even if I did, we should discuss it properly; how can it be so unreasonable?" Zhang Sheng said, "Brother Jiang, you finally see the light. If you had said this earlier, I would have had Brother Lu lower the interest a bit, and you could pay him back in installments. Why are you being so stubborn? Do you think he won’t dare to ask you?" Zhushan, exasperated, said, "This is driving me crazy! I’ll go report to the authorities! I never borrowed money from him!" Zhang Sheng said, "You’re drunk again!" Before Zhang Sheng could finish, Lu Hua threw another punch, knocking Zhushan to the ground, almost falling into the roadside drain, his hair disheveled and his hat dirty. Zhushan cried out, "Your Honor!" but the neighborhood watch captured him and tied him up. Li Ping’er heard the commotion outside, peeked out from behind the curtain, and saw Zhushan being taken away, her eyes widening in anger. She called for Mama Feng and had the pharmacy's sign taken down. A good amount of herbs from the shop were also taken. Then she closed the door and sat down at home.

Someone told Ximen Qing about this, and he immediately sent someone to notify the officials. The next morning, Zhu Shan was brought to the court. Ximen Qing also wrote a letter to Lord Xia regarding this issue. Early the next morning, Judge Xia took his seat, reviewed the petition, called Zhu Shan, and asked, "Are you Jiang Wenhui? Why did you borrow money from Lu Hua and not repay it, and even hit him? What a scoundrel!" Zhu Shan replied, "I don’t know this person, nor have I borrowed money from him. I tried to talk some sense into him, but he wouldn’t listen and ended up hitting me, stealing my medicinal materials." Judge Xia asked Lu Hua, "What’s your side of the story?" Lu Hua said, "He definitely borrowed my money for his wife's funeral, and it has been three years without repayment. Today I heard he has taken a concubine and is doing very well in business, so I came to ask for my money back, but he cursed me, saying I was stealing his things. I’ve got a loan receipt, and Zhang Sheng can back me up. Please take a look, Your Honor!" As he spoke, he took out the loan receipt from his pocket and handed it to Judge Xia. Judge Xia unfolded it and saw that it stated:

The borrower, Jiang Wenhui, is a doctor in this county. Due to the death of his wife and lack of funds for the funeral, with the guarantor Zhang Sheng, he borrowed thirty taels of silver from Lu Hua, with a monthly interest rate of three percent, for immediate expenses. It is agreed that the principal and interest will be repaid by the following year, without any shortfall. To prevent any future arguments, this loan receipt is hereby kept as a record.

After reading it, Judge Xia banged his fist on the table in anger and said, "Such a thing exists! With a loan receipt and a witness, he still denies it! This guy is just making excuses; he’s obviously a deadbeat!" He commanded his subordinates, "Bring out the big stick and give him a good whacking!" Without further ado, several bailiffs held Zhu Shan down and gave him thirty hard whacks, leaving him bruised and bloody. At the same time, they dispatched two people with documents to escort Zhu Shan home, demanding he cough up thirty taels of silver to pay Lu Hua back, or he’d end up in jail.

Zhushan was beaten so badly that he could barely stand. He returned home, crying and pleading with Li Ping'er for money to pay back Lu Hua. However, Li Ping'er slapped him and shouted, "You shameless fool, where are you going to get any money? I’ve known for a long time that you’re a debtor; I must have been blind to marry such a worthless loser!" The yamen runners outside heard the commotion and kept urging, "If Jiang Wenhui doesn't have money, stop dawdling and hurry to report to the yamen!" Zhushan tried to calm the yamen runners while begging Li Ping'er again. Kneeling on the ground, he cried, "Just consider it doing good deeds and give him these thirty taels of silver! If I don’t pay back the money, they’ll beat me to a pulp! I might as well just die!" Li Ping'er had no choice but to take out thirty taels of silver for him. Zhushan handed the money to the yamen runner, gave it back to Lu Hua, and tore up the IOU, finally putting the whole thing to rest.

Lu Hua and Zhang Sheng took the thirty taels and headed straight to Ximen Qing's house to report. Ximen Qing welcomed them under the awning and went over everything in detail. Ximen Qing was thrilled and said, "You guys really helped me out; it’s worth it!" Lu Hua handed the silver to Ximen Qing, but he firmly refused, saying, "You keep it and buy some drinks; consider it my thanks. There will be more matters to trouble you in the future." After thanking him several times, the two left with the silver.

**Often taking advantage of the good and bullying the kind, as if it were just a passing storm.**

After Jiang Zhushan handed over the silver to the court, he returned home. His wife didn't let him stay at all, saying, "Just pretend that I have contracted a sweating illness and asked you for thirty taels of silver to buy medicine. Hurry up and move out! If you delay any longer, even my two rooms won't be enough for you to repay your debts!" Jiang Zhushan knew he couldn't stay any longer, so he tearfully endured the pain in his legs and found another place to live. His wife left behind the medicinal herbs, medicine grinder, medicine sieve, and medicine box that originally belonged to Jiang Zhushan, urging him to leave quickly, and the two of them started arguing. When Jiang Zhushan left, his wife even had Mrs. Feng scoop a basin of water to splash on him, cursing, "You're lucky to be getting out of my sight!" Jiang Zhushan was driven away that day. This woman's heart was set on Ximen Qing, and when she heard that there was nothing wrong at Ximen Qing's house, she regretted it greatly. She couldn't eat, stopped dressing up, and spent her days waiting by the door, hoping for Ximen Qing to come, but he never showed up.

**Words spoken on the pillow remain, but now love has been lost.**

**The person in the room is nowhere to be seen, and silence devours the soul.**

Not mentioning how Jiang Zhushan's wife thought about Ximen Qing, one day, Ximen Qing's servant rode past Jiang Zhushan's house and saw that the front door was tightly closed, and the medicine shop was closed as well, looking desolate. He returned and told Ximen Qing. Ximen Qing said, "That little guy (Jiang Zhushan) must be seriously ill, lying in bed at home. He'll probably be stuck in bed for about half a month before he can get back to work." So he forgot about it.

One day, on the fifteenth of August, Wu Yueniang celebrated her birthday, and many guests came to the house, sitting in the main hall. Ximen Qing didn't want to talk to Yueniang, so he went directly to Li Guijie's house in the courtyard and instructed the servant, "Ride back later and come pick me up in the evening." He then invited Ying Bojue and Xie Xida to play a game of chess. That day, Guiqing was also at home, and the two sisters joined them in toasting. After a while, everyone went to the courtyard to play pitch pot.

Around sunset, Da'an came to pick up Ximen Qing. Ximen Qing was in the backyard, and when he saw Da'an, he asked, "Is everything okay at home?" Da'an said, "Everything is fine at home. The guests in the main hall have all left, leaving only the older women and the mistress. The mistress invited them to the back. Today, Flower Erniang from Lion Street sent a birthday gift: four plates of fruit soup, two plates of longevity peach noodles, a piece of cloth, and a pair of shoes made for the mistress. The mistress gave Old Feng a silver coin and said that father was not at home, so she did not invite them in." Ximen Qing saw Da'an's red face and asked, "Did you go drink?" Da'an said, "Just now, Erniang asked Feng Mama to call me over to drink. I said I didn't want to, but she insisted I drink two cups, so my face turned red. Now Erniang regrets it, crying and begging me. A few days ago, I told father about this, but he didn't believe it. After coming out of the judicial office, he sent Jiang the doctor away. Erniang regrets it very much, wanting to marry father; she's lost a lot of weight lately and is begging me to invite father over no matter what to hear his opinion. If father agrees, I'll go back and tell her." Ximen Qing said, "That woman, why is she bothering me now that she's married? Since that's the case, I won't be able to go. Tell her to prepare some tea and gifts, choose a good day, and have her carried over." Da'an said, "Understood. She's waiting for me to go back and give her an answer; let Ping'an and Huatong serve father here." Ximen Qing said, "Go ahead, I know." Da'an left the courtyard and went straight to Li Ping'er's place, telling her Ximen Qing's words. Li Ping'er was overjoyed, saying, "Good brother, thanks to you for helping me talk to father, this matter is settled!" Then she personally cooked and entertained Da'an, saying, "There's no one at your mother's place; you must come tomorrow to help me take care of Tianfu and have things moved over." The next day, five or six movers were hired, and it took four or five days to move everything. Ximen Qing didn't tell Wu Yuemeng, and everything was piled up in the newly built flower-playing building. August 20th was chosen; a large sedan was prepared, a red cloth, four pairs of lanterns, and Da'an, Ping'an, Huatong, and Lai Xing were sent to carry the sedan, and it was only in the afternoon that Li Ping'er was brought into the house. Li Ping'er let the two maids and Feng Mama go first, and when they returned, she got on the sedan. The house was entrusted to Feng Mama and Tianfu to take care of.

That day, Ximen Qing did not go out, waiting at home in his new pavilion, dressed in a long gown for Li Pinger's arrival. Li Pinger's sedan chair stopped at the gate, but no one came out to greet her for quite a while. Meng Yulou came upstairs and said to Wu Yueniang, "Sister, you are the mistress of the house. She is already at the gate. If you don't go out to greet her, how can we avoid making her angry after this? Her father is sitting in the pavilion, and the sedan chair has been waiting at the gate for so long, with no one going out to greet her. How can we face her after this?" Wu Yueniang thought about going out to greet her, feeling a mix of anger and pride. She didn't want to go out, but she was afraid that Ximen Qing would get angry. After hesitating for a long time, she finally mustered the courage and walked out to greet her. Li Pinger went straight to Ximen Qing's new room, where her maids Ying Chun and Xiu Chun had already prepared the room, waiting for Ximen Qing to arrive at night. Unexpectedly, Ximen Qing was angry because of previous matters and still hadn't visited her room. The next day, Li Pinger was brought out to meet in Wu Yueniang's room and was ranked as the sixth mistress. Three days later, a banquet was held for guests and relatives, but Ximen Qing still hadn't visited her room. On the first night, he went to Pan Jinlian's room first. Jinlian said, "She is a newcomer, and on the first day you are already neglecting her room?" Ximen Qing said, "You don't know that this woman has a fiery temper. Let me give her a few days of discipline before approaching her." By the third day, after the guests departed, Ximen Qing still did not go to her room, but went to rest in Meng Yulou's room. Seeing that Ximen Qing had not come to her room for three consecutive days, Li Pinger sent her maids to bed early that night, then cried bitterly, and in despair, she used a foot strap to hang herself, ending her life.

**Entwined in love yet at odds beneath the canopy, the wronged soul first arrives at the Nine Springs.**

Two maids woke up, and the room was dimly lit. They got up to light the lamp and were shocked to find the mistress hanging there! Startled, they hurriedly ran to the next room to call Chunmei: "Our mistress is hanging herself!" Upon hearing this, Jinlian rushed over to see the mistress wearing a red dress hanging stiffly. She and Chunmei quickly cut the rope and rescued the mistress. After a while, the mistress spat out some saliva and woke up. She immediately told Chunmei, "Quickly go and fetch your father!" At that moment, Ximen Qing was still drinking in Yulou's room. Yulou advised Ximen Qing first: "You married her, but you haven't visited her room in three days. How can she not be upset? Just like when we do this, there must be reciprocity; you can't just leave her hanging all night." Ximen Qing said, "Let's go in three days. You know how women are, always keeping an eye on other options. When they think of this, she's probably feeling neglected. After her husband died, we have been in contact all along, and she hasn't told me anything? In the end, she even found Jiang Taishi! Am I not as good as that guy? Why is she looking for me again today?" Yulou said, "You misunderstood; she was also deceived." Just then, there was a knock on the door. Yulou asked Lanxiang to inquire, and it was Chunmei inviting Ximen Qing: "Madam is hanging in the room!" Yulou urged Ximen Qing, "I told you to check on her, but you didn’t, and now look what’s happened!" So, with a lantern in hand, Ximen Qing hurried to Liuniang's room. Wu Yueniang and Li Jiaor heard about it and quickly got up to Liuniang's room. Seeing Jinlian holding Liuniang, they asked, "Sister Wu, did you give her ginger soup?" Jinlian said, "I gave it to her when I rescued her." After Liuniang calmed down after a bit, she finally broke down in tears. Yueniang and the others finally felt relieved, comforted her, let her sleep, and then went back to their rooms to rest.

The next day, at noon, Li Bing'er only drank some porridge. Ximen Qing said to Li Jiao'er and the others, "Don't believe that shameless woman's nonsense, playing dead to frighten people. I can’t deal with her! Wait for me to go to her room at night, see her hang herself with my own eyes, or I'll give her a good thrashing! This lowly woman! Who does she think I am?" Everyone felt a pang of worry for Li Bing'er upon hearing this. In the evening, Ximen Qing grabbed a horsewhip and headed to Li Bing'er's room. Yulou and Jinlian told Chunmei to shut the door and keep everyone out, and they all stood by the door, quietly eavesdropping.

Ximen Qing went in and saw Li Bing'er lying on the bed crying. When he came in, she didn't get up, which made him feel uncomfortable. He first sent the two maids to an empty room. Ximen Qing walked to a chair and sat down, pointing at Li Bing'er and scolding, "You shameless woman! Since you're guilty in your heart, why did you come to my house to try to hang yourself? You should just go to that little guy; who asked you to come here? I didn't harm you, so why are you crying like a baby? I've never seen anyone hang themselves before, but today I guess I will!" So, he took out a rope and threw it in front of her, asking her to hang herself. Li Bing'er remembered Jiang Zhushan saying that Ximen Qing was a wife-beater, specializing in bullying women. She thought that she was unlucky in her life, and today she fell into a pit again, so she cried even more sadly. Ximen Qing was furious and ordered her to get off the bed, strip, and kneel. Li Bing'er hesitated, unwilling to strip. Ximen Qing pulled her down to the ground, took out a whip from his sleeve, and lashed her a few times. Li Bing'er then reluctantly took off her clothes and knelt on the ground. Ximen Qing sat down and asked Li Bing'er from beginning to end, "I told you to wait; I had things to deal with at home. Why didn't you listen to me and rushed to marry that quack Jiang? If you marry someone else, I wouldn't even care! What’s so great about that little guy? You brought him in, gave him money to open a shop, and made money under my nose!" Li Bing'er said, "It's too late for me to regret. It's because you were gone for so long and didn't come back. I kept thinking about you, and my feelings changed. Later, there were seductresses pretending to be you in the Qiao Imperial Garden, coming in the middle of the night, draining my spirit, and leaving at dawn. You can ask Lao Feng and the two maids if you don't believe me. After being drained half to death, I called Jiang the quack to see me. I felt like I was caught in a sticky trap. He said you had something at home and went to the capital, so I had no choice but to do this. Who knew he was a fraud and was reported to the authorities? I bit my tongue and lost a few taels of silver, and he drove me out." Ximen Qing said, "He said you wrote a petition accusing me of taking a lot of your things. Why did you come to my house again today?" Li Bing'er said, "I didn't do that. If I did, my body would rot!" Ximen Qing said, "Even if you did, I'm not afraid. You say you have money, find another man quickly; I can't stand you! To tell you the truth, the two people who beat the quack before used this method. Using a little strategy, they made him desperate. If they slightly manipulate the situation, they will also report you to the authorities and ruin your family." Li Bing'er said, "I know it was you. Have mercy on me. If you take me to the wilderness, I will die." Ximen Qing's anger gradually subsided. He asked again, "Adulteress, come here, I ask you, who is better, me or the quack?" Li Bing'er said, "How can he compare to you! You’re the sky, and he’s just dirt; you’re in the sky, he’s underground. Not to mention you, even the richest man in the world, if he could compare to you, I wouldn't be so infatuated with you. You are like my medicine; once you touched me, I think of you day and night." This statement aroused Ximen Qing's old feelings; he was extremely happy, tossed the whip aside, pulled up Li Bing'er, dressed her, hugged her, and said, "My dear, you’re right. Indeed, that guy is no match for me!" He immediately called for Chunmei, "Quickly set the table, go grab some food and drinks!" It's like the sun rising in the east and rain falling in the west, saying it's heartless but actually has feelings.

Poetry stands as proof.

When the jade is sliced, she becomes infatuated. Without a hint of shame, she turns around and embraces him.

Details

Written by: Realhistories

Category: The Golden Lotus（金瓶梅）

Published: 30 December 2024

Created: 30 December 2024

Hits: 73

The poem says:

There is someone, with the grace of a begonia, and the lightness of a soaring swallow. Her cheeks flushed with wine, her shy smile brings forth spring.

Endless sorrow for this person, what more can be said of Wushan and Chuyun? The fragrance of the mosquito net fades, the moon through the gauze window is cold, with a desire for tenderness.

To set aside the matter of Jiang Zhushan being adopted into the Li Ping'er family and talk about the brothers Lai Bao and Lai Wang's trip to Tokyo. They hurried along the road and reached Tokyo in just one day, settling down in the city. The next day, they went out to gather information, and the whole street was buzzing about Minister Wang from the Ministry of War, saying that it had been confirmed yesterday, and the imperial decree was issued, stating that executions would take place after autumn. Only the relatives of Commander Yang were still not fully captured, and no conclusion had been reached. Lai Bao and his brother, carrying gifts, hurried over to the Cai residence. They had been there a few times before, so they knew the way well, standing under the Longde Street arch to gather information. Before long, they saw a person in a blue outfit rushing out of the Cai residence and heading east. Lai Bao recognized him as Yang's aide, Yang Ganban, and wanted to stop him to ask about the situation, but fearing that the master hadn't given him permission to talk, he remained silent and let him go. After waiting for a while, they finally reached the gate of the residence, and they deeply bowed to the gatekeeper and asked, "Excuse me, is Master Taishi at home?" The gatekeeper replied, "The master is still at court discussing matters; what do you need to see him about?" Lai Bao asked again, "Is Steward Zhai here? I would like to see him; I have something to report." The gatekeeper said, "Steward Zhai is also not here." Noticing the gatekeeper was being evasive, Lai Bao realized he was looking for a bribe, so he took out a silver tael from his sleeve and gave it to him. The gatekeeper took the silver and asked, "Do you want to see the master or the scholar lord? If you want to see the master, you should look for head steward Zhai Qian; if you want to see the scholar, go to junior steward Gao An; they each handle their own matters. Moreover, the master has not returned from court yet; only the scholar is at home. If you have something to discuss, I can help you summon Steward Gao to meet the scholar as well." Lai Bao replied, "I'm from Commander Yang's household and have something to report to the scholar." Once the gatekeeper heard this, he didn't want to take any chances and quickly went inside to report. After a while, Gao An came out. Lai Bao quickly bowed and handed over ten taels of silver, saying, "I am a relative of Commander Yang, and I came with Yang Ganban to see the master, hoping to ask for a bit of help. We were delayed by lunch on the road and arrived late, not expecting him to arrive first, so we missed him." Gao An accepted the gift and said, "Yang Ganban just left; the master has not yet finished court. Please wait a moment, and I will take you to see the scholar." With that, he led Lai Bao through another gate and into a three-room open hall.

The hall is lavishly decorated, with "Hall of the Scholar's Qin" written on the door, inscribed in the Emperor's own hand.

It turns out that Cai Jing's son Cai You is also a favorite courtier, holding the positions of Scholar of Xianghe Hall, Minister of Rites, and Supervisor of Taiyi Palace. Lai Bao waited outside while Gao An went in to announce him before calling him in. After Lai Bao kneeled, Cai You, wearing splendid attire, sat in the hall and asked, "Where are you from?" Lai Bao replied, "I am a relative of Chen Hong, who is connected to Governor Yang. I came with Yang Gan from the mansion to see the lord and request a favor. Yang Gan arrived first, and I came later." As he spoke, he produced a letter from his sleeve and presented it. Noticing it mentioned "500 stones of white rice," Cai You asked Lai Bao to come closer and said, "Lord Cai has been avoiding people lately due to the censors' accusations. The matters in the palace, including yesterday's interrogations by the Three Law Departments, were all decided by Lord Li. Regarding Yang's situation, news from the palace yesterday indicated that the Emperor has shown mercy and will address it separately. As for those under him who have committed offenses, they will be investigated before any punishment is meted out. You should go and speak to Lord Li." Lai Bao kept bowing and said, "I do not know anyone at Lord Li's residence. I beg you, for Lord Yang's sake, please have mercy on me!" Cai You said, "Go to the North High Slope Gate Tower near Tianhan Bridge and inquire about the current Right Minister and Academician of Zizheng Hall, Minister of Rites, Li Banyan. Everyone knows him! Alright, I still need someone to accompany you." With that, he called a servant to bring a letter and sent steward Gao An along with Lai Bao to see Li Banyan, to speak on his behalf.

Gao An agreed and exited the government office with Lai Bao, calling over Lai Wang, who was carrying gifts, and headed to Li Bangyan's house. They happened to arrive just as Li Bangyan was returning from court, dressed in a red robe with a jade belt at his waist, having just seen off a minister before returning to the hall. The gatekeeper announced, "Master Cai sent his steward to see you." First, Gao An was permitted to enter and announce their arrival, and then Lai Bao and Lai Wang were allowed to enter. They knelt at the entrance of the hall, and Gao An presented Cai You's letter and gifts, while Lai Bao also presented his gifts. After reading the letter, Li Bangyan said, "Master Cai is influential and is also a relative of Lord Yang. How can I accept your gifts? Moreover, Lord Yang was already spared by the Emperor yesterday. However, some of his subordinates have faced severe criticism from the Censor, and several will definitely be punished." As he spoke, he had the guards bring over the list sent by the Censor yesterday for him to see. The list stated: "The clerk Dong Sheng, who serves under Wang Fu, the household member Wang Lian, the foreman Huang Yu; the clerk Lu Hu under Yang Jian, the assistant Yang Sheng, the government clerk Han Zongren, Zhao Hongdao, the foreman Liu Cheng, and relatives Chen Hong, Ximen Qing, Hu Si, etc., are all individuals who exploit their positions. We request that the law enforcement issue orders to punish these individuals, either by exiling them to the frontier or imposing the death penalty, to uphold the national law." Upon seeing the list, Lai Bao was so frightened that he kept bowing in fear and pleaded, "I am just a household member of Ximen Qing; I plead for mercy, spare my life!" Gao An also knelt down to plead. Seeing that five hundred taels of silver only bought one name, Li Bangyan saw no reason to refuse. He had a writing table brought over, took up the brush, and changed Ximen Qing's name on the list to Jia Lian, then accepted the gifts. Li Bangyan dismissed Lai Bao and the others and drafted a reply to Cai You, rewarding Gao An, Lai Bao, and Lai Wang with five taels of silver each.

On the way back, Lai Bao thanked Steward Gao for his help and returned to the inn, packed his luggage, paid the room fee, and rushed back to Qinghe County overnight. Upon returning home, he saw Ximen Qing and recounted everything that had happened in Dongjing from beginning to end. Ximen Qing listened, sweating nervously, and said to Pan Jinlian, "We need to send someone to take care of this right away; otherwise, we’re in big trouble!"

The setting sun sank beyond the western ridge, yet it is called forth by the hibiscus. (This is a line of poetry and is not translated.)

At last, Ximen Qing has escaped a calamity. After two days, he no longer closed his door, the garden was still being tended, and he gradually started going out again.

One day, while riding past Lion Street, Dai An saw that a pharmacy had opened at Li Ping'er’s doorstep, stocked with various medicinal herbs, and it seemed to be thriving. He returned to tell Ximen Qing, saying—without mentioning Jiang Zhushan's marriage—“Second Mistress has opened a pharmacy and hired an assistant.” Ximen Qing listened, somewhat skeptical.

One day, in mid-July, the weather was cool, with a gentle breeze and glistening dewdrops. Ximen Qing was riding on the street when he encountered Count Ying and Xie Xida. The two called out to him, dismounted to pay their respects, and asked, “Brother, why haven’t we seen you lately? Our brothers have come to your house several times, but the front door was closed, and we didn’t dare knock, feeling rather puzzled. What have you been up to at home? Has your sister-in-law moved in? You didn’t even invite the brothers to a wedding feast.” Ximen Qing said, “It's a bit complicated. A relative of mine from the Chen family had some trouble, and I’ve been helping him for several days. The wedding's been postponed too.” The Count said, “We brothers didn’t know you were so busy. Since we’ve run into you today, how can we let you leave empty-handed? Please come with us to Wu Yinjie’s house for a few drinks, just to take the edge off.” Before Ximen Qing could respond, they pulled him into the courtyard.

It was just like:

The high terrace opens, and singing courtesans greet, casually boasting of their eloquence and affection.

Delicate hands pass the cup, dividing the bamboo leaves, a curtain of autumn water soaks the peach flute.

That day, Ximen Qing was taken to Wu Yin'er's house by his companions and drank heavily all day. It wasn't until evening that he staggered out a bit tipsy. As he rode his horse toward Dongjie Street, he met Mrs. Feng, hurrying along. Ximen Qing stopped his horse and asked, "How is Erniang doing at home? I will go see her tomorrow." Mrs. Feng said, "What kind of question is that? The marriage that was about to happen has been messed up by someone." Ximen Qing was shocked and exclaimed, "She didn’t actually get married, did she?" Mrs. Feng said, "Erniang asked me to bring the invitation to your house several times, but I never saw you; the door was always shut. She told the official to hurry up, and you ignored her. Now someone else has swooped in, what else can you say?" Ximen Qing asked, "Who?" Mrs. Feng then recounted how a woman had been possessed by a fox spirit in the middle of the night, nearly died from it, how she sought treatment from Jiang Zhushan, took his medicine and recovered, how she chased after him until they became a couple, and how Erniang gave him three hundred taels of silver to open a pharmacy, from beginning to end. Ximen Qing was originally not interested, but after hearing it, he was so furious he started stomping his feet in frustration on his horse and shouted, "What a disaster! I wouldn't care if she married someone else, but how could she settle for that short winter melon!" And so, he rode his horse all the way back home. His mind was racing with thoughts of betrayal.

Just as he dismounted and entered the courtyard, he saw Wu Yueniang, Meng Yulou, Pan Jinlian, and Ximen Dajie skipping rope under the moonlight in the courtyard. When Ximen Qing returned, Yueniang, Yulou, and Dajie all stepped back. Only Jinlian did not move, still leaning against a pillar picking up shoes. Ximen Qing, who was inebriated, yelled at her, saying, "You idle women are so bored, what are you skipping rope for?" He even kicked Jinlian twice. When he returned to the room, he did not go to Yueniang's room to change his clothes, but went directly to a study room in the west wing, asked for bedding, and slept there. He scolded the maids and servants, with a bad expression on his face. The women stood together, all extremely frightened, not knowing what was going on. Wu Yueniang complained to Jinlian, "When you see him drunk, you should stay away. You were still smiling and picking up shoes in front of him, letting him berate you like he was catching locusts." Yulou said, "It's fine if he scolds us, but why scold Dajie as an idle woman? It's really rude!" Jinlian replied, "I’m the one everyone picks on in this house! Three women are here, but he only kicks me. Who is favored?" Yueniang got angry and said, "Why don’t you just let him kick me as well? You are not favored, who is favored? You really don't know what's good for you! I don't say anything, and you just keep on blabbing!" Jinlian saw Yueniang was angry and quickly explained, "Sister, it's not like that. He doesn't know why, he just vents his anger on me. Even if he looks at me with his eyes open, he would still beat me to death!" Yueniang said, "Who let you provoke him? If he’s not going to hit you, is he going to hit a dog instead?" Yulou said, "Dajie, let's ask a servant boy where he went to drink today? He was fine in the morning, how did he come back like this?" After a while, Dai'an was called over, and Yueniang scolded him, "You rascal! If you don’t fess up, I’ll have the servants give you and Ping'an a good thrashing, each receiving twenty lashes." Dai'an said, "Mother, don't beat me, I'll tell the truth. Father drank with Uncle Ying at the Wu family today. After they dispersed, they met Feng Mama at the East Street intersection. She said Hua'er married Doctor Jiang in the city because Father didn't go. Father was fuming all the way home." Yueniang said, "That brazen woman, taking advantage of her husband's death to remarry, and coming back to vent her anger on others." Dai'an said, "Hua'er didn't marry Doctor Jiang, Doctor Jiang pursued her. Now Hua'er has given him money, and he opened a very profitable pharmacy. When I tell Father, he won't believe it." Meng Yulou said, "How long has her husband been dead? She hasn't even completed the mourning period and she's already remarried, that’s just wrong!" Yueniang said, "In this day and age, what does it matter if it's right or wrong? Marrying someone before the mourning period is over, she's not the only one! Those women who are out drinking and sleeping around, what’s left of their chastity?" Dear readers, with those words, Yueniang stepped on some toes—Meng Yulou and Pan Jinlian both remarried before completing the mourning period, and after hearing these words, they felt embarrassed and quickly retreated to their rooms.

It is:

Unpleasant things often happen, but you can share them with others.

Ximen Qing spent the night in the front room. The next morning, he arranged for his brother-in-law Chen Jingji to work in the garden with Ben Si, managing the accounts, and then had him watch the main gate. Ximen's sister spent her days drinking with the others and returned to the front room at night. Chen Jingji worked in the garden every day, never daring to enter the main hall unless summoned, and had the servants bring him his meals, so none of Ximen Qing's wives had ever seen him.

One day, Ximen Qing was not at home; he had gone to see off He Qianhu from the Judicial Office. Yueniang felt that Chen Jingji, who was in charge of the construction, was working very hard, and she had not properly entertained him. She said to Meng Yulou and Li Jiaor, "If I look after him, it would be said that I am meddling too much; if I don't look after him, I would feel guilty. He is in your home, waking up early and sleeping late every day, working so hard to help your family; who will take a moment to comfort him?" Yulou said, "Sister, you are the one in charge of the household; if you don't worry, who will worry?" So Yueniang instructed the kitchen to prepare a table of wine, food, and snacks, and invited Chen Jingji to have lunch at noon. Chen Jingji left the project to Benshi to watch and went to the backyard to see Yueniang, paid his respects, and sat down beside her. Xiaoyu served tea, set the table, and served the dishes and wine. Yueniang said, "Brother-in-law works hard every day; I want you to sit down and relax. Today your father is not at home, so I prepared some wine as a little treat for you." Jingji said, "I’m grateful for your kindness; there is no hardship, you are so thoughtful!" Yueniang drank with him for a while. Yueniang asked Xiaoyu, "Invite the eldest girl." Xiaoyu said, "The eldest girl is playing cards; she will come soon." After a while, the sound of cards being played drifted in from the room. Jingji asked, "Who is playing cards?" Yueniang said, "It's the eldest sister and Yuxiao playing." Jingji said, "You see, you called her, and she still didn’t come; she is playing cards in the room." After a while, the eldest sister came out from behind the curtain, sat down across from her son-in-law, and they drank together. Yueniang asked the eldest sister, "Does Brother-in-law Chen play cards too?" The eldest sister said, "He knows a bit." Yueniang only knew that Jingji was her daughter's husband, but she did not know that this young man was well-versed in poetry, chess, and all sorts of games.

**Since childhood, he’s been clever and charming, a true charmer.**

**He loves to wear green and silver, skilled in both board games and chess.**

**Playing the pipa, zheng, xiao, and guan, excelling in archery and horseback riding.**

**But there’s one thing he can’t resist: the sight of a beautiful woman.**

Yuemen said, "Since brother-in-law knows how to play cards, why not play together?" Jingji replied, "You and elder sister can play; I won't participate." Yuemen responded, "We are all family, what's there to be afraid of?" Saying that, they entered the room, only to see Meng Yulou playing cards on the bed with a red felt cloth, and when she saw Jingji enter, she started to get up to leave. Yuemen said, "Brother-in-law is not a stranger; just say hello." She turned to Jingji and said, "This is your third sister." Jingji quickly bowed deeply, and Yulou returned the gesture. Then Yulou, elder sister, and Jingji played cards together, while Jingji watched from the sidelines. After a while, the elder sister lost, and Jingji joined in. Yulou played a good card; Jingji played a bad card; Wuyuemen couldn't play a matching card no matter what. At this time, Pan Jinlian lifted the curtain and stepped in, wearing fresh flowers on her head. Smiling, she said, "So it's Brother Chen!" Chen Jingji was startled; seeing Pan Jinlian, his heart raced. **Five hundred years of grudges meeting, thirty years of love suddenly encountered.** Yuemen said, "This is Fifth Sister; brother-in-law should also greet her." Jingji quickly bowed deeply, and Jinlian returned a salute. Yuemen said, "Fifth Sister, come and see, this guy has beaten us all." Jinlian approached, one hand holding the bed, the other holding a round fan, pointing at Yuemen and saying, "Elder sister, this card shouldn't be played like this. Switch these two cards, and won't that be a winning hand? You can still beat Brother Chen and Third Sister." Everyone was having a great time when Dai'an came in carrying a package and said, "Master has returned." Yuemen hurriedly had Xiaoyu escort Chen Jingji out through the side door.

Ximen Qing dismounted and entered the door; first, he went to take a look at the garden, and then he went to Pan Jinlian's room. Jinlian hurriedly welcomed him, helped him take off his clothes, and said, "You came back early today after seeing off the promotion of the official at the magistrate's office." Ximen Qing said, "The magistrate congratulated Qianhu on his promotion, and we went to the outskirts to see him off together. I received an invitation, so I had to go." Jinlian said, "You haven't drunk; let the maid bring wine." After a while, the dishes and wine were ready. While drinking, they talked about the beam-raising ceremony at the garden pavilion the day after tomorrow, where many friends and family would come to celebrate, so the chef had to prepare a banquet. Before long, it got dark. Chunmei lit the lamp, and the two went to bed to sleep...

Ximen Qing asked, "Who did you have a fight with?" The woman said, "That day, after you came in, the woman upstairs got mad at me, saying I talked back to her and scolded me for being ungrateful. I thought about it. How did I end up being disliked like a toad with a skin disease?" Ximen Qing said, "I'm not angry. That day, Ying Er and the others took me to Wu Yiner's house for a drink. On the way back, I met Feng Mama, and she told me, which made me angry. If she had married someone else, I wouldn't have cared, but that Dr. Jiang, he's so short—why doesn't he just lose his manhood? What ability does he have? Let him come in, give him some money, and set up shop right in front of me!" The woman said, "You still have the nerve to say that! What did I say back then? First, sow the seeds before eating. You didn't listen, just kept asking Big Sister. As the saying goes: Don't count on others or you'll end up losing out. You messed up—who are you going to blame for that?" Ximen Qing was enraged by the woman's words, saying, "Let her be, let that shameless woman talk. Don't expect me to pay attention to her tomorrow!"

Ladies and gentlemen: Since ancient times, slander has harmed people, whether between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, or brothers. Even someone as virtuous as Wu Yueniang, when Ximen Qing heeded Pan Jinlian's provocations, ultimately became enemies, so others should take extra caution! From then on, Ximen Qing and Yueniang were angry and didn't speak to each other when they met. Yueniang didn't care where he went or when he would return; even when he entered the room to get something, she only let the maids respond to him and ignored him. Both of them felt distant from each other.

**When the first cart tips over, many more will follow.**

**Clearly pointing out the road to Pingchuan, yet mistaking sincere advice for malicious words.**

It is said that since Ximen Qing and Li Ping'er had a falling out, Pan Jinlian noticed that Ximen Qing favored her and felt pleased. She dressed beautifully every day, trying to win Ximen Qing’s favor. After meeting Chen Jingji once, she found him handsome and clever, and started to have feelings for him. However, she was too afraid to act on her feelings. So, when Ximen Qing was not at home, she had her maid summon Chen Jingji to her room, served him tea, and played chess together.

One day, Ximen Qing's new pavilion was completed, and relatives and friends came to congratulate him, bringing gifts and fruit baskets. Many craftsmen received rewards. Ximen Qing entertained guests in the hall until noon, after which everyone dispersed. Since he had woken up early, Ximen Qing went back to the courtyard to take a nap. Chen Jingji went to Jinlian's room to ask for some tea. Jinlian was lying on the bed playing the pipa, and she said, "You’ve been drinking all this time without eating anything; why are you still coming to my room asking for tea?" Jingji said, "Sister-in-law, I've been busy since midnight; I haven't had time to eat!" Jinlian asked, "Where is your father?" Jingji replied, "My father is sleeping in the backyard." Jinlian said, "Since you haven't eaten, call Chunmei to bring me the leftover steamed pastry for you to eat." The young man set four plates of snacks on Jinlian's kang table and dug in. Seeing Jinlian playing the pipa, he smiled and asked, "Sister, what tune are you playing? Why don’t you sing a little something for me?" Jinlian laughed and said, "Okay, Chen brother, I’m not your servant; why would I sing for you? Wait until your father wakes up, and let’s see if you dare to tell him!" Chen Jingji smiled and quickly knelt down to beg for forgiveness, "Sister, please have mercy on me; I won't dare anymore!" Jinlian laughed. Since then, the young man and the woman grew closer, drinking tea, eating together, coming in and out, talking, laughing, hugging, without any hesitation. Since she saw Chen Jingji as a son, Li Ping'er turned a blind eye to her untrustworthy son-in-law's antics at home.

Only knowing how to gather honey from flowers, yet unaware for whom the sweetness is intended.

Details

Written by: Realhistories

Category: The Golden Lotus（金瓶梅）

Published: 30 December 2024

Created: 30 December 2024

Hits: 66

May 20th was Zhou Shoubei's birthday. Ximen Qing dressed to the nines, rode a gorgeous white horse, and brought four servants to Zhou Shoubei's house to pay his respects. At the birthday banquet, there were also Xia Tingxi, Zhang Tuanlian, Jing Qianhu, He Qianhu, and other military officers; it was very lively, and there were performances to enjoy! After delivering the clothes, Dai An returned as dusk was settling in, so he rode his horse to meet Ximen Qing. While on West Street, he ran into Mrs. Feng, who said that the Second Madam had sent her to invite Ximen Qing. The jeweler had finished repairing the jewelry and sent it over for Ximen Qing to check out, and Second Madam was waiting to talk to him. Dai An said that Ximen Qing was drinking at Zhou Shoubei's house, so he would go to pick him up, and asked Mrs. Feng to head back first and let Ximen Qing know when he got there. Mrs. Feng agreed and asked Dai An to tell Second Madam. Dai An rode his horse straight to Zhou Shoubei's mansion. The officials were in the midst of drinking, and Dai An hurried over to Ximen Qing and said that he met Mrs. Feng on his way back, and Second Madam asked him to pass on the message that the jeweler had sent the jewelry and she wanted to talk to Ximen Qing. As soon as Ximen Qing heard this, he wanted to leave, but Zhou Shoubei insisted on raising a toast to him. Ximen Qing said, "Thank you for your hospitality, I'll have a drink first, but I've got something to take care of and can't stick around, really sorry!" After saying this, he downed his drink, said his goodbyes to Zhou Shoubei, and rode straight over to Li Ping'er’s place.

Li Ping'er warmly welcomed Ximen Qing, and he told Daian to head back and come pick him up tomorrow. Li Ping'er showed Ximen Qing some jewelry, which was beautiful and shiny, like fire. Ximen Qing accepted it and said they would get married on the 24th and hold the wedding ceremony on the 4th. Li Ping'er was overjoyed and quickly arranged a celebration, happily drinking with Ximen Qing. After drinking, the maids tidied up the bedroom while the two lit incense, spread a nice quilt, took off their clothes, embraced, and laughed together. Before long, Ximen Qing and Li Ping'er became intimate, then enthusiastically asked her to lie down and did it again.

Poem:

No bamboo, no silk, no stone, the sound of flesh is distinct. The tassels sway, the green gauze hangs, making it hard to distinguish between the tones. A touch of cherry blossoms is about to bloom, slender fingers moving frequently. Deeply inhaling and exhaling, both lost in their infatuation, unconsciously the Lingxi tastes sweet.

Ximen Qing got drunk and asked Li Ping'er, "Did you do this when Hua Zixu was alive?" Li Ping'er said, "He slept and dreamt all day, I didn't have the time for that! He was fooling around outside all day, and I couldn't be bothered when he came back. Besides, when my father-in-law was alive, they slept in the same room, and I even scolded him harshly! If he knew I was like this with someone else, he would definitely kill me! But you, my dear, are like my medicine, I think of you day and night." The two of them enjoyed each other’s company intermittently. Yingchun brought in a delicate little box filled with assorted fruit snacks and a small golden pot of wine. From evening until late at night, the two of them continued... Suddenly, there was a loud knocking on the door outside, Feng Mama went to answer the door, and it turned out to be Daian. Ximen Qing said, "I asked him to come pick me up tomorrow, why is he showing up so late?" and called Daian in.

Dai An hurriedly ran to the door, because Ximen Qing and Li Ping'er were still in the middle of their business, and she didn't dare to go in. So she spoke from outside the curtain: "Brother-in-law, sister, the things have all been moved here, many boxes. My aunt asked me to invite father over, please go take a look!" Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing hesitated: "It's so late, what's going on? I should go back and see what's happening." He quickly put on his clothes. Li Ping'er poured him a cup of hot wine.

Ximen Qing rode home and saw the back hall was brightly lit, with his daughter and son-in-law already there, and it was filled with boxes, bedding, and so on, which took him by surprise. He asked, "Why did you all come so late?" His son-in-law Chen Jingji knelt down and cried, saying: "Recently in the court, my father-in-law, Lord Yang, has been impeached. An imperial decree was issued in anger to imprison him and question him in the dungeon, and his family will be exiled to the border. Yesterday, the steward of the Yang family came overnight to report the news. My father was in a panic and asked me and my sister to bring some things and come to your house to hide for a while. My father went to my sister's place to inquire about the news. Once things settle down, we will repay your great kindness." Ximen Qing asked, "Did your father write a letter?" Chen Jingji said, "He did." He took out the letter and handed it to Ximen Qing.

The letter read:

"Respectfully, Chen Hong bows and submits this letter to the esteemed Ximen Qing, my dear family: There is no need for further pleasantries. Due to the northern barbarians invading the borders and seizing the territory of Xiongzhou, the Minister of War, Wang, has not sent troops for rescue, causing a military blunder, which has implicated Lord Yang in the court, resulting in serious charges. The imperial decree was issued in anger, sentencing him to imprisonment in the southern dungeon, and his relatives in office are all to be exiled to the border as usual. Upon hearing this news, my whole family is alarmed and has nowhere to turn, so I first sent my young child and daughter with some belongings to temporarily stay at your home. I will head to the capital and stay with my brother-in-law, Zhang Shilian, to inquire about the situation. Once things calm down, I will return home and repay your kindness, and I won't forget it. I am sincerely afraid of any rumors in the county, so I've instructed my child to bring along five hundred taels of silver, troubling you, my dear family, with this matter. I will be sure to remember your kindness always. Written quickly under the lamp, without any more fuss."

On the 20th day of midsummer, Hong bows once more.

Ximen Qing finished reading the letter and was flustered. He asked Wu Yueniang to prepare wine and dishes to host his daughter and son-in-law, and instructed the servants to prepare the three rooms in the east wing for Chen Jingji and his wife to stay in, and move their belongings into Wu Yueniang's room. Chen Jingji handed over five hundred taels of silver to Ximen Qing. Ximen Qing summoned Supervisor Wu, gave him five hundred taels of silver, and asked him to go to the county that night to find out what the official report from the capital said.

Yu Wen Xu Zhong, an official, wrote to the Emperor, strongly urged the immediate execution of the treacherous officials who have betrayed the nation, revitalization of the military, and elimination of external threats. He said, since ancient times, foreign invasions have always been a problem, with the Xianyun in the Zhou Dynasty, the Xiongnu in the Han Dynasty, the Turks in the Tang Dynasty, and the increasingly powerful Khitan during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. After the founding of the Song Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty long dominated the Central Plains region. However, it has never been known for there to be no internal rebellions while facing external invasions. As the saying goes, "When frost falls, the bell tolls; when it rains, the foundation gets wet." Things interact with each other; this is an inevitable truth. Just like a patient suffering from a chronic illness, whose vitality has waned and is now vulnerable to external threats, all limbs and bones are affected by the disease; even famous doctors like Bian Que and Lu Yiyi cannot save him—how much longer can he live? The current situation in the world is like a patient reaching an extremely weak state. The emperor is the head of the nation, the ministers its heart, and the officials its limbs. With the emperor sitting in the palace and officials performing their duties, if the nation is strong and resilient, how can external threats emerge? The primary culprit behind these external threats is none other than Cai Jing, the Grand Secretary of the Chongzheng Hall! He is treacherous and wicked, lacks shame, flatters and ingratiates himself, cannot assist the emperor in governing the country, nor promote education and care for the people, only seeks personal gain, greed for wealth and glory, forms factions and engages in private affairs, deceiving the emperor, and framing loyal officials. Loyal officials are disheartened, and the nation mourns. His relatives, friends, and nobles all gather under him. Recently, following the loss of Hehuang, some have called for an attack on the Liao Dynasty, even suggesting the cession of three counties; Guo Yaoshi rebelled, ultimately leading to the betrayal of the Jin army and invasion of the Central Plains. These are significant events that have harmed the nation, all stemming from Cai Jing's dereliction of duty. Wang Fu is both greedy and incompetent, behaving like a buffoon, promoted by Cai Jing to enter the government; he soon wrongly managed military power, only concerned with preserving his official position, achieving nothing. Zhang Da was defeated in Taiyuan, yet he panicked and his army collapsed. Now that the Jin army has invaded the interior, he fled south with his wife and children to save himself. Shouldn't he face execution for his betrayal of the nation? Yang Jian, relying on the favor of his ancestors, wielded military power with the emperor's trust, but was greedy and shameless, seemingly loyal but actually cowardly. These three ministers conspire together, deceiving both the court and the people; they are a cancer at the heart of the emperor's administration. In recent years, they have brought disasters, damaged national strength, increased taxes, caused people to be displaced, rampant banditry, and foreign invasions; the essence of the country has been exhausted, the national discipline has been relaxed, and their crimes are countless. We, the officials who advise against wrongdoing, watch as traitors damage the nation, yet we cannot inform the emperor; this is unfair to the emperor and betrays our lifelong learning. We earnestly implore the emperor to take action, whether by bringing Cai Jing and his followers to trial as a warning, or by executing them as a deterrent, or by punishing them according to the law, or by exiling them to remote areas to deter evil. We hope that divine favor may return, that the people's hearts may be united, that the nation's laws may be upheld, and that external threats may be vanquished.

What a blessing it is for us in this world and among the common people!

Imperial Edict: Cai Jing will temporarily remain in office as a regent. Wang Fu and Yang Jian have been imprisoned and are to be interrogated by the Three Judicial Offices.

After the interrogation by the Three Judicial Offices, Wang Fu and Yang Jian were found guilty of failure in the Ministry of War, allowing the enemy to advance, harming the people, damaging the army, losing territory, and are to be executed according to the law. Their family members, staff, and close associates Dong Sheng, Lu Hu, Yang Sheng, Pang Xuan, Han Zongren, Chen Hong, Huang Yu, Liu Sheng, Zhao Hongdao, etc., have been found guilty and sentenced to wear a cangue for a month, after which they will be sent to the border to serve in the military.

After reading the memorial, Ximen Qing was so terrified he felt his soul might leave his body, feeling as if:

Startled to the point of injuring his liver and lungs, terrified to the point of his heart pounding through his seven orifices.

He quickly packed up his gold and silver treasures, then called his family members Lai and Laiwang, quietly instructing them: "Immediately go to Dongjing to gather information, do not go to your relative Chen's house. If there is any bad news, try to handle it well and come back quickly to report." He also gave them twenty taels of silver. They hired porters before dawn to set off for Dongjing.

Ximen Qing did not sleep all night. The next morning, he instructed Lai Zhao and Ben Si to stop the garden project and sent all the craftsmen back. He kept the gates closed every day, not allowing the household staff to go out casually. Ximen Qing paced back and forth in the house, full of worry and anxiety, like an ant on a hot pan, completely putting aside the matter of marrying Li Ping'er. Seeing his troubled expression, Wu Yueniang comforted him, saying, "The Chen family's affairs have their own causes and consequences; you don't need to worry so much." Ximen Qing said, "What does a woman like you know? The Chen family is my relatives. The two troublemakers, my daughter and son-in-law, live in my house. They have offended many neighbors on weekdays. As the saying goes, 'When the shuttle is slow, the loom is quick, and the sheep and donkey clash.' If someone reports us and investigates thoroughly, our whole family will be finished." It's true: disaster can strike from anywhere. Ximen Qing was extremely anxious at home, but we’ll leave that for now.

Li Ping waited for a day or two, but there was no response. She sent Feng Mama twice, but the gate was tightly closed, like an iron drum. After waiting for quite a while, no one came out, and she didn't know what was going on. On the twenty-fourth day, Li Ping sent Feng Mama again to deliver jewelry and ask Ximen Qing to come out and talk. But no one opened the door, so Feng Mama had to wait under the eaves across the street. After a while, Dai'an came out to feed the horse, and Feng Mama asked, "Dai'an, what are you doing here?" Feng Mama said, "Your second mistress sent me with this jewelry. Why is there no response? Please ask your father to come out and talk." Dai'an said, "My father has been busy recently and has no time. You should take the jewelry back, and once I finish feeding the horse, I’ll tell my father." Feng Mama said, "Alright, dear, I’ll wait here. Take the jewelry in and let your father know. Your second mistress will be angry with me!" Dai'an tied the horse, went in for a while, and came back out to say, "I told my father, he accepted the jewelry, and asked you to go back and let your second mistress know. Wait a few more days, my father will go to your second mistress to talk." Feng Mama went back and told Li Ping the situation. Li Ping waited for a few more days, and as May was drawing to a close and June was just around the corner, she was consumed with thoughts of him, but there was still no word. She was worried and restless, unable to eat or sleep peacefully. It was truly a time of sorrow:

Reluctant to brush the eyebrows, ashamed to even out the powder on the face.

Full of deep-seated grievances, her spirit, once vibrant as jade, now felt haggard and weary.

The woman was anxiously waiting for Ximen Qing; she couldn't eat a thing each day, and she was completely worn out. At night, she was restless and couldn't sleep. Suddenly, she heard someone knocking at the door outside. She thought it was Ximen Qing coming, so she quickly smiled and rushed to open the door. Once he stepped inside, they started chatting and sharing their feelings. They chatted away the whole night, and it was only when dawn broke that Ximen Qing left. The woman suddenly realized and let out a terrified scream. Mama Feng heard the noise and quickly came over. The woman asked, "Did Ximen Qing just go out? Did you shut the door?" Mama Feng replied, "Madam, you must be imagining things; how could the nobleman have come? Not even a glimpse was seen!"

Since then, the woman has always had disordered dreams at night, each night she dreamed of a vixen-like figure, claiming to come to her... In short, it was that sort of dream. She became increasingly thin, unable to eat and lying in bed all day without getting up. Unable to help, Mama Feng called for Jiang Zhushan, who was at the street corner, to come see her. Jiang Zhushan, not yet thirty, was short and plump, looking rather suave but actually quite superficial and boastful. As soon as he entered the bedroom, he saw the woman with disheveled hair, wrapped in a quilt, lying on the bed with a distressed expression. After taking her pulse, Jiang Zhushan said, "Madam, your liver pulse is stringy, the cun pulse is strong, and the jueyin pulse is irregular, all due to excessive emotions and passions. There is a disharmony of yin and yang, alternating between cold and hot, with a pent-up feeling in your chest that can't be let out. It resembles malaria, but not entirely; it looks like a cold, yet it isn't. You have no energy during the day and just want to sleep; at night you can't sleep and have nightmares, like a ghost. If this isn't treated promptly, it could develop into bone steaming, and that will be troublesome, alas, what a shame!" The woman said, "Thank you, doctor, please prescribe some medicine for me, and I’ll make sure to reward you handsomely once I’m better!" Jiang Zhushan replied, "I'll do my best; if you take my medicine, you should be just fine." After saying that, he left. Mama Feng gave him five taels of silver as payment for the medicine and brought the medicine back.

That night, the woman took the medicine and was able to sleep without feeling afraid anymore. Gradually, she could eat and drink again, and she could get out of bed and start moving around. In just a few days, she was back to her old self.

One day, I hosted a banquet and prepared three taels of silver coins, asking Mama Feng to invite Jiang Zhushan to show my appreciation. Since Jiang Zhushan treated this woman, he had taken a liking to her, and this was not a matter of just one or two days. As soon as he heard the invitation, he immediately dressed up and went. Upon entering the living room, the woman came out in her finery to greet him, performed a deep bow, poured tea twice, and then invited him into the inner room. The food and drinks were already on the table, and the room was filled with the scents of musk and orchids. A little maid named Xiuchun was serving nearby, bringing out three taels of silver on a gilded plate. The woman raised her wine cup, stepped forward to bow, and said, "A few days ago, I was unwell, and thanks to the good prescription you provided, I recovered after taking it. Today, I have prepared a modest spread to thank you." Zhushan replied, "It's my job; I’m just doing my part, so there's no need for formality!" Seeing the silver as a token of thanks, he added, "I can't accept this." The woman insisted, "It's just a small token of appreciation; please accept it." After some back and forth, Zhushan finally accepted it. The woman poured him wine and arranged the seating. After three cups of wine, Zhushan secretly observed the woman; she had a delicate face and was stunningly beautiful. He then tentatively asked her, "I don’t want to be nosy, but may I ask how old you are, madam?" The woman replied, "I am twenty-four by nominal age." Zhushan said, "With a beautiful and young lady like you, living a comfortable life, what could possibly be bothering you to make you sick a few days ago?" The woman smiled slightly and said, "To be honest, my husband passed away, and our family has fallen into decline. I’m all alone and feeling really down; how could I not fall ill?" Zhushan asked, "So your husband passed away? How long ago was that?" The woman replied, "My husband passed away from typhoid last November; it has been eight months now." Zhushan inquired, "Who did you consult for treatment?" The woman said, "Mr. Hu from East Street." Zhushan responded, "Is that the Hu who lives at the Liu eunuch's house on East Street? He is not from the imperial hospital; what does he know about medicine? Why did you consult him?" The woman replied, "He was recommended by neighbors. It was just my husband’s misfortune; it’s not his fault." Zhushan then asked, "Do you have any children?" The woman said, "I have no children." Zhushan remarked, "It’s a shame you’re so young and beautiful, living in widowhood without children. Why not look for a new opportunity? Living in such gloom, how could you not fall ill?" The woman replied, "Recently, someone has been matchmaking for me, and I’m about to get married." Zhushan asked, "May I ask who you are going to marry?" The woman said, "It is the gentleman from the pharmacy in front of the county." Upon hearing this, Zhushan sighed, "That’s unfortunate! Why on earth would you want to marry him? I know him pretty well. This man specializes in handling lawsuits, lends money at high interest, and is involved in human trafficking. He not only has maids but also five or six wives. He has a bad temper; if anything displeases him, he will sell off his wife through the matchmaker. He is simply the leader of wife-beaters and a scoundrel who harms women. You should’ve mentioned that sooner; otherwise, once you enter his family, it would be like jumping into a fire—you would regret it too late. Besides, something has happened in his family recently; he is hiding at home and doesn’t dare to go out, and half of the house he was building has stopped. The government in Tokyo has issued a decree; the county office wants to arrest him. Many of the houses he built were properties confiscated by the authorities. Why would you want to marry him?" This left her at a loss for words. She recalled the troubles in Ximen Qing's household and, after pondering for a long time, secretly stomped her foot: "No wonder he didn't come when I invited him twice; it turns out something has happened in his family!" Seeing that Zhushan spoke humbly and politely, she said, "If I were to marry such a person, then so be it. I wonder if he’s married?" She continued, "Since you have given me such guidance, I am very grateful. If you know anyone good, please help me find a match; I will certainly not refuse." Zhushan seized the opportunity to ask, "What kind of family are you looking for? I will inquire and let you know." The woman replied, "The size of the family doesn't matter; as long as it’s someone like you."

Not provided.

Jiang Zhushan was extremely happy to hear this and didn't know what to do. He quickly stood up from his seat, knelt down on both knees, and said, "Honestly, ma'am, I've been all alone with no children. If you could feel sorry for me and agree to marry me, it would be the greatest wish of my life. I promise I'll take good care of you." The woman smiled and took his hand, saying, "Get up first. May I ask how long you've been a widow, sir? How old are you? If we're getting married, we need a matchmaker to witness it." Zhushan knelt down again and begged, "I am twenty-nine years old, born at the hour of the rabbit on the twenty-seventh day of the first month. Unfortunately, my wife passed away last year, and my family is poor. Since you have already agreed, there is no need to find a matchmaker." The woman smiled and said, "Since you have no money, I have a matchmaker named Mother Feng. Let her be the matchmaker. You won’t need to pay a betrothal gift; we can choose an auspicious day to welcome you in as a son-in-law. What do you think?" Jiang Zhushan immediately bowed down to the ground and said, "Madam, you are like my reborn parents. I must have had a connection with you in a past life, and I am fortunate in this life!" The two of them drank a cup of celebratory wine in the room, and that's how the marriage was arranged. Zhushan only returned home after drinking until dark.

On the woman’s side, she discussed with Mother Feng, saying, "With Ximen Qing in such a situation, it's hard to predict good or bad outcomes. Moreover, I don’t have anyone here; if something goes wrong, my life could be at risk. The best thing to do now is to bring this gentleman in; what’s the harm in that?" The next day, she had Mother Feng send a message, choosing the auspicious day of June 18 to welcome Jiang Zhushan into the household and marry him. Three days later, the woman took out three hundred taels of silver and opened two storefronts for Zhushan, giving the shop a complete makeover. At first, he walked to see patients, but later he bought a donkey to ride around the streets, which made it a lot easier. It was just like: Still waters run deep, but sometimes the spring breeze does come along.

Details

Written by: Realhistories

Category: The Golden Lotus（金瓶梅）

Published: 30 December 2024

Created: 30 December 2024

Hits: 73

The poem says:

In a city that captivates both city and country, do not doubt, for even the witching waters and clouds are entranced.

The affections of beauty often wear down noble spirits, while the ties of friendship are weak, lamenting the loss of delicate brows.

In the gentle embrace of the countryside, the spirit thrives, and in the presence of the graceful breeze, one’s demeanor is remarkable.

The village remains oblivious to the stillness of spring, and this evening, a fortune hesitates in the shadows.

One day, when Ximen Qing stepped out of the house, Dai An was holding the horse and they went straight to Li Ping'er’s home on Lion Street. Seeing the door was closed, he knew that Li Ping'er had gone to her family home. Dai An called Mama Feng to open the door, and Ximen Qing went inside. Li Ping'er was in the main room lighting the candles, wearing a floral crown and simple clothes, leaning against the window, waiting for him. When she saw Ximen Qing had arrived, she hurriedly welcomed him with a smile and said, "Why did you come so late? Pan Jinlian and the others are still here; they just left. Today, your aunt went early and said you weren’t home. Where have you been?" Ximen Qing replied, "I went to see the lanterns with Count Ying and Xie Zichun in the morning, passing by your house. Later, I ran into two friends who insisted on taking me to a restaurant, so I ended up being late. I was afraid you would be anxious waiting, so I had a servant go back to inform you, and I slipped in through the back door. Otherwise, I would have been stuck with them and wouldn't have made it here today." Li Ping'er said, "I really appreciate the valuable gift you sent earlier. They didn’t want to stay long, saying there was no one home, leaving me here all alone; it was really dull." Then she refilled the fine wine and laid out some good dishes again, lit all the lanterns in the main room, and drew the warm curtain. She added charcoal to the gold stove and burned dragon’s saliva incense in the incense burner. Li Ping'er poured wine for Ximen Qing, bowed her head, and said, "My husband has died, and I have no relatives. Today, I hope this cup of wine can count on your support; please don’t mind my looks. I’m happy to serve you and be like sisters with the other women; I’m wholeheartedly willing. What do you think?" As she spoke, tears started to flow. Ximen Qing accepted the wine and helped her up, saying, "Get up. Since you think so highly of me, I, Ximen Qing, will certainly remember this. Once your mourning period is over, I’ll take care of everything; no need for you to worry. Today is a good day for you; let’s drink." After finishing his drink, he filled another cup to raise a toast to her. After Li Ping'er drank, she sat down. Mama Feng was handling the kitchen duties. Before long, the dishes were served. Ximen Qing asked, "Who’s singing today?" Li Ping'er replied, "It’s Dong Jiao'er and Han Jinchuan. As they were leaving, they even stopped by Pan Jinlian’s house to ask for some flowers."

It looks like there's no text provided. Feel free to share the Chinese text you'd like me to translate!

Two people were exchanging toasts at the table, while Xiu Chun and Ying Chun served wine and dishes beside them. At that moment, Dai An came in and bowed to Li Ping'er to wish her a long life. Li Ping'er quickly got up to return the gesture and asked Ying Chun to have Mama Feng keep an eye on the longevity noodles and pastries in the kitchen, and also poured a pot of wine for Dai An. Ximen Qing said, "Finish the wine and go home early." Li Ping'er said, "If your mother asks when you get home, just don’t mention that your father is here." Dai An replied, "I understand; just say Dad is staying inside for the night, and I'll come back to pick him up tomorrow morning." Ximen Qing nodded and handed Li Ping'er some of her favorite things, saying, "Good child, really sensible." He also gave Ying Chun two coins and asked Dai An to buy some sunflower seeds, saying, "Bring a shoe sample tomorrow, and I'll make you a nice pair of shoes." Dai An quickly bowed in thanks, finished the wine, had a meal, and then left. Mama Feng locked the front door tight.

Li Ping'er and Ximen Qing played a guessing game of cards for a while, then took out a set of thirty-two ivory tiles, laying a red mat on the table as they played cards and drank wine. After a while, Li Ping'er asked Ying Chun to light candles in the room. Since Hua Zi Xu had died, both Ying Chun and Xiu Chun had been with Ximen Qing, so they had no qualms and helped him make the bed, bringing wine glasses and fruit. On the bed in the purple brocade tent, Li Ping'er revealed her snow-white skin, and Ximen Qing embraced her; the two of them were very close. As they played cards and drank wine, Li Ping'er asked Ximen Qing, "When will the house over there be finished?" Ximen Qing replied, "We’ll start construction in February, and we’ll renovate your house at the same time to match the elegance of that garden. We’ll build a pavilion shaped like a mountain in front and set up a stage in the garden. In the back, we’ll build three flower-viewing pavilions." Li Ping'er pointed to a tea chest behind the bed and said, "There are still thirty to forty pounds of agarwood, two hundred pounds of white wax, two jars of mercury, and eighty pounds of pepper hidden in this chest. You can sell all of it tomorrow to raise money for the house. If you don’t mind me, when you get home, tell my aunt that I’m willing to be sisters with them, and I don’t care what order I’m placed in. Dear, I can’t bear to be apart from you." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face again. Ximen Qing quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears and said, "I understand how you feel. Let’s talk about it after your mourning period is over and my house is built. Otherwise, if I marry you, there won’t even be a place to live." Li Ping'er said, "Since you truly want to marry me, then tomorrow build my house together with Pan Jinlian’s house. I can’t bear to part with her; she’s really nice, and then there’s Meng Yulou, who is very affectionate towards me. They are both really beautiful; they don’t look like sisters but rather like they were born of the same mother. Only your aunt has a short temper and always has a stern face." Ximen Qing replied, "My wife Wu Yueniang is quite nice; otherwise, how could I keep these people under control? Tomorrow, we’ll build three rooms for you here, just like over there, and open two side gates for entry and exit. What do you think?" Li Ping'er said, "Brother, that’s just right!" So the two of them became affectionate again for the night, staying up until the early hours. They cuddled and slept until noon the next day before getting up.

A woman came out to greet Ximen Qing with uncombed hair, bringing him porridge. Ximen Qing had just half a bowl of porridge and a little wine. At that moment, Li Ping'er was on top of Ximen Qing, and he was preoccupied with her. Just as they were having a good time, Dai An knocked on the door and rode up to say he had something to discuss. Ximen Qing told him to talk from outside the window. Dai An said, "Three guests from out of town have arrived at the house and want to do business with Uncle Fu. They need a deposit of one hundred taels of silver, which won’t be settled until August." Ximen Qing asked, "Didn’t you say I was at your place?" Dai An replied, "I said you were at Aunt Gui's." Ximen Qing said, "You really don’t get it! Can’t Uncle Fu just handle it himself? Why drag me into this?" Dai An said, "Uncle Fu said the guests insist that you must go to sign the contract." Li Ping'er said, "They’ve sent people to invite you, and business is important. If you don’t go, won’t the old lady blame you?" Ximen Qing said, "You don’t know, those rude guests drag business out, and when there’s no place to sell goods, they come begging. If business was good, they’d come to me themselves. In all of Qinghe County, my shop is the biggest and has the most shipments, so they have to come to me at any time." The woman said, "If the deal falls through, there’s still goodwill; go home and take care of it first, then come back. There will be plenty of time ahead!" Ximen Qing listened to Li Ping'er, got up slowly, tidied himself up, and rode home.

In the shop, a few customers were waiting to weigh their goods and settle up. After signing the contract, he sent the customers away. Ximen Qing went to Pan Jinlian's room, and Jinlian shot back, "Where did you go yesterday? You better tell me the truth, or I’ll cause a ruckus!" Ximen Qing said, "You were all drinking at Hua's house, and I went to see the lanterns with them, then we drank together and stayed overnight. This morning, the servant came to pick me up." Jinlian said, "I know the servant came to pick you up, but where did your soul wander off to? You heartless man, still lying to me! Li Ping'er summoned us in a mysterious way yesterday. She called you over at night and kept you there all night before letting you go. That kid Dai'an, he’s a real smooth talker. When he came back first, his mother asked him, 'Why hasn't your father come back? Where are they drinking?' He said, 'They went to see the lanterns with Uncle Fu, and they are drinking at Aunt Li Gui's house. They will come back tomorrow morning.' Later, I asked him, and he just grinned and kept quiet. Only when I pressed him did he say, 'At Flower Lady's house on Lion Street!' How did this boy know that we are in cahoots? It must be that you slipped up!" Ximen Qing said, "I didn't tell him!" There was no way, Ximen Qing had to tell the story of Li Ping'er: "She called me over at night, poured me wine, and said she didn't have time for you. She cried and said no one was helping her, her future was uncertain, she was scared at night, and wanted me to marry her, asking when I would take this house. She has some valuables like incense and candles worth a few hundred taels of silver, asking me to help her sell them and use the money to build a house. After the house is built, she wants to live with you as sisters, afraid you wouldn't agree." The woman said, "I’ve got nothing going on here, so it’d be great if she came. It gets lonely here; having someone around is nice. Just like too many ships don’t crowd the harbor and too many cars don’t jam the road, I didn’t mind at first, why worry now? Besides, she's helping me; I just worry she might have some hidden agenda. Ask Big Sister for her opinion." Ximen Qing said, "Even so, she’s still in mourning." After that, the woman and Ximen Qing took off their clothes, and something fell from her sleeve, heavy as a marble; after looking at it for a while, they didn't know what it was.

You can see:

Originally a soldier from a foreign land, recommended to work in the capital. Petite and delicate in stature. Easily gains support from others, able to adapt and charm. Known as the golden-faced brave vanguard. Achieving first place in battle, gaining fame and inspiring future generations.

After looking at it for a while, the woman asked, "What is this? Why does my arm feel numb when I touch it?" Ximen Qing smiled and said, "You don't know, this is called a mianling; it comes from the southern country of Miandian, and the finer ones can fetch four to five taels of silver." The woman asked, "How do you use this thing?" Ximen Qing said, "First warm it up in the stove, then use it; it's simply wonderful." The woman asked, "Have you used it with Li Ping'er too?" Ximen Qing told her all about the previous night. Jinlian listened, feeling aroused, and they closed the door during the day and enjoyed each other's company in bed. It is said that Ximen Qing sold Li Ping'er's candles and other items for three hundred and eighty taels of silver. Li Ping'er kept one hundred and eighty taels for her own expenses, and the rest was given to Ximen Qing to build a house. They started construction on the eighth day of the second month. He gave Ben four to five hundred taels of silver to recruit people to manage the project, buy bricks, tiles, wood, and stones, and keep track of the accounts. This Ben Si, known as Ben Dichen, was young, frivolous, and cunning, capable of many things. He began as a follower, eventually becoming a servant in a wealthy household, and even took away someone else's wet nurse and made her his wife. He worked as a broker in an old clothing store and could play the pipa and xiao. Ximen Qing saw his talent and often had him weigh goods and collect money at the pharmacy. Therefore, everything depended on him. Ben Si recruited people and started construction. First, he demolished the Hua family's old house, laid the foundation, and built pavilions, towers, and buildings. This story is too long to tell in just a few words.

Time flies so quickly; in the blink of an eye, it’s been over a month since Ximen Qing began constructing the garden. On the tenth day of the third month, it marked the hundredth day since Huazi Xu's passing. Li Ping'er had already made arrangements with Ximen Qing to burn Huazi Xu's memorial tablet. "Have you sold all the properties? For those that can't be sold, just have someone keep an eye on them. Hurry up and marry me over! I’m willing to be whatever concubine you want; I’ll gladly serve you by making your bed and folding your linens." As she spoke, tears began to fall. Ximen Qing said, "Don't worry, I've already talked to Wu Yueniang and Pan Jinlian. Once the garden is finished and your mourning period is over, it won't be too late to marry you." Li Ping'er replied, "If you really want to marry me, then hurry up and finish my house. Even if I only stay at your place for one day, I would be content, and it would save me from worrying here." Ximen Qing said, "I understand." Li Ping'er continued, "If it really comes to that, I’ll burn the memorial tablet and stay with Wuniang (Pan Jinlian) for a few days. Once your new house is ready, I’ll move over. You need to let Wuniang know; I’m waiting for your news. The tenth day of the third month marks the hundredth day, and I want to recite scriptures and burn the memorial tablet." Ximen Qing agreed and then spent the night with Li Ping'er.

The next day, after Ximen Qing returned home, he told Pan Jinlian about the matter in detail. Pan Jinlian said, "Great! I can't wait to make room for her to live in! You should also talk to Sister Wu. This way, I won't have to worry about it." Ximen Qing went to Sister Wu's room, where she was combing her hair. Ximen Qing explained the situation of wanting to marry Li Ping'er from beginning to end. Sister Wu said, "You shouldn't marry her. First, she hasn't completed her mourning period; second, you and she had a certain relationship in the past; third, you bought her house and even helped her take care of things. As the saying goes, 'Opportunity only knocks once.' I heard that her family members are troublemakers. If anything goes wrong, it could get messy. I'm just looking out for you. Whether you marry her or not, it's up to you to decide!" Sister Wu's words left Ximen Qing speechless. He sat in the living room, feeling torn about how to break the news to Li Ping'er, but also feeling bad about not going. After thinking for a while, he went to Pan Jinlian's room. Pan Jinlian asked, "What did Sister Wu say?" Ximen Qing repeated Sister Wu's words. Pan Jinlian said, "Sister Wu makes sense. You bought her house, married her, and had a previous relationship with her. Since you are friends, you should explain things properly." Ximen Qing said, "I know, but I'm afraid that Hua Da will cause trouble and use her incomplete mourning period against us. What am I supposed to do? I can't just turn her down now." Pan Jinlian said, "No worries! It's not that hard. When the time comes, just say: 'I told my wife that your things can't be stored upstairs because there are already a lot of medicinal herbs there. Your house is almost finished, and the craftsmen are rushing to renovate and paint it. Your mourning period is also almost over. I will marry you when everything is ready. This way, everything will be in order. It's better than moving to my wife's place, where we’d be crammed together!' This way, she won't have anything to say."

When Ximen Qing heard this, he was overjoyed and immediately went to Li Ping'er's house. Li Ping'er asked, "How is it?" Ximen Qing said, "Five Niang said to wait until your new house is painted before moving in. Right now, her upstairs is filled with things, and there's no place to put your stuff. There's one more thing—she's worried your uncle might say your mourning period isn't over yet. What should we do?" Li Ping'er replied, "He doesn't dare meddle in my affairs. Not to mention anything else, even if we go our separate ways, we wrote a deed when we divided the family, and we have already separated. I first married for my parents' sake, and then I married for myself. As the saying goes: 'Sisters-in-law and uncles need not concern themselves; the elder uncle has no right to my private matters.' I'm doing quite well now; he can't interfere with me. If he dares to make a fuss, I'll make him sit and sleep to death. Don't worry, my dear sir, he wouldn't dare to mess with me." Then she asked, "When will your house be finished?" Ximen Qing said, "I've already instructed the workers to build you three rooms first. Once the painting is done, it should be around early May." Li Ping'er said, "Brother, hurry up. I'm willing to wait until then." After saying this, the maidservant brought out wine, and the two happily drank all night. After that, Ximen Qing visited Li Ping'er’s house frequently, but there's no need to elaborate on that.

Time flew by, and Ximen Qing's house had been under construction for two months. The three flowered rooms were almost finished, with only the roof's covering still needing to be installed. At the start of May, it was the time for:

Every household inserts mugwort leaves at the door, and everywhere hangs talismans.

Li Ping'er set up a table of wine and invited Ximen Qing over, first to eat zongzi and secondly to discuss the wedding. They decided on May 15th, first inviting monks to chant scriptures and burn incense for memorial tablets, and then Ximen Qing would marry her. Ximen Qing asked Li Ping'er, "On the day of burning the memorial tablets, should we invite Hua Da, Hua San, and Hua Si?" Li Ping'er replied, "I'll send each of them an invitation; it's up to them whether they decide to come!" With that settled, they awaited May 15th. Li Ping'er invited twelve monks from Bao'en Temple to chant scriptures at her home for the ceremony.

That day, Ximen Qing gave Ying Bojue three taels of silver as a gesture for his birthday celebration. In the morning, he gave Dai An five taels of silver to buy wine and food, and in the evening, he planned to help Li Ping'er change out of her mourning clothes. He also had Ping An and Huatong follow the horse, and around the afternoon, they headed to Ying Bojue's house. Present that day were Xie Xida, Zhu Shinian, Sun Tianhua, Wu Dian'en, Yun Lishou, Chang Zhijie, and several new friends, not a single one missing. He also called two young performers to play and sing. After a few rounds of drinks, Ximen Qing called over the two performers and recognized the first as Wu Yiner's brother, Wu Hui. He didn't recognize the other one, who knelt down and said, "I am the brother of Zheng Aixiang, named Zheng Feng." Ximen Qing, sitting at the head of the table, rewarded each of them with two taels of silver. By dusk, Dai An rode up quietly to tell Ximen Qing, "Second Mistress asks you to go back early." Ximen Qing signaled him and stood up to leave. But Ying Bojue stopped him, saying, "You, come here and tell the truth. If you lie, I’ll twist your ears! How many birthdays does your father have in a year? Riding over on a horse in broad daylight, who sent you here? Was it a woman from your family? Or was it from Eighteen? If you don’t tell me, even after a hundred years, I won’t tell your father and help you find a wife!" Dai An said, "No one really sent me. I'm just afraid it's late at night, and if you need me early in the morning, I'll come over to serve you." Ying Bojue asked him a few more questions, and when he didn't answer, he said, "If you don't tell me, I'll find out tomorrow and settle the score with you!" He then poured him another cup of wine, handed him half a plate of snacks, and let him go eat.

Xi Menqing changed his clothes and quietly called Dai'an over to ask, "Which people from the Hua family came today?" Dai'an said, "Hua San has gone back to the countryside, and Hua Si has a family member with an eye problem, so no one came. Only Hua Da and his wife came. They had a vegetarian feast, and Hua Da left first, leaving his wife behind. Before she left, Er Niang called her into the room and gave her ten taels of silver and two sets of clothes. She even bowed to Er Niang in gratitude." Xi Menqing asked, "Did she actually say that?" Dai'an replied, "Why would I lie?" Upon hearing this, Xi Menqing felt very pleased. He asked again, "Was the vegetarian meal finished?" Dai'an said, "The monk left early, and the spirit tablet has been burned. Er Niang said to let you go over early." Xi Menqing said, "Got it, you go keep an eye on the horse." Just as Dai'an was about to leave, Count Ying heard a noise in the corridor and suddenly shouted, startling Dai'an. The Count scolded, "You little rascal! If you didn't tell me, how did I hear about it? So it was you two father and son doing something good!" Xi Menqing said, "You crazy dog, don’t talk nonsense." The Count replied, "You want me to keep quiet? I won’t." Then he walked to the table and told everyone about it. He pulled Xi Menqing and said, "Brother, you really are something! With this matter, why didn’t you let us know? Even if Hua Da has objections, we would have talked to him. Are we afraid he wouldn’t agree? If he dares to say no, we’ll sort it out with him. What’s the status of this marriage? Brother, you need to clarify this for us. Our brotherhood has come to this point; if you have any instructions, we brothers would go through fire and water for you! We are all waiting for you, yet you keep it a secret." Xie Xida added, "If you don’t say anything, tomorrow when Li Guijie and Wu Yiner find out, everyone will look bad." Xi Menqing smiled and said, "Let me tell you, the marriage has already been settled." Xie Xida said, "Brother, tomorrow when you marry your wife, we’ll come to congratulate you! Brother, you’ve got to invite a few performers and treat us to the wedding feast." Xi Menqing said, "That’s for sure, I will definitely invite all of you brothers." Zhu Shinian said, "It’s not too late to celebrate tomorrow; why don’t we toast brother with a cup of wedding wine now?" So they asked the Count to bring wine, Xie Xida held the wine pot, Zhu Shinian carried the dishes, and the others knelt to accompany the wine. They also called over two young performers to kneel and sing a bit of "Shisanqiang·Xiyu Jiri," and everyone poured several cups of wine for Xi Menqing. Zhu Shinian said, "Brother, don’t forget Zheng Feng and Wu Hui when you treat us to a meal that day." Then it was decided: "You two must go." Zheng Feng smiled and said, "We will definitely serve you." After a while, the toasts were finished, everyone sat back down, and they ate for a while longer. As it got late, Xi Menqing couldn’t sit still anymore and quickly stood up to take his leave. Count Ying still wanted to stop him from leaving, but Xie Xida said, "Brother Ying, just let him go. Don’t hold him up and make his wife mad."

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Ximen Qing rode his horse straight to Lion Street. Li Ping'er had already removed her mourning clothes and changed into beautiful attire. The room was brightly lit, with a table full of food and a grand chair in the center for Ximen Qing to sit in. A maid held a wine jug, Li Ping'er poured a cup of fine wine for Ximen Qing, kowtowed four times, and said, "Today the spirit tablet has been offered; thank you for not looking down on me, allowing me to fulfill my wish." After finishing the ritual, she stood up. Ximen Qing also stood up, toasted Li Ping'er with a cup of wine, and then sat down. He then asked, "Did Huada and his wife say anything today?" Li Ping'er replied, "After lunch, I called him to the room and discussed the situation here. He readily agreed without any objections. He only mentioned that either tomorrow or the day after, he would let his wife come to our house. I gave him ten taels of silver and two sets of clothes, and the couple was overjoyed. Before leaving, they repeatedly thanked me." Ximen Qing said, "Since he said so, I will let them come over. But if he dares to speak nonsense, he won't be spared by me either." Li Ping'er added, "If he dares to talk nonsense, I won't spare him either." Then, pouring fine wine into silver-rimmed cups, Li Ping'er accompanied Ximen Qing to drink a few cups. Because she was happy, Li Ping'er was even more cheerful than usual, beaming with joy, and asked Ximen Qing, "Just now when you were drinking at Ying's house, did anyone notice when Daian came to fetch you?" Ximen Qing replied, "Ying Baojue figured it out and pressured the servant to spill some details, creating a bit of a scene. The brothers all wanted to congratulate me, called for opera singers, and helped me out by pouring me several cups of wine. I quickly left; they still wanted to stop me, but in the end, they let me go." Li Ping'er said, "It's kind of funny that they let you go." Ximen Qing looked at Li Ping'er's charming drunken appearance, with a tender look in his eyes, he couldn't help but feel touched. The two were intimate, and Li Ping'er hugged Ximen Qing and said, "My dear brother! If you really want to marry me, let's make it happen soon. It's not convenient for you to come and go like this; don't keep me waiting here day and night."

After they finished speaking, the two hugged tightly, truly a moment of warmth.

Feelings run deep with our chests pressed tightly together, our arms gently intertwined; looking into the silver basin, still questioning whether this is a dream.